Insight (55)

Raven entered the study where the four others were gathered.

The sun had begun to rise only minutes before and the red light reflected off of the gold surface of the floor.

Raven huffed inwardly. Coruscare had always had a taste for the finer things in life. His preferences had always been more extravagant compared to Ravens. More frivolous.

*I wonder how often the golden child has admired his own reflection in these floors.*, Raven thought to himself.

Gold, besides casting a detailed reflection, possessed the ability to enhance prescience in those that already had a sensitivity to the Sight. In the Old World gold plates were a symbol of not just success and wealth, but preternatural talent and insight. A powerful ability for those who involved themselves in politics and the like. Although most people did not have the Sight, and it had been thousands of years ago since magic was openly used and accepted, many upper class members still continued the tradition.

*Hubris.*, Raven hurumphed as he thought to himself.

Coruscare stood, his clawed hands planted firmly on his large desk, staring intently at Raven as he entered, unaware of Syll's precarious glances.

Raven went to the opening in the side of the study and faced the horizon, watching as the sun slowly rose.

Aurum occupied a cushioned chair and Brego stood beside it. Syll positioned herself between Coruscare and Lucius, although she had no idea what she would do should they become aggressive with each other.

"It's difficult to find where to begin. I suppose as Coruscare is here, I should start from what you all would consider the beginning.", he straightened his back and turned toward the others.

"After the forming of the five refuges, my people and I lived quietly and contently for quite some time. Isolated from the human world we resumed life and no longer had to anticipate the humans advances. Some time passed this way when twenty years ago, I awoke, turned into a primitive beast. My former and whole self forgotten. I have yet to find the perpetrator, but it is being looked into.", he said dismissively.

Coruscares expression softened slightly. He had no idea.

*Thats why he virtually disappeared.*, Syll thought to herself.

"For twenty years I roamed the world, mindless, angry, and lost. Twenty years of not knowing who I am, and having no where to go. Until I found Caeli.", he softly said, pausing before continuing, "I had been consuming magic in my unconscious attempt to return to my former self. She had unknowingly left a trail of deep, powerful and ancient magic behind her as she moved across the land. I followed it.", he said turning back to look out of the opening, the sun now almost completely above the horizon.

Coruscares heart skipped a beat.

What was he afraid of? Why did he feel as though his heart was dangling above a deep abyss from a thin thread? Ready to plummet at any moment.

Well, not any moment.

The moment that Lucius explained how he knew Caeli, that was the moment.

"I found her, and these two,", Raven said sweeping an arm out to indicate Aurum and Brego, "they had taken residence in a cabin.", he finished.

"I found them in the night. I was beside myself. I was enraptured by her.", Raven said simply, as sure of the spell she had over him as he was that the sun would continue to rise.

Coruscare felt the thread snap, his heart plummeted into the dark, the beating halted.

He knew how Lucius must have felt, because he felt the same way.

And it was devastating to hear.

"With a primitive instinct, I forced her companions into a deep slumber. I did the same to Caeli but brought her to a time far from here. Her good nature and the magic deep within her saved me. But I lied to her. Made her believe that I whisked her away for her safety. I knew she would have walked away had I disclosed the truth of my actions. I had been presented with a unlikely opportunity. Had I been myself, I would not have done such things, but the me I was is gone and the me I am was all that was left. I had the opportunity to be near her. And because I'm a coward, I seized it. Perpetuated it.", Raven said softly to the early morning breeze.

*No wonder the books pointed me towards Lucius when it comes to the subconscious. He's a master of the spirit world, like Death, or the Sand Man but with a corporeal body. The Catcher is pale in comparison to what he is likely capable of.*, Syll thought to herself.

The sight of the sun shining on the golden wheat far below reminded Raven of the golden hued skin of the woman he had watched from afar laugh with her companions, read diligently on her travels, and who had confided in him. Allowed him to experience the luxury of her closeness, while she had been entirely unaware of its affects on those in the vicinity.

Aurum threw furtive glances at Brego until he reciprocated the attention. He ever so slightly nodded his head in the direction of the King of Fire and Light.

His title was well given. Brego and Aurum watched in astonished silence as they watched the large dragon smolder. His body seemed to vibrate and a red glow undulated under the surface of his skin.

Aurum and Brego exchanged frantic looks. They mentally decided to be ready to run should the desk catch fire.

Raven gave a joyless chuckle.

"It wasn't long before Caeli demanded answers. She's smart, and kind. But she is as inquisitive as a child. Conversely she is as head strong as a bull. I've never met anyone quite like her.", he said wistfully.

"I told her the truth and she asked to return to her companions, so I sent her back.", he said with a heavy sigh. "That was the last I saw her. I returned to my kingdom and reclaimed my throne. I worked diligently until Einar encountered a royal intelligence officer with a letter written to me. In which Coruscare explained the situation and I came immediately. Which, I suppose, brings us to the present.", Raven said quietly, glancing at Coruscare to see him gripping the papers on his desk in a crumpled disarray.

"We should check on Caeli.", Aurum said has he slowly slithered from the chair, Brego, nodding in agreement.

They might as well had said nothing for all the reaction they received from the kings.

The quietly left, thankful to be away from the both of them, lest they be innocent bystanders to the devastation that seemed inevitable to follow.

Syll turned to look at Coruscare with reprimand.

He curtly nodded at her and glanced at the exit.

She had been dismissed.

She stood hesitant to leave despite the order. It only took a few moments before she conceded that there wasn't much she could do either way.

She gave a nod and a slight bow before exiting the study.

"I've told my half, care to share yours?", Raven asked sardonically.

Coruscare felt as though lava was rushing through his veins, his heart a deep steel mill, pumping and circulating heat through out his body.

"She came here on the back of her gelding friend, half dead and a gaping wound in her chest from Lord Callons galaxian assistant.", he said heavily. If Lucius had felt something in response to his statement, it did not show. His skeletal face remained impassive. "She's been here for a couple of months, healing in the infirmary. Her comatose state persisted until I entered her mind, with the Catcher.", this time Lucius's body tightened like a coil.

"She has been traveling to the past to visit her mother. That is where I found out that she is very sick. And not just from the dark magic used against her.", Coruscare said sadly, some of his angry steam settling whilst recalling the woman's dire state.

"I can't get into details, and by can't I mean physically cannot. In short I realized reaching her subconscious mind would be the only way to coax her from her comatose condition. I reached out to you in desperation, and because of your distinct skill set. With my most recent visit with the Catcher she woke, but you witnessed everything after that.", Coruscare said. His smugness leaked into his last words. He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

He couldn't imagine how Lucius was feeling. Caeli had turned from him, it was painful to try and empathize.

Raven nodded slowly.

He would find this Callon character and kill him someday. He promised himself that it would be done. He should have known better than to think that the galaxian would follow his orders. He had overestimated her desire to please the lord of her race.

"She cannot stay here Coruscare. She will surely die if she does.", he said simply.

"But you know only of the illness upon her because of the wound. You know not the other dangers she faces.", Coruscare said desperately and with anger. Lucius was unaware of the self-sickness that plagued the girl. He likely did not know that she was part drake. And even if he wanted, he could not disclose these things to him. The spell would not allow it.

"Then you must tell me. If you care for the girl you will tell me so that I can fix this.", Lucius said calmly.

Coruscare had always envied Lucius his calm demeanor, even in the face of turmoil. It positively infuriated him now.

"How can you be so callous? You were "enraptured" by her and now that she didn't choose you, you simply don't care?", Coruscare shouted from behind the desk.

Raven turned, a cameo in the sunlight.

"You couldn't be more incorrect.", Raven whispered.

"She stays here, at least until she is awake. The poor girl has been through enough. Displaced enough. Decisions have been made without her knowledge and it's time that it ends here. We wait, until she is awake.", Coruscare said, his tone bordering on frantic.

He prayed that she would remember him, find comfort in staying with him. He wanted it so bad he could almost taste it.

Deep inside of Coruscares mind, Greedy licked his lips.

But Lucius had not disclosed the events of their time together. Had she hated him? Or had she come to care for him? Was their relationship one-sided in which Lucius had feelings for the girl but unrequited?

She had erroneously called him Raven. He desperately tried to recall the way that she had said Raven. Was it fearful? Or had it sounded more like a longing tone?

Coruscare thought he'd go mad thinking of the possibilities but could not bring himself to demand more insight. If he did, Lucius would know. He would know assuredly how Coruscare felt.

It had taken all of his power to admit that he cared for the girl in his letter, in hopes that if it reached Lucius he would understand the gravity of the situation.

Now the idea of saying it aloud to another being, that very obviously felt deeply for Caeli as well, seemed impossible.

Raven stood silently for a moment than gave a quick nod before turning on his heel to leave the study.

"Lucius?", Coruscare said more softly.

Raven stopped but did not turn around.

"About the Reconciliation… the day you confronted your mother… I'm sorry. I had no idea. I should have been there for you and I failed you. There are only five of us, our circle already small. So few understand our position, our existence. I should have supported you in that moment.", he said.

Raven did not respond. He resumed his walk to the exit.