*Tyra's POV*
It was three long days after bringing Mills to the Hearthry Estate that James and Dirthin finally returned. I'd been lucky, thus far. No one asked me to explain myself. But with their return, I knew it was coming. And I'd prepared myself for it.. I hoped.
Anyway, I'd been exercising with Jasper when they'd returned. I didn't use my psionics when wrestling with him, I didn't need to. I didn't train him, but if he learned from me, then that's fine. There were differences in the ways we'd both trained. He enjoyed the study of it, he'd said.
Sarial had told Jasper mentally that they'd returned, so we'd come out. James looked wore out, and Dirthin with a slash across his torso. They were in the process of sending the remainder of their men off. I took out my item that amplifies ability and restored everyone's energy, with Restore Vigor, then I did the same with Mend Wounds. Those who were injured recovered significantly. The men seemed considerably better off now.
James looked at me and said, "Know that we will be talking about that, but not right now."
I declined to respond past an inclination of my head. But I also didn't think he wanted a response. To me, it felt exactly like watching all those cubs come out of the Underdark after a Descent. Weary, and glad to see the sunshine.. It gave me anxiety.
Dirthin approached and said, "I for one appreciate the tending of the wound. Everyone else was a little out... of everything."
"I should have lent my trinket. It amplifies certain abilities." I told him, placing my hand on him to further mend his wound. This allowed me finer control over knitting his wound shut without leaving the muscle weak from it. An Immortal Mystic's mastery of the body doesn't extend well past themself, but to Dirthin's luck, I know how to and could make it so.
As soon as the men were gone James collected Snow Den and they went for some privacy. Probably the soothing of mental wounds. Dirthin went to the family room and had a sit down. Another form of self soothing.
With that, the cubs, Vincent, Sarial, Mills and I all headed to the library. Giving Dirthin space. After around an hour, Dirthin came to find the lot of us. Sky was in my lap, Sarial to my left with Mills next to her, Seralyn looking over my shoulder, and Vincent at my feat. Daelyn was leaned against my back, playing a light tune. And Jasper was seated in a chair. The star of the attention? An ancient book I was reading aloud from. One about an ancient evil that used to roam about.
I looked up at him after finishing the paragraph I was on, "Welcome to join." I commented, lightly.
"Well, I would hate to miss story time." He chuckled, joining us indeed.
"It's the only way we can all have the book at the same time." I told him, gravely.
With that, I continued with the reading. Half way through the book, James and Snow Den walked in. Following the music and reading. Daelyn was playing quite dramatically to what was occuring in the book. They'd walked in, took seats, listening along with the kids. The end of the book revealed that there was more to the story, Daelyn was quite upset with the ending, as it ended in a cliffhanger, he'd said.
Sarial said, "Is it a fiction? Historical documentation does not end this way."
"The ancient historians sometimes did leave it off this way." I told her. "From what I know, Lithauris was infamous for using this method of ending his books. Ninety-four percent of his books are factual."
"Next." Sky demanded.
"Do I look like your mother, boy? Be polite." I told him, "I do have the next book. But I haven't fully restored it yet."
"I mean you do look like a mother to him, yes." Sarial said.
I gave her a look. "Keep going."
Snow Den laughed, "They've been at that daily." She told James.
James looked quite amused, "Then she shows great patience. But I would imagine there is a limit to that."
"I should really just use the belt." I sighed.
"You aren't gonna do it." Sarial pointed out.
"I should." I told her. Handing the book to Vincent.
Dirthin chuckled, smacked his brother's back and said, "See? I told you she was a good one."
He winced slightly and said, "Yes. Yes, you did. And she certainly seems to be proving you right."
Sky was staring at them now. "Do you mean Tyra? It's rude to refer to someone as if they aren't present."
"It's also rude to scold your elders." I told him.
"But they are not my elders?" He said confused.
"You are a baby. The rest of us are older per species." I told him.
Dirthin looked confused. James gave a quizzical look, mulling it over.
"He's a silver dragon. He didn't wish to return home to the other continent, so for his safety, I am allowing him to stay with me." I explained. "He chose to take on this form. He's named Sky Piercer, though with this shape I've called him Sky Silvershale"
"Is there a meaning behind the name?" Dirthin asked.
"Silver and gold are soft metals. Shale is a soft, finely stratified sedimentary rock that forms from consolidated mud or clay." I shrugged. "More to the point, it sounds pretty to say."
"I feel insulted and yet not at the same time." Dirthin said. "It feels odd."
"Why? Silver being soft just means its flexible and adapts to changes easily." I point out.
"Yes, I feel rather flexible and adaptable in a fight.." He commented.
I laughed a little, petting Sky's head affectionately. He looked at me and said, "If I am not supposed to let people know, why do you keep telling everyone that I am a dragon?"
"I do not think that anyone here would seek to harm you. But, dragon scales sell very well. their organs are also very valuable to apothecaries. There are people who would want to make use of you this way. Plus, don't you recall you were poached?" I tell him.
"I see." He said. "Then why tell me to follow you for protection?"
"Because I don't trust a majority of people and I knew that at least I wouldn't harm you." I replied.
"Aww. See? Told you that you like us." Sarial said.
"Barely." I told her.
She giggled, and placed her arms around me, snuggling to me. I frowned and flicked my ears back. Then, I picked up Sky and pressed him between us, she took the hint and snuggled him, gleefully. "You are such a cutie." She said.
Sky was fine with this. He liked to be praised and Sarial was excellent at fulfilling this. And more than pleased to do so.
"That reminds me. That man gave you two items that can contact Tyra." Snow Den suddenly told James.
I couldn't stop the laughter once she'd said this. "No wonder," I said after a moment, "I'd been curious why the Sorceress hadn't yelled at me."
"There is someone dumb enough to yell at you?" Sarial asked incredulously.
I said, "You have irritated me daily, yet think someone annoying me is strange?"
She looked at me thoughtfully. "No, I suppose you are right."
I thought over what I knew of the Sorceress. A small frown forming. I was expecting to be contacted and cussed out. Tetenius prevented that. What is most ideal now, is to have the clan relocate immediately. If I could remove the sorceress and Bruno from the clan, they'd be fine without me. With as injured Dirthin was, and how fewer the men had been.. The person, people, or entities in contact with the sorceress may be something to be concerned about.
But, little eyes rested on me now, so I smiled and took my mind off of the issue. There would be plenty of time to worry about it later. Sky climbed on me, laying across my shoulders. I didn't mind. He wanted the warmth.
"Uncle, Dad, we tried the fried stuff Tyra mentioned before. It was seriously good. I think you'd like the fried chicken most, Uncle. And the fried cakes." Sarial said suddenly. "Dad, I think you'd like the fried seafoods most."
"These fried treats do intrigue me." James said.
"They're fast to make, too." Sarial pointed out, grinning.
"You seriously are a foodie." I comment, looking at her. "Is there any food you won't try?"
"Not really. Wait, yes. Blood soup. Can't do it." Sarial said.
"You should try hook horror, then. Blood soup won't seen so bad." I joke.
"What is hook horror like?" Sky asked.
"Hm. Chewy. In a tasteless fashion." I replied.
Sarial grimaced and said, "Have you eaten that much?"
"I don't normally bother to eat when in the Underdark. Sometimes I decide to, and nothing is better down there than to eat whatever you kill. Kuo-Tao tastes like catfish, for example." I shrugged.
"Isn't that a humanoid?" Sarial asked.
"It thinks and talks, yes." I replied. "They would have eaten me if they'd managed to kill me."
Dirthin laughed a little and said, "Survival of the fittest. Or at least the one who hits the hardest."
"It's a handy skill." I agreed. "If you're even a little squeamish I can't recommend going into the Underdark."
As we chatted, it became dinner time. A servant came and let everyone know dinner was ready. Then we all headed that way with James prompt. Conversation continued over dinner. All jokes and casual conversation.
After dinner, we all played a game. Except Sarial had to attend her meeting, not that I knew if she'd be able to stay awake or not. I lent her the communication device, and she and Mills went to her room for it. The game ended after some time, and Sky had gotten pretty sleepy by this point.
James suggested I take Sky to bed, just as I was considering doing so. But he added for me to come talk to him after. I nodded picking Sky up, rubbing his back lightly while taking him to bed.
I'd gotten him to sleep before reaching the room Snow Den had lent to him. I put him in pajamas, then tucked him in. Then I returned to James, and we went to his office at his behest.
"So, you've already gotten the little one to sleep." He commented.
"Yes. He falls asleep quickly." I nod.
"Then you are truly blessed, because I do believe one of my children are still.." He raised his voice, "Eavesdropping on conversations they are not privy to."
Daelyn came out, said, "Aw, man." And left the room.
"Now that we are actually alone.. I do not know if you are still trying to hide your powers, but in case you were, I have made this a private conversation. You may tell the rest of the family at your leisure. But, I have been as lenient as I can be. Whereas you have my trust to not harm my family, I, personally, do not deal in unknowns." James said.
I took a deep breath, "Are you certain I will not lie?"
"If you do, I will know." He stated simply.
Curious about that, but unwilling to question it, I said, "What precisely do you want to know? If asked directly I am less likely to try and shift attention or give half truth."
"Where does your power come from?" James asked, directly.
"Myself." I answered.
"Good enough. What do you use your powers for?" James asked.
"To ensure my survival by giving myself an upper edge against enemies, regardless of the amount." I replied, in a frank manner. I've always used my abilities, when I wouldn't be caught, to dominate my enemies.
He raised an eyebrow and said, "And?"
"There is no and. Until recently, I have only used my abilities when fighting others." I told him, I had a slight frown when saying so. I don't use them for any reason but to overpower others. Until now, anyways.
"Your clan attempted to have an impact on recent events. Obviously, you stood against it. But what will you do about it?" He asked, watching me intensely.
To that, my face showed disgust. "The Sorceress commanded I help that Denoir... What Arena and the Sorceress wanted was behind the clan's back and without Ama's consent or Ama would have commanded it. Were I permitted to act in regards to this at my discretion, I would. As it is, there is nothing within my ability to do about it, or to them, without wiping out every one of my clan members."
"Then, I will relay that information to my men, who I have already sent to collect those two. Should they fail to collect them, then I will send my most skilled agents." James said.
I closed my eyes, trying to release the pent up anger that had merged with my training- my responsibility to protect them. "I am meant to protect them..." I told him with a strained and uncomfortable voice. I looked at him with a slightly helpless look, not that I wished to feel that way. It very nearly hurt to be ignoring my duty.
"I said they will be collected, not harmed. You may continue to struggle with your priorities for a time yet. But know this, MY priorities and Dirthin's and everyone else in this home, will always be to protect each other." James said. "Their actions have placed my entire family at risk. And that I will not accept."
"I hope your men don't get highly injured, then. Because the clan will protect Arena, regardless of her uselessness." I say, tiredly. I look away for a moment, thinking, then looked back at him, "I will not interfere with however you choose to deal with them.... They aren't my family, even if they share blood with me. That's all I can promise you."
"True, blood does not count for much. Family is based on those who cherish and support each other mutually. Speaking of, my brother seems infatuated with you." James said.
My initial reaction was surprise at that. I didn't know how to process this information. Should I have realized? Perhaps.. but he hadn't been inappropriate towards me, and that was how I was used to such things being handled. "Ahm.. That.. Well, if you're still curious about how I do the things I do, I may be able to show you. But you might awaken as well."
"In what manner would you show this power to me?" James asked.
"Similar, yet very different, to how Sarial does." I replied. I could very clearly see the curiosity light up his eyes. An amusing thing for me, as I'm not used to seeing someone so curious outside of small cubs.
I thought through what I needed to share with him. For him to understand what I am fully. I would need to share the molecular knowledge of the bodies anatomy and it's functions, then take him through the psionics that I'd uncovered, the mental mastery and understanding of the world around me. Even the fact that I will stop aging, once my psionics become powerful enough to stop my own personal time. And that even when I am killed, I will come back on my own by that point, wherever I chose to do so.
Then he'll say what I know, won't he? That forming bonds with anyone is about pointless. That I will only ever live to see my friends and family die. Over and over again, unless I choose to be nomadic and not stick around any place. So, even if I did like Dirthin's looks, strength, and chatting to him, most of all his laugh, and even if he returned those feelings... He'll grow old and die. I can not change this. It's useless.
I just needed him to accept so we could get through this and I could return to my mission, abandoning this wonderful family, relocating my clan, and leaving quietly into the Underdark. It's all there is for me... All I can hope or allow for..
I kept my face from showing my depression. It'd do neither of us any good, and I'd schooled myself to not show such things to my clan mates.. though he isn't them. Hells. It's not like I knew how to let people close to me anyways. Maybe if I did show anything it was loneliness. It suited me most. All because of things that were done to me against my will.
It didn't even take him long to respond. He sighed slightly, rubbed his signet ring and said, "Show me."
"That's a level of confidence that I could mistake for trust." I joked. I very carefully placed my fingertips lightly on his hand, truthfully, barely touching him, and used an altered Mind Meld with James, it's different, because rather than connecting our minds, I gave him information, and eased him mind through it. There was nothing my mind could glean from his, because my mind didn't touch his. Think of it as a bowl being tipped over, pouring it's contents into another, then a spoon skimming the surface, revealing the contents. That's why I needed to touch him, he'd know now, because he isn't a part of me and I am staying separate from him.
After I was sure the information was imparted, what I am, what I can do, what I choose to do, I removed my hand from him. I would let him mull that information over, I didn't feel a spark from him, so I believed he didn't awaken as a mystic. He is surely intelligent enough to. But, that should be a choice made, not something thrust upon another.
"Thank you. I have much to think about." He said after a moment. Then he took out a small book and began writing in it.
I hesitated briefly, chuckled slightly, then left the office. If he wanted more out of me, I figured he'd call for me. He has the ability to. I frowned, then. How was I to abandon them if they could contact me? That wasn't possible. No, it will be. Before I left for good I could give Sarial my communication device. That would fix that.
But, my traitorous mind whispered, that wasn't rejection, was it? Not yet anyways. I was walking towards the room they'd leant to me, about to pass the family room, when Dirthin caught my eye. I turned my head and looked at him.
He seemed to have a serious feel to him at the moment, He asked, "Would you come and sit with me for a moment?"
"I promise I didn't bully him, much." I told him, lightly. Recalling James saying that he is infatuated with me. Still, I went to him, all the same.
He smiled and said, "You can always go back in and do some more."
"I don't think he'd appreciate that at the moment. He seemed a little at a loss for words..." I told him.
"Then you have done something that many have tried and never succeeded." He said.
"I can answer you, if you have questions. I owe you them more than James, as I've done more to you than him." I said.
"Whereas, I am indeed interested in these powers of yours, I personally feel I have a more pressing concern." He said.
"If it's about Arena, the sorceress and my clan, I've said to James, I will not interfere. My job is to protect them... But I simply do not wish to against you." I told him.
I tried reading his expression, but he chuckled and said, "No, no.. nothing like that. Hah. I feel.. like a child again..."
I tilted my head at him, then it dawned at me, "Ah.. Then.. It's the other thing James said. That you're infatuated.." I concluded.
"Well, it would seem that I must.. injure my brother." Dirthin commented darkly, then, in a lighter tone, "I don't think infatuated is the right word for it, I think the correct word would be enamored."
"But you don't know me.." I replied, sensibly.
"I do not know much, this is true. But what I do know is that you will protect that what you deem needs protecting. You will not fight for a cause you do not believe in. You wield power, but do not abuse it. I also know, that you like kids. And are quite good with them. And I would feel that this is one of the most important things I know, you make me laugh." Dirthin said, listing the things he knows.
I listened quietly, and waited for a moment after he'd finished speaking. "I don't think Jasper would agree that I do not abuse the power I wield. I've also never liked kids before." I told him.
He laughed. "I don't think you've had the time to explore yourself until now."
I gave a slight shrug and said, "I'm not good with emotions and people, but I know my person to a molecular level."
"Well, I'd be more than happy to help you explore that aspect of yourself." He said.
I hesitated. "Dirthin.." I said slowly, "I have not yet, but I will, soon enough, stop aging... I'll become immortal. Because I am a mystic of the immortal discipline. A mystic is a person who can alter the world around them.. to a degree."
"Alright. I understand. But is that a no?" He asked.
"I can mess with your mind and make you see things that aren't there." I told him. "If you managed to prevent my tampering, you wouldn't even be able to know that I'd tried."
"The same effect can be had with a large rock." He said.
I stared at him, bewildered. "You don't care?"
He leaned back, "Is there a particular reason I should?"
I would like to say that I didn't know what I was expecting, but that would be a lie. I was expecting rejection. And looking into his face, I know that my own face revealed this fact. But I wasn't sure how to reply to him. "Why do you not?" I asked.
"Well, that's simple. Because I can't think of a reason why it should." He said. Like if it really was just that simple.
I tilted my head, frowning slightly with a head shake, then laughed. "That's just what you want, then? Some mutant leonin you've only just barely met?"
He gave a broad toothy grin and said, "Yes."
I knew that I should tell him no. I knew that for my own sake, I should leave. But I also knew I'd regret it with every breath. Scared of this as I was, my face softened. "Alright, Dirthin. I won't turn you away."
He laughed and said, "And people say being to blunt only gets in the way. Do you want to see something neat?"
"Like what?" I ask, ever curious.
"A really good view." He replied.
"Alright." I said, very curious. What would a male think to be a good view? How is it neat?
"Well, then, if you will, follow me." He said, standing, then leaving the room. I followed him as he went to his office. We stepped inside, then he turned to me and asked, "How do you do in the cold?"
"This city is cold to me, I grew up in the desert. But the Underdark is pretty cold as well. Things freeze at night." I tell him. Things do get very cold in the desert at night. A stark contrast to it's scorching daylight.
"Alright then," He said. He went into the room that's to the left. When he came back, he had a large coat in his hands, that he then offered to me. "This will help you out then." He said.
I accepted it, slowly, wondering what we're about to be doing. "Thank you for the consideration." I said.
"Not a problem." He replied. "Now, if you'll follow me. again..."