Another Night in the Brume
Ash 2nd, 124th Year, A.o.S.
The sound of laughter and merriment had filled the dining hall and the corridors of the House of Waves, as what was either the third or fourth banquet the family held since his reawakening. After that had occurred, Rickter had been caught up in the whirlwind that remained the chaos of his life, juggling visitations with people who had come to see him after the night they'd briefly dreamt of him. Guests had come and gone with every huge meal that had been prepared each day, and while he'd felt a bit meager upon opening his eyes, the strength he'd come to possess had gradually returned to its full extent; albeit with a disorientation spell every now and then.
Having spent the evening graciously enjoying the Kalzasern dishes that had a touch of spice from Solunarium to them, the wolf had elected to take a bit of personal time to himself for a bit of reflection. Truthfully, his social energy had been exhausted for the day and he needed time to mull over bits and pieces of conversation. Today he had visits from only a few members of the nobility to grace him, Kotokei members who served as vassals for several prominent Hatakomon members in turn.
According to Word, some within the Great Noble Houses had heard his story, and believed that someone of his status shouldn't just settle for being a Kozuko. He had already just awakened from a seasonal nap, and yet somehow, he was already getting more attention than he ever wanted. Rickter would've rather kept everything simple and focused on his immediate family, then again, he had to accept that 'simple' wasn't a concept he could maintain even if he tried. All hope for that had gone out the window the moment he'd stepped up to become a member of the Argent Hand, and started the journey that had led him to become the Draegir he was currently.
So then, are you going to do it? Oh yeah, and now, of course, he shared his mind as a host to another part of him. A different personality some would say but to Rickter it felt so much more, much deeper than what any implication meant at the word. As he'd strolled out into the moonlit path of the gardens around the familial manor, the wolf walked slowly with no real sense of purpose or direction; merely an outsetting gaze to the starlit skies where the peaks of Astralar lingered.
There's already too much ground to cover as of now. Between what you've started for us in Atraxia, and where things have panned out here, it already feels like there's an absurd amount to keep up with. Too much in fact. Rickter figured with a steady gaze on the path before him, as he approached a stone carved bench with a few statue pieces that seemed fairly new to the garden. It seemed the family had taken a bit of pride in him just as well, as the statues he'd noticed were that of great wolves stationed in the form of a pack. Ironically a reminder of his ideology in turn.
True. With everything on your plate, your head must feel like it's ready to burst. I'm sorry for the extra burdens I've unintentionally added to your plate... The voice of Lykos echoed in his thoughts until a silence came through them, in which, Rickter could only seat himself upon the bench without so much of a thought to the innate chill that should've plagued his rump.
You haven't done a thing, except live the life given to you with the time that you had. Besides, you and I still have a lot of work to do, and a lot more ground to cover if the Promises of Old are meant to be upheld. The wolf assured his other half as he kept watching the skies, all the while banter and laughter still echoed in the manor at his back. Rickter also listened to the gentle tap of footsteps as they indicated someone's approach, the familiar sounds met with the same lovely scent of lilies on the warmest day of Searing. In time... We'll have figured out the path that's been laid out before us. Until then Lykos, we keep moving forward with what we know.
"Had to get some air?" The lilted voice of his beloved soothed his ears as Rickter altered the course of his gaze. Telion had come out dressed in her teal silken robes to check in with him, and approached the wolf with an endearingly warm smile.
"Yeah," he briefly answered before lifting himself to step over and share his seat on the bench, "the food and the reception have been great but..."
"It's never been your kind of thing, I know." The mother mused as she joined him with her arms tucked close to her form, naturally, the wolf did not wait to bring an arm to wrap around her to hold her close. It was easy to activate magic and null the cold to the extent it wouldn't bother her, but somehow, it felt more easier and intimate to shelter her with his own body heat.
"I imagine it will be different when others come to visit, since I've barely gotten past the nobles that have sought me out." He reasoned with a hint of a gentle grin shared at Telion. "But even then, Lykos and I have unfinished business we need to deal with in the next coming months."
"I'm certain you'll see everyone else again soon," the blonde encouraged thoughtfully, "it's only a matter of time before they come popping through our doors." Of that she sounded certain, and Rickter could only agree in turn. The Vastiana sisters. Talon and Aoren. Not to mention anyone else who might've sought him out after his return. "But it sounds like... you're not planning to settle down any time soon."
"I could only wish." Rickter sighed almost longingly at the thought, as he felt the embrace of Telion's hand net with his own. "During my slumber, Lykos did a lot for me even then. I've had time to mull over everything that's ever happened between us, from the moment we met to the misadventures that have followed since." A soft chuckle came from her lips but Rickter knew, at least ascertained, the underlying concern his beloved hid beneath her breath. "I've a bit of research to conduct with this family, the Maze's, but that is a farsighted goal compared to what presses on my mind."
"...Such as?" Her concern seemed all the more palpable now.
"Well, within the immediate pressing matters pressing on my mind, I've a duty to return to Atraxia soon for a short while. If only to carry out with the project that had been given to me, well, given to Lykos once he'd managed to create a marvelous contraption there." The wolf's averted eyes had rested on the pond within the garden, as he noticed the traces of moisture that had started to rise off the surface as a fog. "Once that has taken off from its infancy stages, well, from there it'll be assessing the next immediate concern that is in my line of sight."
"I see." Telion acknowledged as she too watched the pond, though, her gaze fixated on the moon and stars reflected on the surface. "Does that mean you plan on leaving again?" Upon the inquiry Rickter looked sharply to his beloved in earnest, yet he could not stop the clenching of his jaw as he mulled over how to respond to that question. Did he plan to leave? To a degree yes but he wasn't going away, merely, heading to places he had no idea existed prior to his loss of identity. Did he want to? Yes and no. There were often many conflicting feelings in that manner within Rickter, and yet, none that kept him from thinking of the bigger picture in the long run.
Rickter...
"If I were to tell you I was, and that I intended to return, what would be your answer to that?" The wolf asked sympathetically, gauging the determination in Telion's eyes when she looked at him with a familiar sternness.
"I'd say you're pretty damn crazy if you think that I'm just going to wait around here for you." She admitted almost with a sense of warning, but, Rickter's gaze never faltered from her while she concluded her thought on the matter. "Time and time again you've gone off and expected us to be here, the last time that happened you were gone in all but spirit. So, do you think I or any one of us want to go through that again?"
"Of course not." He resounded as if that had been the same answer he'd held in his own thoughts, the response merited a nod from his beloved as she tilted her head aside with her gaze to the sky.
"Of course not." Having said that there came a brief moment of silence between them, before Telion finally exhaled a sigh of her own and followed up with another thought. "Having said that, I understand your sentiments entirely. I just hope you remember that no matter where you go, you have others who are determined to go with you. Whether you want them to or not."
"Good thing I have no intention of going it alone." Rickter expressed with a weighty tone, as his gaze rested upon the two statues that resembled wolves. "After everything that's happened... I wouldn't dream of distancing myself from any of you, having said this though, there's always going to be certain places where you can't follow me." Before he articulated Rickter looked at Telion stoutly, the firmness of his jaw loosened as he relayed those sentiments for her to bear. "No matter what I'll always protect you, and our family, and I'll always trust in the will and strength of our pack. But there will be times when even that will be tested, so, while I'll do everything in my power to keep you all with me... know that it won't always be like this when we're out in the thick of it together."
"Oh please," She detested but there wasn't aggravation in her tone, "that's just like you to say that." Her eyes met his gaze and in turn, she smiled with a sense of humor he could not perceive. "Let us decide where and when we cannot go with you, Hannah, and I, we'll handle ourselves and the children just fine while you carry out your work."
He looked at her flatly for a long and quiet moment, but then, Rickter could only chuckle as he diverted his gaze back to the pond nearby. "Well," he finally started between his quiet laughs, "it certainly won't be easy but we'll make it all work then." Satisfied to hear this Telion visibly relaxed and leaned her head to rest on his shoulder, the soft sigh she released soon after enough to prompt him with curiosity. "What are you thinking about?"
"How long it's been," she regarded peacefully, "since the night you and I first met."
"How could I ever forget?" The wolf remarked as he thought back on it, only to realize that it had literally been about four years since that actually took place. "It was a Night in the Brume unlike any other..."
"Watching the light fog creeping over the water just now, makes me wish it could be simpler like at that time." Simpler huh? Rickter understood the weight of that wish like none other. Still though...
"Well..." He started as he held her snugly, before the soft blues of his eyes gradually brightened to that of an icy glow. "I can't assure the simplicity you and I seek but..." A breeze started to blow in from the North as the waning leaves on the tree branches shook and fell into the garden, bringing a touch of moisture that venerated a very light fog to manifest within the confines of the familial garden. "I can always promise to shroud us in that same Brume whenever you so desire."
The small act of magic might've brought a deeper chill in the air, but regardless, the warmth in Telion's smile was all the more worth the effort. Together, they would enjoy the seclusion they found in the rising brume that originated from the House of Waves. Before too long they would return to the remains of their dinner, and see to the twins for bedtime once their remaning guests had finally left.
Ash 2nd, 124th Year, A.o.S.
The sound of laughter and merriment had filled the dining hall and the corridors of the House of Waves, as what was either the third or fourth banquet the family held since his reawakening. After that had occurred, Rickter had been caught up in the whirlwind that remained the chaos of his life, juggling visitations with people who had come to see him after the night they'd briefly dreamt of him. Guests had come and gone with every huge meal that had been prepared each day, and while he'd felt a bit meager upon opening his eyes, the strength he'd come to possess had gradually returned to its full extent; albeit with a disorientation spell every now and then.
Having spent the evening graciously enjoying the Kalzasern dishes that had a touch of spice from Solunarium to them, the wolf had elected to take a bit of personal time to himself for a bit of reflection. Truthfully, his social energy had been exhausted for the day and he needed time to mull over bits and pieces of conversation. Today he had visits from only a few members of the nobility to grace him, Kotokei members who served as vassals for several prominent Hatakomon members in turn.
According to Word, some within the Great Noble Houses had heard his story, and believed that someone of his status shouldn't just settle for being a Kozuko. He had already just awakened from a seasonal nap, and yet somehow, he was already getting more attention than he ever wanted. Rickter would've rather kept everything simple and focused on his immediate family, then again, he had to accept that 'simple' wasn't a concept he could maintain even if he tried. All hope for that had gone out the window the moment he'd stepped up to become a member of the Argent Hand, and started the journey that had led him to become the Draegir he was currently.
So then, are you going to do it? Oh yeah, and now, of course, he shared his mind as a host to another part of him. A different personality some would say but to Rickter it felt so much more, much deeper than what any implication meant at the word. As he'd strolled out into the moonlit path of the gardens around the familial manor, the wolf walked slowly with no real sense of purpose or direction; merely an outsetting gaze to the starlit skies where the peaks of Astralar lingered.
There's already too much ground to cover as of now. Between what you've started for us in Atraxia, and where things have panned out here, it already feels like there's an absurd amount to keep up with. Too much in fact. Rickter figured with a steady gaze on the path before him, as he approached a stone carved bench with a few statue pieces that seemed fairly new to the garden. It seemed the family had taken a bit of pride in him just as well, as the statues he'd noticed were that of great wolves stationed in the form of a pack. Ironically a reminder of his ideology in turn.
True. With everything on your plate, your head must feel like it's ready to burst. I'm sorry for the extra burdens I've unintentionally added to your plate... The voice of Lykos echoed in his thoughts until a silence came through them, in which, Rickter could only seat himself upon the bench without so much of a thought to the innate chill that should've plagued his rump.
You haven't done a thing, except live the life given to you with the time that you had. Besides, you and I still have a lot of work to do, and a lot more ground to cover if the Promises of Old are meant to be upheld. The wolf assured his other half as he kept watching the skies, all the while banter and laughter still echoed in the manor at his back. Rickter also listened to the gentle tap of footsteps as they indicated someone's approach, the familiar sounds met with the same lovely scent of lilies on the warmest day of Searing. In time... We'll have figured out the path that's been laid out before us. Until then Lykos, we keep moving forward with what we know.
"Had to get some air?" The lilted voice of his beloved soothed his ears as Rickter altered the course of his gaze. Telion had come out dressed in her teal silken robes to check in with him, and approached the wolf with an endearingly warm smile.
"Yeah," he briefly answered before lifting himself to step over and share his seat on the bench, "the food and the reception have been great but..."
"It's never been your kind of thing, I know." The mother mused as she joined him with her arms tucked close to her form, naturally, the wolf did not wait to bring an arm to wrap around her to hold her close. It was easy to activate magic and null the cold to the extent it wouldn't bother her, but somehow, it felt more easier and intimate to shelter her with his own body heat.
"I imagine it will be different when others come to visit, since I've barely gotten past the nobles that have sought me out." He reasoned with a hint of a gentle grin shared at Telion. "But even then, Lykos and I have unfinished business we need to deal with in the next coming months."
"I'm certain you'll see everyone else again soon," the blonde encouraged thoughtfully, "it's only a matter of time before they come popping through our doors." Of that she sounded certain, and Rickter could only agree in turn. The Vastiana sisters. Talon and Aoren. Not to mention anyone else who might've sought him out after his return. "But it sounds like... you're not planning to settle down any time soon."
"I could only wish." Rickter sighed almost longingly at the thought, as he felt the embrace of Telion's hand net with his own. "During my slumber, Lykos did a lot for me even then. I've had time to mull over everything that's ever happened between us, from the moment we met to the misadventures that have followed since." A soft chuckle came from her lips but Rickter knew, at least ascertained, the underlying concern his beloved hid beneath her breath. "I've a bit of research to conduct with this family, the Maze's, but that is a farsighted goal compared to what presses on my mind."
"...Such as?" Her concern seemed all the more palpable now.
"Well, within the immediate pressing matters pressing on my mind, I've a duty to return to Atraxia soon for a short while. If only to carry out with the project that had been given to me, well, given to Lykos once he'd managed to create a marvelous contraption there." The wolf's averted eyes had rested on the pond within the garden, as he noticed the traces of moisture that had started to rise off the surface as a fog. "Once that has taken off from its infancy stages, well, from there it'll be assessing the next immediate concern that is in my line of sight."
"I see." Telion acknowledged as she too watched the pond, though, her gaze fixated on the moon and stars reflected on the surface. "Does that mean you plan on leaving again?" Upon the inquiry Rickter looked sharply to his beloved in earnest, yet he could not stop the clenching of his jaw as he mulled over how to respond to that question. Did he plan to leave? To a degree yes but he wasn't going away, merely, heading to places he had no idea existed prior to his loss of identity. Did he want to? Yes and no. There were often many conflicting feelings in that manner within Rickter, and yet, none that kept him from thinking of the bigger picture in the long run.
Rickter...
"If I were to tell you I was, and that I intended to return, what would be your answer to that?" The wolf asked sympathetically, gauging the determination in Telion's eyes when she looked at him with a familiar sternness.
"I'd say you're pretty damn crazy if you think that I'm just going to wait around here for you." She admitted almost with a sense of warning, but, Rickter's gaze never faltered from her while she concluded her thought on the matter. "Time and time again you've gone off and expected us to be here, the last time that happened you were gone in all but spirit. So, do you think I or any one of us want to go through that again?"
"Of course not." He resounded as if that had been the same answer he'd held in his own thoughts, the response merited a nod from his beloved as she tilted her head aside with her gaze to the sky.
"Of course not." Having said that there came a brief moment of silence between them, before Telion finally exhaled a sigh of her own and followed up with another thought. "Having said that, I understand your sentiments entirely. I just hope you remember that no matter where you go, you have others who are determined to go with you. Whether you want them to or not."
"Good thing I have no intention of going it alone." Rickter expressed with a weighty tone, as his gaze rested upon the two statues that resembled wolves. "After everything that's happened... I wouldn't dream of distancing myself from any of you, having said this though, there's always going to be certain places where you can't follow me." Before he articulated Rickter looked at Telion stoutly, the firmness of his jaw loosened as he relayed those sentiments for her to bear. "No matter what I'll always protect you, and our family, and I'll always trust in the will and strength of our pack. But there will be times when even that will be tested, so, while I'll do everything in my power to keep you all with me... know that it won't always be like this when we're out in the thick of it together."
"Oh please," She detested but there wasn't aggravation in her tone, "that's just like you to say that." Her eyes met his gaze and in turn, she smiled with a sense of humor he could not perceive. "Let us decide where and when we cannot go with you, Hannah, and I, we'll handle ourselves and the children just fine while you carry out your work."
He looked at her flatly for a long and quiet moment, but then, Rickter could only chuckle as he diverted his gaze back to the pond nearby. "Well," he finally started between his quiet laughs, "it certainly won't be easy but we'll make it all work then." Satisfied to hear this Telion visibly relaxed and leaned her head to rest on his shoulder, the soft sigh she released soon after enough to prompt him with curiosity. "What are you thinking about?"
"How long it's been," she regarded peacefully, "since the night you and I first met."
"How could I ever forget?" The wolf remarked as he thought back on it, only to realize that it had literally been about four years since that actually took place. "It was a Night in the Brume unlike any other..."
"Watching the light fog creeping over the water just now, makes me wish it could be simpler like at that time." Simpler huh? Rickter understood the weight of that wish like none other. Still though...
"Well..." He started as he held her snugly, before the soft blues of his eyes gradually brightened to that of an icy glow. "I can't assure the simplicity you and I seek but..." A breeze started to blow in from the North as the waning leaves on the tree branches shook and fell into the garden, bringing a touch of moisture that venerated a very light fog to manifest within the confines of the familial garden. "I can always promise to shroud us in that same Brume whenever you so desire."
The small act of magic might've brought a deeper chill in the air, but regardless, the warmth in Telion's smile was all the more worth the effort. Together, they would enjoy the seclusion they found in the rising brume that originated from the House of Waves. Before too long they would return to the remains of their dinner, and see to the twins for bedtime once their remaning guests had finally left.
