The Elven Magicker's Resolve: A Listening Ear (Trash Monster #3, Prompt 7)

The battle was making clear progress, but the menacing creature was still roaming free.
Fayen was wandering through the swamps, searching for anything that might be of use for the ongoing battle, when they heard a masculine voice a short distance away.
It was difficult to make out, but they heard the voice say, “I don’t know what to do.”
Fayen approached the sound, and realized it’d come from an armored half-elf man with short dark brown hair. “Excuse me. Can I be of assistance?”
The distress in the man’s voice was palpable. “No. Don’t think so.” He paced around, unfocused. “I don’t know. Everything keeps getting worse.”
“How so?"
He cleared his throat and pointed at the trash monster. “That thing there, it’s crying, yes? It’s feeding off of negative energy. And I… I don’t feel right. It’s like it's forcing me to…” He stopped to take a shaky breath. “To remember.”
Gods, this poor man.
“Perhaps it would be best if you distanced yourself from the monster?” They suggested gently, trying to keep their voice calm. “It might help curtail its magic.” And rest. “I could escort you to the city, if you would like me to.”
Most of the people who were wounded or otherwise incapable of fighting had gathered there. Just as importantly, it was away from the monster.
“But I can’t,” the man said, with a conflicted expression. “We’re so close. I need to help. I can't leave now before it’s over. I just need to… to relax. To relax, you know?” He gazed up at Fayen with dull blue eyes. “I’ll be fine. Just need a minute.”
“Would you like company for a while, then?” they asked.
“Alright.” 
They moved closer to him, making their presence felt, yet still allowing him space. “I do not know the burden you are carrying, but if you would like a listening ear, I am willing.”
An awful chuckle comes from his lips. “Where do I start?” 

Author's note

Word count: 329 words Prompt #7: Comfort a Friend Thank you to snakewithblade for letting me borrow their character. Poor Lucius has a lot to work through :(