Calia was full on into her brooding as Nysia led her through halls, chattering away about all the different paintings and pieces of arts they crossed. Of what each room was for, whether they were guest suites, cozy dens, a library, and other things she really wasn’t listening too. Trying to figure out what it meant if the Queen was willing to pass her over to one of her daughters for this teaching, even knowing she was heartless and cursed… Wondering too what it meant that they had even known and heard of such a thing at all!
Had it happened here before? Was it common knowledge for elven mages?
At least she’d simmered down to understand that Starling Tarn couldn’t have possibly known whom she was, so even if he had noticed these things about her, why ruin a perfectly good evening bringing it up. Calia sure as hell wouldn’t have pointed such things out in the wake of trying to forget about her life for a few hours. Hell, she’d even told him that was exactly what she’d been up to.
So then, she’d have to swallow her pride an give him an apology. …for that only, because damn him! He didn’t have to blurt it all out in front of everyone the way he had either!
“Do you ever stop thinking and just enjoy what is around you?” asked Nysia suddenly, eyeing her curiously from the side.
“I used to,” admitted Calia with a frown. “It’s difficult to do that now when everything is as it is.”
Nysia nodded with a surprisingly amount of understanding, considering so far she’d been nothing more than a giggling dame, amused with this and that. “My sister was like that for a long time after we’d lost our elder brother. She seems like she was always meant to be the heir now, but back then it was such a burden on her. She was quiet and sad all of the time.”
“Princess Liriel is lucky to have had her family to help her get through it,” pointed out Calia. There might be similarities, she wasn’t so stupid to forget that. The Queen had lost her eldest son, and the siblings lost a brother. Not counting all the others lost to demons too. Still, there were some pretty strong differences for her own situation that made everything that much more… impossible.
“Help can from all kinds of people, you know,” reminded Nysia. “It’s a tragedy to lose your family, but there are still people in this world that can support and help you through all of it.”
“That isn’t so easily accomplished,” murmured Calia with a deepening frown.
“You don’t trust people very easily,” surmised Nysia. “You practically give off an aura of go away and bite everyone before they bite you. Like a dog that’s been beaten it’s whole life! Why? Were your family cruel to you? Did they abuse you and mistreat you?”
“No! Of course not!” Calia practically shouted, as it was practically the most absurd thing anyone had ever accused.
“Then why?”
Calia paused there in the highly decorated hall, finding herself frustrated with this questioning… mostly just not wanting to talk about it at all. It’s not as if the questions were inappropriate, although Nysia seemed to have this direct way of speaking Calia could appreciate. She just… she was going to have to speak about these things a lot wasn’t she. Especially because this royal family knew that Calia was more than just the typical mountain human.
“My family did not know about my magic. I didn’t see things the same way others did, or feel things the same. By the time I was old enough to realize there was something quite different about me, I had learned that magic was not a welcomed thing in Caeldalmor. For good reason, it seems, because it’s that very magic that killed them all.”
“You blame yourself for the fall of your kingdom?” Nysia asked with a gentle frown of her own. Renus had told them that Caeldalmor’s fall had come from a sorcerer that the princess once knew. They were certainly missing some more details, it seemed in the wake of finding out the mountain girl had magic of her own and was now missing a vital piece of herself.
“My magic was used, so I may as well have done so myself,” admitted Calia with no hesitation.
Nysia scoffed, taking the girl by the arm again to resume down the hall.
“When did magic become such a blight to be feared in Caeldalmor?” asked the elven princess. Making Calia pause her flurry of thoughts to eye the girl suspiciously.
“…I am not certain. Likely during my grandfather’s time as king.”
“So,” Nysia held up a hand and counted on her fingers. “Humans live about a hundred years I suppose, so depending on your grandfather’s age, I am guessing it must have been your great grandfather who fought the demons that came through the mountain passes. Demons unleashed because of our traitor mage. Therefore, the actual fault lies here in Edelguard whose troubles spread out into the world and affected your kingdom.”
“That is the stupidest, most round about logic I have ever heard,” scoffed Calia.
“As stupid as blaming yourself for something another man did,” shot back Nysia.
This elven princess was making it incredibly difficult to argue, prompting a surly scowl from Calia, which seemed to just have Nysia grinning a smug little smirk. She’d decided to stay silent then, mostly because all of this was becoming so exhausting she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold her patience.
There was a tiny part of her too reminded in that moment of Archimedes, of the story Rhelic told to her about the hows and whys demons came about in the elven kingdom. Even though Nysia’s logic was nonsense just to prove a point, there was this sense of comedic irony that Arc’s actions then could have created the perfect storm of problems for Calia now. That fate would have added the twisted cherry on top to release him out of hell and into her own life during a grand repeat of those very times.
At the end of Nysia’s long winded tour, she’d brought the mountain princess to a suite meant for royal guests. As beautiful as the rest of the castle in plush harmonious greens and blues, with lovely living plants and big bright open windows. There was a mention of sending for the rest of Calia’s things – what few things she actually had – and a frightening promise from Nysia about acquiring her a properly fitted wardrobe.
Calia was starting to think that putting her in Nysia’s care was a bigger punishment than a prison cell.
Honestly he had nearly felt truly terrible to have come likely not very much after Calia had finally been introduced to that of her new adopted quarters for her duration of time here in the grand capital. Idly pondering thoughts and ideas of ways to try and give her leverage that wasn’t too obvious that it was meant to be ways of temporary escape from a sudden weight of the world thrust further onto her shoulders.
Things he hadn’t successfully come up with either.
Forty minutes wasn’t very long of a difference in time but he knew it would likely be good to get this whole means of meeting Starling down in the underground alchemic halls than prolonging the wait. And well, he was also a bit curious to see just what Calia might say to the mage that had proven he was certainly not the one to withhold information for a better time.
Knowing the way to that of the guest rooms within Nysia’s wing of the sprawling palace, knuckles rapped upon the arched door of the given space. “Princess Calia,” Bidding voice to raise up in case she might be attempting to escape through the nearest window or something, “Are you wanting to join myself for the tour and examples of show within the Alchemic Halls?”
Had Calia been alone, she might very well have been pondering a window escape. Alas, Nysia was studious in her new job, apparently having something to prove to elder sister and now mother as well. To shape this wild mountain princess into something a little more smooth around the edges instead of a snarling, biting creature straight out of the mountain forests.
Naturally, it was Nysia who answered the door. Leaning hand on the frame and beaming a big smile at her little brother, despite the fact she had to look up at the man.
“She doesn’t have time for you Renny, or that cute Everflame. We’re discussing what we’ll be wearing to the next event!”
Calia on the other hand, seemed more than willing for any excuse to flee because she was as quick as a darting fox to duck and squeak under Nysia’s arm. Offering a very rare enigmatic, apologetic smile once she was free in the hall. Complete with a quick straightening of her sleeves.
“I’m sure we’ll have time to talk about ballgowns and suitors later, Nysia. I do need to have a conversation with Tarn sooner than later,” she mentioned, hoping that mention of the mage and the entire ridiculous drama they were involved in was something enticing enough for Nysia, to be happy to let her go just for the chance to get even more gossip about it.
Quickly turning her full attention to Renus, practically begging him with a wordless plea that a quick escape from his sister was vital to keep the peace!
Settling gaze upon sister and the whole not so nonchalant way of telling him to go away, was enough to pull a smirk on his face. Temporarily disabling the prim and properness of his very being, “You’ll have plenty of time to torture the poor woman later. If Princess Calia doesn’t hog tie you on the floor to get away, Ny.” Actually even he might have found the idea inviting enough to want to see the very action of it. Knowing that Nysia was wily but something told him that Calia would win that battle of physical feat hand over fist.
Especially considering how fast the said being had squirmed her way through the door to pop to the other side. Freed from the said torture. Catching the look she offered and gave a nod to show he understood. “The sooner we handle the entirety of what Starling wants to show, the better.” As he didn’t really want to prolong the very event anyways. There was so much happening and a time was going to be needed to just sit down somewhere private to digest one’s own thoughts. “She’ll be back as soon as possible.” He offered in mollifying attempt motioning in the same way for Calia to follow him. “We’ll see you soon Nysia.”
It was a obvious show when he turned to pivoted around fully and started walking that he wasn’t about to let older sister claim ownership any further.
Waiting till they could be successfully out of earshot so he might look gingerly to the princess. “Are you alright?” Asking firstly, adding, “It’s a lot to take in all at once. Had I known the extent of what would have happened, I would have debriefed you far better. For that, I do apologize.”
Normally Nysia might have had a last word for her little brother, but in this case the only thing that followed them down the hall was a light amused laughed, the sound of the door closing and her footsteps echoing down the opposite direction. What that meant was anyone’s guess, but surely it would mean trouble for everyone later in only the way Nysia could do.
Calia had already let out a relieved breath, falling into an easy pace a step behind Renus, soon to find herself giving him and his apology a curious glance. Twisting her mouth to the side, in a sort of fretting motion before quickly shaking her head.
“There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Commander,” she said then in earnest. “I’ve not exactly shared everything that I could have, so you had a limited amount of information to work with. Knowing what I should say and shouldn’t say has been difficult to navigate and it’s no mark on you that I have difficulty in trusting who to share with.”
There was a bit of grimacing then and a want to immediately blurt out that she was fine. Everything was fine, it’s not like she was actually being tortured and mistreated. Her conversation with Nysia was as awkward as most of these interactions had been, but it’d certainly reminded her that the one getting in the way and making this all so difficult was herself. Instead of fighting demons she was fighting a bunch of people who were actively trying to help it, and it was a hard pill to swallow.
“I’m not really okay,” she did admit. “In the bigger picture, anyway. Right now in this moment, I’m just a little embarrassed to have not just my private habits revealed to the queen, but having that same man blurt out a very complicated truth about myself.”
“To be fair, it should have been up to you to share how much or how little you were ready to make known. Unfortunately some people who have the abilities they do, fail to see the respect in that aspect.” Was he defending her, yes. Starling could have handled the reveal far better rather than taking it upon himself to do. Although he did understand a good portion of why it was done as it had. Not approving of it but knowing why.
As much as he agreed with his statement that it was Calia’s choice, the queen needed to know what was the whole picture to make a informed decision. Starling was doing his part as a subject.
It wasn’t a easy path to navigate or particularly fair. “I understand. At least in the means of expression, less in practice.” He offered her a gentle smile that promptly waivered. “Does it bode well for you that you managed to catch Starling offguard as you had? I can vouch that such a thing is rather difficult for someone that can sense people’s magic and such.” Trying to amend or lift spirits in some small way. “If there was a speedy painter that was present, that expression would have been recorded for all time.”
The sound of feet echoing upon the hall was their ambience. A few flitting maids were noticed by they merely tipped their heads or skirts for a more formal acknowledgement without added talking. Letting him lead them almost nearly the same way that Nysia had brought her. Only detouring about half way to that of right that seemed to lead them into a more secluded portion of the palace. Into a corridor that promptly branched into a stony staircase that both rose and sank in the north and south directions.
Indicating lightly with a hand that they were to descend down into the bowels of the palace. Spurring the prince, “The alchemy halls are an entire floor below us. A sprawling place that has many artificers, alchemists and mages alike working. Although we’ll be going further into the halls to that of the magically sealed portions of the keep to ensure the safety of some of the more potent magical items and ingredients.” Renus considered her as he took the motion to lead the steps downwards firstly, “I’ve not been in such places mind you. I do not know what to expect but it seems that the Queen agrees this will be beneficial for us both. The newest creation for why Starling is here, is to fabricate shields from the same process that the weapons are forged.” Balancing a hand upon the centre of the descending twist, a telling fragrance of metal and fire seemed to be rising up to greet them. An almost oily feel to the air as the floor shortly came up to carry them out the stony arch of the stairwell.
Where lantern light appeared to rule the wooden floors of the sprawling area. Various men and women were moving through the halls between a variety of wooden desks. All seeming to require at least a certain amount of various clutter to be considered useable, his attention shifted almost readily to find the very one who had invited them, present. Noticing and quickly shooing aside another person that had been given a short stint of a conversation.
Taking their presence as enough invite to stroll up closer. Rolling up the sleeves of robes with an all too easy grin and unfamiliar one to the prince. “Ah perfect. You’re both here. I was wondering if it might be too daunting for the pair of you to come.”
“Starling, I would ask for some professionalism as we are here.”
“Of course, of course, your highness.” Blue glittering eyes smiled at Calia, “As long as it’s mutual.”
At least there was solace in knowing she hadn’t blundered things so poorly with Renus that they couldn’t find a way back to the point they were previously at. With the added bonus that he now understood a little more why she was so… messy. Biting, snapping, messy. Not that it was an excuse, but there was this need in her, she was starting to realize, to be understood and seen for what she was. For people to actually know her, not just her glamours or carefully constructed facades. Not this awful place she was trapped in, where she was missing vital pieces and felt all broken up and unraveled.
She just didn’t know how to get there and was figuring it out as she went. One stumble, fumble, and trip at a time.
Color her surprised that Renus himself had never been deep down into the underbelly of his own palace, where the very weapons of his own knight’s guard were being forged. She almost quipped that she found it odd the queen would even allow her down here with how little they knew about her. Who was to say she wasn’t some demon possessed assassin here to learn all of their secrets? Calia sure wouldn’t want to trust herself down in these vital places.
…did she trust herself down here?
That was left undecided in the wake of her own curiosity, having only experience a small portion of the sorts of magics that were practiced in Caeldalmor in a kingdom where most wouldn’t dabble with anything more than herbalism and basic witchcraft and the rest were all a bunch of horny wizards and sorceress that treated magic as a tool for kink and debauchery. Meeting a practicing mage was like finding a finding a four leaf clover in the spring. They existed, but you really had to be looking for them!
And then there was Starling. Looking far too pleased with himself. Well, he had a right to be after night last, regardless of the day’s surprises.
“I thought about taking a swing at you for putting me into such an awkward position with the Queen. But I suppose it is only fair after all of the positions I put you through.” she quipped, no shame. Nothing but a deadpan delivery.
“That is the last I’ll say of it,” she turned her head to reassure Renus.
The man offered her a crooked smirk, “And would you have told the queen yourself?” It was entirely rhetorical but they likely could all guess that she wouldn’t have said a single word. “Think about it carefully, it may not have been tactful but it spared you from being discovered and distrusted. I am a living embodiment of confirming you aren’t a dangerous to burst open into some demonic creature.”
There was a parting in mouth that spurred the other to slid in, “Starling, we have things to discuss. And these items are not it.” Evidently the look of pure discomfort had come at the whole positions that were mentioned. Barely managing not to grimace at the same time about it. “Please show us what you were excited about.”
Eyes considered the pair of them. Straightening with a tapping of fingers over another arm. Thoughtful musing turning into a swing around. Motioning them to follow along the arrangement of tables and stacks of shelves in a state of obvious disarray. One had to wonder how anyone found anything anywhere! But he knew personally that mages could be quite the packrat style of individuals. To clean up their messes were prone to getting a hand cut off. Because their mess was their order.
It made not a lick of sense to him at all. “Omal is out thankfully,” Referencing the Mage Advisor, “So he won’t get his feathers ruffled at having a foreigner in our halls. Huffing and fluffing up like some grand peacock about to strut and tut in the means of lecturing against the queen’s own blessing.” The man huffed, “You really ought to replace him.”
“When Liriel takes the throne, she will appoint a new advisor.” Although he didn’t disagree, Omal was not entirely the best advisor that was on the same level as the queen. Liable because the man had been around since the dawn of time!
Tilting focus to look at a few large standing mortal sized jars that looked like living terrariums filled with various flora. Alien some appeared and others in a state of stasis that caused him to wonder just where one got such strange items. Knowing that those who worked in the Alchemic halls were quite the apothocarians themselves. Praising Gaia and returning their work often back to her clutches. Though as they deepened along the stretch of corridor, Starling had paused to make some ornate fluttering of hand that dispelled an unseen barrier. “Quick on the heels.” He indicated, “It will reapply momentarily and you don’t want to get caught in-between. You might lose whatever part of you is on the wrong side.”
Lips pressed but feet quickened. Taking a few hastily faster steps to avoid finding out if it was a real warning or not. Settling focus once more on the white haired man. “Why was it that you were so eager to show Princess Calia and I these new reagents gathered. I’ve never been invited before.”
“You’ve never had a reason before. The general of your order is out of the city and you are a present commander. Plus, well, consider me interested to see your thoughts on these. And Princess Lia… I mean Calia,” he smirked teasingly at her, “Is a demon touched, heart missing, magic torn human girl. I’m curious to see how she reacts to the ways of creation of such weapons. Rather than forging steel in flame, the weaponry here is quite different. Enchantments. Processes. Magical weaving and artificial and organic materials that come together to form something so unique. An outsiders perspective is something I do enjoy and she is quite the smart young lady. As I found out.”
That wasn’t exactly an answer. Something Starling picked up on, “Chalk it up to immense interest, your highness. Plus, I cannot invite only Princess Calia to look and forgo the Commander that is acting the good escort for the young majesty. Add on that there are a few things I know that you as a flora enthusiastic will appreciate. It’s all in educational purposes. Then add on that it would be good for the said princess to see because she might have insight as a woman with a warrior’s build, on critique of such weaponry. I’m a mage. Not a fighter.”
Calia was not sure if this was helping or hindering her. Being the first time she was interacting with someone after she’d slept with them, there was a certain level of familiarity she wasn’t used to. All of that was such a personal, physical thing that never needed to be translated before into other means. To trust someone to do all sorts of salacious things to you when you were at your most vulnerable somehow was a lot different from this new kind of vulnerability where he could so easily destroy any sort of credibility or connection she’d just barely managed to scrape up.
People did this all the time, and they just trusted the other wouldn’t ruin their life somehow?
“Well then, thank you. Thank you oh so much,” she rejoined, making it clear she understood perfectly well, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Or shouldn’t still be mad about it. Starling was lucky that Calia didn’t like this position that they were putting Renus into, having to be the middleman between them when these sorts of filthy things seemed to have him edgy and uncomfortable. She was trying her best not to rise to any bait.
The damn pale haired men, they really were always so much trouble.
Calia was quick to follow instruction, to stay close and not get caught up in magic barriers, finding that even though she no longer had her own magic easily within her grasp, there was so much here that… prickled. It sang, it warbled, it squeaked little tunes or whispered soft hisses. Though she was more interested in the strange plants and creatures in the terrariums, there were objects just begging her to reach out and touch or rifle through them. Almost even touching the tip of finger to one when Starling brought up her being demon touched and more.
So he did in fact know that too.
There really wasn’t anything left for her to hide now, was there. Save perhaps Archimedes. Then again, why should she spare him at all? It’s not as if he cared two shits about her on a personal level, nor was she likely to ever see him again.
“I am to be an experiment, then,” she addressed the obvious. “I’m a peculiarity to be studied and if something useful or helpful comes from it, all the better.”
She had some fun quips about experimentation, but for Renus she said nothing about that. Whether or not those thoughts crossed her features where Renus couldn’t see it, well, that was a different matter!
“Not in that way of wording. An observer and a conversationalist.” Renus did in fact look uncomfortable with the thinly veiled commentary but he didn’t interject as Starling corrected in his own way. “Saying you are an experiment is debasing. You have different strengths from me and his highness. Just like we have different strengths from each other. It’s always good to have a multitude of different points of view. And well, if we are able to develop these shields, it would be good for the Order to have. If not yourself, Princess.”
The elven prince hummed. Trying to look like he was so enamoured with their surroundings even if that was hardly the case. Well entirely the case.
For every bit they stepped further away from the others that were steadily working amongst whatever it was they were, they were venturing deeper into the halls. Where lantern light seemed to grow more common. Casting a warm amber glow across more shelves. These ones far more organized and coated with dust. Catalogue systems and tomes of all sorts.
Every so often there were wooden long tables with chairs spread between the shelves. The only things that appeared not to be dusty showing their common use. Till the sharps of ears started to lift when they stepped through that of an old ornate archway. Coming through to the an immense foyer. Walls carved upon into articulated odd shapes and crafts. All leading towards a faintly glowing door in which Renus himself seemed to be particularly struck about. “What is this place?”
“Part of the old kingdom when our culture was no longer in agreement with the fae.” Starling stated, “Changed a bit but its sealed in here to keep everything safe. Sometimes spells go awry and we don’t want to risk anything. Hence my importance.” The statement was clear and serious. “Some of the reagents we use for the weapons are pretty delicate so we keep them here just in case. They aren’t easy to find so being safe than sorry was a requirement enforced by myself.”
“Ah.” Motioning for the man to continue on.
Replicating the insistence to follow, Starling repeated the fluttery motions before the door so they could step through safely. Only for the man to stop a moment and hold the handle. Barring them from continuing. “Just don’t touch anything inside. In case you are curious.”
A glance to Calia was just more of a side thing. Moving forward once more into the room once Starling allowed them to do so. Closing the door no sooner behind to reveal that the space was very much bare bones.
Mostly.
There was a familiar smell on the air. And unfamiliar all in the same breath, but it was hard to pinpoint it due to the fact that Starling was stepping over to the bright glowing magic circle in the room. Making his chest twist and stomach churn, “Starling, what the hell is this?”
The mage grinned softly as he stepped around the circle slowly. Holding hands out to gesture to the very sight of something no one could have prepared him for. At least for a second before something dripped from the ceiling. Slowly turning attention upwards only to step backwards. For above them, they dangled.
At least fifteen of them were chained up there. Great hooks made from the same metal that had comprised his own holy weapon. Stuck through bodies of monstrous and all too near humanoid shapes. Their bodies severed. Cut. Hacked and beaten but they were still alive. Groaning or hissing from their impaled status, with the singular one currently chained and knelt upon the magical circle like this was some wicked man’s idea of a gallows. “Starling!”
“This! Oh this,” Finger shook into the air, “I never thought I’d see one this complete in the flesh and yet,” The horned creature’s face was torn open from cheek to cheek. Baring an mutilated grin unwillingly. Bloody strings of spit dripping from its face with a singular violet eye looking upon them all. Arms bound by unknown chains though the gore was hardly limited to its face. Sharing the meat hooks seemingly strategically pushed through body to keep it stationary and bleeding. Meaty hunks of flesh were forcible stripped away from body. Right shoulder more bone than skin and it appeared a leg itself had been practically hacked off. “Prince Renus, Princess Calia. May I introduce you to the greatest prize of them all for our creation of weapons. The one who even helped create the starting process of even creating such holy blessed weapons. From the very beasts they are meant to destroy.” The mage hummed sweetly, “Archimedes Silverstone.”
Calia couldn’t really argue about that. To have different perspectives made the world more interesting, didn’t it? Though by the looks of this underground place, with all of the mages and strange magical scientists it didn’t seem to her that they were lacking of perspectives. Elves with their long lives had so much time to learn and develop and use magic in was that was a benefit to their people.
Although she could not say she liked that they were down here so far away from the sunlight and the fresh air. Giving her that similar stifling feeling she’d felt in the mountain tunnels, where it seemed like the world had grown small and smothering. A quick glance to the prince gave her the faint impression that he too found all of this suffocating. For a man who loved the greenery of nature, maybe it was for the best that he’d never had to come down here before.
It wasn’t until they came into a strange foyer with high columns and beams holding back the very dirt of the earth that she was suddenly all kinds of interested attention. Realizing these walls weren’t carved to resemble the roots of a tree but were roots. Old, ancient, thick roots. Compared to the tree above full of life and loud demands screaming in her head, these roots felt brittle, decaying… hoarsely whispering so softly that she could no longer make out the words.
Finding with stunned surprise that this was part of the ancient kingdom. Likely the original kingdom of elves when they’d first planted roots – apparently literally – within this realm.
Starling’s warning not to touch anything was met with Calia’s oh-so-innocent blinking. Of course, her fingers were itching to do just that. She’d behave this once.
On trailing close on the prince’s heels, the smell of demon’s blood was the first thing to assault her senses. Rationalizing at first, that it was likely they’d have to dispose of ones they’d kill safely somehow or use pieces to help creating magical wards and weapons. Quick to reach her hands out to brace Renus before he backed into her altogether and following his tilted stare up and up and-
No, no, no. No. No.
This was wrong. It did not matter that they were demons, this was a cruel, vile sort of violence not just being inflicted on those demon souls, but it was dripping, bleeding, soaking into the very dirt and stone all around them in a way that none of the magical wards could hold within. This was no holy magic!
This was wrong.
Maybe it was a blessing that Calia did not have her heart and magic in that moment, because her instinctual reaction was to put a stop to this in a hailstorm of fire. Fingers flexing and almost strumming the chord at her sides when she stepped away from the prince to approach that bloody circle. Counting each of the mutilated forms until she fell on one in particular.
Archimedes.
Right where he belonged? No. This was a cruel distortion of justice.
“Does Queen Ashera know what you have done here?” she asked, oddly unreactive considering the way she’d light up into a feisty temper over anyone and everything. Cold. Holding gaze with the violet eyed demon before finally turning sight to Starling himself. “Is she aware of what you are keeping here and how her holy weapons are made?”
The answer mattered more than anything else in the world at that moment. It would determine exactly whom she was about to be.
The prince himself was temporarily speechless. Eyes rotating up to the creatures that he knew were absolute monsters. That if they were free, they’d have no problem ripping them open like ripe fruit. And yet, they were up there. Kept alive but just enough. They didn’t deserve mercy because they would not give it either. But to look and realize that the fresh reagents were likely parts of these damnable beasts, he didn’t know what to think.
And it was another to look upon another centred upon that magical circle. A prize hooked and pinned and chained into place with enough bodily mutilation that even if demons’ could heal impressive well, it was likely a very painful existence. Fractured apart. Used as a living offering while knowing, remembering and mentally able to see recall every interaction he had with this once upon a time, man.
Hating him.
Then pitying him.
And hating him all over again.
He was similar to what he once looked like. The same violet eye –seeing as the one had been clearly pulled from skull to leave a gaping fissure for now. The build was different. The horns were obviously new and yet, he looked still decently elven that it was a struggle to both identify that the creature that had brought so much ruin to their kingdom, was here at all.
It took a long moment to realize Calia had spoken. Asking if the queen knew about what was happening here. How the weapons were made and Starling stood there. He didn’t look like a mad man. He didn’t seem crazed or psychotic. Just the same as he always was. No wild smiles. Maniacal laughter. Promises spoken of insane ideas. “Holy weapons are made from bones of demons, Princess Calia. Their blood is then collected and the weapon is bathed in it. For it was by this one’s demonology research that found out that demon’s have resistances to many things. But forging weapons from them and then purifying them after with holy water and tempering them between blood and some enchantments, the weapons build an immunity to all demon types. They are able to cut them down.”
Renus shook his head, “This is barbaric.”
“The stronger the demon, the better the weapon. Those ones,” Starling pointed up, “We get blood from. Bone from. Parts of them to build tools to stave them off. We used to kill them and just wait for the next round that bleed from the once open demon portal but it wasn’t enough. So we had to start keeping them alive somehow. Hence,” Finger wiggled in the point, “It’s not pretty of course but they aren’t mortals. They are beasts. Monsters that have no problem killing us.” The master mage shrugged a bit. “The Queen knows about this.” That finger moved. “She approved it because they are simply sacrifices for the good of thousands. It’s a eat or be eaten world unfortunately and it won’t be long before the Imperial Mad Queen starts trying to break into our kingdom. We have to be prepared and that means by any means necessary.”
Renus frowned. Deep. “But,” Starling reached forward to grip the shoulder of the elf turned demon, with Archimedes turning his gaze upwards himself. Looking amongst the bodies above. “This she doesn’t know about. We only just recently caught him. I mean no one was ever expecting the great bastard to manifest again! This is a soon to be gift for the Queen to dispose of as she wants. We just took parts of him to test to see how well they would work. If they will be able to create the shields necessary. It was quite the task to reign him in. After all, what better offering to the queen than the one who killed Prince Carlisle. Advisor Silverstone, Lady Bloodworth and the entire Poinsettia Estate.”
Suddenly reaching up to grab a horn to ream head back, drawing a pained hiss. Spitting blood through the ragged tear, “They’re just demons after all. And it’s only fair to repay someone for their cruelty. An eye for an eye as it were. It’s about time this one be made to suffer for the chaos that was rent upon thousands of innocents. Even you, your highness.” Gesturing at Renus, then looked to Calia. “Do you not agree? Aren’t you seeking revenge as well, Princess Calia. The one who took your heart? Your magic. Are you not going to make them suffer for what they have done?”
“This is sick, Starling. Holy weapons made from the very corpses or body parts. How are we any better?”
“We are just following the once upon a time esteemed would be advisor’s design. If you are going to blame anyone, it might as well be him. He gave us the answer even if he was the one that did this all.”
Releasing horn, Archimedes huffed, saying nothing. A surprise perhaps though the missing appendage within was likely the source of that.
Calia listened. Calia tried, really, truly tried to follow the justification and logic in Starling’s words on how this could possibly be okay. Making weapons from the blood and bone of felled demons had merit. How was it any different from hunting and farming animals to use for food and goods.
Well. There was one stark difference. No one hung animals up on hooks, slicing off parts of them over and over and over again. Letting them live and suffer in agony, slowly healing only to be butchered all over again.
The mage dared to state the question, was she not seeking revenge? Calia shifted, taking slow deliberate steps around this magic circle, eyes examining this work he’d been doing. All of it. The missing parts, oozing gore. How bodies dangled from up above, drip dropping their very life essence down. Archimedes had unleashed the demons into this land oh so long ago, killing the very people he’d been trying to save. Was this full circle karma for Queen Ashera and her people? Is this what Calia herself sought to do once she’d finally tracked down Derrick to retrieve her heart?
Her vengeance didn’t look like this.
Renus said it best. This was sick, this was not better. Calia’s fingers curled into her hands were balled into fists, nails digging so deep into her own skin that it broke through drawing a thick drip of blood. The princess did not even flinch, too busy narrowing eyes as she examined the full scope of the chamber. Following the length of chains from where hooks gouged through demon flesh, where the links were bound to the ceilings and walls. Bringing gaze downwards to the floor, singing those lines of magic that made up these sigils that were both keeping demon bound and leeching out the power within their very blood. To the walls of exposed roots of a tree more ancient than all of them combined, who was a prisoner and witness here to something it could not stop.
“I need to know specifically,” she stressed that word, almost even snarled it, “if Ashera knows that you are keeping them alive to torture and butcher for these regeants.”
That part was so important that she was nearly cracking under the restraint it took to reign in all of her bitter disappointment and anger. Stopping next to Renus to stare him down, as her promise had been specifically to him that she would try to control her ire and be something worthy of her title. Pushing Starling to the very back of her attention, for that man seemed to be almost enjoying having the chance to inflict so much pain.
“Holy weapons cannot be made from blood and suffering. Your weapons are a lie,” it was an icy hiss of a statement. Could she take solace in knowing Renus looked just as disgusted by all of this as she? In that moment it was hard for her to see through it. “Torment and torture and pure evil malice is soaking into the very roots of your homeland. It taints the heart of your family legacy and it will spread through your kingdom like a curse.”
“I do not want help from a Queen that believes cruelty like this can be justified. Tell me I am allowed to do what needs to be done, Renus. The right thing. Please.”
Calia might’ve been asking out of respect, but it was very clear by the heartbroken look in her eyes that if he said no, whatever it was she was plotting up, she was going to do it anyway. That she knew it could potentially burn her bridges here and there would be no going back.
The need for specifics drew his attention. Unfortunately it only shifted moments later to take a step back to avoid a glob of blood dripping down from the demons hanging like macabre decorations in a all too fancy dungeon. Tracing stare around till it fell once more to stare at a former visage he remembered from many, many years ago. Then to the gouging hooks that seemed to make sure the demons weren’t liable to attack them.
Starling was uncharacteristically hesitating. At the question of whether the queen knew the depth of what they were doing to achieve what could harm and maim demons. Something they deemed as holy and now… now he felt as though his own hands were soiled.
He bared no love for the beasts. Not a single shred but as an avid believer in Gaia. In balance, this was a strong skew of that very logic. It wasn’t taking the offerings of the earth mother and then returning them with their gratitude. It was twisted. It was dark. And, it was absolutely no better than these beasts. He did think it was a good idea to use them against their own kind but not like this.
Was this why they had such a limitation on the weaponry before? Because the way they got them was limited on how they got the demons. And now, they managed to keep them alive to harvest them over and over and over?
“She does not.” Starling stated then after a long pause. And it was enough to make him feel both relieved and further disgusted. This was under the Bladerift’s jurisdiction after all. To make magical items that would do better for everyone. But not like this.
Not like this.
Of course Calia suggested the facts that the weapons were made as lies. They were. And they weren’t. They were no holy savior of course but they were still functioning weapons that saved countless lives. Just the process currently was utterly demented. “I do not know if you should speak so heavily on such things, Princess Calia.” Starling made a very pointed look to her chest to indicate that she had lied about her own missing parts.
Only that Calia looked to him and he listened. “We must speak with her. And express the truth. I do not think harvesting what we can from dead demons is wrong.” He clarified pointedly as he didn’t justify the current actions, “But to be butchers and poisoning the teachings of Gaia, this needs to be set right.” He didn’t want the princess to just suddenly trying to kill Starling or something. “The Queen needs to know the depth of how this is happening. The reality.” He believed the means when Starling said she didn’t know. She wouldn’t have given permission to them to come down here if she had! She wasn’t a malicious person.
Angry, yes.
Malicious, no.
Although the look at the torn asunder Archimedes seemed to turn his own features, “Starling, bring that thing however. The queen also deserves to see it and decide its own fate.” That wasn’t about to be pardoned and thankfully, Starling wasn’t about to go medieval on them. He wasn’t pleased of course but he was a loyal subject.
“As you wish your highness. Allow me a few minutes to get the required items to do so and we can depart upstairs if you wish. We’ll need to bring down the barriers again, so I ask for just temporary patience.”
Calia did not realize she’d been holding her breath, but to know at least that Queen Ashera had no idea the lengths that were being taken down here and wasn’t willingly part of something that felt so obviously evil and wrong in every possible way had her releasing that breath in a slow drawn out hiss. Finding with the oddest sense of curiosity breaking through her anger that somehow this hadn’t been obvious to Starling – that somehow this was only seeming to sink into his dense skull NOW that none of this was right! Did elves in their infinitely long lives completely forget something a simple as valuing life?!
“Don’t you fucking dare compare me to this, Starling Everflame.” Already opening clenched fist full of blood to reach behind her to grab at… well, that wasn’t to be revealed as Renus spoke up quickly. Assuming all too correctly that Calia was about to commit a murder and only just barely managing to stave that off in his agreement that this all needed to stop.
It wasn’t enough. Not for her, anyway, but they were deep under the palace with the great tree above and an entire family of innocent people living and resting in their peace. Anything she did down here that was too wild, too much, was liable to affect those up above with consequences she didn’t intend. Help them, protect them… Calia doubted that meant the demons. That tree was begging for the lives of the families it’d been watching over for generations.
She’d made the mistake of lighting up everything in a wake of angry rage too many times already. No more.
“…you need to put the rest out of their misery and get the bodies away from here. Away from the roots and the tree,” she told Renus. While she changed her posture and no longer seemed to be ready to launch some sort of calculated attacked, there was still that tappy-tap wiggle of her fingers straight at her sides where she was testing the feel of magic. Hers. This place. Anything she could touch.
As for Archimedes… those were complicated feelings, weren’t they. She had until they met Queen Ashera to try and figure those out.
Lifting a hand to signal a calm between the two of them, Renus shot Starling a warning look for his efforts on trying to perturb Calia. A feat that wouldn’t be difficult considering the woman was already that of a powdered keg. Liriel’s description being beyond apt and they didn’t need her deciding to vindicate her own sense of justice for that of his people. It was not her fight, truly.
And he offered Calia a look that expressed that while her statement about ending the demons was just, she wasn’t to lead here. “Dispose of them. Properly.”
Starling agreed. Easily. Shrugging a bit but likely was thinking about the manner of how this all was coming together. Assessing it in his own way but motioned that they were welcome to step out of the door that they had originally entered in. Something he took very seriously, to indicate to Calia that this was not an option to defy either.
A glance was made to the singular entity that was still housed on the floor rather than lofted like a bloody chandelier. Noting how even the being himself wasn’t seemingly fighting or feuding as one might in his position. It was strange and surely he was just seeing things but there appeared to be a hint of utter confusion mingled between the inflicts of pain. As if the bastard wasn’t even sure what the hell he was doing here.
That sat on his chest uncomfortably while pushing them both out the door into the root carved room.
Lodging himself to be an obstacle between Calia and the door to the heinous room. Kneading fingers upon nose bridge and steeling the need to explosively sigh.
Liriel’s assessment was also correct in that Calia was all too easy to read through simple body language. A being ruled purely by her own emotion and it was clear that she was struggling down to her bones to stay within the lines, to not step over, take over, become the deciding factor of everyone here, when it was legitimately not her place or responsibility to do so. Not her kingdom to rule, nor her people to protect… damn, not even these demons were hers to save and yet she had these burning need to repair everything that was here. To send it back to the state it was meant to be in – something natural and beautiful.
She had to force herself not to stare daggers at Starling, to tear her gaze away back to Renus. In her opinion the mage did not appear even remotely sorry or regretful for any of this. How anyone could be so cold – yes cold that very word used before to describe herself! – and not feel horror and disgust. Maybe she could understand a lack of sympathy for creatures that’d caused pain and mayhem, Calia surely did not like them happy little fun-filled demon lives. But what about empathy for suffering! Who could look at this at not feel the pain in their own body.
Having to continue to force herself to move, now in that of her feet to obey Renus’ actual physical push to walk herself out of that chamber door. Stopping soon after to spin and find the man barring the way back through as if he thought she was liable to go barreling back in.
…she couldn’t claim the thought wasn’t crossing her mind.
“…there are more things I should tell you.” she admitted softly. Realizing then, that empathy could be a curse too.
This was not at all what he would have ever expected to see down here. To come to the profound knowledge that what they were wielding were devices of ire. Malice. Pain and torture and suffering. The very embodiment of the damnable monsters that did it to them. The meaning eye for an eye could be applied here but it didn’t make it right.
Using the parts, yes. He did think that was suitable. Because it was in Gaia’s teachings. Waste nothing and use all. Then return it to her with the means of gratitude that it was provided. But not to continue the cycle of malevolence that it would spite and twist them into equal measures of the same very creatures.
Working fingers to bridge like that was going to relieve the pressure inside his head, he tilted his head up to Calia. When she spoke and said there was more to tell him.
Earning a look of exhaustion. “I doubt it could be worse than coming into reality knowing that the things we claimed as holy are plagued weapons.” Arms dropped to his sides but feet remained planted. Giving Calia a very obvious look that indicated he wasn’t so trusting that she wouldn’t try to rush back inside. “Your hand,” Instead offering his own, “I can use a bit of healing magic, if you would allow me to mend it. And if you must tell me anything, now is the time.”
“It is not worse,” she reassured him “…but I am not sure it will be helpful either.”
Even Calia was still in debate about it, as she might be certain what was right what was wrong, that didn’t always mean that things didn’t get muddled and become a lot more complicated than what could be declared in an instant.
Hesitating even now about this offering of healing the self inflicted damage to her hands. Opening up to display bloodied palms where she’d dug her nails in deep punctures – something she’d not consciously done on purpose, but having an awareness that somewhere in the back of her twisted little soul, she’d been intending to use her own blood if necessary to accomplish what she’d wanted.
This single man, at least, had proven to her that he was one of a gentle soul. Not one of delicate fluff and fragile sentiments, but someone with a sense of honor and a good natured heart that she could respect. Renus had proven it in the chamber, faced with absolute horror that he acted with thoughtful strength. This was someone she should aspire to be more like.
She gave him her hands with a twist of her mouth.
“My heart and magic were stolen and then chaos reigned down from the man I once knew,” she started, not from the very beginning, but from where it was most relevant. “I woke up in a cell and he was there, a demon I now know is Archimedes Silverstone. At the time he wasn’t anything more than an annoying beetle trying to entertain himself. In my want for vengeance I made a contract with him… and well, then I tried to kill him several times and he hurt me in return.”
A heavy sigh. In hindsight, there were so many things Calia wished she had done differently. Could have done with more sense had she just stopped for ten minutes to take a minute to think.
“Even he thought I was too wild to keep under thumb and he cut me loose. But… but, he did not leave straight away. He saved my life from a parasite. He saved a village of my people from a walking horror. He saved my life again during the trek through the mountains. Don’t get me wrong, he is an asshole of the highest caliber, yet there is something more there.”
While she still held that frown on her face and was as wound up tighter than a springtrap ready to snap, she still gave a gentle shrug of her shoulders.
“That is my last and final secret and all there is left of me to share. I made stupid choices. As Archimedes had back then. As Starling has now. Do with that information as you will.”
At the very least, hopefully they’d put the man out of his misery and send him back to hell.
A slow rise of eyebrow was offered. Then when she drew closer to offer her hands, his own moved to cup over them. His talent for magic was innately weak. Enough for small healing. Little else. Being part of the now tainted order, he had been a wielder of honour. Integrity and mercy. It seemed a little useless now that the reality of what had made them such a thing, was a lie.
But he could help her. As the whole situation was not something either of them had been prepared for. Or knew what to do with entirely. While she was far more visceral than he was, it didn’t mean he didn’t agree with an urge to just tear this entire section down. For why stand when it was so seeded in wickedness. With a bit of effort, a gentle warm ebbed from palms.
And offered ears to listen as she pointed out that her heart and magic were stolen from someone she had known. That part didn’t sound so strange after all now that the pieces had been revealed for such things. However, that was just the tip of an iceberg in which the next bit had him immediately dropping the healing and her hands. Staring at her as though she had told him in fact she was the demon rather than the monstrous bastard within!
Mouth parting in an open gawp and tried to take in everything that Calia was saying. That she had made a pact with that thing and in turn, she was declaring that even she had been so potentially dangerous that a demon… a demon had chosen to cut it all loose. Growing more into a story of fables than something he could believe! A demon that had sent his entire kingdom into hell. Killing its own family. Innocent people. Then more and unleashing a portal that allowed more to spill through. That still existed and had marred the green earth with a forever scar! That this very same creature of dishonor and blood apparently had saved others. Saved her.
“W…” Renus shook his head. Trying to make sense of any of this. Looking about the hall they stood in with a frail hope that something was just going to give him this profound answer. “What am I supposed to do with that!” Hissing the words through whispered breath, green flickered up and over her. Studying and hoping that this one of her twisted jokes that he just felt uncomfortable with. Lips struggling and pulling over teeth that wanted to speak more but lacked the ability to do so!
Left to just gawk at this woman who really was becoming chaos incarnate.
Maybe Calia should’ve remembered in her need to do something about that deep seeded empathy that she seemed to somehow have for the demon back there, that she ought to have prioritized her own safety! Should have remembered that even if Renus was a man of honor, he and his family were still after a century were so rooted (literally rooted!) in their hatred for demons, that it was pure stupidity to admit she’d accepted a contract from one! If she had brought the chamber down and destroyed everything in it without his permission, that still would have been forgivable compared to this.
She’d side stepped one mistake, only to make another. There really was no hope for her, was there!
At least she was wise enough to pull away and take several paces backwards from the man. Having finally stumbled into his breaking point and not about to give him reason to take immediate action against her. Because woefully, Calia knew that she’d defend herself if came down to it, and that would make all of this so much worse.
He would have to tell the Queen all of this, and if his own reaction was any hint, the consequences from a woman who had lost her own child to demons? Not good for Calia.
“I will go, Renus,” she cringed, uttering the words almost too softly to here. “As you said, I am unfit to be here. It’s not my place.”
She needed to run. To get the hell out of this lightless pit and run as quick and as far as she could.
“Calia!” He barked at her finally.
Hands raising to form claws around his head and certainly at his own breaking point. “Stop being such a fucking coward about everything!” Huffing at the girl, “Stay put. By the greater grace of Gaia, you may be the stupidest most intelligent child of a woman I have ever met! You want to do good, and try to own your mistakes only to run away the second it gets hard like a scared rabbit. What kind of warrior are you that you are this bit of both a danger to things you feel vindicated for but will also be the biggest wimp when you need to just fucking deal with shit!”
Yes, he had crossed that limit. “I did not say you were unfit. Do not put words in my mouth, I said you could be. And this is precisely proof of it. You came here for aid. Now stop being such a little child and realize that everyone has to do things they hate. It’s called being an adult. Not everything is perfect. Not everything is magical and the fact you rely on your anger to get you through everything is already a problem that needs to be fixed.”
Shoving a finger down to the floor to declare he meant that she was to stay put. No longer was she going to tell people how it was and not listen to what had to be said in reply cause it might hurt her sensitives, “I said I would help you but god’s damn you. God’s damn you! You want to act like you have everything handled. Take you can handle it all by yourself, but clearly you can’t. Because if this is what you do when things are complicated, dear god’s! You’re foolish. Self righteous and absolutely mean spirited. But you also have integrity and spirit and a desire to fight for what it right. You really just need to crawl out of your own ass to realize, you are nothing more than a speck of dirt on this very earth. Just like me. Just like everyone. And we all need to work together to make a difference but holy moly, how can anyone rely on you when you want to run away. Run away!” Finger’s shoved into his hair. “Just. Stop. Just stop.”
“Mistakes happen. Mistakes are something you have to learn from. Not keep making over and over and over again thinking that it’s going to result in a different outcome. And allow me time to think. This isn’t easy. That in there,” He looked horrified, “It’s so disgusting! It’s wrong. So incredibly wrong but you also lied to me. Allow me the decency to process that rather than being a scared little bunny with their tail between their legs. I’m a living person. I need time to think. To digest. And today has been absolutely a whirlwind. You may not want to feel things, but I do. I need too. And right now, I need to think. To understand. And not be lecturing a grown human about how idiotic she is while hoping in turn that her own volatile anger isn’t going to kill other people because she has a bad handle on realizing that things happen. Mistakes happen. Life can be fixed but she’d sooner hurt others because she’s so afraid that someone might see her as a person too. Broken. Needing help and being a total dunce about it.”
Loudly he sighed. Raking fingers again through his crown. “You’re absolutely an idiot. But so am I. I still want to help, but you need to be honest. How can someone help you if you don’t trust them.” Glancing to the roof, Renus swallowed hard. Trying to think of anything.
“Archimedes… it’s up to my mother to decide his fate as his once upon a time godmother. His queen… and you need to tell her the truth. Too. About it all. Because…. Because… demon’s don’t help people. But… if what you said is true… then it has to be known. Because if we are missing something about demons and it could be vital, then it’s up to us to make it known. Just, stop trying to run away. That doesn’t solve anything, it only makes bigger problems.”
Holy shit, she’d broken Renus!
Oh she’d stopped, ready to screech that nothing about her was a coward just as an automatic defense, but one look at him now with his hair frazzled to all ends from his own hands and this tint of furious red in his skin with the added bonus of a vein pulsing at his temple, it halted her all over again. Watching wide-eyed, and okay, actually scared, as he launched into a tirade that was scathing a best and bone cutting at it’s worst. Dressing her down to the very quick for every single ill-behaved thing she’d done, not just a hint of it, but in great detail.
Not just once, either. Hammered it down, multiple times. Where maybe the first time she could’ve scoffed and ignored it. Twice she’d be disgruntled and accepted at least on a surface level. Yet he kept going, unleashing every bit of pent up frustration and fury he had about her, the situation, and damn, perhaps his entire life all for the efforts of getting her to stop her bullshit for ten seconds and actually listen to someone for once.
Never in her life had she wanted to shift shape, but if she could shrink herself down to the tiniest of mice in that moment she would have.
And somehow, somewhere in the middle of his frenzied shouting his words were actually penetrating that layer of hard stone she’d been trying to build, to sink in. To swirl around in the cavern of bitterness she was storing up for a stormy day, to give her this dawning epiphany of understanding.
This was not an attempt to harm her, this was care. Humiliating as it was, to have it so bluntly laid at her feet, it finally clicked the puzzle pieces in her head. She said she’d been trying, but she’d clearly not been trying hard enough. Because of her own pride and fear and everything in between.
After a long, long silence… Calia finally nodded. “Okay,” was her all too meek verbal reply, practically croaked at this point. Glittering at the corner of the eyes, as even she in her hatred of blubbering tears could not keep it bay this time. Unable to trust herself to say anything further or express that she’d understood the scope of what he’d said, that she was genuinely sorry, as it was likely to come out in a rambling of nonsense that didn’t sound sincere.
It was a good thing that neither of his sisters were here because he was certain they’d be absolutely shocked, if not horrified that he’d snapped so terribly. Then tease him about how he’d broken his own self for being prim, proper and resolute in most, if not all his interactions. But, they weren’t here. Instead it was him and Calia.
Huffing after his verbal onslaught on the girl that was really trying and not trying at the same time. To look at her with a sort of slow dawning awe that she was thankfully not trying to figure out a way to bring down the entire cavern because of him ripping out every bit of seen observation he had about her. Knowing that it wasn’t his best moment but admittedly, it helped. One could only hope that something got through to her so she wouldn’t keep spinning in place with a hope that the results would be different from the same actions.
The silence in comparison was rather deafening. Barely broken by a simple okay.
Enough that he swallowed dryly yet again but stepped over regardless of their stations. Regardless of their positions or thoughts to just approach and throw her into a tight hug. Not sure if she needed it or him! But he was a compassionate person. Sighing no sooner between the grip. “You can’t be stone. Any more than I can. Stone breaks eventually too and it crumbles to absolute pieces. It’s not fun being made of flesh and bone and blood because it also breaks, but it heals. Stone cannot. It only becomes smaller till its nothing more than shale and gravel. Washed away by water and forgotten about.” The prince tightened his grip a moment then released. At least to let her stray away letting hands remain on her biceps.
“I said I was going to help you, and I meant it. Even now. Even with all the knowledge and truths you’ve told me. Because I know you are sincere in wanting to fix things, you just have to let people actually help you. Not just saying it and ignoring it because it means being exposed. You’ve been through literal hell, Calia. I know it. I may not understand it on the same level as you but I can still see it. And you have strengths and knowledge that we could learn from too! It’s a give and take relationship. It helps us all, rather than just taking without anything.”
Renus took a deepening breath in hopes to stave off the blood pounding through his body. “Not everyone wants to hurt you. I know its probably hard to believe right now, but you owe it to yourself to find that out. Because if you don’t, you’re going to be alone. Hurt. Afraid. And miserable. You’re not alone, Calia. And it’s okay to stand up for what you believe in, that’s what makes you, you. But you can’t run away from it. That’s really the biggest thing. Running away is the cowards way. You’re better than that. I know it. I see it. Just… have faith that you came to the right place even if its hard and makes you uncomfortable. These are steps forward, not backwards. And I’ll do what I can to make sure you aren’t doing this by yourself. So you can find resolution at the end.”
Finally hands released, likely because ears were slightly moving. Picking up the sound of the door opening so he could tilt his gaze at Starling. And apparently a few other mages that had been likely deeper inside. They looked prepared for something and he wasn’t sure if he was ready to find out the next portion of this reality.
“Are we ready?” Starling asked.
For a split second Calia thought he was about to strangle her, she’d surely deserved it of course, but the thought was there and a foot shifted ready to dodge or fight or do whatever was needed in the moment. Only to find herself with shocking surprise wrapped into a tight squeezing hug from he man who had been so resolutely poised for most of the time she’d known him (baring this one embarrassing explosion).
And she melted immediately into that hug with a stuttering breath and had a new realization that this single little physical action, familial friendly affection had been missing from her entire life. Calia had the love and contact of her family, and sought out the fulfillment of lovers for physical joy. Yet apparently there was something uniquely special and comforting about a friend squeezing the daylights out of you. Reciprocating with shaking hands, as awkward as it was because she was certain a gentle soul like Renus likely needed such a thing himself.
“If you don’t hush Renus, there won’t be anything left of me for your Mother to lecture too,” she murmured… with humor? Actually daring to have humor in her voice when she straightened her up and fussed at her all the more. Calia could not say she’d be able to right herself in a day, but perhaps now maybe she was seeing that being an immovable mountain wasn’t any better than being the flittering wind or a rushing river.
There was more she would’ve liked to say, and perhaps later she’d have the chance to do so. For the moment at least all of her had been tempered down into a soft sort of acceptance. Still pensive for obvious and good reason, but not a wild, feral animal about to lash out at any hands and fingers making the wrong move.
Only giving an uncomfortable frown at the sight of Starling. To suck in a breath and let it out slow when she’d stood a little straighter. Renus might have her admiration and now perhaps even her undying loyalty, but as for Starling… that one was still up in the air.
“Let us see what fate has in store for us,” came her reply. As this truly was a strange twist of fate in the very making, wasn’t it!
Softly there was a chuckle given at the means of her effort to be amusing. Thinking on something witty to reply with but the moment was a bit of a struggle to even come that far. Add on that there was an once more obvious change that drew him to offering Starling a strongly disappointed and disapproving look that was unlikely to leave any time soon. For the actions by his hands and processes were dire filth. Things that needed to change and would be done promptly.
Nodding a bit slowly at Calia’s affirmation. They had to see what would happen next and he was certain it was going to be a properly emotional mess. Just another level of it added on to what it was currently.
Squeezing Calia’s shoulder, “Lead.” Speaking at Starling seeing as he and his associates now would need to remove the barriers. As they were about to have a very uncomfortable conversation with that of the Queen.
Something not even she could see coming.