As once again I sit and watch this place, I cannot help but feel it being pulled. Like a train on tracks about to end, my cousins bring this plane to its conclusion. Will the inevitable be averted, or shall all devolve into the void that was meant to be? Perhaps I will get to see for myself.
That poor girl, losing both her parents. She had only just set out into the world and immediately faced such tragedy. I mean, they were my parents too, but I've had enough time to notice this harsh world, and learn its cold touch. And now she's gone, trapped in Lucky's ploy. I have faith that Annalee and Graham will protect her and return her. Until then, I shall make sure that no other parents, no sisters or brothers disappear. I shall watch, and I shall protect them all.
Such a result is far beyond my expectation. Father and daughter have slain each other. It seems so sudden, that Schala asked to asked to bring Cain here, for an attempt at murder. I cannot say I am surprised, but the timing is interesting. Maybe they should have waited? Now is a time we need to gather our strength, instead of whittling it down. But I could not refuse her request, and so here we are. I promised inaction, and thus both the spider and the butterfly were slain. This tragedy shall repeat an untold number of times throughout shadow, and this is its origin. Lises then claps his hands together, and bows slightly in a moment of silence. That I would see the end of two eternal cycles today is surely an omen. This should be recorded so that it is never forgotten. With that, Lises pulls out an easel and begins painting the scene before him.
Lises bent over his work desk, putting the final touches on the trinket he was working on. He puts down his tools and closes his eyes, confirming it works correctly. It comes to life, changing and disappearing, biting and returning. He places it down on his desk, and walks to the window of his castle. With doubt that these things will even work against his enemy, he watches the sun set. It seems as though he was incorrect about certain things, about how events would transpire. Lises still clung to hope that this could all be solved without violence, but that chance was drifting farther and farther away. Even if somehow the Trumpettes, heh, were to be convinced to cease their aggression, there's little chance that Amber would sit still. He used to wander without care for the politics of his family, but now he seemed to have been dragged in. That world is becoming sour, but he is too much to blame for its current state to ignore it. If only there was some easy solution. "Will you be staying for dinner?" Dream's voice from behind him woke him from his thoughts. The sun has set without his notice, he must have been staring out that window for some time. "No, the King has returned, and summoned his blood to him. I at least need to see what he has to say." Lises replies, then heads over to his desk. "Would you like me to come with you?" Dream inquires, eying curiously the card that Lises picks up. "No, I would like you to stay here this time. Here, this is for you." She takes what is offered, and looks it over before placing it in her pocket. "Now, I should be going. But before I go to Amber, there is someone I need to speak with." Lises waves his hand, and a light goes out on his wrist. "Who?" Lises takes out a card, and closes his eyes. "Winter."
It feels like it has been forever since I simply walked. To stumble into someplace new, and to discover worlds never seen before. Though it has not truely been too long, for quite some time now I have followed where I need to go rather than where I wish to go. Perhaps I am growing. But I still have much to do and much to grow. I fell into a trap, he had predicted my intentions. So very clever. My efforts this time did nothing but cause more to be lost. I regret not falling myself, then at least he'd not be so alone. Now I have to find a way to leave this universe, in search for the child that was taken due to my ineptitude. My friend is still out there, but I now feel she's in far less danger than I thought. And I must do something about my torpid father. I'm afraid I'll have to put that on the back burner, he's not going anywhere. I wonder how long it will be until I walk again.
"Intriguing" Lises mutters, looking into the eyes of the gods before him. "We have been watching you." They said. None of their mouths moved, but the voice seemed to be as if all 5 spoke at once. "You have drawn our attention, child of Amber." "Ho... Amazing. They say you've been around for millennia, have you been waiting for me that long?" The four looked at the one in the center, and the center one continued to stare. "No, that we have both come here is coincidence. We have been... stuck, in this place for very long." Lises tried to think of how these 'gods' could have come to be. One of his cousins? Virgil's been gone for a very long time, but that doesn't seem right. "How did you come to be here?" "We have always been here." The four on the outside, began very slowly to get closer together. "We are the Gods of this world, and have been here since its creation." Lises started to get a bad feeling, and put up his guard. The Five That Have No Names began to move into the same place, as if over-writing each other "You are not the first to visit this world" They continued. "There was a man, who called himself a knight, who came to this world. Whatever his intentions, his means were to gain control of this place. We would not allow that. So, we slew him. The One Who Controls Death took him, and gave his power to us. We then realized everything, learning his knowledge. But, we were unable to leave. You have the power, the cards at your waist..." By now, they all moved into one space, and began to change appearance. A mix of all five, the head it took was of the large man, with eight arms and various pieces of each god's clothing. He took the four scimitars, book, etc. into his hands. "...They can allow us to leave. You can leave them here, or also be consumed." "Sorry," Lises said, raising his fists, "I'm afraid I cannot."
My actions and words are poison, destroying everything I intended to build. My older son spouts nothing but unweighted words, and my younger seeks to remove my crown. Whatever, let him do what he wants. I don't care anymore. My poor control over Khan has lead to his and Peregrine's death, my plans are poison. I should never have acted. That Creature is coming to the Golden Circle at last. But I don't even care anymore, surely the amorous princess shall thwart it and take her 'rightful' place. It doesn't even matter anymore. It's better if I do nothing.
The experience of being a parent has been some what eye opening and I now understand a little more about what my father has to deal with. He said I would better understand many things when I finally got around to having offspring and I can certainly say I see things from a different angle now. I'm sure the returns on my time investments will make all this worth it.
Raising children is almost like an experiment really... An experiment in thought. Raising a child is like molding clay, shaping them to be as you see but knowing that there will be some factors you can not fully control if you want the piece to really come to life. Ideally raising a child shouldn't be too difficult but it's when you start to over think things that it really starts to weigh on a being's mind.
You start out with a plan and panic when things don't go according to it. You have a goal and panic when you're not reaching land marks that you wanted to. You want the children to be free to do as they please but worry about the dangers of the universe. Even amberites can be overcome by things. At some point you just have to let go. Knowing when to let go is the hardest part and some make the tragic mistake of never letting go. Like any decision a parent makes, the decision as to when to let go becomes more complex when you start to over think it. Spend too much time with the child and they will be spoiled and clinging. Spend too little with the child and they become distance or possibly resentful. I think this is the problem I have made with my children. One I held onto for too long, while the other I let go of too soon.
And how fine a line it is between letting go too soon and not soon enough. Lises, my first child. How I dotted on him and loved everything about him. I spent so much time with him when he was young and loved the experience so much that I was determined to have a second son soon there after. Terridus, my second child would always be in his brother's shadow. Years later I realized the unfairness of it. The incalculable difference just 1 year of age would make on them is something a normal parent would simply over look but then I started to over think it and that's when things became complex.
My mind would not rest until I found a way to raise the two as evenly as possible. If only they had been twins I could have had an easier time standardizing their education and rearing. But they would soon grow to be very different. The best I could do is just try not to over think it. When I focused on them too much I was an over baring father. When I tried to give them space, I was cold and distant. Everything was becoming over thought and soon all I could do is just watch them grow, and grow they did.
Lises was ready to walk the pattern almost as soon as I was able to when I was young. I knew that once he did, he would be able to make his own choices as an amberite. But to my surprise, Terridus demanded to walk the pattern the same day. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder, not wanting to be in his brother's shadow any longer. When the two of them walked the pattern, I knew that my role of father would be much less important from that day on.
Again, the best I could do was watch from a distance. Lises came back to amber before Terridus and seemingly expanded on his respect for all life. Lises was never one for politics and sought peace in all things. He wanted nothing more than to live and love life and I was happy to let him. Terridus however came back and was very different from his experience. He stayed in amber and took part in court, pursuing his agendas with tenacity and vigor. Where as Lises opted out of that life, Terridus embraced it. I soon came to realize a very strange aspect of my children, not the things that made them similar but the things that made them different.
They both had different takes on things. Lises was experimental; learning trump and crafting single, powerful items. He loved living things and individual lives. Terridus on the other hand kept with Pattern and when made items made them in mass amounts. Terridus did not care for individual lives, but was more interested in life in general. Lises would defend a being at any risk, while Terridus would make sacrifices if it benefited many others. Both took shadows of their own and filled it with being that interested them, both would protect their charges with whatever power they had.
Terridus is in my opinion the harder to understand of the two boys. His philosophy of ending life to protect it is a contradiction that few take the time to try and figure out and even fewer fully understand. Like me he experiments in many different ways but does so in safe ways, like his mask wearing for instance. Many speculate he does so out of some kind of shame of his looks, but I know the truth. Terridus is also much more vicious and ill tempered than LIses, seemingly making up for LIses's lack of those things. What impresses me the most about Terridus is his ability to focus on things. Amberites have a problem with focus I feel. With so much going on it's easy to get side tracked. What some in the family see as reclusive behavior I know is actually my son dedicating himself to a goal and stopping at nothing to achieve it.
During Renee's rebellion my children reached a turning point I feel. Lises , still maintaining his stance of peace and understanding refused to pick a side while Terridus stood with conviction at his king's side. Even when I declared myself neutral, Terridus did not yield. Nothing could have made me more proud than to see my son... my YOUNGER son, refuse me. Even with him knowing how powerful I am, and seeing other sons and daughters siding with their parents and his own brother being loyal to his father, Terridus still refused me. He fought hard for the king and in time his actions were overshadowed by others, but I did not forget this. I would never.
After the battle he came to me and tried to make amends, I told him that he had made his choice and he had to stand by it. Terridus did and when the king's rule came to an end, and I was named the new king, I didn't think twice about who I was to name crowned prince. Lises, although having starting a family of his own, was still no king. What a shame I thought to myself; the one son who is ready for a family has none and the one who still has growing up to do already has a family. How strange such things are.
Terridus impressed me again when I learned of his plans to wake Renee. Such brash moves were not like him but I studied his plan and was interested in seeing if it would work. Normally a king would be outraged at a son plotting his down fall, but I did not stand against my sister Renee before and I will not do so now. If my son can undo what I did to her, and replace her onto the throne, then he deserves the fruits of his labors and she deserves to be queen.
I know my son bares me no ill will and challenges my authority not out of viciousness but out of loyalty. He strives to be the best son he can be to impress me and he know he can do that by showing his talents to me directly. My only regrets about him were his lack of social skills for I feel one day he may sit on that throne and have no idea what he's doing. I think that if he were to have a son... He may see things from a different angle... Just like I did when I had children.
Lises looks down at the mask in his hand, and sighs shallowly. It has been quite some time since he came to visit his brother. It was probably his fault, he was away from the Golden Circle for quite some time. Terridus was now a Praetor, the ruler of Tenebrae. Lises had never been to Tenebrae, but he heard it was a very hostile shadow, that one couldn't breathe the air there naturally. He took in a deep breath, then placed the machine over his mouth. How uncomfortable, he'd have to make a note to get a mask that fit right. He took a step forward, crossing shadow into Tenebrae. The air was thick and dark, and the pale light of the cloud covered sunset reflected off the oil-sea, creating a long rainbow colored illusion. The white of Lises' shirt immediately started soaking in the oil in the air, staining it badly. His hair grew heavy and began to stick to the back of his neck, turning a gross-green after only moments of standing by the sea. The crashing of oil waves was the only sound, besides a dull hum coming from behind him, a small mining operation it seemed. There wasn't any life around, how could there be. Lises already disliked this place. But Terridus was a recluse, and would probably never see anyone unless the effort was made by the other party. Lises opened the white wings behind him, the only part that was unaffected by the darkening by the oil in the air, due to the nature of the power. As he flew, he wondered what kind of demon he looked like, all black save his tinged hair and stark white wings. He got to the building he heard Terridus works in after a short flight. He hadn't called ahead, hoping to surprise his brother. After talking with his secretary, however it seemed he had gone to see Oberon along with the rest of the Golden Circle for some meeting. Lises declined the offer to leave a message, and decided to come back another time, perhaps giving prior notice. Lises nodded slightly to the secretary, and turned back the way he came. After a few steps, he noticed something that paled his face and stole his breath. His brother was in front of him. Dead and walking, with an arm and half a face of metal. Lises immediately ran to it, grabbing its shoulders and shaking it. "Brother! What..." But then Lises realized it wasn't him, the feeling was wrong. Its head unnaturally tilted, settling at a weird angle, as it stared with dead eyes back at him. Lises repelled the creature in disgust. What was it? A dead copy of Terridus? Lises closed his eyes and pushed himself back into Dormaguez. He threw off the mask, and fell to his knees, panting silently.
It doesn't look like I'll be helping Terridus calibrate his machine. I get interupted too often and it's not worth it. Renee was dying so Schala Terridus and I combined our knowlege and powers to save her. It was hard and almost didn't work, but we managed to do it.
Then James came by in his messed-up state. He managed to lose his body somehow, so I offered to help him make a new one. I didn't get around to it because someone decided to attack the building at the same time, so I took Renee away to Amber as Terridus fortified defences.
I got there at the same time as a dozen other Amberites, because that happens often for some reason. I got there while Astrid was telling Samira in the most inhumane way that both of our parents were dead. I hate her now. Samira needs me to comfort her and I now feel the need to protect her. With all the infighting, I'm just going to focus on protecting Samira.
The Lord of Telzuvius was truly understanding. Their kind are known well for their foresight, I had the impression he knew everything I was saying ahead of time. They were not in the least concerned about attackers, 'not for another 37 years'. I guess I'll return to Newvarian. It has been some time. Hopefully peace can continue on this shadow. Hopefully the king will learn of his advisor's treachery soon. As I was about out of the city, I felt a tug on my sleeve. I turned to look, and saw a Telzuvi woman. Her blue skin was wrinkled with age, and her eyes were cloudy. She wore a dress made of silver scales, and decorum that showed she was a seer. She pulled my sleeve down further, forcing my head down, and placed a necklace around my neck, it was laden with pearls and a sea-shell. "Take this, walker. You have drawn the attention of Gods, be so wary." and the little woman turned back into her hut, at a speed surprising for her age. I bowed in appreciation, wondering what she meant. Would other Amberites come my way? The shell in such a trinket usually held a spell, and I opened the sea-shell immediately. A small red spark slowly left the shell, and rotated around me a few times before dissipating. That's... a ritual/spell called Vigil of the Guardian. It is a simple protective spell. Wondering again why the old seer gave me such a thing, I turned back towards the road. Before me, Five being stood. From left to right, the far left one was a beautiful woman in a grey one piece dress, holding a large book in one hand and a scepter in the other. Her golden bangs covered her eyes, and an emotionless feel emanated from her. No feet were revealed below her dress, instead she seemed to fade off. Next was a young boy who was only up to woman's waist. He had a devilish smile, and from different angles seemed to have an aged appearance . He wore a chain shirt under a golden cloak, and the bottom rings were rusted. Next was a hulk of a man, with stark white skin and red face paint. He had two scimitars on his back, and two on his waist. He had no shirt, and his chest was covered in scars. He wore a serious expression, and his eyes never left mine. Next was an old man with a long white beard, and flowing white robes. His face however, was terribly peculiar, as he had no eyes nor ears nor mouth. Long chains dragged out behind him from within his robes. On the far right was something less human. A head of a woman with sky-blue hair, but where her right arm should be instead another head-like thing was there. It was more like a shadow, and hard to actually focus on. Her lower body became a mix of the two. I recognized them from scrolls I had read. The Five That Have No Names. The Gods of this world. But something else struck me unbelievable. They were real.
I thought things were easing up, I thought I had a moment. I was gone for a few hours, drawing and relaxing, when I came back everything was torn asunder. There had been and assassination attempt on Renee, and Tenebrae was attacked. Elmdor manipulated Perigrine, who was killed by Khan, who was killed by Elmdor. I fear my father became broken. At least he regrets it, or so it seemed. It means he is still human. Annalee offered to help with Bridgette, I should take her up on that. There was a quiver in her voice, maybe she needs help too. Renee is back, for better or worse. The Unicorn is kind. I wonder if she has a name? I forgot to ask.
After that, Lises essentially joins their family. Noah and June, were the children's names. Their parents had also died to the stone sickness a few years before Lises joined them. He got a job as a baker, and helped pay for the home that belonged to them. The two of them were both quite genius. The girl was in college, and the boy was smart enough to help with his sister's studies. Stone sickness had no cure, and that expensive medicine only delayed the certain petrification. And, the disease was adapting. These two were working on a cure, however. It appears their deceased parent had started research into it, and their dream was to carry out their parents' work. And they did. Lises, though it's likely he could have helped them finish their cure, simply watched. After two years, they sold their idea to a pharmaceutical company, and a permanent vaccine was created. However, it couldn't affect those who had already contracted it. Noah caught it as well by the time the vaccine was available. However the two were happy. The disease's growth slowed to a halt, and no new cases had shown up afterwards. Noah and June however, could not be cured, and eventually succumbed to the disease, six years after Lises met them for the first time. That was what he waited for, and it came unexpectedly quick. He no longer had need to remain in this shadow, and returned to the place he originally entered. He waved his hand again, reverting to the shadow adjacent. What he saw horrified him. The city that was alive and bustling in that other shadow, here was grey and eerily quiet. He needed to only take a quick look to figure out why. This busy street had nearly two hundred petrified humans, frozen in casual stances. No looks of terror, as if the world had frozen for a photograph. The disease must have evolved, to such a point that the years-long petrification process would happen instantly. He hunched his back, and sprouted the white feathered wings that he had created into his coat. He took off, and began viewing this dead world. And dead it was. Not just humans, but the plants, the animals, everything that once lived was now stone. And in that other shadow, simply appearing there changed this? So little, and an entire world was saved? That's all that's required?
I did it, Lises thought to himself. I've walked the pattern. Nervous at the finish, and exhausted, he ended up in some shadow he had never been to before. He can change this now right? It should come easy. And it did, with the wave of his hand, the building to his left changed color. He shifted it back, and the color reverted. But that's not really happened, he was the one who changed. Intrigued by this, he walked out of the alley he found himself in. A boy bumped into him, and fell to the ground, shattering some object he was holding. A vase. The child started weeping. Curious. He shifted again, and on the next shadow the boy avoided running into him, having noticed Lises before it was too late to evade, and continued carrying his vase down the road. Such a simple change, how curious. As he watched the boy cross the road, a large machine sped right through him. He was terribly splattered, as shrieks of horror erupted from other pedestrians. Was....that. He immediately shifted back, and noticed the kid still crying, although the look of confusion was worn as well. Probably as to where Lises had gone to. He turned towards the road, and that large machine continued menacingly down the road. .... This tore terribly into Lises' mind. .... He looked back at the boy, who was trying to get the contents of his now shattered vase back into the bottom piece. A grey powder. Perhaps the remains of another human? Lises knelt down and began to help the boy.
It was apparently medicine for his sister, for a terrible 'stone sickness' that existed here. Curious. His sister, without this medicine, was fated to die. So two children would have died if he did not so randomly appear here?
Lises' plan was to return to his father and brother, who was also walking the pattern probably at this moment, once he had finished the Pattern. But, this intrigued him, he wanted to see how much change these whom he accidentally saved would have on this shadow.
Lises held his book open, with quill in hand, slowly editing the page he was on. So, Schala had a sister. Moreso than his other cousins that he has yet to meet, he wanted to speak to her. Was she broken as badly as Schala had been? He doubted it. The hand knew more of the drawing than his mind, and it was creating someone of quiet patience and... something hidden. Hatred? Nothing so strong. Perhaps curiosity. He had so much he had to do, but could not hold the desire to know this new creature. He finished and took in the trump he just drew. He could call her now, and... no, that would have to wait. Simply drawing it for now would have to do. He needed to get in touch with Virgil. To find out what he new about the one who controlled him, and about... Elmdor. Maybe going strait to the source on that one would be unwise. At the very least, Virgil could confirm or deny his suspicions. He fliped the page of his book and began to draw again.
Lises grips onto the feathers of the griffon, as it gives a shrill cry of concern. The winds beat powerfully against them, and the griffon swayed. A storm was heading towards griffon and rider, darkening the sky. Lises had hoped to get to Tizori before the storm reached him, but that seemed impossible now. He pushed the griffon downwards, seeking shelter to wait the storm out. He noticed a cave, convenient. He landed in front of the dark cavern, and led his griffon inside. The creature shakes itself like a dog, removing the water from its feathers, then begins preening itself. Lises begins working on building a fire. He began thinking as the fire crackled to life. He had spent over a decade in this shadow, however not nearly so much time passed outside. He liked places like that, he could stay as long as he wished, and the world outside wouldn't change too much. Lises was reminded of the time he spend in Keifer's library. He sought to further his knowledge of trump, and was suggested asking that uncle. Though within for years, when he exited, a bird he noticed before he entered was still in the same beat of its wing. Keifer's perceived age is unfathomable, even to the immortal. That place however doesn't suit Lises well. It is far to quiet, far to little life. He likes Arden, and Avalon, and his Garden of Eden. The Garden, a place Lises truely loves to stay. Even though he's stayed there for so many decades, he'll never see all the lifeforms that shadow holds. A quality that attracted him to it, along with the sheer lack of sentient life. It is simply a place of nature, untainted by man or powers beyond. Perhaps he should visit there as a break. No, that would not do. Even if he spent only a week there, years would pass here. He'll stay here and watch his quarry 'til its end.
We somehow managed it. A bit rough around the edges, but every went how I thought it would. Exactly how I thought it would, almost to the letter. Things that go so smoothly, rarely end well. Perhaps, but we'll see. I need to speak to Virgil now, I'm sure he's busy undoing his own work. At least I hope so. I'm tired, but Stephen will undoubtedly be calling me soon to help him. A hero's work is never done. I hope we get lucky again, like we did with Virgil. That's what Schala says anyways.
But she's the lucky one, lucky Winter was close enough to pull her back. I can imagine a thousand things that could have happened, none of them good.
Her disregard for her own safety is getting worse, she has to be the next one to be fixed, or at least evened out, before she does something to hurt herself further than I can help.
Lises stood, outside, in the cold rain. He stood quietly, rain already having soaked his clothes. He had an umbrella in his hand, however, he held it over Dream. She stood silently as well, wearing a simple black dress and mourner's veil. The two were in a crowd of roughly twenty, staring in respect as men carried a casket towards an empty grave. They each held a torch in one hand, while with the other hand carried the casket. The ritual had to do with preventing evil spirits from entering the body, something to that extent. Inside the casket was Dream's younger sister. Lilu was her name. Dream had left with him just over half a century ago, gaining immortality, and leaving this world. We visited often, but the years continued on, and her sister simply continued to age. She had grown, married and had children and grandchildren, and death came silently to her in sleep. Despite having seen so many thousands live their entire life 'til its end, he had no words of comfort. Having been immortal his entire life, he could not understand what one would feel granted sudden eternal life, then watching as everyone they knew grew old. Somehow, he felt at fault. Lilu's husband had called Dream a witch, unable to understand. Dream had only barely managed to convince Lises not to teach the man a lesson. But she was hurt by his words, he could tell so easily. Even Dream's sister grew to some extent to fear her. She eventually grew distant from her family, and after five years away, Dream asked if we could return again, sensing her sister's death. They were not even close to the same shadow, some thing still amazed Lises. Dream placed her head on Lises' shoulder while he was lost in thought. She moved the umbrella over him, her cold hand grasping his. "Come, don't worry about me. You'll catch a cold staying so long in the rain." Dream looked up at him, and he continued to stare forward as the men began shoveling dirt into the hole. "You know that I won't." Lises said solemnly. Dream continued to stare at him, noticing something wrong. Lises eventually turned to look at her. "Do you regret coming with me? If you hadn't left, you could have stayed with your sister, lived and grew old with her, living a peaceful life." Dream placed a finger on his lips, and smiled lightly. "Don't go there, Love. I regret none of the time I've spent traveling with you. I've seen so much that I couldn't have imagined before." Lises smiled, and took her hand. The two looked back and watched the rest of the burial in silence.
Lises and Terridus moved about the tall grass on the bright and sunny day. Their father had take them out of the city to one of the few places on Tantegel that wasn't an urban setting. Elmdor had decided he needed to go out and clear his head after a heated debate he had had with one of his siblings and opted to bring along his children. Elmdor reclined under a near by tree and a few servants lingered about. The boys had been given bug catching nets and given free range of the hill. Terridus was looking bored, as he kept staring at his pants while Lises ran about. Lises had always favored playing outside, and such simply efforts pleased him, such simple beauty awed him. Terridus however was squinting, staring at Lises as if he wanted to join in. Lises saw his younger brother seemingly out of place in the country side and went over to cheer him up.
"Come on, Terridus, come and enjoy this day! I'm sure someone as quick as you could catch all of the butterflies! You're so fast!"
Lises swung his net back and forth, smiling, motioning towards the hills. Terridus hesitated, but soon matched his smile.
"Catch one of those, Terri, and bring it to father! I'm sure he'd be impressed."
Lises grabbed Terridus' hand and began pulling him towards the butterflies. When he got close he forgot about Terridus for a moment and began running around, diving around, chasing the elusive butterflies. Lises noticed Terridus hesitating, but smiling. He started jumping and moving, driving the bugs towards Terridus.
"One's coming your way! Get it, Terridus!"
Terridus gained a panicked look, and began swinging wildly. He closed his eyes and began batting his net with full force. Terridus hit the butterfly with the edge of his net, and the bug crashed into the ground, splitting in two. Lises stopped and stared at the butterfly. He dropped to his knees, and brought his fingers close to it, but didn't dare touch it.
"You've... You've killed it. It's dead..."
Lises felt sad for the creature, and kind of mad at Terridus for not being more careful. Tears began to form.
"Why did you do that? Just because you're so much stronger than it doesn't mean you can just kill it! It never did anything to you..."
Lises' eyes began to flow and he began to wail. He thought that Terridus said something, but didn't notice.
"Why? That's so cruel, Terridus. I'm telling dad!"
And Lises ran off, up to the top of the hill where their father sat. Inbetween sobs he quickly told the story to Elmdor. Lises' father simply pat him on the head awkwardly. "You mustn't get upset over such an insignificant death, Lises. Things are meant to die by our hand, that is simply the way things are." Lises began to cry harder, that's so cruel he thought to himself, burying his head into his father's lap. Elmdor began speaking again, to someone else so Lises wasn't paying attention.
Lises afterwards thought that maybe it was an accident, maybe Terridus didn't mean anything by it. Lises thought he should hear Terridus' side later.
"Like I said, Second Advisor, I cannot adhere to your request." The small man said. Despite his stature and timid nature, he was very resilient to listen to reason. He was in charge of the reconnaissance team for the Saranji border, a one Captian Greyjeel. "The order came from the King's First Advisor, and someone of his rank or high alone can retract the order." "I'm telling you child, I have come directly from King Arak, and it is his word I bring." Lises had been at it for a while now, and was becoming tired of what was supposed to be the easy part of his task. "I'm sorry. But we can't, unless the King or Master advisor themselves make the order. We were told so specifically" "Do you realize how many will die if Saranji comes for war? It is likely Newvarian will be wiped off the map." "I...know. But it is not my place. Get a writ of order, and I'll gladly move the patrols." "I'll do one better." Lises turned around sharply, and waved his hand and whispered. Although not proficient with sorcery, the magic here was easy to manipulate and use. After spending so long in this shadow, he became a master at it. A crystal mirror appeared, and floated in the air. The image within was cloudy at first, then slowly cleared, showing the young king. The king turned towards the image, with a curious look. "I am sorry for the interruption, your majesty. But the young Captain here needs you directly to recall the troops from the Saranji border." The boy-king in the mirror smiled, and looked towards the now nervous man. "You must be Captain Greyjeel, correct?" "Err...Yes Sir, uh, Your Majesty." The man stuttered and saluted. Lises simply smiled. "Second Advisor Lises is there under my direct order. Please obey anything he asks for." "Yes Sir. We'll move out immediately" Greyjeel manages, and then bows and rushes off as the king waves him off. Arak then turns to Lises. "Things must be dire indeed if you were willing to use the Clearsight spell. It takes the time off the caster's lifespan. Did you speak with Iosis?" Lises bows again, and sighs a sigh of relief, having at least postponed war. "Yes, I did and your fears were correct. Haste was required, I simply did what was necessary, her ire has been quelled. I will head to Telzuvius next. I will report when I complete my task." He spoke quickly suggesting haste. Although, being Amberite, he was immune to the spells negative effect of shortening the life span during the use of the spell, he wanted to give the illusion of concern. The boy-king nods, and turns away from the mirror. "Very well, I look forward to your report of success." Lises waves his hand again, and the mirror shatters. He breathes slowly for a moment, and then once again walks to where his griffon was stabled.
Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:29 am
