Countdown starts

Lucian's heart chilled when he recalled the time Ashton had begged. The grin had turned to a benevolent smile, but his eyes... the eerie silver still didn't have any emotion.

Neolani gripped the shoulder of the crown prince so hard he fell to his knees as her rage had her looking over the entire crowd. Alphonse, they had made Alphonse beg. She felt her rage echo throughout the marks they all now wore.

Alexei's heart when from boiling rage to cool calculation as he looked at the girl Alphonse was sworn to protect. He would not forget this debt. As he met the eyes of his fellow brothers and sisters, they had also marked this debt.

Leonard stared in horror as the rage was palpable, they were surrounded by enemies far stronger than a single lord class land dragon. Leonard regretted; he regretted not leaving well enough alone, regretted not heeding Ashton's warnings, regretted letting the Inago and Fae into the capital. Worst yet, he regretted bringing Ashton to Lucian's attention.

Ashton tilted his head to the other side, "I guess you'd rather them die." Ashton murmured as he stood up and looked over toward Charmaine, "At least the little ones will survive, yes?"

Zane couldn't stop the shiver that crept up his back, he motioned for all of his people to move slowly away from Fae and Smyrnaean's. When he thought he'd witness a bloodbath, Lucian bowed his head.

Lucian stared at the unfamiliar youth for a moment longer then bowed his head, "Please, have mercy." He had to choke the words out, but they were clear and audible.

Ashton looked down at Lucian and squatted again, he patted Lucian's cheek, "Do not forget this shame." Ashton whispered as he looked over his shoulder to Idril, "Let us barter, I think I have something that may interest you Idril."

Idril could not recall if he had ever felt so stifled before. Idril nodded as he turned proceeding back to the table still trying to calm his emotions. A moment later a hand sized figure leapt into his lap, clutching his tunic. The immediate surge of pure mana made him gasp.

Ashton slowly returned to the table as the rest of the elves sat down, each lap now occupied by a tiny golem. "Before we start though, let us readjust our moods yes?" Ashton asked stretching. He ignored Lucian and the rest as Devlin had to remove the arrows of tangible mana from Lucian's thighs.

Grau didn't hesitate to pull out a pouch of mana cores, handing one to the tiny creature. It quickly raised its mask to start eating the mana core. Grau started poking the tiny creature delightedly.

Sawein and Bahr also took out pouches but their glares to the humans were still apparent for all.

Idril and the other two also pulled out small pouches, even with the calming presence the tiny one offered, his heart still ached. "Young Song... how can you bare to look at them?"

Ashton looked up, "I gambled and lost, but I do not regret. If I had not tried, I would have always wondered, and perhaps come to regret not setting my pride aside for one last chance to leave unscathed." Ashton admitted with a shrug.

"You are more magnanimous than I thought possible. If anyone made me beg... I would not have shown such mercy." Idril admitted still looking at the tiny creature taking bites of the mana core. Idril could crush the cores, but... these clean bites were as if the little ones were eating bread.

Ashton smiled, "As I said, they are naughty, greedy children. I won't ask you to ignore the injustice, simply... give them a chance."

"The lives lost?" Idril asked pointedly glancing over the trembling mess considered nobility of the empire.

"While ignorance is a sin, why punish the ignorant and let the culprits succeed?" Ashton reminded as a seventh golem leapt out of the rift in space with tea and snacks. Mostly fruit slices or nuts.

"Their incompetence let the culprits succeed." Idril stated as he accepted the teacup and small plate of assorted fruit slices.

"True enough, but war will not bring them back. Are they dryad seeds safe?" Ashton asked swapping to fae common to ask about the seeds.

Idril gripped the cup, "Too damaged to sprout again." When there was a surge of mana Idril jolted as he looked up.

"Acacia, do you have their seeds by chance?" Ashton asked turning to the still silent dryad.

Acacia gave a curtsey, then her stomach of roots wriggled, unravelling, inside were three cracked, withered seeds. She pulled them out, each half the size of her fist as she presented them to the Young Song.

Ashton respectfully accepted the seeds, while they were dying they weren't yet dead. Of course, not even the mother tree could heal them in this state... but when he ascended... he poured his mana into the seeds, sealing their vitality so they wouldn't continue to weaken.

Idril watched, while the mana seals were powerful and unique the dryad seeds had not been healed. "They were young, not even old enough to escape the danger." Idril explained as seal after seal was layered over the seeds.

"They are not yet lost, while I could heal them now, the risk is too great. After my ascension I will heal and return them." Ashton promised meeting Idril's gaze.

Idril took a deep breath, of all the fae less than twenty dryads remained. If even one of the three could be saved it would be worth nearly any boon the elves could give.

Acacia gave another curtsey, "Acacia will leave them in your care then, Young Song." Acacia stated as the roots closed up and leaves became clothes again.

"This is not enough to offset the damage." Idril announced in human common.

Ashton shrugged, "No, but surely enough to give them time to make amends?"

Idril turned his gaze to the two humans receiving healing, "Time..." Idril's gaze turned more thoughtful. "Time for amends, but boundaries will be established now."

Ashton glanced over his shoulder, Lucian was being held up by Devlin while two mage healers worked on his legs, two more mage healers worked on the laying Jaxon who had been coughing up blood. "Boundaries are good," Ashton agreed.

Devlin noticed the elves attention, he passed Lucian over to Sebastian standing between his emperor and the fae creatures glaring. Devlin barely blinked yet two of the elves were standing over him.

Elwen flung the mage aside while simultaneously creating a zone that restricted any spells lower than the sixth tier. Then he bowed to Idril, "Highness."

Idril looked down at the bloodied emperor, "By twilight any Smyrnaean who enters the Cerulean Forest will be executed without question, all Smyrnaean paths, wards, and buildings will be destroyed. When you, Lucian Bellis Gustafson of Smyrna have located all the vandals they will be presented to myself or Elwen. You have until three days after the Young Song leaves the Smyrnaean boarders."

Lucian was standing, though barely as he glared up into the golden eyes. "If they are not found?" he gritted out as Jaxon gripped his ankle.

"If on the fourth morning all the guilty are not presented, in the name of Idril Nelaros Amara Celeborn I will lead the first charge. For every life lost, we will take three cities." Idril announced then let his gaze rest on the offspring still protected by the Young Song.

Devlin had barely kept himself from ending up like Jaxon, and now he couldn't even cast a single spell as he wobbled closer to Serafin and Natasha.

Jaxon's eyes were nearly bulging out his head, the closest city to the Cerulean Forest was the capital... Devlin and all the mages had instantly been rendered useless, a single slap had put him out of commission.

"I believe the terms are fair, and to keep both sides... honest. I will personally provide Acacia with the names of all those knowingly involved with the summoning of the land dragon." Ashton informed with a clap.

Devlin stared in horror as Ashton caught a red book that dropped from a ring of fire. To use any spells meant they were of at least the 6th tier...

"Hopefully not too many innocents are punished." Ashton added as Acacia accepted the book with all of the involved, how they were involved, and their interlocking relationships.

Idril looked at the Young Song, "You were aware?" he asked uncertainly.

Ashton tilted his head back and forth, "I knew they were planning human sacrifice to kill off the youngling. I was not expecting a dragon summon in the Cerulean Forest but should have considering the timeline of the empire. I am sorry for your loss." Ashton added sincerely.

Idril accepted the condolence. The spirits and dryads had been drawn to the mana nodes like many of the beasts with cores. The lone elf had been scouting the unusual activity when the summoning appeared.

Sebastian watched mournfully as the dryad placed the book in her stomach. All the answers were right there... yet it was bartered away to give the empire time.

Idril noticed the covetous glances and sneered, "I also insist the Young Song not assist the empire in regard to the culprits. This will be the punishment, compensation and recompense will be discussed either after all the culprits are found, or the cities are taken."

Sebastian closed his eyes in resignation, if there was worse yet to come... the empire might not even make it to the tribute banquet.

Ashton glanced over the nobles and shrugged, "I will not interfere," Ashton promised nonchalantly.

Idril pulled out a dagger and drew it across his palm, "In the name of Idril Nelaros Amara Celeborn, if Lucian Bellis Gustafson of Smyrna fails find and deliver the culprits responsible, or to provide satisfactory recompense within one year of Young Song's departure of the Smyrna the Fae will wipe Smyrna from the annals of human history." Idril let the drops of blood mix with the pools of blood Lucian left behind earlier.

Jaxon had been well enough to sit up, but he collapsed as he coughed up a mouthful of blood. They had spoken a fae oath... if legends were true only the death of Idril and all fae subordinate to him would stop such a war.

"To end our visit on a more positive note, come see my gift, the dryads were not meant to be my bribe, I was sidetracked." Ashton added as three tiny green golems stepped out of the table. These had no essence of life, they would only purify mana and follow exact orders, less elaborate golems than the one given to the Mother Tree.

Elwen looked at the hand sized figures, there was a distinct difference. "They have no soul." Elwen stated as he finished walking over.

Ashton nodded, "As of yet no, but an elemental may occupy the golems, eventually they could merge." Ashton explained.

Elwen's eyes snapped up, then he looked at the tiny black clad creature still clutching his tunic. This little creature was not an elemental. "What manner of soul resides in these little ones?"

Ashton grinned proudly, "They are the pieces of lost innocence no longer bound by my soul. I did not want to lose them entirely." Ashton admitted as the little creatures all leapt on the table then darted into his lap.

All the fae looked horrified, to have one's soul ripped even once would often break one's mind... to have 10 sentient beings all capable of displaying real emotion...

Making a whole new creature... souls were not meant to be separated... one could not simply break off a small piece to create a new soul. If the soul was a fruit tree, each fruit would be a new soul. But a fruit could not have a spoonful of flesh removed to create another fruit... you had to take the seed.

Ashton sighed as he leaned back, "It was not as bad as you might think. In a few years I doubt even the mother tree would be able to tell they were once a part of me." Ashton offered. Unlike traditional soul ripping these had been a more like a limb falling off from frostbite than having it ripped off. He had grafted the limbs to another source, cultivated them, adding what he could spare, ensuring they flourished... now after centuries they were mostly whole. Like newborn souls, they would grow into themselves.

Grau was trembling as he covered his mouth, he desperately attempting to not vomit. When that was no longer possible, he stumbled out of his chair falling on the ground, gasping as he tried to calm his breathing. He had seen the atrocities, the damaged things left behind after a soul had merely been damaged. They had not even been fit to be called beasts. Crazed, desperate, monstrosities that would devour anything in their path in attempts to fill the fissures. Only once had he seen the horror of a being that had its soul mixed.

A moment later the memory caused him to have a visceral reaction. The overwhelming nausea forced him to empty his stomach. Repeatedly.

A priest had gone mad after his country had been decimated. The people he'd sworn to stand with had known it was an impossible battle, they had knocked him out, hidden him away in cellar with two older priests. He'd spent months locked away... when he finally escaped... nothing had been left of the city... the country... the land as far as the eye could see had been reduced to rubble, salted so nothing could grow. He'd gathered the souls he could find, trying to bring them peace, lay them to rest... but even those were beyond saving.

The psychotic priest turned necromancer, attempting to revive a dead comrade with a damaged soul. When that had failed, he gathered all the souls he could find. Pieces had been so damaged they were melting away before they could settle in a newly acquired body. The thing that had emerged had been known only as a soul reaper. At first it attempted to eat the souls, as if that would fix its own... but the mixed pieces only caused it to become more crazed.

The dismembered bodies had rotted the land, tainting all that passed through. Even the heartiest of warriors had been shaken to see the monstrosities created. Ghouls, wendigos, undead corpses of all kinds had rising in the wake of the soul reapers destruction. It had taken weeks to purify the undead, all while tracking down the main target. Grau had been young, not even part of the main fighting force, merely assisting with the disposal of the already purified bodies. To think... these tiny creatures... were created in the same manner... Mother Tree, please have mercy on their souls.

It stopped eating the souls, just damaged them beyond repair so not even reincarnation was possible. In the three weeks of its life, no less than eight hundred souls had been forever lost.

The priest turned necromancer had lived long enough to see his comrade slain... then banished his own soul from ever reincarnating.

For Young Song... to have his soul damaged... ten times... yet remain sentient... Grau's stomach rolled once again at the memory of the thing he'd watched be slain.

Grau flinched as something touched his hand. One of the little ones was patting his hand, consoling him. Ha... what had Young Song endured... how had he endured... what was worth that level of commitment?

Bahr knelt and patted the younger elf's back, "Deep breaths Grau." He consoled offering his water pouch. Grau swished and spat as teers started pouring down his face.

Grau took several moments before he could look up, clutching the small creature to his chest as he trembled, even through his blurry vision he saw the compassion in the Young Song's eyes. "How could anyone survive?" he choked out.

Ashton walked around the table to pat the young elf. "I had a reason to live." Ashton had to give an apologetic smile as now both Bahr and Grau had teers streaming down their faces.

Elwen's own stomach turned at the idea, but he'd seen such atrocities as he roamed the human nations. He took a moment before giving a respectful bow, "I may not understand your resolve, but I do respect it."

Ashton disposed of the bile by letting it sink into the ground. As Ashton stood up he glanced around, "I have endured worse, truly. Besides, pain is all relative, yes?" Ashton asked as Neolani's eyes shimmered, but her teers did not fall.

Idril looked at the three soulless creations. "Do you make them in preparation of losing more of your soul?"

Ashton sighed, "No, these were made specifically for the elves, may they serve you well. I now have the materials to make them as needed. I had hoped to lighten the mood," Ashton added sitting down, resting his cheek in his hand.

Idril examined the Young Song's soul, while it was still unstable... there did not appear to be pieces missing.

Ashton raised a brow to Idril, "Only because you check in concern do I let the discourtesy pass." Ashton warned lightly.

Idril met the Young Song's eyes, giving a slow nod, "I overstepped."

Ashton let out a small grin, "Peace, I have just been on edge about others examining my soul as of late. Now, let us part if not as friends, at least in peace." Ashton added as Grau wiped his face roughly. Such a young elf... still innocent in many ways.

Bahr helped Grau back into his seat while they waited quietly. Such a revelation had not been expected. They were both sending glares toward the humans, only humans were so despicable.

Idril wasn't really sure how to continue the conversation, "What would make us friends?" he asked glancing around.

Ashton chuckled, "Honestly, the concept still eludes me. I do believe the closest relationship to a friend, would be Alexei... and he doesn't even like me." Ashton admitted spreading his hands as he shrugged.

Idril raised a brow as he looked for the human in question, "Not your Ember?"

Ashton thought about his answer, "She is... different. More like... family, but in belief." Ashton tried to explain. His relationship with Neolani was soul deep... but it was one-sidedly irreversible.

Alexei's gaze didn't waver from the golden eyes of the elf. Alexei wasn't surprised by Alphonse's statement, he'd lived his first life surrounded by soul sucking leeches that had to have betrayed him. This life... well poor brat was stuck in the empire...

"Alexei of the Pride, perhaps you might offer some enlightenment?" Idril asked nodding to the human.

Alexei placed a hand over his heart as he gave a formal bow then approached, "The Young Song is just that, young and had no chances to make friends. While it may be in part that we are human, but I do believe it is mostly his social environment." Alexei offered nonchalantly.

Idril accepted the information, then nodded. "Then perhaps peace, in time we might be friends." Idril announced as a small pouch of silver leaves were placed on the table.

Ashton accepted the six leaves from the mother tree. They were excellent materials for spells, enchantments, wards, potions, or even for golems. "Then in peace we part, should you have need of me the golems can send a distress signal." Ashton added as they all stood up.

Idril nodded as he picked up one of the golems. "We will cherish them, if you have need there will be fae to answer the call."

Ashton leaned against Alexei's chest as the fae delegations bowed and left. "Am I so pitiful?" he asked looking up.

Alexei didn't move as Alphonse used him as a wall. "Pitiful? No, just isolated. It is good you are small now, we will be able to cherish and protect you. To show you what family, what friends are, and perhaps... more. Now off to your nest master."

Ashton grinned as he pushed off Alexei, "I have decided... I don't want to be your master. Just call me Ash, or whatever."

Alexei ruffled the golden hair, "I doubt there will be anything else of note happening today, should we retire? The others should have your temporary nest prepared."

Ashton let out a yawn, "Hmm, I agree. It's been a long day, and we have much to apprise the pride on."

Alexei scooped Ashton up so he was sitting on his right arm, "After a snack and nap, we have time. Isn't that right?" He asked as Neolani nodded for the rest to follow them back to the eastern palace.

"Agreed, we have already replaced the Smyrnaean wards and enchantments. By morning our arrays should be set up, let us take care of the mundane tasks while you rest." Neolani agreed as Ashton nestled into Alexei's arms.

Ashton gave another yawn, "Okay okay, one side treats me like a monster, the other treats me like a toddler." Ashton half complained as he rested his head on Alexei's shoulder. Strange, that the warmest of the Inago... would end up being Alexei...

Neolani smiled, "One side wishes to use you, the other wishes to cherish you." Ash met her eyes then nodded.