“Calia… Princess Calia.”
The soft gentle words called up and the mountain princess grunted with the intent to roll and curl herself up in her blankets. Only that roll had her nearly tipping out of her cozy nook, and an empty bottle slipping out of her hands to land down below on the soft ground with a thumpthock. Easily side-stepped by the one with such a bright tone of voice when it was barely the crack of dawn in the pink blooming sky past the glass dome was any indication.
“I can’t say it is the first time that someone was found asleep up there, but they are usually properly dressed,” mused the Crowned Princess Liriel cheerily. Standing there fully dressed in her own day’s clothing and holding a pretty teacup steaming away. She smiled all the more as the princess above let out a series of fuck!s and shit!s amongst other curses as she clambered down from the loving branches of the great fae tree.
Calia guessed this was not the sort of refined behavior becoming of a princess. Trying to straighten herself out as best she could from combing fingers through her hair and making sure that silken robe was closed up so she wasn’t flashing her underwear to the future queen of Edelguard.
“I’m sorry, she’s just–“
“Comforting? Warm. Loving, beautiful… You’ve done nothing wrong, princess. Morning approaches fast, however, you may want to go get yourself dressed. It won’t be long before morning court begins.”
“Right,” Calia responded, even giving an awkward sort of curtsy as she was just that caught off guard and perhaps just a little bit hungover. At least remember to snatch up that empty bottle before scooting away quickly. Before she got too far, she slowed to a stop and turned back to the crowned princess.
“How long did it take before you felt confident that you could take on the role of queen?” she asked curiously.
Liriel tilted her head, pondering this question carefully before she ended with a soft smile and a shrug of slender shoulders.
“I’ll tell you when I finally have that day.”
Not the answer Calia was expecting, but it was an answer that was somehow satisfying. Mabe there was no feeling ready for it, you simply did it and hoped for the best.
The princess made a fast exit back to her suite, not avoiding eyes as she would’ve hoped, but at least not running into anymore of the royal family. She’d searched the clothing left to her by Nysia and found she was quickly running out of things that were plain and simple. Now being forced to nonsense that made her look like a fairy tale elven princess instead of anything practical. Ending up with an item in deep burgundy that was likely going to seem like she was now trying to seduce all the men in Edelguard, but she just wanted to wear pants and this one had an added bonus of a hood to pull up over her aching head.
As soon as she was dressed, Calia crawled right back into bed. Nysia would be busy with her second date, and no one would miss Calia!
Likely to be the misfortune for the princess, there was a knock readily at her door. Barely five minutes one could take a guess at to declare she had to be ready to travel. The task handed off to that of a maid that was the lucky soul that received the news from the commander prince about the means of setting off. That she was expected to be presented at the front gates of the sprawling palace within fifteen minutes and that her arrangement of company was going to leave with or without.
It was only perchance that Arc himself hadn’t come to do any sort of waking. Being bid to find Aien come the morning –when the room of Calia had been absent again, he had went looking for her once more. Unsuccessful in his avenue of checking because the damn fae tree did a grand job at masking her existence so it was the second prince that had found and bid the elven demon to follow.
With being present at the time Renus had declared the ready task, Aien had gone ahead and prepared attire that was suitable for both travel and intending to offer protection.
Currently smoothing rolling the sleeves of the overcoat to present forearms as eyes idly considered the state of the slowly cresting sun. Taking note of Renus having already prepared himself –as expected- and currently speaking with some wide but short looking elf about likely the whole endeavour. “Are we to be expectin’ some excitement?” Asking with gaze flowing over to Aien, the bearded elf shrugging.
“It’s better safe than sorry. The hell gate tends to open and close at its own discretion so you could run into other demons. You might not. But it’s always good to be alert.” As if the very comment was enough to have the man offering over a proper sword at him. Getting a look and a slow acceptance to the thing. Feeling its weight within its protective shell before strapping it to hip. Making sure it was easily accessible to the guiding hand, “I’d also say you might want to be cautious just in general. Who knows what will trigger any sort of memories.” Tapping his head for effect.
“Oh yeah, can’t wait for that. Last night wasn’t abusive enough, oughta just jump head first into the rest.” That got Aien to smile brightly, “At least yer enjoyin’ the prospect of my misery.”
“Not so much but it’s hard to be entirely serious when you spin it that way. This will either be good or bad for you.”
“All the more reason why that one looks pleased as a peach, eh?” Tipping head at the walking wall of an elf.
“He’s likely telling Renus to stab you in the heart if you start potentially acting like a maniac danger.” Arc sighed at the suggestion. “It’s all precaution.”
“Lucky me, I should feel so appreciative!”
“Fuck,” the quiet curse was uttered to herself, yet wake she did. Not that she even had a chance to really fall asleep! Rolling back out of bed to answer the door and give the woman there a bleary-eyed blink of mild understanding. Bless this maid, however, for she’d had the foresight to bring Calia a bite to eat and something hot to wash it down with. So what might’ve been a scramble and mad dash was only a bit of grumbling as she tugged on her boots, chewed on a tart and drank down the hot tea.
It did not improve her state of being in the slightest, but that might’ve been more related to the who that did the summoning rather than the ache in her head.
Calia made her appearance as a specter in burgundy and brown. Hair braided over one shoulder so it was easier to have the hood up over her head to block out the dawning sunrise. At least she appeared to be awake and alive… and maybe even appeared the slightest bit like she was ready to commit an assassination. But awake!
And there was an interesting collection of souls there already, none of which she gave a smile too. Though she did pluck gently at Arc’s sleeve, with some unspoken amusement at this new style of attire for him.
“I exist, Commander,” came her icy greeting. Or a threat. This time it might actually be a threat.
“Morning Calia,” Aien greeted cheerily, more akin to a eager hound having finally greeted the new day and unlikely to really process that he might be in the less than pleased books of the young lady due to his disappearance at dinner the first night. One that could be clarified as not due to her but out of something she said that sparked a very urgent need to deal with then and there. Resulting in the evenings thus far spent with a former familiar friend that was probably still in there somewhere.
There was a glance from Renus, a dutiful nod and a motion that he would be with them momentarily. Not quite yet finished with the debriefing that was coming from the superior. Leaving Arc to pivot his frame to face the woman with the hood up and almost sensing that she had the barest pressing ache in her skull. “Where did yah sleep, lass? Once more I returned to be a dutiful beast and found yer quarters devoid of yer presence once more. Hopefully yah aren’t nursin’ too terrible of a dry ache in the base of yer skull, though the mutual may have been replicated in near sympathy due to the kindness of a particular fellow.” On cue Aien merely grinned. Making a motion of tipping an imaginary hat that only encourage a low disapproving amused grunt from the likes of himself.
Of course it seemed that spark of awareness pulled and the elder sibling in presence motioned with a finger that he was stepping back to retrieve something off his gathering of items that had been either prepared beforehand or Aien had just the proclivity of being prepared.
Easily swinging back around to offer the weapon as well, “As I was just saying to Arch here, it’s not really clear if there may be demons or not present in the hell gate zone. So I had a few weapons readied,” He offered the hilt to that of Calia. “It’s enchanted as most of the former holy law weapons are. Just in case. It’s merely a loner and if you prefer this one Calia, we can see if it can be given to you upon your return.” The man grinned easily looking like the most easiest of going bears there ever was.
“Just don’t be swingin’ that too close at me, I know what they feel like and I don’t want to be the next carved turkey. Especially if this excursion is goin’ to be oodles of fun.” Reaching to lightly tug on the hood she wore, Arc mused. “We just be waitin’ for the bulwark one to stop natterin’ at the jubilant Renus. Then I guess we be walkin’ our way to this demonic scar zone.”
“It’s not terribly far. Twenty five minutes by foot. The Poinsettia Manor was part of the capitol at one point to allowed the Lady and Lord ease of accessibility while having some distance. And now all the more reason it is heavily guarded.”
Aien seemed to be bright eyed and bushy tailed, enough so that even if she’d remembered how he left dinner the other night, it’d have been difficult to hold any gloomy thoughts about it. Softening a bit when she nodded her silent hello, to then peer at Archimedes.
“I slept in the tree. Didn’t quite mean to…” It was as far as that answer went, as he could tell easy enough with the way she grimaced that she was indeed suffering the consequences of downing almost that entire bottle all by herself. At the time it’d been worth it, now she was wondering how elves got their alcohol so damn strong, to have a single bottle be able to take her down.
Soon to forget all that in being presented with a sword by the elder brother. Taking hilt and stepping aside enough to give it a testing flourish. Giving Arc a little cheeky tease by wiggle of pointy tip near his leg, when he reminded her to keep it away from him, almost breaking into a grin herself in the process.
At least she was not in such a foul mood that she couldn’t be playful. Making sure sword was sheathed and belted securely around her waist, otherwise she truly was going to look a fright, marching around brandishing a weapon at anyone who looked at her sideways. Having to reach up and fix her hood after Arc tugged it, so she didn’t look like a brooding assassin.
“The gate is in someone’s former home?” she questioned, finding surprise in this. Tilting head and giving Arc a curious look before sending that green-eyed stare at Aien with her second question being unspoken. Quick to surmise it was likely to be Arc’s former home, seeing as he was the center point of that demon invasion.
A due consideration went into how one slept in a tree paired with what he suspected was her being drunk, but not so bad that she couldn’t climb said living timber. Having only imagination to run from, and Aien seemingly having the same thought process, neither of them asked further about it. It sounded like something better to query about when there weren’t royal ears present. In case it was some grand offense that would only be a new red mark against her reputation.
Thankfully Aien had become a short distraction. Claiming weapon that the warrior princess hardly seemed upset about. Pulling it out to give it a testing feel and a needed reminder that he wanted no part of showing how much the thing hurt. “Pointy end elsewhere, lass. I’m being behaved, needing not a fine reminder of what it does. Even if it weren’t made of demon parts.” That got Aien to chuckle softly. Unbothered. Crossing arms thickly over the brawn of chest as the whole statement of where they were going seemed to be brought up.
Not that he was about to be a tour guide on this mission. Honestly just preferring if he didn’t have to go. Suffice to say he may no longer refute that he had history in this place but now knew of it and wanted to avoid it! Let it be an unpleasant tidbit for him to never think about again.
Alas that wasn’t in the cards.
“Yes, Lady Bloodworth’s manor to be exact.” Aien replied even if the whole unspoken bit came with a look. “Arch here was her step son. After Master Atticus and him came to the capitol and their whole unusual love story came to be, it was best that they resided in the heirloom estate. Of course, with this one being unwed at the time, he had a private workshop there. I believe it is exactly where the hell gate is. So a bit underground, that’s the only boon we have with this.”
Arch flinched. Hissing and rubbing his head, “Mhmm, save some torture for the others, Aien. This abuse, it’s certainly far greater than I’ve ever wanted or needed.” Kneading tips into the side of skull with a slight consideration of even stabbing himself with claws to see if it would cease the pain at all.
“Sorry,” The man clapped a hand to shoulder but didn’t look too apologetic about it. “The manor itself isn’t particularly standing. Parts of it yes, but more ruins than function now. Just be careful. I know there are pockets of miasma that exist and it can be quite unpleasant to stumble into.” His ears foretold the motion of a final movement from Renus. The commander saluting and turning to approach them. Looking between them all with a calm composure that seemed more on point for his usual self. At least till Aien was lightly nudging him. “I’ve given Calia that of a sword for now. Suggested if she likes it, to have a chance to keep it. No sense in not having her with a weapon that will aid her.”
The commander nodded, “It was one of the reasons for coming here after all. It’ll just need to be requested through that of the temple but at this point, I think it is a good idea.” Another nudge and Renus looked properly embarrassed all the sudden. A glance made to him and then brows puckered up at Calia. Breath inflating lungs till the redhead prince was nearly bent in half. “I owe you a multitude of apologies, Calia. For much of my attitude recently and my lack of consideration or composure that has been unfairly thrown onto you for no other reason than my incredible lack of understanding and compassion. I’ve had time to reflect on my poor actions as of recent alongside outside advice to correct and mend this behaviour.”
Lips curled up in a fanged grin, “Ah don’t be modest now, lad. Yah can say that yah got a tongue lashin’ from yers truly. I like the credit and recognition. Especially when its rightfully earned and not just claimed in passin’.”
Slowly straightening himself out to still extend a not too thrilled eye at him, Renus did nod. Just not verbally saying it out loud. “Be safe you three. When you return, I’ve already made a request that you are all not to be bothered. Today surely won’t be a fun day and a good bit of rest after is likely what the prince has ordered.” Showing pearly whites in his own pleased grin. “Travel well, travel smart.”
This was going to be both incredibly fascinating and difficult at the same time. Fascinating for her, and the difficulties now placed solely on Arc’s shoulders for a chance. It wasn’t a swap of roles that she would’ve chosen. The first time back to a destroyed family home had to be a waking nightmare when one had their memories in tact, so Arc walking in with that contracted cursed barrier, he was going to literally be assaulted by the past.
And she wasn’t even considering yet how the place might be dangerous in other ways.
All entirely forgotten when Renus of someone who’d been sucking on lemons and suddenly blurted out a wordy apology! Apparently she was so unused to apologies Calia didn’t even know what to do with this one! Staring in a stunned silence, at first just at Renus and his bowed form, but then gaze quickly going to Archimedes who apparently had instigated this turn of behavior. Finding in those short moments that even with her being mad at Renus, she didn’t feel like she deserved any apologies either.
What a strange way to start the day. Stranger even than having the future queen wake her out of a tree.
“Accepted,” she simply said, hating that it almost sounded shy and the sheepish feeling that came with it. Reaching without looking to grasp and squeeze Arc’s forearm. No explanation, just action. Leaving it with that before he chilly exterior melted into something more natural.
As natural as it could get when nursing a hangover, anyway!
“Let’s get going. I’d hate to come back so late that Nysia ends up climbing into my bed to tell me about her date.”
At the squeeze to his forearm, he just reached to give the measure of her knuckles a gentle patting. He had said what he wanted too last night though it was for the benefit of Calia. If she was truthful and in fact crazy enough to want to try and befriend him, then he was going to make an effort to reply in kind. Just unsure when the last time someone had gotten such a treatment from him. Liable to be associated with the murky abusive memories locked away in his head currently. Not that anyone needed to know that! Merely watching instead as the little boy prince seemed to be visibly relieved that Calia hadn’t given him a tongue lashing.
Renus certainly deserved one. At lest he thought so.
Perhaps she was just far more gracious than one could have believed, leaving it now to Aien to influence their means of travel. Expressed upon as Calia suggested that Nysia just might help herself into guest bed to natter her poor ear off. The way the two brother’s shared a look, it loudly suggested neither of them would be remotely surprised if their sibling actually did so.
“Unbridled mare,” Arc shook his head having no qualms at least saying a little bit of such things. “Yah’ll forgive me if I am not intrigued by sparrin’ tonight, Aien.”
“Depends on how you return, I might just treat you to a drink.”
“Ah, careful now lad, yah be flirtin’ with me and I don’t know if I could say no entirely.” That got Aien to raise his brows before chuckling, just Renus looked perfectly uncomfortable. Face turning pink in their cheeks till he was slapping hands from face. Only cause he had no problem squeezing said cheek, “Yer not my type little goody goody.”
There was some sort of declaration of disapproval. A comment about keeping his hands to himself before hastily turning to start the pointed means of walking towards the immediate east from the palace. Making every noticeable motion to be checking his fancy holy law gear as an hope to look too busy to be teased a moment further.
With Aien waving like some war awaiting maiden seeing soldiers off, he’d let Renus get a few steps away so he might at least keep company with Calia for the moment. “Alright, now that the boy prince has been suitably scandalized, how in the hells did yah end up sleepin’ in the tree. I doubt the fae tree herself kept yah in place with her bendin’ branches and arms. Let alone, what’s wrong with a bed. If yer not guna use it, I will. Some of us need their beauty sleep once in a while.”
With this brief, ridiculous interaction between the trio of men, at least Calia now felt secure in knowing that Aien didn’t have any ill will towards herself and surprisingly, not towards Archimedes either. Aside from Renus getting stuck with the littlest sibling treatment, it was almost even friendly and natural. Like watching a tiny window into what their past might’ve looked like.
It was a small salute of fingers when they did bid the eldest brother goodbye and started on their way trailing after the Commander Prince. With a moment of her reaching up and trying to fuss with the strings of her blouse to make sure it was secure enough. If she’d known this morning they’d be off to the demon gate, Calia would’ve just thrown yesterday’s clothes back on. They were already a mess of dirt and blood so it wouldn’t matter, and Calia wouldn’t have to be worrying about her bust tumbling out if she bent over too far!
Damnable Nysia, there was no telling what horror she was going to inflict on her for that celebration.
“Sleeping in a tree isn’t that difficult, she has thick enough branches and nooks,” she replied, giving up on her clothes. “I only meant to talk to her about the day, I didn’t mean to fall asleep there. You’re more than welcome to sleep in my bed, though, so long as you don’t bring any extra company and you leave my pillows alone.”
There was plenty of satisfaction on watching how the prideful commander had been reduced to an embarrassed fluster. Funny how just a comical mention of promiscuous flirtations could get him to turn a fine shade of pink. Such things like that may have already spelt out that the little prince had neither been with a fair lady or even explored the avenue. Although he might equally be interested in the same sex, it wasn’t clear. Just that Renus was not interested in having the discussion and he was personally amused at it all.
Taking the chance to be a pest as he could. Seeing as there was no telling what sort of sledgehammer brain assault he was going to succumb to once they were at the place of apparent history.
It was unintentional but attention had gone to where Calia was fussing. Then considering her attire to wonder if this was the best to wear, unless she intended to flash whatever enemies presented themselves. Biting tongue as they were currently on the mend of being civil and he really didn’t want a physical injury to compliment the mental one of a near future. Settling instead to ask the query of just how one managed to sleep in such a place, doubtful that the tree herself had been rocking the princess to sleep.
“I don’t know if I would be apt to find out how yah did it. Curious as it is, especially as I assume yah would have been three sheets to the wind as well. Yah might have some deft climbin’ skills to do it drunk.” The demon smirked only to have it broaden into a wicked offering. “What extra company am I guna have here? Not even the kinkiest of elven ladies would be bold enough to try their hand with a demon that did such damage, and what about the pillows?”
“I can do quite a lot of impressive things while drunk,” she stated in that way she always said things, so matter of fact and without extra flare that it could only be truth. Once again not realizing such statements sounding like a brag or exaggeration of her own self.
When she tilted to look up at him, there was that wicked devil smile that she’d grown familiar with. Calia couldn’t say she missed it, as it always seemed to come with statements that were surely going to make her furious…. but maybe this once she was glad to. To get to a place where they could tease and play, not get offended and then bend things to hurt each other instead would be good for them.
She did want that comfort. Being on edge all the time afraid of pissing people off or disappointing them felt like a never ending oppressive torture. Calia would rather fight demons. At least she knew where she stood with that.
“You would be surprised what ladies are into when there’s opportunities and no fear of repercussion,” she told him easily. Truth was in that too, not that she’d seen anyone go as far as fucking demons! If they looked and behaved like Arc, though, it was and had happened. It would again.
“…as for pillows, I am particular about my bedding.” This was a bit of a sheepish admittance. “If I’m going to stay in a bed, it needs to be just right. One for my head and one for squeezing. With a nice heavy blanket so that I might be squashed into nothing. Otherwise…” a shrug of shoulders, “I do prefer trees and mossy forest floors and meadows. I suppose it depends whether it is winter or summer.”
Saying all this out loud sounded insane, she realized. It’s not something she’d even thought about before, it was just her habits!
“Say thin’s like that and I’ll be a apt audience just to see. I missed it last night so now I’m ever more curious.” Far more likely that whatever she was impressive while drunk was probably hitting on whomever she selected as the best looking. That he would pass on.
Settling instead to offer her the wicked beam because surely she didn’t actually think he was so debased that he would find the most neediest and likely unhinged women in all of the capitol city to bring into that of her guest room within the palace. Laughing no sooner when she stated that he would be surprised what sort of ladies would be into such opportunities. “I feel that those are the type of women that are terribly thrillin’ but liable to have the noose around my neck by the royal family, pulled ever tighter. If not entirely putting the poor lass into the hands of the royalty as well to be shamed, stoned and mocked. I’ll just keep myself cool and not be enticed by such dangerous foreplay.”
A curious look towards their valiant leader still being a good few paces ahead of us leading the charge oh so virtuously; ears pricked as she began to explain she was very particular about said bedding.
The placement of pillows. A heavy blanket otherwise the grand outdoors were more to her liking. Fitting for a fae. She wasn’t any fancy pancy fae noble that also needed only the best of the best to sleep upon. Like a pillow of golden clouds or something. “I see. Noted. Though I don’t think travel lends much to having a unity of such luxuries. Tis a good thin’ that yer not fussed about sleepin’ in the outdoors. It likely is guna be the most cost effective in this grand excursion yah’ve selected to go on.”
Renus could not be so far ahead of them that he couldn’t hear this conversation with those big pointy ears. Wondering if those ears were burning along with his face to be listening in on them having such a casual conversation about bedroom habits and fucking demons. Not wanting to make the commander squirm or be uncomfortable, but it truly was exhausting having to reign herself inwards.
The amount of respect she had for the man was high and she’d wanted to be like him. Someone genuinely good, calm and poised and confident. That knew how to speak and make others around him feel safe and comfortable. Now she wasn’t so sure it was the right direction for her. There was just a little too much wildness in her to be someone like the Commander Prince.
“Hmn,” the soft sound of agreement was easy to make, turning dark green eyes back at the demon. “I thought life as a Caeldalmor royal had been pampering due to my mother’s need to dress things up a little. Now that I’m here, I think we were a lot more rough and tumble than I ever realized. Closer to the old clan ways than not.”
These days it wasn’t as difficult to talk about her home. The pang of missing her family and the place she’d grown up was still there deep down in her guts. Only now instead of wanting to shove it all down and bury it, she wanted to pull it up and cradle it in her hands. To covet the things that were never going to be again.
“I do like the grand elegance of everything here, though. Being surrounded all the time by beautiful things is so much nicer than walls of cold stone. Even the fancy gowns are nice, although I can do without Nysia’s frilly impractical tastes. If I have to build it all again from nothing, I want more of the green and the light and the sun.”
Effortlessly there was a laugh coming straight from that of belly. Bemusement plenty present in the fact that the differences between elven and human mountain royalty was pretty drastically different. Where what had felt like luxuries then had now been compared to no more than just barely above squatting outdoors. More akin to the old than the new. Which in itself was a bit humorous considering how long and how old many elves were.
It wasn’t too difficult either to tell that now that they had switched topic away from the behaviours of the more risque, he was starting to fall back. Likely listening to see if he could in or leap ahead to avoid any potential more topics that were liable to set his face aflame.
Humming thoughtfully however as the princess potentially to be new queen of the domain -once it had been purged of its hostile demon infestation- Arc thought about her design. Less cold stone, not so frilly and merely face value asthetics. But something natural.
Green and light and bright and woodsy. He added the last bit himself knowing the woman a little more considering he had watched her climb the fae tree once, and had the look yesterday of climbing the walls of that overgrown courtway.
By this time, Renus was well within step of them. “Welcome back princelin’.” Not one to exactly let him just glide back in without a comment -and to be receiving a mild glare- Renus was of course showing new interest in the subject.
“If you ever get a chance then for any inspiration, there are many ruins and old establishments that were home for the old elves fresh from the fae.” Renus offered, “Though if I recall Caeldalmor gets quite a bit of hefty snow in its cooler months. It might still need some of the structure that is stone.”
Arc on the other hand didn’t have much design ideas for that. “I mean anythin’ to me is just a step up from what I’ve seen.” He smirked raising arms to tuck hands behind that of his head.
Now that Renus felt brave enough to join the conversation and to walk with them, instead of full speed ahead, it helped bring this walk to something a little less awkward and much closer to comfortable. That she could be too comfy with that mild headache and the rising morning sun making things too bright and cheery. Her mood had at least settled to something tempered.
…although she nearly punched Arc right in the arm for his commentary about her castle home. Of course it looked a mess then, it’d been destroyed! Settling for a scrunched nose, displeased look shot at him, so he’d at least know that wasn’t appreciated but that she also wasn’t any madder than an annoyed sibling might be.
“I did see a small ruin on my way here, not that I had time to really explore it,” she revealed in continuance of the topic. “Mostly all white stone and the green had taken it back over, but it seemed that it had such big archways and openings for windows. Honestly, even with having to be sure all is winterized with glass, just having more windows everywhere would make things so much lighter and brighter.”
It wouldn’t help the walls and chambers that were built right into the side of the mountain, but those spaces weren’t often used for day to day living anyway. More meant for storage and archives and places to house villagers should something of worst case scenarios happen. It was fascinating to think of how she would make the spaces better, as it wasn’t anything she had ever thought of before. Having been too busy trying to be out and about in the countryside most of the time.
She did always want to come back home, though. Where things were familiar and her family was always waiting. Realizing there, that part of her struggle now was in knowing that there was no one who cared if she went back home. It was hard pushing forward when there was little to bring you back. Selfish of her maybe, but who in this world actually wanted to be a solitary one!
“I’ll have to clean out the mountain passes, I suppose. Make it safer for travel and trade, before I can even construct a castle of green and glass. Bring the Wayfinder’s town in the mountain back to life.”
Brows lifted at her seeing how she was certainly silently expressing that his commentary was highly unwarranted and unwanted. Fair, but surely she didn’t expect him not to say anything. It was against his nature not to have a remark of some sort. And it was tame, surely! But mentally noted by the way he gave a exaggerated roll of hand into a half ass bow to concede somewhat. Settling instead to be an observer whilst they were walking along the pathway that was stone and grass and just cradled into its passage due to a noticeably thinning presence of buildings. The palace ever present behind them but there were other large estates considerably further spread apart.
Sharing the scenery of green thick trees that made sure the elves were nestled in the pocket of nature even still. “If you have the time, you should. I know there is a map somewhere in the palace that has marked out the old ruins of particular interest. Even just as a thing to see and experience.” The man seemed to practically bloom with the mention and the idea of being able to explore such old places.
Sounded terribly boring and he was content to lend his attention elsewhere. Observing the scenery since there was little else he had to remark on that wasn’t potentially cruel.
Renus on the other hand was ready, “Depends how badly damaged the mountain passes are, but I am sure there are crews that could be sent to help. Once the whole demon part is managed for course.”
“It would make for a fun exploration,” she did admit. The trouble, of course, was that Calia didn’t quite have the time and she hated to say that out loud when Renus seemed so thrilled about the prospect of viewing old elven ruins. Likely not having much time himself for those sort of outings with royal duties and his work. Calia certainly had her own sense of wanting to snoop, browse, explore and experience all manner of new things… just there was a great bit of responsibility on her shoulders now. She already felt as if she’d spent too much time here in the Elven kingdom – time not wasted at all – only there was just so much to do and accomplish.
…and if she started thinking about all that, she was going to get tense and snarly again. Best to focus on today’s single task. Torturing someone else for a change.
That someone else she was giving a curious glance to, glad he wasn’t taking offense to her bit of scowling. The sass she was perfectly fine with. As long as he’d allow her to be sassy herself. That’d be the true test of this struggling new relationship.
“The demon and beastly monsters will surely be the most difficult part. I saw one of those collectors there, if only by strange wriggly appendages. I think it’s the first time in my life something startled me so bad I ran out.” Even now she couldn’t help the cringe and the shiver that ran up her spine. It was creepy enough by appearance alone, but the using voices of those it ate still haunted her with guilt.
“Otherwise it was an incredible place! Crystal clear mountain water that ran along the outer walls in a small river that led to this fathomless deep lake. Mostly lit by glowing lichen, but it had some breaks in the stone up above that let in fresh air and light. Somehow it remained warm enough even though snow came through those natural skylights, so surely there had to be some hot springs there.”
It was so easily how brightly Renus smiled at the prospect of her agreement. To hear that such a thing would be rather enjoyable, even if surely knowing that she had no time to merely gallivant around for just that. “I’ll see if I can find it for you.” Whether or not he understood it would not be a task completed soon, the prince didn’t appear to allow it to damper the mood. Likely needed seeing as the two of them hadn’t exactly been the most talkative in the past few days.
Far too much on one’s mind and it made the prince in particular rather persnickety. Yet as attention moved to consider how one would clear out that of a mountain, it was the mention of seeing a soul collector that got not only Renus to look horrified, but Arc to hum. Of course the demon had seen her encountering that of a dryder that wanted to whisk her away to make thousands of unwanted spider babies. “Sounds as though the whole place just needs to be hacked open so the creepy spooks don’t have a place to lurk as easily.” The towering horned one offered, “Open it up to the heavens to spill light upon it and maybe the infestation of unwanted will clear out. But that’ll take eons to accomplish.”
“I don’t even think man’s black powder would achieve that.” Renus muttered. “Although it wouldn’t be difficult to cleanse out the area from those of unsavoury sorts. What the demon expressed isn’t far from the truth. Soul collectors hide in the dark and is better exposed to light so it doesn’t continue to feed. I can’t imagine how problematic a large one of them would be.”
“Yeah, that’s the only problem in there. Nothin’ about hairy ass confused drows thinkin’ spiders be sexy.” He was still mad about that one and how fucking dare it poison him!
“If the town could be revived with a unified effort from ours and your side, Calia. I am sure it could be given back a life that would keep others at bay. Add on a natural hot spring, if it has minerals in it, such a thing would be a quick attraction. Just needing someone to clear out the unmentionables.” It was funny how quick his eye was aimed at the youth, “I wasn’t suggesting you, Calia seems more than plenty capable of finding others to aid her rather than just a mere demon.”
Arc merely smirked. “I wasn’t guna offer anyways.”
Deciding it was better not to tell Renus to not waste his efforts in finding maps for her, if only because he seemed to be pleased about and really, what would it hurt? Calia then crossed her arms loosely as they walked, listening to the two of them go back and forth about the state of the traveler’s wayfinder town.
Making an immediate disgusted expression at the mention of those damn drow spiders. She’d only ran into the one, but that was plenty enough for her. Glad the bastard was good and dead, as what a horror that could’ve been! It was a horror even in this moment with her imagination going wild in trying to figure out how he even intended to make his hoard of spider babies with her!
Luckily some of the other ideas about how to deal with the infestation had derailed her thoughts away from trying to figure out how dryders made their babies. Considering that sending in slayers to clean the place out would really only work so far. It would be good to have people whose jobs were to protect the passages through the mountains to prevent them from going wild. Only, how to deter hellish beasts from trying to make their permanent residence there in the wayfinder town.
“I can move a mountain,” came her thoughtful declaration. Raising a hand up to tap her mouth while she was debating how she could do so without accidentally taking down too much and hurting herself in the process. The natural skylights already existed, it really would only need them to be opened up wide enough to provide a proper day and night cycle… Of course, that would also let in the elements, and it’d seemed to her that part of the mountain was in permanent snowfall. Yet, if there were natural hot springs keeping the mountain water inside the cavern from freezing, it wouldn’t be an intolerable change.
Naturally, she did not clue in that her statement was in fact completely insane, nor that she’d gone silent pondering it for far too long!
“You…” Renus looked almost on the verge of strong uncertainty once more only for Arc to impolitely elbow him. If there was to be any discretion the memo hadn’t reached the large demon. Simply that he was being met with seemingly the only face Renus knew how to make towards him. A strong disapproving scowl, “You could?” The man thankfully caught on not to be an ignorant prick or look at Calia like she was some boasting monster.
Although Arc was being a bit more conversed in the sense that he was eyeing her quietly, “Yah need to ask for a lot of natural aid and who is to say there aren’t native elementals that call that place home and would be plenty pissed if yah started messing with their ecosystem. Nothing quite like disrupting nature like a lass comin’ in and landslidin’ their home.” His tone wasn’t suggesting she couldn’t do it but maybe she ought to think broader about the denizens that likely called such a place their own.
“If yah were able to commune and come to an agreement, I bet yah might find a nice little cozy niche between happy wayfarer town and pleased spirits and elementals and fae alike. Lack of ruinin’ the natural balance as it were.”
That seemed to reflect on Renus for the man was stroking his thumb over chin. “I didn’t even think about the natives that would exist in such places.”
“There’s prolly a sleepin’ golem somewhere in that place that would be very unhappy if his thousand year slumber was disturbed by some pretty little black crowned dame playing Gaia herself.” A finger extended, “Cause and effect. It ain’t no fun bein’ the wicked witch to the natural world any more than it would be to the mortals. But yah know, I would watch it all happen. Out of morbid curiosity and to see yah topple a mountain. Add it to yer resume.”
“It just takes a little-” she made a soft sweep of her hand as if that actually explained anything about the way her magic work and what she was actually thinking. Lucky for Renus the only thing she caught in that exchange was Archimedes mentioning the potential of hidden elements that might be living there in the mountain space.
That was something she’d not considered in her run away pondering. The dawning of realization creeping across her face as he went on and she curiously listened. Putting this new information into context, opening up the skylights even wider wouldn’t be the right way to go.
“No, no it wouldn’t be good to displace and disturb any that are living there peacefully, would it…” she spoke her thoughts out loud. “No black powder or magic to open up the place to more light, then. If there is a possibility of elements or golems, there is likely other peaceful things too that much prefer the darker climate. The wayfinder town did exist perfectly fine before demons got loose in the passages…”
Of course, his jest of watching her create mayhem by cracking open a mountain did bring her to a wide ridiculous smile.
“We’ll have to find another mountain for me to topple. I am liking the idea of finding the mountain spirits and seeing if they’d like to be involved in building a new city there in the caves. I bet they weren’t asked the first time. Stone golems would make effective guardians for the passages and there are so many interesting things that can grow in deep caves when there’s enough warmth and care to it. It’s how the people in Caeldalmor survived the harshest of winters in the capitol.”
It truly explained nothing with just a sweep of one’s hand. Not even a magic user could surely get the reference seeing as her magic was quite different from that of those in this realm of life. But that was hardly the crux, now was it.
Rather, it was the whole consideration beyond just the upright fleshy squishy mortal creatures that tended to move in wherever they damn well pleased. Disrupting the balance of nature with lack of consideration. Something about that was probably of no good use to a fae such as herself that thrived in the woods and wilds. If she upset similar creatures then it likely would only come back in new ways to cause mayhem.
It seemed like a better idea was to commune, express and work together to perhaps make a place that was home to beast of the element and mortals of the living world. Nodding to show he was listening to the idea she had even as Renus looked for once, intrigued. Likely having his own thoughts of how it all could come together, “Yah wanna get yer hands on it, dontcha?” Asking to have the prince pause. Ponder and eventually give a strong enough nod that he was hardly showing his disapproving eye again.
“I think it all has merit. It would just need to be planned out and certainly a good starting point for Caeldalmor and Edelguard. A sort of visual representation that is both sides of the mountain and with some added elementals or those whom call the passages home, well… it sounds like it would be a perfect start to something new. Something better.”
Arc didn’t say it but the way he was smugly smirking at her suggested he was trying to tell her, she clearly could do many great things if she put her head to it. And had a bit of correction so she wasn’t being a grand giant monster that just disturbed the peace in efforts to do better.
He might have said something but his attention veered a little to the noticeable change in the environment. Where their walk thus far had been the occasional large estate for some hoity toity type embedded in the timbers and greenery of a thickened forest, it had grown desolate.
Not a house in sight forward. Similar to the woods yesterday, there was an overcast of deep gray clouds over head. Forbidding light to spread upon soil. And what might be the most defining quality thus far was the clear line of felled trees. Trunks aligning the path on either side of them. Looking like a graveyard for the very forest. Grass did not grow here. The soil itself was nearly black. Unclear if it was from merely fire or something more! Likely something more. The entire place itself was no more than a wasteland. Rife with death.
And he noticed how Renus adjusted a cloth from his neck to start pulling up over his nose and mouth. Pulling a similar stretch tube like scarf out from pocket to give to Calia. “If the smell becomes too much.”
“While I go seek out the other mountain clans, I may be able to make contact with the dwarves that live up in the northsides of the mountains. It’d be nice to see the passages used in a way they were always meant to,” she declared, pleased herself that Renus seemed to be enchanted enough with this idea that he was already plotting a future for it.
Finding herself glancing up to the demon who was giving her such a smug expression that it finally dawned on her that she’d been managed. Redirected from her original thoughts to something far more constructive, because damnit all she was very good at reacting and solving problems of the right this moment, but didn’t have foresight when it came to the long term.
…however, Calia met his smug grinning with an increasingly smug smile of her own. A wordless I told you so, that he was in fact a good advisor for her. Someone who could meet her at the same level for what she was, and help her not trip over her own self.
Any comments she might’ve made were hushed the moment the landscape started shifting and this chill came about her. Somehow it was similar to the forest, and yet worse in every possible way she could feel with her senses. While she accept the scarf from Renus and tied it quickly around her neck, she hadn’t pulled it up over her nose and mouth. Not because she was less sensitive than an elf, only that she need truly needed all her senses to feel out this terrible place.
There was no life here. Not in the dirt. Not in the sky. Even when she crouched down to touch her palm to the earth there was… nothing. Maybe deep, deep, deep under the ground somewhere. But the damage was this far out away from the manor house itself, then it must truly be terrifying at it’s center point.
Simply as a test she flicked her hand to send a scorching mark across the ground. It did nothing but send up a plume of pitiful smoke. With the faerie tree’s aid she’d been able to renew the ground and cleanse out the miasma of the wood. This… there was no fixing this in a hailstorm of fire.
At least, not as she was now.
And for the first time in awhile she actually found herself hesitant to move forward. A shivering sensation that was likely fear, but Calia would be damned if she admitted that! Returning to a stand with a grim expression and a soft nod that she was ready to continue.
It was a sight.
Grim. Barren and utterly desolate. Compared to even just turning around in spot to look the way they had come to the view that felt like a mirage. Healthy and glowing. Alive with bright skies and a sense of existence that ran from root to heavens. Where people lived, they moved and interacted and were part of the world that seemed oh so far way now.
Here? It was no more than a wasteland that was once the very epitome of so much more. Reduced to such a state by the very beings that crawled their way out of hell. Destruction as their bread and butter. They cared not for anything besides the very essence that made them thrive. Blood and gore. Slaughter of one and all. Not even the earth itself was spared from such a rot.
It truly was a scar. Forever marred onto the land that should be no more than an endless spread of trees, trees and more trees.
There were no birds even. Not even the barest of scavengers.
As Calia had attempted to do something, he felt a strong sense of pressure on his shoulders. Flickers of images that while still did not feel his own, resided within. Unclear if that hole Aien had managed the night before was just filtering out such things now but there was an uncomfortable reality that was moving through his mind’s eye.
Renus walked forward. His hands at sides and face covered by the cloth. Looking forward. As there was little to look at besides the very rot of this land. Unlike a limb of a mortal, this could not just be cut off. It didn’t seem to spread any further but the amount of damage already was certainly more than one could just simply slice away.
It was them. The sound of soles crunching over stone and dirt. Not even the wind itself seemed to blow, as if it were also too afraid to do so.
Was it out of respect or fear that no one seemed to embolden themselves to speak. For how long they walked, there was a slow telling of stone charred ruins that began to appear. Skeletal remains of once healthy trees, as the earth began to turn from black to red. Only affirming the reality that this place was just a graveyard. And a battle front that attested itself to success on the claws of true monsters.
Renus made them keep pace. Refusing to stop as if there was some unspoken horror about to reveal itself if they did! Or that he was trying to keep them from potentially needing to ask about a history best left forgotten.
Whatever it was, even he did not see a reason to crack a joke in.
Likely due to the way his stomach was twisting itself like a dishrag. Tension built along neck. Pulsating behind eyes. Blood making ears ache and chest felt lost of air. But they kept walking.
Walking further into the scene that was more ruined homes. Remains of the starting point of something so much more than a mere battle ground.
Lives surrendered unwillingly to pay a toll no one asked for. Even if he could form a word, the thickness dry tongue wouldn’t have allowed such a task to be completed. Not as they approached a ruined establishment that seemed like it was missing more than half of its former existence.
It was where Renus began to slow, “Watch your steps. The ground gives way unexpectedly.” A man’s voice spoke with such a dire clarity that for a moment, even he wondered if it wouldn’t be so bad to do. Just that if he was about to do so, he was looking at Renus and Calia’s face all the sudden.
To the ruined state of the murky woods, the ruined home.
Pain.
Pain!
A rupture of pure blinding white pain burst through head. Grabbing at skull to keep it intact. Knees crumpling as the only sound he could hear… was himself shrieking in new unholy agony!
There was no wonder that no one was allowed to come here. Anyone with their heart still in tact would surely start to feel the despair of such a place. As if the land itself was sobbing with no one to hear or help. Calia stayed close at the heels of the Commander Prince, not about to be willful and wander away in such a place. It almost felt like that void deep in her chest, if that void were an actual physical place that swallowed up all light and good thought to leave behind naught but this blighted landscape behind.
It itched her ways that made her want to turn around and run.
Yet she didn’t. Not knowing what steadfast part of her was taking control and keeping her head straight. Maybe that deeply imbedded survival instinct that was always able to push aside her torrent of emotions to be laser focused on her current objective.
The mossy red was a familiar sight. Of the derelict fae tree and the taint around it. Wondering if when she returned to Caeldalmor and found the place where the demons had been unleashed, if she would find a damaged home and tainted ground much like this. Or if it were a result from the elves fighting the demons back and spilling demon blood in such volumes that it stained the land.
She’d opened her mouth to respond to Renus’ warning, to ask if that meant there were many chambers under ground – only for Arc’s anguished shrieking to give her such a start, she almost jolted out of her own skin!
But it wasn’t a panicked princess slinging fireballs or taking off into a frightened bolt. Nor was it a sharp barking voice demanding to know what was wrong or what was happening. Perhaps because she’d known this was coming. How could it not? This was going to be painful, with or without memories.
Calia crouched down low on her haunches, placing a firm squeezing grip on his shoulder. It didn’t match the soft, gentle tone of voice that followed either. Deliberate, most likely.
“You can pass it to me, if you wish. You don’t have to carry it by yourself,” she murmured. Not an order, because she could have done so if she wanted. Demanded he allow her to take his pain so they could keep moving forward. Or even demanded that he ignore his own pain and do as he was told! Instead leaving it to be his choice, yes or no, little or all. If there was one thing she was good at, it was powering through pain and taking a hit like she was a stone wall.
There was nothing. There was too much. It was all around him.
Faces, Oh so many faces. Clustering in his thoughts, demanding to be it all. Everything all at once and it was all he could do to simply breath. Nothing else mattered! Wishing it would end but it had other ideas. Dominating his being, only It all existed.
Memories ripe. Having years to grow and fester till it popped!!
And one stuck out the worst,
“Carlisle.” Even in his own throat did his voice sound so foreign. So strange, so unlike himself even if nothing had changed. At least outwardly, they were still equally the same as they always had been.
A crowned prince. A mage advisor. Linked as a unit from the day both of them were pre-selected for their own futures. Never having a hand in the choice but accepting the decision regardless of whether or not it felt right. Of course it was things like that which allowed them to find a kinship. Rather than simply liege and servant. Leader and voice. Merely two bodies that were competent enough to be given such responsibility.
He’d never even considered a different way of life. Neither of them had.
Was this why he had never expected that the singular most constant presence in his life outside that of his own family, would have made such a choice at all. “Yah can’t possibly be serious about this.” The man’s soft green eyes smiled even as hands insisted on pushing the wooden box to hands. Feeling the golden fringe decorating each corner and the telling smell that he truly did wish, was not in the air.
“Take it, Arc. Put it somewhere safe. Use it for your grand designs if it can heal or help others. Make something useful from it as it won’t be of good use any longer within me.” It was strange to look upon him and see the weight of not only the heft of his kingdom but the illness that budded like a black flower within him. Darkened veins filled with blood that no longer ran clean, climbing that of fingers. To knuckles, upon hand and up. Spreading slowly. Oh so slowly.
He couldn’t even imagine what sort of pain the man was in! “Just give me time. I’ll figure out a way to fix this, what yah are doin’ right now is reckless! It’s absolutely foolish, Carlisle! Yer givin’ up too soon. Yah still have time. Just give me three days. A week at most.”
A pale lip smile was all that was offered. Reaching to pat a hand upon the wooden box. Speaking without a single word.
He already knew it was too late. That he was making this reckless choice because he was trying to do something.
Something hopeful. Something better! Placing it on his head. “Please… please Carlisle. Just a little more time. I’ll work day and night. Sunrise to sundown! For yah, for Eden, for Lyra! Just… j-just… wait.”
Hand rose and gripped shoulder. A squeeze so feeble.
No matter how much he begged… it would do nothing.
“D-damn it, Carlisle…” Hands clenched. Turning to fists. Pounding at the earth, hearing the scream and knowing that it was his own. Ripping through that of flesh. Sundering throat to grow raw and bloody.
Claws buried upon the earth. Scratching in vain hope that it all would just stop. All of it… just, stop.
Clenching jaw as teeth groaned and protested under the threat of busting them through, he could hear it. See it. Taste it and he’d never wished for a moment more than now that he could be the man he was even five minutes ago.
It burned. Each drop that ran free and the knowledge now that he had been so utterly desperate to save them all. A task that was so monumental. So astronomical that it was truly his own hubris to think that as a mortal man, elf or demon, he never would have been able to cleanse the darkness that spread through them all. Taking lives indiscriminately. Young. Old. Child or adult.
Niece.
Friend.
It didn’t matter and he had been so foolish. He was no god. He was… had been just flesh and bone and a magic that was potent in his blood. Making him believe that there was nothing he couldn’t do.
Except understand that he could not be a saviour.
As brow pressed upon blood stained dirt; the screaming slowed. The tears ran free. And it all… was clear.
And answers long forgotten were about to be known through it all. But right now, he couldn’t muster the strength for it. Uncaring to whom or what he looked like now. Not even sure what the hell he was at the end of this all besides the perfect rendition of a monster.
Left to be a sobbing mess of pain. Of hatred and… of flesh.
“You’re stubborn,” came her whispered commentary. More likely he was so deep in his own pain and memories that he couldn’t hear her at all. Strong enough that she could feel the weight of it and the twist in that empty space her heart was meant to be, even if he was not passing her the pain or the memories. Calia would not force him either, not pry or poke. Not try to draw an inch of it to her without him giving it willingly, as pain and trauma was oft such a personal private thing, not something for her to invade just because it was so hard to watch him like this.
Calia did however remain stalwart and calm. Shifting free hand to grip and squeeze his upper arm, to be sure he at least knew somewhere in his subconscious he was not there alone. Releasing shoulder to brush hair and down back in a gentle soothing motion, not caring a whit of what it looked like or what the Commander Prince would think to see her trying to comfort and soothe the very demon that had a hand in creating all this destruction.
He’d done this for her, after all. Picked her up off the ground when she’d shattered. And that had not nearly been as devastating a moment as this.
Mimicking that very patpat, the therethere motion even as stupid and useless as it was!
Oh what a sight it had to be. Private to be only a viewing for two and a whole of ghouls stuck to this realm because of the means of his pure folly. And he knew better than anyone now, how grand and tantalizing someone’s desperation was. It was a heady scent that demons flourish off of and now… now?
Gods above, now, it was all there.
It ebbed and flowed like a tempest storm. Besetting memories over and over and over again as body felt as though it had been beaten flat against the ocean floor. Just never washed away. A stain, a mark, a scar. How apt it all was, to be so confident however long ago and for it all to be a lie made on the back of others. He’d sold himself for them and the damn demon’s… they took advantage of it. The promise, the guarantee… oh it had been a guarantee alright.
However long he remained there mattered not. But he did move eventually. Gradually becoming aware to Calia, to Renus and the feeling of something far deeper that even the owner of a contract would feel. As a being of magic, it would be hard to ignore.
A barrier. A blockage that was sealed amongst those memories. As it broke and waned, that manna font that was the starting point for every bit of magic, cracked. Like a dam that had been built to stem the flow in a practiced pace. Releasing only so much at a time, broke. Piece by piece falling away as the flow gave reality to just what sort of mage an master of arcane was. What was a deep lake became a bay. Sprawling outwards with a flow that was no demon’s magic. Salt water meeting fresh water. The two not quite combining but existing in the same pool.
He could taste blood. Iron upon tongue as the effort of thought felt so openly raw. Such a task. Such a pain but one that could not be stemmed further. Shifting hands to curl upon the ruined earth, to push up and rock back to tip tear streaked face to the heavens. Exhaling in agony, how the hell was he supposed to deal with this all! “Spare them from the agony that rots and eats. Turns blood to black and bodies to waif’s.” Breathing the words low through a hoarse rasp, fingers rose to scrape talons down to draw red across the column. Stopping at the reach of clavicle to tilt head down to level a glowing gaze upon the prince firstly.
Working mouth to no avail. Then eyes fell to the sword at his side and gave a bitter scoff. Tilting focus eventually to Calia. A sort of hollow hold that drifted over her head, to where the opening to the workshop would be. “It’s in the castle… in my study. Something yah can use, Calia… one half of what yah can use…”
Renus moved then as if he had become one of the petrified trees, “What is in the castle?”
Pushing knees off the ground to stare emptily at the boy, Arc gave a coarse empty laugh. “The last thing Carlisle left behind before he killed himself.”
“What? What did,”
Anger flared. Bright and passionate to tear upon throat further, “He fuckin’ killed himself! Yah all blamed me for the task he took upon himself when he could not survive the blackened plague! How easy it was to blame one that had been the closest! Not a second thought, as if I wasn’t tryin’ day and night to save him. To save them all!” Teeth bared, “Carlisle Evindal. Killed. Himself.” A bloodless grin of a manic sort spread and waivered, “In my own workshop.”
Who knew the mountain princess had a well of patience, as she sure as hell wouldn’t have afforded herself this same grace. Would have been more likely to bury and stuff memories and emotions back down in their coffin until it was all a fine paste. Bouncing herself back up and announcing she was fine, despite the fact blood would be bleeding from her ears, all because she’d want to get things over with faster.
It wasn’t what she’d inflict on someone else, not even a demon, maybe especially this particular demon because everything she’d learned of Archimedes had been a complicated mess of contradictions. So different from herself up until their habits and behaviors seemed to crossover in ways that was alarming. Thus there were no attempts to speed him along, to urge him into speaking. No complaints or otherwise, just a simple waiting and those soft patpats.
While she may not have privy to his memories and thoughts, there was no way for her not to feel that sudden surge of something breaking free. Not a something, a magic! After being so used to the way his demon magic felt – spicy, fiery – this new free flowing well of magic felt practically electric. Buzzing and tingling. And oh how she very much wanted to get her hands on that to stretch and play and see what it could do!
He was finally tilting back and speaking, though clawing at his own neck in the process to which she frowned at with concern. His initial statement being confusing, not as confusing as him saying half of what she needed was back at the castle. Half of what! Renus chimed in before she could, leaving her to stand as Arc finally drew himself to his feet. Revealing the eldest prince had killed his own self.
Eyes darting wide and bewildered at Renus – what a terrible thing to find out! Was that plague truly so horrible the man preferred a swift death at his own hands? Which really begged the question, what in the hell happened after that!
Calia reached up to grasp Arc’s hand, pulling it away from it’s second attempt at clawing at his own throat. Humming a soft sound of warning that he needed to stop doing that. Understanding the whys in a vague sort of way, but she supposed she really couldn’t allow him to be hurting himself when he was stuck at this peak of suffering. He’d clearly done enough to himself, as Calia was fairly certain the Archimedes of back then had found himself in such a desperate position that he didn’t remember these things because he didn’t want to remember.
That bliss of just even wishing he could just experience only the mental pain of memories trying to force their way past the barrier that had been applied at his transition, was like a fever dream. This was so much worse. No amount of the flood of old comforting familiar magic that was one hundred percent his own could soothe the burning loathing and agony that festered in his very existence. Knowing things he would prefer not to. To be ignorant once more.
Not to recall the reality of seeing his closest friend corpse laying across his workshop. He’d been staying with them for a few days, using a guise of checking in on Eden seeing as the little girl had been suffering through the blackened plague as well. Using the means of being an attentive friend to that of a sister that was so much worse than she ever wanted to admit. Able to recall everyone’s face in such crystal clear recollection that it made him want to vomit.
And now, it was all there. Just there.
Unbidded. Unwanted!
Of course these people had blamed him for losing their beloved prince. Of course Carlisle had taken the far too easy way out! What sort of man just gave up… why couldn’t he have given him more time.
These questions had answers. Logical answers that he knew. Ones he didn’t want.
A touch that was certainly not his own startled him out of the ire that was burning hotly within chest, glaring it upon this all grown up youth. Unfortunately for them all, he could remember Renus now. And Nysia… and Liriel. Even the ache that had been strange before, hurt like the greatest of anguish. But this boy turned commander didn’t know anything. Carlisle didn’t tell them anything. Guaranteeing the bastard hadn’t because it was easier for them not to know. Bullshit… Bullshit!
Her warning hum was enough to get him to look upon her through corner of eye. Almost wild, mostly in turmoil but he nodded a bit to her.
Vision went to the ruined estate. No longer even that, it was just a wasteland. Death and decay. Misery and suffering. Blood, blood and more blood. Without a second word, he stepped forward. Hand flicking out with the call of a soothing coolness to coat veins. Casting all too easily a flare of light that travelled across the ground in a radiant colour of amaranth. Cutting across the ruined soil, carving an electric flare till it was about fifteen feet away and burst into a plume of similar coloured rays. “Stay.” He stated noticing that Renus was starting to walk. Pausing only for the earth to give a tingling little tremor. Earth rolled and puckered against the raising of a long since buried stony building.
Rising from earth, the pungent stink of tainted soil only affirming how deep this all went and, “That’s how it was buried underground. We had to dig a hole to it.” Arc simply grunted, stepping in front to lead the way towards the risen workshop. As feet moved across ground, it flickered with the same flare of light.
“A smart mage knows how to cloister their workshop away from pryin’ eyes.” He muttered. Scratchy, low and torn suitably to match his re-awakened existence. “A stupid one, keeps it out in plain view. The path will keep yah stable.” He had gotten about half way to look back towards Calia, “Yah can handle a two handled sword, correct?” Although he barely waited for a full answer, a glare settling against Renus’ waist to the fraudulent weapon. Suddenly turning to keep walking, “All these years and none of yah could find the proper schematic for the correct holy weapon.”
Surprisingly she wasn’t poised on the tips of her toes ready to spring into some sort of action should Archimedes suddenly turn feral. Calia could see it in him, practically feel it, as she very well knew exactly how it felt to be eyeball deep in fear and turmoil and relentless anger. Knowing so deeply how all of those emotions could be soothed or inflamed with one’s own magic, depending on which way you tilted. If he’d suddenly burst into that frightening demonic form that she’d only had the tiniest of glimpse of in the mountain caves, Calia wouldn’t have blamed him at all. She’d act of course, but wouldn’t have blamed him.
This tingle of a mage’s magic was certainly new, watching with complete fascination as it shot across the ground and seemingly summoned up an entire whole building from it’s buried place under the earth. That in itself was an impressive way of using magic that she’d never considered before. Certainly giving her all sorts of ideas, though they were better pondered later.
Calia kept herself with two steps of the demon, always. Attentive to his movements so that she wouldn’t go crashing into him or him into her. Likely to feel like some ominous, oppressive figure to most. A mother hen to few. In this instance she was only trying to make sure she was present for him in case something took a turn.
“I can,” she affirmed on his question of a two handed sword. Easy. Not a thing to boast about in the moment, as she followed his glaring stare towards Renus and then understood the reason on his scoffing about the holy weapons. Starling had used Arc’s own research to create the newest ones, so it seemed he sure didn’t do his job of research well enough!
Another hum to show he heard her as the whole leading into an once upon a time place he was comfortable in, continued. Though it was hardly subtle the ebb of leaking demonic energy that was through the open maw. The door that had been once present, long gone. As one might expect from what Renus said of them digging down to the usually buried location.
“It’s likely not the same as it once was, Archimedes.” Renus spoke up then. Caution in his tone as he was being mindful of what was being uttered. Worried likely that he was about to get snapped at.
Any scathing wit that was being brought onto tongue was not given to air. Just that he stepped through the door. Feeling the heat bloom in both a strange alien sensation and all so recognizable. Leading down a long stretch of broken stairs into a carved room that really didn’t look the same as it had on the outside. As expected. Highly due to the gaping bright open burning hole in the wall. The place had been altered by the leaking of demonic energy for the last eon that he had agreed to that bitch’s all so nice plan.
“It’s not active. Just an eyesore.” Arc stated in case someone was wondering. “It’d be a hue of blood if there were demon’s encroachin’.” The man’s feet scuffed across the floor. The smell of sulphur just a bare presence on the air. Brimstone close behind as he repeated the same nonchalant flicking of hand. Dipping into that bottomless feeling well of cool embrace. Erecting a barrier before the hell gate. “Not all hell gates will look the same, Lia. But they alter the land around it. If yah be lookin’ to find the one in Caeldalmor, the landscape will warp. Change. Eventually if it stands long enough,” He motioned around the workshop, “It alters the terrain to be hospitable to those of the hellish variety.”
His gaze was somewhat sunken but he moved forward. To look amongst the gathered candles and trinkets that were elvish in implication. Lending focus to glance to the boy prince, “Omal’s belief’s?” Picking up a bottle to give it a shake. Watching the turn of some darkly coloured liquid swirl within it confines.
“We didn’t know what to do with this and he thought having some old potions for dispelling and the likes would be useful.” Arc scoffed at the answer. Putting the bottle down hard, “We didn’t know, Archimedes.”
“No, I suppose yah wouldn’t. But there be a reason why old magic and tinctures didn’t work when they were created. It’s applyin’ a placebo, not actually doin’ anythin’.” Raising to pinch fingers to his nose, “I’ll be needin’ to speak to that old wind bag. As much as I’d rather not see his wrinkly old prune face again.” A sigh and a turn to look down the small tunnel alongside the gate. “Yah can investigate as long as the barrier is up, lass. Yah won’t burn or melt. Just don’t be startled if the gate turns pink or red and a face appears in the glow. It’s just some wee fucker tryin’ to mess with yah. I need to find the schematic for the correct weaponry.”
Renus stepped up closer to Calia then, mouth working only that as he went to speak, “I don’t want yer company. Stay with Lia.”
Stepping down into this place almost felt like stepping through a veil into another world, much the same up above where they’d wandered into a world of death and decay. This was all fire and brimstone and…. an alluring sense of violence. A strange sensation that called out to darker aspects of herself, trying to sweetly caress and fan up that rage and anger she was finally starting to get under control. If she were fae, Calia was starting to recognize how thin that line could be between fae and demon. That line that dark fae might walk, as it sure did have a powerful appeal towards instincts one was meant to have control over as to not be a wild feral animal.
The barrier Arc erected at the glowing gate itself helped cut her off from that distracting moment, giving a soft shake of her head as she set her attention to peering around at the rest of this place that once had been a safe lair for Archimedes, but now had twisted shape and form.
“Let him be,” she said firmly to Renus. Any insecurities about the man she still held were presently not there. If only because she had her own job to do, both in putting to memory what she could to help her own self in recognizing a demon gate, but in keeping herself actively aware of Archimedes incase she needed to pull that tether of their binding. She might have been an awkward thing in the realm of elves and socializing, but this was within her strengths and confidence.
…although as much as the items and trinkets and other bits n’ bobbles of the room were illuminating and fascinating in their own right, Calia still found herself back to standing in front of that orangey fiery opening to a whole different realm. Examining the barrier Arc had put over it to find all the little lines and ties and magic bits that others never really seemed to notice in the way she did. Looking past it at what encircled around the gate itself. The shimmer and waving of two completely different spaces, cut open by force. Like a big gash. It truly was a stark difference between it, and the soft fading in between space that blended this realm with faerie realms.
She’d read once that demons didn’t use to be cut off like this. In ancient times long before any written history, even before the elves were separated from the fae. Demons had been able to pass back and forth as seamlessly as the fae did. The hows and whys she didn’t really know. It was just a curious bit of information floating in her head.
Making her wonder if demons could come out from this gate… could someone go in?
Now there was a dangerous line of thought!
Mouth parted. Ready to almost fight about how the man shouldn’t be left to wander by himself. Knowing that he was being assumptious still. As if he hadn’t seen how the man had crumbled and screamed till there was no more than a raspy sobbing twist of what was momentarily the confident, snarky and rude demon. Being reformed and forced to take a part of himself that had been locked away under distressing memories! He’d seen it but there was still that nervous worry that if they let him go further into this literal hell hole, they might have something worse to deal with.
Being near the hell gate was always such a discomfort. Paired with how effortlessly the barrier had been cast and Calia’s own interest in all of this, it made his spine tingle uncomfortably.
Sighing instead as arms crossed. Stepping over to look at the gate similarly but not nearly as close as she. “Does this give you a good idea of what to look for in Caeldalmor?” Trying not to talk about the whole elephant in the room, focusing on the whole intent of reasoning for why they had come here.
Here was a new side of the woman revealed to those that had only seen her being either being an emotional terror of recklessness, or cool and withdrawn in self-reliant stoicism. Calia had spent her entire life trying to learn all she could about magic so that she might understand her own – with such limited options to gain knowledge from in Caeldalmor. Not enough opportunities to really poke at something in action, to test and play with and discover all it’s intricate threads.
At least not if she wanted to keep her own secrets!
Now here she was examining the barrier, the gate, the very essence of what was pouring out with a studiousness of any magic researcher. Full of interest and intriguing. Making a soft sound when something clicked in her head with understanding, or furrowing her brow when she wasn’t quite sure what something twinged or connected the way it did. Going as far as touching the mage barrier itself, looking for those spots she might slip through it to get her hands on the demon gate itself.
“It’s a gash through the realms. A violent cut… like a stabbing wound that got infected so it can’t heal.” she surmised, so thrilled with this information, how very incredible this was! “A tear like this couldn’t stay open on it’s own. It took a magnificent amount of magic to create it, let alone stabilize it to a permanent state.”
…that is what her blood and heart had been taken for. As that’s what it would’ve taken to punch a hole large enough to unleash an entire hoard so quickly into the kingdom. Even more alarming still was the fact that she knew for certain now that it was still open somewhere in the Caeldalmor capitol, allowing free reign of demons to come out as they pleased. With no one there to guard the gate to prevent their entrance, nor to help keep the gate from shifting the landscape around it to this demonic aura.
By the time she could make it back to Caeldalmor, there was a chance that it could no longer be a home to anyone.
There was a grimace when she looked over her shoulder at Renus.
“It’ll take an equal amount of magic, if not greater to close it. Not impossible, just… incredibly difficult.” Not something she can do without being whole and Calia was a little worried it might be too much for her even then. She was powerful, but her magic had always been more along the lines of elementals, with dabbling in a little illusion at best. A tear between realms was quite a different thing.
With open curiosity and a lot of blinking because he hadn’t expected such a level of introspect to be given at all. Let alone explained in such a way that very little of it was landing in his comprehension. Being not so gifted with magic outside a little bit of light, he could only nod at her. Looking at the hole burning behind the barrier and a sense of disgust that wasn’t liable to leave. “It would be good if we could shut it. To bar the creatures from coming out further and laying harm on innocents. Here. Anywhere. But you are right. It would take a lot of magic.”
He glanced away to look at the very state of the workshop. He’d been here once or twice as a youth when he was permitted. And how immensely different it all looked from then. It was no longer a organized space full of all sorts of various ingredients. Influenced by the alchemy halls in the palace but just more elusive. Rare substances. Rare minerals and the likes. Reduced to being a hellish cave that was merely waiting for the next demon grouping to hop on through and destroy everything.
“I mean, I am sure there is a way. Just the knowledge of doing so hasn’t exactly been readily available. Though perhaps that could change?” He asked in a sort of strange hopefulness. Not sure he wanted to say it out loud but seeing the bare flickers of casting spells that came seemingly effortless from the absent being, he wondered if the old magic that was once claimed to be a gift from Gaia and such, could do it again. To fix what had been rented. “Let me know if you ever think of something. Anything I could do to help, I’d prefer to. To have this land given back to the forest to heal, that would be the greatest feat ever imaginable.
There was no real surprise that they had not found the schematic. Likely cause if they were to look, they’d have only seen a weapon rather than the only perfected result of his research. His studying and deep dive into the very demonology that was so frowned upon. For good reasons.
Funny how when he had brought up such things to court, to King Wyn, the man in unison with Ashera had been so quick to say no. To bar it with a verbal iron clad that his own father had agreed too. And now, Ashera had given allowance for Starling to produce the weapons with the same principal. Only of course, the kid had missed parts of the whole creation.
He’d gotten half it right. One needed demonic parts to build the skeleton of the weapon. To be forged from the darkest pieces of the very beasts that merely functioned on killing and feeding their own vices. But where was the rest. It was something he was going to have to look into but had a suspicion that when he made the contract to become what he was now, the pieces had been destroyed.
Paper was flammable after all. To be missing half of the schematic, the research meant they only had half of a solution. It was working on the lesser demons but to go against any of the elder one… against say a mad queen? They needed the full thing!
Of course materials would be different now, than the completed piece but at least his memories were coming back. It was strange… painful to have these recollections come to him only to carry the means of sorrow and anger alongside. Clenching hand about the hilt as he rounded the corner to find the two of them present still. Steeling breath. Forcing himself to continue till he could approach properly and heft the weapon like it was nothing! “Treat it with care, Calia. It was my sister’s sword as a paladin. This is how a holy weapon is supposed to be. With both a base skeletal base of demon bone and forged with bronzed gold and mithril. And other parts that can be handled later. For now, yah’ll be needin’ to make use of this.”
He could feel Renus’s eyes centered upon him. Staring in a muted wonder that only threatened to grow into something he didn’t want to talk about or answer. “Once I have access to that of my former study within the castle, it ought to have more clues and informational bits that clearly no one thought to check. Or can’t decode tomes correctly to know what they be hidin’.” Brow was being kneaded again, “I can have access to what was mine, can I not, lad?”
“I think that would be for the Queen to decide.”
“Whether she decides or not, there’s very little in the way to stop me from doin’ so. Especially seein’ as yah have been far too busy wallowin’ in what had happen rather than risin’ and takin’ what resources were present. And not from some upstart that can barely see past his own nose, so I’ll be seein’ the old place. Yah or nay.” Renus scowled at him, “I was askin’ to be polite.”
“Poorly at that.”
“Get used to it.”
“I’d very much like to see the land back to what it is meant to be,” she agreed, unable to bring herself to lie and say she was confident that it could be done. For all of the things that Calia knew she could do with magic, this might just be one problem that was bigger than her. Even though she was clever enough to examine and surmise many things, there was still an entire world’s history full of knowledge on magic that she didn’t know. Much to her own annoyance, she was still young and inexperienced. Strength could get her far, but without the knowledge to back it up, she was liable to make the sorts of mistakes that… well… people like Starling made.
Archimedes returned, however, putting a pause on those thoughts. Calia accepted the sword to her hands with all the respect one should give a beautiful weapon – and beautiful it was! With one hand gripping the hilt and the other cradling the metal, she could practically feel the light that was imbuded within it. Starting a bit to hear this was his sister’s sword. Suddenly finding herself feeling not worthy at all to receive such a precious item. A paladin’s sword felt weighted enough to be in the hands of the likes of her. To know it once belonged to someone so important to him that he’d created mayhem to save her…
Calia held the sword to her chest for a moment as the other two spoke. This weapon was special, she’d kill anyone who dared try to take it from her! She’d need a special scabbard to keep it in a harness on her back so it’d be easier to draw.
“Do we need anything else here?” she asked to interrupt this bickering between them. Not about to announce to Renus that she agreed with Arc in this case. It’d been his study, and honestly, who was going to be able to stop him from visiting it. Who was going to stop her! In this case it was far more important to finally get all out into the open, so their kingdom could start the means of healing this mess instead of leaving it buried.
As she took the sword, there was a odd thought about it. Lyra had been similar to Calia in many ways. Both were hot tempered but passionate on trying and wanting to do everything in their power to make things better. To work. Not to accept excuses as anything less than just someone not putting in the effort to do what needed. Even the idea of their magic was close to another. Granted Calia’s was more expansive than the late sibling with her ice and light. She made a great paladin, a rarity in their circles at the time but with all the choices she had made; she hadn’t exactly been everyone’s pinnacle of belief. She chose keeping Eden and never revealing the truth about whose daughter she was.
He’d take a guess honestly and could likely hit the mark now.
Not that it mattered.
But it would be beneficial and surely Lyra would have approved giving Calia use of the weapon he had made with his research in mind. Funny how hiding it away in here had been useful for the future as well when he had simply wanted to keep it out of hands that were potentially willing to destroy it the same way as papers could.
To see Calia holding it so carefully, it at least relieved a mild discomfort in his chest. Only to be flared when Renus was attempting to be such a good little princeling. To say he wouldn’t be likely to get approval from a woman that he used to think so highly of. Kinda still did but it was murky. Not all his memories had come back entirely but it was liable to slowly return as the days came together.
“No.” he stated for the prince, “Unless yah be wantin’ to stare at that abomination longer, then yah be welcome to but I will bury this place again. If not deeper this time so other’s will stop enterin’ it and lettin’ other demons out so willy nilly.” That was a barbed statement that got Renus to huff. Almost ready to point out that they surely wouldn’t have known where the hell gate was unless they dug to it. And opened a way for the horned devils. The thing he was.
“No,” Finally Renus agreed, “There are no demons out currently so it’s alright for us to return. I’ll report back the findings of course.” His eyes flickered to the sword held, looking like he wanted to say something but managed to keep it hushed.
“Go out first.” Arc motioned, “The least I can do is put a temporary bindin’ on the barrier to hold for a week or so. Keep some the lesser demon’s out but if a fifth or higher rank wants to come through, yah guna have to deal with it.”
There was a slight motion to indicate Calia could walk alongside Renus so they could depart firstly, not looking too bothered about getting out of here anyways. Leaving him a time to work and tighten up the threads of the barrier. Pulling them taunt like a netted webbing and enforced with being pinned into place over the mouth of the very space. Considering it and feeling the well of his actions certainly sit amongst the rest. Smug grinning imagined beasts that were all teeth and daggers, being sure that this was surely a punishment no one would ever want.
All one could do now was try to mend what occurred. And that meant recalling, finding and starting to build anew. With pieces of the past. And if he was lucky enough, his work once more would start to bring unwanted attention.
Sure that Calia wouldn’t mind putting the blade to work with lopping off demonic heads.
With a tilt of her head she gestured to Renus that they ought to waste time with hanging around, fairly certain that Archimedes needed at least a few final moments alone with this place even if the man in question did not know it himself. Finding that as they climb up those stairs and existed back out into the gloomy, barren landscape that she almost preferred the warmth of the demon gate this land of death.
Even demons had their ideas of what life was supposed to look like. Violence and mayhem for sure, being natural predators that sought out the chase, the kill, the adrenaline. Demons still wanted life. So this result of death, decay and a void of nothing… she found it so unusual. Having the briefest of wonder just what sort of demons had initially came out of this gate. Just whom did Archimedes make his deal with.
Or was this a result of the very plague that once passed through the elven kingdom?
Ugh! Trying to figure out things like this was a frustrating thing for one who did not see herself as a thinker. As soon as they were far enough away from the derelict workshop, Calia was holding that sword in her arms like it was her own newborn babe. Giving it a fond look over.
“You need a name, don’t you, love? Something special needs a name,” as strange as it was to be talking to a weapon, Calia did not seem to notice. Holding metal up to her ear to listen for what the magic inside was singing before finally taking the hilt with both hands and giving a few testing swings. A flourish to feel the balance. Another swing to get herself more familiar. This weapon would have to become an extension of herself, to bond with her the way one might bond with a familiar!
He’d be more than happy not to be in this place any longer than necessary. It already brought him a strong sense of discomfort –as the pull of scarf back over his face was any indication of that- but now it all came with so much more. An oddity to think that there was a return of someone that had caused so much of this.
A recovery of a thing that he was highly curious to where it had been hidden and perhaps a new chance of starting to really begin the means of massing a fighting chance that could return this ducal back to its near original scenery. A task certainly but one that could have meaning.
Ears perked some at Calia. Speaking to the weapon, “If it was Lady Aelyra’s sword in fact, it likely had a name. I mean if she had a chance to use it. I don’t ever recall her walking around with it so perhaps she never had the time to honour it with one.” Eyes watched as she made the motions to familiarize herself with a large weapon.
It was quite a stunning weapon. Fitting more the tune and likely appearance of assumption to what one would deem a holy weapon. Of course there were questions in his mind. The what’s and why’s and so forth. How Starling wasn’t able to replicate it so.
And it made him ache in a sympathetic way. Thinking back all those years ago. Frowning to look at their current location once more. Upon a neglected state of existence.
This was a step forward. It had to be. It needed to be.
Of course there were still other wonderments that were now flying in his skull. The means of information that was being recovered and of course the likelihood of disbelief that would come at all. Not even sure he could form the words to express to siblings, to mother, that the eldest prince that they all had looked towards was not killed by the one trusted most. But by hands of his own. It was a grim thought that sat like a poison ball in his stomach. Leeching into the soft tissue that he was liable to be ill from the stress.
There was so much to unpack. Too much…
Ears lifted slightly at the tingling tremor that had the workshop blending itself back into that of the earth. To become a living grave once more for the fanged horrors that liked to slip through, though a short time where it could be spared from birthing more of the foul creations would be a small blessing. “Shall we, Calia? I am sure you are now eager to get to the sparring grounds to familiarize yourself with your newest weapon.”
Arc was noticeably distant from them. Keeping ahead to walk back and offering no attention towards them either. Perhaps better that way for now.
“Maybe she’ll tell me her name when she figures it out,” Calia mused with a tilt of her head. Finding no peculiarity with treating the weapon like a living thing. It was just a sword, of course she knew that. This one had a history of it’s own, though, and had been bestowed to her as a gift. Such things tended to create their own kind of magic after being passed through hands that held deep sentiment.
Or Calia was simply being dramatic because it was the first thing of actual value that now belonged to her after the fall of her kingdom. Where her signet ring was of her past, this sword was now a symbol of her future.
She truly was so incredibly pleased with it!
“There are many things I need to familiarize myself with now,” came her mysterious reply. The sword was obvious, Arc’s unlocked well of magecraft was not. Calia suspected that Renus had no senses to be aware that the demon who was already dangerous now had become thrice as much. The Commander Prince would be twisted into a pretzel of anxiety to hear that she herself was itching to tap into that well and see how far she could take it.
…perhaps it was best for her to stay in the sparring grounds, where she might practice how to do things with subtlety and precision, instead of being explosive.
With Archimedes so quiet and hanging behind, Calia adjusted her own pace of walking to be sure that they wouldn’t let him be left all alone. Not because she didn’t trust him, it was only a soft bit of concern. Concern she easily shot over her shoulder to take a quick examining look at him. They might know now what became of the Crowned Prince, but there were still many details still unspoken. What happened to his family, how Archimedes made his demon deal and the plague was stopped.
She’d have to get him a good bottle of liquor, then. Heavy liquor and the space to breathe.
Innocent bemusement appeared on the man’s face at the idea that the sword itself would be able to tell her what to call it. It should have been worth a laugh because of the pure absurdity to it but, “Master Jakson used to say that every weapon had its own soul. It depended on how the wielder used it to bring it out. That the same weapon could be entirely different in someone else’s hand.” It was a stunning weapon. The halcyon gleam radiating from it even in this poor overcast light, it had so much potential. And he might have had a sense of envy if he were one to use two handed swords. Just he was not and it did suit Calia likely better than she knew.
Of course she offered an agreement that she had many things to familiarize herself with. Earning a smile because if he had known that Arc’s well had expanded back to where it had been before his demon turning, there absolutely would have been panic. The man had been deemed a prodigy for a reason, unclear if he was just born under the right star or if there was other matters at hand that Lord Atticus never spoke about, but he had been recognized as quite the talent at the time. If he knew Calia also was able to tap into that, he’d likely have had a heart attack.
Best not to say.
Instead daring to ask questions about what types of Calia preferred. Knowing she was a sword user but did she broaden her preference at all. Anything but to talk about the looming presence of it all. To fill space as they walked back to the comforting light of the world and capitol.
It wasn’t too surprising either that when they did return, Arc had walked past them. Suddenly in more of a hurry to do something and caring not to answer any would be questions. His form waivered however and the demon qualities were hidden from sight. As if that would help anything but it didn’t seem like he was about to explain. Not even stopping when they had approached inside and Aien was present. Rather, the returned mage merely stepped around him, trailing quickly down to a right hallway with the sense of urgency that felt familiar. Leaving the elder brother to be shortly surprised if not conflicted.
Waiting a moment for them to catch up and of course his gaze immediately went to the sword that had not been given this morning. Emerald’s looking perfectly curious, “Where’d that come from? Is everything alright? I didn’t expect you all back so soon, not that I’m complaining.”
Archimedes was on a mission and Calia had a feeling it was straight to that of his study within the palace. Biting into her lip with the indecision on whether or not she should stay at his heels, or if this was something that man might’ve needed to do on his own without someone looming over his shoulder. Calia wanted to be supportive, recognizing she has this irritating need to take some of his burdens… for which, damn! Did she not have enough of her own!
Still… the fae tree had brought them together for a reason, and bit by tiny bit Calia was starting to see inklings of the why. She didn’t quite understand it, not yet, but it was likely to all reveal itself with time.
With Aien’s appearance and questioning, Calia held up the sword with both hands for his perusal – but not his touching. There was a chance she might actually bite someone if they dared to touch it. With an equal possibility that she was going to sleep with this sword tucked under her pillow like some sort of vagrant.
“It was his sister’s and now it is mine,” she declared, with a tone that suggested there would be no argument about it. “I believe it’s what he’d meant for a holy weapon made with demon bits was meant to be. Though I would still like the parts of him that were stolen to be returned.”
…as for the results of their investigations of the gate, that was not her place to reveal. Turning to give Renus that soft expression that it was in his hands to tell his family the news as he best see fit. If she had to do it, it likely would not come out with any sort of gentleness that it required.
The man’s eyes went over the sword. Hearing the words even if the struggle to register them was proving to be quite the task. “That doesn’t look like Valiant Glory.”
Renus snapped his fingers then, “That’s the name of her original sword! It was bugging me the whole time and I couldn’t remember at all what it was called.” Out of all the weights on one’s shoulders, apparently this was something that had been resting on his mind without answer. Soothed after now coming to the answer. Hands smoothing over hair while Aien took to lightly laughing, laying focus on how protective Calia was about the weapon.
Raising brows a bit at the whole statement that this was apparently how a weapon made from demon parts was supposed to be constructed. It felt like there was clearly more information about that in which was missing its key context. Alongside the statement of part’s returned. It ended openly and for them to stare at another.
“I’ll explain.” Little brother expressed, “Feel free to do as you wish Calia. I’ll need time to tell everyone what has transpired and it might be a feat to get them all together now. But necessary. As for the parts, I think they were destroyed when the rest of the downstairs area was cleansed. However I will ask. For now, you are free to relax or whatever you wish. Aien, we should find mother and have a family meeting. There are things I’ve… been told that are certainly not for the faint of heart and I’d like to not have to repeat them over and over upon question.”
“Alright.” Nodding, and a smile was offered to Calia. Giving a little wave before the duo turned to trot into the queen’s court. A family meeting that was surely going to be quite hectic.
Thank all the gods that Arc wasn’t there to see the dubious look on her face from such a dramatically cheesy name for a weapon. Immediately thinking there was nothing even remotely valiant about herself, even if the title for the sword was perfectly appropriate for any paladin or even a properly trained knight.
Maybe one upon a time she would have thought of herself as such. A valiant knight of Caeldalmor. How very childish of a dream it was.
Still she cradled the sword to herself, unsure she would change the name. If that was the name given, then maybe she ought to at least try to live up to it. If only for the woman who could no longer wield it, and likely had aspiring dreams of her own that could no longer be.
“I am not coming dinner tonight,” she blurted out, not meaning to do so or to sound like dinner this evening with the royal family seemed like it was going to be it’s own form of a new torture. “…you will all need the evening with each other.”
Nodding quickly a goodbye at the two, making a quick escape of her own with sword in arms.
To seek out Archimedes or not was the question then, her steps slowing in the long hall. Making the quick decision that when he was ready to speak, he would come seek her out. Now that she knew that the fae tree seemed to mask her presence whenever she was within it’s branches – and the fact there was still active court – Calia deemed the best place for her was indeed within the sparring yard. To get to know this new weapon in every possible way she could.
Come the evening she’d find a bottle, if not a demon sized barrel to bring to the man. Perhaps they could take refuge in the overgrown tower and see if they can spot the fae wood out in the misty forest.
There had been a strong desire to simply storm into the old study like a bat out of hell –the reference alone was enough to stall him from actually doing so- there came a constructive choice to leave it for now. It would do him no good to be wallowing in revelations anew and disgust of actions actively selected for the behaviours that he had done even after losing so much.
Of course there had been this age old drive that nearly had him seeking out the wise insight of someone that had literally told him a day ago that she would’ve broken his heart had things gone as he once thought they should have. That knowledge now burning in ways that he’d surely do better without. Not about to bring a lifetime of former feelings up when he had lost them for so very long. Nor was it right for him to lay burden anew upon the crowned princess. Mentally scoffing, if not chastising the man that had laid such a heavy load on the girl unsuspectingly.
It would not be the first nor the last time he’d take Carlisle’s name to turn into a curse.
Where did one go in a place that had been a second home? Where did one go in a place that was no longer welcoming with arms open and a sense of joviality to it. Where it had all transitioned into a fine example of how one’s action’s had dire consequences.
To walk out the backside of the palace amongst the overgrown pathway that led to another all too familiar, all too painful place that had too many flashing recollections. No longer did they cause him physical pain but the emotional side might just be far worse.
Although the gazebo had long since become overgrown by the reaching forest, the waters of the pond were still clean. Reflecting the sunlight attempting to stream through the thickened canopies, turning the world into a deepened gold and red. Warm and bright and everything not what felt appropriate but it was seclusion. Able to just sit. To recall even if it was the last thing he wanted to do.
Practically seeing phantoms of years long gone, children that they all once were running around this pond. Screaming and hollering at another. Goading freely, believing that nothing in this world could ever go so wrong. Hearing the pestering attempts at insult as girls battled boys. Under the gaze of both ruling royals and family of his own. Sweet. And so bitter.
All of these thoughts, these memories… tainted.
A rush of heat burned against throat, welling to threaten to snuff out the breath that came within him. And he certainly found himself now wishing that it would merely happen.
Calia took to her new weapon like a fish to water, as if the very thing had been made just for her and not a sister that was lost a century and a half ago. Surprising even to herself as she’d always preferred the one handed short swords, as it was easier to use her other hand for casting her magic. Simply because she tended to do so using her whole body rather than by words and will alone. It was a delightful surprise to discover the sword took well to being a conduit for magic itself, guessing that it was made to be that way to be a proper tool for a holy paladin.
Being wise to watch the hour, the mountain princess wrapped up her practicing about the time Nysia should’ve returned from this day’s experimental date. Knowing the poor girl was immediately going to get whisked away into that grim family meeting. Already able to picture how it was going to go.
It was easy to draw up the memory of that night of being surrounded by demons and screams. Listening to Araminta stammer out that their eldest brother was dead trying to protect their mother and his wife. If Haaron and Araminta were still out there somewhere, Calia would have to tell them how their father was felled. Her part and role in all of it.
The similarities between herself and her experience with Archimedes was staggering. Not a one to one comparison, that truly would’ve been an insane turn of fate. Still, there were enough that it was hard not to believe their crossing paths was meant to be. Coincidence, fate, the universe or just a meddling fae tree…. whichever the cause, they were tied together now. Calia knew exactly how he was meant to help her – that kinds of help she needed were painfully and embarrassingly obvious. But these things were a balance, weren’t they? How was Calia meant to help him? She might’ve gotten him out of that dungeon, but so far everything has been more of the royal family’s benefit. Archimedes just had a leash around his neck and now a whole host of memories to be waking nightmares.
Unfair, really. With not much she could do about it.
She’d returned to her room and hide the sword under her mattress, like a squirrel hiding it’s stash. No one was going to think to look there for it and she truly was a little worried someone was going to decide that Archimedes couldn’t just gift out holy weapons, even if it HAD belonged to his sister. With it safe she washed herself up quick and then went on a personal mission.
Her own method of acquiring a good booze took a little chatting up of just the right servant male. Using her stupid busty top to her advantage when it came to leaning and making quiet inquiries about just what kind of liquor was so strong it could knock someone on their ass and where might she find it. Low and behold, there were all kinds of fun underground boozes not fit for the royal palette if you knew what to ask for. For a tiny little trade, Calia acquired something in a hefty brown jug. Enough it’d surely kill her if she tried to drink it all on her own, but she figured it was plenty for a demon.
What she hadn’t account for was that same network of servants also being in the pocket of Nysia. It only took a few whispers for the elven princess to start looking for her after that family meeting. Looking furious, when Calia caught a glimpse of her, with no idea if it were because of her date or the terrible news about her elder brother. Either way, Calia wanted nothing to do with the royal family’s drama if she could help it!
Taking to climbing out the window like a- well, like a squirrel! She was very squirrely today. Scooting along palace ledges, tip toeing over roofs. Due to the bond, it wasn’t difficult for her to go seeking out where Archimedes was hiding out. She’d honestly had expected him to be stashed away in that former study of his, but perhaps it was better for her that he appeared to be out beyond the palace just a bit.
She made a few graceful (and not so graceful) hops and jumps through trees, now fearing Nysia’s reach was going to get her caught out by some wandering servant. Until she was finally forced to leap back down the ground and walk her way around the beautiful still pond to the gazebo facing a nearly set sun.
Wordlessly, Calia plopped herself down next to him. Covered in leaves and looking very much like a wild forest spirit. She set her jug heavily down on the ground and then nudged it front of him with her foot. No words, just the simple offering.
It would have been pretty easy to just abscond somewhere else entirely. The only real person able to track him doing being the guarantor of the unseen binding. Where shackles and collar were once a pain to even accept, now might have been the smartest thing ever done! Where he could truly be a proper coward, run and hide and try to block out everything from his past. But Calia –if she wanted too- would find him. If the royal family was wise, they knew how to get her to do so as well. Although whether or not he was about to serve some greater repercussion for making a literal deal with a devil, he didn’t know.
Didn’t care to know.
Content to just be a solitary thing out in the forgotten or just so unused portion of a remembrance that when the sound of feet and a woman that really had no business coming out this way plopped her butt on the shallow steps beside him; there was nothing brilliant or wise he could have formulated to understand.
Doubly so why she looked like she had spent a good hour rolling around in leaves trying her best to become a bush or the heavy brown jug set down. Being nudged in a silent near scream that it was probably something akin to disinfectant than anything properly swallowed for a good time.
Demon or elf, he had never been a follower of sobriety. Having more than a few nights he stole away from the alchemist hall as a younger youth to make his way into the most seediest of bars. To be a show off with basic parlour tricks and fancy himself up to whatever maid looked like she was unsteady on feet. Not yet fluent in the flirtations but learning too quickly to be smart. To eventually learn ways to irritate and stew jealousy not only in Liriel but those others that he had pointedly led on. Knowing damn well that while his affections for the now crown princess had been authentic then, he was hardly the suitable match for her.
Tell that to the present persistence of that grown dull love that still presided.
Reaching out to loop a finger through the clay ear of the jug, he offered it to her first. Rims plenty sore and matching the markings of red across lid, violet irises were watching. Silently saying you first, in case you have any ideas.
“How’s the sword, lass.” Arc asked instead, voice feeling foreign in a throat that had been sundered by screaming.
As if she would try to poison him now! Instead of being mad about it, though, she bloomed into a wide wicked smile that wouldn’t give anyone a sense of confidence that she hadn’t poisoned it. However, Calia did accept the jug first, pulling the cork with a pop and taking that first hefty swing.
Immediately letting out a cough and an anguished oh fuck, because it tasted like someone thought they could dress up pure astringent alcohol with pretty spices and lemon zest. She passed it back to him quick, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth and trying to smack the flavor off her tongue.
Vile stuff. She’d probably drink more of it.
“I love her,” she did finally answer. “She sings with every swing and is still as sharp as the day she was forged.”
Dramatic as the answer was, it was also truth. Calia had never had a weapon before that was forged as fine and actually had meaning behind it. Regardless if he meant it to be something that special, it was a most useful treasure. Tempted to ask him more about his sister and family, only not wanting to pry information out of him until he was actually ready to talk.
Choosing instead to lean and bump her shoulder against his.
“Do you want to see something beautiful?”
That grin. It was pure mischief and wicked and everything compiled about her into one simple action while masking the more sweetened parts that he wasn’t too sure yet if they were real or not. Or were ready to be exposed to the world. It didn’t instill confidence either, but one could never say Calia was never up for the challenge.
Said confidence wasn’t exactly brightened when she took a swig and was promptly choking. Pushing the jug into hands that he was almost worried it was some sort of floor cleaner. Looking at the offending object with probably the first legitimate concern. But well, what did it matter to him. It couldn’t get any worse and well he wasn’t also one to be out done. Miserable and self loathing as he was currently.
It was absolutely the worse shit he had ever tasted! And he was pretty sure devouring demonic hearts was pretty up there and he’d continue doing that over the sweeping vehement taste of near enough sterilizer! Gritting teeth and shuddering at it, it burned that throat something terrible. At least it would clean internal wounds? “I didn’t know drinkin’ floor wax remover was yer thin’.” He offered a terrible effort of a joke, giving the tonic of no more insides a very cautious eyeball. Waiting for a thousand souls of the wailing dead to fly out of it or something.
“Good.” His answer was short. Unremarkable but probably not unexpected. Mouth parting as if to say more till tongue hesitated and he took another horrible drink. Nose wrinkling and, “Yah could take bark off a tree from eighty feet away. Lass we gotta do somethin’ about yer choice of moonshine.”
Setting the offensive thing down even if it made his stomach pleasantly warm, the bump to his shoulder nearly broke something further. Not even sure he could make sense of it but offer her a raised eyebrow. “If yer guna flash me, I don’t think I’m in the mood, love.”
“I asked for something strong enough to knock a man on his ass, it ought to work plenty well for a demon,” she explained, despite the fact it needed none at all. Already hopping up to her feet again. No one drank liquor that strong and that awful unless they were looking to be hammered they couldn’t remember their own name. Honestly, it felt like a good choice for the evening! Especially considering he didn’t stop at just the one swig.
Only to soon follow with a raise of her brows and resting her hands on her hips.
“Ah’ll have tae be drinkin’ a lot more of tha’ and some sweet words from ya if ya wanna be seein’ any of this, petal,” was her quick remark, complete with that mimic of his thickened accent and silly endearment. A cheeky grin to match.
Without any further explanations, Calia took the three steps downwards towards the very edge of the large pond. Crouching down low to balance on her toes with a gentle perusal and general sense of what was in the water. Reaching with a single finger, she touched the surface oh so gently enough to not even send a ripple. Taking a small testing pull from this new well of magic he’d uncovered, free of demon, all mage.
It started slow at first, that shift of ice like a blooming flower on the surface. Until with a quick zip it went spiraling out in swirls and fractals to form a sheet of ice from bank to bank. Not so thick that it bothered any fishes or frogs down in the deeper waters, but solid enough to be a beautiful frosted blue, etched with those swirls and twirls that may have very well been a visual representation of what her magic might look like through her own eyes.
“It may successfully banish me back to the hells, is what it’ll do.” Even if it was doing more wonders for a bitter storm inside him. Might as well be a bitter sloushed storm if possible. Quick to banish the thought of making good on a statement he said the first day she had him under contract. To throw him in and pickle him. Doubtful even his beetle form would fit through the mouth of the jug.
She sprang to life with all the excitement of a child. Well she was one by the scheme of things, but found that look fitting he’d seen numerous times before. Not on her but other women that weren’t so easily swayed by lack of tiring. The hands positioned on hips and that really raised brow. Something that gave a lackluster half smirk and a shrug.
The remark in the jest of the accent going thicker than his own, another shrug. She was clearly feeling swell and probably a good thing. The way things had been falling upon her lately, this was a step in the right direction. Rather than further morose.
As she decided that her idea of beautiful was to dip into the well of magic that was shared in grand abundance between them –it was so strange to have back the arcane well… a former existence that was as familiar as his own face to him- and she was to the water.
It took a moment but it was a articulated show of elemental control. Fractal art caused my frost and striations from the chill of the ice forming across the surface. Following a path unseen. Enhanced that the colour didn’t just stay transparent as the water but influenced by the flow of magic to cast it with blue. A painting without paint. Where she flowed freely and didn’t try to force the image so heavily that it would never come to light. He wasn’t sure if she realized that having a skill such as this with the very careful grace was something a lot of mages struggled with. Either they were too gentle to do much of anything besides a few tricks or they were explosive power hungry fools that just wanted to influence their own skill.
Bigger. Badder. Stronger.
She likely didn’t intend for it to leave impressions on his mind. Reminding him further of a sibling till he looked up at her and nodded. “Beautiful indeed.” No false platitudes behind his words or tone. Merely truth. Had she been trained properly with the right skills, she might truly be on par with an arch mage.
He was rewarded with a smile that was both soft and brilliantly genuine. No smugness, no wicked teasing. Not even a hint of pride about it, just a simple pleased joy.
“No one here has even asked me to show them what I am capable of. Or shown any sort of interest in it at all,” a shrug of the shoulders there, as if it didn’t really matter to her. Despite the fact it was pretty obvious that it did. All they really seemed to care about was whether or not she could keep that leash on her new demon pet, with a little bit of healthy fear mixed in because she had an attitude and a blunt way with words.
Calia twisted there where she was crouched, touching hand to the soft ground, pulling from that well again to feel through the dirt. Gently coaxing little dormant seeds and quiet vines to come creeping up out of the dirt and go crawling, sprawling their way up the small steps of the gazebo to start wrapping around the pillars. Blooming out bouncy green leaves and softly scented flowers much like the ones she’d seen in the courtyard yesterday.
“I never had a chance to do any of this freely. Out in the woods by myself or with whatever curious animals wanted to be an audience, maybe. It was always this dark little secret, made worse as my first few times using magic around others did not go well.”
Not something she needed to talk about right now, unless he thought it was something good to latch onto as a distraction, then maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. She did finally stand again, though, dusting her hands off on her pants before taking a very daring step out onto the iced over pond.
“And what can you show me, hm?” Lifting up her hands to gesture wiggling fingers at her head. “How to look pretty with glowing horns?”
How brightly she had seemed to be not only complimented on a art that didn’t come easily to many, but to be able to do it. As stated by her whole reveal that not a one had asked her to show what she could do. Leaving him to think about it a moment. Deep thought, “Likely because they assume yah have no magic prior to the contract. And or, it’s mere assumption that what yah say yah can do isn’t that impressive.” Arc frowned uncharacteristically then, or was it characteristic as this point? “But fuck them in the end. If they want to merely assume or care not about what yah can do, that takes others eons to even barely manage, then they don’t need to see or know the depth of what raw talent unbridled can do.”
There came a tension in his face, “It’s better they not be knowin’ truthfully.” Gaze rose to see the movement of vines. Moving and thriving to crawl their way up till they were able to open new leaves. Basking in the dying light a while longer. Scenting the air with a soft sweet fragrance. “They just might try to insist on thin’s that yah don’t need to be doin’. More than they have.”
Closing burning eyes to simply be ears of a listening sort, he gave a strangely understanding hum to her stating that she had never done any of this freely before. And the times she had, it resulted in not too good of results.
It was funny how people could talk about magic being all so amazing. Inspiriting. Truly magical and yet when it was possessed in raw unfiltered talent, they rushed to be restrictions. Expectation. What you could do, what you could not. As if it was theirs to dictate rather than someone’s else’s. What good was it anyways when it was more often a terrible existence and caused so much destruction.
With a bleary blinking squint as she spoke about what he could show her, brows lifted slightly. Watching as fingers wiggled to reference horns. “Shows what yah know. The glowin’ is in time with my heart beat.” Patting hands to knees to push himself up off the step, brushing rear end off a moment.
Shrugging off the coat that he hadn’t realized he was still wearing to drop to the ground, rolling sleeves up.
Pulling a breath slow and steady through nose with hands moving outwards. Looking towards the pond, to its denizens before Arc channeled the raw power of nature itself. Root’s infused with verdant energy, surged through earth, splitting stone as they reached within the veins of the world. Then, with a sweep of his hand, water erupted forth – not in a violent flood, but in a graceful cascade. Twisting and coliling as though alive.
The heart of the pond, its surface reflecting golden approaching twilight, for the magic imbued within it held both the light of dawn and dusk. Fed by ethereal waterfalls that defied gravity, their crystalline streams spiraling into the sky before raining down in slow, shimmering droplets. The trees that encircled the pond decorated by the glowing mist, vines that curled like dancers through air, bearing blossoms that opened only in the presence of moonlight.
Giving life to air to burn like spirits. Born of the spell, flickering like fireflies, their forms shifting between water and flora. Letting it all mingle a moment before he began to return water to pond. Denizen’s of its hold back to be unperturbed once more as he let out the slow breath once more.
Flexing hands a moment, the place returned to its concord where two great forces of life danced together in a momentary endless, breathtaking harmony.
“I have so far not been so cooperative with those that try to force my hand,” was her simple reply. Calia didn’t have to give him examples either, he’d been on the receiving end of her being pissed off and see the results of others. She’d not be forced into anything and more liable to chew off her own hands just to spite someone. A fault of hers, truly.
Calia approached to steal another swig of the awful poison jug, right in the middle pulling another disgusted face when he declared that his horns glow in time with the beat of his heart. Drawing a surprised expression, then a curiously thoughtful one… quickly sliding into a fox-like smile of amusement.
“I bet that makes it oh so hard to play it cool with women that can see it. Demon lovers I assume, and not the dames here.” Trying to picture that was going to break her head, though, so another quick drink it was before she set the jug aside. He was pulling off his coat, which meant he’d taken up her bait of playing this game of show me yours, I’ll show you mine.
He did not disappoint! No simple little shift of water to ice as she had done, he was pulling multiple elements into a display that was quite stunning. Of beautiful sunset oranges and warm dusky pinks. Of streams of dancing water, to blooming night blossoms scented so sweet, and the spark of magic fireflies.
This was what magic was meant to be. Awe-inspiring, elegant and beautiful. Dazzling light and peaceful grace.
“Stunning,” she whispered under her breath, following it with an almost wicked, eager sort of giggle. Taking a moment to count visibly with her fingers, for he could pull multiple elements in such a display then it was only fair for her to do the same.
Stepping forward in a slow motion with a broad sweep of her arms, any remains of ice evaporated up into the air to join sparkling mist, growing in thickness and plumes until it was a dense milky fog. A deep breath was taken and followed with a blowing release, starting a small gentle breeze that swayed cattails and reeds with a gentle rhythm. As she crouched low to the ground again, she tapped her fingers to the dirt almost as if she were pressing the keys of a piano and along with it crickets and frogs started up a chirping staccato.
Calia was making music of the very pond and wildlife all around it.
..and just because she quite liked those glowy little fireflies, a flick of her fingers at the fog illuminated dozens of little floating sparks in a rainbow of colors. When she finally stood and tilted her head, she supposed it almost looked a bit like the swirl of color in those horns of his. Not intentional, but the toothy grin she shot him was plenty pleased enough. Only having to pause a moment to press her hand against her stomach, making no verbal indication if it was because that damned alcoholic brew was burning a hole in her gut, or if it was the efforts of drawing his magic through her. She sure wasn’t complaining!
He only offered her an agreeing nod. Well aware of how it went if someone attempted to push her into something she didn’t want to do. It was probably easier trying to teach a bear to fetch than to make her bend. Unclear if that was simply her personality or if it was quirk of being a fae. They weren’t exactly the bending sorts either. It was in the end neither here nor there. At least for him currently. Anyone stupid enough to try their luck were entirely on their own.
As she baited him, poorly but successfully and she sought to burn a hole right through to her belly button with the swill that she had gotten, the look she had was short lived. Turning twisted and he just shrugged indifferently. Not exactly spelling it out for he wasn’t particularly in the mood to play So you’re a demon. Instead playing her game to feel the oh so familiar, oh so absent flow of arcane. The very essence of the universe. The energy that was capable of doing it all for it was just magic. It could be nothing, it could be everything and it was by far not a easy thing to master. He would never call himself a expert because that would imply he had learnt everything there ever was.
A feat properly impossible.
As the show came and went, she muttered something that turned into that same wicked sound that he wasn’t sure if she was actually finding what he could do impressive or just filling air. Suppose it didn’t really much matter, did it. For she was getting a chance to explore her own gifts. To feel and mold and change it without someone stumbling upon her in horror. Shrieking in terror and calling something basic as witch.
Taking a moment to watch as took the means of manipulating elements in multiples as he had, she was far more physical about than he was. It likely was the difference between their crafts. Then again he had once been similar before he started inscribing the runic circles onto his body. Turning ears to the sound of the creatures coming to add to the element of enchantment. Making visual paintings with nothing more than will and desire.
This was without training. One could only guess what she would have been able to do if she had training. And her own magic.
As she stopped to shoot him her triumphant look, that turned a bit sour cause she was feeling the effects of magic or drink, he considered her. Raising a hand to indicate one more. An even show for them both. Watching and waiting to make sure she wasn’t about to disappear into the nearby bushes!
He raised his hands, and the show began.
A single spark ignited at his fingertips, a harmless flicker of blue fire—until Arc breathed upon it. The ember swelled, twisting into a spiraling dragon of sapphire flame that took to the sky, its scales reflecting a thousand galaxies. With a flick of his wrist, Arc sent it soaring through rings of floating water, each droplet refracting the fiery beast into countless mirrored reflections that danced above the imaginary audience.
Then, with a murmured incantation, the stage transformed. The earth beneath them became a living tapestry, unfurling like a story told in light. Towers of golden mist rose from nothingness, entire cities woven from strands of pure arcane energy. The figures within these conjured landscapes moved as though alive—phantom merchants haggled in silent markets, spectral musicians played melodies that could be felt rather than heard, and knights in gleaming armor dueled in a clash of shimmering swords.
Arc moved between his creations with effortless grace, weaving illusions and elemental forces together in an intricate ballet. He sculpted a tempest from strands of shadow, letting it swirl into a vortex of violet lightning before shattering it into a thousand glimmering butterflies that rained down upon the waters.
For the grand finale, Arc turned toward the crowd of one, his violet eyes gleaming with a knowing smile. He extended his hands, and from them, threads of magic reached outward—not to cast another spell, but to invite. The magic of the show was no longer confined to the false stage; offering the chance to reached into the hearts of the those willing, filling them with wonder, with dreams long forgotten. For a brief, spellbound moment, neither of them could be mere onlookers. But were part of the magic itself.
And then, with a final, theatrical bow, Arc snapped his fingers. The entire spectacle dissolved into a cascade of stardust, vanishing into the ether as though it had never been there at all. Pausing to look around and took a moment. Squeezing hands into themselves, “Yah be wantin’ yer magic back, right… if I had somethin’ that could do that, would yah take it?”
Calia had truly never seen anything like it. She herself had manipulated the natural world to have to change and alter as she pleased. Could coax creatures into joining in on her nonsense even. Nothing so broad as this! Not broad illusion of full cityscapes and sparkling dreams. Illusions that could make her feel the very sensations. Already lifting up fingers trying to test the feel of that magic, how it was woven together to make such a wonderful tapestry.
She could fall in love with this. Magic of it’s purest dazzling form.
His question came as a surprise, along with the fidgeting of his hands. Prompting a questioning, curious look from her.
“Most of me is immediately screaming yes,” she admitted, though it was clear that wasn’t exactly her full answer. “The rest of me is whispering that I ought to at least know what it is before I go making any more rushed choices.”
So not a yes and not a no. Just her crossing her arms and examining him carefully.
“You’re not worried about me second guessing myself now, are you? Because I’ve not changed my mind about you. If anything I’ve more strongly affirmed that you are good for me.”
It felt right to use the arcane as it was supposed to be. Wide open. Uncultivated till those who used it said what it should be. The weave of magic like that of a fine needle making its point through it till one stepped back and could see a broader picture.
Granted when he had been aligned to take his father’s place as the Mage Advisor, this wasn’t the sort of things he would be doing. This was free craft. Then? It would have been structured. Rigid and reformed. A purpose not frivolity.
Unlike that training that had been years upon years, Calia was the rawest form of it. Unbridled. Unmatched and untamed. Free and ready to respond to her asking. He could only imagine that if it was her own, it would absolutely rival his that had been cultivated through so many days. So while his mood was a little lifted, he dared the question. Now more alert to what she had likely felt to be cut off from it.
Demonic energy was powerful. Destructive and if asked, he wouldn’t lie about it. He enjoyed it just as much. But the difference was, recalling who he had been made the respect of discipline return. They were both within him and he figured he could meld the two together with time. He would need too. There was no fix for becoming demon. Once you were, you were.
So he asked. Looking contemplative if not somewhat amused. “Yer learnin’,” Arc lifted a finger to indicate she knew better than to just jump before looking. And for him to shake his head. “Not second guessing. I am still conflicted. Likely more now and less borderin’ on the means of selfish desire to free myself like a stallion under bridle. And unconvinced that yer wise to believin’ any good comes from that of myself.” Arc had a unusual expression. Mired emotion that was from the reveal of who he had been and what he was now. A turmoil that didn’t just turn off after a few hours. “I’d say yer crazy more than ever for thinkin’ as such. Recallin’ and relivin’ what had happened is a powerful tool but no, I ain’t second guessin’. I might have more wits about me now but it’s still yer choice. No matter how poor it is. Yah won’t know it till it bites yah in the ass.”
Arc paused and pressed, “It. Not me. Ain’t no ass bitin’.” Just in case she got sassy.
Where feet turned to look towards the palace with a strong discomfort. Eyes following the bends and curves of such a monument. “I said at the ruins of the Poinsettia Manor, that I have one half of a thin yah might use. The sword was a bonus, I had hoped it was still there as it deserves a proper wielder. Lyra would have preferred someone use it rather than it collecting dirt and dust.” He shrugged then, “She was always more partial to her other sword anyways, named the thing too.” Unaware that Aien had already mentioned the old sword Valiant Glory. “Swordmaster thing,” Waving it aside to continue on the track of thought.
Where he looked back to her over shoulder, “Carlisle as I said, killed himself. I begged him to give me more time. He had the blackened plague. It was eatin’ alive. Turning his veins black. Blood slowing in his body. And what no one knew, was he was a avid learner of the arts, magic as well. Wantin’ to be well versed in it all. All that nonsense… What I failed to realize was the sort of thin’s he learnt. At least till the damn thin’ was being put into a box and given to me like it was one great gem.” Arc’s voice twisted, a sound of desperation and anger.
Hesitating then, “I think I know why the fae tree pushed us together. She’s wise and has seen thin’s no other does. Bein’ connected to the earth, she has a network of knowledge that no other could. And since no one else can hear her, she’s been able to keep secret’s that no one would ever know.” Knowing he was being long winded, shoulder’s slumped. Looking to the slowly darkening sky, “Carlisle’s heart is in my study. He took his own heart out so he wouldn’t have it ruined by the blackened plague. And I stashed the damn thing away before all the rest happened. I intended to use it originally to save Eden, I mean,” Suddenly he was hissing through teeth, “It was the least that bastard could do since he and Lyra weren’t acknowledgin’ Eden as the first royal grandchild. He damn well was guna help his daughter since he put that burden on me. Just… I clearly failed that too.”
Head shook, breath pulled, “What I’m sayin’ is, yah can have the heart. It won’t be perfect but it ought to let yah tap into yer magic pool a bit. And I will help yah train it. To make it flourish so yah can take that rotten gobshite out. With the sword, with the heart… Captain Shitbag won’t be able to keep yah down.”
There was a small smirk at him saying she was learning, to which… maybe she was. At a snail’s pace in her opinion, but at least trying to adapt and make better decisions. Good too that with his memories flooded back he hadn’t reverted into some pompous all powerful elf mage looking down a beaky nose at her, nor was he hating on himself so much for his mistakes that he was going to bury himself somewhere. Their first impressions of each other had been terrible, but at least now they were able to see the other through new contexts.
Her little game of magic seemed to do the trick, though, prompting out of him what she actually wanted – and likely what he needed. To get him openly talking about some of those memories instead of sitting out here and brooding. If anyone knew how useless brooding was, it’d be Calia. It sure as hell hadn’t gotten her anywhere but spinning in the same circles and feeling like she herself was meaningless in the grand scheme of things.
Calia had not seen coming that he’d offer her a new heart!
Just the context alone of this suddenly available heart was enough to have her pause and look not so sure about the offer. The illness of the crowned prince, his unclaimed child, and Arc’s sister…! If the elven kingdom had followed the same rules of succession as Caeldalmor, the little girl Eden would’ve been the next heir. If they’d acknowledged her. If she had survived. …maybe a good reason why his sister hesitated.
That did not even involve the fact that Calia was not sure if another’s heart would even be strong enough for her. She was well aware she was not the same as others. Now she knew she was fae, so would an elven heart even be enough? What would happen to her own! Even if all her magic returned to her, just knowing a piece of herself was out there in someone else’s hands made her cringe and shiver. It was still dangerous that someone had a piece of her at all. Even basic witchcraft could use pieces of you for black magic. A sorcerer could do so much more.
She supposed with her magic returned as well as his own memories, that would fulfill the contract’s terms as well. To remain bound until they no longer needed each other. It would be a good thing, wouldn’t it?
“…can I think about it?” she asked. It’s not as if he could force her to do so, maybe decide it was a bad idea and take it back at best. Still she asked both out of politeness and an actual interest. “It’s not a no… Just… binding myself to another, and then taking someone else’s heart too is a lot. Who is to say it’s not still better used for something else. Or if his family even wants to see that last piece of him leave here.”
“Aye.” He was not going to force her to take the very thing he had never wanted. Even so many years after, through forgotten and unwanted reclaimed memories, he still didn’t want it. It had use of course. An enchanted heart could live forever outside the body. Said body could die and the heart would still exist. It was probably why Carlisle did it. To preserve the better part of himself as he did express to be used for something grand. The want to figure out a way to save Eden was certainly it but of course that desperately was like animal musk to the demon’s.
They came. Pretending to be scholars and said they had a cure for the very thing that was making him go insane. Offering everything.
Things now that he knew were too good to be truth but then… oh but then they had been exactly the answer. He was tired. Scared and knowing that time was running out. A perfect storm that let him become the willing victim offering himself up to be the sacrifice without having the proper wit about him. Of course he gave in. Gave it all up just for a false promise.
Shaking head a little so he didn’t go too deep down into the darkened memory lane, vision returned to rest upon her. “I don’ t think tellin’ them that Carlisle took out his own heart is guna brin’ them any peace. It sure as hell doesn’t with me. And truthfully, it’s mine. I know that sounds callous but that wee fucker shoved it into my hands as his gift. Had I known what his next steps were guna be, I would have shoved it right back into his chest myself.” Heavily did he sigh. Full body and worn. “The offer is merely there. It’s somethin’ that ain’t bein’ used. It’s not comin’ from someone alive and it was given without malice. But I ain’t tellin’ yah that it needs to go into yah. Just an idea. I’ll think of somethin’ to do with it regardless.”
If it meant cracking the spell around it, then so be it. He was not the one that removed it, so just killing the damn thing wasn’t going to be easy.
Enchanted hearts weren’t exactly a mundane spell. They were of dark magic. Twisted and vile. Loathed to even vaguely understand Carlisle’s efforts about it, the man had dabbled in a art that should have never been dabbled in! As if he could talk now.
Another shake of head trying to disperse thoughts. Attention raising to look past the pond towards the city hidden behind the silhouette of the palace. Then focused on said palace. Thought puckering till, “Have yah eaten?” Arc’s violet eye was over shoulder then pressed to her, “While I ain’t pleased to have the load of memories back, there was a good little hole in the wall place I last remember being good for a hot meal. It ain’t guna help if I just press upon all the fuck ups I’ve committed. Best be tryin’ to recall the ones too that were honest and half decent.”
“I’ll try to make up my mind before leaving this city,” she told him. Worded it just so as well, for if she accepted the heart there was a chance she’d be leaving the elven kingdom on her own. Without the binding, Calia very much doubted he’d join for her crusade through the mountains. More likely he’d be so glad for freedom, that he’d finally be able to go anywhere and get past all of the hurt he’d caused and been through. Calia sure as hell wouldn’t want to stay in a place where everyone treated you like a pariah.
He asked if she’d eaten and Calia smiled broadly.
“It’d be nice to get away from here for the night,” she agreed. Not just for his sake, as he did indeed need to get out of his head or he was going to risk becoming a snarling, disgruntled monster like herself. For her own sake, Calia didn’t want to find herself on the receiving end of any more royal frustrations when it came to… everything. Herself, Archimedes, magic and history. They were an incredibly overwhelming group of elves.
She moved back to the waiting jug of spice hell in a bottle, stuffing the cork back on it and tucking it into a little grove of the gazebo. Eventually someone was going to find it and have a fun surprise and a rowdy night.
“Let’s go, then. Could do with a bit of dancing and fine company. Best we get something that isn’t acid to drink too. “
He hadn’t missed the statement she made. Rolling it over in his mind, feeling it out with a fine toothed comb but offered no current rebuttal. Likely because she might be surprised that even if their contract ended, he wasn’t intending on just sending her on her way. Something for them to discuss when there wasn’t an air of mood just threatening over head and he was really needing not to stare directly at it. As there was always that uncertainty of how he just might react.
It’d be easy to say he would apply logic but there was chaos inside him that was bound to reveal its head in a fury of monstrous ire. Best not to give it too much fuel.
“Are yah tryin’ to evade Nysia, then?” He arched a brow at her almost knowing that she was due to have the eager princess tell of her day. Keeping focus as she went to tuck away that foul spirit and he smirked somewhat, “That’ll certainly ward the evil spirits away.”
With a step forward that as he waited just till she was in even stride with him to pointedly pick out one or two of the leaves that had remained in her locks. “Yah won’t do well if yer lookin’ like a spriggan fresh from the woods.” He said but didn’t sound convinced about it, “This time let me vet whatever bloke yah fancy for a romp, we don’t need a third wannabe mage making yer streak all the worse. But the drink sounds far more up my alley.”
He arched a brow at her then, “A little glamour this night may not be of poor choice either, if both of us wish to evade gawpin’ eyeballs. Yah remember how to do it?” Goading her to keep using the flow of magic.
“Nysia lives her life with the intensity of the sun,” mused Calia. Leaning to the side when she’d caught up with him to avoid any more of his plucking of leaves, so that she might undo her braid and shake them all out herself. “She has to always be thinking about something or plotting and scheming. I don’t mind in small doses, everyday is a bit much though.”
The royal family aught to bless the lucky stars that Nysia had no magic of her own and was not to be future Queen! Calia could already see that turning into centuries of people being stage actors in a kingdom wide play of Nysia’s control! Unsure if Nysia’s good intentions would keep reign over her micromanaging and meddling.
Soon to forget all about Nysia in the wake of him bringing up her poor choices in bedroom mates. Casting him a cool dry sort of look.
“Safe to say all silver haired mages are now banned from my presence. May as well make it all mages! And scholars! No magic, no smarts. Only brawny idiots for me here on out.” Surely Calia wouldn’t get herself in trouble with someone big, handsome, and stupid.
That wry look faded to something more contemplative when he mentioned using glamours. A glamour was a bit more complicated than the shifting and manipulating of elements. So it wasn’t so much trying to remember how to do it, it was trying to figure out how to pull from him in a sustainable way to keep her illusion from falling apart when she wasn’t actively paying attention. With her own magic it was simply and thing she just did. Using his did require a bunch of extra thoughts and steps.
Holding her palm face up to draw squiggles with her fingers upon it, it seemed she was almost flipping through the threads trying to find the instructions. Then with a studious little hum, she bent forward to shake her hair out once more, combing her fingers through it to smooth it out nice over one shoulder. Following with a soft sweeping of her fingers against her cheeks.
The change was so subtle, one would think nothing had happened at all. Calia still looked exactly like herself, except… less. Dimmer, unremarkable, like any and every other girl anyone had ever seen. So perfectly forgettable, that for anyone who didn’t already know her, that nothing about her would stick in their mind. They’d remember a pretty girl and a good time, yet all the details would be a little muddled.
It took more than she was expecting to create that glamour, but it also wasn’t as difficult to hold and keep in place either. Still, she gestured towards herself in a proud little preen as finally getting to do this style of magic freely and show it off, was such a magnificent and delightful thing!
“Aye…. Aye she does.” He could remember now. She had always been a feisty little thing and his platitudes about saying she was the sweetest and cutest were just that. He didn’t think they were entirely wrong, she could be both when she wanted too. And last he had seen her properly, she had been still just a small thing. Cute as a button and as devilish as an imp. Flustering one and all with the sort of adorable innocence that people tended to shrug off as kid things. She was an adult now and it wasn’t nearly as cute. Meddling fingers and a asking for them to dance to a tune to keep her entertained, rightfully she was terribly spoiled.
Looking through the siblings, she was the only one that didn’t have a set assignment. Liriel was now the crown princess. Mother and wife. Her plate was full.
Aien was one of the councillor’s for the entire city and had his own ducal due south that likely had some association with a wife he had not personally met. Overseeing tasks that weren’t important enough for the queen and crown princess but vital enough to need due attention.
Then of course Renus. The youngest was a commander in the temple. A knight of the holy law that sought to vanquish demons and wrong doings. Busying himself with work and an attitude that could both be gentle and totally arrogant.
Even now, he was silently questioning what the fuck Nysia was doing besides toiling over boys. So Calia was right. Small doses of her scheming but every day, oh she was a terror. Even if he was shortly developing a sly grin that nudged Calia, “What say yah to a little devious fun. She’s lookin’ for mister right, before yah go and if yah wanna give her a goose chase, we find mister perfect. Write her a letter, a secret one. Detailin’ all she be lookin’ for and let her trot after an baseless thought. Just a slight tease to perhaps humble herself a little. The little pampered doll does need to be reminded she is not the play director called life. Or, we find a bloke tonight and arrange them a meetin’.” Arc thought a moment before laughing softly, “Might still be a wee more devil than elf.”
He shrugged it away. Leaving it as a hanging thought while he found her less than enthused look pressed to him. Motioning to step behind him as they took a narrow path around the outside of the gazebo grove that would let them evade going indoors to the palace. “I don’t think there are many silver haired mages thankfully. But I ain’t sayin’ yer idea is terrible. So dumb brawny blokes. Well… that might be hard to complete in an elven capitol. If yah haven’t noticed, most of the men folk are more slender narrow souls. Aien might be one of the few that breaks that mould. But can always watch, at least they ought to be pretty enough. Just don’t be askin’ for tall, yer the amazon princess amongst these people. Yer guna have to settle for a short lad.”
Crossing carefully through the narrow path with a look towards the glass windows to make sure there was no one watching them for a moment, he left her to contemplate the means of a glamour. Silently giving her options and chances to dabble in the arts of the magical craft. It seemed to soothe a part of her and he was hardly about to shame her for it.
It gave them time to walk and start making their way towards the front of the massive abode of the royal family. Where Calia was pulling on the well of arcane influence to where she was shortly starting the process of simply apply features to a ordinary value. Not so bold of a glamour that it would be difficult to upkeep.
As she flashed her smile and looked perfectly proud. He wouldn’t tell her but it was a good sight to see her finally relaxing and being able to enjoy who she was. Settling instead to nod his approval while there was a larger shift in his own appearance. For obvious reasons. Looking demonic was already out of the picture and people did know what he looked like. While there were only a few differences from him as an elf to demon, they weren’t so extravagant that people wouldn’t pay attention. For now, he shifted both height –it would be foolish to keep the tall stature amongst the elves. At least looking the part of moderately similar to Calia. And changed both eye colour to a muted olive and hair to brown.
He wasn’t actually too interested in flirting and making sweet with a pretty thing, but just to sit and listen to a calm ambience while Calia was free to breath was like a breath of fresh air.
Tilting head to indicate for her to be quick on feet, a show of magic started once more. “Be light on yer feet, lass. They won’t stay too long.” Pulling threads across the air to create steps upwards into the air, they would evade any lingering guards stationed out front of the palace by taking to the sky. Carving flickering glimmers of light to show were to step as he promptly led the way. Stepping up and up and up as if this were just an everyday thing!
It likely had been.
He hadn’t exactly been the most well behaved youth, sneaking out and away had become a sort of specialty and tonight, it was going to be revisited.
Calia laughed bright and loud with a toss of her head and no shame about it. This sort of mischief at Nysia’s expense likely wasn’t such a good idea, but it was true too that the woman needed to learn a few lessons about trying to control everything and make everything perfect. Having no doubt in her mind that the elven princess had been trying to construct her dates to be these carefully constructed romantic scenarios so she could somehow fall in love just the right way.
That’s just not how love worked. Even Calia knew that!
“We’ll likely have better luck finding men to throw at Nysia than me,” she did admit, laughing again. Not so upset about the fact she was a little too tall for most men. It was an unfortunate fact she’d had to deal with her whole life. At least here in the elven kingdom, they tended to be nice looking enough that it made up for the fact that half the male population were more eye level with her chest.
He seemed to be on board of altering his own appearance too, shifting in a way that wasn’t nearly as subtle as her own. Likely for the best, as these elves had long memories and he wasn’t exactly anyone’s favorite person. Calia reached up to flick at the brown of hair, an amused sort of twist of her mouth to suggest she wasn’t so sure she liked this look, but was at least impressed by it.
Not nearly as impressed as she was by the magical stairs. What a childish feeling to be giggling under her breath like this just about a gratuitous use of magic for the most ridiculous of things. Yet, why not? Hoarding magic to use by rules and stupid guidelines had always been a nightmare cage to her. This casual use for the pure joy of it was so wonderfully new.
Calia was also not without her own want for teasing and play. Keeping a quick step up behind him until they were near the top, to bend with a sweep of her hand to alter his own spell – easy enough to do when she was using his own magic. Shifting magic of glimmering gold to a frosted blue and steps to a swift slide down. Ruthlessly giving him a quick push to the back to send him on down, with only her cackling following!
There was probably too much wicked thoughts at the idea of what sort of fellows they could send to Nysia’s door. Sure Calia was supposed to help her narrow down the selection but no one told her she couldn’t add more to it. Requested or not. If the princess didn’t like it, she’d handle it but now the idea of just selecting any and all was certainly a devious plan.
One he just might do because what would be done about it. She might either find someone that didn’t fit the norm or predetermined idea of what a spouse could be, or she would just be a kid in a candy store.
Right now with a shift of appearance and the creation of the shimmery lines of flat stairs being made so they could ascend over the heads of those who wouldn’t typically look up for anyone trying to leave the palace without notice. Maybe a part of him was both reliving this soothing reminder that magic didn’t need to be constricted, that he had once been rather gifted and could pull easily from a pool within him that was hardly small or shallow. Add on that it was perhaps a bit playful to also get the princess that had been quarantined to secrecy to also enjoy that frivolousness of just being able to cast and conjure without worry. And even if there was worry, fuck those people.
What he hadn’t expected was her faeish nature to rear its head and started to alter spell. Turning from the marking of his usage to her own, becoming a sure as hell slippery slope. Pushed into it! Barely a chance to stop himself from sliding back down with her being that wicked gremlin.
Having to assert the creation to ensure he wasn’t about to be stuck on the ground, shifting to split the creation so she could alter the path originally made to her desired intention and re-ascending a second path that allowed him back up. In empty sky, a path began to link together. A soft halcyon luminous path of swirling arcane created. The air shimmed where pathway took form, each step solid yet pulsing with unearthly light. Extending outward, spiraling into the night like a celestial bridge, defying gravity itself.
Boots meeting the path with a soft hum of energy. Holding firm beneath till he past and it flared into nothing. A road carved from pure sorcery, leading them towards the town at the feet of the palace. “To yer left,” He indicated to point the way. “The place is called Faelight Rest. It’s away from the main portion of town.”
It was unclear if this testing of magic was to see just how skilled he was with his own well, or if Calia was simply trying mimic and one up the things he did as a test of her own capability. Truly, for as free as she wanted to be with magic, he was showing her things she’d never even thought of as an option. Who would think to walk along the sky over a road of simple glimmering light! It sure as hell would’ve made getting out of her own castle home and hell of a lot easier than just climbing out of windows and scooting around in shadows through the halls.
She didn’t give him any more sliding surprises, though. Sticking with simple laughter and sliding along where the path was smooth as if she were skating across the ice. Smooth and elegant motions, pretending she was the very wind itself. Until they were clear of the palace walls, the gates, and any eyes of palace guards, Nysia’s spies, or anyone else.
To the left, he’d pointed, to a place called Faelight Rest. Now that was an apt name for her wasn’t it. When she was certain they’d come plenty far enough, it was an easy thing to make that magical path tilt downwards, for a thrilling ride downwards until she landed on solid earth and hopped on her feet. Blowing a kiss to an audience unseen and giving he himself a ridiculous courtly bow.
Following suit to come down to the ground once more only to be shown just how dramatic Calia could be. Blowing kisses to her fawning unseen admirers and bowing towards him. Truly a class ham she was but it was good. She was enjoying herself.
Dusting hands off like the means of magic was going to stick to them like fairy dust, he motioned for her to follow. Feeling nostalgic as feet lead down the way into a past turned present. Although the street had noticeably changed by the years, it hadn’t shifted so drastically much that it was no longer easy to retrace phantom steps. Nodding to one or two elves in passing that were enjoying the onset of night life. Not quite to the point of vocal intoxication but certainly having the opportunity to do so.
Where his sights had been set was a traditional looking pub. The exterior showing its age in good upkeep with a few lingering stragglers behind. A single sign declaring it the Faelight Rest, hand carved in old wood. Etched by chiseled wood and painted black letters to be sure it read clearly. Anointed with a little fairy to detail it as a enchanting place. Whimsical and off the beaten path.
A slight turn to slip through the open wooden door, the taproom was entirely open. Wood upon wood with a balcony over top that allowed the patron’s to get an aerial view should the place be overcrowded. Not that it was this evening. A collection of potentially twelve or thirteen people besides themselves and a singular tall older barkeep. With music playing and a few of them already dancing, Arc gave a slight pause. Looking around then to Calia. Then motioned with open hands for her to go and enjoy herself. A free chickadee to flutter at her leisure, gravitated separately as not to be a potential lurking presence for her. Finding a small table that wasn’t yet used, giving no more than a mere gesture of hand to barkeep trailing attention to indicate that a drink was asked by of no particular requirement.
Just something.
Now this was an experience Calia was well used to, lively pubs and taverns of any sort. Being able to walk in as nobody and stay as a nobody, so used to being a singular one, there was no shyness of hesitation when she left him at the bar to go mingling with strangers. An ease she sure as hell didn’t have the first time she’d walked into a tavern with him.
That now felt like an entire lifetime ago.
Maybe there was something sad too about her never having friends to go tavern crawling with, not that she was thinking of that now. Seamlessly seeking out one of the older elves instead going straight for someone handsome and alone. Chatting the man up with the charm of foreign stranger, using that newness to find out what to drink, what to eat. Passing a little gossip back and forth, as he’d relayed they were seeing more and more round ears coming into the elven lands. Some refugees from the mountains, but also some that were fleeing the Imperial Lands via ship.
Calia herself reciprocating her own gossip, about the still unmarried elven princess currently taking choosing a suitor much more seriously. Discarding eligible men left and right because she’s looking for that heart stopping gentleman that’ll spice up her life! That by now she’s looking for someone beyond the nobles as they just aren’t living up to her dreams!
Nysia was going to have more men than she knew what to do with.
Then, like any respectable young lady, it was with the elder gentlemen she coaxed out to dance with her. Because surely he’d not let her get whisked away by any handsome young elf that was bound to try and talk her into unsavory things. And if he could just point out any that she should be avoiding because they tended to chase skirts and didn’t have a lick of sense of them, she would be ever so grateful. To stay away from them, of course.
There was quite a bit of laughter and completely pointless conversation, and it felt so good to have this familiar normalcy again. Even in a pub of ridiculous elves.
It would seem like his idea had gone over well. Sliding herself into the mingling aspect. No hesitation, no trepidation. Just into the fray and probably saying a lot louder that she had been desperate for just some casual air instead of the stiff royal existence that was around the last while. That he could take into appreciation and some sense of a good idea.
Once he was certain she had successfully settled herself into the gab and ease of civility, he did what he wanted to do originally. Leaving.
He didn’t need to eat after all. Nor was he in the mood to chase skirts or get local gossip –having had more than enough of that recently. And she would not need a chaperone this night or really any night! Slipping out after shiny coin was placed down and she had been plenty intermingled with the elder gentleman. Whether or not she found her way back to the palace was neither here nor there. She was a guest after all and not one in the dungeon.
He’d contently took his leave to distance himself from both the camaraderie –not quite in the mood for it truthfully.
Calia had kept an eye on him for a little bit, at least long enough to know he was sipping on a drink. But of course after awhile, when she’d become engrossed in conversation, and a good bit of dancing, she hadn’t thought to keep looking over her shoulder to check on the demon. Not so used to having company for these outings and well… one kind of expected if you did, wasn’t it good manners to at least tell the other you were done and on your way out?
So it was not until she stopped at the bar to fetch a drink herself that she’d discovered he was gone. Long gone by her inquiry to the bartender. Sliding into a seat there at the counter to wait for her drink, coming to the slow realization she’d once again been managed. Managed and then abandoned here. Like she was some sort of temperamental toddler to be dropped off for playtime.
It was hard not to be pissed off about that.
Mostly because she’d been trying her best efforts to keep him company so he wouldn’t have to anguish away about all those old memories coming back and being overwhelming. Certain that she had to have at least helped a little in their game of magic one-upping, though not so certain now considering he had been unusually calm and collected the whole time, and now she’d been left here.
What was she to do about it, though? Go hunt him down and call him an asshole? He’d probably had enough of that. He probably did just need time to be alone. She really couldn’t blame him.
Calia ordered herself some food to go along with her drink. If he wanted her busy and distracted, then that was what she’d do. Though, now here she was realizing she was on her own again and suddenly prowling around at a tavern sort of lost it’s appeal. Apparently still burned about picking up strangers and not so keen on testing her luck with that again so soon, no matter how appealing it would be to get lost in someone else.
So drinking herself stupid it was! A shot for herself, a shot for the demon, and a few more. Calia intended to drink herself real stupid and see if she could even walk her own feet back to the palace, or if she’d end up wandering off to run with the jackals. The only one that was going to miss her was Nysia, and damn Nysia, she just wanted to talk about herself!
It wasn’t management but rather not raining on someone else’s parade. Being aware that Calia had never explored her magic freely as she had tonight and that he had offered to show her an old haunt, it hadn’t been meant to just abandon. But to show her a place where she could be as she wanted and not have to worry. Nor was he about to act like a babysitter when it had come to show that she was enjoying herself. Rediscovering himself was going to take effort, nor was he wanting to be too present when it was potentially likely that he was more of a sad sack. No one needed that lurking around them bringing down the mood.
Avoiding expressing departure for there was no need for her to end her enjoyed time to tag after when the freedom of enjoyment could at least be hers.
Whatever came of it, it would be.
Calia’s irritation with the demon lasted about as long as it took for her to finish her meal, her drink, and another long dance. Maybe it was personal growth, maybe it was the alcohol, it was just difficult to stay mad when things were no longer so dire that she felt buried under the weight of it. Wanting so much for this relationship to work, that it meant she needed to try and not take every little thing as a personal attack.
Of course that meant those ill feelings were worked out in other ways. Falling back on old habits, as else why would a mountain princess go out across the kingdom hanging around random taverns and falling into bed with whomever looked nice, talked sweet, and was an enthusiastic participant. There were still many things Calia had to realize and learn about herself, and more constructive ways to fill that void of loneliness was a big one for sure.
At least this time she’d chosen an evening paramour that wasn’t a silver haired or blond sir of statuesque handsomeness. Nor was he a mage, a sorcerer, or even a scholar. Just a simple baker that worked in one of the shops on the street and was more than happy to spend a couple hours with a pretty girl. A few good hours of undivided attention were really all she needed, before the princess was stumbling her way back to the palace proper. Making good use of a new way to do magic to sneak her way back in, with naturally crawling herself right back into that fae tree to sleep the night away.
Not so pleased about it being the Queen herself to find her the next morning, but it was what it was.