Down he went, further and further, until the stairs finally merged into the flat floor. Walking along, torch at the ready, Valetni made his way slowly through the crypts, pausing as he usually did to read names, and to trace his fingers upon the visages of those long dead. Finally, he arrived at his destination, seating his burning torch into an empty holder.<br/><br/>"Alas, poor Brother Malfeas! I knew him well. A fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent virtue, though a bit too fond of his pipe if you ask me." Valneti remarks to no one in particular as he uses the pry bar to crack open seal. A wave of rot and stench of flesh roiled forth, causing him to take a step back, coughing. Maneuvering the nearby wheelbarrow, he carefully lifted the poor, departed brother and placed him within.<br/><br/>"Well Brother Malfeas, you'll have one more chance to be useful for the monastery." With that he began pushing the wheelbarrow back towards his lair, taking a different route this time. He liked to visit all the inhabitants, see how they were doing, if they needed anything he could get them. They rarely spoke back.<br/><br/><br/><br/>As was his habit, he stopped at a single particular casket, allowing the wheelbarrow to settle down as he walked over, and as he always did, slowly traced the lettering and mouthing the words as he did so, he swallowed down the lump that grew in his throat as he said that familiar name."Valerie...". He stood there for many moments, hand on the lettering, unable to move. If he closed his eyes he might be able to see a flash of her face out of the corner of his eye, and if he listened hard enough he would hear a strain of her laughter, if only. A single tear rolled down his cheek, dropping to the roughly hewed stone. Twenty eight years ago, the anniversary was coming up soon, maybe this year he would be able to give her the gift he had labored for for so long. "Soon, my dear, soon." he choked out in a whisper, as he stood there in silence, and wept.