The carriage stopped by a clearing not that far from where Raymond and Peeta had their fight.

There, they set up a few small tents that were given to them by Hagert and Neelae. The men would be sleeping in the tents, while Estella and Eevana slept in the carriage.

Raymond complained at first, but Kalos reminded his father that it was imperative that Estella remain warm throughout the entire trip, even if that meant they’d have to give up the comfort of the carriage.

Peeta on the other hand, grunted as he quickly set up his tent.

“Dad, what did Mr. Peeta mean earlier?” Kalos asked as he paced around the campsite.

“Mmm... A long time ago, when then first of the singing children appeared, some people took it as a sign of the coming apocalypse.” Raymond said.

“Which they are,” Peeta added.

“Yeah, well that doesn’t matter. What does matter is finding out why the dreaded appear around singing children.” Raymond said.

“What part of impending apocalypse don’t you understand?” Peeta asked.

“They are probably beacons of darkness. When the day comes and the seal between Nar' Agrun and Discord is broken, you’ll look back and be like, yeah, Peeta was right.” He added.

“Will you shut up for a moment? Listen Kalos, you and every other child like you has a special purpose, we just don’t know what it is yet. Ignore everything Peeta says and look for that purpose yourself, ok?” Raymond asked his son.

Kalos nodded his head before hearing Peeta’s stomach growling.

Everyone looked at him with accusing eyes.

“What? I haven’t eaten in a while.” Peeta said defensively.

Kalos jumped out of his tent in an instant and forged a dagger in his right hand.

“Let’s hunt some rabbit!” Kalos yelled.

“Sit down. We have plenty of food in the carriage.” Raymond said as he too got out of his tent.

“I am curious though…” He said as he walked towards the carriage.

“What?” Kalos asked.

“Did they pack us any booze?” Raymond asked as he rummaged through one of the containers strapped to the back of the carriage.

Kalos ignored his father and entered the carriage to find a snug Estella and Eevana.

“Hey, we’re gonna cook something up, I’ll let you know when it’s done, ok?” Kalos said.

“Close the damned door!” Estella yelled as cold air rushed into the carriage.

Kalos did as he was told. He then thought of a brilliant idea.

He started pumping out particles of light from himself and into the carriage.

Kalos then used the same trick his father used to dry their clothes all those days ago and the carriage slowly started getting warmer.

Unfortunately, this also started affecting Eevana who was a being of darkness.

“Ouch!” She yelped, making Kalos reabsorb all of his light.

“Sorry, I just wanted to-"

“It’s fine. We have tones of blankets and the carriage is mostly airtight. Now, go off and hunt a bear or something.” Estella said while pointing her index finger towards the woods.

Kalos exited the carriage with a lowered head and found his father, Peeta and Crimwal prepared dinner.

“What happened?” Raymond asked.

“I tried heating the carriage, but my light accidentally burnt Eevana,” Kalos admitted.

Peeta’s eyes widened.

“Pfft! Hahaha! That’s definitely your kid!” Peeta said as he laughed rather loudly.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Raymond said with lowered eyebrows.

“Guess what happened to your old man after the order found out he was an eminence? Huh? He “accidentally” released his light and blinded three out of six of the high priests, hahaha!” Peeta said as he fell backwards.

Dinner came and went rather smoothly.

“That sword's pretty amazing, I must admit,” Peeta said.

“Yes, it’s great, right Kalos?” Raymond asked, but his son didn’t respond.

“Kalos?” Raymond checked and found that his son’s nose was deep in the red book.

Raymond sighed heavily.

“What’s up with him?” Peeta asked.

“Oh nothing much. He found the original diary of the first descent and now reading it is all he does,” Raymond said as he snuck into his tent.

“He found the what?” Peeta gasped.

“Yes. You know how the record of the first descent is shrouded in mystery? Yeah, well Kalos found it.” Raymond said with a yawn.

“Damn… reading words written by the eminence Romulus Xormae. Hey, boy! Can I read that later?” Peeta asked, but Kalos ignored him.

“Ray, I’m starting to think the kid doesn’t like me,” Peeta said.

“Hehe, probably not. Anyway, goodnight.” Raymond said before closing his eyes.

“Wait a minute!” Crimwal said abruptly.

“What?” Raymond asked.

“You haven’t finished telling us your story,” Crimwal said.

Raymond groaned.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Aww, who cares about that?” He whined.

“I do!” Crimwal cried.

“Fine,” Raymond said while rolling his eyes, which as Crimwal learnt, upon closer inspection, were grey.

“So Aluin and I began our adventuring days. I was the defnce, while she gawked at landmarks and dug up whatever she found interesting. For a knight, this would have been the most boring of things to do, but I was elated. Every time she found an old temple or blindly ran into a dark being, I’d smile and slaughter away whatever scared her. She and I spent years wondering, searching, but I’d long since found what I was looking for.”

“So that’s where you were. You know that the herald sent out hundreds of men looking for you, you big idiot.” Peeta said.

“Yeah well, whatever! I enjoyed myself and that’s all that mattered.” Raymond said defensively.

“A few years later, Aluin told me she wanted to go on a different kind of adventure. She sat me down one day on our way back to Faacri and said that she wanted to have a child. I was overjoyed, but then she spent the next hour or so explaining to me the importance of choosing the correct partner for her motherly adventure. She went on and on about how the person she chose would have to meet certain criteria, but then I realized that I fit most of the criteria she mentioned. I looked deep into her eyes and I knew that she had chosen me. All those years of waiting, all that time spent in harmony would eventually take physical form.” Raymond said as he looked at Kalos, who had turned to face his father.

Estella and Eevana poked their heads out of the carriage as they listened to Raymond.

“Our love for each other burnt brighter than even the brightest of stars and our bond was only reinforced when we found out that we’d soon have a third member of our little party.” Raymond’s face then darkened.

“But… that all changed when Kalos began singing. At that time, we lived in a modest home in Eslaf and I was away meeting the herald. One of the knights who was on patrol succumbed to the dread and tried attacking Aluin, but she wasn’t your typical sitting duck. No, she fought bravely until other knights intervened but by then, the order realized that she was carrying a singing child. When I returned home, I found several knights surrounding my dear Aluin with spears pointed towards her neck and even when I told them to stand down, they continued to threaten the one dearest to me. In a fit of rage, I… killed them and released Aluin. This was the final straw in the eyes of the order. They ordered that we both be executed and sent a thousand knights to our home. I fought and fought and fought and slowly, the monster that I had fought so hard to bury awoke. I killed all one thousand knights-"

“And cut off my arm,” Peeta added.

“And cut of your arm, but Aluin had grown tired of all the blood and murder. She was Carimaen after all. All she had ever known was a peaceful nomadic life. So, after I’d killed the last of the knights, she asked if there was a place we could go. Somewhere where the order wouldn’t even think of searching if they wanted to find us. I then thought of a little town called Silves, which is where we stayed as we waited for Kalos to arrive. The villagers didn’t like knights, but they disliked me especially because I resembled the one known as the betrayer. Funny thing is that they never acted on their suspicions. Anyway, the months passed by and the time eventually came for Kalosýni’s arrival. I procured the help of the reluctant village doctor and like that, you were born.” Raymond said as a tear fell from his eye.

“But Aluin… I don’t know how… or why… but she left us on that day. The doctor said some things but I didn’t listen. All I knew was that the love of my life was gone and she’d never be able to complete her final adventure. I cried, oh I cried. I begged the light of Nesrafaar to bring her back and when that didn’t work, I cursed the depths Nar' Agrun.” Raymond said as his tears stopped flowing.

“But then I heard a cry. A loud and annoying cry that caught my attention. I then saw what was undoubtedly the most beautiful thing in the world. Our child. Kalosýni. I took you from the midwives’ arms and held you so tightly because I was afraid you were going to leave me if I didn’t. The doctor struggled to take you from me to do the necessary checks, but I eventually allowed him. I then spent the next nineteen years of my life ensuring you were as safe as possible. I taught you all you needed to know to defend yourself, should I ever leave you and I loved you without restriction, for both Aluin and I. I’m not sure if she’d have raised you the way I did, but looking at you now. I think I did a good job.” Raymond said.

Kalos stared at his father for a moment as their eyes locked.

Kalos got out of his tent and slowly walked into his father’s arms. The two then hugged so tightly, the air around them felt slightly warmer.

Raymond then heard sniffles.

He checked and saw that Peeta was crying.

“What’s wrong with you? If you had told me this, I’d have given you both my arms!” Peeta said while uselessly wiping away his tears.

Raymond rolled his eyes, but then saw that Crimwal was crying as well.

“What the- you too?” Raymond exclaimed as he held his son.

“What do you want me to do? After hearing that, I'm pretty sure anyone would feel something, even if it’s just a little.” Crimwal said.

Raymond checked and saw that Estella was in tears as well.

Eevana was the only one who wasn’t, but she had a deep smile that warmed Raymond’s heart a little.

“Ok you idiot’s, let’s get some sleep,” Raymond said and soon everyone was asleep. Most of them with smiles on their faces.

.

..

The next day greeted the group gently as the sun bathed the mountainside.

Raymond got up and stretched his not so old bones.

Crimwal awoke as well and noticed this change.

“Umm… Raymond… what happened to your face?” He asked as he got out of his tent.

“For as long as his light shines, the body of an eminence shall not change,” Peeta said with a yawn.

“He’s practically immortal. Well, you can kill him if you want to, but that’s an entirely different story.” He added before getting out of his tent.

Kalos woke up as well. He rubbed his eyes when he saw his young-looking father.

Fortunately, he had heard Peeta’s explanation so he didn’t press the issue.

Everyone packed their things and once everyone found their seats in the carriage, they took off.

Their destination was still Carimae, but something had been bugging Crimwal.

“Umm… Peeta. Is Raymond still wanted by the order?” Crimwal asked.

“Yep. Actually, the current eminence or eminence, Vinaar Feelstrom, said that it was his life’s purpose to kill you, Ray.” Peeta said as he casually flipped through Kalosýni’s red book.

“Eminence Vinaar?” Raymond asked from outside.

“Yes. He’s a real eminence. Not as bright as you but definitely an eminence nonetheless.” Peeta said.

“But doesn’t that mean-"

“Yes. At this point, there are two eminences.” Peeta confirmed.

Meanwhile, Kalos had managed to make a container that perfectly maintained its internal temperature. He had made some tea for Estella a while back and used the container as practice. He was trying to hone in on his ability to manipulate light and dark. He was getting better at intricately fabricated materials and structures that had the qualities he desired. His next objective was fabrics. If he could make comfortable yet durable clothing, then his father wouldn’t have to buy new clothes ever again.

Kalos meditated on those thoughts.

“What’s he doing?” Estella asked as she drank her perfectly made tea which was in the perfect bottle. A deep grey flask that would not burn her no matter how hot its contents were.

“He’s-" Eevana and Peeta said at the same time.

Peeta looked away, leaving Eevana to explain.

“He’s cycling magical energy throughout his body and every time he does, his control over it increases. It's… impressive to say the least. If he keeps going at this rate, he’ll soon be able to control all matter at will.” Eevana said.

Estella gasped in an overdramatic manner as she took a sip out of her flask, which was sealable.

The carriage continued to ride along the path down the mountain and that’s when the city of Eslaf Retnec came into view.

“Oi, Kalos! Take a look at that.” Raymond yelled from the driver seat.

Kalos snapped his eyes open, slightly frightening everyone inside the carriage.

He popped his head out of the carriage window, allowing the morning wind to blow past his face.

He then saw a hauntingly familiar city.

“Uh- dad… I’ve seen this before,” Kalos said.

“What do you mean? I’ve never brought you here.” Raymond said.

“I know, but I think it’s time we spoke about a certain dream I’ve been having,” Kalos said as the carriage came to a stop atop a hill that overlooked the city of Eslaf.

Everyone gathered in the carriage and awaited Kalosýni’s explanation.

“Tell me more about this dream of yours,” Raymond asked as he and everyone else took long sips of tea from the Kalos made flasks.

Kalos then told everyone about a dream in which a city that looked just like Eslaf was in flames. He also told them about the cave in which he awoke and the that person always attacked him at the end of the dream.

“Oh, my!” Peeta gasped.

“What did you do to that caused the poor boy to suffer from such dreadful dreams?” Estella asked.

“No, I don’t think it’s a simple dream. Also, I didn’t do anything to Kalos.” Raymond said.

“Yeah, but to have such clear visions… I’m pretty sure that the only one who can see that which cannot be seen is the herald, but Kalos isn’t the herald.” Peeta said.

Everyone thought about what Kalos had just told them.

Raymond’s face then lit up.

“Kalos!”

“What?” Kalos asked.

“I have an idea,” Raymond said with an excited smile.

“What is it?” Crimwal asked.

“We’re going to project Kalosýni’s dreams.”