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Yet another DotR revision! |
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Enjoy, peoples! I'm unfathomably bored and I can only express my feelings right now through story.
Chapter Eleven: A Stroll in the Moonlight
Faerdin collapsed onto his bed, limbs and mind painfully throbbing in unison. He feebly punched his pillow as anger coursed through his weary form. I'm a sorry excuse for a Runecaster... he thought.
He had spent his entire day sparring and learning magic from Constantine. Though they each found sparring to be a waste of time, King Tayrin wished for Faerdin to retain his current level of skill. However, neither of them seemed to mind. Faerdin smiled weakly as he remembered every sword thrust, each fighter striving to tear the tide of battle from each other until he disarmed Constantine with a difficult but effective maneuver, but from there the day had only gotten worse and worse.
Once Faerdin and Constantine had passed the arcane threshold of the Falimond Wizards Center their joy had been leeched from them only to be replaced by frustration and rage, like a repugnant mosquito feasting upon blood, passing on its vile disease to an ignorant victim. Faerdin's feeble attempts at magic were woeful, only able to conjure roaring, crimson flames in his palm for a span of three seconds. When Constantine attempted to instruct Faerdin in the art of casting fire at his opponent, he accidently set his hand on fire, filling a few moments with panic before Constantine intervened by conjuring water.
Sighing deeply, he sipped from the cool glass of water that had awaited him at his bedside table, savoring the complete, wholesome silence.
There was a knock at the door.
Scowling, Faerdin grunted, "Enter." He began to drink as the door to his room opened.
Faerdin sputtered and choked on his water as the glass slipped from his fingers out of surprise, wincing as the crystalline sound of shattering glass split the silence like sharpened knives.
Reylana walked calmly into the room, smiling with such joy and contentment that he blushed, his face turning ever redder as he realized he fumbled in her presence. Though she wore only a plain, crimson dress, the way she carried herself, she could have been the Queen of Falimond. Her raven-black hair shimmered in the light, a neat bow with color similar to that of her dress resting upon it, flowing past her shoulders as it did when he first met her.
"R-Reylana, what brings you here?" Faerdin grimaced before hiding his emotions behind a more neutral expression. It seemed as though his tongue had become frozen.
Reylana chuckled, a sound that made Faerdin's heart skip a beat. "What brings me here? You haven't left the castle since you were brought here! You should explore the town and get friendly with our people. I know they're dying to meet you."
Faerdin blinked. "You're going to show me around town?"
"Of course. Come, now!"
Reylana reached forward, grasping Faerdin's hand and pulling him out of his room. Heat rushed to his face as they traversed the glittering expanse of the castle together, only aware of their joined hands. The sensation of feeling her hand on his dominated, all other senses extinguished.
Cold bit at his face as they finally exited the castle. Shivering, he felt of pang of sympathy for Gredal, cold and alone during the unforgiving night, rid of the only one he could think of as a son. After a moment of guilt and depression, he blinked, observing the city of Falimond for the first time.
He let out a gasp that went unheard from Reylana as they made their way off the castle grounds.
Castle Falimond was positioned on a tall hill at the far side of the city, allowing Faerdin to see an overwhelming vista: the warm, hearthless swarm of maroon buildings, each emitting the orange glow of a lit lantern. Aye, the city was vast indeed, making Traenor appear miniscule compared to the town sprawled before him.
Reylana eagerly dashed down toward the city, dragging Faerdin along with her. As they left the gates of the castle, Reylana guided him, pointing out interesting little parts of the city as a mixture of overpowering scents reached him: baked bread, crackling fires, and flowers that slumbered under the moon's influence. They encountered many people, though the enormous town was bathed in moonlight, and a good amount of these people knew Reylana quite well. She introduced Faerdin to them, who instantly insisted on giving him food and trinkets and praise.
He smiled, refusing their offers, but was heartened by their kind words. He was devoutly thankful to know at least one thing: he was not alone. All the while, he felt strangely at home in Falimond, which felt greater than he could possibly describe.
Several ecstatic hours passed and Faerdin, face flushed with warmth and joy, found himself being led past the city's walls by Reylana, still clenching his hand tightly.
Curious, Faerdin asked where they were going, though Reylana didn't respond. Feet crunching crisp blades of grass, they had arrived at a clearing that was bathed beautifully by the light of the bright, white moon.
Reylana sat upon the ground, so Faerdin followed suit. Minutes passed as nothing was said, only the sound of chirping crickets filling the silence. Faerdin stared at the moon, suddenly stricken by how glorious it was, shining brilliantly among the twinkling stars upon the velvety black sky.
Finally, Reylana murmured, "Lovely, isn't it?" She must have noticed his sudden interest in the moon.
Faerdin nodded. "I never noticed how wonderful it was before."
"That's because, like most beautiful things found in nature, you must pay attention before you come to appreciate it."
More silence followed. Reylana seemed content to merely stare at the moon until the dazzling sun took its place among the sky, but Faerdin didn't fancy sitting in such tranquility with her nearby.
"Reylana, are you... well? I heard about... what it cost to rescue me."
She shifted uncomfortably, answering all too quickly, "I'm fine."
Faerdin looked down as emotion clogged his chest. He managed to whisper, "I know what it's like."
Reylana shot a sharp glance at him. "What what's like?"
"Losing your family.... I lost my entire family to Draxieus."
Before he could control himself, he began to tell her everything he knew about what took place in Traenor that fateful night, many autumns ago. He frantically told her how the dreadful flashes of his past haunted him at night, how his family members screamed for vengeance, how he was thrust into this world of magic and conflict and so much was expected of him, how he feared that he was doomed to fail, finally bursting into tears-
"I wish I could help them! I want Draxieus dead-!"
Reylana steadied him by moving one finger to his lips. Her eyes too glistened with tears. "I... I had no idea....."
Appearing to master herself, Reylana said slowly, as though she were carefully extracting a painful splinter, "My father was everything... He alone cared for me after my mother died when she had me. When I was down, he'd help me back up. When I needed help, he was there. He always told me, 'Reylana, never let people hurt you, but don't you hurt them either, for we wouldn't be any better than they are. Be happy, and live to make others happy.' When he was alive, I always knew the way, but now that he's gone-"
She hiccuped as silvery tears gathered in the corners of her anguished, auburn eyes, then trailed down her face. "I just feel so lost... I'm hopeless."
Driven by some instinct, Faerdin slid his hand over Reylana's. Shaking, his tears halted at once as he murmured with an encouraging, reassuring tone, "The same force drives us, Reylana... we shall do as your father asked: we shall live to make others happy. We shall do so by casting down Draxieus once and for all. I will work so hard to amass my strength and abilities to their full potential that by the time I'm done with my training, Draxieus will beg for my mercy. Together, we can destroy him. Together, we can fight for a better future... I promise, Reylana. I promise that I'll do my best to avenge our loved ones, save us from these dark times, and do everything I can to make you as happy as your father did."
A glimmer of hope flickered deep in the depths of Reylana's now-tearless eyes. For a moment, they remained thus, staring into each other's eyes as though searching for their souls. She let out a pained moan, expressing her equally terrible anger and grief, then fell sobbing into Faerdin's arms. Though he was momentarily shocked, he responded. Wrapping his arms around her, he embraced Reylana as he had never embraced anyone previously. A peculiar warmth flickered in his heart as he held her, gently murmuring words of consolation as the shadows spread around them, the darkness of night arriving at its peak, signalling that the golden return of dawn drew ever closer.
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