One step at a time!

Silence reigned for a few moments while he thought about what Iris said and trying to come to terms with this new version of him, wondering what else has changed about him that had gone unnoticed.

Ian sighed heavily, thinking that this could wait a little longer. Iris was a priority and she needed care and proper food, since she carried his unborn child.

Everything will have to wait for now and with that thought mind, he decided to brush this matter aside for the time being.

Clicking his tongue, he grabbed Iris hand " We should find something for you to eat!" he uttered in a low voice while his eyes shifted from looking into empty space to look at her.

Iris smiled, gently squeezing his hand " Yes, let's do that! One step at a time!" she replied in a soft voice, using the same words he had used not long ago to bring him some comfort, like he did when she needed it.

Ian's lips pulled up in a warm smile, he knew why she said that and for some reason he found comfort in those words, knowing why she said it.

Making their way out of the chamber, through the corridors in the lavish castel. His eyes travelled everywhere, studying the high arched ceiling of the corridor and wondering how old this place was.

" How old is the castle?" he curiously asked while his eyes roamed everywhere.

Iris frowned " Uhmm, I'm not sure!" This place has been built a very long time ago! The reigning monarchs, move between the realms to keeps things in order!" she informed in a pensive voice while herself pondered on the question, now that Ian asked.

" I think this has been built when the gate to this realm appeared and that goes back to the dawn of time!" she continued explaining in a soft voice while she kept glancing at Ian.

Stepping out of the castle, Iris looked at the sky that was unsually bright for that time of day .

" Hmm....I wonder why the sun hasn't moved from the sky?" she thought out loud catching Ian's attention who looked at they sky frowning.

"This place, how is still intact despite the fact that not a living soul has set foot in here for such a long time?" he questioned back while himself couldn't help but wonder if the castle itself was more than a castle.

" Since it has been passed down from generation to generation, a lot has been lost in the process! As you may have noticed, sithrians are very reliant on their powers and do no trouble themselves with details!"she stated truthfully what she thought, despite the fact that herself was one of them, she couldn't help but notice that Seth was right.

" I agree!" he replied mindlessly, busy studying the courtyard that looked pristine and the plants in the garden that seemed to be well looked after.

Walking past it, Ian's attention shifted to the East Wing of the castle where the others went in earlier and looked just as lavish as the South Wing where Iris lived.

Based on his knowledge no servant he had ever met or heard of lived in such luxury.

" Say Iris, to my knowledge no servant lives in such luxurious quarters!" he voiced out his thoughts, trying to get some answers to his questions.

Iris giggled " You are right! Our world is different from others, we treat our people fair and we want them to thrive! Here, we go back to what I said earlier, because of the power that we hold, there are no struggles and we have become dependent on it! We use it for everything and to some extent, I guess you can say that we abused it!" she truthfully confessed while walking inside the East Wing of the castle, making their way through the corridor to find the others.

Ian smiled " I wonder, at what price?!!" he rethorically asked halting his steps to look at her, considering for a moment that the change in his appearance might be a way that Arkathira is claiming its price.

Iris smiled, looking into his eyes that were now completely grey and couldn't help but feel a little afraid at how fast Ian's appearance was changing. She could only hope that it would stop here and he was wrong about the claws and the tail, a thought that sent a cold shiver through her spine.

" As far as I'm aware, none so far but a lot of things have changed! Since the gate has been sealed, Ellora has been out of my reach and I don't not know to what extent has been affected!" she explained in worried tone of voice while she traced his facial features trying her best get used to his features while her eyes closely studied him.

What this the price that they would have to pay, in order to use the powers of Arkathira?

Would she be next? She questioned to herself while looking at Ian, taking in every single detail, like she did when she met him for the first time.

Taking a sharp breath in " Only time will tell!" she unknowingly voiced out her thoughts, lowering her hand to the side.

" Hmm....for now we have other things to worry about!" he replied in a serious tone of voice while he turned to look around at one of the doors, wonder which one belonged to Athan.

Iris frowned and nodded " That's Athan's chamber!" she stated while pointing at the door opposite to where Ian was looking.

Ian nodded and made his way to the door that Iris was pointing, stopping in front of it.

Lifting his hand, he knocked on the door waiting for Athan to open the door.

He waited for a few moments, seeing that there was no answer, he raised his hand again but stopped when the door swung open and Athan gasped and stared at him.

" Can I borrow some of your clothes and we need some food?" he politely asked while Athan just blinked at him owelshly, not being able to make a single sound.

Oh, no! This might take some time! Ian mused to himself, knowing Athan and how his mind worked.

He knew at this point that he should make himself comfortable and wait until Athan works through whatever it was going on in his head in that moment.

Ian leaned against the door and calmly waited for Athan to snapp out of his daze.

Iris smiled" Athan!" she softly called him out trying to get him to react.

" Huh?" Athan muttered mindlessly while his eyes darted between Iris and Ian.

" What did you do?" he asked in disbelief while frowning, not understanding what had happened to Ian in such a short time.