40 Frost 122
Exhaustion pulled at him. For days now, he had been spending every waking moment fighting against creatures in the darkest parts surrounding Kalzasi. He had returned to his homeland about fourteen days ago. In that time he had been fighting the shadow creatures during the dark hours of the night. Every village he could see, every town he could reach, he had been systematically visiting and gifting members of the populace with his protection. Whether that be the active of establishing vast circles of Scrivening imbued with his holy fire in order to ward off the presence of the dark creatures or empowering the Dawnmartyr Knights or Sky Guard who fought bravely in the wilderness, Talon had not rested much over the past fortnight. During that time he had kept himself largely cloaked using either his powers over the Dominion of Light, Aoren’s illusions, or his own Skyforge Raiment’s cloak. Even so, news had begun to spread across the country that a powerful warrior had been beating back the darkness encroaching on Kalzasi with a relentless tenacity. He pulled his thoughts away from the battles of the past two weeks.
How long had it been since he had smelled the fresh mountain air? The crisp bite of winter that always touched the breeze that flowed down from the Astralar Mountains was always the smell of home. Laced with the hint of pine and that unique arcane smell that could only be ascribed to a place as heavily ensconced with magic as Kalzasi, and it helped to unfurl a knot that had wound itself in his stomach. The glitter of Dawnstone blanketing parts of the city, interspersed with the newly discovered Moonstone to compliment it, created a latticework of gold and silver light that was keeping Kalzasi safe from the shadowy creatures that had plagued the world since the eclipse. The feeling of the air of Karnor gliding over his wings was a feeling he had missed. It made the already toubling ache in his soul throb that much harder but before he could become consumed by that feeling, it was gently pushed aside.
Had Kalzasi always been filled with so many people? Had it always been so alive? He felt as though he were seeing the city for the first time. Emotions welled up inside of him that were too complicated to give voice to. Pride. Longing. Homesickness. Relief. Pain. Fear. Love. All of it was a complex web of feelings that he could not properly sort through and truthfully, he did not want to. The last time he had seen Kalzasi properly had been one of the most joyous and most painful days of his life. A happy memory that had turned tragic. His mind shied away from it but he pushed it to the forefront of his thoughts.
He could still hear the bells ringing across the city. He could hear the voices raised in song. There had been thousands sending prayers of uplifting joy, hope, and reverence to him. Flowers had rained down from windows and people had lined the streets in celebration. Sky Guard had flown in formation to provide spectacle for the people. The air had been filled with the smell of foods traditional to Kalzasi as his people’s spirits soared. After a season laced with problems and tragedy, their resilience had refused to bow before the weight of the challenges present to them. Whether it was an avalanche, a tidal wave, or a swarm of monsters at their doorstep, Kalzasi had stood strong.
Talon had been the happiest he had been in years. He had stood before the Holy Mother of Kalzasi and said his vows, joining his best friend, his lover, his husband in union.
That joy had turned to one more tragedy.
He could still hear the screams. He could still feel his own agony and despair at the horrifying event that played out so soon after something so joyful. Kalzasi had been wounded but with a dark sort of pride, he was glad that his people had not fallen in the face of even his brief demise. It was a testament to his country’s strength that such a horrifying day, a horrifying year, could still not bring them to their knees. The aftermath had changed his life. It had changed the world, really.
Talon folded his wings and angled his body allowing his boots to touch down upon the soil of the Palace of the First Wind for the first time in almost a year. Had it only been a year? It felt like so much longer. As he landed, Aoren landed beside him. As soon as he strode forward, the guards at the gate of the palace were wide-eyed. Talon reached up and lowered his hood. Even if they had not recognized the silver of his wings, they would not mistake his face.
“Th-the queen! Send word to the queen! Quickly! Prince Talon has returned! The Prince has returned!” Two of the guards immediately took off toward the palace and Talon felt his anxiety rise higher. As he walked forward, he and Aoren were flanked by soldiers. In very rapid succession, people began to come alive around the palace. He could feel it. He could hear it. It carried with it confirmation of the rumors that had been circulating for the past two weeks.
Talon Alexios Novalys had returned.
As he was reaching the steps leading up to the great doors of the palace, the doors opened and there was a single figure sprinting down them. Before he knew it, his younger brother’s arms were thrown around him and he was being hugged tightly. Talon, still exhausted, took a moment to process the fact that his brother was hugging him. Slowly, he wrapped his arms around Rien and hugged him tightly. Others joined. His other siblings. His cousins. His other mothers. And then he was staring at his mother. His mother was staring at him in her stoic way that meant she was holding back more emotions than she cared to reveal. Her eyes were misted. As his family parted to make way for her, Sahfri reached up cupping his face. He leaned down as she pressed a firm kiss to his brow, a single tear falling down her cheek.
He felt the presence of his mother’s mind entering his. He welcomed her and as he did so, he felt the minds of his brother Rien, his other siblings, the rest of his family all joined together through the power of their mind-magic and the Bond they shared. Talon felt the dam of his emotions break and he clung to as many of his family members as he could wrap his arms around. Across all those bonds, those connections he felt only a single thing. A solitary thought that welled up inside of him.
Home.
He was finally home.
