Skay and Weird Name sitting by the river... T-A-L-K-I-N-G [Private]

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

The Third Cycle in the Month of Kalendryas
In the Season of Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIII Post Fractum.
Paradigm Shift: The Eclipse of the Sun
By the Carmelyan River

Winter.

The chilly weather had once more descended upon him unknowingly, and he had awoken one Brightening to realize that the chill had overtaken his limbs and his wings had felt stiff from the cold air through the Darkening that had sunk their macabre jaws into the joints. His clothes did hardly anything to protect him against the blistering weather, and if there was no thing worse than being hungry, it was being cold.

While the Winter of the Medonian Continent didn't really bother him much, having experienced much more brittle and chilly winters upon Vilyatol, the swift flurry descent in temperature was nevertheless felt. The disappearance of the sun had been witnessed by the Juive'len just two cycles ago, as he stared at wide-eyed fascination at the eclipse that ensued a darkening of the lands, gazing at the rim of silver outlined against the shadow, before the sun completely shattered.

What sense of joy at being able to see such a rare occurrence completely vanished and evaporated as he watch in wide eye terror, as the meteorites start to fall, first as silvery balls of fire that became larger and larger, at one time hissing like super heated air escaping from cracked fissures in the earth, tearing across the air as it slammed into the West. A few more whistled toward the direction of the North, far beyond the Sea of Diana, where the Union of Trelore laid helplessly open.

Only then did he finally realize how much he had missed home. And how much he longed to have those familiar faces around him. He prayed to Carmelya as he felt tears coursing through his alabaster cheek. He had fallen asleep after awhile, though cold tears had awakened him, the positions of the stars told him that he couldn't have slept for more than a few minutes.

If it was truly a sign of the end times, he would wish to die on Vilyatol, not in a strange, foreign continent wrought with strange creatures he felt no connection towards. Oh, how he loathed the follies of youth, that had spurred him to leave his home in the first place. If only he could seek one last moment to consider, one last time to make that fatal mistake... yet there can be no grand recrimination for what has befallen him.

It had been his own doing.

And so, the young Juiv'len took to the air this Winter Brightening, letting the thermals carry him as he glide from updraft to updraft, soaring higher and higher and simply letting the wind carry him. The sunlight that graced his feathers had began easing away the numbing sore in his wing joints, and as he felt his muscles comforted by the warmth, the cold in his heart was still very potent and dry. He had been forced to grow up very quickly for the past Eras, forced to live off whatever Nature had to sustain himself, letting his small private prayers to the Nature Incarnate guide him along.

A'lentas had grown, and grown into a man he did, yet what was the most remarkable change was perhaps the change in himself. It was as if he had grown into a man that he himself did not recognize, like a rose that had been so skillfully dried that it still retained its proportions, nay, even its mild fragrance, a mind as empty as a dead cocoon, useless to anyone and himself.

His soul hurt. He longed for the Homeland.

And so he glided through the skies, like a shard of gold, without aim or purpose.

[Skay Ravendi]

Winter. Skay loathed winter. There was no other word for it. Perhaps not the winter itself but the cold that came with it. A thought to travel to Arakmatian desert was whizzling in her mind ever more often. But instead of going to the direction of Arakmat, she was flying the exact opposite - East. Waking up under two duvets every morning was horrible. Boiling water for twice as long as in summer to get tea was beyond all evil. And walking outside... well that was... the season of winter. Which she hated.

Winter of course was also to blame for the spur to learn new spells. Such as Bear Skin to make herself warm with all that fur. And yet it was still unnerving. Even now the draconess was outside, on the snow covered land, instead of under two duvets because of some nexian telling her that unique Gryph flowers grew near the River of Carmelya. Supposedly, such flowers bloomed during the winter, breaking through the snow. And so she, as naive as she could get, was here. By the river. Miles and miles away from her bed in Nexus Prime.

The good thing about all this was that by the time she managed to get here, the draconess also managed to forget her annoyance and enjoy the brightening. While it was cold, at least it wasn't snowing and the wind was not as strong as the last brightening. The land was covered in a thick layer of white snow too, not like in the streets of Nexus where it was trampled into a thin layer of brown snow. If it could even be called snow anymore. So she was enjoying the time that she could spend in a new place, where all the chatting and shouting could not be heard, where she could relax and trully breathe easier.

The best way to cover such a distance was by flight and Skay got quite adept at that through the last era. She had been flying a lot in the form of a sparrow, sometimes and eagle and sometimes, like now, the form of an ebony-black scaled Greater Wyvern. The form of a dragon from all views, except without the powers of the dragons or a sentient mind. That was the only difference between a true dragon and a fake dragon form that Skay could wield. And the size... well, it was huge. The tail alone was longer than the usual house. And the wings... they created a massive form. Everytime when Skay was in that from she enjoyed flying to the fullest, hearing her wings beat the air with great force, the air split apart to let her through and a shadow run through the land with no body attached to it.

It was only that now that dragon was lying on the ground, near the river... seemingly dead. The eyes, as large as a human head, were closed. One wing spread over the snow, the other half closed. The feet not moving and relaxed. Only the snow had melted quite a bit near the nostrils. The form larger than any object around was clearly visible as the black scales betrayed the location of the dragon far too easily in the land of sparkling whiteness. It had been a long brightening and the sun was only slightly after dawn.

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

Tumbling in the air, A'lentas swept above the vast Carmelyan River, his eyes not really focusing on anything in particular, merely allowing the restorative light to warm his feathers and muscles, allowing the endless rays of glow to spread over all things big and small. A great stillness had taken over him, garnering utter control over his mind and his limbs no longer mattered. His wings had ceased its flapping as he tilted them at slight angles almost innately, gliding over the thermals rising from the wintry land, allowing him to cover great distances with little effort.

The dawning sun appeared pink, a fiery silver beyond the canopy of melting clouds. The deep, delicious gust swept through him, seeming to chasten him, the iciness of the wind numbing, yet welcoming. Thunderous white hot light rolling over knolls and hills, curdling the night in the reflections of a thousand leaves, slowly unleashing its monstrous glory. The snow felt like some splendid blessing from the invisible and fathomless Heavens, like some great voluptuous magic that swirled around in icy white particles around him.

A sight upon the stark whiteness caused him to flinch suddenly, as he momentarily angled his wing in an wrongly, allowing the wind beneath his wings to escape in such a sudden, violent moment that he had began his plummet to the earth beneath, where the creature that had sparked that momentarily lost of physical orientation laid... slumbering?

A Dragon.

Dark, glittering scales glow obsidian, juxtaposed against the pure white shift that had delicately covered the lands around. Wings, larger than any he had ever seen were gracefully resting upon the land, and the noble sinuous form itself took A'lentas's breath away as he pulled his wings around him, stretching his muscles apart as he flared the shimmering golden fluff in an attempt to slow his descent and catch the air once more.

What sort of creature was this that it lives outside children's myth and fairytales? Dragons had always been creatures that were mythical beyond proportions, even to the ethereal Juive'lens who were created long before the first Ke'trela would be cast out of the Heavenly Aethernia. Older than the Elves, older than the Allerians themselves, these were legendary beasts said to have denounced Telath as they thrive in their elusive and clandestine Isle, away from the eyes of mortals that speak of these creatures in hushed whispers, as if to speak loudly against them would draw their utmost ire.

All thoughts of the Homeland were momentarily abolished, and for a singular, awe-sinking moment, all A'lentas could think of was how beautiful the Dragon was, how seductive each precious scale rendered as an impregnable armor on the muscular form of the Dragon. The Dragon bled power, practically into the air around it. It was the very display of nobility and strength melded together.

Sweeping in random circles above the dragon, the Juive'len scrutinized it with the curiosity of a five year old Child, watching... perhaps anticipating and hoping for some sort of reaction.

[Skay Ravendi]

It was possible that Skay would have remained there lying on the snow without even the slightest idea that there was a unique being flying above her. It was so good to rest for a while, to lay on the snow near the river and stop thinking, just lie there, enjoy the breeze which could not freeze her in that form. The sun was shining onto her scales and making the dragon warm as the black absorbed all the rays. It was nice. It was warm.

And then the sun disappeared for a second and reappeared again. It wasn't a big deal no. But when it happened for a second time it made the dragon wince again. While sun shining in the eye wasn't bad, having it flash light and darkness was something which eyes could not handle. Annoying frikkin clouds!! But when the dragon opened the eye to see how many clouds gathered in the crystal blue sky, what Skay saw was not clouds but some sort of a bird flying up in the big blue. She did not move though and remained lying on one side, with one opened eye watching the thing which dared to turn on and off the light.

The draconess kept watching with curiousity for it did not look like a bird all that much apart from the wings and the ability to fly. The first thought was that it had to be a dracon who knew how to fly, but... that could not be. She could not sense him with the Call. Maybe... Hmm. She even extended it, directing it at the big fly, but no. No Call. This was not a dracon who knew how to fly. Now the whole head rose from the snow and it became evident that the dragon saw the being of the skies.

An Ancient Allerian? Could it be? The draconess had thought that they were extremely rare. Interesting. If not an allerian then a magically created or summoned creature, for which a mage had to be nearby. Hmm. Clara, she needed that to see if there was mana in that being, if it was created or if this was... well, an ancient allerian. What else could it be? A few seconds, just a few seconds and Skay'd know. Being an adept had a lot of advantages. She just had to keep an eye on the creature so that it would not fly away.

Though... if this really was an Ancient then she might just very well be in trouble. As far as Skay knew those things had power which was beyond normal and she wasn't sure how they'd take it that she was pretending to be a dragon. Though if they would not make anything sudden and stupid then she'd be fine. After all she wasn't pretending to be a real dragon but instead just a wyvern. Bah. This was dangerous. If it really was an Ancient then he could dispell her form in but a blink of an eye. Damn it. Damn it...

She did watch the flying one all the time though from the moment that she noticed him and it was evident. Just like it was evident that the flying thing saw her. "Just what are you doing..?" She could not read thoughts and with the sun shining in her eyes, she could not see the expression on the feathered one's face. In fact she could not see him that good at all, so she wasn't even sure if that was a he. If only the thing would land. It wansn't like she was thaaat scary. Alright so she was. But she had not shown any signs of hostility and she had to be an interesting sight to see. From up close.

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

The young Juive'len was almost scared out of his feathers as the 'Dragon' spoke to him, as he instinctively jerked his wings and pulled him higher to the skies, not really under the impression that he was causing more than a mild irritation to the massive creature beneath.

For a moment, he was too lost in the frigid darkness of the scales, and the smooth gleaming teeth of the serpentine creature to speak. It didn't occur to him that the voice that spoke to him wasn't malevolent nor bore any hint of hostility.

Soft, fleeting gestures, each one so delicate and ethereal, lissome and specter-like. The slight cant of his head as A'lentas silently contemplated if he dared approach the beast. The sunlight streamed around him, seeming to wrap him around in a hallowed light, alchemizing into a halo of sorts. Like a saint gazing upon a statue of his God; this baby-faced deacon gazed with a mixture of fear and fascination all balled together.

Curiousity would eventually kill the cat (or the Juive'len in this case) as he began his descent, his feather trailing in a regal fashion around him as he landed on his feet, toes first before touching the earth altogether. His grace was like the wind twirling around the trees themselves, mysterious yet so wonderous to behold.

Landing always made him queasy after flight, the firm gravational pull of Telath seem to swallow him completely, as if bounding him by chains and mannacles as he stood, making no ground to advance, several feet away from the maw of the 'Dragon'.

From the looks of it, he was more than awed, his eyes growing large, child-like and imploring, when he spoke, his voice was meek, not intend on being a syncophant, more out of respect than anything else. While he may have found it hard to converse with a Human, or even another Elf, this time the words flowed freely, softly as the fear led on by utter curiosity urged him forward.

"Merely nothing, Great One, what brings you back to the land of the Allerians?"

[Skay Ravendi]

OOC: Should have warned you that I use italics for thinking and only bold for talking O.o But we'll go with this...

She had spoke those words outloud? For a moment the draconess could not believe it. She had not meant to. But using Animal Form in a modified version, which did not change the vocal system, those something that she had not had the time to get used to. After all she had started messing with the spells and their posibilities just a few cycles ago. Well no matter. There were other things that were more important at the moment.

And it was then that Skay finally managed to reach Clara, which allowed her to see Ara and other arcane things which made up the Material. And to her surprise there was nothing magical about the winged one. He did not seem to be a summoned being, nor an illusion. And she even doubted that he was an Ancient Allerian for several reasons. Usually sensing something as powerful as an archmage was impossible to miss while in Clara and allerians usually were archmages in more than one sphere.

But. If he was not an Ancient, not a summoned and not an illusion, not even a shapeshifted dracon... who was he? Still... there was an even more presing matter - he thought of her as of a dragon. By the time when A'lentas landed and spoke to her, Skay was no longer lying on her side like before with just the head raised. Now she was... still lying, but on her belly with wings closed over her large back and the head raised elegantly.

"I am not what you think I am. And I have spent most of my time upon this land." The voice that answered had power within it. It was not like one of a human or any other such being. Instead it was full of force, though perhaps unintended one even for the dragon did not seem to try to get such a voice. Just like some dwarf would not try to have a silly accent, it was in the veins. In this case, perhaps it was more in the spell than in the veins.

"Do tell, who are you? You don't seem to be an Ancient Allerian, yet you do have wings..." The dragon spoke again, raising its head a little at the end. Which... was about twenty feet above the juive'len's now. A cloud moved in the sky, covering the sun for a while and bringing a shadow onto the elf and the dragon, which allowed Skay to have even a better look of the winged one.

And he was... beautiful. She had seen him land and knew that she could never achieve such grace if she'd ever learn to fly in her tur form. And she could never have skin as smooth as his, just scales. Never the grace nor the elegance. Nor the purity. She'd always have that Cyraxian Taint within her, no matter what form she'd take. She'd never have soft lips which could kiss... there was so much that she envied in the sight in front of her.

Perhaps the only thing that matched the elf was her eyes, her gaze. It had that same saddness and that same anger. The juive'len could not hide it even in the presence of a dracon, those features seemed to be carved in his face. Yet Skay's gaze also gained strength, especially through the last eras. It was not only because now she could wield powerful arcana, but because of so many things that she had experienced, so many things that she had seen and yet... there was great beauty in front of her that she had never seen before.

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

A slight cant of his head revealed that A'lentas was confused, though pleasantly from the looks of it. He looked as if he didn't really understood what Skay had meant, but didn't seem willing to press it, to break the peace between the two. Being in the presence of a creature this majestic have a strange rejuvenating effect.

As the 'Dragon' towered above him, a bit of fear and uncertainty colored his eyes, and there was the slightest moment when a thought that he might be eaten there and then did cross his mind, not once, but many, many times.

He was of course, surprised to know that the 'Dragon' did not know of him and his people. To his knowledge these creatures were old, far more ancient than the Allerians themselves, and they were filled with powers that exceed even that of the fabled Aethergem. What impressed him was that this one, unlike the others did not glibly link him to Ancient Allerians, yet her question both puzzled and delighted him.

"I am of the Juive'len people, from the island of Vilyatol, Trelore." His voice radiated a certain amount of pride, though it was filled with a wistful longing that perhaps gave away his inner most thoughts more intimately than his words could.

"We know of your kind, the great Dragon kin, Me'gwaur of Vilyatol."

He simply couldn't take his eyes off this one, in the sudden blending flesh of utter grace, beauty and danger all melting into one, coupled with the alluring scales and large, magnificent wings, watching the sinuous beast pick its way across the earth with a grace so unlike his; yet equally mesmerizing, the 'Dragon' was the alluring embodiment of all the misery he felt that were now laid open and quenched with a salve of Aethernian attributes.

His soul hurt.

[Skay Ravendi]

And while Vilyatol said nothing to the draconess, Trelore was the word that explained everything. She was not the best at noticing things and reading memories, but the eyes and the ears that size made her notice something. Just what it was she was not completely sure. She did wonder though why the... elf, yeah he'd be classified under that for now, left that island. Why did elves come to Allerian Empire anyway? They did not seem to be ones who wanted to interact with people oh so much and they did not seem to want to take new lands, instead hide in their cities, filled with trees. And yet... here they were in the Empire.

It did not matter really. As long as they were decently peaceful and as wonderful as the one in front of her, the draconess was ready to let as many of them into the empire as it had acres. She envied... and she hurt remembering how she used to tread upon this land in human form which brought no worries. It was by her own will that after so many patterns she decided to take her true form and hold on to it for as long as she'd be strong enough to bare it. That was a long story, one that greeted her every morning.

The elf did seem to be persistend on proving just how well he knew of 'her' kind. Well that could not be helped it seemed. "I am not like the ones you speak of, young trelorian." And she would not continue on the matter, though she was quite sure that the flying elf would. Just how rare such a meeting had to be. Of a dracon in the form of a dragon and an elf with wings all the way from Trelore.

"Why have you left that place? Have you found that which you came here for?" The dragon asked lowering down the head, still watching A'len, but now in a much more relaxed way. The draconess was no longer afraid of him spotting her for what she trully was, a spawn of a Cyraxian. Damn. If it wouldn't have been for her form, for her ideals... she might have just shapeshifted into one of his kind. Walking looking that beautiful had to be an easier life for sure...

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

The young Winged-Elf knew not that his visage and appearance itself was having an effect on the Dracon inside the skin of the Dragon, but what he did know, was that the creature took his breathe away. From the numerous, glittering scales, each one not totally like the same as the other, and the massive wings that make his look pitiful in comparison, not to mention that regal position where it seemed so composed, so powerful and contained.

For a creature that had walked almost eighty years of his life to attain a peace within himself, A'lentas fiercely admired the beast and that much he guilelessly let the 'Dragon' know.

Nothing more can be gained from staying here, from lingering upon these lands like a ghost of a dancer who sought an end each Darkening, waiting to perform his last dance before vanishing to the land of the after death. He had come to fulfill his sole purpose, to learn something about him which could prove to him that what his parents had wanted for him were wrong. He had come. They couldn't help him. And he couldn't completely comprehend what the 'Dragon's disavowal meant to him.

When he spoke once more, his voice was rich and soothing, though full of pain. He felt the 'Dragon's words immediately and completely, which is always the way with feelings now. They came on in a rushing rapid and taught its lessons all at once. It was as if he could hear the cacophony of words and prayers in Carmelya's shrine.

"I left home, thinking that I could learn something about myself. No, I have not found what I have come here for. And I don't think I ever will."

His voice hung low, he never felt so forlorn as he did right now. The question, quite literally, had hit the nail on the board.

"When you fight life, life always wins."

[Caerydd]

Skay

As Al'entas answered her last question, Skay felt the grip of a mind beyond her comprehension take hold, and wrench her out of her form and body. It was not a gentle touch, a pleasant guiding, it was painful and raw. Instantly her senses were smothered, unable to see, smell or feel for moment upon unending moment. The power that held her immobile seemed intent on making her feel the terror of such a way of existing.

You play at being a dragon, Heartling, though it is dangerous to yourself and others.

The voice was gentle, but it echoed through her. It was not loud, it was simply everywhere at the same time. The warm voice of an old woman, dusty from misuse, it was. Kindly, warm, and yet gently chiding at the same time. A faint hum of disapproval was something that could be felt in the very marrow of her bones, whatever size they were now. Yet with the hum, some sense returned - a shaft of light, flickering as if cast from a candle flame, the gentle crackle of a fire, and the humming of an old woman, accompanied by the rustling of the same womans homespun clothing.

You play a lot, Heartling. And you are fond of my Children, it seems. So fond that you do yourself down. Do you not love your own form, child? Is it so hideous that you must lose yourself, pretend to be another creature altogether? You are no youngling, to be playing such games Heartling. You know the taste of danger too well to continue with such games without a good reason.

Skay could see clearly now. She must be in a humanoid form, for she lay in some sort of bed, the woman leaning over her with some sort of spoon. From this angle, the woman's eyes were clearly visible, as was her snow white hair. Deep points of light, orange and firey, danced on a field of deep brown. Her eyes were a darkening, filled with millions of tiny campfire stretching out into the distance. Skay was powerless to resist as the woman dripped a liquid from the spoon into the draconess' mouth. The woman smiled.

We will meet again, heartling. Your heart of fire will one day turn you down my path, I hope. Now, I believe your winged friend still has questions for you, you should go back.

And it was all gone. Skay was near the river still; the wing-elf before her, and herself still in the form of the wyvern.

[Skay Ravendi]

Ahh. Just how wrong A'lentas was. The draconess had faced a similar... trial. And so far she was still searching for that - something. And... it was then that the force took over her. Just what had happened? She did try to struggle but there was nothing to struggle against. This was a force which was not like something she had ever felt before. Perhaps it was a tiny bit similar to the unnerving pain of travelling out of the grasp of Heronythis after creating the cure for the pox with Darian, travelling through time and distance too big for such a short period of time.

But even so. This was different. Then the voice and the words, which instantly made the draconess instinctively raise her scales and her wings, if she could. "A wyvern. There's a difference." She tried to say and was unsure if her words came out. The feeling of being completely torn away or apart, feeling of being competely defenceless against that power, made the draconess very much unsure of that.

And it was true that she was in the form of the Greater Wyvern, one she had seen in Demios an era or two ago. While in shape and appearance it was almost completely the same, a wyvern could still not breath fire and it had no sentience. It was nothing but an animal. A very pretty and powerful and dragon-like looking one, but still nothing like a true dragon. The draconess had not dared to take the form of a dragon either. That was something she did not want to risk and something which she did not feel worthy of doing. There was just one time when Skay dared to take the form of a true dragon, but that was to actually save Nexus.

Heartling? The draconess was not happy, in fact she was quite annoyed and angry and really uncomfortable with all of this. She did not like being taken control of just like that. Being dragged out of the Material to winds knew where. She was just a mortal. Playing a game where she did not have a chance to win was not only no fun, but also mean. How could that... woman? lecture about such a thing? No one knew what it was like to be turned into a Cyraxian-Spawn. Yes in a way the draconess hated, in fact loathed this form. But she was in no way pretending to be someone else, after all she was always walking in her true form. She was a Diantar. She was not hidding in some pretty elven form. How could this woman lecture now?

And then the draconess could see the woman as she brought some sort of liquid over her. She did try to struggle as hard as she could, but it seemed that she could not fight this even a bit. The power was much too strong. Then those enigmatic words and... she was back. The view of Telath in front of her. The elf nearby and everything that had a hold of her was completely gone. Or so it seemed. She was breathing too hard, she could see that, but there was no way of controlling that. The draconess was both scared and confused now.

Atop of that. It did not seem that time had moved from the moment she was taken to the... other world thing. Her dragonic head looked closer at the winged one. Was it possible that it was his fault? She somehow doubted it. But... who's else? Huge eyes scanned the land around. She could not see anyone but the elf. And... Damn. What by the winds had it been? And why had it struck her? One thing of which the draconess was sure of was that they'd meet again. It was true of the heart of fire. A thing that kept her on the edge of life.

Then the dragon shuddered "That is not true. You can win over life. It just takes a strong will. Some people lose because when they start the game, they already think that they shall lose. You need a strong will to play against life and an ever stronger one to win." This was something the draconess knew. It was hard to be a dracon, to stay in the true form. And yet she was a Diantar, defying everything that life threw at her.

"You say you shall never find it? Then do tell, what is it that you're searching for?" The dragon tilted its head a bit in a questioning manner. "Can you, now, tell me with your full heart that you think you shall never find it, winged one?" If the dragon could have smiled, then it would have done just that now, but as it couldn't, no smile was visible. The lost were always interesting to the draconess. But only for as long as they searched for a way, instead of just wished for one. The winged one was now being determined, as was his will, one of the most important things that a mortal could have.

There were countless times when Skay was tested. All were different. But the draconess had not given up, instead she persistently defied things that winds threw at her, never sucumbed to them and to the lost battles. Slowly she became something that could not be destroyed, torn apart and trashed to the ground, but never destroyed. And thus she was winning over life. As life could not tear her apart in a way that it did before. Now the draconess stood more often than lied. And now, she watched the upcoming challenges with a grin. And yes, she'd wait for the meeting wih the old woman.

[A'lentas Mey'dinal-Veyäres]

The way A'lentas stood, dressed in the slightly brown pastel white garb made him seem nothing unlike a little saint, his boyish features making him look like a child doll, with brilliantly faint amber colored eyes bordering on a metallic gold - a doll uncovered from a forgotten corner of the House, and making anyone who sees him want to polish him with kisses, clean him up, make him look more radiant than he was. His beauty was blasphemous and glorious at the same time.

His cheeks went apple perfect suddenly as the Dracon asked him the question, his mouth softening as if so ready for the words to just spill forth, but then some vague yet profound realization private to himself locked the breathe in his lungs. No longer did he look like a church ornament where people were gentle around him, he had hardened in ways he never thought he could, surviving only on nature. It was a delicious yet depressing thought at the very same time.

When he finally spoke again, his magnificent orbs seemed lighted up with halogen, bright, shining, deliberate beams at the creature above him. He seemed humbled and chastened in the same instance.

"I see." He murmured, wistfully, his ears were turned in another direction, as if listening to some far away music. The light in his eyes were set ablaze by the sun, as if he had just received a divine epiphany from the heavenly vaults above, arching over all the hazed illumination that imprints over all things big and small.

"I seek a purpose, one that is for me to discover for myself and not don onto me since the day I was born. I seek life, perhaps strongly than I ever did before, but I fear it, fear the lack of meaning in these lands which I waddle on aimlessly." He would never been so open if it were another, but he was too last in the golden of the Wyvern's eyes, the smooth gleaming dark scales that shone with its own ardent light.

Alleria had destroyed him.

He was overwhelmed. It was grief veritably blinding him, and bitterness and a deep ugly horror for the time he had wasted when there was so much more to do on Vilyatol. Horror. Would he fall out of Carmelya's favor forever for this disavowal? In a shock, he realized that he had never been so divorced from his feelings. Nothing, perhaps even the worse of all emotions, could claim him.

"There is nothing left for me here."

[Skay Ravendi]

"Weakling." That was a single thought that Skay had in her mind as she smiled inside a warm smile towards the elf. And then the dragon spoke again, the voice filling the air of the winter. "Liar." It was a simple, but perhaps quite striking word that was spoken to A'lentas. But this was what the draconess thought and now she began to feel that she had to tell this to the winged one, that he needed a bit more guidance or perhaps encouragement.

The big