– Somewhere above Olysium –

Fire, Ash and Smoke.
The groaning of metal and the cries of anguish filled the air.
The people screamed in panic, out of fear and pain as the dust swirled around them, cloaking them in a dangerous fog as the Vaimese elite troops charged down the streets.
Mothers clutching to their children watched on as fathers and sons of age were rounded up and forced to their knees at gunpoint.
Any form of struggle or resistance was brutally beaten down, even carrying a weapon targeted you as a potential threat and earned yourself a bullet.
Olysium’s honourable guardsmen who had defended the city for so long were dragged behind flying crafts, those poor dead bastards were the lucky ones though.
Those that surrendered and alive were rounded up by the Vaimese soldiers that now were making their way into the City.
Those that were wounded and in smaller numbers were...well dealt with.
As the streets littered with corpses and blood the officers set their soldiers to their initial task.
The Belisians were sorted, documented, numbered and chained.
Like mere sheep they awaited their fates as their future was uncertain with these new overlords.

Helluin stepped out of his ship and into the rubble that was now the once glorious city, The Jewel of the Skies. He sneered at the sight as he opened up the vizor of his helmet.
His dark blue armour gleamed, polished to a shine drawing the attention of those around him.
The soldiers hesitated for a mere moment before they continued, lost in pursuing their own form of justice and vengeance for the loss of the comrades upon the citizens of this shitstain of a city.
Their rebritution was swift and brutal.
Helluin doubted that even their own officers would be able to bring these soldiers to heel again. To reel in the anger that was roused in these men.
Still, there were at least some soldiers that still had followed orders...His men, he thought as he watched them secure the area and keep a strong hold over their own emotions as they pulled one of the rabble off of some unfortunate girl.
True Discipline.
His subordinate immediately rushed to his side ready to report.
As always a good demonstration of pure diligience in their duties…
None of that barbaric behaviour he had noticed other soldiers do.
His men knew that true duty would be properly rewarded, instead of receiving the instant gratification by raping some fairhaired hussy in an attempt to take revenge.
It was utterly stupid.
But those that only lived through their primitive urges never understood what true victory meant. They would cause impurities.
A mixing of the bloods.
They had already done this once before and look where that got them.
What was a true citizen of Vaim these days?
The subjugation of the Revendahli lead to them being swallowed by the Empire. It wasn’t like they were eradicated like the cockroaches they were. No, instead the Tahjai convinced the Teryns to keep them as slaves and allowed them to breed.
Breathtakingly stupid.
Helluin shook his head as his subordinate Tamrin babbled on about the numbers of streets they had covered, the resistance they met so far, the number of houses that were collapsed and the amounts of people that had surrendered.
It was all rather annoying, but it had to be done.
The Belisian Kingdom had long since been a nuissance.
Like a nasty thornbush threatening the lush blooming garden that was the Empire with its poisonous thorns.
Everyone knows what one has to do when such a threat gets too much room to grow.
Now if it had been up to him it would have been ripped it out.
Root and stem.
After all, what good were the Belisians? Keep them as slaves? Anyone with any sense would not even suggest such a thing due to the long standing history between the two and if you did enslave them you damn well shouldn’t let them near your person or let them handle any vital manual labour.
So the question was what in the Blue Skies did the Tahjai want with these people?
“...are secured and Sir, Teryn Jaspar wanted to see you as soon as you landed.”
“Hmm? Jaspar? Teryn Jaspar Vollsung you say? Did he happen to mention why Tamrin?”
“No, he spoke very little...”
Helluin’s frown deepened, he knew that tone.
“Spit it Tamrin.”
“Sir, it is not my place to say, but Teryn Jaspar has been collecting the children...” He hesitated for a moment before he continued keeping an eye on the stoic figure that was his Lord Captain. “Apparently the Mages set up some sort of vessel or portal to transport them...”
Helluin snorted unimpressed, he had seen those crystals before, a bit of old technology that had been guarded and passed down by those that had come before. The mysterious Old Ones.
“Where are they sending them off to?”
“They wouldn’t tell us Sir, those spellslingers told us to mind our own business and keep the peace. To do our jobs. Teryn Jaspar didn’t even flinch. He’s supposedly keeping an eye on them North from here, at some large estate.”
“Very well Tamrin, I’ll get to the bottom of things, carry on and if you face any opposition you have my authority to crush it. Within reason mind you. Make it clean, this whole ordeal is messy enough as it is and I certainly don’t relish to do any extra reports on some ‘mistaken victims’.
“Aye Sir.” Tamrin said as he saluted, before he rushed back to the men.
Helluin watched him walk back and shout orders, before the squadron set out again securing more of the Capital.
Helluin himself moved towards the new directions.
It had been awhile since he had last seen Jaspar.
They had been good fellows at the Academy, that was until the Vollsung family fell ‘out of favour’.
Jaspar’s father apparently had grown too trusting and too cocky with his ‘needs’. Naturally this weakness was found out and exploited. Ultimately his position was usurped by lesser men.
A shame, but it happened in the Empire.
Again by the hands of some backwater hussy, hooked and played like lure on a fishingline.
It had been in poor taste though, the report had stated he had been strangled by two slaves in some sort of strange sexual position…Tied like a hog as the slaves had gone to town on him.
He couldn’t recall the rumours exactly but it was said the room had smelled of wine, piss, blood, shit and acid.
He groaned, he’d rather not think about it.
It had altered life for Jaspar though, too young to take his father’s place. They were lucky to not have been ‘taken care of’ Helluin remembered Jaspars mother remarried the next day.
Desperate for a ‘new’ husband and the protection and maintaining of status that came with it. She threw herself upon the mercy and good will of some Magister high up in the Tahjai order.
It didn’t do Jaspar much good though. He was taken from the Academy, to be homeschooled by his stepfather.
The Tahjai...Helluin felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought.
Those in the know knew those damned mages were up to something and as soon as you trusted them they would knife you in the back.
Helluin was convinced of it.
After all he had watched Jaspar change.
He turned darker…
Whatever his stepfather did it left its scars on him.
Gone was the jovial smile and the twinkling mischieveous light in his eyes. Instead a pair of hollow grey eyes stared back and a thin line had replaced the wicked smirk of his younger days.
As he approached his destination he already saw the different mages help out to sort the prisonners.
He heard the cries and screams of a teenager as a baby was ripped from her arms and taken away.
He watched as she was easily held back by two Tahjai apprentices, eager to earn their promotions as their magic left her choking and dangling up in the air watching as the mage that had taken the baby didn’t spare her a glance or word of compassion.
Further down two twin brothers had been placed in a makeshift ring with one of the Tahjai Battlemages that was testing their abilities whilst nodding in approval at the fury with which the boys fought.
As Helluin walked past the line of children that the mages had set up for ‘inspection’ he noticed their hopeful and frightened looks up at him.
If they expected that their rescue would come from his hands they would be sorely mistaken. He ignored them as he noticed Teryn Jaspar stand guard at the inspection desk behind one particular Tahjai. Magister Elegost.
The old Magister still maintained a menacing aura, despite his deceptive frail figure. He sported a short thin white beard, a hooked nose and bushy eyebrows. His long fingers gestured the children forward one by one, no doubt part hypnotism and part telekinesis.
Helluin moved to Jaspar hoping there would be an explanation for his summoning.
“Teryn Vollsung, you asked to see me?” He asked greeting him with a friendly bow of his head.
He watched Jaspar’s expressions carefully, but there wasn’t even a ghost of a smile.
He nodded and gestured for them to move into a different chamber, walking in front of him to lead him out of earshot.
Once one of the other rooms, pressumably a former library, Jaspar turned around to face him again.
“All right, Jaspar what’s this all about?” Helluin asked as he crossed his arms in front of his chest.
“What’s with all the secrecy? What’s with the children? Why did you need me?”
Jaspar however didn’t look at him, no it was almost as if he could not face him.
Helluin frowned and grew concerned, intending to demand an explanation, before a voice from behind startled him.
“Ahh forgive me for keeping you waiting. You are young Teryn Helluin Faelre are you not?”
Helluin turned to the Magister that came up from the doorway behind him, passing him with a youthfulness and fluid motion that shouldn’t be there considering his age.
“It was I that called you here, undoubtedly you have heard of me, I am Magister Elegost, Mastermage and Scholar of Waelwold.”
“I am aware of your position and elevation in station yes, though I did not have the ‘pleasure’ of meeting you yet...but it seems that will be remedied today.”
“Yes, quite well put Young Teryn. Quite well put. Though I fear our meeting will be soured somewhat as I am afraid we have some bad news. It concerns a relative of yours...a cousin I believe. A man called Ravros? Does the name ring a bell, per chance?”
“He’s a very distant relative of mine, yes. No doubt this bad news you will inform me off will mean that he is one of the fallen.” Helluin deduced out loud, receiving a nod from the elderly mage.
“I’m afraid so as he has not reported back yet...Our seers...have difficulty locating his signal. We believe him to be a casualty of this war. It was brought to our understanding that you were close...he mentioned you a great deal during our time with us.”
“Good Magister, when one is born within a family such as mine no one is truly close, so I would be surprised if he praised me. I wasn’t even aware he had dealings with the Tahjai.”
Helluin’s frown deepened wondering if that moron had left some outstanding debts.
“If it is a money matter I am afraid you’ve come to the wrong person, you’ll need to talk to my elder brother. He inherited father’s fortune, I am merely the spare.”
“Oh no, no, no Good Young Teryn, none of the sort. None of the sort. We Tahjai place very little importance upon coin, when other riches are to be considered.” Magister Elegost spoke as he moved around him, forcing him to turn with him to keep a proper eye on the man.
“No you see Ravros was part of a little project of ours and we hoped that you might be willing to fill his place so to speak. Not without just reward of course, after all when all is said and done no man can stand up against your might and that of the Empire you’ll create.”
Helluin sighed getting rather dizzy from all this turning about and dancing around the subject.
“I’m afraid you have chosen the wrong person to approach for this, I am not that suicidal nor that ambitious. I learned long ago that magic always has a price. A price I am unwilling to pay.”
Magister Elegost clacked his tongue in disappointment as he moved away from the door his long fingers tapping the temple of his head for a second.
“Ah Pity...”
Within an instant the invisible threads the Magister had laid around him tightened and held Helluin, pinning every limb in place.
Fury and Disbelief at the treachery flashed across his face as he turned to Jaspar who looked at him now with an expression of guilt and silent apology.
“WHAT the HELL do you WANT?” He demanded to know turning his anger towards the Magister again, who was busy laying out a set of particularly sharp tools.
“It would have been better if you had been willing...A willing heart is stronger after all,” He heard the Magister mutter before he turned towards him with a strange clawlike tool.
“Don’t worry, once we’re done with you even your older brother won’t recognise you….”

Deep, dark sky spread out before them.
As their Wyrms and Dragon glided silently upon the easy currents, their way was lit by a myriad of stars. All twinkling far, far up above them.
Here in this lake of Darkness, blanketed by the Night herself Eilis gazed up as she allowed herself to lean back a bit against Arn.
Her gaze moved from the stars to the face of her companion, or where his face was supposed to be. Unfortunately, his face was hidden in the deepest of shadows. Even the small light of the stars was not enough to grant her the barest of contours.
Perhaps it was fortunate though, she thought.
For she would not have been able to keep a straight face, not when she allowed her thoughts to drift to what could be.
A soft sigh escaped her lips wistfully as she allowed the warmth to spread to her cheeks.
From the moment she had awoken by his side, he had cared for her and comforted her.
Wrapping and blanketing her in his warmth, even now. As the gentle heat he was emitting he did for her.
A smile formed on her lips. He would probably staunchly deny it.
His words of comfort again, brought the blush more fiercely to her cheeks.
“You are not alone. I will protect you with my life.”
Even the memory of his voice send shivers down her spine.
There in this silent night, her hand sought his, trailing along his arm until her fingers finally rested a top of his.
Knowing they flew a little ahead gave her some confidence. This was as good a moment as any, after all she was alone with him without being attacked or chased.
And those moments of peace were rare indeed.
“Arn…” She whispered barely allowing her voice out as she tried to keep this just between the two of them.
“Arn, I have to tell you. You’ve been the only one that ever looked out for me the way you have.
I need you to know, should the worst happen…to me, to us, that I didn’t believe happiness existed. For how could it when surrounded by such cruelty and spite?
Meeting you however…Meeting you has been the best thing that ever happened to me. You were the first to see that I am a person first and not some tool to be used and discarded.” She felt the tears prick in her eyes and violently wiped them away.
“Now, I am scared for what we’ll find there. I…I know that I owe it to Uilles to face my past, but what if it turns out that all of it is for naught…Should it all be inevitable and if there is no way out for me I want you to know that I…” She swallowed pressing herself on.
Come on! Say it! Tell him!
“That I…that my life…means nothing.” She faltered for moment taking a deeper breath. “…nothing if I don’t have you to share it with me.” She whispered feeling herself grow even smaller as she tried to keep herself from lighting up like a beacon from the sheer embarassment of the confession.
“Nnnow I…I know I am not pparticularly ppretty, especially now, but…I wanted it said for once. Aloud. Before Fate decides to throw another problem at us and this moment of opportunity is lost once more.” She bit down on her lip.
She closed her eyes tightly as she exhaled through her nose, her whole body wound up like a spring, clearly nervous and fearful of his answer, but continued.
“I am scared Arn, I am scared I am going to lose you…I..I can’t lose you.” She confessed. “The visions I’ve seen make no sense to me, but cause great fear and doubt. Whatever lies waiting for us on the other side of the Rift…I don’t want or trust.” She turned her face around looking for the glimmer of his dark eyes.
“You’re the only one I trust. Something is there…in Sensaridh I mean. For its name causes great unrest in me as well as great recognition. Something is very wrong there…” She urged hoping he would not dismiss her worries for just nerves or trauma of some kind.
The sting of regret flashed sharply through her skin, it was as if her body was protesting her actions...It worried her.
It at times felt invasive and reminded her of a familiar cold and detached feeling she experienced when she was taken over. When her soul was pulled out of the driverseat and into the passengers, just there along for the ride. Unable to act, unable to speak, at times even wondering if she still existed at all.
It was Tourmaline.
She knew it was him and this concerned her greatly.
Because if she was worn down and overtaken, what would become of her? Would her soul cease to be? The thought alone was terrifying in and of itself.

The void was eirly welcoming. As the small group crossed the great nothingness, there was a certain promise of peace to all those who fell into its black welcoming arms. The eyes of the master mage scanned the endless horizon. There would be little chance for any would be pursuers or interceptors to sneak up on the group. Then again, so would it be impossible for them to remain truly hidden out here where nothing moved. Only the stars stood as silent witnesses of their passing.

His chest felt the light weight of his young charge as she leaned back against him. There was a slight flutter of his heart at the welcome gesture. Had his hood not been drawn up to protect against the cold skies and any sudden blinding light, Eilis would have had no trouble seeing a slight smile on that rugged face of his. The master mage heard the slight sigh and he wondered if it was contentment at this brief respite from the dangers ahead and the losses behind them.

Arn looked down slightly feeling the motion of her hands until they came to rest upon his bigger stronger ones. A slight furrowing of his brow revealed his curiosity and confusion at this gesture but he did not pull away. There was something pleasing about feeling her smaller soft hands upon his. Even the tattoos that were not covered by her robe contrasted his darker skin. Seeing it from above, both of their hands almost looked like a relieve painting.

“Arn…”

Her whisper brought him back from his musings. So softly she had spoken and yet he heard her clearly. Was it their connection? Had he heard her with his ears or with his soul? Even so, he leaned in closer, causing their bodies to become even closer and his ear to be almost in line with her mouth. His ear listened intently, catching every single word and the feeling behind each one.

As she spoke, the hood hid his slight reactions. He feared she would ask him to kill her again “should the worst happen” but then his eyes opened up in surprise at her revelation about their meeting. He blushed under that hood. The master mage turned to her slightly but not fully, fearing the reactions painted on his face.

How could she ever think that she was nothing more than a tool? In his heart he had always known her to be more than just a simple girl. Despite what she thought of herself, Arn had always had high esteem for her. Even if their connection had not existed, he would have been amazed at her strength and goodness. He wanted to tell her all this but dared not interrupt. After all, even he could tell that telling him this had required considerable courage. Yet another gem in her favor.

When she revealed that she feared what they may encounter and that she faced it as some debt to the elder Venray, Arn almost interrupted. Yet as she forced her self to continue he did not want to discourage her. So he listened patiently, the furrow in his brow deepening. Her sweet voice continued.

“That I…that my life…means nothing.”

His mouth opened yet again. It seemed that she made him want to talk more than he had in his entire life. In his earlier years at the Academy, many believed him to be mute. Yet each time Eilis said something he disagreed with he wanted to tell her the many things why that was wrong. Not because he wanted to be right but because he could not agree with her that she was nothing. Thank fully, the young lady found her words to continue.

“…nothing if I don’t have you to share it with me.”

This time he truly turned to facer her. There was wonder and incredulity in his face. There had never been any true purpose in his mind other than protecting those who could not protect themselves and punishing the vile and evil as penance for his inability to save his mother. If he had died in the service of the Belisian military, he would have had no regrets. However, ever since meeting this wonderful lass, he had felt that his life was more valuable. That it was meant to protect hers. There was a sparkle in his eyes as the word “share”.

The master mage almost chuckled at her apology regarding her appearance but he was glad he did not. Especially when she restated her fears. Through their shared Thread he felt the shudders and fearful flow as her soul began to be engulfed in the dark clutches of fear. His eyes had softened in understanding and comfort.

Taking his right hand off the reins, he placed on top of her left one. Grabbing it, he brought it towards her stomach placing it just on her lap. Then he would wrap his whole arm around her waist in a snug embrace bring her even closer in a secure manner. His own Aether energy began to chase away the tendrils of fear like water cooling down tongues of flames. “We share the same fears. I cannot see myself lingering in this world long if you were not in it.” His face was close to hers. The strong baritone of his voice crisp but low. “When I said that I would give my life for you, I did not mean that I would carelessly throw it away. My goal is to free you so that…” It was his turn to falter but he followed her example and gather up his courage. “To be free to perhaps stay with me.”

He shrugged his big shoulders as if he wanted to apologize for this seemingly weak reason to face whatever horrors lay in front of them. “I do not know what we may find in Sensaridh, but I do know that I will face anything to see you free. To see you smile and to hear you laugh. You deserve that.” His throat failed him then as a knott took over it. He gulped a couple of times to get rid of it but it would not. Instead, he smiled at her comfortingly and his right arm never loosened its hold on her.

There was a brief flash of recollection. Of the dark shadow mage that lived within Eilis. Arn remembered his offer. He wondered if he would be strong enough to remain Arn once the ancient mage took over his body. Would he be able to end his life if the transfer ended Eilis’s? Tourmaline would not so willingly confer power on the Hellspawn with out any repercussion. Still, the master mage was committed of freeing the lovely girl in his arms from such a shade.

Taking his right hand off the reins, he placed on top of her left one. Grabbing it, he brought it towards her stomach placing it just on her lap. Then he would wrap his whole arm around her waist in a snug embrace bring her even closer in a secure manner. His own Aether energy began to chase away the tendrils of fear like water cooling down tongues of flames.

Eilis felt herself blush brightly, yet Arn’s energy felt like the comforting touch of warm water or smooth silk enveloping her and chasing away the tension that had build up in her body. The strong grip and hold never felt uneasy or uncomfortable and secretly she wished he would always hold her close like that. Wrapped in his warmth and almost close enough that she could hear his heartbeat if she were to lay her head down on his chest. She listened to him take a deeper breath than before and form a reply of his own. She closed her eyes intending to listen and to fix his voice to memory.

“We share the same fears. I cannot see myself lingering in this world long if you were not in it.” His face was close to hers. The strong baritone of his voice crisp but low. “When I said that I would give my life for you, I did not mean that I would carelessly throw it away. My goal is to free you so that…” It was his turn to falter but he followed her example and gather up his courage. “To be free to perhaps stay with me.”

Her own lips now as it released a hopeful short chortle, forcing herself to shut up immediately.
Turning practically crimson even her tattoo’s flared up in confusion. This time so fast and bright, that one could almost watch the emotion run its course through her body; from her heart out to her head and fingertips all in but seconds.
She tried to keep herself calm and continued to listen, but failed miserably as Arn continued.

He shrugged his big shoulders as if he wanted to apologize for this seemingly weak reason to face whatever horrors lay in front of them.
“I do not know what we may find in Sensaridh, but I do know that I will face anything to see you free. To see you smile and to hear you laugh. You deserve that.” His throat failed him then as a knot took over it. He gulped a couple of times to get rid of it but it would not. Instead, he smiled at her comfortingly and his right arm never loosened its hold on her.

She turned to face him however and in a flash of insanity, bravery and completely ignoring her own self criticism she moved before she could even think. Her eyes trying to catch a glimpse of his before closing them and kissing him.
The silence of the Nightly Skies now seemed to sing louder, whilst the darkness that surrounded them was pierced by the brightness of the stars and the many deep and rich colours of Nightblue that were painted across the horizon.
As her lips released his her embarrassment returned, yet instead of giving in to its negativity, this time she couldn’t help but smiling genuinely, giddily, as the strong feelings ran rampant through her body.

Tyrhallan who had kept his position at the rear had gotten suspicious when the sudden flare of light lit up Umbra.
Knowing it belonged to Arn and Eilis he immediately scanned the skies around them for danger, sending Viscera up above to oversee the situation.
He was greeted however by calm clear and empty skies everywhere he looked. No sign of danger or even a change of weather patterns.
So what was up with the lightshow then?
It was dangerous and could potentially attract unwanted attention. Taking one more look around he sped up and circled around, diving down in front of them to resume his place at the rear.
But not before getting to the bottom of this.
As he flew past them however, their unnatural bodycontour gave away their rather intimate moment and Tyrhallan's concern and eagerness fatlered.
He didn’t have the heart to disturb and ruin it for the two of them.
Smirking silently he guided Viscera back to the rear of their little group, silently pretending nothing had been seen or noticed.
As he flew past the dragon Alexa and Tobias were flying on, he could practically see the gleam of pearly whites on the victorious smile of the latter, pointing at Tyrhallan in a 'I told you so!' style and manner.
Tyrhallan let it slide knowing he would owe the apprentice 5 silvers for betting the Master Mage would stay professional. Clearly he had underestimated the connection the two of them had, and apparently their feelings for one another couldn’t wait until they had proper land beneath them again.
The Knight Captain shook his head whilst internally laughing, he wished them well and frankly they were a rather good match.
As his eyes focussed on their Wyrm again he wondered how he would've reacted if he had found himself in Arn’s position.
He touched the bandage that covered his eye, certainly this would help sorting the more genuine people from the superficial, when it came to looks.
His mind drifted back to the days of youth, his Mother's endless attempts to 'find him a bride' or the many balls he was forced to attend. How he had learned to walk at a more fluid and quicker pace so the hordes of raging hormones had little chance in keeping up with him.
And at times he had simply tested the intelligence of the dolled up girls by asking them tricky riddles or impossible questions, just as a diversion as most of the time these mindless girls were set upon a target by their ambitious familymembers and had no idea about the person they were trying to get hitched to.
He wondered at times if he shouldn’t have listened to his good friend Abene and married that supposed sister of his.
Considering how good of a person and strong of character he had been, some of that must have been upbringing, so potentially also there within the sister.
Well, there’s no point wondering about the ‘could have beens’ now was there.
They had bigger things to concern themselves with. Like his duty as a Knight of Belisio. His duty to safeguard those under his care at this moment. His duty to his family would have to wait, Eilis and Belisio needed to be saved before he could start thinking of giving into the opportunities of the heart.
Of thinking of his own happiness…

Transferring his energy had become like second nature to the Master Mage. As easy and natural as breathing. Eilis must also have found it normal because there was no kick back, no resistance. Normally, two mages would have to train together for quite some time to achieve the level of fusion that the two magic users enjoyed. His own essence flowed in the Aether easily. In a sense, flooding the lovely lady.

He meant to protect her. To comfort her, but some part of his dormant mind was selfish enough to enjoy the closeness of their bodies and the warmth of hers against him. Her almost musical voice, even in the form of a chortle, made him twitch his lips into a smirk. Their connection allowed him to feel and see the flare. His strategic mind screamed a warning. In this darkness, such flashes would be seen for miles. A veritable dinner bell. At the least, it might attract unwanted attention from patrolling Viemesse.

When his protégé turned to him, the eyes behind his cowl immediately traced her pretty face. Perhaps it was the Aether flowing between them but she seemed to glow. Her blonde hair and bright eyes even more luminous than normal. So lost was he in the simple pleasures of having her so close that his mind failed to recognize the diminished distance between them until she was bare inches from his face. For a fraction of a second he stiffened. His mind raced and he might have even pulled back but fate would not have it.

As if driven by gravity, he suddenly rushed forward too. Drawn to her lips as two magnets. Despite this strong forces that threatened to make them crash with world shattering force, their union was not violent. This did not mean it was any less potent. The softness of her lips was staggering. There was an explosion of light in his mind. It could have been Aether infused, or it could have been the magnitude of his first true kiss. At least a kiss that he also wanted desperately to share.

Light was accompanied by sound. Something in his ears thumped a loud and proud sound and he only vaguely registered that it was his heart. Even as he closed his eyes, the pin points of the starts could still be seen. As if the night sky was painted inside his own soul and Eilis was the sun. The moment seemed to last into eternity. At the same time, it was over all too soon.

Arn’s eyes flew open as he felt the pressure release. Their lips parted. The soft wetness of Eilis’s lips leaving a void that tore at his heart. The radiant smile she offered him assuaged any concern that he may have harbored that their first kiss had been a mere mistake. She could hear him gasp shudderingly as his emotions surged. He was literally speechless. Not that speech would have helped him. His mind was rushing about so fast that he would have sounded like a total buffoon.

Instead, he offered her a smile in return. It started on his left side and then painted itself across his face to the right. His eyes communicated all that his words could not. Their Threads trembled with the amount of Aether that now flowed between them. Any magic user nearby would be able to feel the flow.

A young mage was able to no doubt. He had been dozing off, leaning his head on the back of Alexa. Tobi might say that an experienced campaigner rested when necessary. But in reality, he was a lazy lout who always took every opportunity to nap. He was almost like a cat. Some of his squad mates had even dubbed him Kitten. The young mage had felt the flashes that had stirred the Venray Captain. Opening a sleepy eye, he had caught the glimpse of their rear guard move forward. Feeling a strange hum in Arn’s direction his eyes opened and he straightened up. Like Tyrhallan, there was no mistaking the scene that was happening before him. “Alright Arn” The younger mage said in a improperly pleased tone.

As the Knight Captain made his way back to the rear, his eyes met Tobi’s. The younger man immediately capitalized on the scene in front. He had indeed bet against his Master Mage but had been something of a all in scenario. In truth, he had not really expected the Hellspawn from succumbing so easily but he had an inkling. The stoic man had changed much since meeting the young Eilis.

Sensing the movement and following catching a glimpse of Tyrhallan, Alexa looked between the retreating form of the Knight Captain and that of Tobi. “What is the issue?” The young mage patted the blonde Knight on the head contemptuously. “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. Matters that a prude and goody two shoes like you may not understand.” He could feel the girl fume but Tobi just sat back and enjoyed knowing that his eyes had witnessed a sight even more rare than end of their universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOsFQ-VUeMw link to the song Eilis is using

Eilis barely believed her own audacity.
She’d kissed him.
And he had kissed back.
It had been innocent of course, a rush of desire and naivety instead of a hunger filled kiss.
Not that she didn’t have those feelings…It was just…Well…She blushed bright crimson at the thought of them…of her doing, going, all in so to say.
She wanted to berate herself. She needed to reel in those dirty thoughts, before he found out that she wanted him to warm her in quite a different way.
Heavens forbid he could actually dip into her dreams of late. She knew the Thread connection allowed for a lot of transference, but hopefully she would be spared that particular embarrassment.
She had particularly imagined those roughened and adept fingers of his trace…
No, no, no! Eilis shush! She cried at herself feeling her cheeks flare again as the images filled her head. As she shook her head for a second to mentally wipe her mind she knew she would have to keep it occupied with something else otherwise it would wander off again and heavens knew what would come up then.
As Eilis settled back against Arn, finding her spot she couldn’t help but shift her back for a moment of comfort, it was easily found, almost as if it were second nature. As she laid her head back against him she hummed softly and it wasn’t long before she softly whispered the words that had worked themselves on her tongue and filled her soul.
Her voice though soft was layered with magic, each breath forming a magic of its own as it was released in the air, creating an illusionary imagery of the gentlest light and the softest colours. It was one of the few things that she had been taught in the coven that she truly enjoyed doing.
The spell was child’s play and yet to be able to so clearly project one’s thoughts into a visual narrative of such detail and careful crafting not to mention giving it movement and life was of a different level of control.
Before them formed a two figures, each distinctly different from the other by appearance and colour, yet it there was no doubt to their identities.
The first that formed was a lithe dancing female form only to be surprised and joined by taller male figure, first circling one another before after a simple connecting of hands drew them closer to one another. Now they were no longer moving and weaving their spells separately, but by their connection grew closer and more complementary to one another. Moving in pace and turned to waltzing eventually. They twirled and swayed and soon there was no telling where one began or the other ended.
Eilis gazes at them lovingly and longingly, hoping her foolish notions of love and romance, the ones that she had gotten from fairytales and storybooks were not all lies.
Her fingertips softly glowed as they maintained the magical image, just for them, just for Arn and her.
It seemed somehow more magical than it already was. Perhaps it was because it was because the magic itself wasn’t shining brightly, so it was not as taxing on their eyes. More luminous, a softer glow using the little light of the stars to fill the figures with light and colours.
The spell however allowed Eilis to move into a sort of peaceful trance, instead of worrying all the time she found her solace in her little imagery.
So lost she was gazing at it that her mind didn’t register Umbra’s soft rumble. The wyrm made a noise that could best be described as something between a wavering purr or an uneasy growl.
It had registered and noticed the large Shadow moving through the darkness below them, circling now widely.
As the Night’s light slowly started to lighten by the tiniest and thinnest of slivers of dawn, they all were rudely torn from their slumbers as a rushing of air brushed past them, the Dragon and Wyrms barely dodging the large behemoth that had rushed up between them.
In that mere light the hungry glint was reflected in its dark eyes and in the wide mouth filled with razorlike teeth, ready to tear them apart and send them down a hole of bloody death.
It was a Gargantuan, the stuff from legends and nightmarish stories to frighten children. Not truly a dragon, nor a wyrm, but Serpentine in nature. It glided through the air silently ready to pounce upon unsuspecting prey. Using the extra skin as a sort of kite it bend the air and sky to its will and the fan on its tail allowed for extra acceleration. This thing would eat them for breakfast if it got the opportunity and it was perhaps a blessing from the All Mother that this horror didn’t have the claws to grasp his prey with otherwise they wouldn’t have stood a chance.
Tyrhallan was the first to regain his senses, name it battle instinct or simply not wanting to be a sitting duck, he ordered Viscera to rush up to Tobhias and Alexa.
“GO! And Mage keep an eye on this bastard, help her evade it!”
An otherworldly shriek silenced the rest of his words as they all covered their ears in pain at the loud pitch of it.
Eilis looked on horrified wondering not for the first time whether she was some sort of bad luck charm.

Arn felt like he was flying. Not because he was astride a wyrm that was coursing through the broken skies that were a dark ocean. This feeling was weightlessness. It felt as if his soul no longer occupied his body and he was free. Perhaps similar to how a ray of sunlight feels as it stretches along the horizon. He had felt Eilis’s lips upon his and had felt the brilliant burst of emotions wash over him.

The feeling had been so potent that the Aether had shuddered. Perhaps it was because the connection of their Threads had fused even more. The power feed back of such an event would reverberate through the invisible threads. Ideally, such a moment would have been better left for when the group was not traversin a perilous stretch of sky and not being hunted by very magically apt witches.

The master mage could care less as he lost himself in the sheer beauty of sharing such an intimate kiss and soul shuddering moment with the pretty blonde girl he had sworn his life to. As she pulled back, Arn could not help but take a slow shuddering breath. There were no words to describe what had just happened. No words were needed after that first kiss. So no words were offered. But as his protegee leaned back against him, he held her wrapping his right arm around her. Protectively but also positively.

His strong chest rose and fell as he took deep breaths. His heart was still racing producing strong beats that the master mage was sure could be felt through his armor and robes. Like the young lady, it had not only been his feelings that had stirred. He would not have felt as ashamed if he had know that Eilis also wanted more of him as he did of her. Arn softly kissed the top of her head. More to satisfy his need of more of her than anything else but also to show her that what they had just share was not a mistake or easily forgotten.
As if in answer to his tender touch, Eilis began to sing. Her voice was captivating and though the word meaning of her lirics escaped him, somehow in his heart he knew what she was saying. His soul swelled. His eyes saw the light shapes materialize. It was almost as if their souls were talking. This was an ancient magic. From before written word had even been formulated. The master mage had read of something similar. A simple spell. Yet one that carried with it the history of the teller. It was infused with the singer’s own life force. Arn could not look away. He gave a few shuddered breaths. He had never felt so vulnerable and yet so safe. The one word that revibrated in his mind was “Together”.

For a second, only the two existed. Mainly because the magic she was projecting was only for the two of them to enjoy but also because their connection via the Aether it made it feel so. His survival instic however soon kicked in seconds after their dragon kin became uneasy. He broke from the spell she was weaving as if a drowsy man walking into bright sunlight. He blinked his eyes trying to ascertain what had spooked his reptilian mount.

The hunter showed itself all to soon. Arn tightened his right arm around Eilis as his left held the reins tightly as his mount executed a perilous evasion to the right which would have unmounted them if the master mage had not secured them. His head followed the giant form of the assailant as his mount flapped distressed. A grievous cry emited from the reptilian throat to be answered by the other two mounts.

There were few tales and written records of Gargantuans. It was hard to get accurate descriptions and gather insight when one is trying to run for their lives or being eaten. However, there was little else that could be assaulting them now. The size and general shape of the monster before them could be nothing else. Few even truly believed they existed but every one could agree that they did not want to be proven wrong.

Thankfully Tyrhallan knew there was little chance of standing their ground. Alexa and Tobi rushed forward at the Knigh Captain’s urging. Arn urged their own mount forward and leaning close for Eilis to hear he told her. “Take the reins, I will try to confuse it.” Concentrating, the master mage began to pull from the Aether. His hands glowed an icy blue. The temperature as the passed became colder. His aim was to produce sleet to mask their passing and also harass their gigantic pursuer. Hopefully the monster would find the small morsels not worth the pain.

Tobi, having seen this stunt before shouted to Tyrhallan. “Stay ahead of the curtain! Hopefully the sleet will make it heavy or freeze its wings. Make sure not to get caught in it or you will get lost.”

Somehow feeling like he needed to ease any fears Eilis might have, Arn called in a strained voice as he worked his spell. "Fear not, we shall be ok". He even offered her a quick smile. One that had a hint of tenderness. After their kiss, what were they? That question was best left for after they were safe...if that was even possible.