Traveling through the mountains for three days provided Cassian some much-needed time to collect his thoughts. The prince and his feline friend had moved at a commendable pace, especially considering how bruised and battered they both were. Fortunately, Reinhold and the appreciative people of Deadwood had loaded them up with supplies when they departed the mining town. It was nearly last light and the travelers stopped at the edge of a cliff where the towering redwood trees became less dense.
Cassian lifted his hands high over his head and performed a deep stretch. As he rocked side-to-side slowly, he exhaled with an emphasis on consistency, pushing through the sharp pain in his back and ribs.
The battle against Ingram and his soldiers weighed heavily on Cassian’s mind. Does the belief that one’s actions are noble grant them the right to sow such terrible violence? What about when both parties believe wholeheartedly that their cause is not only just, but without a shadow of doubt, utterly necessary? Surely necessity is a subjective concept. Human nature seems to demand, no, breed, conflict. Is a life without such an affliction even possible?
With a tender look over at Light, Cassian smiled. “There’s one thing I do know for certain—If it wasn’t for you, I’d have been worm meat.” The gigantic cat jumped down from a boulder with grace and brushed up against his friend's side. The prince’s heart was filled with joy to see that Light was getting healthier and stronger with each passing day.
Cassian ran his hand through Light’s soft fur, closing his eyes and putting his face against the cat’s neck. The vibration of his companion purring against his cheek filled him with warmth and a renewed appreciation for life. The gentle breeze whispered to the branches, as if the sun were telling the ancient trees good night. From high atop the mountain, the pair looked out at the breathtaking landscape illuminated by the setting sun.
“I suppose this is a good place to make camp for the night. Can’t beat that view!” Said Cassian, met by a surging purr that he could only assume meant that Light agreed with his assessment. “I’m going to go cut some wood, you stay here with the gear and rest. I’ll be back in no time.”
Cassian grabbed his small hatchet and set off into the woods to grab some firewood. The trees in this area were far too massive to easily chop for kindling. He remembered seeing smaller trees not too far off near the road. While walking, he massaged his ribs. The discomfort washed over him in waves, but after the pain he felt a sense of relief, as if he could rub the pain and soreness away.
In reality, he likely had a few broken ribs and no amount of therapy was going to make that type of pain disappear overnight. Time was the only thing that could mend his broken bones, he knew that. For now, he would gladly accept whatever subtle form of relief he could find, a temporary respite was better than none at all.
The area near the road smelled of pine and the trees here were young saplings not much taller than Cassian. It looked like a fire had scorched this area at some point in the past and these small trees now flourished atop the burnt remains of those that once resided here. Something about being out in nature and considering the cycle of life comforted the prince.
He gripped the hatchet tightly in his hands, drawing it back to start gathering the firewood. But before he could swing the axe, a sound from down the road caught Cassian’s attention. He wasn’t sure why the echo of approaching hooves unnerved him, but he trusted his instincts and ducked behind a boulder.
The sound got closer and closer until a small company of knights raced past on the road. Night had swallowed the mountain pass. However the dim illumination from the stars was enough for Cassian to recognize the banner and heraldry of the mounted soldiers, they were from the Enthamerean army. Perhaps I should flag them down. I could ask them to relay a message to my father.
Frozen by indecision, the prince remained crouched behind the moss covered boulder out of sight. He chewed his lip and considered his options. I can’t rightly know if that would be a good idea. What if they don’t believe I am who I say I am because of these damn cursed eyes? Or what if they return me to the palace and I never get to speak with the magisters. I just can’t risk it, I need to do things my own way and hope things will all work out in the end.
After an amount of time that Cassian deemed adequate had passed he stepped out and chopped up enough wood for the evening fire. When he returned to the campsite carrying the stack of logs and kindling Light was curled up in the dirt snoring loudly. Cassian grinned then laughed gently. Eventually, he had set up the camp by the cliff. Cassian kicked his boots off and warmed his feet up near the fire while he roasted some venison. Reinhold was too kind, traveling was so much more comfortable when properly equipped.
The scent of the flame-roasted venison reminded Cassian that he didn’t really stop to eat much that day. It was a bad habit he had developed when he was just a young boy. He would become so fascinated by a book, or chasing the feral cats around the palace that he would completely lose track of time. Eldan used to give him quite the ear full when he would show up late to lessons or skip them outright. I wonder how old Eldan is doing. I hope my father is holding up well, he has a bad habit of his own—he was always allowing stress to wear him down. Obviously I’ve never felt the weight of a nation’s struggles, but it seems clear to me that if one doesn't dissociate from it at times, it can burn you up inside.
After eating more grilled venison than any one man probably should, Cassian looked up at the stars. Between the warmth of the fire and the fullness of his belly it didn’t take long for the prince’s eyelids to become heavy. Before long, Cassian was curled up next to Light on the ground snoring.
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The next morning Cassian woke up and packed up the camp as the sun rose beyond the icy peaks. Warm streams of light danced through the thick tree branches like a considerate gift from a cosmic entity. Cassian and Light hiked through the woods following the road but avoiding traveling on it. Since seeing the soldiers on the road the prince wanted to take extra steps to exercise caution. The woods were quiet that morning as they moved through the brush. Birds chirped and the sound of a stream could be heard trickling in the distance.
Cassian mused over the soldiers and their mission for a while, but eventually he cleared his mind and hiked along absentmindedly. Fallen leaves and branches crunched beneath his boots as he hiked. If everything goes along well, we should make it to the Blue Tower by nightfall.
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Cassian felt a complicated mixture of emotions about reaching his destination. On one hand, he hoped he would finally be able to get some answers, and they might even be able to point him towards a solution for his cursed eyes. But on the other hand, he was extremely nervous to arrive. What if they don’t have answers to the questions that fill my thoughts? What if they don’t know how to fix my eyes? Could I really be stuck like this for the rest of my life? Not being able to feel the addictive surge of energy that only amethite can provide would be a crushing loss. I suppose the world forever looking at me like some black-eyed monster would be pretty ill-fated as well.
Light growled, low and raspy. The sound forced Cassian’s attention back to the present. He stopped, scanning the foggy woods around him to the best of his abilities. A heavy gloom had set in, permeating the woods and reducing the visibility greatly. Light was worked up, he crouched atop a boulder, teeth bared and issued a consistent low rumbling growl. His fur was standing up and he sniffed the air trying to pinpoint the threat.
Cassian drew his sword despite being unable to pinpoint any issues. He called out to his feline friend, “What is it, buddy? What’s got yo spooke—”
The prince was interrupted by a beastial and thunderous roar that was far too close for comfort. A hulking behemoth of a bear appeared directly in front of Cassian, charging through the heavy fog and barreling straight into him. The force of the unexpected and bullish impact sent Cassian sailing through the air until his momentum was halted abruptly by a thick tree trunk. His sword went flying out of his hands.
The surprised prince tried to get back to his feet, but the agony of aggravating his broken ribs yet again was utterly disorienting. As Cassian managed to get his feet under him, a rush of dizziness swirled in his head. There’s that familiar feeling of vertigo. I guess it missed me like an old friend—a friend I’d prefer not to catch up with. His equilibrium unsettled like an upended hourglass and he fell back to the dirt. Looks like she’s a persistent old friend. Thick mud covered his face and he looked up to see the bear crashing towards him. Cassian gritted his teeth and put his arm out, as if either of those pitiful actions would prevent an enraged bear from ripping him to pieces.
Light roared with the fury of a thousand storms and leaped through the haze, tackling the bear and driving it into the dirt. Leaves and mud sprayed into the air as the massive purple horned leopard rolled with the bear. Cassian’s heart skipped a beat as the beasts slashed and bit at each other in a flurry of violence and raw primal force. Light gored the grizzly in the belly with his purple crystalline antlers. Blood and entrails poured out onto the ground but the bear didn’t show any sign of slowing down. The prince’s eyes widened in horror. What the stars! How is that bear still up? Something strange is going on in these mountains.
Concern for his friend’s well-being set off a mental alarm that helped Cassian shake the cobwebs from his head. Light needs my help, this is my chance to return the favor. Climbing to his feet he ran across the woods sliding through the golden foliage to grab his longsword. The maneuver sent shockwaves of pain through his tender midsection. He grimaced, but did his best to bury the agony deep inside of himself. Cassian could deal with the repercussions later—for now, he needed to help his friend.
Despite the bear's horrific abdominal wound, it fought on with vicious cruelty. It didn’t make any sense to Cassian, that injury should be fatal. Light’s jaws opened wide as he prepared to rip out the bear's throat. At the last possible moment, the umber furred grizzly snapped its jaw open, what Cassian saw made his stomach sink into the icy mountain beneath his feet.
The bear’s brutal and sharp teeth were made of translucent purple crystal. Cassian blinked rapidly, he struggled to believe his eyes. That’s just not possible. Is it? The beast with the crystalline fangs roared and plum hued smoke bellowed out into Light’s face. As the swirling violet haze enveloped the confused leopard, his body went limp and he collapsed.
The bear growled with a savage intensity that sent chills down Cassian’s spine. Rearing back on its mighty hind legs, it prepared to pounce down onto the unconscious Light. Cassian’s breath caught in his throat. He rolled forward. Just as the terrible foe came crashing down with intent to land a killing blow on the leopard, Cassian stabbed upwards with his sword. The prince held the sword with both hands and tightened his grip on the hilt until his knuckles turned white.
All of the heavy bear's weight came crashing down. The momentum drove the blade into its jaw and up right through its skull. Gore rained down, showering Cassian. The metallic taste in Cassian’s mouth had him coughing and gagging. Note to self, keep mouth closed when attempting a kill shot. The bear roared in pain sending birds scattering from the treetops high above. It crashed to the ground sending an explosion of dust and leaves up into the air. The prince wiped the blood from his face as he ran over to Light’s side. He kneeled next to his friend, struggling to catch his breath. Cassian tried to shake him awake but the big cat remained in the dirt unconscious.
A storm had subtly rolled in and the sounds of thunder crashed high above the treetops. Heavy winds began whipping through the woods as Cassian laid on the ground next to his friend sobbing. “Please….you can’t…die! I…need you…around…”
The prince crouched there hugging Light tightly as time lost all meaning and it was swallowed by the void that was Cassian’s fear. In time the giant leopard’s eyes opened slowly and he sneezed. Cassian couldn’t stop crying and his lips broadened into a huge smile. The prince wrapped his arms even tighter around Light’s neck. Feeling the big cats labored breaths against his chest filled Cassian with reassurance. “I’m so glad you’re alright. I had no idea what to think. I think the two of us could use a vacation.”
Light purred and breathed out deeply before licking Cassian’s face. The prince laughed, the relief he felt was like an unbearable weight lifting off his soul. With the whistling winds blowing fiercely the fog had mostly cleared up.
Cassian looked up and could see the form of a colossal structure beyond the edge of the forest. His jaw dropped at the sight of the massive spire, it was unbelievable the way it made the massive trees appear tiny. Cassian had heard so many stories about the legendary tower and the mysterious magi that inhabited it, but seeing it for the first time in person felt like a daydream.
It was the Blue Tower of the magisters. They had made it.