The sun continued its descent, bleeding oranges and reds across clouds that stretched endlessly above the mountains.
Wind pulled at their clothes, carrying smoke from their cigars away into darkness spreading across the peaks.
Then Darius's whisper emerged soft, gentle in ways his earlier questions hadn't been.
"If you cannot tell me, it's alright–"
"Let's just say..."
Damian's interruption came quiet but absolute, his gaze never leaving the horizon.
"There are many people who would kill me if they got to know who I really am."
His hand lifted the cigar to his lips, inhaling slowly, letting smoke fill his lungs before releasing it in a thin stream.
"And in order to hide my identity from those people..."
A pause, weighted with something terrible.
"I had to kill my friend with my own hands."
Beside him, Darius went completely still, his breathing stopping for one heartbeat.
Damian continued, his voice staying level despite what the words carried.
