You make sure I always see the daylight

Although Alastor was shut off to the rest of the world, Manea's presence with him was not ignored by the morose dire wolf. He did not speak a single word, though he appreciated her at his side all the same. In total silence the Mendacium couple sat back and watched with reverent solemnity as the flames consumed Relm's corpse and slowly turned the last earthly remnants of her to ash. Alastor had placed all of her meager possessions on the pyre to be cremated along with her, and once they were done with the funeral, Alastor would go collapse her den. He didn't want any reminders to remain of Relm to twist the knife in his heart any deeper. The flames flickered in Alastor's obsidian eyes, reflecting like empty black mirrors as he quietly watched and waited for the fire to do its job. It would take some time, but he had nowhere else to be and nothing more important that demanded his attention.

So Alastor sat in the hot glow of the fire as his lover was consumed by the flames, turning all that remained of her into nothing but memories. Beside him, Alastor felt Manea's presence as she leaned against him gently, offering him silent comfort in his grief. But that was the worst part. Alastor had become so numb to the pain of loss and failure, so used to being defeated and broken that he didn't feel anything at all. The hollowness was almost worse than feeling any pain at all. His vacant stare continued to reflect the firelight in his abyssal black eyes, his expression hard and impassive. Even the animal in his head was silent, leaving him empty and alone in his own mind. To anyone else, it would simply look like Alastor was quietly mourning. But to someone who knew the usually vibrant madman better, this would be a disturbing contrast to how he usually was—and they would be right to be worried by his silence and austerity.

"Manea & Alastor Mendacium"