Cassian laid on a cold steel operating table, he fidgeted anxiously as he awaited the inevitable discomfort that was sure to come next. He waited for his eyes to adjust, but the most blinding light he had ever seen hung overhead. The light ensured that his eyes were unlikely to focus anytime soon. He wanted to close his eyes but the Lord Magister had put a copper contraption around his head designed to keep his eyelids open.
The sound of Njal tinkering with glass vials should have been a relief to Cassian, but for some reason it was having the opposite effect. So much in fact, that he thought he might be sick. In an attempt to keep himself calm he pet Light over and over again. The big cat was laying on the floor next to the steel table and based upon the way he was digging his claws into the floorboards, seemed almost as anxious as his friend.
Come on, control your breathing, everything is going to be fine. I’ve come a long way for Njal to take a stab at fixing these demon eyes of mine. If anyone can help me it’s him. Njal shuffled over to the table and poured the contents of one vial into another. When the liquids came into contact a violent reaction occurred. A small cloud of smoke that reeked of sulfur filled the room and the sound of the liquid bubbling up had Cassian grinding his teeth with fear.
“Alright Cassian, a fair warning this won’t be pleasant. But I suspect this formula will purge the witch's venom from your system and heal your eyes.” Njal said in a tone that didn’t do much to instill confidence or calm Cassian’s nerves.
“Funny enough, I feel like I’m in a dungeon about to be tortured. But I believe in you, Njal. You’re as wise as you are eccentric. I’m ready whenever you are.” Said Cassian, with a forced laugh that made it quite clear how worried he truly was. His heart was beating faster than a galloping racehorse and he felt like he might just pass out.
Njal examined the vial of sunflower colored liquid closely against the intense light. “Alright, here we go, this will sting a little, young prince.” Without another word, the Lord Magister tilted the vial and placed a few drops into each of Cassian’s eyes.
His panic came to a climax when Cassian felt the liquid make contact with his eyes. He grimaced instinctively, preparing himself for the agony that was sure to follow. As his vision went dark and Cassian felt like he could hear his heart pounding behind his eyeballs, he languished in uncertainty. Maybe he was exaggerating the pain? A few brief moments passed and Cassian exhaled in relief as his lips curled into a smirk, “Look at that, it’s not so ba—”
The joyful exclamation of comfort was interrupted by a feeling that Cassian could only describe as being stung by a hundred wasps all at once. He gritted his teeth, trying with all his will to fight through the burning pain. It was no use, Cassian cried out, “Oh bloody stars! It feels like a manticore pissed in my damn eyes! Curse you Njal, you bastard you—Oh, I don’t mean that, you don’t deserve that, you’re a good man.” Cassian’s breathing turned frantic as he struggled to fight through the pain. He erratically went back and forth between belligerently cursing Njal and apologizing until the pain finally eased a few minutes later.
The Lord Magister waited patiently beside Cassian. “It’s okay, young prince. I know the pain is intense but it will pass.” Njal drifted between observing Cassian and scribbling notes into a journal.
After a few minutes went by, the stinging sensation in Cassian’s eyes faded to an uncomfortable throbbing. “Well? Did it work?” Cassian asked, still struggling to see clearly between the blinding light and the ordeal he had just been through.
Njal sighed loudly. “I’m afraid that it didn’t work.” He said, struggling to hide his frustration.
Cassian felt his heart sink as he sank into the deep, dark waters of apathy. I shouldn’t have got my hopes up. Nothing hurts worse than having hope before inevitably being smacked down by failure. I guess this is my life now. Cassian, the demon prince. Maybe I can join a traveling freak show, since going back to Cloudreach like this is surely off the table.
“Don’t give up just yet, young prince. When the sun goes down, the stars come out.” The Lord Magister said, slamming his journal shut, turning off the blinding light and taking the copper device off of Cassian’s head. “I will need a bit of time to reformulate my remedy. While I work, please go explore the eighteenth floor, you might find it…interesting. Ask for a man named Radivar, he will show you around.”
Cassian nodded softly, then sat for a minute rubbing his eyelids. When he opened his eyes his vision shifted mostly back to normal. Light growled and stared up at him. The massive cat whimpered and Cassian kneeled down and rested his forehead against his friends. “No need to worry, buddy. I’m alright, things are going to be just fine for us. I promise.” He tried to sound confident, but he wasn’t so certain things would work out in the end.
Njal was working like a madman at a table covered in glass vials, scrolls and various exotic regents. His passion was obvious, he wanted more than anything to help the prince. Not wanting to bother the Lord Magister, Cassian turned and tip-toed towards the stairs, he whistled and Light jumped up, running over to his side.
As the pair descended the many stairs it gave Cassian some much needed time to think. Drowning in despair does absolutely nothing for me. There’s no point in falling into a deep depression yet. I have to stay rooted in my belief that Njal is likely the one man who has a chance at curing me. He is bloody brilliant, who am I to doubt him? So it didn’t work on the first try, how foolish was I to think it would be that easy? My mother always told me, just because things are hard doesn’t mean we should give up. It’s the times when things feel hopeless that we most need to dig deep and persevere. I will not be defeated so easily.
By the time they made it down to the eighteenth floor Cassian had beads of sweat dripping down his brow. Even though he was huffing and puffing, he was appreciative because it had given him time to clear his head a bit and he felt much better about everything now. Reaching the landing Cassian took the opportunity to give his burning legs a break. He plopped down on his butt and ran his fingers through his damp hair. Light’s tongue was hanging out of his mouth as he panted and he plopped down right next to Cassian.
Cassian looked at his furry friend and scratched him under his chin. “What do you think, buddy? These stairs are either going to kill us, or whip us into shape before we leave this place.” Light just put his head down and sighed deeply through his nose. The pair sat on the wooden floor outside of the closed oak door for long enough to catch their breath, and then they sat for a bit longer.
Without warning the door opened and a stout Chamaroonian man in a robe stepped out. He narrowed his eyes and looked down at the strange pair. With a faint sound of consideration he brought his hand up to his braided goatee and stroked it. “Well…that is not something you see everyday now…”
Cassian looked up at the dark skinned man and his eyes were drawn to all of the flashy jewelry he wore. Garnets, sapphires, and emeralds sparkled from his many rings and necklaces. The prince glanced over at Light, then looked back up at the man. “I’m assuming you’ve never seen a snow leopard with crystalline horns before?”
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The Chamaroonian let out a low and rumbling laugh. “You would not believe the things I have seen.” He pulled a vial from inside his robe and took a big swig before he stared into Cassian’s eyes curiously. “Though, I cannot say I have ever seen a young man with eyes as black as the night on the solstice. No matter, what brings you to the eighteenth floor?”
Cassian stood up slowly. “Hopefully they won’t be that way much longer. Njal sent us down to explore the eighteenth floor with Radivar. He said we might find something interesting down here.”
The man grinned revealing one of his front teeth was covered in gold, a purple scar ran down his cheek splitting his upper lip. “I am Radivar. And interesting you say, Prince Cassian of Enthamere?” Radivar asked in a tone that implied he might very well have something interesting to show them. “Oh based on the company you keep I imagine this floor will in fact pique your curiosity. Follow me.” He waved his hand and disappeared into the corridor behind the door.
Raising an eyebrow and looking over at Light, Cassian quickly shrugged, then the pair hurried after the man. When they caught up to him they walked briskly next to Radivar. Stars! For a short man he moves bloody quickly. What’s the hurry, Mr. flashy pants? Together they moved down a corridor lit dramatically by wall mounted candelabras every ten yards or so. The shadows swayed in the dim candle light. They walked in silence to the end of the corridor then took a hard right turn.
Around the corner the corridor opened up into a chamber with tall vaulted ceilings. Long curved beams ran across the ceiling and a dark iron chandelier crowded with candles hung down in the middle of the chamber.
Each wall along the perimeter of the room was made of thick glass and behind each of the towering glass sheets was an enclosure. More incredible than the layout of the chamber was the collection of living animals inside of each enclosure. Cassian’s jaw dropped when he stepped into the chamber and the color drained from his face.
Radivar turned around with his arms out wide. His big grin tugged at his lips until they split around the puffy scar. “Well, what do you think of my lab?”
Cassian stepped at a snail’s pace around the outside of the chamber, looking on in amazement at the various animals behind the glass. When he realized that each of the animals had something abnormal about them his inky eyes narrowed and he stood speechless. Inside one enclosure was an auroch with crystalline eyes the color of lilac, it was smashing its head violently against the glass.
The next held an eagle with two heads and each head had a purple glimmering beak, it was tearing apart a scarecrow. Behind the glass of one enclosure was an aquarium and swimming inside of it was a shark with row upon row of crystalline teeth. The shark had the flailing body of a huge tuna in its jaws, blood poured from it. This place is absolutely surreal. Each of these animals is like that bear we fought…or…like Light. Well much more pissed off then him, but similarly unusual.
Stepping up beside Cassian as he watched the shark, Radivar tapped his foot energetically and looked over at Light. “So, I guess you are no stranger to these types of mutations, eh?”
Cassian turned to the man without warning and grabbed him hard by the collar of his robe. “Are you doing this to these animals? Are your experiments driving them mad? On our way to the Blue Tower we happened across a massive enraged bear. It attacked us and we discovered it had purple crystalline teeth and the strange ability to spew disorienting smoke.”
Radivar knocked Cassian’s hands off of him and stepped back. “Gods no! We suspect these animals are being twisted by the amethite mining operations. We have brought them here to be studied, to observe the effects of these mutations. Disorienting smoke you say? That’s certainly a new one.” Radivar straightened his white robe, flashed a sour look at Cassian and continued, “We wish to cure them or at the very least better understand them. To our knowledge these types of mutations are native to Enthamere and only began surfacing in the past decade.”
Light stepped up next to Cassian and growled. “Is that how you got that nasty scar above your lip? Working with these animals?” Asked Cassian, placing a hand on Light’s neck to calm the agitated horned cat.
“Very perceptive of you. Yes, from our observations the creatures augmented by the amethite become highly aggressive. I have never been known for my good looks, but one such creature decided my face might look better split in two.” Radivar ran a ringed finger down the length of the vicious scar. “I’m amazed that you have managed to train the tainted creature at your side. I have never seen such a thing accomplished. You must tell me everything about how you achieved this?”
“Light is not a tainted creature!” Shouted Cassian. “In fact, he is kind, loyal and incredibly intelligent. If not for his friendship, I wouldn’t even be alive today.”
Radivar gasped aloud then ran over and grabbed a journal and feather pen from his desk. “Incredible, please, share with me how your friendship began?”
Cassian glared at him for a moment before letting out a long sigh. “I happened across Light in the mountains near Deadwood.” The prince paused and grimaced, the memory of his friend in such agony upset him deeply. “A band of Chamaroonian hunters had his leg snared in an irow jaw trap. I had never seen any animal as wonderful as him in my life. They were going to kill Light.” Cassian walked over to Light and hugged him tightly. The giant cat purred and licked his face, Cassian laughed, wiping his wet face with his tunic.
“Ah hunters from my homeland, eh? We Chamaroonians can be a bit cold at times when it comes to coin. Please, tell me what happened next?” Asked Radivar.
“I bargained with them for his life. They accepted the trade and I freed Light.” Cassian knelt down and unwrapped the dirty bandage around his friend’s leg. Impossible. It’s healing incredibly quickly. I wonder if the mutation is helping expedite his recovery? “After I freed him I went back to my camp. A short while later he showed up at my camp and stayed with me. We’ve been traveling together ever since.”
Radivar continued writing then slammed the journal shut. “Well, either you have a gift for speaking with animals, or you’re extremely lucky. I guess you two might have that in common.” The dark skinned man replied with a sly wink. “If it’s okay, would it be possible for me to draw a small amount of Light’s blood?”
Cassian looked at the man like he had just escaped an insane asylum. “Definitely not.”
Radivar sighed and tried again, “Please, I’d love to study it compared to the other creatures here in the lab to see if we can discover how Light has avoided losing his mind.”
Cassian looked Light in the eyes and hummed contemplatively. “Hmm, if you think his blood might hold the key to helping all of these other animals, then I suppose it’s okay. But you can only draw a small amount.”
Radivar grinned from ear to ear, nodding with excitement.