Cassandra Pendragon

“You know, this wasn’t supposed to turn into a family outing,” I complained regretfully to the two butterfly winged women at my side, nestling with the straps of my dress.

“So we’re family now,” Erya exclaimed cheerfully, summersaulting around me and Ahri, her horns glittering in the bright sunlight. Being kidnapped had done nothing to dampen her spirits. She had also changed Morgan’s body to grow a pair of identical wings, so that the younger girl could join us. Flying side by side, the similarities between the two fey were striking, their delicate features almost identical. If it hadn’t been for the colour of their hair and eyes, they could have been twins.

I couldn’t help but chuckle, as I replied: “you’re something like the crazy, out of town aunt, who comes by, way too often.” I focused on her granddaughter and asked, more seriously: “how’s she doing? She had one hell of a first week in the mortal realms.” Erya shrugged.

“In comparison to what we went through before, it wasn’t that bad, but I couldn’t pass on a chance to get her away from that place, if only for a day. Sorry, I didn’t mean to meddle with your plans. I’ll make it up to you.”

My objections to the two fey joining us had been shut down rigorously, after Erya had convinced everyone, she’d be more than useful. While I’d speak to Sylvia and look after my brother, she’d spend her time chatting with the soldiers they had brought. She’d make them understand, how valuable my friendship could be. If I couldn’t convince the leader, it would be enough to have the support of the troops, she had argued. Her idea had fallen upon eager ears, since that particular line of reasoning applied to Viyara as well, which prompted the dragoness to support it wholeheartedly and, I might add, outspokenly. She had even cajoled my mom into agreeing, by advocating for keeping our ostentatious getup. It’d be far more impressive. Her words, not mine.

Consequentially, she was carrying Aurelia, Reia and my mom, her golden coils slithering through the air behind us, like a magnificent, crystallised ray of light. I couldn’t be sure, but I thought she had grown and her crown of horns now constantly exuded a faint, silvery glow. Remembering how she had looked, all dressed up in a golden gown, I had to admit, she had changed over the past weeks. I wouldn’t have called her fully grown, but she definitely wasn’t a child anymore. I shook my head with a wry smile and said: “actually, I’m glad you’re with us.”

For all my whining, I still enjoyed the flight through a clear, azure sky. Most of the people I cherished were close by and, despite the rather trying circumstance, I was looking forward to meeting my brother. It had been years and whatever else, he was a part of my family. Even if he had apparently married the kitsune equivalent of a Karen. Well, everyone made mistakes. Also, I probably shouldn’t label her, before I even had the chance to meet her, especially if I didn’t plan on ending up in a cat fight, as soon as we landed.

With a thought, I sped up until I reached Ahri’s side and took her hand in mine. “It feels… peaceful and I’ve always wanted to fly with all of you,” I added dreamily. “This… I guess this is as close to a wish come true as I’ll get.” Ahri squeezed my fingers and leaned over.

“You’re easy to please,” she whispered and gently bit my ear, sending shivers down my spine.

“Not really,” Morgan mumbled, her hearing apparently excellent, despite her human form. “Gilded towers and flying castles only get you so far… a moment of peace in the company of friends is worth more than I ever thought and it’s also more precious than I ever could have imagined.”

“Don’t tell me you’re already becoming wise, you’re too young for that,” Erya piped up. “I know, a brush with death should make you focus on what’s really important, but isn’t there anything else you long for?” The younger fey sighed and closed her eyes, relishing in the sunlight, warming her cheeks.

“Long for? No… I always thought… last night, even when the magic made me crumble, I wasn’t nearly as… desperate as I had been, when I had been dragged in front of the court. Do you know why? Because I wasn’t alone and for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like it either. You were with me and I knew, someone out there would fight for us. I… I trusted you, all of you, and now, flying beneath the sun, the wind in my hair and the shimmering sea below me, I know exactly what you mean, Cassy. I’ve always wished for my magic to return, for a chance to live life to the fullest again, but I never realised, that I haven’t really lived a single day, before. Maybe that’s why I was so susceptible to that elf’s charm,” she finished morosely, her eyes shimmering suspiciously, when she opened them again.

For a moment, none of us replied, an awkward silence stretching between us. What was there to say? “Isn’t that, why we’re all here,” I finally asked. “Shunned and hunted, we’ve endured and we’ve received something precious in return. I don’t know where our path will take us, none of us do, but wherever we are, we won’t be alone, ever again. This is our story and it’s our choice, whether, we want to focus on the past or the future, on dusk or dawn. ”

They stared, waiting for me to continue, but I had already said my piece, except… “oh, and since we’re on topic, you might not have to wait for long, before your other wish comes true. I’ve got an idea, how I might be able to return your magic to you.” That changed the solemn mood quickly enough. Morgan and Erya missed a wing beat and dropped several meters, while Ahri gasped, her grip tightening. Right, I had never told anyone, not explicitly, not even you.

I chuckled and stretched out my awareness, calling my spear. A heartbeat later, Aiglos crackled in my hand, shining brightly, despite the glaring sun. “I’ve learned a thing or two, while I was away.” I swung it leisurely, the tip following a gentle arc, while dancing flames ignited along the shaft. They left behind an afterimage, a wound in reality, a window to another place. For the fraction of a second, we could glimpse the top of a bare, molten island, an island of ash and obsidian. An island, I had once called home. I willed the tear to close, hiding the devastated place from view.

I already mentioned, that I had gained much easier access to my memories, or rather to my knowledge. It didn’t do much for me, when it came to casting spells or fighting, only because you knew how to do something, it didn’t necessarily mean, that you could actually follow through, but it had come with a variety of perks. First and foremost, I had been able to repair my spear, mending and replacing the damaged parts with my own energy. In a way, it had been similar to a casting process. The form had already been there and all I had had to do was fill it with power. Second, I had gained a much more thorough understanding of what magic actually was and what I could do, what I could learn and what I wouldn’t be capable of, no matter how hard I tried.

For mortals, there were two limiting factors, their knowledge and their power. The latter could be tweaked in various ways, ranging from absorption to training, all of which could increase the amount of energy, a practitioner could call upon. The same held true for knowledge, which would grow, for as long as the wizard in question strove to learn. The only thing that couldn’t be altered was the very nature of the energy, they wanted to master. May it be mana, the forces of life or even of the soul, you were either able to feel them, to connect to them, or you weren’t.

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For us, it was different. Every immortal had access to a practically infinite amount of power, fuelled by our cores, and we all grew into mastering every form of energy over time. Our limits were imposed by our very nature, rendering us incapable of learning spells or rituals, that didn’t align with who we were. I, for example, had never been able to learn more than the most mundane healing arts. Even with access to my life force, I had never been able to make a limb regrow. Fortunately, I had a sweet, bodily workaround in the form of my transformed wing.

My affinities had been centred around the very essence of magic, the nature of energy itself. I had been able to easily manipulate any kind of spell. Counterspells, barriers and the like had been right up my alley and while I had never been able to conjure as magnificent a fireball as Ahri, my control over the different elements had been nothing to sneeze at, either. Now, though, everything was different. Mephisto’s proclamations had been spot on. Since my rebirth, I wasn’t the same person anymore and while my underlying talents hadn’t changed, my connection to my own powers was vastly different and so were the spells I could use, which meant I had to start from scratch. With a few exceptions. The spear, I already mentioned, but there was more.

Every act of unrestrained, unshackled magic, magic, in other words, that hadn’t been bound by a rigid spell form, but which had been invoked by an effort of pure will, didn’t adhere to the same rules. My wings, what I’d need to do to read the book Amazeroth had left me and the times, when I had transformed Viyara or my mom, were good examples. Again, it wouldn’t be practical in a fight, it’d take too long and the outcome was much too unpredictable, but when it came to reigniting an extinguished spark in someone else or even connecting a mind to the arcane stores within the body, it might just work. I planned on testing that theory with Morgan and Auguros, as well as Will and Vanya. I just had to make sure, I wouldn’t blow their heads off in the process.

“What did you just do,” Ahri asked, almost reverently.

“I projected the memories of home into my weapon and struck through the membrane. Its similar to what I did, when we saved the children. Only this time, I used my spear, its enchantments and my memories instead of my wings and an existing spell.” A satisfied smile spread across my face, as I added: “and the backlash doesn’t hurt me anymore, either. I wouldn’t recommend anyone but us to use a portal like this, though. The forces within might very well rip even a dragon apart.”

“You don’t say,” Viyara interjected. She had drifted closer, her eyes wide. Even my mom and Reia were regarding me with awe and a hint of fear. I blinked in surprise.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually afraid of what I can do. You do know who I am, don’t you?”

“That’s not…,” my sister mumbled meekly. “Cassy, what you just did shouldn’t be possible. Like, literally impossible. Without a focus, there’s no way to form a connection like that. We know, who you are, but usually it’s not as glaringly obvious.” She scrutinised me for a moment, her eyes tracing my form, before she added: “maybe it is and we’ve just gotten used to you, until you go ahead and do something… it’s one thing to watch you fight, but seeing you break the laws, we’ve been taught since birth, as if it was nothing… that’s different.”

“I’m not surprised,” Erya piped up, but the way she was ogling me put the lie to her words. “But I’d still like to know, what you’re planning. Why do you suddenly think you can help Morgan?”

“I’m not sure,” I replied hesitantly, “but I think I can use my energy to… jumpstart hers. From what I’ve learned, her powers aren’t gone, they’re just… severed from her mind. Once they circulate again, she should be back to normal and I can provided that initial push. I hope.”

“And if you’re wrong?” I shrugged and mumbled “spray paint” under my breath. Out loud, I said: “we’ll immediately know, if there’s a chance. In case I’m wrong, I’ll just stop.” I brandished my weapon again and added: “I’ve been tinkering with this thing for aeons. Aside from the rather nifty enchantments, which allow me to create a bridge to any place I’ve already visited, it enhances my control over every bit of power I pour into it. It’s also darn sharp, but that’s not the point.”

“Do you honestly plan on running me through or shoving a stick up my… you get the picture,” Morgan complained, her projected nonchalance hiding a newfound hope. I chuckled.

“If that’s how you want to describe it. But I don’t think I’ll have to go that far. Why, channeling my energy through it should be enough. No need to harm you in the process.”

“Why wait, then? Couldn’t we try right now?”

“Probably,” I replied hesitantly, her enthusiasm catching me off guard. “But I’d rather not… there’s always a chance I’m going to mess up royally and I’d rather not hover between heaven and earth, when that happens. Also, I wouldn’t mind having most of our casters around, in case I’m, you know, wrong. They could counteract whatever problem I might cause.”

“You mean my grandmother, Ahri, your mom or our resident dragoness should be present?” She inquired ironically. Twirling in midair, she feigned surprise and added: “gosh, look whom I’ve found. I wonder, where they’ve suddenly come from.”

“You’re pretty cocky, considering you were afraid I’d hurt you, a few seconds ago.”

“You can’t just mention something like that and expect her to simply wait, until you feel like the time’s right,” Erya explained, frowning. “What did you think would happen?”

“I didn’t think much,” I defended myself, “I only meant to change the topic.”

“You succeeded there, darling,” Ahri interjected dryly. She whirled around, facing Morgan. “Still, I understand where you’re coming from, but Cassy’s right. Something like this, however simple it may sound in theory, shouldn’t be attempted halfheartedly. Are you honestly willing to risk your one chance, only because you’re impatient?”

“Guess not,” the fey pouted. “A day or two won’t kill me, but… it’s so much harder, now that I know, there’s a way.”

“And here I was, thinking you had left these lowly aspirations behind. Didn’t you say, you weren’t longing for your magic,” I teased. She smiled ruefully.

“Maybe I over exaggerated a bit,” she admitted. “But I also didn’t expect you to dangle that particular carrot in front of my nose. It’s just… I might not have made my peace with my predicament, but I accepted it. Knowing it could change… hope can be cruel, sometimes,” she finished subduedly. Erya immediately flew to her side and took her hand.

“That wasn’t my intention,” I mumbled. “Look, I don’t want to delay anymore than you do. Once we’re back… I’m not going to promise I’ll go through with it but I’ll try.” A soft smile tugged on the corners of my mouth, when I saw Erya silently comforting the girl. “It’s the least I can do.”

“And I’ll help, as much as I can,” Ahri whispered, “but for now, you should focus on what’s directly in front of us.” My confusion lasted only for a moment, until I sent a trickle of energy towards my eyes. The world stuttered and the blurry shadows in the distance became clear.

Not too far ahead, a handful of kilometres at most, looming shapes stately ploughed their way through the open sky. I saw masts and sails, shimmering metal and darkened wood. Eight ships, one of them obviously a dwarven vessel, were gradually making their way towards Free Land, carried along by a stiff breeze, defying the calm weather. They flew in a tight, diamond shaped formation, one ship hovering above and one below the small fleet.

Six of the seven kitsune vessels were identical, sleek and armoured they shot through the sky, their sails billowing in the winds, their magicians constantly created. On deck, the soldiers who weren’t busy calling the elements to their side, stood in full gear, weapons at the ready, almost as if they were preparing for an invasion. I swallowed dryly and focused on the last ship, the one at the centre. It was larger than the rest, a black flag with a silver full moon fluttering above its mast. Without a doubt, I was going to find Sylvia there and from the looks of it, she was already expecting trouble… or us. I somehow doubted, she had bothered to prepare tea and cookies.