Staglieno has a minion!

Unearthed the Pokez

The Lover

Nothing is louder than the silence of a cemetery. It is all-encompassing and filled with the weight of the dead. Each grave emanates it, row by row, stone by stone. At the center of this silent sea stood a small mausoleum, a lover's crypt with only one inhabitant, save for the small gargoyle atop the roof. It looked to be made of the same stone as the mausoleum. Both were cracked and weathered by centuries of their vigil. If anyone was looking, it would seem as if the entwining vines and spreading moss were the only things holding them together.

Inside the mausoleum sat the entombed casket. Its polished name plate was the only sign of a visitor. The label held no last name, there was no need for one, she had died without anyone to carry it on.

"I can cure her, of course. But I have a price."

The gargoyle's eyes opened. Draconic yellow irises glowed faintly as Staglieno was stirred by the memory. He woke every time he heard the voice, hoping that this time it would be from the real thing instead of his own tormenting mind.

"The cost is simple. Immortality. Yours."

Granite claws tightened around the edge of the mausoleum roof. Even now, he didn't know if he would undo his choice countless years ago. To lose her then, at the prime of their love, or to outlive her more than threefold now?

The snapping of vines resounded through the silent cemetery as Staglieno unfurled his wings. He took flight. It was the same each time he awoke. He would circle the cemetery, always keeping the mausoleum in view as he scanned the graves for signs of vandalism. At the height of his ascent, he would consider folding his wings and plummeting, letting his body shatter against the ground. It was a futile thought, of course. He had tried it shortly after her death. By the time his body reconstructed itself the graveyard had doubled in size.

"A win-win you say? Well I'm not going to argue. Just sign here."

His survey would end when he circled back to the mausoleum. The weight of each step down into the tomb echoed in the emptiness as he followed the same faded path to the final stage of his vigil. A fine silk cloth rested dreamily in a bucket of rainwater. Fallen leaves surrounded it like petals.

Staglieno was a rough creature, both before and after the deal. But every ounce of compassion he held went into the careful way he took the cloth and dabbed away any dust and grime that had built upon the casket. The name plate took the longest. Each touch of the cloth was another memory. He would take his time; take this one more act of selfishness, before returning to his vigil.

Upon his bed of moss and stone, the gargoyle closed his eyes. The stone would wear, and the vines would spread, but until the cycle was broken the tomb would have its caretaker.

The polished plate read simply, "Merry", and in that name was held the deepest silence of all.

credits

Profile template by Lea.
Story by myself and wrote out by Draco
Overlay by Aqua and art by Rodent

Background Textures by ShhMaker and Layout by Chance♥♥♥♥♥

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