The Goodbye of a Long Stay

I was woken early in the morning by the clatering of my cell bars. I sat up to find the same giant guard waiting by the gate.

"I assume it's time to finish the trial."

He nodded, some of the most response I've gotten from him.

The other prisoner wasn't back. He must've escaped for good. Hope he doesn't have a problem with me, whoever he was.

We continued back to Trewari's hall, a large crowd surrounded the building once again. This time, they were much more silent, only the occasional elf tossing disdain my way.

We entered the building, walking through the path that parted the crowd. Tarwyn and Inowyn were in the same place, wearing the same clothes as before. A younger-looking elf stood at the left side. He looked vaguely similar to Alfraed, to some degree, though his drenched face showcased his nerves.

"So… Let us consider what has happened," Borowyn started. "I think it is now undeniable that Ladon did not consciously commit the crimes he committed. A member of the Shadow's Grasp was hired, by Alfraed, to inject Ladon with the berserker extract to make him commit violence he'd never want to. I don't know about all of you, but I'd say he's innocent."

The crowd seemed restless. Some members seemed mostly unsettled by what occurred last night, but otherwise had their minds changed. Some still scowled at me. Innocent or not, I could tell more than a few didn't appreciate my presence.

Tarwyn cleared his throat. "Whether or not he's innocent, it was still his body; his fists, that committed the crime. Though I agree that he didn't voluntarily do it—" He looked at me, an apologetic expression emanating from his eyes. "—and wouldn't ever choose to do it—" His gaze bounced between the crowd and Borowyn. "—I do not think there shouldn't be punishment. I can't call him totally innocent, but I can't consider him a criminal either."

It seemed most of the crowd was in agreement with him and not me, or Borowyn, or even the deceased Alfraed anymore.

"Then what do you suggest, grandson?"

"Clearly, even if he'd never harm anyone by choice, he is still a danger. If something like this were to happen again due to his presence in the city, the consequences could be even worse. I suggest a temporary banishment—one that could only be ended early should Tré af Líf herself demand it."

I knew the crowd wanted something worse before he spoke. If anything, he made a compromise.

"An interesting idea, and one I can't say I entirely disagree with. What say the people? All who agree with my grandson raise your hand."

Although small pockets of elves chose not to, everyone else rose their hands, though some took their time to do so. I even saw some hands peeking up outside the windows. I saw one purple, astral owl flying outside.

I looked back to Borowyn to see his eyes change from a starry purple glow back to his old, green eyes. "Well, I believe that settles it. Ladon will be banished for one year, during which time we'll begin our full investigation to find the dark market and what corners the Shadow's Grasp are hiding in. Tjalin Tarwyn, my grandson, will be leading this investigation. Lastly, I must apologize to you, Ladon, on behalf of Ith Trelanwi. Had we known such a thing would happen in our city, we would've stopped it."

"I understand. What happened happened." I just wanted to go home already.

"I hope you don't view our city poorly as a result."

"There's far more good than bad here. That's a big step-up from most places I've been. I've learned to tree stride, and gained my fylgja. There's a debt that's owed for the hospitality. I hope to repay it after a year."

"How gracious of you. You remind me of Abraxas sometimes. You really do. Very well." He planted his staff one final time. "If the girl is capable, you'll be leaving immediately."

I nodded.

"That will conclude the trial."

The elves all started talking amongst each other. Inowyn, who I only now looked at, was in a mad dash at me. I could see the embarrassed Tarwyn walking behind in her path. The rope loosened as the big guard approached me. He gently unshackled my wirsts, gave me a nod, and walked away. Almost immediately after, Inowyn impacted my statue-stiff body like a meteor, making me take a few steps back. My shoulders were close to my ears.

"Isn't that great!"

"That I'm not going to die today?"

She pushed off me gently. "Well when you say it like that, it's hard to be happy about it."

I slightly unstiffened… slightly. "I guess it's probably the best outcome."

"See! Positive thoughts," her smile radiant, her eyes big.

Tarwyn finished his approach. I could see his urge to speak, but he said nothing.

"Thank you, Tarwyn, I know what you did. You used your influence to reach a compromise with the masses."

 He gave the most awkward smile I've seen. It just occurred to me I hadn't seen him smile much. "I uh… wanted to apologize." He froze.

"You already did. I could tell."

He nodded. "We should get you your stuff and see if the girl is ready to leave yet," he said, changing the subject.

"You're right."

Tarwyn made eye contact with four guards who immediately after joined us, boxing us in at each corner. We left the building.

The crowd outside was huge and loud, a cacophony of varying opinions being expressed outwardly. One person got just close enough to beat it.

"We saw Inowyn hug you! Are you two in love?!"

The three of us froze in unison.

Tarwyn was the first to break out of the ice. "W-what?! Of course not! My sister?! In love with him?!" He turned quickly. "No offense, Ladon." He returned. "She's never had interest in anyone!"

I looked at Inowyn's face, who's slender, wood-like skin was filled with a new green tinge from cheekbone across the nose to cheekbone. She stiffened, and continued walking, leading Tarwyn and I forward.

"Sister?" he asked, seemingly picking up on something.

She said nothing; didn't even turn.

"S-sister?" He looked terrified.

"Not a word," she said, in a semi-serious tone. "Not a word."

"Inowyn?" I asked.

"Y-yes?!" She stiffened up, as though an instructor hit her with a stick.

"Thank you."

 "W-what?"

"You were the first to believe I was innocent. I appreciate that."

Her guard lowered to give way to a small, nervous smile.

Before long, we made it back to the fengsel. They led me in, then pushed on a wall, revealing a hidden room. The room was mostly empty save but a number of large chests. He opened one of them and pulled out my clothes, as well as my bow, quiver, arrows, cloak, and armor. They both turned around by the wall door while I finished with them.

"Ready to go?" Inowyn asked, noticeably on the verge of peeking.

I finished adjusting my cloak, pinned it with the Therrin's End pin. "Yes."

She smiled. "Let's go then."

We left the building, though one thing about it was on my mind. "Who was that other prisoner? I didn't see anyone else in there."

"Well that would be because we haven't needed to lock anyone up for a long time," Inowyn answered.

"As for the prisoner," Tarwyn began. "He was a very infamous criminal. He worked with the Shadow's Grasp, a dark guild who dealt in theft, heists, assassanations, murders, manipulations, among other things. He was particularly known for what he did for them. He was imprisoned for over a century, since the end of the Great Cull, I believe. I don't remember his name to be honest." 

"Grandfather never talked about him much to anyone. He always referred to him as "The Prisoner"," Inowyn said.

"I see."

"I think I heard him call him Rend, or… The Render or something. I don't know." 

"Is he a danger to us? I mean, he's out of prison."

"Well, our best are looking for him, so hopefully not. It won't be any of your concern since you're leaving," Tarwyn answered.

Her tree was finally in sight. As we approached it, a wave of nerves washed over me like an itchy heat. What if she doesn't trust me anymore? She could hate me. She probably doesn't want to see me, and I wouldn't blame her. If she wants to stay, I guess that's fine.

"Ladon?"

"Hm—" The door was right in front of me.

Fuck.

I pushed the door open, and almost instantly looked away before I realized she was just finishing getting dressed. She wore a light blouse with a darker, thin jacket on top tied loosely above the waist with a long strip of cloth. She had a short skirt, cut at the sides to reveal her leggings that continued to her ankles. On her shoulders rested a functional, yet no less intricate pelerine that fell down her body no further than her chest. Her aurora hair was loosely tied in the back with a ribbon. She looked ready to leave, though she was clearly still tired and weak. Though she certainly looked better than when I first saw her.

I was speechless.

"Hi, girl," Inowyn said.

She turned to Inowyn, then to me. "Hi."

In less than a blink, I saw her face in front of me, the life being choked out of her. I blinked again and everything was normal, though my hands were tense, feeling a phantom sensation.

"Ladon?" Inowyn asked from my left.

"Huh?" I looked around. Everybody noticed something was up. I didn't say anything else.

"So… I heard you were found innocent," the girl started. "That's good!" She looked cautious. I couldn't blame her.

"Y-yeah. I have to leave the city, for a year—"

"I'll come with you," she said, in almost an instant.

"Are you sure?" I said, trusting myself less than anyone else.

"Yeah… if you have to go, then, I'll go with you."

"..."

"That settles it then!" Inowyn said excitedly, though I saw the quickest twinge in her smile.

I tried to bring out my wolf, but it wouldn't come.

"Yeah, you kind of…" Inowyn started.

"I see," I said before she could finish. I figured out all I needed.

I reached my hand out to the girl. "If you want I cou—"

She recoiled instinctively.

Right… 

I nodded slightly.

"S-sorry…" she said.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."

"It's not yours either," she said with a strong tone of urgency.

"...Yeah…"

We went outside. Tarwyn's index finger glowed a light yellowish color. Out poured a golden, starry liquid that then formed into a mare, as strong as it was tall. Tarwyn lifted the girl up on his horse. Shortly after, we were off, heading toward the same tree we came and left from before.

We all slowed as we reached it, I watched as the realization that this would be the last we'd see of each other for at least a year reached their faces. Inowyn's was the most noticeable, Tarwyn less so, though his stiffness showed.

"Inowyn?" I asked.

"Y-yeah?"

"What direction is this city from my home?"

"East. Why?."

"I like to know where I am. Thank you."

She nodded, smiling somewhat sadly.

Tarwyn helped the girl down. Inowyn stared at the tree for a moment, looked at me. Her ears slowly lowered back. Just before I was ready, she embraced me. Unlike the last time, I managed to pat her back. Her flowery scent bombarded my nose to an extent I both liked, and suffocated to. She disengaged.

Tarwyn's horse lost its form as it flowed into his tattoo.

"I'm going to miss you, Ladon…" Inowyn said.

"How long does a year feel like to an elf?" I asked.

She sighed. "It's not exactly a short time… unless you're grandpa I guess."

Tarwyn walked close. "Once the year is up, we'll all get together again."

She looked back to me, her eyes begging for reassurance even though her brother was right there.

I nodded. "I'll plan for it, though I can't guarantee I'll be in the area."

She cracked a small smile. "I'll be able to figure that out."

"Then it's a plan," Tarwyn said, in possibly the most positive tone I've heard from him.

Inowyn walked to the tree, outstretched her arms. As soon as the wood began to make a cracking, bending sound, I started changing my gaze between the girl and the tree calmly, because I both wanted to watch it and her reaction. Her eyes were focused on it, her mouth slightly agape as the tree opened up.

"All you need to do is walk through," Inowyn said.

The girl wasted no time, aside from what it took to wave, and walked through. I knew that kind of curiosity. I watched as she disappeared into the tree.

I looked to Tarwyn. He nodded, so I returned it. I looked to Inowyn.

She grunted. "It's really goodbye, huh?"

I knew holding it was straining her. "Goodbye, Inowyn."

"Goodbye."

I walked to the tree, catching the glint of one of her tears as I passed her. The tree curled inward as I walked through it, watching all its rings go past, until a newer, yet still old, set of rings came to sight. Two steps later, I emerged, and stopped myself before I could bump into the girl's surprisingly still self.

Looking past her, I saw the massive opened mouth of the yawning Abraxas, who must've just woken up because of us. His sleep-teared eyes turned to us slowly, with his head.

"Welcome home, my boy. I see you have brought another new guest with you. Is this perhaps the girl you told me about?"

"Thank you, Abraxas. She is."

She swayed slightly in place, likely due to her balance not being the best. She was too awestruck to do anything.

"Do not worry, young one, I will not eat you. You are safe and welcome here. Would you like to sit down?"

I guestered to the stump by the unlit campfire.

Her focus shot back like a flash. "Sh-sure."

I walked with her and made sure she had an easy time sitting down.

"You're bigger than I thought," she commented.

Abraxas shifted to rest his claws on the grooved boulders, like a dog, just how I remembered. "Is that so?"

I saw her do a double take on the cabin.

"That's where I live," I said. "I'll have to make a second bed… sometime."

She sat down on the stump. I sat not far, on the ground.

"So, Ladon, how was your time in Ith Trelanwi?"

"Mostly nice."

"Mostly?" He asked, slowly.

"Well, it's pretty there, the food's nice, most people are tolerant at the very least."

"I can not help but feel as though there is a but coming."

"But some… not so great stuff happened as well."

"Feel free to tell me as much as you would like, young Ladon."

I spent the next hour or so telling him everything… minus the vision. The arrival, the fylgja, Tré af Líf, the tree striding, everything I learned… and that day, the beserker extract, Shadow's Grasp, dark market, and the trial.

"By the gods. That certainly is a lot."

The girl was sort of looking around, pacing her eyes as the last thing I brought up was what I did under the beserker extract's influence.

"I am sorry you had to go through that, young Ladon. But I must say, I never expected you to meet the tree of life. It is as though every time you leave, more happens than ever before."

"Yeah. I like the good parts, don't get me wrong. The fylgja are neat, but to be honest, I just wanted to be home at the end of it all. I've had my fill of adventure. So I guess getting banished made that easy."

"Well, nevertheless, I am glad you are home, I have missed you in your absence."

"I've missed you too, Abraxas."

The girl was still avoiding conversation. I thought at least she'd be more surprised to see him. Now that I think of it, she could've seen him many times with her visions. The memory of her vision suddenly entered my mind. Should I tell him? Should I tell him Gerickst will come? He probably wouldn't want me and her to be here if he knew. I wouldn't be able to convince him otherwise. I'm sorry Abraxas.

"So…" Abraxas began with a yawn. "What is your name, young girl?"

She looked up at him like she wasn't expecting to be included. "U-uhm. I don't know… I don't have one."

"Much like how I met young Ladon. I will take it upon myself to solve this for you."

"W-what?"

"Hmmm… A fascinating soul. I do not know the dragon within you."

"Fascinating? W-what could be fascinating about it?" she asked, seeming as scared as sad.

"The dragon within you is a particularly rare dragon within this continent, perhaps far more common to the eastern land. Some, a small few, came here. My opportunities to meet them were just as rare. I see you have great magical potential."

"How can you see all this?"

"How do you see mine?" Abraxas asked, in a knowing tone.

"I-I don't know. I don't know anything about magic."

"That makes this all the more interesting," Abraxas responded. "It is called soul seeing. It is a helpful tool for those who have it, as it allows one to see another's soul, and by proxy, their person far deeper than most can. I can tell what dragon is within you because I can see the soul attached to yours."

She didn't respond; just listened.

"I think I shall call you Mi, if you like it of course." He smiled, his giant teeth showing.

She didn't respond again, though I could see her think to herself, holding a slight smile.

"Why Mi?" I asked.

"Because the dragon within her is a Mireu dragon, my boy. Obviously, the pronunciation is different."

"Mireu? I've never heard of that kind," I responded.

"I am not surprised. The few that came left before the cull. The smaller number of them that stayed… I don't think they survived. Or at least that is what I assume considering the soul attached to hers came from a dead one."

"I see."

Suddenly her face lit up with a tired, radiant smile. "I like it."

"Oh good. I am glad you do, young Mi."

"Could you tell me more about my dragon?" she asked. "I don't know a whole lot about this stuff, though I've learned a little."

"Of course I can, young Mi. For starters, the mireu dragons are possibly the most magically powerful dragons of us all. A good determinate of the volume of magical power a dragon contains can often come from the amount of wings a dragon has, and how big they are. All dragons, aside from the smaller ones, have to use magic, to some extent, to fly since we were never originally meant to. The original dragons came to be as a random act of chaos, turning an animal, long extinct now, into what we are. The Mireu dragons do not have any wings, and yet they are some of the greatest flyers of us all. I must reiterate, your magical potential is quite great."

"Because of my dragon?" she asked.

"Partially."

Partially? How could that only be partial?

"Unlike young Ladon here, it seems chaos was going to grant you power regardless of the dragon that wondered to you. Add that with the dragon within you, and that is where the potential comes from." His face froze suddenly, his eyes squinted.

"Abraxas?" I asked, since he was acting weird.

"Have you awakened?" he asked her.

Awakened?

"What?"

"Oh, sorry, young Mi. I spoke mostly to myself. You must have been through the worst the world has to offer."

She looked even more confused.

"The original Ladon used that word once, Abraxas. What is it?" I asked.

"Something I neglected to tell you, hoping you'd never need the information."

That only made me want to know more, and I could tell he could see that.

"An awakening is a process demidragons can undergo to reach capabilities beyond their limits. It permanently takes the ceiling, and raises it into the clouds. But… it comes at a dangerous price. Many demidragons paid that price to no avail."

"What is it?" I asked.

"When a demidragon is on the verge of death; centimeters from it, they have the opportunity to awaken as a last ditch effort to survive. The main requirement is a strong will to survive; a will stronger than even one's self-preservation instincts. You can not have even an inkling of doubt, or acceptance. If a demidragon pulls it off, their draconic soul will open the floodgates that are naturally closed. The results can vary from extremely greater strength, speed, magical capabilities, and/or senses. Most awakenings result in multiple traits being advanced."

 "And I-I did that?" she asked.

"I believe so, yes. There used to be a school, many years ago, where demidragons would go to train and educate themselves on their draconic traits. They offered a course of sorts, that demidragons could take, at their discretion, to push themselves to such a brink. Many demidragons who took that course… died. In fact, most demidragons who had the opportunity to awaken died…"

"And I… awakened?" she asked.

"I believe so. I can tell you were in a much worse state just based on how you are now. The state you were in should not have been survivable for however long you were in it, even as a demidragon."

Silence again.

"It would certainly explain how you saw the future, dream sought young Ladon here, activated the consciousness of his dragon's soul, and gave that same soul the knowledge you gained. Such a feat… on accident… could only be done during the awakening process. Otherwise it would've killed you. It probably would have killed you to do any magic without it."

"Dream sought?" she asked.

"Yes. You simply sought him out in the dream-scape: the space of dreams. It seems as though you saved yourself as much as he saved you."

I wasn't surprised by her returning silence, considering I didn't know what to say either.

"There's one other thing some awakened demidragons gain, though it often takes time to fully manifest."

"What?" I asked

"It's the ability to manifest one's inner dragon; bring out the soul in a physical form. It is similar in function to the fylgja. It surrounds and protects the user, and can even attack, or be ridden. It has been quite some time since a demidragon pulled that off."

"Who was it?" I asked.

"I am not sure. There were a few once, lauded for their capabilities, but they died long before the cull."

"I see."

An awkward moment of silence was had since Mi asked nothing. We just sat there, as if someone else would speak.

"Abraxas?" she asked softly, her hands picking at each other.

"What is it, young Mi? You can ask me anything… Anything at all."

"Can you teach me more about magic?"

His face lit up. "I was going to ask you later if you wanted to learn. I'll gladly teach you. We'll start small, so you can continue your recovery while learning the basics. Would you like to start tomorrow?"

"S-sure," her angled brows and smile conveying a joyful nervousness.

"That works for me," I said.

"Oh?" Abraxas asked.

"I need to go back to the ranger camp. They're going to hold a celebration for me, and give me my sword."

"Well we should not keep you, should we?"

I nodded. I could easily trust leaving her in his care, though I still didn't want to be gone long, knowing her vision. "I'll be back," I looked at her, "as soon as I can."

"Very well, young Ladon."

Mi looked equal parts comfortable and uncomfortable. She waved at me, radiating her weary smile.

I nodded again, then turned around.