#that overwhelming pride when it gets the last hit on an elder dragon... LOOK AT MY BABY LOOK WHAT SHE ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!

[rocketbirdie]

HELLO fellow insect glaive mains...

[talpup]

Lost Song: 8

Huzzah for the Smut Fairy!  She finally decided to return to me so I could get this chapter written out.  And in time for the 1yr friend-iversary with my bnha conspirator @inorganicone2230   Sorry about the delay everyone.  Hope you enjoy.

Summary: The war between the Dragons and Griffons ended 233 years ago, and both races right along with it.

Or so it was believed. There are three individuals that will soon change that.

Kai is the last of the Dragons and he seeks to take what he sees as his rightful place and rule over all of Oblvi. Meanwhile, Shouta, the last Sphinx, wants nothing more than to do his job; keep the peace and and teach the young Fourth’s to hopefully avoid the mistakes of their ancestors. And Teris, a Foundling who is just trying to understand and survive in this strange new world that is supposedly her own.

All three have their own wants and desires, but Kai’s plans, Teris’ existence, and Shouta's past mean that none of them may get what they want.

This fic is rated explicit and has warnings of sex, violence, and other possible triggers.  For a full list of story tags please check the fics AO3 (link to that at the top of my tumblrs homepage).

8.1

Teris found the book on how Beasts tracked their prey interesting.  Not only was she able to pick out signs of how Shouta had reacted to and found the Red Cap during their patrol three days ago.  But she noted several things she had thought of as personal habits that, according to the book, were instinct.  It was enlightening, and a bit unnerving just how beholden to her instincts she had been without even realizing it.

“Teris.”

Engrossed in reading, Teris startled.

Kai smirked.  Finding the little jump and gasp she gave cute.  The Beast within him hummed in satisfaction at catching her unawares.  His ignited predatory instincts stoked higher. “Let’s hope you’re not so easy to catch for the hunt.”

“Catch? Hunt?”  Teris asked.

Kai held her gaze.  “Why do you think I gave you that to read?  We’re going hunting.  Or more correctly I’m hunting..”

Closing the book, Teris got to her feet.  A part of her thrilled at the prospect of a chase.  While another part of her tensed in defense at the answer she already knew. “What are you hunting?”

Kai stepped to her, voice deepening as it lowered. “Clever girl like you.  I thought it would be obvious.”

Teris shivered more from his piercing gaze and seductive tone than his actual words. “You want to hunt me?”

Kai leaned forward, breath ghosting over her ear.  “As badly as I know you want to be caught.  Do you think you can make a good game of it?”

“Game?” Teris stepped back wearing a teasing smile.  “So this is a game. Not a lesson.”

Kai grabbed her waist and pulled her back to him.  “I’d be more than happy to give you a lesson if you’d like.”

Teris’ breath caught.  Kai had this gentlemanly yet domineering nature about him that was both exciting and frightening.  Any game the man chose to play, she was sure he would win.  Even so, something deep within her wanted to challenge him and win.  But the idea of being hunted by him for play felt too intimate.  As much as she like Kai, she wasn’t ready for that.  This world and her place in it were still too new and uncertain.

Kai saw the look in her eyes and reigned his desires in. “It’s a lesson of sorts.  Though Beasts are known hunters, there might be occasions where you’ll have to run, hide, and cover your trail.”

Teris eased at that.  It made sense.  Especially since she was still learning and had yet to display her true form.  If she got separated from Shouta and Hizashi while out on patrol and was attacked, her best bet would probably be to run and hide.  “Alright.  But you have to make it halfway fair and give me a head start.”

Kai’s earlier anger and stress, coupled with his heightened instincts made his eyes flash.  “I don’t have to do anything.”

Even as she took a step back, Teris’ posture straightened in defiance.

While her submissive step back pleased him.  Kai also felt a sense of pride at the fixed set of her posture.  He didn’t want a scared, broken mate.  Teris’ pride and unflinching strength is what had initially furthered his interest in her.  Yet the way she continued to met his eyes and refused to bend was a challenge to his authority he found unacceptable.

All in good time, Kai consoled himself.  Just because she was perfectly suited to be his mate didn’t mean she was his perfect mate yet.  He had to bide his time and be gentle with her, least he scare her away.

Voice and expression softening, Kai stepped after her.  “But I’ll do anything within reason for you, Beautiful.”

Teris slowly relaxed.  Kai’s burst of temper had both concerned her and raised her heckles.  But she forgave it.  Everyone at Traverseen Hall seemed on edge because of these Council Elders that were arriving.  As steady and sure as Kai was.  It was little surprise that he would be too.

Looking to ease any of his stress that she could, Teris told. “I trust you to know what’s best for my instruction.  You haven’t failed me yet.”

“And I never will.”  Kai promised.

Teris wondered if that was why he had thought of this lesson.  Because it would be a diversion from everything going on.  After everything Kai had done for her, the least she could do was put up a good chase.  She plucked a his button-up shirt. Raising to her tip-toes she kissed his cheek.  “I’ll do my best to use everything you’ve taught me and make you proud.”

Kai’s heart raced at the sweet, tender affection. He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her close. “And I’ll be sure to teach you so much more, Beautiful.”

Teris gasped into his mouth, the kiss sudden but not unwelcome.  Clutching at his shoulders, she shivered against him.

A low growl reverberated through Kai’s chest.  The desire to claim near overwhelming.  He pulled away.  “I’ll give you eight minutes.”

The heady excitement of the kiss stoked her excitement over this lesson. There was no way she could win.  But that wouldn’t stop her from trying.  “And you have twenty minutes to find me.”

“I’ll only need three but I’ll hold off and take fifteen.”  Kai said, a firm believer in delayed gratification.

“Cocky.”

Kai’s smirk was smug. “You have no idea.”

Cheeks heated in a blush, Teris ordered. “Turn around.  No peeking.”

Kai slowly turned his back to the forest beyond.

In an impulsive move that surprised herself, Teris smacked his ass.

Kai barely jumped at the spank. “I’ll get you for that, Beautiful.”

“We’ll see.”  Teris teased and tore off to the treeline.

She disappeared into the forest.  First things first.  She had to mask her scent.  Not caring that it would leave a clear trail, her hands raked through the branches of young pines as she ran.  Hands and forearms covered in the trees scent, she rubbed her forearms along her neck. Satisfied her scent was mildly dampened, she stopped and carefully backtracked a few paces.  Eyes scanning the towering trees, she lept to a mid lying branch and hopped to a nearby pine.  Continuing to do so, she made her way deeper into the forest.

Hands in his pockets, Kai patiently waited.  He had tuned out his other senses wanting the added challenge of not knowing which direction his prey taken.

When the sixth minute hit, Kai was temped to turn around and start.  His half hard cock was already eager to start the chase and catch her.  But he kept his word.  Slow as the time seemed to pass, he would wait the full eight minutes.  Though he already doubted he would be able hold off catching her for the full fifteen he had said.

Teris jumped down from a tree and into a shallow stream.  The water would cover her trail and wash away any scent she left.

At the eight minute mark, Kai turned around.  The beast within him wanted to change into his true form.  But he held back.  The hunt would be over far too soon if he did that. Instead he strolled calmly and slowly into the forest.

The disturbed earth of her footfalls told of her path. He followed it.  His nose was assaulted by the pungent smell of pine long before he saw the bent and broken saplings.  From there her trail ended.

A rush of adrenaline shot through him.  To think he had begun to get disappointed at how easy she had made it. Eyes scanning the trees, he looked for marks of where she had landed when she jumped.  Not seeing any, he turned back the way he had come. He smiled, just barely able to make out a bit of scuffed bark.  Clever girl.

Teris left the stream.  She supposed ten minutes had passed since Kai would’ve begun his chase.  It felt impossibly longer and shorter at the same time.  Suddenly she heard him speak and was forced to slap a hand over her mouth to hold back startled squeak.

“Teris.” Kai thought into her head.  He had broken down and changed into his true form.  One might call it cheating.  Teris likely would.  But pursuing villains never played fair.

Teris halted.  She turned in a circle.  Ears listening.  Eyes searching.

Kai “You did well masking your scent.”  Kai spoke into her mind.  He stalked through the forest, tail slowly flicking behind.  She had either stopped moving or was moving too carefully for him to hear. “Your truly are a worthy prey.  But you haven’t done that trick again.  I can smell you, Precious.”

Teris’ eyes widened. He was clearly toying with her.  But that didn’t mean it wasn’t true.  Deep enough into the forest that there weren’t any saplings, she looked up at the thick canopy.  Should she try to mask her scent again?  No.  Bruising the pine needles would release more of their scent and act as much as a beacon as her scent.

Kai took a deep breath.  The slitted nostrils of his true form expanding and contracting.  “I have your trail now, Beautiful.  Your sweet scent is like no other. The smell and image of you is marked on my very being.  I’ll find you.  I’ll always find you.”

Teris’ heart raced.  Her eyes darted about the forest.  She looked back the way she had come and bolted in the opposite direction.

“You’ve grown more excited.  I can smell it.”  Kai thought into her mind. “You’re making this too easy.  Or is that what you want?  For me to catch you?  Do you like being chased?  Is this what you wanted all this time?  All you had to do was ask.  I would've gladly hunted and caught you long before now if you had but asked like a good girl.”  The excitement getting to him, Kai’s beastly instincts took over his mouth as he continued to speak into Teris’ head.  “I’ll do so much more than hunt you down and catch you, Little One. I’ll pin you down and pump you full if you’d like.”

Teris tripped over her own feet, just barely catching herself.  Surely Kai was just trying to make her mess up.  Still, the prospect made her heart flutter and core clench.  It stoked a hidden flickering incitement into a full flame.

“Is that what you want?  For me to pin you down and make you scream as you take my cock.  I’d stretch that tight little pussy of yours and ruin you.  You’d be mine forever.  You already are. You just don’t know it yet.”

Teris barely heard his last words.  As hard as it was to ignore someone speaking directly into your mind, she tried.  The feelings and images his words conjured were too distracting.  Too enticing.

Kai growled.  A different, more alluring smell that was still completely Teris tickled his nose.  He shot up through the branches and took to the air.

Teris happened upon a clearing.  It was futile to continue running so she decided to wait and make a stand.  There had been nothing said about sparring.  And she refused to go down without a fight knowing she technically wouldn’t be caught until he had hands on her and she couldn’t get away.

High above the treetops, Kai heard her stop running.  For a second he wondered if she had given up.  But that wasn’t like his chosen mate. Her instincts would be running just as high as his, if not more so.  Kai might not know what kind of Beast Teris was yet.  But he knew she was of a proud and ancient breed.  She wouldn’t simply stop and call it quits.

Panting, Teris waited.  Unbeknownst to her, her features sharpened.  The soft peach fuzz along her face changed into tiny quills.  Her senses heightened.  She saw a wren snap up a grasshopper from more than a thousand meters away.  She could see it so clearly she saw the grasshoppers legs and antennae thrash.  Could hear the insects frantic clicks before it was swallowed up.  A change in air pressure made her look up moments before a shadow passed overhead.

Kai was upon her.  The world closed in.  Heightened sense shrinking. Quills reverting back to peach fuzz. Before she could move, Kai had descended from above in a whip of wind and swoosh of receding wings.

Seamlessly, Kai returned to human form.  He had Teris pinned in an instant. There was no chance of fighting.  No hope of escape.

“Mine.” Kai declared, more breathless from excitement of the chase than the chase itself.

Despite the futilely of it, Teris tried to push him off.

Kai grabbed her hands and pinned them to either side of her head.  “Mine.”

Teris growled.  She belonged to no one unless she willed it.  Her hips bucked under him, trying to unseat his straddling frame.

Kai sat more of his weight on her.  An echoing growl rumbled from his chest.  “Mine.”

Teris’ breath caught at the feel of a hard prodding length.  Her body stilled, heart racing impossibly faster.

Kai hummed in approval.  Mine. He thought eyes panning from her thrumming pulse point to her heaving chest.  He leaned over her. Proud, smirking lips hovering inches above her parted ones.  “You did well, Beautiful.  But it’s time to admit defeat.”

Teris’ eyes hardened.  Conflicting instincts raged through her.  She would never admit defeat.  She was meant to rule.  But the feel and scent of the handsome Dragon was too appealing.  Overwhelming in the best of ways.

Teris turned her head, baring her neck to the victor.

Kai’s head dipped.  Nose and lips running up the column of her neck, reveling in her submissive state.  He breathed deeply, savoring the scent of her. Mine. Good mate. His lips latched onto the curve of her neck, teeth sinking in.

Teris gasped, body tensing.  Kai’s deep growl of warning the only thing that kept her still.  She whimpered, muscles trembling.  Conflicting instincts warring inside her.

Kai’s tongue laved at the flesh between his teeth, easing the sting.  Teris melted beneath him, eliciting a pleased hum from the man above her. His teeth released. Shimmering gold eyes examined the mark in satisfaction.  His pleasure diminished slight by the fact that it was only claiming mark and not a true bonding bite.

Nuzzling her neck, Kai murmured.  “That chase was too easy, Beautiful.  It’s almost as if you wanted me to catch you.”

Teris’ body arched involuntarily up to him.  The low timber of his voice and heady scent of him making her core clench.  She whimpered, arousal seeping from her quivering cunt, wetting her underwear.

Kai groaned, rutting against her.  The smell of her essence blew his pupils wide.  He lifted up enough to look her in the eye.  “I’ve made good on my promise to pin you down.  Would you like me to make good on the other and pump you full?”

Her body rolled against his in silent answer.  But Kai wouldn’t award so easily.  Her vocal consent wasn’t the issue.  Rather it was his desire to hear her admit she wanted him to fuck her raw and make her scream. He wanted to hear her tell him how much she wanted him. How much she needed him.  How he was the only one for her.  And only he could suffice and give all she ever wanted.

“Tell me.”  Kai spoke into her head, instincts to high to verbally speak.

“Kai.” Teris mewled, arms trying to pull from where he had them pinned.  She wanted.  Needed.  To touch him.  The intimacy of having him speak into her head only added to the heated heaviness that clouded all rational thought.

“Tell me what you want, Teris.  All you have to do is ask.  I’ll gladly give you whatever you want.”

Teris shivered.  Kai’s resonating voice caressing her mind and body as firm and sensual as any physical touch.

“Do you want me?”  Kai questioned, aching cock making him impatient for answer.

Teris nodded.

“Tell me.”  Kai ground his weeping dick against her, uncaring of the wet spot that blossomed on his underwear.

“Kai. Please.”

“Tell me you want me.  Tell me you want my cock.”

Teris broke. “I want your cock.”

Kai growled in pleasure.  He reared up onto his knees and ripped off his shirt.  Later he would frown at the undignified act.  But with his beastly side in control, he didn’t care.  He could barely think straight. Every sensation was heightened.  Every need magnified. He fell back over her catching and bearing himself up on a strong arm.

Teris’ head tilted and raised.  Tongue licking up his bulging bicep.  She moaned at the taste of him.  Head falling back, baring her throat.

Kai cupped the back of her neck.  Hungry lips feasting on her throat. My mate. Mine.

Teris’ hands roved over his back, fingering threading through his hair.  She pulled him off her neck, shivering in delight and ire at his indignant growl.

Before Kai could complain, Teris pressed her lips to his.  Kai’s hand tightened around the back of her neck, pulling her closer.  He quickly took charge of the kiss.  Tongue leaking out to push its way into her mouth.  Teris moaned around the heavenly wet muscle.  Her thighs rubbed together seeking friction against her need.

Kai lapped at her mouth exploring every crevice.  He mapped out her wet cavern, finding particularly sensitive areas that made her breath hitch. Taking note of what treatment made her body tremble in delight.  Pulling away with one last nip to her lower lip, Kai moved back to her neck.  His hands roamed over her body, raking fingers pulling up her shirt to expose her soft flesh.

Teris pulled her top off, tossing is aside.  She made to pull him into a kiss again but was stopped by Kai’s large hand capturing her wrists.

He held her down, pinning her arms above her head.  With a cocky smirk, he told. “You’re my prize, Little One.  I won the chase.  I get the reward.”

“You said I could have whatever I wanted.”  Teris reminded.

“I said I would gladly give you whatever you asked.  And you haven’t asked to touch me.”

Teris frowned, arms pulling against his hold.

Kai growled.  “My prize.”

Teris stopped, arms relaxing.

Kai looked over her submissive position in approval. My mate.  Mine. He thought, proudly.  Leaning over her, he rasped.  “You just lay back and let me have my way.  I promise it’ll be the best fuck of your life.”

A thought stuck him then.  Was Teris a virgin.  Even running on instincts she wasn’t acting like one.  The thought of someone having at her before him turned him feral.  He growled low and long.

“Stay.” Kai commanded, hand pressing her wrists into the ground.

Teris didn’t dare move.  Didn’t dare argue.  Not with the way Kai had growled.  Not with the way his scent had subtlety changed from assertive to aggressive.

It didn’t matter that Fourth’s were freer with sex.  Or that Beastly Fourth's could have numerous companions before they were mated.  Teris was his mate. Properly mated or not, she was his. The thought of anyone looking at, let alone touching her made him want to kill.  With no challenger around to kill, Kai turned his attention to claiming.

He crashed his lips against hers.  Ravenous hands pushing up her bra to grope her breasts.  He kissed and bit a line down her neck.  Mine.

Teris’ hands closed around clumps of grass least she disobey and touch him.

Kai’s eyes lifted.  Looking between the twin mounds of her breasts to take in her beautiful face. “Good girl.  My prize.” He spoke into her head, lips trailing up the soft curve of one of her breasts to pluck at perk nipple.  “Be good and take it for me.”

His tongue flicked the hardened peak. Teris gasped at a hard, toothy suck.

“So sensitive.” Kai’s voice sounded in her head, hands moving down to her pants.

He made quick work undoing her belt and pants.  And soon he was kneeling between her legs with her laid bare beneath him.

“So beautiful.  More beautiful than I ever could’ve dreamed. And believe me, Beautiful.  I’ve done more than dream about this.  I’ve imagined taking you since the first moment I saw you.” Kai’s hand ran up her thigh and spread her puffy folds.

Teris tried to close her legs and shield herself from his devouring gaze.

Kai’s other hand tightened around her thigh, holding her open. His gold eyes flashed in warning displeasure.  “Don’t you dare try to hide my prize from me.”

Teris’ hips danced, cunt aching to be filled. Never before had she felt such an overpowering need. Her legs butterflied open, all pride and ego gone.  She would do anything.  Submit to anything.  So long as it meant Kai would stretch her open with his cock and fuck her.

“Please. Please, Kai.  Please.”  Teris whimpered, clawing fingers tilling the earth above her head.

Kai lost all control seeing Teris in such a state.  To think his chosen mate wanted.  Needed.  Him so bad that she was a begging mess with just a single touch to her pretty pussy.  He undid his belt and pants, shoving them and his underwear down.

He hissed at his rock hard cock springing free.  It hit his stomach, leaving a trail of precum.  He preened, letting Teris have a good look at the thick length that would be splitting her open.

Early in his prime, Kai had been able to ignore his beastly urges.  It helped that there had been no one he found worthy enough to even seek release with.  It made this moment all the more potent for him. Teris being his first.

It also meant that he devolved into pure base instinct.  For while thinking Kai might've wanted to take his time and have Teris to touch him.  To see and feel her kiss swollen lips wrap around his cock. His beastly nature needed to breed.  It didn’t matter that there was no chance of pregnancy without them being properly mated.  The need outweighed everything else.

Instincts ruling his actions, Kai grabbed Teris’ legs and pushed them back against her.  The position would allow him to thrust as deeply as possible.

Teris squirmed, feeling further exposed at the mating press. The proud, assertive side of her didn’t like being at another's mercy. While she liked Kai.  Found him strong, intelligent, handsome, and caring toward her.  Her emotions hadn’t developed to the level of a trusting love that would have her fully and willingly submit.

Kai growled, hands tightening around her legs with bruising strength.  He would have his prize and she would gladly take it.

All willfulness evaporated when Kai’s cock rutted through her slick folds.  Kai shivered in pleasure at the silky, wet, heat. The head of his dick hit Teris’ clit making her eyes roll.  Her wanton moan a sound that would ring in Kai’s ears forever.

He pushed in to the hilt in a single driving thrust, and was lost to the world.  All that existed was the woman beneath him and her hot enveloping tightness. Never before had he felt such a delicious velvety wetness.  Never before had he felt so divine.  She was his goddess. And he was her lord.

Teris’ toes curled, back arching at the wide, deep stretch.  Having been captured and held for a time only to escape and be brought to this world, it had been nearly a year since she had last had sex.  But she could've had sex yesterday and this still would've felt like the first time.

It wasn’t just Kai’s impressive cock.  It was the man.  The Dragon himself.  Molten gold eyes that could go from a comforting warmth to an incinerating fire in a flash.  Strong, deft body that could protect and kill.  Scent like arctic air and crisp, clean linen.  It was intoxicating.  He was intoxicating.

“Kai. Please.  Move.”  Teris implored, unable to move her own hips in his vise-like grip.

Her wish was both his joyful command and an irritant.  It rankled that she was still trying to rule things.  Still trying to control.  His mate must submit…  Mate. Claim mate.  Breed mate.

Kai pulled back and thrust forward.  His hips slammed against hers with an echoing slap that satisfied.  He groaned, feeling her cunt quiver around him, his dick twitching in response.

Teris gasped at Kai’s stirring cock.  When he held still again, she opened her mouth to plead once more. Seeing this Kai growled.  His punishing thrust knocked the air out of her.  His chest rumbled in approval at that.

Finally he set a pace.  It was hard and fast.  Purposeful. Claim. Breed.  Mate.

Sweat beaded on his brow.  His rolling muscles glistened with the effort of his work.  The sound of slapping skin and wet squelches filled the forest.  Teris’ lewd moans and sweet mewls adding to the auditory harmony.  Their mingling scent wafted through the air.  Taken up by the breeze and deposited far and wide.

Teris held onto the tufts of grass for dear life. Kai’s impaling cock hitting all the right places.  So driving and deep it made her see stars.  She didn’t know how long he could last at such a pace, but it didn’t matter.  She was already at her own climax.

Her quivering pussy clamped down around him as she was sent flying off the precipice.  She cried out, back arching, body locking.  Cramping fingers wrenched out clumps of grass. Green blades rained down around her head.  She clawed at Kai’s arms.

Kai grunted at the squeeze of her milking pussy.  The stinging scratches adding to the growing tight weight in his balls.  With two more thrusts, Kai buried deep inside her with a guttural groan, cock coming alive.

Still floating on the tidal wave of her release, Teris purred at hot cum that further filled her.

Kai held still a moment, coming to his senses.  His hand lifted, picking grass out of her hair.  Lovingly, he smoothed her hair back and kissed her brow.

It was a strangely sweet act that contrasted beautifully from the hard, fast fuck.  And Teris found herself purring again.

Kai blinked.  Still lost in the moment he hadn’t registered her first purr.  It was a tell that greatly narrowed down what kind of beast she was.  He filed it away for later pondering.  Right now he had more important matters to see to.

“Are you alright?”  Kai asked, slowly pulling out and letting her legs fall.  He wanted to watch his cum seep from her abused pussy.  Wanted to push it back in despite no chance of pregnancy.  But he had lost control and didn’t want to scare Teris off.  He needed to prove her that he was a good, caring mate.  Capable of seeing to all of her needs.

“That was… amazing.”  Teris breathed, head and vision still hazy.

Kai kissed her.  “We’re amazing.  We could be amazing together all the time.”

Teris’ eyes widened, mind instantly clearing of its lustful fog. This didn’t mean they were mated.  Did it?  Both Shouta and Kai said that Fourth’s were freer with sex.  Both had explained that mating required both parties to be knowing and willing of the bond. And while she had been very willing of the sex; she had not been knowing or willing of any lifelong connection. She wasn’t ready for that.  Nice as Kai was.  As much as she liked him.  She didn’t know him well enough to be bonded for life.

Needing to be sure, Teris carefully asked.  “So…  What does this change between us?”

Basking in the heady endorphins and pheromones of his first real release, Kai was sure Teris would want to be his mate.  She might even want to go again and become his mate this very moment.  Much as he liked that.  He would make her wait.  His mate deserved to be bound to him in a proper bed.  Not some filthy forest.

It struck him that she might not be ready to be mated.  If that was the case they could be companions for a time.  It would allow him to court her with her knowledge of it.

Nose brushing hers, Kai answered.  “It changes whatever you want it to, Beautiful.”

“So we’re not mated?”

Kai ceased nuzzling her.  “No.”

The beginnings of a frown tugged at his lips before she even asked her next question.

“And we’re not companions?”  She asked.

“If you’re worried I wouldn’t accept you--”

“I’m not ready.”  Teris said, cutting him off.

Kai’s expression hardened at her words and rudeness.

Seeing this Teris hurried to explain.  “You’re wonderful and I like you.  I like you a lot.  But it’s only been a little over two months since I was brought here and told I wasn’t human.  Before all that I didn’t even know Fourth's existed.  Let alone that their was this whole other realm.”

She paused, thinking about the scarred man that had captured her.  While now certain that he was a Fourth, she hadn’t know it at the time.  The only thing she knew then was that his blue flames were clearly inhuman. She shook away the thought, wishing to forget the terrifying experience that she hadn’t told anyone about.

Looking at Kai, she went on.  “It’s just a lot.  Everything is still so new and unknown.  I need to find my bearings.  Learn to stand on my own feet before I go looking for a boyfriend-- I mean, companion.”

Kai was furious for a split second.  She was already his.  He had claimed her.  He should just take her back to his Ilca dorm and lock her up until she learned her place.  Until she learned who she belonged to.  But even if he could force her to be his mate, he couldn’t act until he took his rightful throne.  He couldn’t even tell her such things.  Not with Council Elders arriving. Not with Aizawa being Teris’ Ilca Leader. If he became too aggressive and controlling, Teris could easily go to the Sphinx. As her Ilca Leader, Aizawa would have every right to keep her from him.  If push came to shove it could turn into a challenge.  And while Kai would love to fight and end the Sphinx, he couldn’t draw any undue attention his way.  Not when his plans were so close to being enacted.  Not when only a small handful of Council members were pledged followers of his.

“That’s rather rational.” Kai said, clearing his throat.

Teris relaxed, relieved.  “You’re not mad?”

“Of course not.”  Kai said.  And he realized that he wasn’t.  Not truly.

Teris wasn’t rejecting him.  She just wanted to be a bit more comfortable and confident in this world before committing herself to him. Now that he thought about it, it was understandable. Having lived his own life with so much uncertainty.  Not knowing if or when the ax the Council had hanging over his head would drop.  Wanting to be able to stand on your own was something Kai could respect and appreciate.

Teris smiled, thinking Kai really was so sweet and caring.

Kai gave her a gentle kiss.  “We can keep things as they are and simply seek release for now.”

Teris didn’t miss the ‘for now’ but chose to focus on the tantalizing prospect of seeking release with him again.

Kai pushed to his knees, and pulled up his pants and underwear. Teris sat up, pushing her bra back down and adjusting her breasts.  Grabbing his ruined shirt, Kai laid it over her shoulders.  A jolt shot threw him that went straight to his cock.  The sight of her engulfed in his clothes had him wanting to shove her down and fuck her all over again.

But Ryuu, his mentor, would be arriving soon along with a handful of other Council Elders. Later, Kai told himself, aggravated that he had to refrain.

It irritated that he was coming away from this without her officially being his.  It bothered that she didn’t even know that she was already his.  But he could wait. So long as he didn’t have to wait long, he could be patient.  If Teris wanted to wait until she was more comfortable and confidant in this world, then he would become the best damn teacher in Oblvi and see her so.

Gathering Teris’ clothes, Kai got to his feet and held a hand out to her. “Come on, Beautiful.  There’s a nearby hot spring we can get cleaned up at.”

***So this fic will have a LOT more world building than my others.  Please feel free to comment or send me an ask if you have any questions.

Thank you to those who have left hearts. And a special thank you to those who have left comments and/or reblogged. They really mean a lot.

Special thank you to @inorganicone2230 who knows of my love for the mythic and encouraged me to start this fic without stressing about the other two I’ve got going.  Your friendship means the world to me.

[mythicamagic]

Swimming in Silk: Chapter 24

Training in front of her, engaging her in conversation and now lending her his clothes…Kagome is starting to suspect that Sesshoumaru is trying to gain her attention.

Sesskag - Romance, Humour, Drama, Angst

Rated M - As always you can read this story on Ao3, fanfiction.net or Dokuga

Chapter One - here        Previous Chapter - here   Next Chapter - here (End)

Kofi

Warning: Torture and non-con elements (sexual deception)

Penultimate chapter, folks! The next one will be the end~

Counting in Centuries pt.2

Time marched on mercilessly. More decades and jumps passed. Inuyasha was brought along on one, left behind on another. Neither brother could say they were particularly thrilled about the situation but the state of the lands quickly distracted them.

The humans had become smarter, angrier. Hate-filled. Sesshoumaru noticed it spread like an epidemic, seeing the progression of smaller clans dispersing, fleeing their homes. He took only mild comfort in knowing the pup- no- he shook his head. The kit. Shippo. That he was with the Foxes, as their den lay hidden from most.

Battles lasted weeks. At first, Sesshoumaru's armies were successful with each wave. But the sheer number of enemy reinforcements began to overwhelm. Human and demon alike pushed the line of the Western forces back. Sesshoumaru revived his soldiers using Tenseiga, only for them to meet their end another hour later. It were as though all of Japan conspired to make the West fall as they began what would be called the final fight for the West. The last great house standing. True to what Kagome had said, some of the Eastern wolves joined their battle.

Inuyasha fought tirelessly, swinging his claws to kill dozens. Sesshoumaru loathed to admit it, but his brother proved an asset. Yet without Tetsusaiga, he eventually lost himself to bloodlust. He turned on their own forces, beginning to kill indiscriminately.

Sesshoumaru snarled, surfacing out a killing haze and grabbing his shoulder, pinning him down in the midst of battle.

"I do not have time to babysit you," he snapped, sheathing Bakusaiga briefly to grab two plain swords on the ground, thrusting one through the back of each hand to keep the Hanyou in place.

Enraged, Inuyasha roared and hissed. Snapping his teeth, red eyes glowed as he struggled on his stomach like a worm.

Sesshoumaru gave him a swift kick to the head, knocking him out. "Stay there," he grumbled, drawing his glowing sword anew. "I suppose I have to ensure you do not die now. How irritating."

Slashing Bakusaiga out in a wide arch, silver hair flew back as green energy struck a wave of youkai, consuming them. Planting his feet when the force sent him skittering back, Sesshoumaru panted slightly. With no eyes upon him, his facade briefly cracked. The endless fighting was starting to have a large impact on his youki. Without energy to feed it, Bakusaiga teetered on the verge of falling silent. Earlier he'd sent Kaito away from the fighting due to the General's own fatigue. The elder demon had been on the front lines for days, swinging his spear tirelessly to protect the House. Since the barrier had broken many years ago, guilt had changed him into an almost fanatical protector. Sesshoumaru figured briefly fetching some reinforcements from Bokuseno would give him time to recuperate.

"My Lord!" A small handful of servants hurried over, tears and distress clinging to them. He turned, mouth opening to ask why they weren't in the Keep not too far away- only to look further behind them. Flames were licking over its ancient roofs, eating through his history.

"We're sorry- we were forced to evacuate. I think the others inside already fled."

Sesshoumaru stiffened upon seeing two long silhouettes loop up around the Western Keep from out of the blaze, knocking long tails into the structure and causing some of it to cave in. Dragons.

"Have you seen Mother? She did not join the fighting," he shifted, padding towards the structure. She would not run.

"N-no my Lord," murmured a trembling servant.

He said nothing more, launching into the air. Heat flowed through his veins, pumping blood alarmingly fast as a red haze engulfed his body, transforming with a burst of energy. The inuyoukai grew large, into his towering true size, leaping onto the back of a dragon and sinking hard teeth into its tough hide, wrestling with it. Twisting his limbs and dragging hard claws on scales, he turned his neck and launching it airborne to land away from the Keep.

It snarled, landing near the fighting armies with a thud that shook the earth. Soon after, the dragon twisted and dived headfirst underground, burrowing underneath and disappearing. Sesshoumaru ignored it, facing the remaining purple scaled beast.

'I know you', his lips peeled back, spittle clinging to hungry teeth. 'You are of Ryūkotsusei's blood.'

Its jaws snapped wide, forked tongue waving like a flag when combined with a hateful hiss. 'He was our kin. Father's sibling.'

'Hn. You fight for one so long dead?'

The great dragon tossed its head. 'We fight because the reign of Dogs has ended. Long have you forged weapons and armour of our flesh and hide. Tonight we take our share of your bones and fur, mongrel-' it looped a long body around in a wide, quick circle, catching Sesshoumaru in the centre when it tightened its coils. Sharp talons slashed his back, teeth biting into his ear.

A roar thundered out, the two giants flying high into the air and blurring, twisting and manically biting at one another. When the dragon coiled tighter and tighter around him, Sesshoumaru transformed into his smaller, inhuman self, slipping out from its grip. He struck Bakusaiga down, snarling in victory when a large tidal wave of energy engulfed the beast. Flesh and scales were ripped to pieces, disintegrating from the inside out.

He panted mid-air, watching the dragon die. There was only a brief moment to wonder what had happened to the second, lighter dragon that had run away, before he noticed a giant ogre bent over Inuyasha, poised to slam a large hand down.

Sesshoumaru made a noise, transforming out of instinct once again and landing on its back. Aiming for the neck- he received an arm in his jaws instead, but gladly bit through the appendage, wrestling the great beast away from the trembling servants.

It was around that time he sensed her flying towards him atop Ah-Un. Why must it be now that you join me? He thought, not wanting distraction but grateful for it. He could utilise her.

Kagome touched his cheek once the ogre lay dead. His features returned to his inhuman self, wanting to feel a gentle touch on battle-worn skin.

"I heard all the allied clans were attacked at once. How bad is it?"

"I have not heard from many of them. No reinforcements are coming, and we have been fighting on and off for five days now." He uttered in an even tone, as though giving a report.

Blue eyes widened and seemed to notice something, gaping. "Sesshoumaru, your ear!"

His jaw tightened, knowing he must have been missing some of the tip, feeling blood leak into his ear canal. "Ignore it. There are more pressing matters."

Jaken lay dead, but there was nothing he could do for the retainer. Instead, he asked Kagome to go find his ridiculous Mother, disquieted by her absence.

"No matter the outcome, once done, take Inuyasha and the servants. Leave for either the Foxes or Bokuseno. I hear the kitsunes have not been hit, and I sent General Kaito to fetch reinforcements from the demon tree. I figured we could put a few guarding the tree to good use after all."

"You can't fight them alone, and why are you talking like you'll face them till the end? The stronghold-"

"Can be rebuilt. I refuse to yield my Father's land."

Blue eyes widened. "Your life is more important, please don't forget that. I believe in you, but promise me you'll leave if things get bad. Promise me."

Sesshoumaru did not answer, sensing her distress but remaining silent. Kagome's lips thinned, reiki crackling. She tilted her chin up. "We'll send word once we've reached safety."

He nodded and covered the miko as she made for the Western Keep's open gates. Cold control fixed his nerve endings, breathing in war. Though he killed methodically, perfectly, as he'd been born and bred to- the Daiyoukai's cheek burned with her touch and Sesshoumaru pushed himself harder. The miko was here. He could not falter now.

-----

That tantalising, out of place scent wafted into his senses once more a little later on, but Sesshoumaru did not turn to acknowledge it. He could sense Kagome with his Mother, having escaped the now collapsed Western Keep.

The sound of it caving in on itself had inspired something similar to transpire within his stomach.

He floated above the carnage of battle, the air so still. Embers floated up to greet him, a giant plume of inky black smoke rising up from the once great House. Sensing Kagome lead Ah-Un, Inuyasha, Mother and the servants away from the battlefield and into the forest towards Bokuseno, Sesshoumaru drank deep. He filled his lungs with the scent of his destroyed home, magenta lids sliding shut.

Sesshoumaru then raised Bakusaiga, streaking through the air with such speed he ripped through two men, beginning to fight without a thought in his head. Guided by instinct, he killed until it became monotonous. His armour cracked and dipped forward, loosening- so Sesshoumaru ripped off the hinderance, slashing through throats. Opening his palm after a moment, he realised he'd ripped off one of the red tassels from his armour. Mindlessly, he saved it for no particular reason other than nostalgia.

His comrades and units continued depleting the longer the fight lasted. Somehow this didn't bother Sesshoumaru or register in his mind. He absolutely refused to surrender and expected them to die for a House no longer standing. The lands would always be Fathers- His.

This unwavering pride and certainty in victory lasted until he smelt it.

Wood. Burning. Screaming.

Sesshoumaru paused, flicking out a weak, flickering whip of light that arched and killed the creatures around him. He tilted his head up, staring at the horizon of trees in Bokuseno's direction.

No. He panted, gaze starting to shake. How? When?

His heart thudded painfully fast in his bloodied ears.

Kagome.

The scent of the tree youkai being incinerated alive wouldn't leave. It caught in his senses and took root, leaving him reeling. Sounds of branches snapping filled his hearing. With every lick of flame, he was reminded that his mate's chance for extended life had perhaps been lost forever.

Something ripped, plunged- exploded into his hip. Sesshoumaru gasped out, gritting his teeth and pressing a hand to the wound. Barely any blood leaked out of the small hole, but he felt...strange. Sapped.

Sesshoumaru lifted burning eyes to the monk not too far away. Holy power shone around the staff planted into the earth, while he gripped prayer beads, chanting something and causing them to levitate mid-air. Sesshoumaru raised a hand, striking it in an arch and expecting a whip of light to decapitate the man- but nothing happened. His youki had all but vanished.

The Daiyoukai's markings emboldened with desperation. Claws stretched wide into talons. Canines elongated into large fangs as Sesshoumaru let out a blinding roar, leaping for the mortal just as the earth shook and exploded beneath his very boots.

Purple scales registered, before lightning crashed out of the mouth of the dragon, engulfing Sesshoumaru's body.

Everything went dark after that. Youki had been worn dry, physical strength sapped. He hit the ground, muscles slightly twitching as steam leaked up out of his burnt skin.

The Western Lord lay defeated.

----

The floor of his cell felt damp, reeking of blood. They had not stopped their prying, twisting and yanking for days. Needles of pain stabbed into the pads of his paws. Sesshoumaru could vaguely recall what had happened on the battlefield after passing out. Being dragged by horses. Body bound by enchanted chains that scolded his flesh. He was taken from the quieting battlefield where just a few demons kept fighting. Consciousness dipped in and out, but he'd been aware enough to feel the stinging pain on his skin. Because of this, during sleep he unconsciously managed to change into his true form, albeit a much smaller, bastardised version. This way they could not take his swords, and fur felt like more of a barrier.

Hazy crimson eyes had managed to catch sight of what would become his prison. A traditional looking compound with a broken torri gate, which led him to believe the place had been a temple, once. His location was far less clean, situated in a miserable tower on the ground floor.

He was muzzled, bound, dehydrated and starved, but the toss of his head remained proud for months. The snarl locked inside his mouth rumbled loud and terrible.

But the monks continued long after he felt they'd become bored. Sesshoumaru kept his stomach pressed low to the ground, trying to preserve vital organs when they began anew.

His claws were removed with metal clippers- taking the tips and webbing of his toes with them. Brands of hot, burning metal had been poked into his side, causing him to shamefully cry out. The white of his fur became dyed red continually until the lack of bathing rendered it dulled brown, the old blood caked into follicles. The monks decided to shave him at some point, sheering off large quantities of fur until he lay bare and humiliated, shivering. He felt only mild satisfaction when it grew back within a few days.

Sesshoumaru eventually lost all sense of self. Long periods of time spent in his True Form tended to wipe away blemishes of complicated thought. He knew basic things like pain, hunger, loneliness and dread. But most of all hatred.

He longed continually to sink his teeth into the pink of their flesh.

Kagome barely retained a human shape in his mind, instead becoming a feeling. A distant want he tried and failed to grasp over and over. He could not organise his thoughts to accurately remember her face or scent, but there are times he can recall the gentleness of her touch. Hear her words. The marks pulsing dimly on his neck were the only real proof he had that she'd existed at all.

Sometimes he thought he saw the miko watching him, and would blindly shift towards the ghostly spectre in his cell.

Hungry. This one is...hungry. Mate...bring me a youkai boar like the one you shot before.

Sesshoumaru struggled to swallow, feeling the collar dig into his throat. The spikes they'd lined the monstrosity with pressed into his neck, having broken the skin. He'd almost become used to it.

When Kagome left him alone unexpectedly, he became disorientated again.

Mate. Where is my mate? Is she safe?

Sesshoumaru's ears pricked slightly, picking up on the sounds of rainfall outside. His nose twitched, eyes closing. He barely opened them anymore, laying still.

Did she burn along with the den?

The thought caused him to dig his forehead into the ground, scraping stinging paws out. Energy sapped, he could only faintly whine. Had it been years? Months? Days? He did not know. There was only the monks who burned, the rain, the hard floor and the marks sweetly branding his neck.

The inuyoukai withdrew into himself. Deliberately sinking into the quicksands of sleep, he let it clog his ears and nose, wanting to cease feeling.

He lay as such until the air in his cell changed.

"Sesshoumaru?"

He did not hear the gentle calling of his name, nor feel the muzzle being dragged off. What he did sense was the familiar spark of holy powers- and he lunged.

Sadistic, dark pleasure welled up inside him like sticky black tar as flesh filled his mouth. He plunged sharp teeth down, tasting blood on his dry tongue. A woman's voice cried out, something nudging into his muzzle. Sesshoumaru snarled loudly, singing his victory.

"S-sesshoumaru, it's me, Kagome." She chocked out. "Don't you recognise me?"

Kagome. He knew that name. Recognised the blue eyes currently filled with tears. Her scent came to him then, achingly nostalgic and sweet like rich, juicy fruits filling his mouth.

Pain. He realised then that the bite marks on his neck were crying out. She was hurting- and he to blame. Sesshoumaru peeled his mouth away, lapping at the wound with a low, guilty whine. Forgive me, mate.

He could not be certain she was entirely real. In truth, even as they made their escape together from that cell and he witnessed her slaying their enemies once more, he remained suspended in a dream. Everything felt off. His limbs were heavy, youki sapped. He could not communicate to her that there was a prayer bead lodged in him somewhere, preventing his wounds from healing. Yet Kagome found out on her own easily enough while bathing him.

"You know, when we're in the future together properly, we better have sleepovers." He heard her say. "I expect the works. I'm talking my favourite movies, marshmallows on hot-chocolate, forts made of sofa cushions and possibly painting each other's nails."

She was babbling. His mate only babbled when nervous. He felt too tired to assure her, though this did not stop her selflessly stroking his fur. Tending to him. Loving the wretch he'd become.

Kagome lulled him into a content state, one he could stay in forever. If he transformed into his inhuman self now, perhaps he'd spit with disgust at how low he'd sunk. But he remained on the level of a dog, dozing at the feet of his mistress.

However, after waking, he found the cave dismally empty. She'd left behind a coat, two dead rabbits and a note.

'Don't leave the cave' it said. 'I've gone to find help- be back soon!'

Sesshoumaru stared at the paper, raising burning red eyes to the opening of the cave. If he ran now, perhaps he could catch up.

He shifted on his paws, planting them down firmly. Four legs shook as he raised himself up, panting. But he knew his body well and inevitably had to sit. It became clear he could barely stand, let alone move. More rest was required.

Or...he could trust in his possible hallucination.

Red eyes slowly slid shut, and he rested a tired muzzle on the coat she'd left behind, inhaling the fleeting scent.

----

Dim sounds made his ears prick. Wolves. The scent of wolves drew near.

Usually he'd be annoyed at the disturbance, but he dimly recalled their usefulness at the last battle. Cracking weary eyes open, Sesshoumaru stared unblinking as they transformed at the cave entrance, peering at him cautiously, skittish.

"Uh...Lord Sesshoumaru?" One tried.

He remained tense, silent.

Their leader, who he recognised to be Chief Kouga, stepped forward out of the group, hands planted on hips. "Geeze...what the hell," he said thinly.

Mild self-awareness came back to the inuyoukai. He'd been a leader who'd let his House fall. But Kouga stood tall, pack intact. It made him feel sickened, mildly hateful.

Kouga lifted up a scrap of pink material. Red eyes squinted- soon flying wide as he snarled, causing the sound to echo into the bowels of the cave.

Kagome's clothing.

The wolf held up a hand, frowning. "Oi, quit that. Kagome's fine. She found us and said to come find ya...before sinking into the ground," he sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Heh, I probably wouldn't believe me either. But it's the truth, you can trust that much usin' your nose, right?"

Hackles lowered with halting immediacy. Sesshoumaru eyed them tiredly, settling his head on his paws. She'd been real? Is this...even happening?

"Uh, Kouga? What do we do? Should we carry him back with us?" One of the wolves piped up.

Colbat blue eyes narrowed with thought. "He's a prickly bastard, I don't think he'll let us do that. Kagome mentioned he's got a prayer bead stuck in his hip. We pull that out- we get a healing Lord of Dog Breaths. Hopefully then, the pouty bastard will choose to come with us back to the den."

Sesshoumaru made a grumbling noise, turning to the rabbits Kagome had killed and sinking his teeth into them. They'd discussed their plan in front of him, what fools. As if he'd allow them to touch him now that he was free-

"NOW!"

What?

Sesshoumaru started violently, food still caught in his throat. He could not move swift enough to block the amount of hands suddenly pinning him down on his side. The wolves made soothing noises or small yips, but he hardly cared- snarling and kicking under their weight, utterly enraged. Clawed fingers were rammed inside his hip- and a loud noise escaped him, struggling harder and throwing wolves off him- before the thing that had been lodged inside muscle and bone was ripped free.

Kouga jumped away, landing on the opposite side of the cave. His eyes were wide, grin spreading on his face as he stared at the prayer bead held between bloody forefinger and thumb. "Quick and nearly painless! Hah!-"

Sesshoumaru lunged, scrambling up and snarling at the wolves, grabbing one in his jaws and tossing it outside. Despite his rage- teeth hadn't dug in. Even as he chased the pests from his cave, Sesshoumaru did not kill them, instead glaring and frothing at the mouth. Youki swarmed his fur anew, leaking out and working to finally heal him after being blocked off for so long.

Kouga lingered outside the cave a safe distance away, chuckling. "You're welcome, Lord of Dog Breaths."

----

He'd reluctantly followed the wolves back to their den but took to sleeping in a smaller cave not too far away. Apparently it had been Five long years since the fall of the Western Lands. Five years he'd been reduced to a plaything. Sesshoumaru rested his head on his large paws, refusing to change into his inhuman form. If it were cowardly, he did not know nor care. The instincts to eat, hunt or sleep were all he needed.

For three years he remained in this stasis, barely contributing anything to the pack. He knew some were vexed with his attitude, yet ignored them. The only two who seemed unbothered were the pack leaders. During the cold of winter, Sesshoumaru had started violently when they'd called the pack to sleep in his cave, huddling close to him and providing warmth in their smaller true forms. It had been claustrophobic and uncomfortable, but he'd only grumbled a little. The female, Ayame, sometimes gave him scraps if she were feeling generous, like feeding a stray cub. He'd noticed as of late that she was heavily pregnant.

The image of Rin flashed through his mind. She'd struggled with birthing.

"We have to leave here," Kouga announced one day to his pack. "The humans ain't too far away and they know we're in the area. Every Great House who stood and fought these types of raids have fallen. Usually I think it's fucking cowardly to turn tail and run, but we got our kids and elderly here. This is our pack, and we gotta protect it!"

Loud cheers rang out, fists flying into the air. Sesshoumaru observed them from the sidelines, thinking their leader knew much about morale.

Ayame piped up from where she sat. "We know for sure there's a safe place for us. All we gotta do is reach it. Some of us went to check it out. It's by the beach, and we'll have to share the space with other demons, but it's better than losing our lives."

"So!" Kouga bellowed. "Take only what you need. Once you're ready, let's get outside and get organised. We're leaving today!"

The pack hurried to do as instructed. Golden eyes flicked to Ayame, who struggled to stand without assistance. She made noises of discomfort that irritated his ears, causing his tail to swish with agitation.

Once everyone was outside, they began to move, carrying waterskins or bags of food. Barely any took furs for bedding. Wolves never did care much for luxuries. Sesshoumaru lingered inside his cave, contemplating.

Though he could not form complicated thought, his body registered a dull ache he had not recovered from. Deep within his chest. Arms and legs remained weighed down, tired. The demon felt, somewhere, that he must be injured, despite being fully healed.

Ayame made a noise again, further ahead, holding her stomach.

Sesshoumaru's ears pricked, lips lifting in a silent sneer. He wanted badly to ignore it. To stay, and accept the blade of a human. His pride had been stained the moment the Western Lands fell, crushed upon sensing Bokuseno burning and scattered to pieces with every lash inflicted upon his body. Kagome...would mourn him, but like this, she might yet find another.

A human, perhaps.

Jealousy bristled his hackles at the purely hypothetical thought. No, more than that. Kagome as his mate would die too if he stayed there a second longer. Another pained noise from Ayame had him suddenly up and moving. Claws scratched the ground, limbs burning. Frustration urged him on, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

The silver inuyoukai padded up next to the woman. She brushed some damp red hair aside, forehead dotted with sweat as she blinked at him. She'd chosen to remain in inhuman form, and would not be able to change into her true self until after the birth at such a late stage. Like this, she was vulnerable. Birthing so many cubs would be agonising. He could not fathom why she'd done it, for surely comfort overtook preference, but it hardly mattered now. He stayed by her as they walked, following the scouts at the front while Kouga kept watch at the back.

Sesshoumaru remained on the treacherous side of the path when they navigated a mountain trail that held a steep rockface dwarfing them on one side and a sheer drop on the other. Ayame paused and winced, panting and reaching out to steady herself- fingers grasping his fur.

He did not react, having little explanation for why he'd seen fit to lend assistance. Perhaps it was payback. He padded at her pace even when it irritated him, finding her gait slow and akin to dawdling. When it became apparent they were holding up the rest of the group, Sesshoumaru made a noise, finally lowering himself.

Ayame tilted her head, panting slightly as she held her large, round stomach. "You sure? I'm heavy."

Sesshoumaru tossed his head, snorting. He made no noise of complaint when she climbed onto his back, gripping the fur. The other wolves lingered around them, skittish and worried for their female.

He padded on throughout the night, baring her weight as though it were a part of him.

"I'm proud of you," he heard the miko murmur in his mind.

'Be silent,' he thought.

Leaving the mountains behind, they travelled for days with barely any rest. Fires of war reached their noses. Other demons were still fighting, burning and dying at the hands of the humans. But the wolves took care of their own and did not lend aid. Sesshoumaru kept his head down, only raising it when he sensed salt flow through the trees of the forest.

The beach.

Something wet flowed into his fur then, leaking down his back. Sesshoumaru jolted, sniffing and turning his head to look at Ayame, who wailed.

"Oh no! K-Kouga! I think it's happening! My water just broke!"

They hurried on with a burst of urgency then, and by some miracle managed to find Shiori's village in under an hour. Ayame was taken away to a birthing hut, the rest of the wolves getting settled into the new place, greeted by the female Hanyou.

Leaving Sesshoumaru alone with a decidedly wet back. He thought it best to go bathe.

Old habits die hard however, and he found a new cave to lie in. As the days passed, he was reunited with the kit, Mother and their General. Oddly, Ah-Un survived, despite the odds. The foxes had disguised them as a horse through a heavy amount of glamour, but the two-headed dragon had to be hidden away in a cave at the village.

The demons all decided without his input that Sesshoumaru should be Leader, and though sceptical, the wolves were too grateful to protest. Sesshoumaru did not either, though he barely participated in leadership. Instead, he protected from afar, pacing through the forest bordering the beach, watching for any humans. Sometimes the wolves and cubs visited the cave, though he barely reacted to their presence. Shippo lay near him some nights, dozing. He'd become accomplished at spells, and Sesshoumaru found some feeling in him that wasn't apathy at the news. Pride, perhaps.

He was a good pup. Kit, he reminded himself.

But his next year was spent in much the same way as before. Only somehow worse. The toll of not changing in so long began to play with his mind again. His memories. It worsened with the self-imposed isolation.

He sometimes woke and thought that Rin was still alive, or that the miko was laying beside him. Always there was nothing, just the sound of waves crashing on rocks outside. The dark, empty cave occasionally dripped with water.

He slept deep and long. Falling prey to the weak trappings of his frayed mind. It conjured her.

Kagome began visiting him in dreams. She'd hold and stroke his body, pressing soft lips to his muzzle. Lean muscle relaxed whenever she approached until it came to the point her footsteps graced his hearing even while awake. The phantom sensation of her fingers trailing through silver fur made him purr. She whispered sweet nothings and made him remember how to yearn, to feel peace.

One day felt different, however. The crunch of footsteps on sand sounded louder, her smell...nonexistent. Which proved odd. He always tricked himself into smelling her. Sesshoumaru felt Kagome's touch, stroking and soothing. He made a low, crooning noise, feeling her arms wrap around his neck.

"My Lord," she murmured, kissing his nose.

Sesshoumaru's eyes fluttered open, hazy, but registering her naked body. Her perfect, familiar face. Long black hair and blue eyes caught the light from the cave opening, the cold air making rosy nipples hard.

When she melted against him, Sesshoumaru's fur shifted and regressed. Pale skin replaced it, and he bent to heatedly kiss her skin, taking the familiar shape of her body in his arms. She didn't feel quite the same, and the scars he recalled littering her figure were not present, but his scattered mind could barely hang onto one thought at a time. His cock strained with need, wanting attention. He thrust himself inside her wet heat, taking Kagome from behind and snarling with pleasure as she mewled and shook her hips.

The Daiyoukai pounded inside, burying himself within over and over again. She felt hot and tight, and he fucked her roughly, seeking blind completion.

When he snapped his hips forward and came inside her, she cried her rapture. His fangs sought the marks on her shoulder, wanting to embolden them once more-

But there were none. Sesshoumaru paused a hairs-breadth away from her skin, panting. His mind briefly cleared, scenting burrows, the woods and musk, instead of holy power and citrus.

The black hair held a few strands of blonde, her ears pointed.

Terrible, dark rage pooled in his stomach. The fox vixen glanced over her shoulder, flashing a mischievous smile. "I thought you could use the company~ Did I sound like her enough, my Lord? I do struggle with voices."

She did not smile for long.

Frantic teeth snapped down, face partially transforming so that his muzzle spread out, jaws opening wide. He snapped her neck with a sharp jerk, losing himself in rage, viciousness ripping her body apart.

He did not remember what happened after that. He thinks, perhaps, his mother approached and despaired, but also hid the evidence of the body. She covered it up to protect him from the wrath of the fox clan, claiming the demoness had disappeared.

Sesshoumaru did not like his cave as much after the event. He began forcing himself to take part in the fighting pits, wanting someone to come defeat him and seize the mantle of leadership for good. He forced himself to try and never imagine Kagome again, tormented by the comfort she offered.

When hearing two sets of footsteps crunching on the sand, Sesshoumaru inhaled, smelling the unpleasant fustiness of the wolf. Their natural scent, unfortunately. Seems Ayame was visiting him with-

Holy powers, citrus and the smell of a summer breeze. Sunlight on cooled skin.

Sesshoumaru sighed, unmoving. He'd slipped into fantasy again. He ignored them, dozing.

Oi!" Ayame growled. "You have a visitor. Wake up!"

He, again, sought to ignore them, vaguely hearing her cubs join them and start climbing over his form. A loud thud in the earth, like a fist, sent them scattering.

"HEY! This girl time travelled for your ungrateful hide!" She bellowed. "She came here just to see you! The least your sorry ass could do is say hello!"

Sesshoumaru made a noise, shifting to show his back. She is not here.

The fake Kagome was talking. "I'm going to um, stay here for a little while. Just in case he changes his mind."

He did not wish her to. Willing himself to fall back asleep, he found he couldn't. He felt it when she touched him when they were finally alone. Heard every whispered word.

"It's going to...get better, you know?" She murmured. "Not to be patronising, but it will. So for now, if this is what you need to be comfortable, then that's okay. Just...don't sleep forever," turning her face into the warmth of his side, hot breath fanned into his fur. "I'd miss you too much."

Red eyes cracked open briefly, staring at nothing, before they weakened and slid shut once again.

He fought Kaito when challenged, winning quite easily. That was the extent of excitement for one day.

But the following time, he did not expect Inuyasha to step into the fighting pits. What's more was the stunned, shaken feeling of his knees hitting the floor. The fight had been a blur of fists and raw power, but now he sat, surprised. Sesshoumaru blinked, feeling like a haze had been knocked loose from his eyes. His bloodied and battered senses took in the roar of the crowd, the iron taste of his own blood. Sometime during the brawl, he must have shifted into his inhuman self.

He looked up at his brother and the fake Kagome dazedly, before picking himself up, defeated. And yet... grateful.

Padding away, he slipped out alone onto the beach. White sands crunched under boots. He no longer had a duty to serve, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

"Sesshoumaru!" A familiar voice called from somewhere behind him.

Reiki pulsed and he stopped dead. Lips parted, and he inhaled, breath catching. Every nerve ending snapped alive, sensing her completely. Knowing, without doubt-

It is you.

He turned on his heel just in time to see her slip under the shallow waters. The pink colour of the waves receded soon after, time travel having worked it's will. One thing in particular kept Sesshoumaru standing there long after she'd gone.

Short hair. She'd looked like his first Kagome.

He decided to sit when standing became uncomfortable, shifting into his inuyoukai form once more. The breeze played with his fur, second eyelid blinking the sand away. Shifting down, he rested a heavy head on the beach, watching the ocean's horizon listlessly. Sesshoumaru didn't know when he slipped into sleep once more, but far too soon did he sense a disturbance.

"One good thing about short hair; it sure dries quicker."

One red eye peeled open. How are you here again so soon?

She smelled of salt, but without the haze, he knew with shaky confidence that it was Kagome again, sitting beside him. The Daiyoukai shifted, resting his jaw over her thighs. Giving a long, extinguished sigh, his chest warmed when a wet, gentle palm stroked over his forehead. Slowly, fur receded back into skin. Silver hair slid into the breeze, pooling around them as she smoothed a thumb over his pale brow. He barely noticed the emotional danger of staying in his inhuman form, calm in her presence.

He'd imagined this same thing occurring many times, and began to question his sanity again- until she said the most random thing possible.

"Do you have one of those pipe things your mom has?"

He blinked. "Hn."

Sesshoumaru handed it to her and watched with undisguised fascination as she pointed and flexed her toes in the sand, soon nearly coughing up a lung from the smoke.

Golden eyes studied her. Sometimes, she was just so...bizarrely magnetic, so obviously weird and for some reason he couldn't seem to become immune to the charm inherent in that. He always felt more sentimental when they were together.

True to form, she brought up the past, and they traded faces and names.

Unbearably easily, she lowered the defences that had kept him intact. He exhaled shakily, breathing the image of Rin into life. And suddenly he was silently acknowledging everything. His frustration at not getting to say goodbye. Losing her to mortality. His anger at having loved something that was going to die all along.

"It's alright," Kagome soothed. "It's okay."

His mate slid her hands over the plains of his body, and Sesshoumaru sank into her. Nothing kept him tethered to the ground as much as her touch right then. She smoothed kind hands over scars until they felt like mere creases. Just a few blemishes that she loved with her mouth. He slipped into peace, feeling it for the first time in years as he slid mindful claws through her short hair with vague confusion, dipping his head to accept her kisses.

The tide and waves rolled over them, and a startled noise escaped him, a dusty, genuine chuckle joining her quiet laughter.

----

Inevitably, she had to leave again. This parting felt different, however. Things had shifted. Something unexpected happened to the village with Inuyasha now the leader. Laughter came back. Demons masquerading as humans oddly seemed to relax, following his younger brother's example.

Sesshoumaru felt no jealousy where once he thought he would. Their people looked to his bratty sibling for stability and Shiori for guidance. Sesshoumaru had decided to hunt as much as possible for the village to reclaim some forgotten pride. He also resolved to spend more time with Shippo, refining his transformation technique so that he could melt into his true form if necessary.

Mother caught his eye a few months after Kagome had said goodbye, and he padded over to the entrance of the old fighting pits, now laying forgotten. No one challenged Inuyasha.

"...Is this about the vixen from the cave?" He asked bluntly.

Her brow arched. "No, dear one. Haven't the faintest idea what you mean."

Sesshoumaru glanced away, lips thinning. "I did not thank you for covering for me-"

"And this one did not do it for the thanks, so be silent." She smiled with her eyes, closed fan resting against her cheek.

"What is it you want then?"

"A partner to spy with," she lifted a finger to her lips, ducking inside and motioning to follow. They slipped through the tunnels soundlessly, hearing Kaito's deep baritone. Within, the wolf cubs and some of the younger demons were all gathered around, listening intently. Kaito sat on a higher step.

"-and there were great flumes of purple smoke for clouds. Inu no Taisho continued to fight with him. But the dragon's powers that so resemble lightning struck hard into the Great Dog Demon."

Sesshoumaru's gaze turned flat. Ah, he was teaching the young ones their history. He did a double-take when seeing Inuyasha sat among them, allowing the cubs to chew on or braid his black hair. He appeared to be listening, dark eyes focused.

And it occurred to the Daiyoukai that he'd probably only ever heard legends about their Father.

"He only managed to seal him to a cliff with his claw. According to many, Ryūkotsusei was much too powerful to kill," Kaito said gravely.

Inukimi gave a delicate giggle, fanning herself. All eyes turned to her. "I'm sorry, it's just cute. The way I hear it, there is one among us who did slay the beast," she directed an amused smile at Inuyasha, who scratched his nose uncomfortably.

"Yeah, what of it?"

Kaito and Sesshoumaru stared, the elder demon clearing his throat. "It is because of his fight with Ryūkotsusei that Inu no Tashio was mortally wounded, shortly before coming to save you, a newborn."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, and were his ears visible, Sesshoumaru imagined they'd lower to his skull. "H-huh. Gotcha."

The cubs clambered around him, yipping or gnawing on his elbow. The Hanyou seemed to want to ask more, but pride sealed his lips shut. Sesshoumaru watched him closely, before long lashes lowered.

"So um...when I was kidnapped by your mom, she did this thing where she exhaled smoke and made it into pictures from her memory."

He withdrew the pipe from his clothes, padding forward and taking a seat off to the side from Kaito, lighting it.

"I was just wondering if one day, in the future, do you think you could do that? For...Inuyasha?"

Sesshoumaru took the smoke into his lungs and exhaled it, breathing their great and terrible father into life via grey wisps. The high cheekbones, strong jaw, bushy brows and disarming eyes. The only thing missing was the magnetic personality and booming voice.

The Hanyou and the young ones stared at the smoke figure with wide eyes. Inuyasha then collected himself, glancing at him with mild confusion.

"You may as well put a face to the stories," Sesshoumaru said quietly.

"...Keh."

"Hn."

----

The monks who had imprisoned him were tracked down and slaughtered. Sesshoumaru had taken a small group with him, Kouga and Inuyasha joining him. He found one monk in particular who he intimately recalled, and had dealt with him alone. He hadn't had the time to exact the full scope of torture he'd wanted to on the monk, but oh- how he'd enjoyed it.

Within the cells, they freed a few youkai barely hanging to life, taking them back to the village once the bloodshed was over. Things began to heal, like a scab over a wound.

Everything seemed to have fallen into place for the group, save Kagome's absence. Yet something continued to niggle at Sesshoumaru.

He heard his mother's approach as he sat on the beach, old memories resurfacing.

"The one responsible for burning Bokuseno, do they lie dead, mother?" He asked.

"Yes," she purred.

He felt a mild weight lift from his heart until her next words: "but the woman who helped orchestrate it is not. Kagome saw fit to banish her because she had a young son. Chiyo was her name, I believe."

The servant. "I see," magenta lids slid shut.

He did not assemble a group this time, thinking they'd protest. Sesshoumaru slipped out from the village at night, flying back. Back to the ruins of the ancient tree. What he saw caused the same numbness that had entered his bones the first time to resurface- but Sesshoumaru shook it away. He had something important to do, collecting the remnants of his forgotten pride.

Trying to follow the trail of two deer youkai that was more than ten years old took time. For most beings, it could perhaps be impossible. Old tracking instincts returned, reminding him of the days he'd hunted Naraku.

For a few weeks, he travelled around Japan, black hair tied at the nape of his neck. Ears rounded. He posed just like any other human among the populous, observing the growing numbers. Their gazes soon turned to follow him, curious about the finery of his red and white silks. Eventually, he lifted the cover over a door up, standing in the threshold of a decent-sized house.

A woman knelt by a basin, preparing some food. She started and looked up, placing her hand on her chest. "Oh, you frightened me." She blinked. "My husband isn't here, I'm afraid. If you were interested in renting a boat you can find him by-"

"I don't need a boat," he said quietly, letting the cover slide into place over the door, blocking out the sun. Chiyo straightened, eyes going wide. Opening her mouth, no words came out.

A boy in the far corner of the room sat up.

"Hisao, come here-" she called sharply.

He slowly obeyed, cautiously easing around Sesshoumaru, before coming to stop by his mother. She instantly latched her hands onto his arms, standing behind him.

"Y-your mate banished us years ago. We have kept our word and not returned-"

"She made the decision without this one." He uttered in silken tones. "What you and your departed husband did cannot be eased with mere banishment. You have not nearly been punished enough."

Chiyo jolted with fear, hearing the sound of a baby stir in its crib.

Sesshoumaru glanced over at it. "...A hanyou. How interesting." Blazing golden eyes slid back to her. "And here I was informed from my mother the reason you burned Bokuseno was because you disapproved of my mating a human."

"I was not given much of a choice but to let a human touch me!" She hissed. "I have another, she's out working with her father. I did what I had to in order to surviv-"

"You dare-" Sesshoumaru swept in close, molten gaze burning with the harsh fires of hatred. Claws twitched with want to kill, but Chiyo ducked away, bursting into frightened tears. "You dare speak of suffering? Because of you, many died. My mate may have lost her chance to extend her life-span. Your mate burned Bokuseno alive and crippled my General-" he grabbed her wrist, suddenly pausing.

Thin blue veins had spread, visible on her wrist where her glove ended and sleeve began. Sesshoumaru pushed the sleeve up further, inhaling. "Ah, that's right..." he purred with dark satisfaction and amusement. "He was your mate, wasn't he? That's why I sense death in your scent. It's coming for you after you've evaded it for so long, vermin."

Sesshoumaru released her, watching with sadistic pleasure as she sank to the floor. Chiyo trembled, eyes wide.

Hisao suddenly darted in front of her, body trembling. "Y-you've got what you wanted, my Lord. Now that you know, p-please go."

"You misunderstand," he said gently. "I did not come here to kill her."

Golden eyes slid over Hisao's frightened expression, who swallowed. Reaching out, Sesshoumaru removed the hat on his head, spying the stumps peeping out of dishevelled brown hair. They'd tried to saw them down but his antlers were naturally growing. They must have tried their best to make the young demon blend in. Females could hide in plain sight like Chiyo. Males, not so much.

"You may come with me to the village of demons, boy." He levelled a weighty stare on the child. "It was your mother who was banished from the Western Lands and father who betrayed me and mine. If you continue this way, shame will follow your name long after she is dead. This one will restore your honour if you pledge yourself to the ashes of the House they helped burn."

Hisao's breath caught, young mind turning as his mother became quiet, eyes downcast.

Sesshoumaru waited patiently, briefly glancing around the place. She'd certainly landed on her feet, judging by the amount of decor and furniture. Pale lips sneered.

Hisao turned to his mother, brows drawn together.

Whatever he seemed to communicate, she nodded tearfully. "It's alright. You'd be...you'd be safer there. It's probably true."

Hisao wrapped small arms around her neck, burying his face in her hair. Chiyo hugged him, stroking dishevelled hair back from his ears. The Daiyoukai noticed scabs over the tops, were the pointed tips had likely been cut off.

He stepped out the door, giving one last dark look at the woman as Hisao hurried after him. You took many of my own. Now I take one of yours.

---

The house of ashes lay before them.

"Your parent's failings are not your own," he muttered, glancing down at the quiet boy. Wide eyes stared back, soon nodding hesitantly.

"I understand, my Lord."

Tired eyes shifted to the dead and dying earth around them. "...I am not a Lord anymore."

Accepting all the ugly emotions that came with seeing his old dwelling, Sesshoumaru knelt in the remains of the garden, having stopped there for a specific reason. Unearthing the box he'd previously buried before the fighting had started, Sesshoumaru broke the lock with his youki, opening it to admire the items he'd saved;

A purple pressed flower he'd glamoured never to lose its vibrancy. Kazanashi. The Higurashi shrine stamper, and now he added the red tassel from his original armour which had long since broken. And...something else needed to be added. Sesshoumaru lifted his arm, looking at the long sleeve trailing down. His prized red and white silks.

Removing them left him in the crisp white underlayer of his hanjuban. Folding the silks, he tucked the clothing away in the box. Now wasn't the time for them anymore.

Glancing at the ruins of the Keep, he took a breath. Hisao tilted his head, noticing a shoji screen jutting out under the debris, crouching to try and free it. He tugged, making a tiny grunt of effort, before a larger hand reached down next to him and slid the screen-free.

The boy blinked up at him, but Sesshoumaru said nothing. They took it with them back to the awaiting village and Sesshoumaru kept the items safely in his new hut.

It took a few days, but ultimately Kaito was the one to confront him.

"Why did you bring him here?" He rumbled, watching as Hisao helped attend Inukimi, who seemed delighted to have a helper. "He is the son of the traitors who burned the tree and killed our men." A hand settled on the stump of his leg. "His father...did this to me,"

Sesshoumaru glanced at the former General, gaze passive. "If we were to start pointing fingers, there are many already here to start sharing blame."

Kaito clamped up at that, vague shame filtering into his scent.

Observing the change in demeanour over the days, Sesshoumaru noticed the small deer youkai be accepted into the group. Kaito instructed him how to hold a wooden sword, beginning some basic training.

Things had become as Inuyasha said. The separate species had come together, accounting for differences. Things were not always smooth, but it felt like what he'd seen from the village of Edo, so many years ago.

A community.

The Daiyoukai happened to notice a change in Inuyasha too. The 'odd looks' began anew, this time with Shiori.

Sesshoumaru cut his eyes to the dark skies, feeling old suddenly. Whatever they did, it was no concern of-

"Hey," Inuyasha grunted, taking a seat next to him by the fire outside. "Need to talk to ya."

"Are you certain?" He inspected perfect nails. "This one would have thought talking to the female Hanyou would be your priority."

Bristling, Inuyasha stuffed his hands in the sleeves of his robes, huffing. His cheeks briefly reddened, gaze fixed on the fire. He took a long time to say anything, which made Sesshoumaru take notice. The brat had certainly changed in recent years.

"...I was thinkin' of maybe mating her. It's taken me a bit to adjust to the thought- I mean I saw her when she was a kid and now she ain't and it's weird but time travel has made us near the same age and yeah." He huffed, obviously having picked up the babbling habit from Kagome. He then quieted. "We talk about shit I haven't talked about with anyone else. Stuff I couldn't even tell Kagome cos the Kikyo subject always hurt her. Not surprisin' though."

"Are you certain she is riveted to be talking about your ex-partners?" Sesshoumaru muttered dryly.

"Shaddap! It's more than that. Not that I'd tell you," he stuck his nose in the air, before growling. "It's not enough that I got a load of baggage holdin' me back from asking though. I don't...want her to get hurt like my Mother."

Izayoi? Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed, wondering where he was going with this.

Inuyasha looked at him gravely. "Look, are Hanyou kids cursed to kill their mothers eventually?" He asked, muscles tense.

"...Elaborate."

"Keh. My mother passed away from an unknown illness when I was about 10 in human years. Shiori says hers died when she was around 14. Everywhere I go, I've heard of Hanyou kid's parents dyin' or something. So what is it? We cursed? Because I ain't keen on havin' kids if so. Shiori...shouldn't get mixed up with me."

Sesshoumaru stared. It became obvious that the Hanyou truly believed in what he was saying, but had never asked, for fear of what it meant. An old instinct to belittle and sneer at the boy rose up, but he suppressed it.

"No, you are not cursed. Rather, the majority of those cases probably happened because of the consequences of mating."

"H-hah?"

The words came haltingly, but he persevered. "Many suspected Izayoi to be Father's true mate. She died because her soul demanded to follow his into the Netherworld. It was not your doing," he quietly uttered. "When one mate dies, days, months or even years later, the other follows. To mate is to bind souls and lives together."

Inuyasha studied the fire, jaw tightening. He then stood, back straightening. "Gotcha. Didn't know. But I guess that's because-"

"No one told you." Sesshoumaru cooly finished the barb. It was true, he'd willingly snubbed the Hanyou, refused him entry into the West. Denied him many birthrights. Things were not the same as they once had been though. He did not feel angry, bitter or jealous. Merely tired. Dark eyes shifted over the features so like Father's. "This one is telling you now."

Inuyasha's eyes widened, confusion in his scent. He then slowly nodded, awkwardly taking his leave and padding away, kicking a stray shell on the beach.

----

Centuries passed. Sesshoumaru counted them instead of letting time blur as he had before. Things changed and progressed. Inuyasha and Shiori had ended up mating, causing the agitated boy to further mellow. The village moved. Even Shippo mated and became a Father, causing Sesshoumaru to have an age crisis. He saw Kagome twice more during her jumps until finally reaching the time period she'd been born into.

The buildings of Tokyo were much larger than when he'd last visited. They towered into the skies. Humans crammed into the streets, walking in a hurry to their daily jobs.

Sesshoumaru assessed his wealth, finding that he had enough to support Kagome for many years. They needn't work when they were together unless they wanted. Nonetheless, he opened a bookshop, employing Yukita and Riza, Shippo's son and Kouga's daughter respectively, in order to pass the next 18 years.

Shippo informed him of the day of Kagome's birth, having seen her briefly, in passing.

"I do not want to know," he rumbled over the phone. "Tell me nothing about her, but watch when you have the time, kit."

When it neared the day of Kagome's 15th birthday, however, Sesshoumaru ran into a mild...complication.

"I don't sense any magic coming from the Bone Eater's Well. Didn't you seal it?" Shippo barked.

He thought for a moment. "...Yes."

"And you didn't think to maybe unseal it so that she can hop down the Well and meet Inuyasha?!"

"..." Sesshoumaru hung up.

He hadn't wanted to see her. Hear her. Anything. Not until he absolutely must. Already his control shook, padding up the steps of the shrine. His image blurred partway up, inhuman speeds making him fly to the Well House.

Sutras were already plastered around the closed well, blessings and spells with no holy properties apparently trying to ward off 'evil.' Sesshoumaru smiled slightly in the dim light, opening the structure easily enough. He then slipped inside, dropping down the dark depths of the Bone Eater's Well and landing at the bottom. Striking a hand down, he coiled youki out onto his skin, ripping off the seal he'd placed into the earth when it gave under his power.

I do not think I will ever understand, he thought as the scents of the Fuedal Era wafted up from beneath his feet. How does this well operate? Did the Kami themselves place it here?

Hearing a 'meow' from above, Sesshoumaru craned his neck up, seeing a pair of eyes flash in the dark. Flying up to land on the rim, Sesshoumaru observed the fat feline.

"You must lure her here on her birthday if she does not come by herself, nekomata."

Kirara, or 'Buyo' just meowed again. He couldn't be entirely sure the demon understood him. Shippo had told him she changed cat forms every twenty or so years, keeping watch over the shrine. Personally, he found her silence indicative that the old cat had gone senile, but Shippo always defended her.

Closing the lid over the well, Sesshoumaru smoothed his palm over the wood. Speeding away without a farewell, he floated down onto a deserted street and resumed walking.

Just a little more time had to pass.

He heard of her exploits through Shippo when she finally began her adventures, who groaned with frustration over the phone when she got an F in maths. "I wish she'd focused on her studies more instead of us!" He complained. "I'd never let my kids go fight demons! What's that Mrs. Higurashi thinking, anyway?!"

Sesshoumaru held the phone away from his ear, reading a book.

When the beginning of those three years came and Kagome was cut off from the Fuedal Era due to the completion of the jewel, Sesshoumaru found himself truly tested. He'd wanted to steal her away. Keep her. He had even gotten so far as her house, heart thundering in his ears- daring to change history-

But the sound of her sobbing upstairs caught his ear.

"Inuyasha..."

The demon lowered his hand from the doorbell without pressing down, fingers clenching as they withdrew. She was still in love with him at this point. Kagome needed to go back. To face whatever they'd been before their break up.

Turning on his heel, Sesshoumaru squeezed red eyes shut, frustrated. Control snapped and he padded quickly away, needing to leave Japan for a while.

When he came back, Sesshoumaru witnessed her return from the well with Inuyasha in tow for her Grandfather's funeral. She searched for the Daiyoukai in the city, and he felt it, having to enlist Riza and Yukita in helping to dull his senses with harsh insense, lest he heed her call. Yet it hadn't been enough, and he'd broken free.

He let out a feather-light slip of youki to against her cheek while standing in her empty room as she searched for him outside. Touching the brown package he'd given to her Grandfather and leaving behind a slip of power, he disappeared, wanting to guide her in the right direction.

After her first jump through time, he and Shippo began planting the items, willing her to find and jump to the past. True, they orchestrated much, though at the time Sesshoumaru was still trying to grasp her powers and how they worked.

And when Kagome finally fell into his arms that winter's day, Sesshoumaru had never wanted her to leave. He'd taken her to his penthouse, kissed her, ached-

But duty carried on and he could only keep her for an excruciatingly unfair amount of time.

A warm palm settled over her fist and Sesshoumaru stared at her, winter lashes lowering slightly. Kagome's optimism seemed to slip along with her grin, glimpsing the emotion he'd rather keep hidden.

"I'll be back," she said quietly. Sesshoumaru inclined his head, sliding his hand free from hers.

"Hn…return home soon."

That was the last time he'd seen Kagome, sending her off to face that first mating, when he'd become so deeply ensnared by her.

Unlike before, he'd called off Shippo instead of asking him to keep vigilance over the house. The Daiyoukai decided to wait for her call, passing the time by trying to distract himself with visiting others.

He was not much for conversation, but Hisao hadn't seemed to mind when he'd received him for afternoon tea.

Passing through the park that evening, Sesshoumaru tilted his head back, inhaling the scent of Spring. It used to be Rin's favourite season. Flowers had started to bloom, dotting the landscape in flourishes of bright colours. The grass had broken free of the frost, sunset bathing it in warm colours.

He observed it all passively, remaining in the centuries-long limbo that he'd learned to navigate. He'd made a home for himself. It was merely that without her, it felt void of life, reminiscent of a box with four walls. Missing the key element that made it feel warm. Which was why he usually slept at the bookstore.

Taking one more step, he stiffened, stopping dead. Lying in wait beyond the trees, the lake further ahead suddenly held new blinding scents.

Sesshoumaru's heart began to race, old instincts crackling to life. Dark eyes, shining lighter in the sun, exploded into gold. Round pupils squashed into slits.

He forgot himself, the glamour, the concealment- everything- feeling it melt away as he launched forward into the air, coat and shirt rustling in the breeze.

[pyropsychiccollector]

            Invel sighed exasperatedly as he trudged through the city of Hargeon, subzero winds and temperatures trailing in his wake. A flurry of snow and ice coated the people and buildings, practically turning them into ice sculptures. He had not expected to reach his destination so soon, but apparently Irene had disregarded His Majesty’s orders and employed her experimental Magic to tip the scales in their favor… Not that it mattered to her, since she had to have realized by now Emperor Spriggan had perished.

            “I-Invel…?”

            The ice mage raised an eyebrow as he halted and stared at the once proud Spriggan Shield crawling on the ground, arms still tied behind her back and cuffed with Anti-Magic restraints.

            “Dimaria. Seems this operation was too much for you to handle.” Hands clasped behind his back, and looking every bit like a teacher scolding a student, Invel shook his head in disappointment. Dimaria hissed furiously at him.

            “Don’t look down your nose at me, bastard…! What have you contributed?!”

            Invel sighed theatrically.

            “More than you. I’ve immobilized the enemy forces that have shuffled here as a result of Irene’s mischief.” He cut the ropes that bound Dimaria’s arms. The blonde looked up at him with an awed expression, not moving from her spot.

            “Universe One…? Lady Irene really used it?!”

            Invel’s gaze turned skyward.

            “Indeed. You should have realized it yourself, after the intense Magic built up in the atmosphere. It was most certainly Irene’s Magic…”

            Dimaria winced as she rose to her feet, glaring at Invel half-heartedly as she did so.

            “You’re not going to get into a big shpeal about how she went out of line…?”

            The ice mage scoffed at the notion.

            “Drastic times call for drastic measures. Though our victory is a foregone conclusion, we have suffered… setbacks.” He muttered distastefully, turning to the side, away from Dimaria.

            “You don’t say…” Dimaria rolled her eyes.

            “Four Spriggan Shields have perished. Four.” Invel waspishly shot back, surprising Dimaria. “What’s more, we have lost our Emperor to this scum. We have no other recourse but to reunite the twelve and capture Fairy Heart. After that, we’ll exterminate Ishgar and Acnologia together, just as His Majesty commanded us to do.”

            Dimaria went rigid as Invel revealed the worst news. It just wasn’t possible.

            “The Emperor died?! Don’t fuck with me…! He’s immortal…!”

            Invel coldly glared back at her.

            “You can reject reality like an obnoxious child if that’s what you’d prefer, but the rest of us will be living in the real world. I saw it myself. His Majesty’s most vile creation came to end his life – wiped out nearly 100,000 of the men in the Western flank – and mortally wounded the Emperor with a Hellfire that I have never seen before. It was the most shameful sin of my life to follow His Majesty’s will and allow END to endanger him. But I will carry the burden of that blight on my soul… so long as I am able to fulfill His Majesty’s will for this wretched world. Ishgar and Acnologia will fall, that I have promised.”

            Dimaria’s body trembled as her hands curled into fists. So the Emperor was truly dead… It would feel amazing to slaughter these Ishgar mages for that insult alone… But it did trouble her that Acnologia was still, in fact, a threat. Who was supposed to wield the Fairy Heart, now that His Majesty was no longer an option?

            “Seems like events have been unfolding into a most fascinating tale…” A figure dropped down in a crouch from a nearby roof, but neither Dimaria nor Invel tensed at feeling his familiar presence.

            “Neinhart.” Invel tersely acknowledged the man. “You look in better shape than Dimaria.”

            Dimaria’s hackles rose at the insult to her honor, but she stayed her tongue. The fact it was a teenage girl that put her in such an embarrassing state was humiliating enough.

            “Oh, the bastard landed a solid hit on me, I’ll give him that…” Neinhart bitterly admitted. “Still, they should have killed me when they had the chance, rather than show mercy… A coward’s attempt at ‘honor in combat.’”

            “The Emperor did suggest this was a weakness of theirs… We will have to educate them just how fatal their naiveté is. Neinhart, when we reach Magnolia, you will summon the deceased Spriggan members. The full might of the Spriggan 12 will be put on full display!”

            With this declaration, the three of them began their trek, which would most assuredly be short, given Irene’s meddling with the geography.

            “You think she will have arranged the troops for us?” Dimaria questioned. Invel nodded sternly.

            “Irene is a shrewd tactician. The best strategy for us would be to arrange all of our forces throughout and around Magnolia, while we harvest the Fairy Heart.”

            “Thousands upon thousands of soldiers… All gathered in one place.” Neinhart grinned. “They were having a tough time as it was holding us back. No way they’ll be able to break through to save their precious weapon!”

            Invel pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

            “This will be the final decisive battle… After we’re done with Ishgar, we’ll slay Acnologia, as planned.”

            ~*~

            - Not even an hour ago… -

            Cobra sighed with his arms and legs crossed as he sat on top of Happy’s enlarged head. The three of them were flying on this furball to the East to confront the toughest guy in Alvarez, and he had elected to come along because he caught wind of Mest’s less-than-honorable plans. He didn’t like knocking out a member of Fairy Tail, but Mest’s idiocy would’ve resulted in death, for sure… At least, if Brandish’s boasts of August were true.

            “Oi, would you stop flippin’ out, blondie? Yeesh. You’re probably the last person I would’ve picked to represent Fairy Tail…” He rolled his eye as the Celestial Wizard squawked at him indignantly.

            “STOP READING MY MIND, JERK!”

            Brandish lazily eyed Lucy even as she nuzzled contentedly in Happy’s fur.

            “He’s got a point. If you act nervous around August, he’s not going to take my request very seriously. And it’s going to be hard enough explaining His Majesty’s demise without your jitters make you seem suspicious…”

            Lucy visibly deflated at Brandish’s words of wisdom.

            “I know…” She sighed, head hanging low. “I just wish Erza, Gray, or even Mira could have come along instead of me… They’d be totally more level-headed about this, and would definitely know what to say to this guy.”

            Brandish squished her cheek against the pleasurably soft fur.

            “Just be yourself. Show him respect, but don’t try to sugarcoat it. If we want a chance of convincing him, he needs to get a good read on you as a person. He’s easier to negotiate with compared to Irene, but that doesn’t mean he lacks pride as a warrior for the Alvarez kingdom. Be ready to answer some tough questions.”

            Lucy shrank in on herself even more.

            “Just great…” She cried exaggeratedly.

            Cobra frowned slightly as he eyed the green-haired buxom woman shrewdly. Before he could voice his next questions, however, a giant wave of magical presence overwhelmed their senses, and they knew just what that indicated. Staring down below, they locked eyes with the elder mage, who did not miss a giant flying cat in the sky. Lucy was frozen in absolute terror, unable to speak.

            “August, the King of Magic…” Brandish murmured, conveying many emotions while maintaining eye contact with her comrade.

            Cobra bit back a small grimace, marginally more composed than Lucy.

            ‘Definitely bad news… If we can’t make an ally out of this guy, we are screwed.’ The maroon-haired Dragon Slayer thought to himself grimly.

            Soon enough, Happy touched down, and Brandish shrank him so they could disembark. The Dragon Slayer and the Celestial Wizard stood to the right and left behind Brandish, respectively. Lucy felt jittery as she poked her fingers together, while Cobra elected to stuff his hands in his pockets. For the Dragon Slayer, they were already in the lion’s den when they sensed this man’s presence; if they were going to die, there was nothing they could do about it.

            As for Brandish, she kept a completely neutral expression on her face as she faced her comrade without hesitation.

            “What are you playing at, Brandish?” August finally asked, ending the tense silence that pervaded the air.

            “I have come to negotiate with you, August.” Brandish answered freely. The elder mage arched an eyebrow at her candor.

            “Has Jacob been killed?”

            Cobra pondered whether to answer that one, but Brandish cut him off before he could open his mouth.

            “He was defeated at the hands of this man here.” She lightly nudged her head back at Cobra. “He isn’t dead, but he’s been taken prisoner. What of God Serena? He should have been with you.”

            August clasped a hand over his heart solemnly.

            “He’s here with me.” He answered simply. His gaze intensified, making Lucy shiver. Cobra would have joined her, but he was using every ounce of self-control to not let August’s presence overwhelm him. August continued, “Now then, do you mind clarifying what you meant by ‘negotiate’?”

            Brandish took a deep breath before getting into the meat of it.

            “I would like you to halt your advance.” Brandish made her plea. August, too, breathed heavily through his nose as he tried deciphering Brandish’s motivations.

            “From what I can gather, it doesn’t appear you’ve been tortured… Am I to interpret this as betrayal?”

            Brandish shook her head solemnly.

            “That couldn’t be further from the truth. I am and always will be a loyal citizen of Alvarez, through and through. It’s just… I cannot find any meaning in this war.” She voiced her doubts as clearly as possible.

            August’s face became grave as he glared at Brandish.

            “Those very words are in direct betrayal of His Majesty’s will. Need I remind you we Spriggan 12 have dedicated our minds, bodies, and souls to His Majesty? If, in spite of that, you still cannot comprehend why you must fight for his cause… Then you are nothing more than an enemy who must be eliminated.”

            Lucy grew ghastly pale with how oppressive the atmosphere had become. Even Brandish had lost color in her cheeks, but she stood her ground. Cobra clenched a fist in his pocket, gritted his teeth to steel himself, and looked August in the eye.

            “… About that.” He breathed steadily to take control of his nerves as all eyes were on him now. “Your ‘Emperor’ was killed not too long ago… Apparently by his brother, a Dragon Slayer in this country by the name of Natsu Dragneel.”

            August’s eyes widened at this bit of news. Brandish knew that was quite the feat to accomplish; and she too braced herself for August’s potential rage at this bit of news. She hadn’t known how to approach that topic… and perhaps that was why Cobra had taken one for the team in relaying that information.

            “His Majesty… is no more?” August’s voice was eerily quiet, his expression now indecipherable.

            “A-Aye…” Happy spoke up for the first time since arriving. “I heard Zeref say that if Natsu killed him, Natsu would die, too… And Natsu definitely died!! I tried to stop him, but Natsu killed Zeref anyway!”

            Tears streamed down Happy’s face as he sniffed, looking up at August. It didn’t matter to him if August killed him out of spite… He’d already lost Natsu, and that was painful enough.

            August’s face hardened, which was exactly what they had all dreaded.

            “If His Majesty has passed on, then there is even less reason to spare these people, Brandish. You know this.”

            Finally locating some more resolve within her, Brandish shook her head swiftly as she stared right back at August unflinchingly.

            “On the contrary. You know as well as I… that His Majesty had a secret desire kept hidden from most of his subjects… The very reason he went away for all those years was because he was struggling with himself, whether he should live or die!” Her voice was raw with emotion. It was difficult for her, too. Zeref had taken her in and shown her how to use Magic after her mother passed away… But even she could not deny that he harbored a suicidal nature. Because he had been forced to endure centuries of immortality…

            “…” August didn’t say a word as Brandish became more sure of herself. Again, it was impossible to see or feel what he might be thinking… Not even Cobra could hear his thoughts.

            “Please, August… list to me. What His Majesty attempted to achieve is absolute genocide, and nothing less. The Dragon King Festival… Ragnarok… Call it whatever you like, but in the end, it amounts to nothing but a one-sided massacre! This war is nothing but murder. It’s not a clash of noble ideals between our two countries… Surely you can tell that much?”

            August stared down at the ground, deep in rumination. Lucy and Happy looked on hopefully, while Cobra was a little more guarded in his expectations. Brandish pressed on with her pleas.

            “I know that among the twelve, none are wiser than you. That is why you must realize at the end of the fight, there will be no future! All that awaits us… is an empty abyss…”

            August looked back up at Brandish with another unreadable expression.

            “Where we are headed at the conclusion of this battle was to be decided by His Majesty. With him now deceased, it falls to us to finish what he started – whether you like it or not, he decided to…” His mouth became a thin, grim line as Brandish cut him off shrilly.

            “Think for yourself!!!”

            “M…Maybe you shouldn’t have laid it on so thick… Just a thought…” Lucy winced, hiding behind Brandish. But the Spriggan Shield ignored her.

            “That is what I have decided to do…” She turned to the side so there was nothing between Lucy and August as the elder mage stared her down. “I have reached the conclusion  that these people are not evil… far from it.”

            “Th-Thanks…!” Lucy sweatdropped as she tried not to wilt under August’s intense gaze.

            August turned his attention to Cobra first, however.

            “You were the one that defeated Jacob… Tell me. Did you take him alive to use as a hostage? Or were you perhaps too weak of heart to end his life?”

            Cobra kept his expression firm and made sure to look August directly in the eye. He knew that this was a crucial query.

            “Listen, I’m no seraphic saint. Blondie here can tell you that I used to be a scumbag of a criminal… And maybe I still am. Who can honestly say whether I’ve atoned for all the shit I committed as a member of Oracion Seis? I’m the Poison Dragon Slayer, for fuck’s sake. That should tell you how many lives I’ve taken.” He shook his head somewhat exasperatedly as Lucy wordlessly begged him to shut his trap. Even Brandish was looking at him in shock because of his frankness. “But… As for that Jacob guy… Kami knows I didn’t take him down just to hold him over your head. You wanna take him back? I won’t stop you. That said, the rest of those Fairies? They’ll probably try, but only if you aggress them. They could probably understand how you feel about camaraderie – that whole Guild is about friendship, harmony, and all that crap. But it’s because they’re so honorable that they hold that Jacob guy prisoner. ‘Cause he basically held the Guild hostage to get what you guys wanted.”

            “…” August fell silent again as he pondered Cobra’s words. Brandish took this opportunity to press her advantage in the negotiations.

            “You see? Even a former criminal was able to come this far, thanks to Fairy Tail. If you would just talk with these mages of Ishgar, I am certain you would see they mean us no ill will. They fight because we struck first. They invaded our land because we had their Guildmaster as our effective prisoner. August, I beg you… at least try talking with them.”

            August took one final deep breath, once he had mulled over Brandish’s plea for negotiation.

            “Well… I suppose… I would sooner listen to what they have to say than make a fool out of you, Brandish.” August nodded his head slowly, stiffly. “As leader of the twelve, it falls to me to decide how we proceed from here.”

            Lucy heaved a sigh of relief as Happy cheered, and even Cobra’s mouth twitched up a little the tiniest bit. But even so, from what August could discern from them, it was all genuine; they knew by his reputation that fighting him would be suicide, so he was used to such reactions. It was Brandish’s reaction that perplexed him the most.

            “You’re the best, Grandpa~!” Brandish cutely mewled as she looked up at him gleefully. August frowned at the title.

            “I have no recollection of you ever being my granddaughter…” He remarked dryly.

            “But to me, you’ve always been my Grandpa~!” Brandish chirped adorably. Lucy sweatdropped as she hoped and prayed to all deities out there that Brandish’s eccentricity wouldn’t ruin their chances of negotiation… Cobra just sighed as he raked fingers through his hair.

            “As touching as this is… Makarov is gonna want in on these negotiations. Is it acceptable to move this meeting to Fairy Tail…?”

            Lucy stared gobsmacked at Cobra speaking for all three of them. But she dared not speak contradictory to him, after he’d made that offer. August raised his eyebrow at the Dragon Slayer.

            “You would invite me, even though that was my destination to begin with…?”

            Cobra shrugged nonchalantly.

            “Call it a token of goodwill and trust. I’m not exactly fit to speak for a Guild I’m not even a part of… And blondie there is just a plain ol’ member, not even S-Class. I don’t think it’s proper for us to make promises that Makarov might decide we aren’t able to keep…”

            August nodded indulgently.

            “I see your point… Lead the way, then.”

            They hadn’t even made it a few feet before something was obviously wrong. Something strange was in the air… Like some Magic was taking hold of all the land in Fiore.

            “Wh-What is this…?!” Lucy yelped, looking around in bewilderment.

            Brandish and August appeared they were in the know, and it was August who was the most severe…

            “Irene, you wouldn’t dare cast that Magic…!”

            “Universe One…” Brandish murmured.

            Before Cobra could even ask what ‘Universe One’ was, there was a bright light that blinded them and eclipsed everything around them, even the landscape. And then they knew no more…

            ~*~

            - Present –

            Laxus massaged his head as he sat up. The last thing he remembered was taking down Wahl, and then he needed to lay down for a while, since he was recently cured of those Barrier Particles in that same battle. Looking around the forest he was suddenly now in, he sighed tiredly and wondered just how the hell he ended up here. He stood up and donned his coat, which wasn’t far out of reach.

            “It seems you’ve made a full recovery…”

            Laxus craned his head around at the source of the voice. The figure approached casually, and the Dragon Slayer knew there was no need to fight once he registered the hair and face.

            “Ahh, Mystogan. Or… Jellal, I suppose I should say. You have any idea what’s going on?”

            Jellal shook his head, regrettably.

            “I would wager that the enemy somehow changed the landscape to fit their advantage. We aren’t near Hargeon anymore; instead, I believe Magnolia is close at hand.”

            Laxus’s mouth gaped slightly.

            “Magnolia…? That’s one hell of a Spell for them to just whip out… If they could do that, why not do so in the beginning?”

            “I’m afraid I don’t know any of the details,” Jellal remarked. “It’s a very new type of Magic, since I had never even heard of something of this scale in legends… But my senses don’t lie. We’ve definitely been moved around, geographically. And I imagine it’s not just us – there’s no point in setting just the two of us back in Magnolia; Alvarez doesn’t want anything from Hargeon, and Kagura and many others are still powerful enough to deal with the threat in Hargeon.”

            Laxus crossed his arms patiently.

            “You’re right… None of it adds up, unless their purpose was to move their own forces into Magnolia and take our First Master… Or more accurately, the ‘Fairy Heart’, which houses our First Master’s body… it’s got infinite Magical power.”

            Jellal’s eyes widened a bit in realization before he inclined his head.

            “I see… So that is one of their goals in this war. I had not heard that bit of information yet…”

            “Yeah, well, we weren’t going to drag anyone into this struggle in the first place, but it kind of got too big for one little Guild to handle, when Alvarez threw everything our way. In order to survive, getting help from the other Guilds was necessary. Having Crime Sorciere’s power backing us up will also be appreciated.”

             “Since Natsu did the difficult part and killed Zeref, the least we can do is help crush Zeref’s forces.” Jellal affirmed. “Meldy and I were helping out in Hargeon, while the former Oracion Seis were headed for the battlefield in the North.”

            Laxus grimaced slightly and dipped his head respectfully, shutting his eyes.

            “I see, you heard about that Pyro as well…”

            “The enemy brought him back to fight Erza,” Jellal revealed, causing Laxus to growl in rage.

            “Bastards… Alvarez has a lot to answer for!”

            Their discussion was broken up as a few more joined their party.

            “Heeey! Laxus!” Wendy called out to her fellow Dragon Slayer as Charle carried Chelia over her shoulder, and Gray, Juvia, and Lyon walked beside them.

            “Jellal, too?” Gray mumbled, hands stuffed in his pockets. “You guys know where we are?”

            “Close to Magnolia.” Jellal answered. “We’re going to need to head straight there; I have a feeling that Alvarez has rearranged the board in their favor, so now we will have to take back Fairy Tail.”

            “You really think Alvarez has that much power to cast such a Spell?” Lyon wondered, skeptically.

            “It’d have to be someone from their side…” Charle mused. “No one we know has a kind of Magic that can move us from Hargeon to Magnolia…”

            “It must be one of the Spriggan 12.” Juvia stated, frowning.

            Lightning crackled around Laxus’s fist as he clenched it at chest level.

            “It doesn’t matter what they did… They messed with our friends, our Guilds, so they’re not gonna get any mercy from me. Let’s head home… to Fairy Tail.”

            ~*~

            “Wh…What is this…?! Everyone’s gone again?!” Mavis asked in horror as she once again stood in a Guildhall bereft of anyone. She could feel some bizarre Spell had been cast… But it was on such a wide scale that Mavis couldn’t believe such a Spell existed.

            And she’d been so happy when Cana had managed to free her body from that crystal, too… But now, she was alone again…

            “My, my… That’s very rude. I’m here, you know.”

            Mavis gasped as a scarlet-haired woman, dressed like a witch, casually strode into the Guildhall. The strange woman’s Magic power was incredible… obscene… It was on an entirely different scale from that assassin’s strength, and he’d been more powerful than Makarov!

            “Y-You…!” Mavis choked out, but the redhead wagged her finger.

            “I wouldn’t get any ideas about trying to escape… Why don’t you come outside, and see for yourself?” Turning on her heel, the woman exited the doors to the Guildhall. Reluctantly, Mavis found herself slowly following after her. The sight she saw next… chilled her to the bone.

            The landscape in Magnolia had been shifted greatly. The Guild was now on top of a hill, and at least one million soldiers were arrayed in an overwhelming formation at the base of the hill, easily encircling it. What’s more, there were some others just outside the Guildhall… a couple of them had even been locked up, in the Guild’s prison.

            “Your comrades are currently making their way here, in order to take back the Guild.” The woman told Mavis, placing a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. “I do wonder, will they be able to break through our defenses? I cannot wait to find out~…”

            Ajeel cackled.

            “Not a chance in Hell!!! Not as long as Ajeel the Great is here, standing in their way!”

            Jacob snorted beside him.

            “That so, bigshot? I seem to recall you losing quite pathetically…”

            “Look who’s talking, asshole!!” Ajeel fired back. He then donned a terrifying grin. “That fluke ain’t gonna happen again.”

            “Naturally…” Jacob darkly agreed.

            August strode up to Irene and slammed his staff on the ground. Brandish trailed behind him.

            “Irene… you are out of line! His Majesty forbade you from using Universe One… and you know why.” The elder mage glowered at her, which Irene met with an even stare.

            “His Majesty was killed, thus leaving the leadership of Alvarez in the hands of the Spriggan 12… And I have captured our target. You have no room to criticize me, O Mighty King~…” The redhead demurely responded. August’s face darkened.

            “I am the General of the Spriggan 12, Irene, not you… And I gave my word to the mages of Fairy Tail that I would be open to negotiations. This war has taken a toll on both sides.”

            “Truly?” Irene’s grip tightened on Mavis’s shoulder. “You, of all people, would forgive the fact they murdered our Emperor in cold blood…? And what’s more, you would abandon your pledge to make his will for this world a reality?”

            The air between the two strongest mages of Alvarez grew frigid and heavy as they glared at each other. Mavis, Brandish, Jacob, and Ajeel were frozen in place with how much tension there was. But then, as if to break the stalemate, Invel’s voice cut in like a knife.

            “I am afraid you are the one out of line, Magic King…” He stopped a short distance from the two, hands clasped behind his back. Dimaria and Neinhart were both behind him. “With His Majesty’s demise, it falls to us to avenge him, as well as kill Acnologia and humanity, such as his will dictated. There is absolutely no reason to even entertain ‘negotiations’…”

            August slammed his staff on the ground once more, asserting his authority.

            “I, too, followed His Majesty’s will unconditionally… But we must also remember: His Majesty wished to die. For centuries as he traveled the world and built Alakitasia from the ground up… his one and only wish was to have his immortal life extinguished. This desire to eradicate humanity and Acnologia together… was borne from the bitter despair of being unable to perish. We have no reason to carry out genocide, when his true dream was finally realized!”

             Invel sighed airily, inclining his head slightly as his eyes closed.

            “Such hubris, from our so-called mightiest mage…The circumstances for His Majesty’s desire for genocide are immaterial. It was his will that we would rise up and defeat Acnologia. And it was also his will that we would crush Ishgar under our heel…” Invel’s eyes snapped open as he coldly glared at August. “You are unfit to lead the Spriggan 12, if you can no longer recognize that much. You are relieved of your position as ‘General’…”

            August’s eyes narrowed.

            “You would dare to presume to have such authority, Invel? Only His Majesty wielded that right…”

            “Zeref is dead, and so the leadership falls to you, me, and Irene.” Invel spoke matter-of-factly. He eyed the scarlet-haired woman. “Tell me, Irene, what is your opinion on this subject? Do you believe August is fit to lead?”

            Irene grinned darkly as she did a small curtsy.

            “Oh, I certainly agree, Invel… The Magic King does speak some bizarre things. I have sent Acnologia far away with Universe One, and Fairy Heart is within our grasp.” She placed her hand on top of Mavis’s head and gripped harshly. “We should begin the harvest of Fairy Heart immediately.”

            Invel nodded sternly.

            “Agreed. I will leave that task to you, and oversee our defenses personally.” Invel then regarded August once more. “You have this one chance to help us willingly, August… If you will not cooperate, I will find ways to persuade you.”

            August’s face darkened once more, and he raised his staff to cast a Spell, but he was distracted when Brandish cried out in pain from behind him. He turned, alarmed, and witnessed one of Invel’s slave collars around her neck.

            “Invel…!” August’s voice boomed with authority, but the ice mage wasn’t having any of it.

            “It is no secret to us that, no matter how trivial that intimacy may be, you are close enough with Brandish that you would not see her harmed in any way…” Invel replied frostily. August knew he was not bluffing; he could make Brandish kill herself, so long as she had that collar on. “Now do as I say, and crush Fairy Tail alongside us!”

            August shook with unbridled rage, but for the moment, he did keep himself in check… With a ferocious snarl, the Magic King stormed off. Only once August had gone did Invel release Brandish.

            “The same will apply to you, Brandish… We will need every member of the twelve for this operation to succeed. I would rather not have to force my hand…” He spoke with a clinical coolness before striding off, himself. Brandish glared holes in the back of his head, but did not pursue him. Dimaria was the next one to approach her.

            “Randi…” Dimaria greeted.

            “Mari.” Brandish greeted back.

            “I had heard you were captured. They didn’t treat you horribly, did they?”

            “No…” Brandish responded tersely, and widened her eyes when Dimaria abruptly wrapped her in a hug.

            “I won’t say any of those awful and cruel things to you ever again!” Dimaria sobbed. “I’m gonna pay those fiends back tenfold for laying their hands on you…!”

            Brandish could say nothing in response to Dimaria’s emotional display. She was still so shocked by how quickly things were spiraling out of control, and she was still so angry with Invel disrespecting August and threatening her life… Even if she was still a loyal citizen of Alvarez, she was not loyal to Invel anymore… No matter how much he asserted his authority as Chief of Staff.

            A light glowed nearby, as Larcade Dragneel was summoned by Neinhart.

            “Friendship is one of the world’s greatest beauties…” The strange man chuckled to himself.

            Mavis whirled on the man as she got a feel for his power.

            ‘That person’s Magic… What on Earthland… just what nature of Magic is that?!’

            Irene smirked, still gripping Mavis tightly.

            “Larcade was supposed to be the proverbial secret weapon, in His Majesty’s initial designs… Sadly, now that he is but a Historia, that potential has diminished to being just a strong fighter for us… I very much doubt he could defeat Acnologia in his current condition.” The redhead mused.

            Neinhart could feel some sweat drip down his face as he conjured the other three Historias.

            “Conjuring four Spriggan 12 members’ worth of Historias certainly takes its toll on me, I must admit…”

            Bloodman cackled.

            “I see… So I hath returned from the depths of the underworld…”

            “Well, well, would ya look at this… the twelve have all gathered together… Ahyahyahya!!” Wahl cackled as well.

            God Serena did a little eccentric dance of his own.

            “Hmm…! Ho, ho, ho!” The Dragon Slayer struck a pose. “God Serena of the Eight Dragons… has been resurrected!”

            Neinhart growled as he glared at the four Historias.

            “I would like to remind you four that you’re already long dead. I’d advise you to protect me diligently, lest you disappear from the living realm… permanently…”

            “Just leave it to godly me!” Serena boasted arrogantly.

            Irene made a grandiose gesture with her free hand.

            “One million soldiers… the twelve all reunited… Truly a magnificent sight to behold!”

            Invel walked to the edge of the hill, hands still behind him.

            “We have assembled a perfect, impenetrable battle formation… Do you still dare to come here, Fairy Tail?” He asked rhetorically. His tone took on a frigid tone once more. “I shall not allow you to see tomorrow…”

[antipathiczora]

So I don’t think anyone was satisfied by how the current Magic story treated Jace. I sure wasn’t, not after the end of RIX. It felt like the author completely disregarded everything that happened and I’m not about that.

I don’t normally ever post my writing on Tumblr, and I don’t usually ever write canon characters either. But I decided to take a crack at writing out how I would have handled the scene where Jace appears on the Weatherlight. I know fix-it fic isn’t really usually considered kosher, but I like how it came out so I decided to share it here anyway.

As the Weatherlight sailed over the great forest of Yavimaya, Gideon described to the newly-boarded Chandra about the battle plans they had conceived and the achievements they had so far garnered. The two of them sat around a large table alongside Liliana and Jaya in a compartment located just beneath the bridge of the great and legendary airship.

As Gideon finished describing their tale so far, Chandra made a face as if she had been presented with a blackboard filled with advanced calculus. “So you’ve just been aboard the boat for months? And you don’t even have anything that can kill this demon without the Chain Veil? That seems dangerous.”

“He didn’t tell you about the Blackblade.” Lilana’s voice was tinged with bitterness. “That blade once slew an elder dragon, surely it could be used to slay another. But he won’t allow any of us to use it besides himself.”

Gideon stared into Chandra’s eyes as she looked him over, waiting for an answer. “… It also drinks souls.”

“This seems like a bad idea. I mean we’ve seen what one demon can do to a whole plane. And also the… soul thing.” Chandra retorted.

“Exactly.” Liliana shrugged. Chandra looked to Jaya for some comment, but she merely sat with her head propped on her bridged hands, looking thoughtful.

Gideon, seeing this, hesitated. It would be uncouth to argue when they had only just found Chandra again. He should have seen it from talking over the plan like a sensible team. He swallowed the pride building at the back of his throat. Not today, Erebos.

“It isn’t that I don’t believe that any of you are capable of taking that risk.” He started. “But I can’t let you--”

The air thumped and echoed with suddenly-displaced air, and the compartment lit up in a blaze of cerulean light. Within a matter of moments, the four in the room were no longer alone.

Those present scrambled for their weapons and their magic, and the door to the deck was thrown open by the rest of the crew. Their artillery was trained on the boy in the blue clothes in the seconds before Gideon’s eyes widened with realization.

The boy who stood there had caught himself on a wall so as not to stumble from the high velocity of the airship Weatherlight. He was tanned, and scraped, and calloused as if he had spent the last three months in a tropical wilderness. He carried with him a musculature that Gideon had definitely not seen when last the five of them were together on Amonkhet.

As it dawned on Gideon who this was, his heart surged with the very same pride that he had tried to swallow back, but this time for the dear friend who he thought died by Bolas’ hand. He heard a wet splatter as the boy landed properly in the remains of a moist, slimy footprint, and the sigh of a long breath.

The first thing Jace Beleren seemed to notice was the hum of machinery and the creaking of sturdy hardwood. The second thing he noticed was his friend, and all the people in the room staring at him.

“Jace!” Gideon couldn’t help but cry out. “You’re-”

“Hi, hello. Sorry. I really didn’t expect to land that.” Jace’s chest heaved with panting exhaustion. “I had to adjust my trajectory due to your velocity.” His tone grew only more jovial as he shook his tiredness.

“Jace, I-”

“Wow! I’ve never planeswalked onto a moving object before! What exactly are we riding in? How is it powered? How fast are we going?” He gesticulated vaguely at the ship around him (nearly hitting Chandra in the face in the process, for which he apologized profusely without registering who he had just accidentally assaulted), breathlessly exclaiming question after question.

He looked around at the faces around him. Most of these were strange people, new people. Nearby him, he saw Chandra, stunned silent from the sheer surprise. In front of him, he saw Gideon, frozen with shock and overcome with emotion. Brilliant, shining Gideon, whose radiance had led him here to Dominaria. This was clearly someone who was overcome to the point of tears that he was alive. This was, come hell or high water, a friend.

“Jace, you’re-”

“Gideon! I’m not dead!”

Gideon couldn’t contain himself. He lurched forward to embrace the friend he thought lost all this time. However, just before he could reach him, the elder pyromancer that the Planeswalkers had previously been consulting with stepped in front of him, looking Jace over with a skeptical eye.

“...Who’s the bookworm?”

Near the back, an older, dark-skinned man looked a bit displeased at the interruption. “He should learn to knock first.”

One of the crewmates called behind her, out the door to the deck. “It’s okay, Tiana! He’s a friend!”

Chandra, once the stun wore off, flailed her hands in Jace’s general direction. “It’s Jace! He’s alive, he’s… basically… naked. What happened to your clothes?”

“It’s a long story-” Suddenly, it registered in Jace’s mind who he was speaking to. “Chandra! Look! I’m not dead!!”

“I can see that-”

“I traced Gideon’s aether trails right to this ship, although now that I think about it this ship leaves its own aether trails- like a planeswalker! They’re very similar. Anyway, I had to recalculate my entire walk because I could sense Gideon’s trails moving at a speed I couldn’t have predicted, and look! It’s a whole ship!”

“That doesn’t answer my question.” Jaya said flatly. “Who’s the bookworm in the bathing suit?”

“Ah...” Gideon cleared his throat. He was still a bit choked up, but he knew he must handle this with some degree of dignity. “This is Jace Beleren, another member of our Gatewatch. We previously believed him… dead… after the events we experienced on Amonkhet.” He now turned to Jace. “And Jace, these are Karn, Teferi and Jaya, fellow Planeswalkers. As well, this is the crew of the airship Weatherlight, who have graciously allowed us aboard and plan to aid us in-”

“Yes! That’s right! It’s urgent, Gideon. I’m sorry to appear without warning, everyone, but I need your utmost attention! It’s about Bolas, you see, he’s got a trap planned for Planeswalkers. You see-”

“A trap…?” Some of Gideon’s overwhelming joy faded in the face of grim reality, but only some.

“Yes, a trap!” Jace began to explain what he knew of the plans the elder dragon had brewed, and then gestured to the gathered. “We need to go, quickly! They’ll need every bit of help they can get! Gideon, Chandra, can you come, at least?”

“What about me?” The voice from behind the crowd made Jace’s heart drop a bit. He looked past the heads of the others and met eyes with Liliana, still seated at the table. He had hoped he wouldn’t need to address this for at least a little bit longer.

“If this is true,” Gideon shook his head, “then we must help Liliana to slay her last demon first. She’ll need to be at her best if what you say is correct.”

Jace’s heart sunk further. He thought of his realization before leaving Ixalan. He thought of the messes Liliana had caused him. He thought of Kallist all that time ago, and he thought of Vraska just a few hours prior. “But… it needs to be addressed immediately.”

“I’m aware, Jace. But the demon Belzenlok must also be addressed immediately. She’s weakened. If we don’t take care of it now, Belzenlok will overtake all of Dominaria, and Liliana will be unable to fight to her fullest.”

“He’s right.” Liliana sighed, “Weakened like this, I won’t be of any help at all. Not fully. We’ll be routed again, or worse. Just like on Amonkhet, completely at Bolas’ mercy.”

That made Jace pause. After everything on Ixalan, his first instinct was not to trust her again. He knew better. But if what they were saying was true, then she was correct. He turned to Chandra. “I understand the necessity of your situation, but surely you can come with me?”

Chandra bit her bottom lip, not much liking the awkward turn this reunion had taken. “Listen, Jace… My plans were… not as great as I thought they were. I can admit that. But I have a chance, a chance to get what I need here. I need to learn more. About myself. I need to see this through. Please understand.”

Jace exhaled in resignation. He was still happy just to see his friends (and Liliana, to an extent) again, but this hadn’t exactly been what he wanted to hear. “I… understand. I guess. I’ll go on my own, then.”

“I’m sorry, Jace. This is just as urgent.” Gideon glanced to the side, avoiding contact with the boy’s blue eyes.

“It’s… fine.” Jace lied. It wasn’t exactly fine, but it couldn’t exactly be helped. “But I can’t stay. I need to go to Ravnica. It’s my duty as the Guildpact.”

In a whorl of blue shadows and the snapping of aether, Jace Beleren disappeared again.

There was a long, pregnant silence, only eventually broken by one of the ship’s crew, a rather shaggy-looking young mage.

“So.” Raff Capashen began, “Are all Planeswalkers like this?”

[geminiamethyst]

Dragon Seekers. Chapter 22

Chapter 1: click HERE Chapter 21: click HERE

Chapter 23: click HERE

“Hey! You got the target this time!” Ash beamed aweigh pride. Jamie breathed a sigh of relief at this. After eating and letting their meals go down, Ash urged Jamie to start training again. This time, she let Jamie choose what he wanted to do next. Since it always seemed to be easy on TV, Jamie decided to give archery a go. While it did seem easy, he was proven wrong at how hard it really was. Everything had to be taken into consideration: how much he had to pull back; his aim; focus on the target; wind speed and how long he held the bow string for. First time he took a shot, he didn’t pull back the string enough. This made the arrow hot the ground halfway to the target. Second time, Jamie took too long to aim, causing the bow and the tension in his arms to shake, making him miss the target. Ash gave him advice on how to do better, thankfully without being as harsh as she was earlier. Jamie had fired three more arrows, the third finally hitting the target.

“Keep that up, and I believe that you’ll have your ideal weapon,” Ash smiled with confidence.

“I had a good teacher,” Jamie complimented with a smile.

“Oh please! I’m still learning myself,” Ash scoffed, but looked like she took the compliment well. Jamie smiled back as he started to retrieve his arrows. He looked at the last one that he had fired. It was just inside the target. Pretty good, but I’ll get better the more he practised.

Jamie started to reach for the arrow, when there was a chiming in the air. Ash jumped to her feet in a flash of giddy excitement. Cinder did the same thing. The chiming rang again, like the dinging of a small bell. As it called out, Ash immediately went up to Jamie. He didn’t react as she hurriedly grabbed the bow and arrows from him.

“It’s time! Nexus is done with your egg!” She cheered, causing Jamie to feel just as excited. As soon as they dumped the weapons back on the rack, they jumped onto Cinder. The dragon let out a quiet harrumph before she powerfully flapped her wings. Leaves and dust flew up as Cinder’s body was going up. Jamie held onto Ash, just lie, the first time he was taken for a ride. Cinder didn’t go too high. She only flew a couple, of metres above the trees. She didn’t need to go too far. Jamie could only feel excitement building up again. Time to be with his egg again.

“Your Majesty! The crystals! They-”

“I know, you idiot! Get out!”

“It couldn’t be…”

“Your egg is definitely unique, Jamie,” Ash thought out loud as she hopped off of Cinder.

“Tell me something that I don’t know,” Jamie mumbled, also hopping off of Cinder. Once he got on the ground, he noticed that there were a few other dragons. Must be a few other families that were there to pick up their kids’ dragons. Hopefully they wont be kept too long. Jamie took a moment to look at the dragons, to see how different they all were. One Jamie recognised from possibly originating from Ash’s island. It seemed to be having a glaring match with another dragon that was similar to the one Jamie saw earlier. One was first green and had a very slim body. And the last one was ocean blue, but it didn’t have wings. It was nice to see more of a variety of dragons a little closer now.

“Jamie! Come on!” Ash suddenly called out to Jamie. He immediately went after her, just as the doors were opening up. He immediately went after her, just as the doors were opening up. A man and who Jamie assumed to be his daughter stepped out. Both of them were dressed in shorts, sandals and what seemed to be rash vests. Ash stepped quite cautiously out of the way. Both offered a smile at both her and Jamie as they walked over to the wingless dragon, the little girl carrying an egg. Jamie watched as the dragon started to walk towards the tree line with its passengers. How could they get out of the dragon couldn’t fly? Was there a way out that Jamie didn’t notice before?

Hearing Ash calling out to him again, Jamie snapped out of his thoughts. Shaking off everything else, he followed her back inside. As he entered, he could hear talking coming from the drawing room. Nexus stepped out of it, looking almost overwhelmed. He seemed a bit brighter as he saw the two in front of him.

“Thank you for coming back. I have looked over your egg, Jamie. There’s some good news,” Nexus said as he smiled tiredly. There was suddenly muffled shouting from the drawing room, causing the elder to groan in annoyance. “Could you take Jamie to the library, Ash. I need to calm things down.” Ash eagerly nodded, quickly ushering Jamie up the stairs. Nexus went back into the drawing room, shouting himself. Ash hurriedly took Jamie up the stairs faster, not wanting to get mixed up in the drama. Jamie couldn’t agree more with that. Especially if it ends up hurting Ash again.

[ladytrollfishes]

Dragon Age AU 2.3

They still don’t take off the cuffs.

You sit there, listlessly, staring down at your stomach as chantry sisters untie your hands and wash your face. They give you clean circle robes, and when you sit there and do nothing with them, they do it for you. You barely struggle- your clothes are the last thing you’ve got that marks you as Dalish, your last connection with your home. You’re still too young for vallaslin so you’ll just look like any other elf in the circle. But- but- you’re too afraid that one of the sisters will hurt you for it, or even worse, ask the templars to do it. They get you in the shapeless robes as you listen to the two that are in charge- a mage and a templar argue about what to do with you all in the other room. Aubade they agree on- she went too far, she should be transferred to another circle. You don’t know whether you should be relieved or horrified they want to inflict her on other mages. Stuttgart acted negligently in allowing you to throw out the phylacteries like that. He would be suspended from field duty, and remain in the circle. You were a new mage here, and still young. They had hope for your rehabilitation. Demmens, however, has been a loyal mage for years. Both of them had been surprised to hear that he attempted to escape the minute his phylactery was destroyed, but neither of them were shocked with the news of his return. He demonstrated great moral fiber, but it did not cancel out the sin of his escape attempt. The final decision, in the end, is to send him away too. The possibility of the two of you being bad influences on each other is just too great, and it wouldn’t be fair to you to move you again.

You don’t see what’s fair about any of this. You didn’t like Demmens but it was hard not to feel attached after he had come back for you. He was the only half friendly face you knew and they were separating you.

Aubade and Demmens would set out again first thing tomorrow. You would be put with the rest of the apprentices and start your studies in magic as though you haven’t spent your childhood learning magic at the Keeper’s knee.

One of the sisters takes you by the hand and leads you to the apprentice dorm. You want to run but there’s nowhere for you to go, and you’re exhausted. You follow her with your head down, too tired to fight.

It’s not so late that people are asleep so entering the dorms causes a bit of commotion.

“Sister, sister! Sister Callahan!” Several of the children scream as they run for the sister. You flinch at the noise, suddenly breathless as you let go of the sister’s hand and clutch your chest instead.

“Calm down now,” the sister says. “We have a new arrival. Why don’t you introduce yourself?”

She steps aside to let the room get a look at you, and you freeze. They’re human children, their ears blunted and round, still staring at you with curious eyes. They’re just as big as you are- you loved playing with the children at home, but this isn’t home.

They want to know who you are, but they took so much of that away. When you try to breath, you can’t bring in enough air, and instead you just shake like a leaf.

“What’s wrong with them?” one of the kids calls out in the long silence.

“Shhh,” the sister says. “They have had a rough time. They’re a Dalish elf you know. Perhaps they’re simply astounded by everything we have here. Leave them alone and let them get some rest.”

You hate Sister Callahan too, but at least she points you out to a bunk in the corner, something that’s supposed to be yours. It’s less privacy than at home, where you had the leathers of a tent to draw between you and everyone else, but you could still hear the camp wind down, the elders chatting and laughing near the fire as the pavel cleaned up her shop.

You’d be able to hear everything in the dorm at least. You get in your bunk and pull your blankets over your head and when you’re settled in a ball, you cry silently into the strange bed, trying to breathe properly.

The sister tells everyone to leave you alone before leaving the room herself, but it’s an instruction they don’t listen to for long.

Someone comes by to introduce herself. Her name is Herlyn, and she’s an elf too. She has questions about the Dalish- are they really as stuck up as everyone thinks they are in the alienage? What do they eat? Do they have money? She has questions about you- what your name is, how old you are, how’d you get here. You want her to go away, but she doesn’t. You try to talk, open your mouth and just tell her to leave, but nothing comes out. You can’t bring yourself to talk.

She pulls the blanket off of you, and you curl up tighter, hiding your face in your arms. She wouldn’t hit you, right?

After a moment, she just throws your blanket on you again, and you cry yourself to sleep. With the cuffs still digging into your wrists, you don’t even dream.

You don’t feel much better when you wake up. You try to say something then, quietly, to yourself in a corner, but the minute someone else comes in your voice dries up. You can’t talk, even if you wanted to. You guess it doesn’t matter in the end. You have nothing to say to these people anyway.

One of the apprentice mages takes you up to the classroom where you sit with all the other kids, listening to another mage up front explaining what the fade is. He’s like a hahran, you think. Tasked with teaching the children their heritage, except instead of teaching Dalish history, he’s probably talking about magic. The fade is what the shem call the Beyond, you think.  The hahran talks about it strangely. A mage’s connection with the Beyond was part of who they were. Everyone was connected to the Beyond and visited as they dreamed, but only the mages were strengthened by it, chosen to serve as the clan’s connection to the world of the Creators. The shemlen hahran just talked about how dangerous the Fade could be, and how it could lead you astray or possess you to turn into an abomination if you’re not strong enough. And if you are, he talks like the fade is just a resource, instead of the world where everyone is connected. Shem magic sure seems like some kind of nonsense. You don’t touch your books and wonder how your clan is doing. The templars have to be lying to you about everyone dying, but they were still down a Keeper and a First. You hope they’re okay without any magic to look after them, without a Keeper to connect them to the Beyond. You wonder what will happen to you if you can’t escape. You’ve heard the shem don’t like mages, which you guess makes sense if they think of magic like this. You remember Keeper Sariandi smiling down at you, the first time you met her as you blew floating golden bubbles from your hands. She told you that your gift meant you would have great responsibility, and great pride. She told you that she would teach you everything she knew. There was so much you still didn’t. You bite your lip and keep your head bowed as you try not to cry in the middle of the school room. When everyone separates, practicing little fire spells you’ve mastered years ago. There’s nothing you can do, however, not with the cuffs still clasped around your wrist. The hahran makes his way to you and puts a hand on your shoulder. You freeze under his touch, staring at your feet. “You’ll be having individual lessons to catch you up,” he says. Like you couldn’t wipe the floor with all the other apprentices. He guides you to the door, and suddenly you’re afraid you’ll never see the other apprentices again, and you glance back at their attempts to create fire as he pushes you out to a templar. “Here,” he says. “Go with Ser Allison now.” You look up at the hahran, panicked, but he only smiles at you. “Don’t worry,” he says. “She’ll just take you to Enchanter Tenra whose going to teach you.” “It’s okay,” the templar says. “I’m not going to hurt you.” You stare at the ground again, shaking, but when the templar puts a gauntleted hand on your back and pushes you forward, you walk. You wonder when you became such a coward. She guides you to another room, where someone you suppose is Enchanter Tenra sits. You barely listen as she gives you instruction, the same fire manipulation the other apprentices are doing, too distracted by every twitch of her hand, of every clink of the templar’s armor. “Do you understand?” She asks. You don’t know what she said but you nod anyway. “Give me your hands,” she said, reaching out and you do, hesitant and unsure. She takes one hand in hers, and pulls out a tiny key that she inserts into a little hole in the cuff. Your eyes widen as she turns it, a little clink as it pops open and she eases it off. You barely notice the quick moment of pain as she pulls the spike out of your wrist, trembling with relief and a hope you barely dare to hope. You twist your arm around to stare at the skin of your bare wrists. There’s no wound, just a misshapen scar where the needle had plunged between your bones. It aches, but it barely hurts anymore, missing a pain you didn’t realize you had gotten used to. She unlocks your other wrist and you sob as the Beyond flows back into you, as strongly as it did before. For the first time since you’ve been taken, you’re somewhere like home. “There there,” Tenra says, patting your back. “I know it’s a little overwhelming, but we only have so much time for this lesson. Can you show me your fire?” You pull hard on the Beyond and it wraps around you like a cloak and when you breathe you feel like you’ve finally surfaced. You have your magic back. You can hear the whispering of demons promising you power clamoring for your anger. You push them back, focusing on your love for your clan. You can’t be a Keeper if you lose yourself but you absolutely can show her your fire. The templar knocks the Beyond out of you again, before you even remember she’s there. They wrestle the cuffs back onto you when you’re forcibly reminded, again, that without magic, you’re just a kid whose smaller than average and blind in one eye. You’re not done crying for a long while after that, curled up in a ball in the corner while more adults gather at the other end of the room to talk about what to do with you. Enchanter Tenra explains to you later that they were maybe hasty in letting you have your magic back so soon. Clearly you know more than they expected, so they’ll move you up to study with the older children but it’ll be strictly book learning. They want to make sure you can get used to the circle first. When they’re sure you’re not going to hurt anyone, then they can take the cuffs off. You stare the Enchanter in the eye then. For the first time since you’ve gone silent, you wish you could talk. You want to beg them to change their minds, plead for them to stop hurting you, but what could would that do? They don’t care about who you are or what you think. The corners of your mouth waver uncontrollably as you try not to cry. The enchanter looks away first. You need to find a way to escape. You can’t live like this. The tower takes to calling you Dalish, since you’re not talking and you haven’t told anyone your name. You don’t mind it. No one can say they don’t know who you are at least. The one Dalish elf in the circle, even if you don’t have vallaslin and you won’t look people in the eye. As loathe as you are to admit it, you are starting to get used to the circle. You’re eating more regularly. You refuse to do the work they give you, but you try to listen, even if learning more about magic reminds you of Keeper Sariandi. The other apprentices don’t care for you much. There’s a lot of rumors about you, most of them pretty far from the truth, though you bristle at the ones who think it was your clan who cast you out. You don’t want to tell them what happened either. They try to bother you and get a reaction out of you, but you don’t want to give them what they want. If you tell them and they feel bad for you- if you make friends- the adults will think you’re settling in. You don’t want friends. You don’t want the circle to have any part of you. It’s a surprise though, when the elf from the first day, Herlyn, steals over to your bunk one night when everyone else is asleep. She’s nervous, stumbling over her words a little, but she tells you that she doesn’t abide by bullies and if you ran into trouble she would protect you. Is this some kind of trap? You look up at her, her eyes glinting silver in the dark and watch her wince as she looks at your blind eye. You stare at each other in silence before Herlyn retreats. That’s the end of that you think, but she seems to latch onto you after that. She stops the other apprentices from throwing things at you, shares her dessert at the dinner table. She even volunteers to help you with your homework, even though you refuse to do a lick of it. The adults seem to take this as a sign of improvement and they start taking off your cuffs again, but only for your practice sessions. You still burst into tears, when you feel the touch of the Beyond, but you don’t try and fight your way out, not anymore. One way or another those cuffs will end up on your wrists again, and you’d rather not suffer through the fear of being held down again. They whisper about making you tranquil, which you’re not really what it means, only that it’ll handle your emotions and outbursts. They say you’re too young, that you’ve had it rough very recently, and that they can’t make a child tranquil for being a child. You know what Tranquility is. Keeper Sariandi told you about how the shem cut their mages off from the Beyond, burning away what makes them people. Now that you’re here, you’re not sure if there’s a real difference between a circle mage and a tranquil one. That changes when you get sent on a supply run, with a list of items to get from Nubbins, the Tranquil mage in charge of inventory. He’s got the mark of a sun pressed into his forehead, and his face doesn’t twitch as he watches you come in.  You stand there silently, watching each other. Unlike the other adults, he doesn’t ask you to do things or try and move quickly, or even speak first. You hand him the list, which he takes inventory. When he speaks, he speaks without a hint of emotion in his voice, turns to obey without hesitation. He’s like a puppet with invisible strings. It’s probably a lot easier for the templars to deal with a mage who doesn’t feel anything. You wonder who he used to be. You blink, and your stomach drops suddenly as you realize they probably did this to him to make him more manageable.

The same thing they want to do to you. You take the supplies and return but you have to stop in the stairwell until you stop shaking. Sometimes you feel like you’re the only sane person in the tower. Sometimes you feel like maybe you’re just crazy because no one else blinks an eye at things like Tranquil mages. Every other lesson underscores the risk of magic and how dangerous it is and how evil apostate mages are and how they dance naked in the woods at night performing blood magic. It’s ridiculous. You’re an apostate mage, you learn, even if you’re in the circle right now, and you’ve never done blood magic. They teach you the signs of how to spot maleficarum. It’s a special kind of evil that draws from mortal life instead of the Beyond. It’s powerful but it weakens the mage, making their normal castings weaker as their connection to the Beyond withers. You’re supposed to report any suspicious wounds or magic to the enchanters. Despite yourself you find yourself interested. You’re not connected to the Beyond anymore, not with the cuffs digging into your wrists. If blood magic didn’t need a connection to it- if it was possible for you to escape with blood magic- you’d do it without a doubt. Even if it cripples you. You can’t ask Herlyn. She’d probably tell the enchanters the first chance she gets. She’s friends with one of the sisters- she tried to get her to talk to you but you don’t want anything to do with the Chantry. You can’t trust her. You can’t find books about it without triggering suspicion, and they keep any sharp objects far away from the mages. The spikes into your wrist don’t let any blood fall-they’ve healed completely every time they’re removed and there’s nothing shed when they put them back in. Something about them must be healing the wound so you can’t draw blood. There must be something powering whatever healing spell it’s using. Lyrium? Not with it digging into your skin. You would have gone mad by now. The only other thing that can power magic though is- Blood. The cuffs are using your blood to heal the wounds it inflicts. It’s making you constantly use blood magic to heal a wound it constantly inflicts. That’s what’s wrong. That’s what’s cutting you off. You have to stand and pace then, lock your fingers behind you so you don’t try and rip the cuffs from your wrists. For every lesson about the evils of blood magic, they apparently don’t have a problem with making you use it if it helps them. Now that you think of it, the phylacteries are made from blood. Weren’t they blood magic too? There was nothing, nothing worth saving in the circle. You want to tear it all down, dig your fingers and bloody them into the mortar and rip each stone out of the wall. You want to run in the rubble of the tower. You want to scream in the faces of each Enchanter and demand to know how they could do this to you. You want to throw every empty assurance and backhanded compliment into the Chantry sister’s faces. Instead you scream into your bedding and sob, thankful the dorms are mostly empty. You have to keep it together or they’ll make you Tranquil. You have to get out of here before you’d rather jump from a tall window than continue on. You don’t know why this is so surprising to you, that the chantry was using blood magic. There was already so much of it built on such weird ideas it’s not a stretch to think they would have to use those kinds of methods to keep everyone in line. At this point you wouldn’t be surprised if there turned out to be a high ranking branch of chantry blood mages dedicated to brainwashing everyone to believing in the maker. But this did mean you could use blood magic. You had been, unconsciously and unwillingly, but you’ve been using blood magic this whole time. You wonder if you can stop. You wrap yourself into your blankets and try to breathe and focus. You try to feel the drain of mana- no, of blood, understand how it feels, of how that cuff is using you. You start to get it, eventually. It’s barely a prick, not a lot of power, or you would have noticed this before. You can’t make it stop though, not with your skin pressed up against the metal of the cuff. It’s an incessant, constant pull. But this is what blood magic feels like. You know that now. You’ll teach yourself blood magic. They kept sharp objects from you, yes, but there were a lot of books and papers that you could cut yourself of. It’d be barely a drop but you could work with that to start. It takes you a couple tries, but you manage to slit the side of your finger with the edge of a book. A perfectly plausible explanation for a perfectly plausible cut. It’s not more than a drop of blood, but you feel the murmur of power in it and when you pull on it, you create a spark at the tip of your fingers, but not much more. Still. It’s something. You take a deep breath as you start to feel something like hope. It becomes somewhat routine. You go to your lessons, only half listening. You have practice with Enchanter Tenra and quietly accept the cuffs again at the end of each session. You cry less now. Herlyn tries to help you with your homework but gets bored with you frequently. Every time you think she’s going to leave for good, she comes back the next day. You take books out on enchantment to read during the day and cut yourself on the pages at night. No one notices what you’re doing. You find spells that break and weaken metal. It’s not a heavy metal. Not too thick. You don’t think it would take that much blood to break. Maybe you don’t even need to break it all the way. You just need the healing spell to stop, though you would like to remove the spikes out of your wrists. The cuffs are spelled for protection against abrasions you think. It doesn’t matter how much you rub them against the stone work, the metal doesn’t take any scratches on its runic surfaces. You’ll need a spell that can make it past those protections, something with just enough force that can just score a line in the runes. You’ll need to figure out how to get that power. You can make a tiny force blade with the blood a paper cut nets you, but it’s not strong enough to break those protections. Smaller then, with the same force. No, even smaller. Your control has to be perfect. You test the spell, a tiny needle of force, against your cuffs, right next to the keyhole. It’s barely noticeable, but it leaves a hole. You smile, for the first time since you arrived. You can get out like this. But you don’t just have to get past the cuffs. You need to get past the templars and enchanters and stone walls. And once you’re out you have a phylactery you need to destroy. You need a plan. You can’t get through the doors. It’s too well guarded. There’s always at least four templars hanging around there. The answer comes to you on your next supply run. Acorns as spell components. No one would miss a small handful, you’re pretty sure. You try not to think about what might happen if they caught you. You take three and slip them into your pockets. Where would you break out from? Somewhere that didn’t have very many templars. Breaking through the walls would be noisy and you only had one shot at this. The apprentice washroom in the middle of the night. It doesn’t turn out to be the best spot. The stones are held much closer together there, magically waterproofed. Plus too many people come in and out. There’s too high a chance someone will ask you why you’re burying an acorn in the wall. There’s only a few places that are unfrequented enough for you to actually spend time digging into. You pick an unused study room and grind away at the mortar with a fork you took from the dining hall. You can’t just disappear for hours and hours either, before people come looking for you. You steal away when you can, to scrape away at the wall. It gives you time to try and put together the rest of your plan.

Someone will notice, no matter what you do when you break the wall. It’ll be too noise. You’ll need a distraction, but you’re not sure what. You’ll have to be in two places at once and you don’t have that kind of magic. Can you ask Herlyn? No. That’s just falling into the circle’s trap. You can’t let there be any loose ends.

In the end you can’t think of something that will let you make a distraction and a hole at the same time. You have to make your way past Lake Calenhad anyway, after you break the wall. It wasn’t as though templars in their heavy armor could immediately swim after you.

It’s a problem if they can take the time to find a boat and still be able to see you though. Not to mention the phylactery would lead them right there. You need to get a head start on the templars if you’re going to get away for good.

The apprentices would whisper to each other about monsters in the lake, creatures mutated from failed potions apprentices dumped in the lake. You don’t know how much of that is true, but you’re not sure you want to swim in it, not with holes in your wrist. You’ll just have to heal yourself before you jump.

You find a mist spell you can use to give yourself cover. You’re not going to try stealing your phylactery from inside the tower. It’s probably the best guarded spot in the place. They’d be using it to hunt you down. It would be easier to grab it then.

Your head is so full of your escape you don’t notice what else is going on. You have two out of three acorns in the wall and a hole barely dug for the third when Enchanter Tenra pulls you aside from class one day and warns you that the examinations are coming. She tells you that you have to do better than you’ve been. She says she knows you’re better than this but if you fail these exams, the chances will go up that they’ll make you Tranquil. You blink twice, then look down.

You won’t be here for that long. If you’re here long enough to go through the Harrowing everyone keeps talking about, you’ll hand your body to the spirits without complaint.

They move you all to a different room to take the written part of the exam. To prevent cheating, they say. That way no one could enchant their desk to tell them any answers or whatever. To your surprise, it’s the room you’ve been digging acorns into.

The room now is lined with long tables with a written test set up at each seat. You pick one close to the acorns. Was two enough? Your heart races. Two acorns should be enough.

There would be no distraction, but there would be chaos, with all the other apprentices around you. That would trip the templars up. It’s not the plan, but you’re not sure you’ll get a better chance.

All you need to do now is to break the cuffs without drawing attention. At least everyone else will be focused on their tests.

You gather your nerve as you take a few deep breaths. You lace your fingers together, clutching them tightly, trying to stop from shaking. If you fail- If you don’t make it- you don’t know what they’ll do to you. You’re not sure how much worse it can be. They’ve taken your clan, your family, your magic, your clothes, your eye, your voice.

You know the punishments they dole out to maleficarum. Will they make you Tranquil too? You could lose your mind still. You sniffle, wipe your eyes, and try to put it behind you. If you don’t try to break out, you’ll spend the rest of your life in the circle. If they catch you and don’t immediately take your mind too, you’ll just throw yourself down the tower stairs and hope you break your neck.

You slide the edge of the sheet against the side of your hand, barely noticing the sliver of pain. Blood seeps from the cut. You can sense the power seeping from your skin. You hunch over your test, slip your wrist under the table. Your teachers aren’t watching you in particular, just running sweeps around the room.

You duck your head again, before you can meet anyone’s eye and score a line across your cuff. The pain in your wrist immediately begins to intensify as blood rolls down your arm. You use it to do it again, stronger, and your metal cuff clatters to the ground.

There was so much power in blood. You can see why people get hooked on it. Another force blade tears through your other cuff, leaving a slice up your arm as well. Red drips onto your test, beckoning to you, but you let go of the blood and reach for the Beyond and it holds you like a song. Like a home.

You stand, staring straight up at the wall where you buried two acorns. You’re going home. The wall cracks, splinters and bursts, spraying gravel and books and stone everywhere as trees sprout suddenly from crevices much too small for them. Roots curl around stone pulling them over and down as their misshapen trunks fall to the ground.

Screams fill the air as you clutch your chest. You stumble towards the hole you made, but that spell drained you more than  you thought it would. You have to gasp, because suddenly there’s an incessant buzzing in your ears as spirits beg you to pull on their power. You shove them all back as you focus on home, grabbing the stone with a blood-slicked hand when there’s a shout at the door.

Templars push their way through screaming apprentices and immediately burst out with cleanses. You’re out of range, but if they were this close already, you didn’t have the headstart you wanted. You were in big trouble with this.

As you turn to leap out the hole, you spot Herlyn, standing, apparently unaffected by the cleanse, between you and the soldiers. She blasts the incoming templars with a cone of icy magic, freezing them into place.

You blink, stunned. She helped you?

“HERLYN!!” one of the teachers shrieks. Herlyn blinks, as though she can’t believe what she just did. She kept her promise about protecting you when it really, actually mattered. She still stands there dumbfounded, and if she doesn’t come with you, she’s going to be in so much trouble.

You wet your lips as something loose from your chest. You think you can talk this time.

“Are you coming or what?” you demand. Your voice is rusty and hoarse and you hold out a bloody hand for you to take. Herlyn looks up at you for a stunned split second, before she snaps out of it, scrambles forward over the tables and chairs, and grabs your hand.