We held each other for a while. When I glanced down, I noticed Sylvie had fallen asleep. She must have been worn out from bottling up all those emotions, and the exhaustion had finally caught up with her.
Her face was peaceful, with her hair gently falling over her forehead. Her expression was soft and serene..something I hadn't seen in days.
It was comforting to see my daughter simply being a child again. Smiling, I ruffled her hair and gently laid her down.
Our neighbours were sitting there, watching us with a smile on their face. I was grateful to the old couple; their presence made us both comfortable. I walked over and greeted them.
" It's feels like a long time since we last saw each other " I started the conversation.
" Sylvie told us that Lily is no more "
I tried to say something, but words got stuck in my mouth. I wasn't sure what and how to tell this old couple.
" What happened? "
" It was an accident " I said, somewhat hesitating.
Mr. Fredricksen just nodded and continued, we must have understood that I wasn't ready to share what exactly happened
"We're sorry for your loss, Sirius. Lily was a gentle soul, and it never should have happened."
"We were quite worried about you and Sylv," Mrs. Fredricksen added, her voice soft and low. "She was so reserved at first, but then she started recalling that day. She doesn't remember much clearly the either.
We wanted to speak with you about her and Lily, but we're glad you both seem to have found yourselves again."
"Indeed, it's for the best," Mr. Fredricksen agreed. "With Lily gone, it's just the two of you now. Sylv has lost her mother, Sirius. You know that pain all too well, so I don't need to say more."
"I'll be there for her, just as she's been for me," I replied.
I glanced over at Sylv, asleep beside me, and Lily's final moments flooded back to me. She hadn't spoken, but her eyes had said it all.
"Take care of her... and yourself," was what she'd wanted to say. My fists clenched at the memory.
"Both of you have been through so much. Take good care of each other," Mrs. Fredricksen's voice pulled me back to the present.
"I will," I said, my voice firm with determination.
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We spoke for a little while longer, and then I picked up Sylv and headed home.
When we returned, I tucked Sylv into bed. The conversation with Toby had drained me, but seeing Sylv asleep brought me a sense of peace. Despite my exhaustion, I felt a strange calm settle over me, and I drifted off to sleep soon after.
---
Next morning, I woke up feeling somewhat refreshed. Although Lily's presence was still absent, my mind had found a semblance of peace.
After breakfast, we prepared to head to the café. Sylv had taken some time off from school; for now, I wanted her to focus on healing.
As I was about to close the bedroom door, my gaze landed on the medium..the object that had been used to control the monster that had possessed Lily.
Our world is home to various species, one of which is known as the Duskren. These beings possess mysterious powers, often deemed sinister due to their dark nature and predatory behavior.
Many label them as monsters, not only because of their affinity for the dark arts but also due to their immense physical strength, far surpassing that of the average human.
However, the Duskren are not without their flaws. Most lack higher intelligence, operating purely on instinct, much like wild animals driven by the primal urges to hunt and feed.
Yet, there are some among them who possess intelligence on par with, or even surpassing, that of humans as well.
The reason behind this as to why some duskren possessed intelligence while other remain primal? I had no idea.
Because of their animalistic nature, Duskren can be tamed. However, the process is far from simple. A medium is required, something deeply valuable to the caster, infused with a fragment of their own soul.
The size of this fragment depends on several factors: the power difference between the caster and the Duskren, the level of control the caster desires, and the specific type of Duskren involved etc.
However highly intelligent Duskren cannot be tamed. In these cases, a mutual agreement is the only option, with the terms decided by both parties.
The process of taming, however, is not all merry. The most obvious side effect is the loss of a significant portion of the caster's power and life energy.
The part of the soul that is offered, though still connected, no longer belongs to the caster and takes considerable time to heal, depending on the extent of the damage.
The malignant influence of the Duskren can also spread to the caster, causing severe physical and mental issues. In some instances, the caster may even die after a period of time, especially if the power gap is too great.
There are some cases of casters dying within a day of attempting to tame a Duskren beyond their capabilities. In some situations, mutual agreements have resulted in disaster, with the malignancy spreading so fast that the caster themselves became a part of the Duskren.
When a Duskren dies, what remains is something people refer to as the "heart." By shattering the heart, you can increase your power, but it takes time to absorb and assimilate.
If you take in too much too quickly, you do gain power, but you also risk being influenced by the dark arts, possibly losing your mind.
The one I killed that day seemed to be a possession type..it was the first time I encountered such a creature, and it was truly terrifying. The ability to possess someone and act as them was beyond cruel.
It left behind a medium as well, confirming that I had been specifically targeted. Breaking the medium would give even more power because of the soul fragments within, without the usual drawbacks.
But I kept this one for a different reason, i needed it to track down whoever who killed my wife and tried to kill both me and Sylv.
" Power can wait.. making that bastard pay comes first " I clenched my first, took my coat and turned towards the door where Sylvie was waiting for me.