POV: Cabil
Location: Dyonegar, Louxven
Time: Noon After
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At last, a minute to relax, a minute much appreciated. The warm, playful afternoon welcomed him with a soft breeze while a mesh of oranges, browns, and burgundy shaded his head from the hot sun. A grin curled between his cheeks, the vapor from his lit kesh bud rolling down his nostrils—exhale toxic torment, inhale toxic bliss. He needed to lose himself in the rise, to forget his title and stature. The burden of warriorhood was peeling away at his sanity, and for sanity's sake, he sank into serenity. Brief, however, as he noticed the redhead storming at him, an elf known to break his leisure. Cranking his head aside, he rolled his eyes at her approaching him.
Click—black polished pumps stomped firmly between his slumped legs. She twisted her face in grimace, a short girl with sun-kissed skin, glaring at him with honey-gold, furious eyes. Routine, he thought—how could he break this routine of hers?
"What's wrong with you?" she snapped, crossing her arms over her plaid school attire.
In return, he flashed her a heavy dose of irritation and sighed. "Ugh, Syreene, one day… just one day without you feeding me this bullshit lecture."
"Well, maybe if you weren't always bumming around, sulking in your own pitiful, depressing excuse for a life, I wouldn't have to hear myself—"
"—degrade me every chance you get? Well, that would be a change of pace," he interjected with a huff, his height towering over her as he stood. "Listen, sis, I'm off right now, so how about you do me a solid and let big brother take a break, 'mkay?" He finished with a pat on her head, exercising his hat of dominance. It was then he noticed all eyes were on them, figuring the reason for the awkward stares at a distance was fueled by the abhorrence of a human talking to an elf. But the two had resided in good ol' Dyonegar for years—they should have been accustomed to her presence by now. For a moment, Cabil sank into the haunting realization that he might have to be even stricter with protecting her—in a sea of ignorance, there was no telling how safe she actually was, or wasn't.
"Now you listen, Cabil!" Cabil turned, the sudden pitch in her voice drawing his attention back to her. He looked to the hot-headed elf swinging her sass around at him, his eyes locked at her pointed finger of pressing authority. "I am not going to stand for your bitter, I hate my life attitude anymore, you got that? I am your sister! And the only one who can take care of you and make sure you are well, or at least mentally healthy! Give me that!" She snatched the bud from between his lips, soon flattened beneath her shoe. "No more of that kesh! It's slowly rotting your brain!"
"Well, excuse me princess, but the last time I checked, I was the elder sibling. And," the dark-haired deviant shrugged, "that means those little elf ears of yours gotta' listen to me."
"Oh, is that so?" she tweeted, giving him her back with a cold shoulder. "Well, if that's the case, then I guess I have no choice but to board. I'll have no problem living on my own."
He surrendered. "Ugh, come on, Sy, stop acting so childish."
She turned to him. "You know I worry about you, right? I just want you to be safe." A grin finally found its way to her, and with it, she coaxed, "Don't forget you have an appointment with Father Benoventeg in Dovve. He can really counsel you, Cabil."
He slouched at her recommendation before his pocket rang. Cabil answered the urgent alert flickering on his handheld, "Hargann." The distressed voice on the other end shot a few quick commands, then Cabil responded firmly, "I'm in Louxven. I'll be right over."
"W-what's wrong?" Syreene asked.
"Cappeh. At least nine of them sited in Amervaul by Bevoin Square."
"Cappehs? Those demons haven't been anywhere near Dyonegar for years, and out… in broad daylight?"
"Well, they're tunneling their way in from somewhere. Wouldn't be surprised if the legends are true." Cabil looked down to his sibling, his grip on her shoulder. "Stay in the apartment. Find something to mask your scent. Keep the shades down, lights out. Got that?"
Syreene gave him a subtle nod, the girl stunned by the grave news. Without a moment to waste, Cabil blasted out of the park flying skyward, leaving his concerned sister at the foot of his flames.
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