teacher
83rd of Frost, 120 Steel
The winter season was drawing to a close. With it the worst of the cold northern winds would abate and those not suited for the cold climate would be able to walk freely throughout the landscape. At least, without biting cold weather to worry about. Talon let the winds brush through his wings as he drifted lazily through the skies. He let the wind currents guide him as he listened to the weft and weave of their gentle flow. He knew where he was flying though it had been some time since he had visited the cottage in the woods. As he soared, he felt the brush of feathers along his spine. He opened his eyes, glancing up to see his bondmate flying just above him.
Aoren had utterly refused to leave his side since that day. Both of their lives had changed following the terrible events of Rickter’s final trial. It had been a lesson learned but from that harsh lesson, Talon had come out far stronger than ever before. It was a strange thing to still think about.
Talon was a demigod. It still seemed a completely foreign concept to him. It was one that he was still adjusting to but he was finding that the less he tried to grasp the lofty responsibility on his shoulders, the more he could deal with it. Andrus had been right, there was no instruction manual. There was no sacred textbook to show him the way. He had to figure it out as he went and every day, something new presented itself. Following his awakening, Talon had experienced a multitude of things. He found that his mere presence in the city of Kalzasi had caused...a shift of sorts. The soldiers of the Sky Guard, those who wholeheartedly believed in their purpose for being protectors and upholders of Justice in the realm, Talon could hear some of their thoughts. He could hear their wishes, their desire to do right by the fair and honest laws of his country. He could hear the judges of the Common Court and the High Court as they sat in judgement before criminals or listened to arguments debating the merits of one law or another.
Talon found that he was even aware of some of the debates that took place within the chambers of the Elder Council. This, coupled with the fact that he had become aware of dozens of people across what he believed was the world. They spoke a name that was not his but all the same, he heard them. When he concentrated on them, he could almost see them as though they were standing before him or in most cases, kneeling as though in prayer. He could feel a connection to those people, much like he could feel the connection between himself and his bondmates.
At first, Talon had felt as though he would be overwhelmed but he found a way to manage. The benefit, he found, of being an Avialae had prepared him for having other presences entering his mind. He filtered out what was not important and what did not immediately need his attention. Then again, he was still learning what all of this meant. He had not shared with anyone outside of a choice few what had happened to him. Truth be told? He did not know who would believe him. Talon believed it. He was able to do things, know things, and perceive things that he would not have imagined possible in his wildest dreams. But he was struggling to find a way to put it all into perspective.
The only thing keeping him from taking up residence in a hut deep in the Astralar Mountains was the bond he shared with Aoren and Rickter. The two men anchored him and reminded him that he was not alone.
“There!” He called out to his partner as the cottage came into view between the trees. Talon angled himself. He folded his wings and together, he and Aoren went into a dive as they reached his destination. Before long, the two of them landed. The crunch of snow beneath his boots announced his arrival and neither of them was attempting to be stealthy. Talon knew better than to try and catch this person by surprise. She was never surprised.
Stepping forward, he walked up to the door of the cottage. Taking a deep breath, Talon raised a hand but hesitated. It had been a long time since he had seen her. What would she say? What would she think? He felt a hand slip into his own. The gentle squeeze of support offered to him by Aoren helped to calm his nerves. Besides, those questions were exactly why he had come. He wanted to know the answers to those things, as well as seek her wisdom. He needed to feel grounded. He needed to be around someone who would treat him...well...normal.
Talon knocked upon the door.
“Shusoa?” He waited. He used the term he had since he was a boy. Master. Teacher. Guide. “It...it is Talon.”
Aoren had utterly refused to leave his side since that day. Both of their lives had changed following the terrible events of Rickter’s final trial. It had been a lesson learned but from that harsh lesson, Talon had come out far stronger than ever before. It was a strange thing to still think about.
Talon was a demigod. It still seemed a completely foreign concept to him. It was one that he was still adjusting to but he was finding that the less he tried to grasp the lofty responsibility on his shoulders, the more he could deal with it. Andrus had been right, there was no instruction manual. There was no sacred textbook to show him the way. He had to figure it out as he went and every day, something new presented itself. Following his awakening, Talon had experienced a multitude of things. He found that his mere presence in the city of Kalzasi had caused...a shift of sorts. The soldiers of the Sky Guard, those who wholeheartedly believed in their purpose for being protectors and upholders of Justice in the realm, Talon could hear some of their thoughts. He could hear their wishes, their desire to do right by the fair and honest laws of his country. He could hear the judges of the Common Court and the High Court as they sat in judgement before criminals or listened to arguments debating the merits of one law or another.
Talon found that he was even aware of some of the debates that took place within the chambers of the Elder Council. This, coupled with the fact that he had become aware of dozens of people across what he believed was the world. They spoke a name that was not his but all the same, he heard them. When he concentrated on them, he could almost see them as though they were standing before him or in most cases, kneeling as though in prayer. He could feel a connection to those people, much like he could feel the connection between himself and his bondmates.
At first, Talon had felt as though he would be overwhelmed but he found a way to manage. The benefit, he found, of being an Avialae had prepared him for having other presences entering his mind. He filtered out what was not important and what did not immediately need his attention. Then again, he was still learning what all of this meant. He had not shared with anyone outside of a choice few what had happened to him. Truth be told? He did not know who would believe him. Talon believed it. He was able to do things, know things, and perceive things that he would not have imagined possible in his wildest dreams. But he was struggling to find a way to put it all into perspective.
The only thing keeping him from taking up residence in a hut deep in the Astralar Mountains was the bond he shared with Aoren and Rickter. The two men anchored him and reminded him that he was not alone.
“There!” He called out to his partner as the cottage came into view between the trees. Talon angled himself. He folded his wings and together, he and Aoren went into a dive as they reached his destination. Before long, the two of them landed. The crunch of snow beneath his boots announced his arrival and neither of them was attempting to be stealthy. Talon knew better than to try and catch this person by surprise. She was never surprised.
Stepping forward, he walked up to the door of the cottage. Taking a deep breath, Talon raised a hand but hesitated. It had been a long time since he had seen her. What would she say? What would she think? He felt a hand slip into his own. The gentle squeeze of support offered to him by Aoren helped to calm his nerves. Besides, those questions were exactly why he had come. He wanted to know the answers to those things, as well as seek her wisdom. He needed to feel grounded. He needed to be around someone who would treat him...well...normal.
Talon knocked upon the door.
“Shusoa?” He waited. He used the term he had since he was a boy. Master. Teacher. Guide. “It...it is Talon.”