Torivanonh’s abode dismantled every assumption Teralek had brought with him.
If not a monument to past importance, the Romulan had at least anticipated comfort. But the home of Roscessa’s former Grand Auralik wasn’t just humble. It was a space that seemed to apologize for taking up too much of it.

​It still fit.

Because Torivanonh, too, moved and spoke like someone who wanted to draw as little attention as possible to himself.

​Teralek felt almost bad for seeking him out in the first place.
Almost.

Rhaelle was still missing, and Kevenianh had – not in words, but unmistakably in thought – made it clear that there was more to the situation than he was willing to let on.

​Perhaps seeking out someone who’d been broken by that burden wasn’t moral.
But it was effective.

​“I am not sure I can help you,” Torivanonh said slowly, voice barely above a whisper.

Commander Aristren, who had, so far, been exactly the asset she’d promised, offered a smile that was almost kind.
“Neither am I.”

​“We had hoped the Grand Auralik would assist.” Teralek admitted, “But we… arrived at the conclusion that there is more to the conflict with the Ry’kol he is willing to let on.”
He could feel the shape of the puzzle piece they were missing. Like a word on the tip of his tongue, he just couldn’t name it.

​Torivanonh weighed his response carefully. “If they took your friend…” He paused. “ I am uncertain it is wise to retrieve her.”

​“Why is that?”
The words came harsher than Teralek had meant them, and they startled the elderly Roscaa.
“I apologize,” he added after a moment. “I am… worried.”

​“I understand.”
Torivanonh spoke softly. Then, too slowly, he moved to the window. For a long moment, he simply stared outside. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet.
“They’ve been in the dark for too long. They… forgot the light.”

​“What does that mean?” Teralek pressed, though the heat in his words now carefully contained.

​“Their way of life differs from ours,” Torivanonh said.
He sounded almost defensive.
“That is what I meant.”

This time, it was Aristren who didn’t quite accept it.
“You said they forgot the light,” she noted – still gently, but with the look of someone who wanted answers, not fairy tales.

​“Yes,” Torivanonh said after another pause.
“ I suppose I did.”​

“Then.” Aristren continued, “You’re implying they knew it. We were told the Ry’kol inhabit the Night Side. Did their settlement reach into the Day Side before?”

Torivanonh turned to face them.
“Not their settlements. No.”

​“Then what did you mean?” she insisted.

​Torivanonh exhaled. His shoulders seemed to fold inward.
“We… We made a terrible mistake.”

“A mistake?”

“They were different,” Torivanonh explained, his voice unsteady. “Following rituals we had long moved on from. Slowed progress.”
A pause.
“Or so I was told.”

​Aristren shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”

​“When they… when they became violent,” the Roscaa continued. “We had an excuse. To banish them.”

​The words hung heavy between them.
Aristren didn’t understand.
Teralek did.

​He remembered Rhaenor’s report – the Hathos had detected the attackers, but misidentified them.
How Serith had told him that there hadn’t even been trace amounts of DNA other than Romulan, Rodulan, and Roscaa.

​“We wondered how anything could evolve on the Night Side,” he said evenly. Then he turned to Aristren.
“They didn’t. They’re the same species.”

​Aristren’s eyes widened. She stared at Torivanonh.
“You… exiled them?”

“Not me personally,” Torivanonh said quickly. “This was done… a long time ago.”
His voice dropped.
“I don’t believe anyone thought they would survive. Not until the first raids started.”

​“Do the Roscaa know about what you did?” Aristren asked, her voice rising in pitch and volume.

​“No. No one knows. Perhaps even the Ry’kol no longer remember. I tried to broker peace and trade, but… was replaced.” Torivanonh said.
“By Kevenianh. It… seems the violence had nothing to do with faith.”

​“The Roscaa wanted to keep fighting?” Teralek asked, his frown deepening.

​“They considered the Ry’kol inferior. They… assumed we could just take, rather than trade. “

​“Take?” Aristren asked.
“I would have assumed you’d offer to trade resources in return for the Ry’kol ceasing their attacks.”

​Torivanonh flinched.
“No. It… I wanted to offer them peace. In return for their willingness to trade.”

Aristren tilted her head. “What could they possibly have to offer you?”

​“Their territory…  there are… crystal mines.”

​That was all Teralek needed to hear.

“You are not defending yourselves.” he said.
“You’re the aggressors.”