The words hung in the air between them, carrying the weight of two years of silence. Julius could see Ren getting tense at his sister's name.
Ren looked up from where he had been examining the crystalline structures, his attention now completely focused on Julius.
"She hasn't gone once to see the statue in the two years."
The statement confused Ren. His eyes widened, and Julius could see the reaction playing across his features.
"What do you mean?" Ren asked quietly.
"Exactly what I said. I go regularly to keep the place monitored, to look at the rings on the door, the rings on our king's hand, make sure no one can remove them..." Julius gestured vaguely toward where he knew his father's crystallized form waited.
"Though my concern has proven unnecessary. My old man and the corruption made sure to leave ridiculously hard crystals. Removing the relics from there is impossible for anyone right now."
