Madam Seren had also been evacuated from Silvershade before nighttime. When all the volunteers had been called back in, however, she too had been brought back by the couple who'd been assigned to watch over her.
The old maid was currently being held within a smaller, stone-walled room that had once held bags of grain.
After greeting the stony-faced guards, Arin and Siel entered to see her sitting on the edge of a thin bed that had been pushed against the wall.
The rest of the room was empty of any other object, probably taking into consideration her telekinetic talent.
'Madam Seren,' Siel greeted the woman.
'It's you,' she said, looking up and breaking away from whatever she'd been pondering.
'I'll admit to it,' she continued, before either of them could say anything. 'All of this was entirely my fault. I forced Grif's hand in the matter, all to save myself from retribution.'
'You are aware that I all but raised him myself. I have ways to make that man listen to me. Ways he cannot fight against. He scarcely even understood what he was doing, simply believing he was saving his child.'
Even after saying so much, she didn't ask after her beloved Elara's fate.
Then again, given the current situation, she'd probably already guessed what had become of the girl.
'But now that things have reached such a point, I realize I'm beyond saving,' the lady sighed. 'So, I shall tell you about all the things you'd wished to know; the other deaths, the location of the bodies... everything! I shall willingly confess to it all. Before you, and before the officials.'
'I will accept what I deserve for both allowing, and covering up, such a terrible thing.'
Arin didn't quite know what to say to that.
Well, he supposed it was a good thing they'd find out what had happened to those other poor victims. Miss Lana, and whoever else had been killed by the distortion in its early stages.
Or, rather, killed by the uncaringness of fellow humans, who'd been covering for the distortion.
But they'd get to that in a bit. For now...
'There's something you should know,' he said.
The old lady lifted her eyes to meet his own.
...
...
...
Madam Seren hadn't had the kind of reaction one might expect, upon hearing of her own husband's tragic demise.
The old maid had simply taken a moment to sit in silence. After some time spent looking down at her own, fidgeting hands that rested upon her lap, the lady had heaved a heavy sigh.
Then, the ghost of a small, sad smile had appeared on her face, only to disappear and give way to a world-weary expression.
For some reason, Arin had a fleeting, nonsensical thought;
That had been the very last one.
The lady would never smile again.
...
...shut up, dumbass.
He cleared his throat, but didn't quite know what to say just then.
Siel, however, seemed to have no such qualms. Smiling as sweetly as ever, the younger tower magician walked closer, and said, 'I really am glad you've resolved to speak honestly. This way, we can all finally lay this awful matter to rest.'
'However, there is something else we'd like you to do for us...'
The old maid slowly looked up again, fully looking at them in silence.
'It's nothing too terrible!' Siel added, glancing back at Arin, who nodded encouragingly.
Just follow the script, kid!
'It's just that, well... You said you care for Silvershade. And, we put forth our best efforts to ensure that everyone - well, no, apologies - mostly everyone, would make it out of this alive,' Siel continued.
'But in order to do so, well... We had to call for aid. Uh...and invite... other people to come here...'
Arin winced to himself, as his olders sister's righteous voice rang out in his head.
'Corruption of the system begins with a single individual's actions!'
...
...Oh, well.
What she'll never know, can't hurt him.
Madam Seren blinked.
'I shall make no mention of the fact that you tower magicians already knew of the distortion, prior to calling for those volunteers,' she said in a monotonous voice.
'And so, I request... Hm? You won't?' Siel's large eyes grew bigger.
'I will not,' the old maid promised
'That you have saved so many lives, has reduced the impact of my own moral failings. And while the guilt of my actions can never be abated, I am thankful nevertheless.'
'I owe it to you. I shall speak not a word of your visit from the day before.'