There are no regrets, [Closed]

Garret awoke the next morning, slightly refreshed from the prior day. He considered the candid words he had exchanged with that citizen, mulling them over even as he started his day's workout. Though he was not at the HQ, he continued the basics, from situps to pushups. And then he meditated. Meditated on all that had transpired the prior night. He continued to meditate, thinking back on the week, then the month, and then the year. A tug at his conscious pulled his thoughts elsewhere. His mind kept going back to Kirine, and how she subconsciously played at her scar. A scar that Garret had left on her, after having tortured the woman for information.

At last, Garret could stand it no longer. He ordered hot water for a bath at the inn he was staying at and prepared himself for a short visit to the ex-slaver Serene's establishment. Once his preparations were complete, he made his way to Serene's with the speed backed by purpose. By now, the Guards knew Garret well enough that they had no need to request his name and if he were welcome. There was but a simple nod between himself and the guard at the door before he entered.

Garret walked down the hallway and, just as he had imagined, Kirine was working at the front desk. The woman paused, and felt at her left arm. Closing his eyes briefly, Garret opened them up and walked towards the woman. As he approached, she looked up towards Garret and took on a cold demeanor. She did not look particularly pleased to see Garret, and the man could not blame her that. During his meditations, he had gone through tens of simulations of how to speak to her, of how to explain to her what he could. But when he saw that unforgiving look on her face, Garret had felt a lump in his throat. He averted his gaze and asked if Serene was available. Kirine simply pointed in the direction of the office, and Garret walked that way.

He let out a sigh as he stepped through the door and greeted Serene, who seemed to be busy at work. She paused and looked to Garret, surprised to see him there. "So, what brings you here today?" Her cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled Garret having dropped her off home the prior day, and her desire to see him again.

Garret looked somewhat embarrassed himself. "Actually... I need your help. I.. Want to apologize. To Kirine." Garret fought to get those words out, closing his eyes before mentioning who he wanted to apologize to. It took Serene a moment to realize who Garret was talking about. She immediately became serious, having recalled Garret's own scars as well when she thought on that topic.

Serene spoke to one of the guards within the building. "Bring Juliana in, please." Garret had only ever knew Kirine's code name, and this was his first time actually hearing her real name. Garret grew agitated as he waited within the room. At last, Juliana entered. When she did so, she simply stared at the back of Garret's head. If she could, she would have bored a hole through the man's skull. "Close the door behind you." Serene gave the instructions to the woman, who followed them, and then motioned for her to take a seat to the right by two meters or so of Garret. When she did so, Garret turned to her.

He closed his eyes. "I..." His stubbornness fought with his sensibility, however his feelings knew that what he was trying to do was the right thing. "I apologize for what... I've put you through." It was difficult for him to say, and a certain pressure began to build up within him. It almost felt as if the base of his throat was swelling up.

Juliana was visibly surprised, but that surprise did not last for long. She sneered to Garret. "Do you think a simple apology will make things right? You scarred me! You don't understand what it's like to live with that kind of thing!" She looked towards Serene, upset and pleading to be allowed to leave. "Is this all you wanted to see me for? If so, I'll be leaving now." She began to stand, but Garret stood up first, faster.

It was quite reminiscent of her prior experience with the magician, which gave her a brief pause as she recalled exactly how that had turned out. She recalled it every time she thought about her scar. Again, she found herself playing with the scar tissue on her arm even as she paused from standing up. Scowling, she placed her arms to her side as Garret drew out what seemed to be... A fan. Serene stared at the magician as well, slightly confused.

"I am aware. That a simple apology isn't enough. That you cannot get the time you lost back... Please. Hold still, I have something..." Garret let loose a swoosh of his Royal Dragon Fan, pouring magoi into the thing as he fanned it in her direction. An intricate dragon formed, created from a mist of gold, and collided straight into the woman's body before she had time to yelp in surprise. Slowly the scar tissue on her arm began to disappear.

The woman looked at it in disbelief. She ran her hand over where the scar tissue was moments before. The place tingled slightly, as if completing some unseen healing process, and the skin she felt was smooth. She looked back up to Garret, frowning. "Don't think this... Just means everything's okay. You don't know what I went through..." She spoke defensively, and Serene was about to speak up before Garret held his hand up to stop her.

Slowly, Garret removed the clothing that covered his upper body, revealing the scars he had obtained in prison. Juliana Lilius gasped, shocked at the sight of the scar-marked man. "You are correct. I live a different life than you, and I would never be able to understand what you went through, even with these scars on my body. Yet still, I sincerely apologize." Garret knelt on the ground and depressed his head to the floor, bowing deeply to the woman. The images of the time he had cut into her arm with his magic to get the information he wanted mixed with the images of his own torture that was performed upon him for simple pleasure.

A series of several different emotions swirled within Juliana. Gritting her teeth, she walked towards the door before turning to Garret once more. "I will never forgive what you did." Turning back to the door, she opened it and left the room. Serene stood from her seat and walked over to Garret, kneeling down beside him. "Garret...  Stand up. You tried, and that's all I could ask for. Hopefully, with what you've done, she can move on with her life... I'll talk to her, and see if I can't get her to come around."

Garret Stood, placing the clothing he had moved to reveal the scars from earlier back on his body. Garret wiped away the tears on his face. The frustration, embarrassment and simple thought of him being anything similar to those two brothers who had cut into him had been too much for him to hold back. "I appreciate it." It was all he could do to not choke out the words as he left, refusing to speak further, returning to his Inn in order to collect himself.

----exit----