Reazon stared in horror as Cypher pulled his hand back, shaking off the blood and returning it to a regular hand as Dayja slumped back into bed lifeless. The two infants began to squirm in her arms and fuss, not understanding what had happened. Only the sudden movements and loud noise had disturbed their slumbers. Reaching down, Cypher picked up a child in each hand before turning to his audience, who looked on in shock.
"Now then, as the principle offender has been... punished... in this matter, we shall move on to the next issue. The birth of twins can not be tolerated, and thus the one deemed with less talent shall be slain and the other of the offspring shall have its talent restored to it."
"Lady Dayja," Donavin sputtered, "B-but Tower Master, how could you-"
"Donavin, you will see to the burial of your mistress. I believe Jet left a will in the case of his passing. Take the women and leave us." Cypher said with an air of authority, a almost physical wave of power washing over everyone in the room.
Reazon stood there, shell shocked. Cypher had killed Dayja. Certainly she had resisted his approach but this was just too extreme! What was going on here? Surely the other Master would not stand for such a lawless form of behavior! As Donavin quickly took the women from the room, Cypher turned to Reazon with a gentle smile.
"The law must be upheld, Reazon," said Cypher as if reading his thoughts. "We cannot be forgiving to any who violate the laws or stand in the way of justice. Such actions would lead to rebellion and chaos, don't you agree?"
A chill crept up his spine at the Tower Master's smile and pleasant tone. If Reazon was unaware of his surroundings, one would assume this was simply a pleasant chat between a Master and a student, not a question asked by a man who had killed a woman for opposing him and now planned to kill one of her newborn children.
"Tower Master?" Reazon asked uncertainty.
"I know your Master and Madam Dayja meant a great deal to you, Reazon." Cypher said with a sigh while walking closer. "It can be hard to lose loved ones, and even sacrifice them to uphold the law. This is, however, your duty, why you have your gifts. So Reazon, I have a task for you."
Stepping up to Reazon, he handed him one of the small squirming bundles."I want you to take this young child and snap it's neck. If you cannot bring yourself to do this..."
Cypher left the sentence unfinished, but all trace of warmth from his tone was gone, his tone finishing the statement with a mad glee shining in his eyes. The message was clear. Obey and live, disobey and be snuffed out. Reazon looked at the body of Dayja on the bed, her face still set in defiance towards the man that had killed her. He looked at the Tower Master who continued to watch him with manic expectation, his wooden hand now held behind his back, a soft rustling coming from behind him. He looked down at the child. Thin white hair and a pair of red eyes looked back at him briefly before the child started to fuss once more. Reazon felt the sweat on the back of his neck as he struggled to find a solution. With tears in his eyes, Reazon returned his gaze to the Tower Master, and with a snapping sound of bone the babe ceased to move and breathe.
"Very good, Reazon!!" Cypher said with some satisfaction. "You have taken the hardest step to becoming a true keeper of this Garden. You will find when you look back on today that it was now you made the resolve to truly protect the people."
Reazon simply nodded, blinking away his tears as best he could before responding haltingly. "Tower Master... with your permission... I wish to bury the child and the madam. After it is done I wish to take some time and... reflect on the situation."
Cypher nodded, glancing at the still child briefly before returning his gaze to the young man in front of him. "Very well, Reazon. I will leave you to your thoughts. Today has been hard on you. Still, you should come to see me when you return. We must discuss sending you out to find your familiar, along with the other adepts."
With that, Cypher slowly walked away, holding the second squirming child, who now began to cry. The sound of the child's wailing echoed through the house as Reazon cursed the tower master with all his might in his heart. Reazon made himself a promise. He would tear down this world where the law allowed such brutality, such destruction of innocence. The babe in his hand stirred, causing Reazon to wince as it disturbed his quickly swelling finger where he had caused it to break. Thankfully the child made no sound as Reazon continued to wait for the tower master to get far enough away to begin moving. Donavin came in slowly, along with the colorless women, noticing Reazon holding the squirming child.
"Reazon, how-?" Donavin began before Reazon cut him off.
"Donavin, if you want your Madam's sacrifice to have not been for nothing I need your help. Where can we hide this infant where the tower master will not find him?"
***
Cypher was in a gleeful mood. The evening had gone without a hitch. It was a pity that Jet's other disciple was killed with his master, but the gains tonight were exceptional! Reazon had an excellent mind and had proven tonight that he could be threatened and manipulated. The male child of that cursed bloodline had been extinguished on the same day as his father! Finally, even Dayja who might have opposed him had been removed from the picture, removing any threat to him from this incident and even leaving him this final surprise!
The small girl child cried loudly, but the old man simply smiled at her tears. She was the ultimate prize. Given time, that dangerous power in her blood would become his. All he had to do was wait until she matured.
Yes, Cypher thought to himself, today had been a very good day.
***
Reazon and Donavin walked quietly through the dim streets before knocking on the door of a colorless lodging in the lower city. After a pause, a young girl that looked a few years younger than Reazon himself opened the door before quickly bowing to the two men in front of her.
"Young lady, I have a task for you." Reazon began while reaching into a satchel at his side and bringing out the small child."This child is my ward, whom I have been entrusted with by his parents who passed away untimely. Due to circumstances which I will not go into here I have come to you with an order. Raise him as your own. His name is Sain, a final gift from his family, recorded in their last testament. These two mementos were also left for him, along with some coin to sustain him as he grows."
Reazon handed over the child to the bewildered girl, as Donavin gazed on. Reazon then handed the girl a sack of coin, an ocarina that had belonged to Dayja, and a wood grain ring the color of the night sky. Without waiting for the young girl to respond, both men turned on their heels and left the poor girl in the doorway with the infant.
"Reazon, what will you do now?" Donavin asked with concern. "You know the tower master will keep an eye on you from now on. The slightest hint of opposition and he will likely try to remove you."
Reazon nodded to the old butler's words, looking over the city with its soft crystal lights.
"First, we will give the madam a proper burial. Second, I intend to go and get a familiar. It will have to be a powerful one that will give me the ability to stay safe and unnoticed if I plan to move forwards with what we discussed. Third, I will try and keep an eye on the second child. Adara will not be safe with the Tower Master so I will do my best to shield her while I can. As for the last task, that will wait until I have grown. I can't face the Tower Master right now. Someday I will though, Donavin. Stay safe until then my friend." Reazon finished with a bow to the old butler who looked at him with such concern.
The young man walked once more towards the home of his master, and the butler shook his head observing the quiet capital city streets. Just a peaceful night in Sylvatica, but the world had truly begun to change.