Journal #70: Forging Bonds

Celuriel is thankfully not pregnant. A thought that plagued my mind while I was stuck in the boneyard. Having the ability to perceive souls is quite useful if you're checking on your partner to see if they have a little one on the way. Celu and I have spoken on that topic before, we both have an understanding that as long as Ludrissiel is still allowed to roam Istralar. No child of ours would ever be safe.
 
Confirming she had not, lifted some of the building stress and worry I had in the boneyard. Thankfully it seems the several weeks I spent in the spire again amounted to two weeks on Istralar. Pharasma’s Domain is rather tricky when it comes to time, a minute here could be weeks in the material plane, or a year of our time in the spire could amount to only four days passing. Thankfully the month or so I spent crafting magical items was not locking myself in my room in the spire tinkering with things, weapons and copy spells cover. While the crafting did take up a majority of my time, Pharasma still had me perform similar duties as I had before. However it was clear this time I was not here to study and learn, so I had a little more freedom to do as I liked. I must admit, my time in the spire without Celu was definitely colder.
 
Shockley, I was not without company. A couple of people had made this trip the boneyard more bearable. Kazric of all people had made their way into the boneyard. Not dead, I think. I had been returning from my sparring session with Skien when he had shown up. Well, he had clearly shown up while I was clashing swords with the Herald. She apparently was not going to let me leave without ‘testing’ me again. Personally, I think it was her way of getting back at me for yelling at her in Undercommon. I am still surprised that my body was willing to fight her after directly coming from our fight against The Harp. Was it stupid for me to wield my blade against her in my extremely tired state, yes. Would I have done it anyway, probably? Skein and I have never seen eye to eye, our personalities do not mix well. Regardless of my hazardous relationship with my Goddess’s Herald. Kazric had somehow entered the spire and had identified which room I was staying in and had left me a box. He left me a note as well, talking about his kids and how he has given them small daggers already. That he was delivering my inheritance I had gotten from Alysia, and that somebody had given the others and myself fifty thousand gold coins. I would have asked him about that later, though because it is Kazric I have to ask around that. Another loose end we will have to deal with. At some point.
 
The other person who visited more often was Atropos. There was no real rhyme or reason for the visits, they just happened. Being Pharasma’s daughter I expected her to be different. She still had that air of eternity her mother had, but still acted like a child. For example, I had collected Celu and my belongings from the Inn we had lived in for a time. The mounds of books Celu had kept at the inn room, her birthday blanket I had gotten her, the dartboard, and tiny knives. Coming back to the room, I had found the little god laying across the couch. Kicking her ashen legs like a child, as she read one of the books I had read to Celuriel. She had a stack of books she had apparently been looking through and picked one. Hogfather the title of this one read. The image alone had struck me as childlike, but a comment here or there would remind me that she was older than her divine form depicted.
 
Still, she’s my eldest sister now, as she adopted me. Not much of a choice when a god refers to Pharasma as ‘Our Mother’ and says I could be her brother if I like. I of course told her I would not mind another sister. The fact she is a god was not lost on me, in fact, it made all of this even weirder. I still have a hard time fathoming that I can include gods in my company. Atropos was not bad company, in fact unlike my other siblings, seeing often brought a smile to my face. Upon reflection, the way I speak to her is not unlike how I had spoken to Alain. Kind and caring, as if she was family. Even though I often forget that she is a god, compared to her. She has lived eternity while I am a little child.
 
Another piece of my life that I must get used to, the divine. She has adopted me and I will eventually understand what that means. If not now then much later, though our first conversation has me leaning towards a certain topic. First Chosen Son. A title, one she thought I should have. I am of nobility but I doubt that is the type of title she spoke of. The future is never set in stone and can always be changed, but Atropos has personally shown or offered a path that I can go down.
 
Atropos was a nice division from my short time in the boneyard. The majority of my distractions came from a small bundle of scales I named Avariel. After a rather short but informative conversation with Pharasma, I had quickly returned to my room within the spire. As the fight with the shard gods had finally started to take its
toll. Bone and muscles ached as my bags were placed across the bed. Removing the cracked egg which was leaking some cloud vapors. The Wyrmling hadn’t completely broken out from her shell.
 
I would like to say I saw her first moments breaking out of her shell, but the fight against the shard gods had taken a serious amount of effort. With every intention, I had planned to stay awake to see them break that egg. Pondering the idea of helping the baby dragon by removing the cracked portions of the shell, but thought better of it. Placing the cracked egg inside that special box I made a while back which had padding inside it. The mistake was sitting on the bed, heavy eyes and exhaustion bound me to the bed. Sleep quickly capturing me for I assume a long time.
 
It took a while before I gathered enough will to remove myself from the bed. Hells it even took a while to remember dragging myself to the room, Pharasma’s words had been ever present in my head. I was just existing on top of the non-existence sheets that I had sworn had been there when I had sat down to watch the egg. That thought had at least forced me to turn to see the egg. The baby dragon had taken a day or two to crack through its shell. It is of course the time I fall asleep when she breaks out. Being greeted with the broken shell.
 
Groaning from the soreness of yesterday’s battle, the broken shell had gotten me to lean up, get out of bed, face blank as I was still waking up. More going through the motions of waking up than actually, with some recognition that I was not long alone.
 
She had not gone far as there was a suspicious bundle of blankets she had dragged off the bed. In what I think was an attempt to make some sort of burrow or miniature cave. The Wyrmling would at least be easy to find. As she just admits clouds, the entrance if it could be called an entrance just had thin white wisps of clouds. The creaking of the bed caused a stir in the blankets, shifts in the clouds.
 
Not moving too much from the bed, I slid over and off the bed. My back pressed against the frame I would wait. Knowing better than just grab the blankets and risk the baby trying to lash out at whatever grabbed them. What is an extra hour or two when I had already waited a year for this dragon to hatch. That patience was rewarded.
 
The snout of a Wyrmling poked out from the blankets and their clouds. Sniffing the air around their makeshift home. Carefully the baby crawled out of their blankets. They were a tiny wyrmling, scales the color of the clouds that emanated from their body. The only color this child had was the strange patterns across their leathery wings. Shimmering from purple to pale blues and plenty of other colors. There was a solid moment with her halfway out of their blankets she just looked at me. Each paw was measured as they stepped forward, testing air. There was tension in her movements but I stood still. Eventually she gave a full once over with her nose from a distance then paused. Draconic white eyes narrowing as her tiny form crouched.
 
“Dad!” Then pounced.
 
The newborn scrambled up my chest and around my neck. Curious about my pointed ears and climbing up to my head to make themselves comfortable. Messing with my hair, which at least got a chuckle out of me. She looked down from atop my head at the sound. I swore if dragons could smile like people she was trying.
 
“You are rather happy!”Replying in draconic language. Draconic thank gods I knew that language. Granted I think I know what? Twenty different languages?
 
“Am with Dad!”
 
Then stood up, attempting to regain balance on top of my hair. Little paws twisted on my head turning around? Then crouched and pushed off my head landing on the bed. The little dragon explored the bed, which to her was massive. The dragon was intensely smelling the remaining sheets and pillows. Almost looking for something. I watched the small wyrmling patrol the edges of the bed and keep going back to certain areas.
 
“What’s wrong” I had asked?
 
“Nother smell! Not Dad!” She said snout pressed against a pillow. Celu’s side of the bed. Kind of impressed that she was able to tell the difference between Celu and I. Especially since neither one of us have been here for a while. To be completely honest I really do not think I would introduce myself to a one day old so Dad would be fine for now. Might take a while before we can have proper conversations.“Who?”
 
Wait, does Celu know Draconic? She’s not going to like that. Draconic would not be that hard to teach to Celu, the days I spent here I had been speaking in Draconic but I had slipped into Undercommon when speaking to myself about random things. Avariel often gave me what I learned was her confused look when I spoke in another language.
 
She finally broke away from her furious examination of the bed and asked that question.
 
“Who other smell?” she pressed her nose to the sheets and then looked back at me.
 
“Mum”
 
“Mum!” Tail began to swish back and forth, proceeding to do another lap or two of examining the bed. Looking at the door “Where Mum?”
 
Before attempting a running leap off the bed. It was a nice attempt but thankfully my years as a parent taught me to know when a child, draconic or not, was about to do something bad. I without a second thought Dimensionally slid in front of the baby catching her. I am going to have to keep my eye out for her. Scrambling and wiggling out of my grip she climbed her way up to my shoulder. Snout pressed against my cheek.
 
“Why stop!” Both of her paws were placed on my cheeks, stairing intently at me.
 
“She’s not here. Mum’s at home. I can’t go home just yet.” I told her. Patting the little nubs that were her horns.
 
“Meet Mum soon?” her tiny head tilted.
 
“Soon I promise.”
 
Thankfully with the proper books I had borrowed from the library in the Spire I learned she was a dream dragon. Which also meant I learned she was a she. A fair amount of effort went into coming up with a name for the small child. Nothing really fit till I landed on Avariel. Using Celuriel’s elven naming scheme, I came up with her name. Celuriel means river-celu girl-riel, weird to think I have been calling Celu river for years without thinking about it. Cloud Girl which translates to Avariel. Not the most creative of names when translated but Celuriel thought it was sweet.
 
What I had not expected was when I fed her for the first time I gave her chicken, shockingly hard to find in the boneyard, her form flickered. As she tore into some meat I had given her, once white scales blackened and clouds began leaking shadows. White eyes are almost brighter now against those dark scales. Tearing into her food I blinked. A Nightmare Dragon, calling out her name caused her to look up, and the Dream Dragon was staring at me. As if nothing happened. So this must have been the effects of living both in the Ivory Maze and Tenaerul. Still how much she was affected will only be revealed in time. I still have not the faintest idea of what triggers the transformation. I had originally thought it was aggression or some draconic instincts, but quickly ruled that out when she yawned in my arms nodding off to sleep as a Nightmare Dragon. She switched back quickly after sleeping. It seems like Avariel's Dream dragon shape might be her predominant one.
 
Avariel hardly left my side during my time in the boneyard. Finding my shoulders and specifically my hair nice to play with. If I was not focused on creating the few magical items on the list. All my time was devoted to Avariel, strengthening her wings going from gliding to flight within a manner of days. Working on her draconic which would take time, and learned at a very young age Dragon can start hordes. Or try to at least. Catching the white wyrming dragging pillows onto the bed to further grow hordes of anything. Loose coins, two of Celu’s knives, pillows, blankets. While her horde has been growing, it still can be held under one blanket. She had dubbed it her ‘cave’ which was three pillows and a single blanket. Avariel had me construct it for her when her cave attempts collapsed. Still she has yet to sleep in her pillow cave, she spends time there sure. Especially when Avariel found something new in the room she wanted to add to her cave. As for her Sleeping? I will almost alway find her curled around my collarbone or snuggled under my arm.
 
Avariel grew a fair bit while in the boneyard. When I first held her she was hardly larger than half my forearm. Only being a week or two old I never thought her growth would be this noticeable. If I must compare her to something a rough size comparison would probably be a smaller cat. I think she has a fondness for when we are walking around the spire to sit on my head. Any larger and it might be an issue for my neck if she tries and sits on my head.
 
Spires Edge was the only place I took Avariel that was not inside the spire. Make a special effort to avoid the Herald the past couple of weeks, thankfully after our last conversation she has yet to make an appearance again. Thankful as I am, I would rather not end up fighting her with Avariel around. Regardless of that, I had taken special care to remove all of our previous things from the Inn Celuriel and I spent a majority of our ‘nights’ in the Boneyards. Also telling the Innkeeper that we would no longer be needing the room and I would be retrieving my things from the room.
 
Watching my daughter explore our room with her tail wagging as she bought something from the room she wanted to put in her horde was adorable. While I had been carefully collecting our belongings she had been gathering a small pile of her own. Celu’s things were ninety percent books or daggers and the rest were things like clothes or other small things she had bought or taken from the boneyard. From the small time we spent there, it was nice to see the city at the edge of the spire again. Gathering everything took about two hours, an eighth of that was convincing Avariel that I was not taking her hoard of treasures and we would be going back to the room with them. So I had to put ‘her things’ inside my bag. I ended up tying the few things she has claimed in one of my shirts and placed that inside my bag of holding. Teleporting back to the room, where she dragged her treasures onto the bed and into her pillow fort. In her attempts to untie the shirt bundle destroy her cave. Which I quickly rebuilt.
 
In truth that trip was one of the last tasks I needed to do before I could leave, and spent a majority of my time packing up some of the things Celuriel and I missed that were in the boneyard. I packed Celuriel’s birthday gifts, the blanket with the woven symbols similar to her champion mark, a couple of books we had been reading, and after telling Avariel we would finally be going home tomorrow. I think the idea of meeting Celuriel made her less worried about her treasures. It was a bit more difficult to get her to sleep that night, Thankfully I knew that one of the best ways to get a child to sleep was to have them burn themselves out running around and playing. A trick I used on Alain when he got old enough.
 
I told her that if she could find all ten copper pieces around the living room, I would give her a silver coin. A particularly shiny one. Telling her to wait in her cave, till I called. Quickly hiding the copper pieces around the living room. Some were easier than others like under the carpet or on the top shelf, shoes. Others not so much. Inside a book, in my sleeve. She found them, after a handful of hints for the more tricky ones. Calling out to her the white form soared into the room, prepared to scampler about and find the copper coins. While not perfect at flying, she had mastered gliding and takeoff quite well. I think she will master flight once we get back on the material plane. I was proud that she saw the coin in my sleeve, it slid further in and she happened to be looking at the moment. Eventually earning the silver coin which she happily took from me.
 
That had done the trick, I had scooped wyrmling up in my arms with little complaint from her. Silver coin tightly clasped in her mouth, I had to carry the other coins in my hand. Sorting her new treasures into her cave, she finally picked a spot near my upper arm to lay down. Not asleep just yet the small dragon asked about her mother. I answered as much as I could till her eyes shut. Slumbering quietly in my arms, letting my eyes close as I drift into dreams.
 
Morning came and passed, and the room was cleaned. Removing any sort of pillow fort constructed by wild wyrmlings. Her small collection was about seventeen copper pieces, two silver, two of Celu’s daggers and a small sortment of shiny things and one of my shirts. Once that had been safely placed inside my bag, Avariel found her perch on my shoulder and as I expected as soon as I touched the door. I was touching the door to my house. Leave it to the Goddess of Fate to know exactly when we are ready to leave to send us home.
 
Fingers curled around the door of my mountain home, the sun casting it’s bright light on Istralar. Avariel also adjusted as I felt her tense around, her scaly skin pressed against mine skin trying to hide from the bright light. From habit, I was able to reach into my bag and find my key. As my vision cleared I opened the door with ease.
 
Only to be met with a scattering of womens clothes everywhere. Ones I had never seen before today. Carefully I took a step into the house, following the trail which led into our living room.
 
Celuriel’s honey gold eyes blinked as I stood under the frame from out doorway.
 
“your home” that rare smile crossed her lips.
 
Still she remained standing where she was, as currently wearing a white lace shirt which was under a corset. Lukas, wearing a more confused expression than she was, had his hands busy working on lacing up said corset. Avariel was silently observing the two new people, as I thought she would. She had never seen another person, a living person that is. Tense the only noise the dragon made was sniffing the air of this ‘new’ building. Her eyes broke from mine, finally noticing the dragon staring at her.
 
“How long was I gone this time?” I asked, leaving my bag on the couch in a relatively clothes free spot.
 
“two weeks...” she replied, then to the vampire who finished fiddling with the corset “Lukas we can do this tomorrow.”
 
Agreeing to this, Celuriel was free and rushed over. Wrapping her arms around me pulling me into a huge. The vampiric bard had silently removed himself from the room, and when we heard the door shut we were alone. With the two of us embracing, Avariel took this chance to examine the smaller elf, to accidentally brush one of her ears. Causing Celu twisted her head to face the baby dragon. Her body tensed on my shoulder as she looked back to me. In what I believe was excitement, it’s a learning process as I have never raised a dragon before.
 
“Smell like mum? Is?” Avariel asked in draconic, twisting her head to the side waiting for a response.
 
“Avariel, this is Celu, your mother” I answer in draconic.
 
“Mum!” She chirped.
 
Avariel quickly transferred herself onto Celuriel’s shoulders, which did not work out as planned. So her back legs were still clinging to my shirt as her front paws were on Celuriels. The wyrmling had given Celuriel a similar once over she gave me when she crawled out of her first blanket cave to find me. From the small conversation in Draconic, Celuriel’s eyebrows furrowed together. So Draconic was not a language she knew. We will have to work on that. The small dragon pressed her snout against Celu’s cheek.
 
“Tomorrow I’ll make sure to find a book on Draconic.” I told her as she cast a spell to be able to understand the small dragon.
 
“thank you.”
 
“Would you like to tell your mother who you are?”
 
“Mum! I Avariel!” The dragon’s sentence got Celu to tighten her grip on me.
 
“did you name her like me?” She had hardly taken her eyes off the wyrmling as she scrambled around the two of them.
 
“I did. I thought you would appreciate it” a smile clear in both my voice and my lips. Which hers quickly pressed against when I told her I had named Avariel in a similar fashion to she was named. It was a quick kiss as she turned to look at the dragon again.
 
“hi Avariel” she whispered with affection. Quickly accepting the dragon into her arms, which meant she released me from our hug. The draconic language enabled her to speak with the dragon who was eagerly wagging her tail happy to have finally met her mother. Celu kept looking between me and the baby dragon who kept calling out to her. Listening to the Dragon recount her time in the Boneyard.
 
Finally taking time to look around our living room, these were all new clothes. Even what she was wearing now was new. I am rather happy that Lukas and Celuriel are being friendly, which is good. Well I am glad Celu is being friendly towards him. Given that he seemingly has decent fashion choices, I would need his help in about a week's time. If everything goes according to plan.
 
Completely engrossed by the child in her arms, I found myself half listening to Avariel talk about her vast hoard of treasure. Collecting the new mounds of clothes Celu had acquired. It ended up being two separate mounds which with a wave of my hand and some simple magic invisible servants picked up the folded clothes. Ushering them to our room where they would be properly hung or stored. Was it lazy, sure was about to spend nearly a half hour putting up clothes when I could be doing other things. No I was not.
 
“Mum! I...” Avariel paused for a moment, looking at me head cocked to the side. Quickly turning back the Celu when she had found the words she needed. “I can explore cave?”
 
So she was learning, clever as dragons are. It is still a strange sight to see the rapid growth of her vocabulary. It was not a complete sentence but speaking to her in draconic was helping. From two maybe three words to attempting a sentence was something. Her growth had also been rapid as well, but that will slow down eventually. Thankfully the books I had found in Pharasma’s Spire on early dragon development had said this would be the case. Avariel would continue to grow in her early weeks till she reached a suitable size. Meaning she could range from a tiny cat to a small dog in her first year and only grow from there. Thank the gods Celuriel and I have long life spans.
 
Understanding her request, Celu placed Avariel on the couch. The trails of clouds thinned as she raced across the furniture. At least finding her will be easy, just follow the fading clouds. The two of us watched the enthusiastic child scample from place to place. Celu wrapped an arm around me.
 
“this is our dragon. she is our dragon,” Celuriel said, not speaking in draconic. Her eyes traced the path her adopted daughter made through the living room. Currently on her hind legs examining the bookshelves lower, then quickly darting away to check other bits of furniture.
 
“She is,” I said resting my head on hers. “I will tell you this now, she is probably going to steal some of your daggers for her hoard. She already took some of the dagger you left behind in the boneyards. Avariel likes things that shine a lot.”
 
Narrowing her eyes, she contemplated the information I had given her. “if she takes any, you're replacing them.”
 
That did not need a confirmation, I had already bought her several daggers. There is a hanging rack in our study of her more fancy daggers.
 
With a quick kiss on the cheek I started unpacking my things on the couch and pulled Avariel’s little bundle of items. Unraveling the shirt Celu looked at the tiny hoard of things.
‘that’s two, ' she said, poking the dagger the dragon claimed.
 
I spent a majority of that day speaking with Celuriel telling her what my month of in the Boneyard was like. Being adopted by a goddess to collect her birthday present we had left behind. Something she was happy to have back As well as explaining Avariel's more unique quality, her switch between her dream or nightmare forms. Telling her I had not figured out what caused the change, but she remains in her clouded white dream form. Which Celuriel quickly corrected. Saying she is not white anymore, gesturing to the scampering dragon. Avariel who was exploring our kitchen trailed by scarlet clouds. In the boneyard her clouds were always white but now mirrored the outside, her scales slowly changing in color to mesmerising patterns. Losing her white color for others.
 
From what I can guess, from the couple of weeks I have spent with Avariel. Now in the material plane where people sleep, she reflects that. Cloud mirrors the time and sky, and her scale changes form the amount of people dreaming around her. Which makes sense given that few things actually sleep in the Boneyard. A small dragon surrounded by mystery and she is not even aware of it.
 
Celuriel had to cast her communication spell a couple of times before Avariel tired herself out, becoming a cute yawning dragon in Celu’s arms. She had been completely enamored by the small wyrmling. Avariel quickly fell asleep in her arms. Needless to say, Avariel has been sleeping in bed with us. Favoring sleeping between two us curled up on a pillow, unless Celu is just laying on top of me. Which Avariel copies laying across my collar bone.
 
It was so nice to be able to just relax with Celu and Avariel. I was worried about how Celu would react to her, I was not sure what to expect. Her falling in love with the hyperactive little child was the best outcome I could ask for. The past two weeks of watching Celuriel play Avariel and learn Draconic have been entertaining.
 
Upon the next day I had to get to work, both as a barkeep and more importantly some personal matter. Avariel, who was back to their white scaled look, was conflicted on who to join today. As Celuriel had plans to train with Kazric. I was not about to subject Avariel to watching her mother fight. So I would be taking her for the morning till I finished with some basic tasks. Avariel and I said goodbye to Celu for a bit as she was getting ready.
 
Finding a place to mail my letter to Commander Lyadri was weirdly hard to find. I was unaware Ironfalls had a post office. A process that took longer as Avariel was practicing gliding and small attempts of flight. She would take off from my shoulder glide for ten or so feet, an extra five if she was able to flap her wings twice. Then land rushing back to crawl up to my shoulder. Her flight was improving getting a full one maybe two flaps before hitting the ground. That pattern had been repeated twenty plus times if not more. I lost count when we passed the keep. Dropping the letter off at the post office without much incident. Which I expect at least a month or more before that letter is received, unless magical transportation is involved. A week at the minimum. Not really sure how the postal system works outside the country. Within Aletheia it is not that puzzle out. A letter going to Galasthin no clue, given who that letter was for I am a little unnerved about the response I would get. Still that cannot preoccupy my head the entire week I will deal with when I have to.
 
Next was the simple task of being a barkeep. Specifically the inventory, Alvir has been doing a pretty good job but I have still taken care of a large amount of the paperwork when it comes to discussions between other wineries or distilleries to have them ship ales and wine here. As expected few people were in my bar this early in the morning, so pleasantries were exchanged and the introduction of Avariel was had, and walking around with a baby dragon tends to draw eyes. That and she was very much exploring the bar and on top some of the tables.
 
Going into the basement I was pleasantly surprised by the inventory of my bar, I had not had the chance to sit down and actually go through my stock in a long while. I was shocked to see most of my stock was still in good numbers, I had set up the deliveries from other businesses around Aletheia to make sure I also had stock. Though looking through the leisures and recently bought it would seem I still need to order more Dragons’ Spiced Wine. If I recall correctly before leaving for Iskaldhal it was my most addition to the bar’s collection. I had heard it was good, but apparently some of the people of Ironfalls enjoyed it. I scribbled notes to double the product shipped to here.
 
There were also things down here that were not marked with my system and were instead in a corner labeled. A handful of beer cags and ales that I am sure Kazric had procured for the bar. Those were a lot lower in number, so I scribbled down their names and the number we had in stock. Might as well attempt to write to those places the ales were from if people started asking for them once they were gone while I was at it. Regular shipments from other towns came on specific dates, Kazric’s shipments were sporadic in types of drinks and their numbers. Alvir had kept strangely good notes, despite him telling me he had already done inventory this month with me. Which was impossible, technically, given I had been in Iskalhald and the Boneyard. He shrugged and let me continue doing inventory.
 
Why were people so insistent that I had been here when I clearly have not been? While I was scribbling down more notes, Avariel was practicing flying off of barrels and shelves. Still not being able to take off just yet, despite the amount she has tried. Was only a couple of weeks old but now that she was trying to fly. She was quickly learning how, when she was not being distracted by new things. I had to pull her away from a valve once.
Avariel on my shoulder I made my way up the stairs to the ground floor, being that it was morning hardly a soul had entered. Save for the few folks who eat here in the morning. The Bar was far more active as the sun started going down. It felt strange not to have Celuriel with me especially when I know she was somewhere in this town. She said she was training with Kazric. A concerning thought, but I told her I would finish up most of my more simple tasks today and come find her. Going behind the bar I stuck the note on our inventory underneath the bar for later. We had more than enough for the rest of this month.
 
That left a few options before finding Celuriel, getting a book on draconic for her and adult things. Avariel being on my shoulder, well I am not walking into a sex shop with a child. Well I could so the book was first, I could deal with that other one when Celuriel could take her off my hands. The book store was a place I was quite familiar with, Celuriel had on more than one occasion sent me to order books. So finding the book came with little trouble, even if Avariel was sneezing up a storm because of the amount of dust in the shop.
 
Celu should not have any problems learning the basics, She had picked up Undercommon quick enough. So I got her an all encompassing book on the language. Should not take more than a month for her to be able to understand it, if we are not pulled away by something.
 
Honestly that happens more than I would like, however I made sure these two weeks I had with Celuriel were without the lost ones. She’s currently while I write this is reading in bed, Avariel is curled in her lap. Truth is I have been taking a major break from the journal and well the Lost Ones in general. It has been nearly a week in a half since I had gotten back from the Boneyard. Celu has been picking up Draconic quite easily, that fact she wants to be able to speak to Avariel helps.
 
It’s been nice, just the three of us. I’ve been busy of course, I had to take care of some family matters which I will get into, as well as check on Ypolita. But the later half had been just us. Where was I? Right, I had just written about picking up the book.
 
Stretching in the sunlight, the two of us finally went to see Celu. It had been a couple hours since we left the house, and walking around Ironfalls shopping was a quick way to pass the time. On second thought, I cannot remember a time where I had been to the training yard. Or at least the new one. It was about what you would expect, training dummies, weapon racks, a building for storage, nothing fancy. I had to keep Avariel from attempting to glide when she saw her mother, she almost escaped. Telling her to hold on for a second.
 
Celuriel was leaning against a Scythe made from ice, Kazric was a yard or two away. My mind needed a moment to process, Celuriel was not wearing her typical jacket, her normal look in general. Dressed in a strappy top with relatively tight trousers my face flushed as I looked at her. Lukas had clearly added to her wardrobe I remember thinking. Walking across the training yard, Avariel had finally escaped my arms and glided to her mother. The tiny dragon perched on her shoulder, snout pressed against her cheek.
 
Kazric was the first to notice my lilac face and he raised an arm flexing. "I KNOW RIGHT BRO? LOOK AT THESE GUNS"
 
“Sorry what were you saying Kazric? I was a bit um… distracted.” Following my gaze, which was clearly the most difficult thing to do with Celu around. I had noticed, her deep blue woven tattoos were not just around her forearms anymore, they were now full sleeves. Celu had stopped time with the help of Magdh, I am not surprised her champion tattoo had grown. It was a good look for her. Which only adds to the list of reasons why my face was lilac. Never considered if I had a thing for tattoo sleeves.
 
Kazric lifted Celu onto her shoulders, the icy scythe hitting the ground turning into water "THIS BETTER?"
 
Avariel leaped off at the quick motion I took a couple steps to make sure I caught her. I rolled my eyes at Kazric. Who was gone. Celuriel was walking towards us like she had not been on his shoulders.
 
“Did you send him forward in time?”
 
“erased” she corrected “he’ll be back soon.”
 
“That looks good on you” I had said.
 
“it's just clothes” she looked at them “Lukas didn’t even pick these.”
 
“Still it’s a good look.”
 
My affection for this elf aside, I need to write about my conversation with Ypolita. It happened later that night, finding her was easier than I had thought. Celu would be watching Avariel tonight as I spoke with Iomedae’s Champion. I had found her but waited outside still she was done. The silver eyed champion eventually was finished with what she had been doing inside the building, where I was waiting, reading outside the door.
 
She was a figure from mythology, and she stood feet from me. A story that became real, it’s so surreal. There had been casual conversation but it had been small and I was mostly checking how she was getting long in the modern era. She seemed alright and was getting bye.
 
“We need to talk, I need to show you what you’ve done for us.” I told her. Offering a hand, which when she took it I sent us the barrier. Thankfully it still stood, but the faint transparent gold of Iomedae had changed. Still faintly transparent but that drizzling color was now replaced with black. Seeing it, I thankfully breathed a sigh of relief. Given the shard's effect on time, bringing Ypolita forward had not caused the collapse of the barrier. The two of us stood looking at it.

Then I told her.
 
Everything I could manage.
 
How the effect of the Worldrend had created a terrible corruption on the world, how Iomedae’s Champion had sacrificed herself to construct a barrier. Not herself, the Ypolita that stood next to me never experienced these events. She was taken during the final moments of the first champion's assault on those long-forgotten gods. The Harp had taken a part of her life that she would never experience, and she looked upon her work. Her mark on history, that she knew nothing off. Not bothering to explain the complex situation that she exists in the present cause, time was never in my speciality or Pharasmas.
 
Ypolita being time-displaced was not her only trouble she needed to deal with. Her goddess was another. Explaining the Unbroken March, and the circumstances that lead to Iomedae’s Fall. Taking responsibility for that, but having spoken to Iomedae she knew I had no ill intent when I had caused her descension from my suggestion to bring the Unbroken March to Pharasma’s Realm. As well the other two gods who fell. How I had bound her to the March and why I was able to do that. The constant struggle that the Goddess faces, how she herself would now be susabilte to the influence of the March because she is now it the champions of two gods, bound into one being. Ypolita would have to figure out how to identify the two’s influence as she will eventually encounter the March present. Whether she likes it or not.
 
With the Inheritor’s Fall came the temporary issue of the barrier, there had to be some divine figure holding it up. Cyne, the Emperor had taken that burden but the weight of such a task was killing him. He had been a champion of an Eldest, and thus had difficulty holding the barrier. So a deal was made, Though not by Cyne. In time he too was offered a deal which given who he is as a person was an easy guess if he would take it. Alysia, his younger sister, had made a deal with the Prince of Darkness himself in order to save her dying brother from the strain of holding the barrier. Asmodeus would take that burden, taking Iomedae’s place. His sister became his champion, sacrificing herself to sustain the barrier, though not in the same fashion that had constructed it in the first place. It is something I wish I had not learned. The only reason I had known about this, is because I had judged her soul. Pharasma’s last test when it came to her lessons on judging a person unbiasedly. She was the last person I had expected to see. As fair as I am aware there are only two other people who are living who know the full events of what happened here. Cyne and Kazric. Eventually, Cyne took his deal doing what he viewed as right for the country. I told her this, everything in regards to Cyne and Alysia because those two are the reason for this portion of her legacy. She protected Aletheia by containing Tenaerul’s corruption, and the torch was passed to the siblings. It is just sad to know how much that family sacrificed.
 
Ypolita had asked questions, which I had answered to the best of my ability. It is a hard conversation to write about, so I will not be going into detail about what was actually said. While I cannot speak for her, the silver eyed champion did seem to be proud of what she had done. That Iomedae had gifted her with that much power to create this barrier. Honored from how I spoke about her, but eventually she asked to be alone to process what I had said. I told her when she was ready we could return to Ironfalls. I had taken a measured walk away into the field, so I couldn’t hear her but she could still see me. It could have been minutes or even an hour I waited, keeping track of the time was not my first concern. Ypolita was solemnly paying respects to a life she never had, to a person she would never have a chance to become.
That was not something I wished to interrupt.
 
The silence was the ire part of the waiting, alone with my own thoughts, I can hardly imagine what thoughts plagued her mind. It was a long while before I heard the grass rusted telling me she was here. Standing and brushing myself off I asked if she was ready to return. With a nod from the silver eyed champion I offered my hand again. Moments later we were back on the cobblestone streets of Ironfalls. Departing from each other, I let her know if she needed anything I would help as much as I could.
 
I do hope I did the right thing in showing her that. I want to believe it was right. She deserves to know at the very least. A woman of legend ripped from time, all because of broken gods who are unbound by fate. Only being here because of our intervention, our choices.
 
The moon hung high in the sky as I walked back home. With one final little task I could not get done with Avariel yesterday. Being that she is a baby. It was however important for other reasons. As I had mentioned in the first line of this journal entry, I had not gotten my partner pregnant. Thankfully. While what happened was accidental, we both had talked about it and agreed that now was not the proper time for us to have children of our own. To many outside forces, such as the shards, our status as champions of Death and an Eldest, would and could affect any children that she and I have. Not to mention her sister is very much still out there which is the biggest issue that looms over our future.
 
At the moment our family is small. Myself, Celu and recently with her hatching Avariel. Our draconic daughter is a good way for Celu to practice being a parent. As I write this, Celuriel has actually put Ava to sleep. She has done something similar before, having read to the lunar dragon Veldrin. Who at times was also recently hatched and very hyperactive. We had left the two alone to deal with some Aletheian Noble business and I came back to her reading to a calmed dragon. She had done the same for Avariel, but kept reading till she had fallen asleep. She is doing well, but dragons are not elves so raising Avariel will be different from another child. Eventually, our small family will grow, once it becomes more safe for us to raise children of our own.
 
That being said, we cannot really risk having a child at the moment but we are adults. Sometimes moments become intimate. Which lead me to stand in front of our local adult sex shop in Ironfalls, as we would need protection. It had been a very strange night, an emotional conversation with a woman from myths and legends, to standing in front of a sex shop by the end of the night. I had never stepped into this particular shop but it had plenty of similarities to others the Lost Ones have been too. So finding what I needed was easy enough. Still, in my attempt to find what I needed, I could not help but flush when I looked at something on the shelfs lead to thoughts appearing in my head. I had found what I needed, and quickly made my way to the front.
 
Weirdly enough this was one of the few times I had listened to a merchant, who had greeted me with a smile when I had entered, when they tried to sell me on buying more. Which they commented was better than the box of condoms. They were a fey, which gave me a moment's hesitation, I was never sure on all the rules to the fey. Was buying from them okay? Celu had been very adamant that she stab any fey that attempted something. The Fey merchant routed around on a shelf behind them for a spell scroll that was named Block the Seed. I nodded after they explained how it worked. Which was easily explained by the name of the spell itself. I had bought both incase I did not have that spell prepared. They tossed my purchases into a bag and I took my leave from the shop.
 
Making my way back home, upon which Avariel had rounded the corner and attempted to tackle me to the ground. She had failed, but given that she is going to get much bigger, I doubt she would have much trouble in the near future. Celuriel walked around the same corner as I brought Avariel into the living room, placing the bag on the table. Ava told me what the two had been doing, Celu on the other hand had decided to look into the bag. Catching her face becoming slightly pinker.
 
“are these for us?” She asked thankfully speaking in a language Avariel did not understand. Elven this time. Then looked back inside the bag “how are these used?”
 
“Yes those are for us” and just like she had done before I kept my face perfectly level. Quite similar to how she had when Celu mentioned that I had other parts of me that had turned purple “and as for how that's something I can show you later.”
 
Avariel looked between the two of us as she usually does when we spoke in other languages. Unaware what had been said, thankfully.
 
Moving past that, the only thing of note I had done that night beside spending time with Celu and Ava was message Nivinle. It had been a brief message.
 
“There are family matters we need to discuss. As one will help House Alas’thil with information I had recently discovered. I will be there tomorrow to talk about these matters.”
 
There were certain family matters I had to take care of, House Alas’thil was one of them. The Fey who have shown us in the future, I am taking advantage of that. Cyne has yet to contact my house in the future for spies and assassins, I am moving things forward to help Aletheia and my house. As well as I needed to construct that Umbrite blade. Which currently is on my desk sheathed as I write this. Still Nivinle would likely test me when I got there.
 
Night came and went, and I had left for the Underdark in the morning. Telling Celu I had to deal with my family and I would be back when I could. It was weird having to leave her, I know she can handle herself quite well. Normally I would not mind taking her with me would not be an issue. Avariel was not somebody I wanted to bring to meet my siblings. Not when she is so young.
 
With a snap I found myself in House Alas’thil study, though I think it would be more accurate to call it Nivinle’s study now. It was how I remembered it, organized and clean. Weapons hung on the wall ornamentally, and her desk was indeed neat. Compared to mine, hers was practically bare. Books of ten find their way to my desk, which I keep organized when Celuriel puts them there. I had passed the time by reading one of the books on shelves, it was common surface herbs that could be used for poisons. Much to my horror, Vasestra & Rikzyr had been the ones who found me in the study first. Before they had attempted anything, a sharp look and a couple of words had sent the youngest Rikzyr to get Nivinle. I remained silent even when Vasestra attempted conversation, eventually commenting that ‘I wasn’t any fun.’ Fingers wrapped around Silver, making it clear what would happen if Vasestra had tried anything.
 
Thankfully the silence was interrupted when the remaining two entered the door. As expected Nivinle was straight to business. Sending the younger siblings to the training hall. So Nivinle had remembered my little trial to test how well I wielded my arcane magic. Leaving the two of us to chat for a minute. Leaving out some of the more important details, I gave a brief summary of the events. Nivinle every so often asks questions to get a better grasp of the story I told. However I had told her I was for more than just telling her I had returned to Aletheia. Our trip to the future thanks to the fey had carefully been removed from my telling of events. As that had involved time travel and events of the future which included her.
 
That had been a topic, which brought to the table two important things. Our sister Daeris, and moving events forward in time to help the Empire and House Alas’thil. Speaking on Daeris I explained our relation to her with details and facts I learned from our small conversation. I started with Daeris not being of Alas’thil Blood, and from what I could tell Daeris would never be one to want to be a matron. Her religious stand alone said as much. The other had come from Cyne’s note. There had been plans to start communication with our House in order to help with Riven’s waging war. Which she was participating and our Sister were actively fighting against. Though they seemed to have differing opinions on how to deal with his forces. Nivinle adjusted accordingly to the new information, and correctly deduced I was going to set up a meeting between herself and Cyne.
In return for sharing this information, she pulled out a small book from her pocket. Nothing fancy about this book, perhaps fifty to seventy pages. The methods to forging Umbrite. How long had it been for her? She said she had to get that information, Gods for me it had been almost a year and a half. The Boneyard keeps people and things stagnating unhealing, so I haven’t physically aged anymore by spending more than a year there. Not that a year will do much for a drow. Maybe a couple of weeks a month? I seriously need to spend a year in the material plane just to fix everything.
 
We would be forging our blade together, after showing some mastery of my arcane ability. Of course she would be wanting a blade as well, at the time it had not even come as a shock. It was just what made sense. The Matron of a house of assassins should have an umbrite blade, it absorbs light. Making the job of any assassin much easier if their steps betray them. While I am somewhat comfortable with my skill in stealth the Umbrite Blade would only help.
 
Half expecting the ‘trail’ from Nivinle I had not shown up in my typical wear. That today was boots, grey pants, and a black shirt, the spiralling comets on full display. Sliver was strapped to my side as well as another blade, but that one would never be drawn. Nivinle and I had taken the walk to training halls. It was about how I remembered it, the rafters to pratice silent assassination and balance, the rows upon rows of weapons for the less magically inclinded, the perfectly dark room which still held blind spots via the colums. Making sure you always have to watch from every direction, keeps you on your toes.
 
Rikzyr had chosen a spear, and not surprising anybody Vasestra was testing her whip. The crack echoing off the wall as I opened the door. It seems like my brother had finally chosen a weapon, half a lifetime ago the child had difficulty picking a weapon without asking. On a quick glance Rikzyr was the only one wearing armor, studded leather forms the looks of it. Nivinle had said Vasestra had some magical ability, she likely had her own magical defences. I would have to make sure to keep an eye out for her.
 
Nivinle had one stipulation for me, I in her words “not allowed to kill them.”
 
“More useful alive I know, I won’t turn Rikzyr to ash.” I replied, waving my hand in the air dismissing the idea. I had not planned to kill them anyways, what would be the point? They would not even be worth it.
They wore sinister smiles as I broke away from Nivinle, Silver had not even been drawn yet. Considering if I had needed to draw Silver at all, ignoring all comments by the flirtatious blade. Ignoring the blade’s comment at my family especially. Their stance was relaxed as they stood next to each other.
 
“It’s hardly fair, Rikzyr and I work so well together and big brother is all by his lomesom…” Vasestra had a whine to her voice when she said big brother. In her moment of being her general terrible self, I had dimensionally slid between the two of them. Weaving wild arcana into another spell, I had telekinetically thrown both my younger siblings to opposite ends of the training hall. I had become so used to dealing with creatures with difficult natural resistance to spells I almost forgot, they too had similar resistances, it just had been much, much weaker than what I had been fighting recently.
 
Vasestra just looked insulted that I had thrown her across the room. Both stumbled to their feet, Rikzyr had to remove himself from a weapon rack. By the time they had gotten to their feet, Silver was in my hand. Remove one from the fight first, Rikzyr would be the easiest to contain, no magic. Using the distance to her advantage Vasestra had remained in the general area she had been thrown. My brother had charged me instead, he caught a bit of my shirt as I shifted to the side. Moving farther back keeping an eye on Vasestra, I raised a wall of force with the arcane words and gestures around the youngest child. Climbing out was going to be rough, the boxes walls were twenty feet tall. If he tried breaking out I mentaly wished him luck. That brought enough time to…
 
Bones vibrated from the sonic attack Vastretra and released. Looking rather pleased with herself.
 
Right, I had forgotten how much she loved hearing her own voice. Being a bard made perfect since, when yes she was that type of assassin.
 
“Compared to Skein, that's nearly pleasant.” I muttered. I had to stop myself, I had almost mentally thanked Skein of all people for her training. The little brother pitifully slammed his spear against the wall of force, nothing happened as expected. Before the sound became too much of an issue, I had again slipped between the dimensions disappearing into the rafters. It had been years since I had been up here, I kept my eye on both of them as I cast two spells, Haste and Greater Invisibility. Which gave Vasestra time to do similar, well she had gone invisible. By the time I was done with my spells a Fiendish DireBat had begun to lift Rikzyr out of his box. Shame.
 
She’s hiding, brother then. I flung a fireball at the Bat and my brother. It had not been a strong summon, as it burnt to a crisp and disappeared to I assumed somewhere in Hell. I had silently moved across the rafters, which was the smart move as from the spot I had found the spell. Vasestra and Soundbursted the area, she was planning on stunning hoping I would fall, but that means she could have seen where the spell started. I would deal with her in a moment, Rikzyr had rolled from the flames. Appealing above him I imbued Silver with a spell, another fireball. Thankfully it connected. He screamed as the scimitar stuck with the force of a condensed fireball. Though he is still standing, hardly from the looks of it. He swiped wildly attempting to strike his invisible attacker. One had come close but Silver brushed it aside with relative ease. The connection between spear and blade alerted him to vaguely where I was. Rikzyr attempted eye contact, eye darting around for the smallest hint of movement. He breathed a sigh of relief as I saw some wounds close, I breathed a sigh of discontent. Rikzyr had landed a sling blow in his flurry as heard me. The air around Silver cracked with lightning, the only sign to Rikzyr where I saw while I was invisible. Imbued this time with Shocking grasp. Rikzyr dropped as Silver left his body, he was breathing. Likely only due to our sister's quick healing.
 
Now to the troubled child, still invisible. Easy solution, I pulled on Pharasma’s Soul Domain. Even in the dark her soul was bright in comparison. It was pink, but pink is a similar color when compared to love which only made me more concerned for her in general. She was a troubled child. She was not far. The pink floating orb, dashed around attempting to get closer to her fallen brother, she had cast a spell, removing the invisibility from me. That had gotten a relatively surprised expression on my face. She cracked her whip across my thigh invisibility dropping.
 
“There’s no point in continuing Vasestrea,” I said, blinking away the soul vision.
 
“If big brother is tired?” Vasestra said in that annoying way of hers.
 
She was a handful of steps away, in those handful steps, Silver became dangerously thin. Placing a Mythic Fireball inside the scimitar. The strikes were effortless and found their mark, they would have trouble against Skein. Vasestra child's play. She survived, her voice screaming in pain went silent as she curled into a ball.
 
“Heal yourself and Rikzyr before he dies” I would need to remember to weave more combinations of spells together. Dimensional Blade and Mythic Fireball are seriously dangerous.
Vasestra's bardic voice sung Rikzyr back to conscientiousness, watching to make sure she would not try something. Eventually healing herself to a less painful state.
 
Ear twitching to a single soft thump against the ground hit my ears, I twisted, blocking the blade. Sparks flying off as they clashed. Nivinle had aimed for the neck. Our weapons broke off, and she had forced me to back up from the attack. Wide-eyed now, I could almost feel my heart thump in my chest. The fact I heard Nivinle at all was astounding.
 
“Now to see how you fare against a real challenge since your warmup is over.”
 
I raised Silver in response, fighting Nivinle was unexpected but curiosity had gotten the better of me. As children, she and I were equal when compared to our skill with a blade. I had to be as I was her training partner more often than not and she needed somebody on her level. When she started developing her magic, that had changed. As I had none.
 
“It has been a while since we sparred with each…” Nivinle’s blade was at the bridge my nose, reflexes kicking in I leaned back avoiding her blade. She is going for killing blows. With effortless grace she stepped away from me as I turned to face her. Straight into it then.
 
Mentally counting my reserves I was fine, save for my special spell strikes. I would only get one more of those so I would have to make that count. My elder sister was not somebody I needed to worry about killing. Thinking like that would only hasten my death.
 
In retrospect I had completely forgotten about the other two, they were two busy licking their wounds and I assume had left the room to avoid what I could only describe as sheer destruction. Pouring a bit of my arcane reservoir into Silver, the air around the scimitar crackled with bluish-purple lightning.
 
There had been a silence growing of who would move first. Both looking for the slightest advantage on the other. Nivinle lunged a longsword sliding across a quickly raised Silver. The lingering lightning arched to the attacking blade as it passed by. Nivinle’s form left little room for error or openings. No large sweeping motions, no spot left unguarded. As our blade clashed, each motion was calculated and perciese. My attacks had done just about the same, being caught by her sword. Nivinle had slammed her leg into my side. Quick on the reaction, I wrapped my free arm around her leg locking it in place. Going for a swipe with Silver, her leg twisted, rotating herself to bring her other leg up to my face. Head ringing from the impact I leapt back, her blade catching just under my shoulder.
 
The cut was deeper than I had thought.
 
For what I had thought was a graze, blood was already trickling off my finger tips. More blood than it should be, deal with that in a moment. Block, avoid, retaliate. Look for any advantage against her which are few and far between. Skien had cleaned up my Dervish Dancing Form, though I was paying close attention to my movement. The sweeping motions while good for a normal fight, Nivinle would and had taken full advantage of habits formed once she saw them. I leaped back, but as Nivinle gave chase she faded from reality. Like her body just thinned out, similar to shadow. I drew on my reservoir of mythic power and flick tossed a daylighted dagger into the wall. I winced from the light, but I had limited spots where she could appear.
 
This was Nivinle. My Sister would never fall for something so simple as a redirection, she had not. The question was what would she do, she would be casting or preparing something. My mind was too focused on avoiding my sister. That had been an issue with my upbringing, the cold hard focus of an assassin. She too had been raised like that.
 
Still Bleeding...It’s not going to stop. Temporary fix then.
 
Fingers slide across the bleeding wound, I drew on Pharasma’s Subdomain of Ice and healing. Creating a red ice band-aid that would stop the bleed for a moment. Before my fingers had left, before my connection to Pharasma. Nivinle had stuck. As silent as dead air, the slender blade had grazed my ribs. Cursing I swung Silver but she caught it with her sword, The purplish blue lightning arched across our blades before they slid past each other. Nivinle flicked her wrist, her slender balde slamming into my forearm disarming Silver.
Ice. It’s likely the only thing that could help.
 
I slammed both my arms onto the ground, summoning a blizzard inside the training hall. Standing in the center, Nivinle disappeared from my view. Silver appeared in my hand again, still cracking with lightning. Ignoring their comments about how badly this was going, I felt Pharasma’s cold touch again as I drew on her power to manipulate the ice. It was not the only Domain I channeled Death had been working into the idea. Pulling the blizzard around Silver, the storm spiraled collecting more and more of the icy cold storm. Till room was once again devoid of it’s self contained winter.
Leaving me with something worse.
 
The shadows in the room were crawling towards Nivinle. Wrapping themselves around her. Crawling is not correct either; it was like all the shadows in the room were being dragged by chains towards her. In her shadowy cocoon, I had a half thought that broke the calm. Creating a ripple of worry across my mind. A memory of being submerged in a similar deep darkness, when a demon lord had claimed me as her own. When she had borrowed my body for a moment.
 
Without hesitation, I thrust Silver forward and unleashed the spiraling icy torrent towards that concentrated veil of darkness surrounding my sister. The blizzard lanced forward as it tore across the ground, ripping chunks of small stone from the ground. The sound of a whirling snowstorm roared off of our training hall as it rushed towards the other end of the hall. The orb was slammed into the wall, leaving a visible dent and a trail from where I had pointed Silver. Frost coated a decent portion of the room, which cracked from the warmth of the hall. Then the final snowflake fell and rested.
The veil of darkness swallowed the rest of the room in a silent fury, engulfing any light. I flinched at the rushing shadow and for a moment I had felt like I returned to that oppressive darkness but steeled myself from whatever was about to happen. I could not see, it had been magical darkness or something else. Still I kept my feet planted and looking toward where she was. I gripped Silver with both hands as the world grew lighter. Returning to the world's typical darkness.
Nivinle smiled.
 
Vantablack wings unfolded from her back, the feathers fading into nothingness like a hazy shadow's edge. A deep winter’s chill ran through my spine as I watched the Nivinle raised herself to her new height. In a strange mirror of her Demon Lord, six armed and now in Marilith’s body. Her scales were dark grey and a deep green underside. Her skin was no longer the purpley grey instead having light grey. Long black horns appeared on her head tipped white at it’s point. My grip tightened on Silver, as she pulled on the darkness around her. They were crude blade shaped objects that appeared around her hands. Even in the dark her golden eyes gleamed in the dark. With blade and darkness in hand Nivinle took her stance.
 
Shit!
 
Frost on the wall cracked from the difference in temperature, Nivinle rose then arced down diving into the shadows. Her marilith form jutting out of the darkness like a striking viper from the nearest pillar. Dark blades like fangs swinging down upon me. I had leaped passed but her other blades caught me. Thankfully shadows hurt a lot less than real blades but she had caught with that bleeding sword. Right on the top of my hip grew warm. That blade of hers was far too thin to feel pain immediately. Leaping back I saw the blood fling off of her blade as she recoiled herself for another strike, I cursed in Abyssal.
 
Drawing on my pool of ever shrinking mythical power, I telekinetically grabbed training hall weapons. They had been scared from the blizzard, now shook and flung themselves at my sister. Along with the loose rumble I had broken. With expert precision she almost casually knocked the spears, swords, and daggers from the air. That had given me enough time to cast the other spell. Feathery white wings unfolded from my back, as the spell Angelic Aspect took hold. A halo ignited above my head as with little effort I was in the air above her.
 
The smile across her face told me enough to know even in the air I was not safe. Slithering through the air from a massive beat of her wings she gave chase. Skien’s training with flight base combat was a blessing, especially the quick moment. I would never let her know that. Soaring above the rafters I look back at fingertips charged with lightning. Nivinle was weaving herselves through the rafters. She wrapped herself around one of the support pillars, shadow coalescing in her one free hand. Destructive bolts of lightning illuminated the training hall in it’s false light as I released the spell at my sister. Two cracks of thunder rung out as my spell clashed with a shadowy mockery of the same spell.
 
Gods I’m generally concerned I think she’s having fun? Viper-like she uncoiled from the pillar like lightning, I hardly had time to think. At least the real blade!
 
Any sense of calm stillness I had in my mind was gone. I knew she would not kill, to her I was a very useful pawn to move around. Still, at the moment, I would be lying if fear had not crept into my bones. It had not reached my face, as I was still too preoccupied with my sister's blades to acknowledge the fear I had. Similar to a wound that hadn’t realized it needed to bleed yet. Silver clashed with her thin blade, bones vibrated as they made contact. The cold grip of necrotic energy spread through my arms and legs.
 
From the force of her blade. Nivinle swung with all her shadowy demonic strength. It had been more than enough to knock me from the rafters. Recovering quickly as my wings extended, I glided back up. Taking a more defensive stand. Nivinle coiled around another one of the support pillars of the training hall.
 
What is that cracking soun…
 
I shot up into the rafters, narrowly avoiding the chunk of pillar my elder sister had thrown. Broken by her new marilith body constricting the stone till it shattered. Even with the addition of shadowy wings, Nivinle moved through the air like a serpent. Slithering through the rafters, I noticed a lack of her shadow-made swords. She had to be using the shadows somewhere else. Where?
 
Reflex kicked in before my mind could process what happened. Silver parried a black chain attempting to wrap itself around my neck. My eyes finally caught up to what was happening, Inky black chains jutting out from the shadows from the ceiling attempting to ensnare me, their umbra links silent unlike their iron counterparts. Without thought I was soaring through rafters, diving under and over. Which did little to help, as one chain faded another materialized near me. Nivinle snaking her way behind me, directing the shadowed chains. Pulling my wings tightly against my back I dropped into a dive, the chain missed my wings. The cold ethereal shackles wrapped around my ankle. My head turned only to notice far too late.
 
The massive Marilith form of my sister holding the chain with all six arms flung herself to the ground. The umbral replicate wave from Nivinle plunge took a second to reach me, despite all efforts on my part. Following the path of the chain I fell down to the cold hard ground. Nivinle slammed into the floor, quickly following up my body, bouncing once. Winded I could not even scream as several shadowy spikes pierced my body.
 
Nivinle had woven her shadow magic into her champion powers. Creating traps that existed in the dark, she had laid pools of condensed shadows which she had flung on top of. Then her wings of pitch black shadow burst, dissipating. A wave of necrotic energy washed over me, withering my insides as I lay there gasping for air so I could just scream.
 
Instead of a scream to my shock, I let curses in Necril as air returned to my lungs, more shadowy bands wrapped around me locking me firmly to the ground. In retrospect, I think my use of Necril was a product of walking Celuriel over the past year. A common response, if she is not ready to get up, is her cursing in Nercil, she’s never really been a morning person.
 
Being wingless made Nivinle no less dangerous, I might have lived in the dark for most of my life, but shadows were hers to command. She had always had an affinity toward them.
 
She had won...
 
Slithering towards me, like predator stalking prey Nivinle had been smiling. She had been enjoying herself
 
One last gamble.
 
I slide above her, escaping from her bonds appearing above her now falling. Pulling on the domains of Ice and Death, implanting my last spellstrike with Mythic Fireball, Silver igniting in a cold flame as the blade itself became paper thin. Both my hands slick with sweat gripping Silver as I, like Nivinle had done before, had gone for the kill. It is the way of an Alas’thil after all.
 
I cut her cheek, the smallest of cuts as she moved out of the way. One of her six arms caught my sword arm and flung me into the wall. Icy white and blue flame leaking out from when Silver cut through the wall. The fireball ignited leaving a spiral of blue flames scorching the impact. I turned slumping to the ground, Silver still impaled into the stone. Nivinle jumped into the shadows, her Marilith form fading as if it too was formed of shadows. I moved my head to the side, her thin blade sunk into the wall next to my neck. Nivinle’s smile had slid back into a smirk, she had won and she knew it. Our sparring match had made her hardly break a sweat, she was seemingly unharmed. Blood rolled down her cheek falling to the ground. A shallow wound for sure. Compared to myself who was far worse of having nearly died from necrotic shadows and a perpetually bleeding wound.
 
There was a silence between us, our matching golden eyes locked on each other, neither sibling choosing to speak at that moment. Then the unexpected happened, which earned an eyebrow raise from Nivinle.
 
I laughed.
 
The kind that hurts.
 
“Oh if Vasindra could see us now, the two of us would destroy her!”
 
I had taken a glance around, ground shattered and broken, weapons lay around thrown from the weapon rakes, spears shafts splintered to the point they would be better used for kindling. Nivinle’s broken pillar had torn several new chunks out of the ground and cleared a sizable amount from another pillar it collided with. Breaking a part of the wall on the other side, letting a group of on-lookers peer into the commotion Nivinle and I had made. Staring at their marton and their lord. How many knew I was their Lord. The cold flame sputtered out leaving a large spiral scorch mark into stone, the twisting blizzard lance had broken a chunk of the wall, drow looking in.
 
“That will suffice.” Nivinle said coolly, removing her blade from the wall.
 
“You actually enjoyed that didn’t you?” I asked, pulling myself up with Silver. I was leaning quite heavily on the blade, on the other hand removing the red ice band-aid I had given myself. My clothes were torn and more importantly bloodied.
 
The smallest twitch of her lip had told me all I needed to know. If it had been Vasestra or Rikzyr. Nivinle would end up killing the two. Her brother being Death’s Champion allows her to test her abilities, more than she would normally do.
 
“Vasestra” Nivinle called. Now scanning the crowd for our scarlet eyed sister. She as well as others were peering around the corner. She almost jumped at hearing Nivinle call her name. “Grab a priestess to have Aniks healed.”
 
Without a word our sister disappeared into the crowd which whispered and murmured as they looked at Nivinle and I. Even at a casual glance there were twelve to fifteen drows looking at us. Not counting our siblings of course.
 
“How many do you think are spies?” I whispered mouthlessly in abyssal.
 
“One is fourteen.”
 
“More than I thought.” I said ending Angelic Aspect returning to my natural form. “What I wouldn’t pay to hear that spy report what they just saw.” I said wincing as I patted off the stone dust of my trousers, Nivinle seriously did a number on me, I would be sore for a solid week.
 
Vasestra soon arrived with one of our house's few priestesses. I had always found it odd that House Alas’thil was low on people that were capable of Magic. Arcane or Divine. Save for the Nobility, I would wager maybe seventy five percent of all people under House Alas’thil were unable to cast magic. Past what was naturally gifted to all drow. It had been nearly seven decades, perhaps we had gained more over the years. Growing up it was limited to our priestesses, some shadow jumpers and our direct family which had the arcane. Still why has Nivinle sent for a priestesses instead of bring Vasestra? She was a bard, she might not have many spells to heal.
 
The Priestess was taller than me, with curly white hair dressed in typical Alas’thil fashion. Practical dark clothes, with a blade in every hidden spot that would make sense. Beginning her incantation, she looked nervous and almost scared. Glancing between myself and Nivinle. Eyes shifting any time either one of us made even the slightest motion. Constantly on guard as if either one of us would attack her. Thankfully the cleric knew the spell ‘heal’ otherwise it would have been plain awkward with how quiet it was.
 
“Once we are done with all of this, where do you want to begin?” I rolled my shoulder to see how well this curly hair drow had healed me. It had been as well as it could be. She waited near the Matron, still unable to relax.
 
“You’re dismissed.” Nivinle said, waving her hand.
 
“Yes Matron” Bowing she quickly left the room, Vasestra also took that moment to leave.
 
“Return to your patrol and other duties!” Their Matron commanded. Onlookers fled into the rest of the house, spies likely fleeing to report what they had seen. I stood near Nivinle, sheathing Silver. “Remove the blood from yourself and your Clothes, forging umbrite cannot have any contaminants. Your room should still be open. Once you're done, I will begin waiting in the testing room.”
I gave her a nod, Nivinle step forward and disappeared. Shadows stepping away to gods knows where. Possible to contract people to fix our training hall. I was alone with my thoughts.
My family is very strange.
 
Having my wound healed was fine, it hadn’t really fixed the soreness. I had fallen somewhat forty feet being dragged to the ground. It honestly hurts to breathe. A full breath of air filled my back and ribs with pain.
Fingers traced the wall after I left the hall, gliding across invisible pathways I only vaguely remembered from my childhood. My mind wondered as my feet took a familiar path from my childhood. I still had so much I needed to finish. The Umbrite Blade, House Alas’thil and the empires alliance, the paperwork for surnames, dress shopping, booking a place for an event. Thoughts cut off by a set of male guards that rounded the corner.
“..see her?” the blue eyed drow whispered, only hearing the tail end to her words. A taller drow, wearing dark padded leather armor. A rapier at his side.
 
“I value my life too much to even attempt that.” The stocky of the drow whispered. He was in more basic clothes, still in our house's fashion but I had seen a chain shirt.
 
“Really? I would love to have that tail coil…” He was cut off as they had finally noticed me. Too entertained by today's activities to pay attention to a simple drow walking in the corridors. The blue eyed drow began to say something, but stopped. Pace quickened as his eyes widened, he must have realized I was the person who fought Nivinle. Given the topic of conversation, it seems she had gained quite the following for lack of a better term. They rounded the corner, getting a very pointed look.
 
My room was similar to how I remember, but with notable differences. Empty for the most part. Shelves were bare, what books were there tickled memories. Poisons, history of Vaermyrhel house wars, ancient drow fighting styles, a book on shadow magic. I pulled that book from the shelves, walking around the room.
 
A simple balcony overlooking Vaermyrhel, same slate gray walls. My desk was small and covered in a thin layer of dust. Absently mindly I picked up a dried bottle of ink. Opening the book on the table, I rolled the bottle between my fingers. I found myself thumbing through that book on shadow magic. A half smile as I saw notes from a child me attempting to find the trick to Nivinle’s new magic.

I have even bothered with the bed, it was a bit too messy for my liking. A part of me wondered how often Vasestra snuck in here to escape from Nivinle’s watch. When that thought crossed my mind, I instantly flung a prestidigitation across the bed. I had half a mind just to burn the bed. As that would be something she would do.
 
My room was seemingly stuck in a timeless state. Nearly the same as when I was tricked and basically sold to House Umbra. Just a bit more empty. I tossed my back on the back of my desk chair, removing my shirt as well. Lukas’s heart might just start beating again just to have a heart attack at how destroyed my clothes were. Nothing a simple Mending spell could not fix. After a quick shower, I could of course use magic to remove the sweat and blood. Cleaning myself with magic just never feels the same.
 
Bathroom was about the same as when I left it. Thankfully it could still draw water. It was a quick rinse off. My own blood pouring down the drain. An uncommon sight as most of the time when I had washed off in the past, it was someone else's. Particularly messy ones at that. It was cold and most of the time I would prefer something a bit warmer. Especially given how I had been growing colder recently. A cold shower was fine after sparing.
 
Thankfully my pants were mostly unharmed . so I slipped those on without issues or drafts. My shirt on the other hand, well it looked more like ribbons at this point in some places. That would have to be mended. The spell was cast as I sat down, I still flipped through the book.
 
‘I still don’t understand. I can summon orbs of darkness, yes I cannot conjure a simple dagger from the dark Our Mother has to have told Nivinle the trick to it. I need to pay attention to their conversation and see what I can glean for them.’ My past self wrote. The notes were surpreatic from page to page.

‘It’s genetic, shadow magic is strong within our family, but it only seems to be predominantly in the females of our family.”

Knock Knock Knock!

Who would be at the door? I hooked a knife to my belt and approached the door with some amount of caution. Anything was possible within this house. Worse comes to worse, I clean up some ash and tell Nivinle. I opened the door expecting a knife in my side, instead found a drow with clothes folded in their arms.

Half a head shorter than me, she was a light red eyed drow with straight white hair pulled back into a bun. A few locks framed her face. There was a stupid amount of silence before I broke it, leaning against my door frame.

“Yes?” I asked in a drawn out and slightly exasperated tone.

“Nivinle had asked me to bring these to this empty room. Said I could find you here!” She almost sounded chipper about that, which had slightly taken me back. I half expected her voice to be far more harsh.

I looked down at the bundle of clothes, neatly folded in her arms. Nivinle had sent these? She never did without reason, what was her angle? Thoughts cut short as the shorter drow was staring dagger at me, scanning me up and down.

“I was wondering why Nivinle would have me bring a Lord’s Attire, but looking at you now! Those gold eyes are a dead giveaway, you look so much like her! You're her brother, so it makes sense since you would need a Lord’s outfit! But I should have asked this to begin with, just who are you!”

That last part came out more like a command rather than a question, snapping me back to the reality of the situation. She expected answers from me. Normally in Vaermyrhel a man was expected to answer any question posed by a woman.

“A barkeep,” I said driely. “Now can I have my clothes?”

I extended my hand toward this delivery girl. She clutched the clothes, expecting answers before she handed them over. I shut the door. Not loudly, but I wasn’t about to deal with an overly curious drow.

“Well that was rude!” I spun on my heels not even bothering to draw my knife, I summoned Silver to my hand. She was sitting on my old bed, not a care in the world. Not even flinching when pointed Silver at her. Lowering my blade, she placed the clothes neatly on the bed. Pressing them out with her hand “Here I was being nice and you shut the door in my face.”

How had she? Magic of course but what type? For the first time I looked at her, something had been bothering me. Most spies weren’t this causal, they referred to Nivinle by name not title. They wouldn’t want to be seen at all, no this was something else.

“So just who are you?” She repeated just staring at me.

“A simple barkeep”

“And I’m next in line to become Matron” sarcasm thick in her voice. “A name would a nice start, or why you choose to fight Nivinle”

“Nivinle?” I asked, no she was a curious drow. At the moment, the people of House Alas’thil don’t know I am still around. At least the common ones it seems. Her face brightened or paled as he realized why I had said that.

“Matron Nivinle!” She quickly corrected her mistake. Deeply sighing I walked over to the table placing Silver on the table. Blushing to? “Why did you choose to fight Matron Nivinle!”

“Do try to make sure you use Nivinle’s title around her. I don’t think I need to tell you how much she values respect and loyalty.” It hadn’t even come out as a warning to her, more like a helpful suggestion. I snapped “Shadowdancer, that’s how you got past.”

She nodded. It had been her clothes that had been bothering me, they weren’t typical Alas’thil grab. It was more flowy. The drow clearly had daggers hidden on her person. Shadowdancers were rare, as he had known a few in his time in the Underdark.

“Aniks Alas’thil” I said leaning back against my desk.

“Aniks Alas’thil... See, was that so difficult? I am Laetrissa.” She got a look from that one. Then paused. I grabbed my shirt and tossed it on ribbons or not. Like a child asking to be told a story Laetrissa spoke “So why did you fight the Matron! Being that she is your sister and all.”

“Why do you want to know?” I said.

“Curiosity” She said with a shrug.

“I have been gone for a long, long time. Nivinle was simply testing my abilities so to speak.”

“That’s it?”

“Basically.”

“And you survived?” I shrugged. I had barely survived. If Nivinle had wanted to kill me, she had more than every opportunity to do it during that fight. “Was she the one to give you those scars!”

“No my sister was not responsible for them” I said now, cautious about what I said and did. If Nivinle had sent Her why had she? “You said this room was empty, how long has it been empty?”

That gave her pause. She sat there humming to herself as she thought. Closing the book on shadow magic, I tucked it into my bag. I wanted to keep it as a memento of sorts. Besides I think Celu would enjoy reading a baby Aniks’s note from when I was younger. She turned to look at the motion. Still thinking about the question I had posed to her.

“Empty? No. People have been in here, just nobody lives here. I haven’t been around as long as others in house Alas’thil. Proved myself to Nivin...the Matron The Collapse?”
 
“Collapse?”

“Yeah after Mount Elendûr erupted, all hell broke loose in Vaermyrhel. House Alas’thil rose to power, we call it the Collapse.” She said as if it were a matter of fact. “Besides the point, I think the only person who comes in here nowadays is Vasestra.”

“Why is she coming into my old room?” I asked fearing the

“Your old room?” She looked around as if through a whole new perspective. Then shook her head “She’s a Courtesan of House Alas’thil, apparently she brought plenty of people in here to kill them. Not recently it seems given the dust but we’ve been busy here.
 
“I’m going to burn that bed” I said flatly. I could feel my fingers twitch starting a part of the spell Fireball. I am not going to lie to my passions as they were a bit thin.“Is there anything else you want to know?”

“Well you don’t live here so…”
 
“The Surface.”
 
“But whe…”
 
“Being a curious drow will only go so far, to tell anyone in this house where I sleep would be beyond stupid.” I said cutting off her question.

She had told me enough already, Laetrissa was a gossip and curious. If I found out about Vasestra’s position of courtesan, something that I wish I could remove from my memory, without asking for that information. This drow was likely going to be questioned for any little detail about this Alas’thil Lord she had spoken to. I almost felt bad for her.
 
“Laetrissa, as much fun as this has been. I would rather not leave Nivinle waiting because I was distracted speaking with someone. So if you please.” I gestured to the door. It was likely the mention of my sister that made her leave. She faded into shadows, jumping to somewhere within the house. “I’m not sure how well she actually fits in here.”
 
The new outfit was nice, in a drow sort of way. A proper silk shirt with a black jacket with white trim, our house symbol on back. This wasn’t used for assassination, running around with our house symbol would be stupid. These types of jackets, or any noble attire were for public appearances. It still was, however, functionally as an assassin's jacket. Small pockets for poison vials, hidden sleeves for daggers and throwing knives. A pale sash and dark trousers. Those have been placed inside my bag, and I tossed the shirt and jacket on. The ribboned shirt was promptly also tossed into my bag. I wore the jacket loose, and I hate to say it, it was nice. Nice looking and nice to at least have something from my house.
 
It was at this moment that I pulled out my journal of communication. Messaging Cyne. Well I technically messaged Emperor Aneirin, I didn’t even want to talk to him, what secretary? I don’t care to remember what her position is. It was a quick message, nothing formal, nothing casual. Asking for a meeting before the end of the week, both for reasons regarding Aletheia and helping the war front, as well as a slightly personal matter. As I was not sure on how to completely change my surname given that I have an Aletheian Title. His reply came quickly, giving me a time and date he had some free time in his rather busy schedule. I thanked him, shut the book, gathered my things and went to meet Nivinle.
 
House Alas’thil was as far as I remember, devoid of any smithing rooms specifically. I know we had room to test new traps and contraptions but nothing to create from scratch. I found the room with ease, but it’s insides had been temporarily gutted and rearranged. With the addition of new equipment, it smelled of a blacksmith. The room was unsurprisingly nearly empty, Nivinle was leaning against a table reading the journal containing the secrets of umbrite forging. A mass of darkness on the table beside her which were in fact, umbrite ingots. She wore far more basic clothing than previously, ready to forge. Already displaying it’s light eating qualities. Shutting the door, the truth of the matter is if you’re reading this. I will not be recounting the forging process. As smithing umbrite ingots is an understandably fickle process.
 
Informing Nivinle of our meeting with the Emperor, which she was pleased with. Should I be concerned, yes. Am I, yes. I firmly believe that both Cyne and Nivinle would and should be wary of each other. I cannot see Nivinle assassinating the Emperor when the benefits of allying so closely to him far outweigh anything else. Questioning if she is smart enough to realize this, means you don’t know my sister. In a year's worth of time, she’ll have a large chunk of the underdark under her thumb.

Given how I wasn’t to destroy my new jacket, I replaced both the jacket and shirt with the ripped shirt. I would rather be wearing something like that as it seemed we would immediately be getting to work. I had put the Alas’thil clothes into my bag. Neither of us had mentioned them, nor did I mention the gossiping drow she had sent. It was mostly about the process ahead of us.
 
Our whole experience on forging the blades took about four days, I say about as one of those days took place when we had to visit Cyne. I’ll get to that in a minute. Weirdly enough, I enjoyed my time forging blades with Nivinle. We spoke on a myriad of topics. Everything from how she ‘acquired’ the umbrite information or our older half sister Daeris. A good Galasthin Drow, she was quite interested in that topic. However, I had told her she was related to our father. Which both of us questioned if we had any other siblings running around? Not that we could figure that out with any ease. It was sheer luck I had found out about Daeris. I had even mentioned how she had quite the amount of ‘followers’ which was funny to me, as when she and I had to attend more formal functions as children she very much scared other children from other houses. In my living memory I don’t think I have ever seen or heard of her taking interest in somebody.

Vasestra and Rikzyr had occasionally stopped in, thankful never together. They never stayed too terribly long, while Rikzyr never did. Vasestra lurked and much to my disgust staired.
 
When I had told Celuriel about this, she had made it very clear she’d be going with me the following day. Not that I minded that, the issue was our daughter she had curled up in her lap. Asleep, apparently tired from running around the house. Celuriel had refused to move so she just continued one of the books she had been working through. We tossed a couple of ideas, but neither one of us wanted her in the Underdark. We finally came to the discussion to ask Mery if she was willing to watch Avariel. She was my first choice for somebody who would be able to take care of a baby dragon. He had done it before with Veldrin. We had asked and thankful she agreed, convincing Avariel to stay with Mery was an issue until she saw Veldrin. Happy to have a new ‘Friend’
 
Celuriel was a wonderful deterrent for my younger sibling. The look on Rikzyr face, when she looked up from her book to see who had entered the makeshift smithry. He had paled, I swear I could see the blood drain from his face. A vampire might have found his pale state a miserable meal. No word has been spoken, never even found out why he had entered. Celuriel had gone back to reading, not even bothered by him. Vasestra was another story, she had at least let her in the room. Which my sister had noticed. Celu was a hard person not to notice when she was glaring. There had been legitimate reasons this time for her appearance today, some report that needed Nivinle’s attention. Not that she had to leave for it, just look over them. From what I had gathered Nivinle had been expanding outside Vaermyrhel. Nivinle hadn’t made any effort to hide the conversation. I continued to sharpen the edge I had been working on this morning. Vasestra had lingered as she usually had.
 
Things were civil as most of her conversations were directed towards Nivinle. It was once he uttered her first whiny “Big brother…” Fingertips brushed her face, wiping away blood from her upper cheek. The dagger had planted itself in a shelf behind the younger dark elf. It was still wiggling from the force it had been thrown with. Celuriel had been sitting near me so I had seen the blur of motion. A second was surely waiting to be thrown.
 
“Vasestra I would leave before she takes a second to aim” I said seriously but very much hiding a smile across my face. I had noticed that the temperature had dropped for a moment as Vasestra spoke again.
 
“Brother dear she’d have to throw something far worse than a dagg…”
 
“No but she’s been practicing with her scythe as well” I replied, having stopped sharpening to gesture rapidly forming icy scythe in Celuriel’s hands. That gave her pause, not pressing her luck. As I very much think she saw the look in Celu’s eyes. She left.
 
Despite Celuriel being here that didn’t change our use of Undercommon. In fact, Celuriel had only spoken in the language when we talked. She mostly kept to herself, bringing a rather thick novel to keep herself busy.
Nivinle had hardly spoken a word of acknowledgement to Celu. Honestly it was likely one of the better outcomes I could have asked for. What hadn’t gone unnoticed was her quick examination of Celuriel. She had probably marked out to herself where each dagger Celuriel had on her. She had already known about our engagement the day prior and had mentioned that to Cyne for paperwork for legal name changes. Nivinle made it very clear that regardless of any changes to my name, I was still of Alas’thil blood. Actually I had told her that last part. I knew I was Alas’thil.
 
By the end of the fourth day, the same day Celuriel had joined us, We had completed the blades, after our first attempts to understand the fickle nature of forging umbrite. Nivinle’s blade was far more befitting of somebody of her station as the Matron of a house. A longsword with black jeweled and sporting a hooked guard, it suited her. Mine was far simpler. It looked like a normal black longsword, save for the fuller. It was shorter, maybe a hand’s length instead of a normal fuller which steached down the length of the blade. Mine was missing, hollow, completely empty. This was meant to be Silver’s replacement body once I enchanted the blade with something I have been working on.
 
Ah Celuriel found my Alas’thil Noble jacket, like as I write this. She asked where I had gotten it and when I told her she looked at it nodding. Slipping her arms in between the sleeves and walking out of our bedroom. I honestly expected that to happen sooner. Six days. While she has her style and her own clothes, she also claims some of mine as her own. That one we will be sharing. Even if she looks amazing in it.
 
Then there came the meeting with Cyne.
 
The most shocking part was Cyne and Nivinle got along... I think. It’s hard to tell with Nivinle, getting along with her could be her smirking at a joke to her tossing you around in her demon form. What I found more shocking was Nivinle was dressed in a black dress. Not that it isn't proper attire when meeting the emperor, it was just weird for me to see her like that. I was in a simple shirt, boots, and trousers. I wasn’t going to dress up for Cyne. Still when you're attempting to ally yourself with the nation's Emperor I expect you would wish to put your best foot forward. I half expected the dress was nothing more than some illusion and she was practically dressed underneath.
 
It went surprisingly well, for obvious reasons I cannot speak or write about my conversation with the Emperor about national affairs. While I find that ironic given what I have written in these books. However, that information is so ridiculous. Why would anybody who reads my journal believe in dead gods? That it’s hard to believe, especially given that people who have faith are hard to shake. National secrets and allies that can be used. Anything can be used really.
 
Still I had not expected for them to get along. Only to see this I saw a scary similarity between the two. In some regard mind you, thank god not in all things otherwise I would be concerned. Once the Aletheian and Alas’thil dealings were done. I had my more personal topics to discuss which Nivinle stayed in to listen.
 
First was Lukas, which was the topic of how to deal with him given his connections to Moonfalls. I had tossed out an idea, Not sure if Cyne would take up the idea but at least it was out there.
 
The second involved the changing of my last name, as I had been knighted by his grandfather. I wanted to go through the proper channels to have it changed. Promptly turning to my sister, who had given me a proper raised eyebrow. Almost hearing what her next words would be if she would have spoken.
 
“Yes yes I know, I am still of Alas’thil blood. Nothing I do will ever change that. Changing my surname isn’t an attempt to forget that. There are a lot of reasons why it’s beneficial.” It would be easier to deal with nobility without them connecting to that last name, nor have my actions affect Nivinle’s dealings. Though she’d somehow turn that into an advantage. It hadn’t been long after explaining, more to Nivinle than to Cyne, he had gone to get that paper work. Wasn’t even that complex, I had changed my name. Signed a couple of forms, might have agreed to help Cyne with paperwork in the future.
 
Aniks Aliforn.

A blend between Elven and Undercommon, which roughly translates to Dreamcatcher. I’d have to get used to that, not that I use my full name often. This I did have to keep from Celuriel for a bit.
 
Cyne had figured out the other reason, having seen the ring on my finger. Asking when the wedding was.
 
“If I planned this week correctly. Couple of days from now something small so her sister doesn’t find out. Less people know the better, hence why I haven’t told the others.”
 
“Do you have a venue?”
 
“No, haven’t found the time to go searching for a small church.”
 
“You could always use the chapel here in the palace.”
 
“Really, that leaves a person to officiate, neither of us are particularly religious?” I asked
 
“If you're really stuck for ideas, I technically could do it.” he said, looking through some of his notes from the meeting. Nivinle watching the exchange. “Or you could ask your herald.”
 
“Skien? We’d be at each other's throats before she even began. She’s broken more of my bones than Nivinle has over the years.” I said not realising they were not aware of the herald’s and I's unique relationship. “I think both of us would be thankful if you did.”
 
He nodded at that, scribbling another note at the bottom of the page. “Just tell me when this is happening, so I have everything on my part ready.”

We went over everything he had discussed in a more brief way. Certainly there was an alliance being made and what that would mean for both House Alas’thil and the Aletheian Empire. With our meeting over, we had told Cyne that we’d had family business to attend to. Nivinle was first out the door, but I had stopped. Cyne organized the small pipe of notes he had accumulated. Not just from the House Alas’thil notes, he had been working on other war time information. I hung on the frame, turning to look at Cyne.

“I know this is a bit out of the blue, Cyne. About Licia… Just, just don’t let her break your heart.” I gave him one of those half hearted smiles.One when your friend is genuinely telling you something. This had been the first real time He and I had spoken for any length of time since I had spoken to his sister last. See Licia deal with Syrin, I just didn’t want my friend getting hurt. He hadn’t said anything, so I left.
 
Leaving me with one last thing on my to do list. It had been a very busy couple of days once I came back from the boneyard. Still coming back with Celuriel with my new sword in hand for the rest of the day. I spent time with Her and Avariel. After we picked her up, she was very excited to have met another dragon. Ava had attempted with her limited understanding of language to tell us all those things she and Veldrin had done. Only really calming down once Celuriel and then later I read to her. It’s small moments like this I enjoy, especially when certain swords don’t pester me about this new sword I had brought in.
 
I had noted, there were no longer just two cats running around. Celuriel it seems has been picking up stays, I hope they are strays, and claimed them on their own. I was fine with this, but I had told her we’d need names them
 
Night came and passed, and I required Lukas’ help. Dress shopping. Something I do not have a chance in hell to understand compared to Lukas. He didn't need much convincing, he had already taken Celuriel shopping more than once. When Lukas asked the shop. I had pointed out a very specific one.
 
Dragging Celuriel out of bed, with a notable amount of effort. Not a morning person. It’s all those late nights reading. Gathering Lukas eventually and The three of us found ourselves eventually in front of our destination. Avariel was gleefully nestled in my arms, half in my coat as winter was slowly taking Ironfalls. Celuriel was confused for a moment asking “why are they all white?”
 
I gave her a look, a confused one mostly. I know she enjoys romance novels. She has to know what a shop of white dresses means. It was a decent sized shop on the main street of Ironfalls. Must have shown up during the past couple of years. It hadn’t been just a shop for wedding dresses, they just happen to specialize in it. Proud of that fact, they had prominently displayed several dresses in the windows. This would be one of the few times I broke into my Bar coffers to pay for things. As I tend to keep my adventuring money, and my business money as two separate piles.
 
All of the funds I earn from the bar, have either gone into the bar, establishing trade and precure ale, wine, and beers from around Aletheia. Other times are for the construction cost of houses such as a project I asked Mery about. As Talinde and Burdyr have been staying in the keep, and I used some of the bar money to have a house constructed. Regardless of my choice of how the money is spent. Paying for her dress and my clothes for our wedding was no question. I expected it to cost a pretty palatium so I bought a decent amount coin with me.

The owner of the shop actually greeted Lukas. Not as a customer but as a friend. Lukas had struck up a sort of friendship with the dwarven women. He had apparently helped out a couple of her patrons, and said dwarf had taken a liking to him. So she was more than willing to help after the vampire explained his appearance.

The building was neat and organized. Each one of the seamstress dresses were proudly displayed in some manner. Each unique but clearly their creator's style had woven similarity between them. Mannequins from the size of halflings to the tall forms of Elves. Impressed by the sheer quantity of these I found myself nodding. Even I could appreciate the work, magical or otherwise. It wasn’t just a shop for dresses, as a portion of the shop did have tuxedos and other formal wear. Similar mannequins were set around that area. It just seemed this establishment just made a large amount of coin from their dress work. I’d have to remember that I would need to find something to wear as well.
 
Lukas had taken the lead and directed us to a couple sets, Celuriel had wrapped her arm around mine. Eyes looking around as we walked to sets. She whispered questions that I answered with similar hushed tones as Lukas and the seamstress Eldeth caught up.

“why are we here?”
 
“Well you’ll need a proper dress for the wedding”
 
She looked at me, then around at the dresses. Her face is a mix of emotions, the slight pink tent telling me at least one of them. She tightened her grip on me “our wedding. when is it?”
 
“Day after you’ve found a dress you like. It’s not the proper wedding I promised you, it’ll be a small one. Less likely for your sister to show up.”
 
The two of us sat down, Avariel crawling over to sit in Celu’s lap. Confused to see her mother was acting strangely. Strange to her at least. She nodded at this, eyes turning to the dirty blonde dwarf pulling a step later from behind her desk. Approaching the two of us carrying a tape measure. Asking to remove her coat, and stand up so she could get proper measurements to find some dresses to start with.
 
Celuriel had transferred the dragon, who had been distracting with a prism, to my lap. Ava just rotating and pushing it into the light. Mesmerised in the rainbow. Eldeth propped up the step later next to Celu, pencil and tape measure in one hand and note book in her other. The Dwarf worked efficiently taking notes. Asking a question about what her tattoos meant, does she want them showing. Preferences in color, tails, sleeves, sashes. Which Celuriel answered to the best of her abilities, nodding as she spoke. Scribbling more notes on the bottom of her tiny book. Hustling off to a section of the store, practically dragging Lukas along to carry her collection. She took her seat again, Avariel rolled the prism towards her mother. Looking between her and the crystal. Her mother pushed the crystal back.
 
When they returned about a half hour later, after collecting what she viewed as an acceptable starting point. Ushering Celuriel to follow, I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. Gesturing for her to follow.
 
“you’re not coming?” She said looking back as I remained on the sets.
 
“He’s not allowed to see you in the dress before the day” The dwarf said, slightly confused by this.
 
“Mum! I follow.” Avariel wanted to follow her mother, losing interest in the shiny crystal. Bounding after her, but I quickly scooped her up. Handing her to Lukas.
 
“Avariel if you follow Mum you have to stay with Lukas. You can’t crawl on her.” I told her in draconic, when she turned to see why I had picked her up. She showed a toothy equivalite to a grin which I hoped means okay. Still trying to understand what certain facial motions mean for dragons. Turning to the Bard speaking again in common “Avariel wants to follow Celu, mind watching her while I find an appropriate wear for the wedding.”
Lukas agreed holding the dragon, but mentioned he would be bouncing between the two to help with our choices.
 
“Careful, she likes nibbling on pointed ears.” I said walking off leaving them to help Celuriel. Lukas looked at the cloudy dragon with light horror as she wiggled around in his arms.
 
What I ended up with was a nice button up white shirt, black velvet vest, nice slacks, dress shoes. Lukas made good on his promise, Avariel sitting comfortably around his shoulders. The vampire replaced at least six of the jackets I had picked, and switched belts a couple of times. Finally deciding that a sash would be better. Which led to a constant debate on what color it should be. The tie had to be the same color.
 
It was around the second jacket, Eldeth appeared with a bundle in her arms. Carefully putting one of the jackets back on display. White was a bit too much.
 
“Your Fiancée said you can hold on to these while she’s changing. Quiet girl that one, thought she’d be one of the sneaky knife types given the outfit.” Handing over seven knives. Each of varying sizes, thin and flat to hide in boots, small for quick hidden retrieval from your waist. A few I knew she had experience throwing at doorways and recently annoying sisters. She patted me on the shoulders “Glad you put that one back, wouldn’t have gone with the vest.”
 
On Lukas final appearance eventually came back, sorting through some sashs on a wall, then plucking one of a dusky purple color. I had already been done for a while, looking at the color. Putting the dark purple sash and tie back in their proper places. Leaving me alone for a little while. Avariel was no longer around his neck or his arms, so I had assumed they were nearly done. Otherwise I would have heard Avariel by now, She hadn’t quite figured out the door yet. So I wouldn’t have to worry about her leaving the store.
 
Celuriel eventually joined me, taking the set next to mine. Dragon trailing behind her. Celu was smiling. I’m glad she’s been doing that more and more lately. It’s nice to see her with one. I had been sitting down somewhere near the front of the clothes neatly folded across my lap. Her daggers and knives, and their sheaths laying across them.
 
“she didn’t find all of them. I still have three on me.” She said a hint of pride in her voice. Smile creeping across my face as I offered the daggers back.
 
“Impressive, ready?”
 
She nodded, slipping her last knife into her boot. The dwarf looked rather pleased with her work, something Lukas seemed to mirror on some level. The covering with the whole ensemble inside zipped up lay across her desk. Where I placed the clothes and counted the proper amount of platinum after being told the cost.
 
Messages then were sent to the two people once we returned home. Lukas electing to start and talk with Eldeth. Mery and Cyne got two different messages. Mery’s message was asking if she could babysit Avariel again. Celuriel and I were going to be out of town and wouldn’t be returning till the day after tomorrow. Which thankfully Mery agreed to, I love my daughter and her hyperactive nature. I still want to spend time with my Fiancée on our wedding day. Besides I think letting her be around actual dragons will help her. Cyne’s message was simply we’re ready on our part, are you. Which everything was.
 
This was going surprisingly well. I’d even go so far as to say smoothly, should have expected something to go wrong. The following morning I made a simple breakfast and told Cyne we’d be there at noon. Our daughter happily bound into the keep after seeing Veldrin, telling her we’ll be back tomorrow. I thanked Mery again for agreeing on such a short notice. Saying hi to Ashlyn and Midna as they passed by.
 
Prepared for the wedding, we went back to our home, gathered what we needed. Then I took Celuriel’s hand and teleported to Alethiea. Cyne had been expecting us, being directed by some guards to where the two of us could go. Get changed and ready. It was the last time I was Celuriel before he was in her dress. Off she went, her bag of holding containing everything she needed. While the guard ushered me off to a room for privacy. Then told me where I had to go to find the palace chapel, the changing room being an offshoot of the halls of that chapel.
 
Weird, I remember feeling a strong sense of anticipation. Only noticing it once I slipped into my clothes for the wedding. Some hollow feeling in my gut, not hollow it’s hard to explain. Like I was in freefall without featherfall or a fly spell. Hadn’t felt that in a long while. Wrapping the dusky purple sash around my waist, slipping into the jacket next. Fixing and fine tuning the last bits of my suit. Putting the full outfit together, Lukas was right about the changing of the jackets. I looked good in it, pleasantly surprised even. Still not sure about the Epaulets but it worked. I slipped out of the changing room and into the chapel.

High ceils, a set of ten pillars on each side of the room. Rows of long seats that held multiple people next to each pillar. The seats, furnished with a royal Aletheian blue for the patterning. An Alter at the center, where of course Cyne was standing near. Looking far more formal than usual. I also don’t see him in his Emperor’s Regalia often so I don’t see him dressed up like this often. It was bright, there were some shadows but the chapel was of whites and golds. So the other two figures dressed in black stood out like a sore thumb.

Kazric and Nivinle.

Each of them sat on different sides of the chapel. Kazric looked over, cosmic eyes widening as he saw me as I shut the door.

“BRO WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE GETTIN MARRIED!” He said in a very Kazric way, it was even weirder seeing him in a tux. More than Cyne in his emperor regalia. It had gotten the other two to turn to notice my entrance. Apparently interrupting their conversation, as I caught Cyne saying something but I had barely heard the tail end of it.
 
“That was kind of the point of a small private wedding.” Voice carrying throughout the chapel thanks to the acoustic.
 
“Lucky I saw you guys walk’n back with the dress!” He said.
 
“How… did you know it was here?”
 
“Fuck’n MOON Dragons” His ultimate answer to justify this.

Walking across the aisle I turned to my elder sister. Holding herself with all the athortidy of a Matron dressed in black silk. Wearing jewelry quite befitting of her noble status. Silent in observation of myself and Kazric.

“Hadn’t expected you to be here” Kazric I am not really surprised about, it’s Kazric. I even would have expected her sister, but on such a short notice I had hoped this small wedding went unnoticed. Better Nivinle than Ludrissiel I said during a pause in her and Cyne’s conversation.

“Unions like these are uncommon for our kind, you're a Lord of my house.” Nivinle said coolly. What was unsaid was a bit more interesting. This was not a simple curiosity or my sister wanting to be there on my wedding day. No, she had other reasons for being here. A reminder among other things. Nodding to her was my only reply, what would I say to her. I don’t want her here? Even if I had said that, it wouldn’t be true. She is one of the few family members I care about, the sorcerer is still up for debate. As well as my father, who might still be alive? If this was the proper wedding, I would have sent her a formal invitation. As not doing so would likely cause more issues than it’s worth. Still she is here now.

From one of the side rooms a guard slipped into the room, walking towards Cyne. Whispering a message into the emperor's ear. Even as I approached the altar, the whispered words were hard to hear. Not that I needed to know. The guard had come from the opposite door I had. Celuriel wouldn’t be coming through that door. Cyne nodded then dismissed the guard who rushed back through the door. The silence of anticipation rolled over the chapel. The others would have felt it, they weren’t staring at the door how I was.
 
Was I nervous, who wouldn’t be. Thoughts floated through my head, had something happened? Her dress and how it looked. Ludrissiel. NO I couldn’t even consider that her sister would appear. I could feel her presence via one of the magical rings I still had on.
 
Seconds stretched on for what felt like forever.
 
The silence had grown, I could feel it sneaking into my bones. The small conversations that had started in the background, remained there in the background. Faint and fading to nothing more than murmurs.
 
It felt like an eternity.
 
Every heartbeat under my held breath was noticed as I was lost in thought.
 
Click
 
The silence broke as the door creaked up, how long had I been holding my breath. God I could feel my heart pounding.
 
That eternity had passed, as Celuriel entered the chapel.
 
Each step across the aisle echoed softly across the walls. Compared to her surroundings, the dusk purple dress was striking. I understood why Lukas had chosen that specific color for my sash. The veil which was draped around her face was held in place with a small tiara. Face obscured it was hard to see her from a distance. A bateau neckline, her champion tattoos were on full display. Her dress beautifully displayed plenty of dusky fabric flowers following what looked like a single vine that started a bit lower to her waist up to her neckline. As she took her place next to me, through the veil I saw both of her honey gold eyes. I was reminded that Celuriel had been very good with makeup, as hers complemented the dress she wore. It was remarkably fey, not the traditional white, but that was fine. More than fine. The choice fit her well.
Lukas had attempted to get her into a white dress, because she had been adamant about wanting to wear this one. Celuriel could be extremely convincing when she wants.
 
Celuriel was gorgeous.
 
We both had half hidden smiles across our faces. I doubt we could have kept a serious face for this. Cyne cleared his throat.
 
“Dearly beloved and honored guests: We are gathered here today to witness Aniks Aliforn and Celuriel Valeria Geltharieth in this union of marriage...” Cyne continued but only half listened, too caught up with the person in front of me.
 
Vows were exchanged, ‘I do’ were said and rings were slipped onto fingers.
 
“By the authority vested in as Emperor of Aletheia, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
 
 
It wasn’t an eternity but it lasted long enough.

 
Aniks Aliforn & Celuriel Valeria Aliforn.
 
Our names, truly our.
 
Celuriel wrapped her arm around my fingers interlaced with hers.
 
We had thanked Cyne for helping us with this, then my sister had approached. Holding something, something. Two small boxes, and daggers forged in Alas’thil fashion.
 
“Gifts from house Alas’thil.” Nivinle was nothing if not efficient. I never thought she’d be one to hand us wedding gifts, hadn’t even expected that. The larger of the small boxes was placed in Celuriel’s hand, as well as the two Alas’thil daggers. I was handed the smaller box. Celu’s smile widened as she looked over the daggers, examining their quality. More for her collection. Her attention was turned to the box, as I looked at mine. It was a signet ring for a noble, not one a Matron would carry, it had the house’s insignia. Celuriel box contained dark ear cuffs commonly worn by women of House Alas’thil, and if not a bit better quality. Nivinle turned to the Emperor “Now, our meeting?”
 
We watched the two walk out the chapel thanking Cyne one last time, it’s still weird that they actually get along. Multitasking both being here and a meeting, but I still wonder what was going through her head. Being an ally of the emperor is likely on her mind, but what is her angle for being there. Surface level the ring was quite clear, even Celu’s new gifts. She had already stored the daggers somewhere? I never understood how women could hide things so easily. In wearing that we would have affiliations of House Alas’thil. We turned to Kazric, the only other person in the chapel, who had also disappeared without a word leaving a couple of bottles of alcohol. A folded note under one of them. It was a quickly scribbled winking face ‘ ; )’
 
We had gathered our things quickly, bags of holding for the several new bottles. Never separating for more than a couple of seconds to grab something here or there. “Ready to go Dreamcatcher?” I asked.
 
She nodded, hugging me tightly. I however scooped her up in my arms. I wasn’t going to carry her out, but this would be the next best thing. The arcane words were spoken and we teleported back to our house in Ironfalls. Home, a bit more silent than the past couple of days as it was lacking a small scaly child, but time alone with the Mrs. Aliforn would be more than nice. Just us.
 
Putting my wife on the couch, I covered the small little thing I had to deal with before she and I could do anything. Mostly pulling out Kazric’s bottles, and one other. Kazric’s gift were nice, if not strangely labeled. ‘Knock a dragon on it’s ass’ was one we’d probably stay away from for a bit.
 
Today was a special day however. I had promised myself on only the most special of occasions I would bring out likely the best drink I had on me. The single bottle Cayden had gifted me in exchange for that elven ale. It was a bit larger than a normal handle, and smelled of honey. The amber liquid was smooth as it was poured into the two glasses I had found. One for each of us. I hadn’t known what to expect and the rim of the glass touched our lips, Alcoholic Ambrosia. It was good, no that wouldn’t describe it properly. It was one of the best drinks I had ever had. It also put the two of us on our ass with a single glass, the Drunken God had given it to us.
 
It had been a perfect day. Despite how quickly we had gotten drunk, it lasted long into the night. Clinging to each other similar to how we had the last time we had drank together. Again neither of us even considered the hangover in the morning. What should have been a terrible hangover in the morning, was nonexistent. The sun’s morning rays were what eventually woke us up after our late night doing what newly weds commonly do. It was like we had the opposite of a hangover happen to us. It was like we had gotten the perfect amount of sleep, woken up completely rejuvenated as if we had slept off every ounce of our stress and tension in our bodies. A lingering effect from the drink. I don’t remember how long we stayed in bed. Our only plan was to get our daughter later that day, but we enjoyed every second we had alone.
 
Even if we picked Ava up, it’s not like we had anything to do. Just be a family together. A small little vacation till we eventually get dragged off into another shard fight. I am writing most of this during those couple days after the wedding. It still feels weird to say Celu is my wife, or write it in this case. Not in a bad way, just I hadn’t thought I would be able to call her that without some large ordeal. I haven’t told the Lost Ones yet, they talk a lot so word would get out eventually. They will know eventually, just not yet.
 
Ava just woke up, she had been sleeping on my lap as I wrote at my desk. She really loved spending time with Veldrin. The lunar dragon had attempted to teach Avariel how to weaponize her breath. She had been successful, Ava showing us at every opportunity she could that she had mastered it. I might need to start asking Ashlyn and more specifically Mery if Avairel can play with Veldrin more. Might be nice, Celuriel and I could have a date night every once in a while. This might be a decent place to end this journal entry, try not to think about the dangerous future ahead of us, we need a break too. Till something important happens I’m going to spend the rest of my time with Celu and Ava. My strange and loving dreamcatchers.