The Silent City: XI Empathy's fade

Shaking with shock and weakened from the journey, the heretic was repeatedly disoriented in the ruined cityscape. Time and again set to backtrack or avoid still flaming structures, they had failed to notice the failing light.

Taking shelter from the smoke in the lee of a broken stone wall, the heretic paused again, retching in grief. How all this came to be and then not be was beyond all comprehension.

Had not the people developed both in culture and mind to otherwise unachieved heights? Why was the destruction so complete? Most critically, why had the heretic failed to capture a solution to prevent this Collapse?

Looking up, the great steps of the Temple of Empathy came into view, strewn with every manner of smashed thing.

Dashing, heart pounding, the heretic entered the Temple. The great vaulted ceiling having burned out, failing light illuminated the final despair within. Stillness and death.

Near the center of this ruination, a dim shade flickered, then dissipated entirely.