“I’m ready… I think.” Gwyn winced at the sound of her own voice. It was wavering and uncertain; hardly the attitude to have when making such a decision.
Varus stowed the last of his tools before responding. “You received your brother’s permission?”
She shook her head. “Not permission.” It was nothing like that. Selerim was her brother, not keeper; someone she respected. Of course his opinion was important to her. “But he agreed.”
“I see.” Varus turned back to face her, arms crossed. When he spoke again, his voice was deadly quiet. “I fear I may have lulled you into a false sense of security. I may be confident, but magic always carries risk.”
Gwyn tilted her head. “You said there were others like me. In the past. What happened to them?”
“You may share their nature, but their position was slightly different than yours. None of them lived as deep in Umbra as you did,” he added, seeing her look of confusion. “Or for as long.”
“Everyone is always in danger, in one way or another. I would rather fight it than hide from it.”
“It sounds like there’s some greater reason behind your desire.”
She closed her eyes, struggling to organize her thoughts. “I feel like there’s something just around the corner,” Gwyn explained, taking the time to think each word through before speaking. “I don’t know what… but it’s there. My brother thinks the same.” She shivered. “He’ll try to protect us. No matter what. But…”
“You don’t want that.”
She shook her head. “I don’t. I want to be there with him. I’m his sister.”
Varus’ lips curled into a smile. “An admirable reason to pursue power. Though I must admit, I’m not quite ready. There are still a few things I must prepare beforehand.”
Gwyn’s shoulders drooped. “How long?”
“Two weeks at minimum.”
“Is there no way to do it sooner?” She asked, somewhat hesitantly. “I’m not sure when my brother will leave again… and I’d like for him to be here. Mom too,” she added hastily. “If that’s okay.”
“Of course. They’re your family. But I fear I have no control over our schedule, in this instance.” Varus paused for a moment. “If you’re willing to, you should spend a couple of days in Umbra before we begin.”
“I don’t mind, but… why?”
“Have you learned more about magic since your arrival?”
“A little.” She’d read a handful of books on the topic since then, partially out of boredom, but mostly to avoid being caught off guard. “I didn’t understand most of it, though,” Gwyn admitted. “And… I don’t think they’ll be much help anyways.”
“Why do you think that?”
She shrugged. “You and I are different.”
“True enough,” Varus said with a chuckle. “And I suspect you’re right. You are still a hollow, at the end of the day.” He held out the palm of his hand, and a small globe of blue light appeared atop it. “Magic is an expression of our will. We weave essence into shape, and it changes the world around us.” It disappeared as he lowered his hand. “I fear that this, at least, will be beyond your reach.”
Gwyn nodded. “I tried some of the exercises the books mentioned.” She raised a hand to her chest. “I can feel it… I think. Not as well anymore, but it’s still there.” She’d mentioned it to her mother, during their trek here, but the feeling had faded soon after their arrival. “But no matter what I do, it’s just… there. It won’t move.”
“I suspected as much. Although I must caution you to be careful; even if those exercises fail, others may not– and I have no way of knowing what the results might be.”
She shivered again. “I won’t try any more.”
“Good. As for your original question… it’s like you said, your anatomy is different from ours. I suspect it may aid in the procedure; nothing more.
“Alright.” Gwyn let out a breath. “As for spending some time in Umbra… If it takes you some time, I may ask my brother to take me on a hunt.”
“May I ask why?”
“I can tell he’s getting restless. And I am too,” she admitted. “I don’t share my brother’s love for Umbra, but spending so much time in the light… it feels strange. And I want to spend more time with him.
Varus smiled. “Aside from all your sparring?
Gwyn nodded, then hesitated, another question on the tip of her tongue. “Do you think I’ll be able to have a Feast?”
“I thought that was reserved for hunters.”
“It is, but… we’re not part of a village anymore. There’s no reason to abide by it. I already asked Selerim; he agreed. If I can do it, I should.”
“Hmm.” Varus’ head tilted up slightly as he thought. “I’m not sure,” he finally answered. “I suspect I will once we’ve completed our other agenda first.”
“Alright.” That was as good an answer as she was going to get.
image [https://i.imgur.com/T7fdvjj.png]
Gwyn blocked her brother’s strike before stepping back– only to yelp as he followed, tripping her legs and sending her tumbling down.
“You’re getting better,” he said, leaning down to offer her a hand.
“You say that, but I still have yet to land a hit on you,” she grumbled. Still, Gwyn couldn’t keep the small smile from her face at her brother’s praise.
“You’re distracted, aren’t you?”
“Yeah,” she admitted.
“Did something go wrong with the doctor?”
Gwyn shook her head. “No. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“He said I should spend a few days in Umbra, if I can.”
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Why?”
“It may help with the procedure.”
“That shouldn’t be too difficult. The guards seem to just let us be.”
“Right. But I was thinking…” She trailed off, unwilling to voice the suggestion and face his rejection.
“Thinking…?”
Gwyn looked down and kicked at the ground with one foot. “I want to go on a hunt with you.”
“Okay.”
“I can tell you’re getting restless. So am– wait.” She blinked, caught off guard. “Is that a yes?”
Selerim frowned. “Did you think I would say no?”
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Do you think I would have stopped you from becoming a hunter?”
“That… I guess not.”
“It would be hypocritical of me after all the fights I had with mom,” he said quietly.
Gwyn smiled. “That’s true.” They had argued for weeks about his decision. Ultimately, Selerim hadn’t given either of them a say– not that she minded. It was his choice, and one that clearly made him happy.
“I also want to spend time with you,” she said gently. “You’re going to be gone for… a long time, I think. And the life you led in Cress… it’s important to you. And another thing that I want to share with you.”
Selerim returned her smile. “I’d like that, too.”
“Will you have time before you leave?”
“I should. A couple of weeks, at least… maybe longer. I think it will take Suli and the others a while to prepare.”
“That’s good. Varus said it would take a couple of weeks for him to get ready. How long do you want to stay out?”
“At least a week… if you’re comfortable with it.”
Gwyn nodded. “A week is fine. We can stay out longer, if you want. I’m starting to get restless, too,” she added, seeing the look of surprise on her brother’s face. “I liked the noise, at first, but after a while…. It becomes grating.” She took a breath. “It’s not the same feeling you get. I don’t need to go, but. It feels weird. Being here for so long.”
“Better than me. I don’t think I’ll ever really adjust.”
She laughed at that. “I don’t think so, either. If we’re going out on a hunt… will you teach me how to use a blade before then?”
Selerim shook his head. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m still worried you’ll hurt yourself,” he answered, voice flat. “Nyx and I can protect you from Reavers, but not from yourself.”
Gwyn huffed, but let it go. Spending time with him was the important thing.
“... Do you still have the Well that the doctor gave you?”
She nodded, pulling it out from under her shirt. It was one of two necklaces she wore; the other being the golden pendant, also given to her by the doctor.
“Here.” Selerim let his staff drop to the ground before pulling something off of his wrist and offering it to her. “Take this.”
It was the wooden bracelet that he always wore– the one given to him by a dead elf. Its body was formed from plain wood; swirls of darker grain were scattered through its surface.
“Why?”
“I don’t trust yours.”
“And you trust this one?”
Gwyn expected a spoken answer, but instead, he nodded wordlessly.
“... I can’t take this from you. It’s something given to you by the dead. It’s… important.”
Selerim frowned. “It is. But you’re more important.” He grabbed hold of her hand and pressed the bracelet into it, closing her fingers over it. “If you don’t take it, I won’t take you.”
She opened her hand as he stepped away, turning it in her palm. Its smooth body felt warm in the early winter air. “Isn’t this valuable?” Gwyn’s voice carried a note of uncertainty.
“It’s not like I’m giving it to you,” Her brother answered gently. “Just… lending it. I’ll take it back when we’re done.”
“... Alright.” Picking it up with her right hand, she slid it over the fingers and wrist of her left. It was too large for her; rather than resting just above her wrist, it settled just below her elbow.
Gwyn flexed arm experimentally, worried that it might hinder movement, but it posed no problem. “Thank you,” she said softly, unsure what to make of such a gift– however temporary it was.
Selerim reached out to ruffle her hair. His expression was an odd one; a mixture of guilt, sorrow, and pride. “Take good care of it,” he said, his voice perfectly neutral.
Gwyn nodded solemnly. “I will.” Her brother spoke little of his time with the elves– he’d yet to mention it again since that night, in fact. But she knew the promise he’d made to the dying elf, knew what it meant to him. He’d made a similar promise to their father, after all.
That promise, that vow– it was something he would never forget. A part of him.
She reached up, taking his hand in both of hers. His flesh was warm against hers, kept so by the molten blood that flowed through his veins.
“I don’t want to keep you from doing the things you want to do,” he said quietly, “just… be careful.”
Gwyn nodded again. “When should we go?”
“We need to gather supplies. And get you some warmer clothes… here.” Selerim pulled his hand free and swept the cloak from his shoulders, putting it around hers. It was frayed and worn, but still warm and soft. “Wear this for now. Until I can make another one.”
She drew it close, grateful for its warmth now that they were no longer sparring. “Thank you.”
“I’ll make you another one as soon as I can.” His voice held a tinge of guilt, no doubt over the sorry state of the garment. “But you should wear it. I don’t know if Reavers will be able to find you or not. It might help.”
“What about you?” Gwyn asked, peering up at her brother.
He wore a simple grey tunic that ended just below his waist, and a pair of similarly colored breeches. Without the cloak’s length covering his arm, the many scars he bore were visible.
She knew well why he had so many. Senri, Saya, and Verad all had scars of their own– but not as many, and nowhere near as densely packed. Selerim himself had answered when she asked him years ago: he was reckless. Now, so physically far from the place that they called home, it seemed a lifetime ago.
“I’m fine.”
“You really don’t feel the cold?”
It took him a moment to answer that. “I do. Sort of. It’s weird. I can tell that it is cold, but not how cold.” Selerim hesitated. “Do you think mom will be okay with it?”
“Yes,” Gwyn answered immediately. “She was okay with you becoming a mercenary, wasn’t she?”
“This is different.”
“How?”
He seemed not to have an answer for that.
“See? Besides…” She sighed. “She’s busy, and I’m bored.”
“Bored?”
Gwyn nodded. “If not for training, I’d probably lose it,” she admitted. There’s only so much to do here… especially with Saris gone.” Her chest tightened. She’d not seen the red-eyed girl since their last day together– and the chance of their reunion was slim. “Mom will be fine with it,” she said confidently. “I’m sure of it.”
“We won’t stay in Umbra for long. And even if we don’t spar, I’m going to teach you.” Selerim paused. “I don’t think I have to say this, but you have to listen to me. If I tell you to do something, you do it. Don’t ask why until after.”
Another nod. “I understand.”