Faelan sheathed his dagger. "It's not what you think it is."

Then he realised something. Aaron was blind—how could he see him? For a second, Faelan stood dumbfounded in the middle of the room as Aaron Blindsight walked around him, completely ignoring the intruder in his room, his cane tapping against the floor, shuffling the mess to the sides.

The old man knelt and placed his hands on the floor—a soft glow emitted from them.

Curious, Falean lowered his sight into the Veil and saw strands of teyun twisting around Aaron. To his surprise, Aaron didn't seem to be weaving the strands together to form a proper Weave. Instead, he started to mutter in what sounded like Elven.

As he watched, the flow of teyun around Aaron came to a halt and sunk into the floor.

The wooden planks curled upwards as if alive, revealing a simple wooden box with silver ornaments.

"Thank goodness, it's still here."

Aaron let out a sigh of relief as he ran his hands over the box. Then he lifted his head but didn't look in Faelan's direction. "Now then, Faelan. Care to explain to me, why I find my door kicked in and my room a mess, with you standing in the middle?"

Faelan looked at the blind man.

"How can you see me?" he asked, ignoring the man's question. "Aren't you blind?"

The old man chuckled. "Aren't we all? There is more than one type of sight, boy—and we are blind to most of them. But you're avoiding my question. Why are you here?"

With this, Aaron's voice had a harsh undertone.

Another wave of unease washed over Faelan. He started to answer, but it quickly turned into a growl of frustration.

"I-I... Ancients be cursed! How are you doing that? How do you make me falter like this?!"

The world around Fealan seemed to twist and spin, his breathing becoming heavy.

Aaron turned around. "It's called Alf'dreaght, which roughly translates to Elven Fear. It's one of the many, many forms of Sorcery. I use it to keep me from unwanted attention. I'm surprised you're still standing—most people would have collapsed in a panic attack by now."

Suddenly the feeling of danger and unease fell away, as Aaron flicked his wrist. "There. you should be fine now."

Faelan eyed Aaron warily as he steadied himself. A different feeling of unease grabbed hold of him, a shiver running down his spine as realization dawned on him—everything he had presumed about Aaron Blindsight was wrong.

Instead of seeing a frail, old man, Faelan saw a swirling storm of power, a force of nature.

Hesitantly, he took a careful step back.

Aaron tilted his head a little to the side and smiled. "So you're not as blind as you appear."

A throaty laugh escaped the man's lips. "Perfect! Just perfect! I wasn't sure before, but everything is clear now. But I'll ask you one last time. Why are you here, and why is my room such a mess?"

He's completely daft. Faelan thought, shocked by the odd behaviour of the old man.

Faelan readjusted his cloak and cleared his throat. "I came here to ask for your help. I've been having a recurring dream that has haunted me for several days. But when I arrived here, I heard muffled whispers from inside. I kicked in the door, only to see a cloaked figure leap out of the window. If I had to guess, there were at least three people, and they were looking for something."

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Aaron nodded. "I see. Why do you think there were three of them?"

"Because I heard three voices inside."

"And why didn't you go after them?"

Faelan threw up his hands in frustration. "Because you interrupted me! But it doesn't matter now. They're far gone by now. About this dream. Can you help me make sense of it?"

"Tell me what you saw. I'll see what I can do."

===================

While telling his dream, Faelan helped Aaron clean up the room. After they were done, Aaron sat down in a comfortable chair while Faelan sat down on the edge of the ruined bed.

"So? What do you think? What does it all mean?"

Aaron shrugged. "I'm not certain. I am familiar with dreams and visions, but I have also learned that they are unpredictable and unreliable. This dream could mean a thousand different things. This girl you keep seeing... I think she is the key to it all."

"Yeah, figured as much. Anything useful?" Felan asked.

"Could you describe the square and the palace again?"

Faelan hesitated, thinking back. "Uhm, the square consisted of big hexagonal stones with some sort of pattern. The palace was in flames, but I remember two great towers with white roofs."

Aaron nodded as he sat down in a chair next to the window. "You're describing the Great Palace in Civ'Argenti, the capital of Terr'Grenn."

"Terr'Grenn?"

Aaron chuckled. "Forgive my elven. I mean the land of Grenn. It seems that your vision is of the future, or at least a possible future. I'll have to think about this. I'll send for you if I have any revelations."

Faelan stood up and gave a small bow. Then he remembered the man before he was blind, and he straightened himself again. "You have my thanks, Master Blindsight. I'll take my leave now. I'll have two Shadows assigned to you in case those figures decide to return. My father will probably send for you when he decides to take your task."

Aaron gave a nod. "Thank you. Strength to you, Faelan Orion."

"Strenght to you too, Aaron Blindsight."

With those parting words, Faelan leapt out of the window, his form shifting.

As he spread his wings, he scanned the streets with his falcon sight, hoping to spot the hooded figures, but he found nothing.

===================

As he reached the House of Ashes, he shifted back from a falcon and landed in the training square. As he walked past a group of training Brothers, he signalled two of them to come over.

"I need you two to shadow Aaron Blindsight. Keep him safe and guard his room."

The two men nodded. "Yes, sir! Ashes to Ashes."

"Dust to Dust." Faelan agreed as he dismissed them and made his way through the kitchen towards the study quarters, snatching a piece of cake along the way.

As he arrived, he gave two sharp knocks on the carved door.

"Come in," a melodic female voice sounded from inside.

As he opened the door, the heavy scent of perfumed candles hit him in the face.

"By the Ancients, Minerva... You're going to suffocate in here one day." Faelan waved his hand in front of his nose as he stepped in. He made a beeline for the window, ignoring his sister sitting cross-legged on a pillow in front of her teacher, looking at him in confusion.

Faelan slid open the window, a gust of the cold winter breeze sweeping through the room.

"Brother!" Artemis exclaimed, clasping her arms around herself as the wind swept up her hair. "What are you doing here? And was that really necessary? It's bloody cold outside. "

Faelan just gave her a smug smirk and turned to the elderly woman. "Minerva, dear, I'm going to need a favour from you."

The elder Weaver Excelente smiled. "What can I help you with?"

"How good are you at making Weave Tokens?"

===================

After he was done with his conversation with Minerva, Faelan made his way to his father's office.

After getting let in, he sat down at the desk.

"What is it, son? Is there something you need?" Talvar asked as he laid a document aside and took a sip from his wine.

"I'm taking the Mark," Faelan stated.

Talvar almost choked.

"You'll what?" He coughed.

"I'm taking the Mark," Faelan repeated. "Don't try to change my mind. I'm doing it."

Talvar sighed and folded his hands. "Very well then. I'll send for Master Blindsight first thing tomorrow."