(Recovery)

Seraphina was panicking in her carriage what was she going to do the castle was three days away there's no way the can get there and back with help. There only hope is that the assassins see her leave and decided to leave and pursue her.

Then her thought shifted what if they weren't there for her they attacked Caldur first was he the target or did that think being a mage he was the biggest threat. Seraphina pondered it for a moment when the carriage came to a sudden stop jolting her forward.

"Agh... coachmen what's happening."

Seraphina stood and tried to look out the window when she somone approach a man clad in shiny silver like armor Seraphina knew this to be lighthieum, on his hip was a sword in a black sheath the hilt and guard a teal color on his back a round Shield the same Teal color with silver trim. Now she knew who he was not that she could forget general Orcket his extremely short brown hair, stubble across his chin. one green eye the other white and a large scar from the top of his forhead over his eye to the bottom of his chin.

"My lady I thought this was your carriage what ar-"

Seraphina quickly jumped out of the carriage.

"General Orcket I need your help now!"

Orcket went from pleasantries to business quickly.

"What ever you need princess I have thirty men with me but you should be warned we are hunting down a group of infiltrators."

Serpahina nodded and explained everything that happened and how they need to hurry it had already been an hour since she left them.

"We will have to be faster then a carriage my lady please get on."

Seraphina was now on a back of a horse holding the waist of General Orcket. She looked around at the other knights and mages, about twenty-six knights and four mages

"Quickly General I don't know how long they will last."

The general snapped the reins to make the horse speed up, They rushed through a large open field for about Half an hour till they reached the base of the hill that lead up too the Falten house. They quickly passed by where the two guards had fallen when Seraphina left before, they ran up the hill and when they reached the top and stopped the horses.

Seraphina looked arossed the field she counted nine bodies none of which were Caldur or his brother.

"It looks like they have been putting up a good fight my lady."

Seraphina looked towards the general.

"Indeed but it bothers me that I don't hear fighting... well if they came for me it would make sense after taking these losses they would leave, which it was my hope that they would chase me or leave if I left."

Seraphina thought back all she could think to do was ride to the castle but it was three days away, she was lucky to run into the general patrolling the fields near by for the enemy already. The outskirts of the kingdom were often infiltrated by imperial spies or soldiers waiting for the next war to sabotage or get in quick strikes so sending out party's to hut them down has become custom.

"My lady the house is clear there's no sign of them."

Seraphina signed at the guards report. She looked arcoss the field of battle ice and burn marks covered the ground along side the bodies.

"General have some men gather the bodies see if they had any intelligence or somthing of use."

Seraphina was looking at the general when she noticed a soldier running towards them from around the house his armor clanking.

"My lady the forest you have to see."

Seraphina and Orcket exchanged glances then both walked towards the forest. To say she was astonished would be an understatement a portion of the forest had been frozen frost falling from tree branches and ice crystals forming along the trunks and ground.

"Princess stay behind me."

Seraphina watched Orcket pull out his blade and take his shield of his back the teal coloring captivating her. No matter how many times she sees it star metal always amazed her, her kingdom held two of the three star metal items to ever exist their the sole reason the empire goes to war with them so often.

"I will General just be careful."

The pair moves through the forest till they came upon the center of the spell where Caldur layed on the ground Zelren near by frozen over, and what Seraphina could only assume to be the rest of the assassins.

"No..no this is the worst case secenerio."

Seraphina rushed to Caldurs side placing a hand on his back while Orcket looked around.

"This was their final stand... this level of Magic shouldn't have been possible for a mage so young it would have heavy consequences to cast... it was his final spell to take the assassins with him."

Orcket walked over and kneeled in front of Caldur.

"You have my respect young mage."

Orcket hung his head, Seraphina could feel it ever so light a heart beat.

"Heas not dead!"

Seraphina took quick action.

"Blessed wings and halo."

A Pair of wings and a halo made of light appeared on her person. This spell made all light, Healing and wind spells more potent and powerful.

"Healing zone."

Seraphina had moved her hands over to his wound a green dome of light surrounded it connecting to her palms. The wound slowly started to heal.

"Wait my lady these were assassins if he was poisoned he will still die even if you closed the wound."

Serpahina canceled her spell.

"Right ill have to remove try and remove poison first.... I hope."

Seraphina has barely practiced magic and she didn't have the mana to keep doing spells back to back she can maybe do two more before collapsing from mana exhaustion or even doing damage to her body.

"Purifying Aura."

A green aura surrounded Caldur Seraphina watched his wound closely as a black mist began too escape from it.

"So he was poisoned."

Serpahina waited till the mist stopped the canceled the spell. Suddenly she felt dizzy and almost fell, did she overestimated her current abilities.

"Are you ok my lady."

Seraphina shook her head.

"No im exuasted.... but I can't let him die he could hold the future of our kingdom in his hands."

Serpahina placed her hands above his wound again. Orcket watched as she summoned her spell again watching the green dome form around the wound.

"A single wound on him filled with poison they caught him by suprise."

Orcket walked over towards Caldurs brother and looked at the assassin who was standing over him.

"I need our ice mage now."

Orcket could hear the shuffling behind him as some one went to fetch the mage. Orcket studied this one assassins duel wielding short swords his foot slightly hovering over the back of Caldurs brother.

"So I have to guess your the one responsible for this."

The mage came up behind him.

"You called for me sir."

Orcket looked at the mage a mid aged man who was looking around in astonishment.

"Can you defrost this one with out killing him?"

Orcket had studied magic giving his greatest opponent was the archmage of the Coridium Empire he knew ice mages could cancel out other ice magic it was titled "defrosting" as the would simply thaw what ever ice was created melted it in the spot. But what really happend was it just reversed the spell and a few things were required. One they had to use the same amount for mana to undo it that it took to create it. Two they have to be able to also use the spell themselves and three it had to be a spell that was already cast.

"I can try sir but I can't guarantee it."

Orcket nodded.

"Only do his torso and head. He doesn't need arms and legs to give information."

The mage hesitated.

"Sir I'm not sure I'm able too I can either fully reverse it or leave him."

Orcket sighed then looked back at the princess who was struggling to maintain her spell. He turned back and unsheathed his sword.

"Sir what are you doing?"

Orcket took two swipes severing both of the frozen assassins arms at the elbows, clean cuts not cracks in the ice.

"I..uh.. that works."

The mage held out his hands and closed his eyes. Orcket watched this is one of the time magic can be cast with out saying the spells name becuase the mage wasn't using a spell just his own mana. The ice on the assassin slowly started to melt the moment the assassins throat had been thawed orckets blade raised to greet it.

Once the ice had fully melted the assassin opened his eyes and felt the tip of Orckets sword against him. He went to move his arms to realize his forearms and hands were gone.

"Ah I see that bastered. Well you have me now what.

Orcket pressed his sword slightly.

"First let's see your face."

Orcket lifted off his jood and mesh mask.

"Ah and face I recognize."

The assassin chuckled.

"Long time no see Orcket you know your still the only person to ever survive an encounter with me."

Now Orcket chuckled and pointed behind him.

"Add one more to that list Altiar."

Altair looked over Orckets shoulder seeing the princess who was finishing with Caldur.

"You have got to be joking he's alive."

Altair then looked around grasping the situation.

"Well then the brat almost got all of us impressive... well what now General I won't tell you anything."

Orcket laughed again.

"But you already have from what you just said I gather there was one or more of you that escaped the boys last ditch effort to take you with him."

Altiar grimaced.

"Guess im losing my edge good catch Orcket still that's all you'll get from me."

Orcket shrugged.

"We have time, take him with us maye sure he's tied up tight."

The mage nodded and ushered over two other knights with rope. Orcket walked back over to Seraphina and Caldur.

"How is he my lady."

Seraphina looked up looking exhausted.

"He's stable won't die at least I hope, I can't do any more then what I've done with out risking my own health."

Orcket nodded and bent down picking up Caldurs limp body throwing him over his right shoulder.

"Let move out back too the horses we have a long ride ahead."

Orcket watched as a knight walked up to them.

"Sir what about the rest of them."

Orcket looked at the other frozen assassins.

"There nothing but ice now let them melt. Except for one get Iric to defrost the brother and give him a burial worthy of a knight. Do it here at his home."

The knight nodded and the group walked out of the forest. Seraphina lagged behind as the rest continued down the hill she looked around thinking back to earlier that morning she had come forward three reasons. One she was curious about the children of the people her brother held above all others. Two she was curious about Caldur and three she had hoped to finally make a friend she spent most of her life locked in that castle as "protection" and when she finally went out into the world and even went to school the only one to talk to her as if she was normal was Caldur. Now look how it ended,she watched as two knights started to dig a hole Zelrens body laying too the side. Seraphina didn't want to be there any monger and walked down the hill the knights and Orcket had already jumped back into there saddles.

"Are you ready my lady."

Seraphina nodded and climbed up onto a knights horse. She looked over too Orckets horse Caldur was layed over the back of it on his stomach, Orcket snapped his reins and started to ride off Seraphima heard another dozen of snaps as the rest of the knights follow after making there way back to the center of the kingdom and her home the castle of Farisel.

The three days went by in a blur for Seraphina all she recalled was riding and the occasional stop for rest. Caldur hadn't so much as moved the whole time she continued healing him but he never woke never made a sound or moved a muscle. Serpahina was losing hope that he would ever fully recover when they finally reached Fetailret the largest and main city of Farisel Seraphina could see the castle in the distance they were almost home.

As they entered the city the knights and mages split off from Orcket and Seraphina going there own ways as they went strait for the castle. They rode there horses right up too the gate then dismounted the knight Seraphina was riding with left and Orcket grabbed Caldur once again throwing him over his shoulder as they both walked into the castle.

When they reached the main hall two amounts took Caldur from Orcket.

"We'll take him too a room his majesty wants a word with you."

Orcket nodded he and Seraphina walked through the main hall up too the throne orcket stopped at the bottom of the steps and kneeled as Seraphina walked all the way up and stood beside her father. She looked at him wearing a royal purple robe lined with white fur a golden crown with purple gems went around his head and long graying hair shades of blonde still peaking through the same with his short beard. His gave was wrinkled he looked twenty years older then he was his blue eyes shot towars Seraphina for a short moment before they focused back on Orcket.

"Tell me Ohryan what did you find."

Seraphina watched Orcket stiffening then relaxing he hated his first name but father insisted on using it.

"Well sire while on patrol on the outskirts we my unit ran into princess Seraphinas carriage. She told us about a group of assassins that had appeared at the Falten property from what I counted Twenty-five and more were there, Twenty-four were killed one is in our custody and one or more have escaped."

The king raised his hand and Orcket stopped to let the king soak in that information.

"That is quite troubling such a large number slipped past our boarder... please continue.

Orcket nodded.

"The fight was over upon arrival. The ground was scarred with magic ice lighting wind and fire from the looks of it, nine assassin dead in the field died to magic and sword wounds. When we went searching for the boys who lived there we found that part of the forest had been frozen solid when we got too the center it seems Caldur Falten used a ice spell far beyond his ability's with out care of draw backs. In the proccess he froze the remaining sixteen assassins other then who fled unfortunately not before his brother Zelren Falten was killed."

Seraphina watched her father's eyes widened and harden.

"Vector...Serela I have failed you and your sons... tell me what of Caldur does he live.

Orcket nodded.

"Yes sire thanks to princess Seraphina he's alive but not fully healed the poison that was used on him was deadly in all rights he should be dead it will be a longer battle for him to recover."

The king sighed.

"So our most promising mage is at the moment crippled... the empire didn't kill him like they wanted but they still set us back. Seraphina dear please see to him I want him up and about as soon as possible, Ohryan stay with her I want then under guard at all times.

Orcket nodded and stood.

"As you wish I won't leave them alone for even a moment."

The kingdom smiled and waved him off to dismiss him. As orcket left to go find the room Caldur was in the king looked at Seraphina.

"I think it would be best to keep you here in the castle for studies again I know you only just got out of into the world my little sparrow but it's getting more dangerous a war is around the corner it may take years to start officially but the shadow war has already started."

Serpahina was of course upset but nodded she knew as well as her father that her life would be targeted.

"Ok father as you wish... I shall go tend to Caldur for now."

Seraphina went to leave.

"Wait Seraphina."

Seraphina halted in her tracks.

"Stay close to him I trusted his parents more then any of my other advisers and I know he survived this encounter for a reason. Fate has be altered the strings that should be attached have been severed the path is clouded you must be his light."

Seraphina whipped her head around just in time to see her father eye roll back from his head.

"Father! You said you lost your connection to the visions."

The king shook his head.

"No never I just didn't want to worry you... I've seen him Sera his future but it's blurry ever changing it use to be a constant but something happend that never should have."

Seraphina rushed to her father's side grabbing his arm.

"What father?"

The king signed his eyes rolling back into his head again.

"Zelren and Vector were never suppose to die fate has be altered Caldur will never be what he was ment to be his path will be reforged by new influence will it be a path of rage and vengeance. One of sarrow and isolation or one of resolution and peace."

The kings eye roll back to normal and he began to breath heavy.

"Father what does it all mean how am I going to be his light what does that mean?"

The king shook his head.

"I'm sorry I don't know but when looking at the strings of fate your are intertwined but shifted going between intertwined and seprated, you will be his turning point you are the factor that decides his new fate."

Serpahina didn't know what to do or say she just stood there her mind jumbled.

"Go my sparrow do what you must what ever you do, do your best."

Seraphina nodded and left the main hall. She walked ome of the side halls till when came across an open door Orcket was standing infront of it.

"My lady please enter."

Orcket moved aside and Seraphina walked in and sat on a stool next to the bed Caldur was laying in.

"How are we connected Caldur..."

Orcket entered the room.

"What did you say my lady."

Seraphina shook her head.

"Nothing just preparing my spell."

"Healing orb."

Caldur floated of the bed as a green orb encased him. Serpahina had her hands out stretched feeding it mana to heal all his internal wounds. All she could do other then that was stare at him she had so many questions but where to even begin the only one with any chance at a real answer is her father but maybe some how just maybe Caldur would know.

Caldur looked around greeted by a familar darkness.

"Strings made from fate are severed a new fate must be woven... the path ahead no longer refined reforged it must be... choices you will have to make survival is not guaranteed.... however if you are half the man you would have become nothing will stop you....."

Caldur turned in every direction just darkness he tried to speak but nothing came out.

"Danger... always in danger..."

Caldur turned again a new voice but it sounded familar.

"You can't save everyone Caldur..."

Caldur fell too his knees that voice he knew well it was Zelren.

"I have to try Zel they all count on me I won't fail them."

Caldur was startled by his own voice but quickly relaxed the forst voiced said something about fate. Fate runs across all of time was he hearing a future that will no longer come to pass.

"Cal stop... I know you if you do this your death is certain what about Sera? What about me and dad? What about the soldier that will follow you blindly into battle becuase they know you will always throw yourself into fire to save them?"

Caldur couldn't proccess what was happening he was trying to piece it together as it came but if this is what he was ment to become what could he be now.

"I'm sorry Zel really I am but this has to happen if I die doing it then so be it. Look brother I know your worried you've always had my back but not this time this is the end."

Caldur suddenly heard loud wind roaring through the darkness.

"Cal! Caldur! Damnit Caldur answer me!"

"Zelren where is he what is that?"

"I'm not sure Sera but if I had to guess Caldur is in the center of it."

*boom*

"Dammit the lighting is getting more frequent... Sera we have to go im sorry"

"No no! Zelren stop put me down no i won't leave him Zelren no!"

Caldur was then greeted by silence once again he waited and waited and waited and still nothing.

"You were robbed of this fate a new one must be woven we are watching we will judge we will weave all there is find your path."

Caldur tried to speak.

"Wh.. who.. are... you."

Silence Caldur clenched his fist is this some kind of game was the imperial assassin from before messing with is mind. He didn't know all he could do was sit an wait with nothing but his thoughts.