You are silent, friend. Your soul is distant. And Krako is no longer with us.
"Everything has come to pass, Vinta," Aldrec said. "Everything and more. And I feel it beginning. I must leave."
So I will be alone?
"No. You won't. But you know what will happen without me."
It is the nature of all things to live and die. We knew that you would not be here forever.
"But it doesn't make leaving you any easier." Aldrec said, wiping the flowing tears from his face.
When you became one with her, your soul was no longer with me. You were distant even then. Yet to me, it is all the same. And I will care for this family as long as I last. It is good that you still think so fondly of me.
"Gabelle has someone," Aldrec said, "and you should, too. But I have no one."
Only for now, my friend.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Go in peace, and with my love, Aldrecliis. This family too, shall be cared for. You have my word.
"Vinta?"
For the first time in his life, the eternal chimes ceased. And Vinta's voice was silent. The sadness in his heart burrowed deeper at this, but he knew that it was Vinta's way. And she would be true to her word. Mericlou's family would be cared for.
"My home is now yours," Aldrec said to Skori, and then activated the runes that led to his silence room. "I've left the doorway between Vinta and your house open for now. It will remain so until tomorrow night. You can rest here until tomorrow. After what happened tonight; I doubt you'll have any more trouble with the humans."
"Are you leaving?" Skori said, following Aldrec's lead. "You don't have to, you know; after you were so kind Meri, you most assuredly have a home with us!"
Tenderly, Aldrec placed Mericlou down at the base of the steps to the raised platform, taking time to straighten out her hair and clothes. When he stood up, he magically produced the sequencer that Mericlou had used earlier, and handed it to Skori.
"Your offer is most kind," he said, "but Vinta was right. Meri had become 'home' to me. Without her, I have nowhere to go. And besides, my departure from this world was prophesied endless ages before your kind existed. Ask Jenius, and he will explain if you don't understand. After seeing me in the fight against that mob, he's suspected, and is correct, that I am a High elf."