The Waking of a Fallen Star (Sol-lu/Fasail)

[Harbor]

Fasail spent nearly thirty straight hours sleeping after the battle over Uru’Baen. Channeling energy for other spellcasters had not been as straightforward as she had expected it to be—she’d had to stretch for it, draw it out, wrangle it like a flock of geese and then slide it into the hands of others gently enough not to harm them and quickly enough not to permit their spells to falter.

But Fasail had slept entirely peacefully. For the first time in what felt like eons. Her body’s ability to create energy faster than she could use it had long assured that she always slept more lightly than a flake of snow balancing upon the eyelash of a slumbering owl. That in and of itself had been exhausting. But Aroure had survived the battle without her Rider, and Fasail had survived her panic over Aroure’s disadvantage, and when Fasail finally groaned out of her tent and into the sun she could feel on her skin even if she couldn’t see it, Aroure’s first action was to sweep her sideways with her wing and hug her close to her side.

I promised you I would survive.

Fasail laughed, making her way to Aroure’s neck and throwing her arms around it, leaning into her humming lavender scales, in the most peaceful state of relief she had felt in perhaps her entire life.

“Fasail!” One of the captains she’d known in Nasuada’s armies had spotted her and was trotting forth.

”Yes, Captain?” she greeted with a smile, Aroure lowering her wing so the captain at least could see Fasail when he spoke. Fasail maintained the courtesy of looking as closely as she could at people who were speaking to her.

“The spellcasters have encountered a bit of a mystery,” he began uncertainly, clearly mystified by the discovery himself. “They’ve been waiting for you to wake up so you could assist in energy transfers or some such while they inspect it.”

And thus two hours later Fasail stood, frowning, before what she was told was a large gemstone. She lightly ran her fingertips over its faceted surface, just as perplexed and unnerved as the handful of others who had requested her presence. Not all of her energy had been crafted during the battle; they may yet have need of more, and Fasail was glad to give it away. Or rather to put it to use. She didn’t like useless things.

Finally she sighed, retreating until the spellcasters stood before the stone and Fasail sat cross-legged, hands on her knees, watching the location of the massive gem with eyes that could no longer see. Aroure was extremely comfortable being separated from her Rider, and so soon again since the last threat, but the lavender dragon wouldn’t fit here, and Aroure couldn’t provide the service that could Fasail. ”Whenever you need me I am ready.” \

"We will begin now," one of the women informed her, and Fasail felt the air grow warmer by a few degrees as the spellcasters drew their energy around themselves and began to layer it through the gem. 

[shadowclaw]

The great silver colored gem remained mostly dormant the whole time the magicians poked at it with their abilities, trying many different techniques to work away at the ward that surrounded it with no luck so far, neither had any material they tried on it been able to scratch it. The gem seemed to mock them as it sat there as silent as, well, a rock. The constant glow that seemed to emanate from it, a pale white glow was the most captivating feature of the gem, the light sending off colored reflections from its facets from within.

Now however, they would begin the real test, calling upon a dragon rider, and one with a particularly large reserve of energy. The air growing warmer, they began to channel their energy, whispering some words as they did so, borrowing energy from Fasail and directing it towards the spell that began to envelope the gem. From previous probings they had determined some things about the nature of the magic surrounding the gem, despite their overall failure,the ward was old, very old in fact, cast without the use of the ancient language. This only seemed to excite the more curious of the spell-casters, most among them being elves, with a human woman leading them. This excitement could not be seen on their faces now however, a viel of exertion had fell over all of them.

They had been channeling the spell for an hour, slowly trying to wear away at the ward around the gem, slowly and carefully as they did not know what was in store for them within. Soon they grew confident enough to make the final push to break it. The main spellcaster, a human woman opened her eyes then, glancing at the others, "Get ready, we will now try to pierce the ward with a concentrated effort while it is weak, if we fail now it will regain its strength again and we will not be able to try again." Even while she was speaking she maintained the spell, showing truly impressive concentration.

[Harbor]

Fasail could sense no changes in the gem but the other spellcasters may be able to. Magic simply wasn’t her area of expertise. She was slowly becoming less bitter with that fact. While disapproving that a human was leading the inspection of the gem Fasail held her tongue—she was hardly the one to criticize in this instance when it was magical competency she questioned, even if she believed a proficient elf would have been a far better choice than a proficient human.

The human announced her intention to delve further, stronger, into the peculiar gem and Fasail’s brow furrowed. ”Take exceptional care,” she quietly advised, knowing that with the solid quiet in the nearly emptied treasure vault allowed even the human to easily hear her. The human’s displeasure at being thus warned was palpable even without sight. Fasail had taken to faintly trespassing in many unprotected minds of late, not to observe their thoughts but simply to allow herself to navigate crowded spaces when Aroure wasn’t available to help her. Compiling the images from dozens of minds to allow her to walk was painstaking and required every cell of her concentration, but Fasail found that she rather enjoyed it. It was a puzzle in which the images printed on the pieces continually changed.

Fasail’s own concentration grew as she opened herself to allow her power to be accessed by the four other magicians. She felt the tickles as it wicked away like a candle flame upon a mountain, and took care to handle it just as protectively. Others—non-elves in particular—were easily overwhelmed by what she routinely had to hold inside her bones.

“I believe we are nearly—”

Fasail cut the human sorceress off as she felt something chipping free of the energies they were drilling into the gem. ”Letta!” She vaulted to her feet, intending to throw up a ward—the only area of magic in which she excelled—but she found herself unprepared when hell shook itself loose.

[shadowclaw]

The piercing of the ward seemed to be going well, to a point. It happened in seconds, beginning with a little bit of energy leaking out of the ward they were breaking, and quickly growing uncontrollable as it ripped open, like a small crack in a wall holding back an entire ocean. As this time, the gem shimmered brightly, angrily, a tendril of thought could then be felt coming from it. The mind that raked through the room was ancient  and powerful, it swept through the room like a mighty avalanche might sweep through a stand of trees, all the magicians' minds were overwhelmed almost immediately as they were caught off guard, falling unconscious. Soon this avalanche would come upon Fasail, slamming against the ward she had managed to cast seconds before. 

As this is happening, the light of the gem seemed to draw inward, along with the silvered color obscuring the interior of the stone. Soon the gem was completely clear, like a perfect diamond revealing the Dragon Spirit within. He did not stir however as he remained perfectly still, in a cross legged sitting position within the gem, yet still his onslaught continued on Fasail.  

Sitting on his lap was a long thin sword hidden within a sheath, only the egg sized golden gemstone which was the pommel along with the silver handle and guard visible, the rest of the weapon was hidden within a lustrous silver sheath. The dragon spirit had pure silver hair, which hung frozen in time within the gem just past his jaw, pointed ears of an elf poked out of his hair. He was not an elf however, his face not nearly angular enough, he appeared to be a half-elf with some human in him. He wore a sort of armor which seemed to be made of polished silver, a shining scaled armor that shone like silver covering his arms and legs, with a breastplate that seemed to shine like a polished silver mirror. Upon this breastplate was the crest of a silver dragon, a pure golden gemstone embedded into the armor as its single eye peering out towards anyone who would look at it sideways. He wore a helm atop his head, with the same bright shine as the rest of his armor. It appeared like the top part of a dragon's jaw, platinum fangs protruding down over his eyebrows, and two horns protruding out of it. Two more gems were embedded within the horned dragon helm, a pair of pristine golden amber gemstones as the eyes of the helm.

The helm did not cover the dragon spirit's however, and pure silver hair could be seen poking out of it. It hung frozen in time within the gem just past his jaw. He did not seem to be an elf of pure blood,  his face not nearly angular enough, but it was clear he had the blood of elves in him, his features too angular for a human but not enough for a human. His skin was unblemished, not a single mark to be seen upon his skin. The silver sentinel sat completely still, despite the onslaught he had launched, his face peaceful as if he was asleep, one of his hands resting on each of his knees.

[Harbor]

Fasail felt the approach of an ancient mind bearing down on hers and the others’ less than the bare leavings of a second’s first breath before the mind slammed into hers. Her ward added to the power of her mind, but as mental acuity was the underlying problem behind her inefficiency with magic she knew she wouldn’t stand for long against this onslaught. She heard through the gale of both power and air that pummeled the insides of the wide, tall room.

Fasail felt Aroure scrabbling at the edges of Fasail’s mind as she tried to help her defend it but—and she would pay for it later, if she survived—Fasail threw her mental stretches away and closed the doors behind her, preventing whatever was within the fractured gem from following the link between their minds to wage war on Aroure’s as well. ”I mean you no harm!” she shouted through the winds, having no idea what physical form the assaulting mind took.

In seconds however Fasail felt her wards—not meant for mental protection in the first place—stripping away. She had enough power left in her two skin-deep gemstones to prevent herself from falling as she’d heard the other spellcasters do—she sensed they were no longer conscious—but in that instant she found she was no longer in control of anything beyond such things which couldn’t be stopped: she could still hear the breathing of the other spellcasters, still smell the faintly burnt remnants of the energy she’d had to yank back from them so quickly it had left the seams in her tunic singed where the energy had returned, and still nearly taste the dust of the cracked gemstone in the air. Beyond that she had nothing. She had been caught. She could only pray the being took the same meaning from the word ‘harm’ that she did. The Ancient Language did not permit lies, but it did permit variations.

Fasail stood immobilized, feet braced and hands raised in defense, before the entity that had dropped the spellcasters far cleverer than her, and wondered what her fate would be. She could no longer sense Aroure, but she was underground and there would be great difficulty for Aroure if she wished to reach her Rider. As it was in moments she heard, distantly, claws tearing at stone-flagged floors and people sprinting to avoid the vicinity of a wrathful dragon as Aroure dug as though she intended to unbury them. "Cease this!" she demanded. "Or I will wrench your bones through your skin when you emerge."

If Fasail could have smiled she would have. Aroure was considerate and serene most hours of her life until riled. Then she was a vengeful horror. 

[shadowclaw]

The gem cracked and the broke, the cracks multiplying until the gem fell into a heap of debris, the silver sentinel emerging, clad in his shining armor. Sol-lu his name was, a Dragon Spirit of 11,000 years of age. His strength increased ever more along with his awareness, it was slow going however, he had been dormant for thousands of years. The distant clawing at the ground, along with the presence of a dragon was not known to him for now, only an enemy. One had tried to encroach on him before, tried to wake him by forcing themselves into the gem, it was then that he had awoken, at least partially, at least one hundred years ago. He had been able to strengthen the wards against the intruder however, their intents obviously malicious to him. Now as his golden eyes flickered open, the fury of a dragon in them he sensed the dragon's presence, a tickle at the edge of his mind. 


"Cease this!"  the dragon demanded. "Or I will wrench your bones through your skin when you emerge." Sol-lu exhaled through his nose smirking slightly at the young dragon. It seemed they never did change.

And elf stood before him as well, the only troublesome one that was quick enough to cast a ward before he could get to her mind. She could not be an enemy to him it seemed however, the dragon seemed protective of the individual in particular, which was odd. He could also sense a connection between the two in the elf's mind, very strange indeed. Getting up slowly, setting aside his sword, for the first time in a thousands of years now he stood, his legs slightly wobbly below him, to which he cursed his weakness as he retreated from their minds, the gusting wind around them, of which Sol-lu had sparingly noticed before, died down and the mental attack dissipated like an ocean current draining out to sea. 

Despite his wisdom and power, he looked utterly confused at this point as he looked around the dark room. Last thing he remembered seeing was endless rolling oceans and then darkness, and now he was here, in a dark room, he had no idea where he was. Taking off his helm he looked over at the elf, "If you are a friend of dragons you are not my enemy, but what is the meaning of this?" He spoke fluently in the ancient language in a clear tone, peering over to see if she still had the strength to speak.

[Harbor]

Fasail’s instinct was to recoil when she heard the gem finally shattering, collapsing like nothing more than shale to the stone floor. She heard the slow footsteps of a two-legged being emerging and guessed it to be taller than she by both the weight and distance of the footsteps. The gales about them ceased, she heard the creature breath, and very abruptly she found herself fully returned to her own control. She lowered her arms and stared, wide-eyed, in the creature’s direction.

Fasail heard something sharp and metallic, heavy, being placed aside. Weaponry, or armor? She heard skin against metal then, and hair catching through it. A helm being removed. Whatever this creature was it must be either elvish or human. And then it spoke, and she recognized the being at least by gender.

She inhaled past the moderated vibration of her heart in her chest, knowing she had few defenses against whatever this creature was. She couldn’t even see him, though she glared suspiciously in the direction she expected his eyes to be in. ”The meaning of what? Your gemstone was a mystery, and in times of war mysteries are a hazard. We sought to comprehend said enigma so we could remove it from the list of things that may wish or cause us harm. What are you?”

Fasail—

Shh, Aroure. I am well for now.

What—

Not now, love; I must pay attention. Find Blodgharm if you can. This is a matter he is better suited to than we.

Which is why I would not willingly leave you to face it alone.

Then don’t. If he feels your mind he will not deny your communication, or had you forgotten that?

Oh hush.

”I am a Rider of the Varden, the victors who have defeated the despot Galbatorix, in whose keeping we found you and your gemstone,” Fasail explained, entirely willing to believe that this creature had not been keeping track of the outside world while ruminating inside his shimmering egg.

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu could not help but notice the sudden stillness in the room, the quietness. It seemed the dragon was on the same wavelength as them, its angry clawing stopping almost as soon as his attack had. They stood perfectly still for a moment, Sol-lu's golden eyes peering through the darkness at the only remaining one left stand in the room, helm in hand. He had just begun to reach out again with his mind, this time passively, when she spoke. Her voice was indicative that she seemed rather taken aback by his question, or annoyed. His attention was to her eyes though, which seemed a little off as she was glaring to his left a bit at the wall behind him.

Not saying anything about his observation yet however, he sighed, he did not understand at all what she was speaking about except for when she asked of him his identity.  "I doubt that you would know who I am even if you knew my name, but if you must have that information I am called Sol-lu, and I am The Silver Dragon, a Dragon Spirit." The words felt strange on his tongue, just as the previous words had. 'Those words likely had not been spoken in hundreds of years...' he mused, referring to his name. He did not know exactly how much time had come to pass while he was entombed in the gem.

Soon the elf introduced herself, most of the names she said held no meaning to him. The Varden, he assumed was whatever group she was a part in, victors of a recent war. Galbatorix, that could perhaps be the intruder from previous times he was able to repel, apparently his gem stone had been in his possession before these people. Fasail, her name was, called herself a rider to which he questioned, "A Rider, I sensed previously a link between you and that dragon above, a link of which I had never encountered before. Is the link what you refer to when you call yourself a Rider?" Despite his wisdom, Sol-lu still had many more questions in mind about the current situation, it seemed he had missed a lot.

[Harbor]

As far as knowing who he was, or not knowing, Fasail had to agree she probably didn’t. Her book-learning did not include every detail of the elves’ and humans’ history from whence first they came to Alagaesia, and this creature’s name may well have changed since then, or his appearance. His appearance she couldn’t account for. His name, when he spoke it, was so distant to her mind she couldn’t account for whether or not she’d ever heard it. If so it had been decades ago, likely when she was still a child. Due to the excessive energy in her bones book learning had always been a struggle for Fasail even if the subject matter fascinated her.

”You are correct, I do not know you. I am Fasail, daughter of Severon, and I am bonded to Aroure, daughter of Vimara.”

They are coming, said Aroure.

What? I asked for one person!

That one person’s actions after I contacted him were not under my control. He and the other elven spellcasters are on their way. Nasuada is sending a unit behind them in the event they could prove useful.

Well send them back! He’s given no indication he intends to cause us harm. Tell Blodgharm his title. She imparted to Aroure the snippet of her memory in which Sol-lu had introduced himself, should Blodgharm find some meaning within it that she could not detect. If Blodgharm and his spellcasters startle him he may well attempt to kill us all.

I will pass on your opinion, Aroure dryly said, though Fasail could hear the remaining, stiff tension in her voice. She could hear Aroure pacing irritably above.

Fasail took a deep breath and released it in a stream. ”If you will permit me to I will share with you what history is relevant to today: Since your….internment a Blood Oath was made between the elves and dragons, later expanded to include the humans, to prevent further bloodshed between the dragons and other races, and to assist in policing Alagaesia. Pairings between dragons and others are bonded pairs, the non-dragon counterpart being entitled a Rider. That is the link you have sensed.

“As far as the recent war, an exiled Rider took Alagaesia’s throne for himself, which is against our edict, several hundred years ago and has been wreaking havoc on the realm ever since. The Varden formed to repel him, and as of two days ago managed to overthrow and eliminate him. While going through his many stores and treasures we unearthed your gemstone, and due to its enigmatic nature sought to better understand it. Our magic apparently woke you, and when you assaulted us you deeply unnerved my dragon as well as a number of other spellcasters. They fear you are a threat. I would greatly like to be able to assure them you are not before they find us.” The halls of the mad king were a labyrinth, and Fasail hoped the spellcasters lacked proficient directions to find their way here promptly.

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu lisened intently to the brief history the Rider told him. Taking in every word. So it seemed the Elves and Dragons did eventually go to war. It seemed inevitable to Sol-lu back then that they would, the Elves having just landing encroaching on the Dragon's lands as if they were simple animals. Sol-lu had tried to warn them, and it seemed he was right. If only he hadn't fallen ill, he might have been able to stop the conflict. Oh well, he thought, it seemed something good came out of the war anyway, Dragons and two-legs seemed to be closer than ever. He glanced around the room, his eyes flitting towards the ceiling at the though of dragons, obviously looking towards where he felt the Rider's dragon's presence. No doubt the sky was above him, somewhere. Right now he longed to just get out of this stuffy room and take his true form and roam the skies, catch up on lost time. 

As the Elf had indicated however, doing so at the moment might not be the best idea, he did want to avoid conflict, things would get far to messy if that were to happen and he would rather make friends right away than enemies. He could soon feel their presences approaching however. First, he sensed Elven spell-casters, a ways off through the ground still, but getting closer. There seemed to be eleven of them in total, this slightly unsettled him. "I do hope we can convince them I am no harm before they do anything rash, more for their sake than mine." Sol-lu did not think conflict was likely with the Elf here with him, she could be a mediator if they were too scared to approach him. However it was always a possibility. Perhaps he could cast a teleportation spell to whisk himself away from here, or just deal with the spell-casters, then the rest would be easy. He weighed his options based on which would cost less energy as he was confident of accomplishing either task.

Sol-lu blinked then what was he thinking? He couldn't lash out against these people, he hardly even knew them or what they were about. If they attacked first he would just have to either width stand their attacks until he could prove he was not their enemy or flee.

[Harbor]

Aroure was the only one who understood Fasail’s roughly harnessed anxiety over being unable to see the creature that, while presently professing no wish to cause harm, had dropped half a dozen strong spellcasters in the time it took a glass to break when it struck the ground.

I can’t stop them.

All right. Thank you for trying, Aroure.

”The spellcasters you startled are on their way,” Fasail said calmly, as much for her own peace of mind as in an attempt to give him appropriate warning. She didn’t want him to lash out at the others when they arrived too. ”They intend you no more harm than you do us, and I assure you they are in no way rash. That is more my prerogative and I am clearly no threat to you.” Fasail took a breath. ”Can you tell me what happened to you? Why did you choose to emulate the Eldunari?”

Fasail struggled to comprehend how different this man would be from others, and what a struggle it may be for him to adjust, to adapt. The world he had gone to sleep inside was no longer his now that he had woken. What a terrifying, overwhelming fact. The world had left him behind. Could he catch up even though it had spun so many revolutions without him?

Fasail. Blodgharm’s voice was as smooth and unruffled as it ever was, but then Blodgharm was far older than she, and already had a natural talent for concealing his thoughts and feelings. It was a trait Fasail had only spottily mastered.

She had left a window open in the back of her mind for certain persons to speak through if they wished, and now reached through it to meet him. Blodgharm. Proceed cautiously but I do not believe Sol-lu intends any destruction. He was unaware of the events of the Blood Oath.

Blodgharm thankfully understood the implications of her brief concern. We arrive.

”The elven queen’s spellcasters are here to meet you,” Fasail said to Sol-lu, still using a moderated, calm tone of voice, as she would while coaxing a lynx off of a shaky limb. Moments later Blodgharm trotted through the door far behind him and quickly crossed the space between the door and the fragments of the gem Fasail could feel clustering around her feet.

She touched lightly against the mind of one of the spellcasters she was more familiar with, having come from a same part of the forest. Sivara permitted Fasail to pass through a corner of her mind to briefly see the silver-and-gold, armed and armored elvish creature who stood before her. Fasail straightened a fraction in surprise, her expression mirroring some of her reaction before she forced it to settle back into impassivity.

Fasail retreated from Sivara’s mind as the eleven spellcasters filled the space around her, noting how each one scuffed a boot against the stone floor or tugged the leather of their clothes or cleared their throat once they’d found a standing place, letting her know where they were more accurately than their soft, jumbled footfalls could. If they had to abandon the treasury in a rush they wanted her to know where they were.

”Sol-lu,” greeted Blodgharm. ”We did not look to ever see you again. How came you to be here?”

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu waited patiently, listening to the Elf as she kept him posted. For this he was grateful, it was much easier than scanning the area with his mind to check their progress. From what he could guess they had to be close by now. He mind now went to what he would do after his meeting here with the Varden. Where would he go? All previous persons he had known were probably dead by now, long gone. He had no place in this world anymore. Perhaps he would stay here for a while, then go on and catch up on lost time, see how the world has grown. Or, perhaps he would go see the Elves, from what he could see they were present here already.

His silent thoughts were interrupted a moment late by the Elf again, raising a question to him which brought his mind back to the past. Giving himself a moment to reply, as if thinking he said, "I fell ill, and was on the verge of death. Dragon Spirits are only as healthy as the lands, so when my home died I started to die along with it. Unfortunately the sickness clung to me even when I reached Alagaesia. I fear something more was at work however, I should have become well again when I left Alalea but I did not. As for the Eldunari like object i was entombed in, I cannot say as I was not the one who cast the spell sealing me into it. The elf who cast it, older than even I was back then had said it would preserve me while the spell worked to heal me, it is a very slow working spell." 

Stretching out his muscles a little bit, as he was very stiff, he looked over at the entrance to the dark room, waiting for something to happen. He was starting to get slightly bored until she indicated they were almost here. He looked on with interest, and eventually they started filing into the room. The elven queen's spell-casters? This only made him more interested to see them. As he went to reply to the elf however it came over him again, almost like a predator waiting in the shadows for the perfect opportunity to strike. A pain blossomed within him so strong it made him dizzy, and he fell to one knee, a loud metallic sound ringing out. He grimaced visibly, taking a shaky breath before continuing, "It seems I had not fully healed after all these years, the illness still lingers... it grows stronger even now, the spell has been broken along with the gem. It might not be too late however, it can be cleansed now, it is weakened from my slumber within the gem..." he seemed to be fighting for his words now. It was a wonder how quickly the illness struck back now, weakening the Dragon Spirit as quickly as he had dropped the previous spell-casters. "It might not be to late yet."

[Harbor]

Fasail heard the parting of air as the elf stumbled and immediately stepped forward, reaching a hand out to find Wyvern’s back because she knew he had taken the place before her, and guided herself quickly around him to Sol-lu’s side. An elf capable of eliminating the threat of six spellcasters and nearly herself should not be so weak now, unless he had used far more energy than he’d realized. But he seemed to be well in control of his stock of energy, so his collapse was something else, a threat he had not before realized still awaited him. Fasail kept her hand out by listening to his breath, finding the side of his head with her fingertips and yanking her hand back. She discovered the location of his shoulder next, wound her arm through his and hauled the solid, tall and armored fellow back onto his feet.

”Blodgharm,” Fasail said swiftly, ”I wasn’t needed to open the gem—he did half of that himself. I still have the power to assist if you think you know how.” She looked imploringly in his direction, knowing that even if she could see him she wouldn’t know what thoughts brewed behind his sharp yellow eyes.

There was a long silence as he considered many things, exchanging conversational glances with a number of the other spellcasters, before he found it worthwhile to speak again. ”I believe we can assist but I am unfamiliar with dragon spirits. I do not know if separating the illness will require separating a piece of who you are as well, considering how the illness first manifested, and why.”

Fasail patted Sol-lu’s arm absently as she considered that difficulty herself. ”Hang in there, dragon-man, we’ll get you sorted.”

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu tried to remember the elf magicians words that were spoken to him so long ago. The pain had clouded his mind though as he fought to try to remember, his vision blackening at the edges. This was much like his voyage across the sea to Alagaesia, bed-ridden and in agony. The only reason he had survived was his immense strength even then which kept him alive long enough to be saved. He hardly noticed the elf come over and haul him to his feet again, supporting him, only managing a glance in her direction in thanks, not that she would notice.

He remembered somewhat what he said now, reminded by the cat-elf's words,  separating a piece of who you are. Yes, that rung a bell, "Yes, I need to embrace Alagaesia as my new home... or I will die with my old one." He took a shaky breath then, how would he do that exactly? He had some ideas but he couldn't think them through, going with his gut feeling he said, "Take me outside."

[Harbor]

Fasail tightened her arm around Sol-lu’s waist when his feet remained not entirely capable of supporting him, drawing his arm over her shoulders as though they were merely shaking hands, and looked imploringly toward where she’d last heard Blodgharm’s voice. At Sol-lu’s request she heard him say ”Very well,” and was glad that he made just enough sound in turning to give her something to follow. The other spellcasters fell in around them for multiple reasons, only one of which being that they still, rightfully, did not entirely trust Sol-lu.

”Do you know how to do this?” Fasail asked as she easily walked Sol-lu through the elves’ formation. Listening closely to them was enough to know when and where to turn to avoid obstructions such as walls or fallen stone. Sivara, walking in the rear, lightly pressed against Fasail’s mind and opened an image to her—the sight of all of them about to cross a large swath of broken floor tiles. Thank you, Fasail said, able to walk into and over the tiles now as if she’d seen them herself. Aroure, she called further. We are coming outside. Be kind. She passed along her own observations of Sol-lu’s apparent weakness, and the sound of pain she had once heard him make.

After several minutes they finally began to feel the broken breezes of outdoor air again and Fasail felt a smile tug across her lips in return. When at last Blodgharm guided them all to a slightly more secluded courtyard—with one wall collapsed against the trees and flowered pathways—Wyvern this time helped Fasail show Sol-lu to a tree and lower him against it. There were benches, but stone benches were cold and hard no matter what the season, and elves at least preferred the comforts of living things. ”Any idea how much power this will take?” she inquired then, taking a casual seat against the tree beside him, mentally assessing what energy she had left.

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu could faintly see the scenery around him changing as they moved, walking along on his feet although he heavily leaned on Fasail to keep his balance. He looked forward and dreading reaching the world outside at the same time, he had no idea what awaited him out there. He also needed to find a way to cure himself of the illness of his old home as well, and he dreaded he would have to give up that part of him to survive it, what if this new place - Alagaesia, did not accept him? Then he would truly be without a home, just a being with no purpose or business being alive, an outcast. Even so, he could not help but smile when they finally reached the exit, the sun shining and a cool breeze blowing by. Even in his weakened state he could feel that there were many more people here, perhaps thousands and thousands of them, he was in a city. 

Even in this city however the cat-elf had been able to find one small vestibule of nature within however, leading them to a small courtyard where an old oak stood proudly among the buildings. He could almost forget about his pain and worries as he was lowered to sit against the trunk, he could feel the nature energy around him, the area teeming with natural life. Able to think more clearly now however he realized what he had to do to cure himself and it would be a terrible price to pay for him and perhaps for all. "The old lands of the elves was my home for most of my long life... Alalëa. I still hold many memories of it and because of how much time I have spent there along with a Dragon Spirits natural connection to the land, my very being had become very much one with the land." He paused then pain coming forth once again stronger this time making him writhe as he curled up, biting back a howl until it subsided he continued, "The way to cure this is to change who I am, and the quickest way to do that would be to shed all memories of that land in order to change my true name. This would require quite some energy which is why I asked to be brought here, the natural energies here could help us complete the spell even in my weakened state." The true name he referred to being his name in the ancient language, the name that defined who he was, the magician from more than a millennium ago had said that a change of true name was necessary to get rid of the curse that ailed him for good, and his suggestion was the only one that they had time for. "I do not want all memory of Alalëa to be gone now though... I am perhaps one of the only remaining who still has memory of the elf homeland..." He looked to Fasail now, resting a hand on her leg to make sure she knew he was speaking to her, "There are few who could take on this burden of my memory without going mad, the bond between you and your dragon would help you however, the mind of a dragon is perhaps the strongest and you are bound to one, a link that as I analyze more closely I can see is much stronger than I had thought previously. If you do not want to help me I fear Alalëa will be lost forever into the void with its last memories gone." He had to try he thought, it was doubtful they would trust him however.

[Harbor]

Aroure arrived with a crumbling of stone as she climbed over a half-shattered wall on the far side of the courtyard, which summarily collapsed beneath her wait. Typically she was far more genteel but the debacle with the gemstone and the creature who emerged from within her graciousness now was quite at a loss. She strode irritably to Fasail’s side and laid down beside her, nudging until Fasail rested her arm up Aroure’s brow. I dislike all of this mysteriousness, she huffed, and Fasail flickeringly smiled.

You dislike anything that may prove more powerful than I.

Yes and the fact that this particular powerful thing is quite mysterious does not help, she griped back.

Fasail at first was not terribly concerned about the prospect of removing Sol-lu’s memories, at least at a competency level—she knew that if not Blodgharm, there were certainly elves here capable of peeling away certain memories without damaging the mind within. However Sol-lu’s personality, his being, his temperament, would likely change drastically. Would his personality remain the same, with nothing behind it, or would he perhaps know of what he had asked to be inflicted on himself? At worse, would he be as unmarked as an infant, forced now to rediscover himself in a world that had moved beyond him? A rather drastic measure, but then to prevent death, most anything was at some point, wasn’t it?

It wasn’t until Sol-lu drew Fasail’s more active attention back to him with a hand on her knee that she grew concerned. Of course it would be a great pity to lose such stores of knowledge, but it had not occurred to her that she or hers might be asked to hold them. That was what concerned her.

Aroure, as usual, withheld her own opinion until Fasail had discovered and fully formed her own. I have the power and should like to assist him. However I do not know if I can hold—or wish to hold—his memories. They could possibly overwhelm who I am, since he doubtlessly has far more than I. In that same stretch I cannot ask you to do the same—I have more memories than you do, too.

Aroure sighed, then snorted. Tosh. As he said, the mind of a dragon is one of the strongest minds to behold. He is a dragon spirit, not an elf spirit. If you wish to assist by giving your power then in return it is only right that I should have his memories.

Fasail lifted a brow in Aroure’s wide direction. Oh is that how we’re choosing to see it?

Blodgharm is staring at you. Among others.

Fasail opened her mind to allow said others access if they wished to speak. They did not do so mentally, which said just as much as it didn’t, with as much enigma as elves themselves carried about themselves.

”You understand the magnitude of your assistance?” Blodgharm asked of her, in turn also being certain that Sol-lu knew the magnitude of what he asked.

”I am making no great sacrifice,” I calmly replied. ”I am giving something I at present have no use for myself.”

”I on the other hand,” said Aroure for all to listen, ”fully understand the implications of my own choice. We will help you if we can,” she added to Sol-lu.

”Do you know how to transfer his memories?” Fasail asked of the spellcasters in general.

She heard silky fur rustling as Blodgharm’s head shifted, and when he replied in the affirmative she knew the shift had been a nod. Fasail bared her teeth in a grin to challenge the coming difficulty. ”Then let us commence our new lives.”

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu smiled lightly as he looked up at the lavender colored dragon who had just appeared, peering up from where he laid on the ground.It was a young female, full of energy and pride. This was the dragon that the elf Fasail was bonded to no doubt and she was truly a sight to behold. Nevertheless, his pain did no subside as he grew weaker, the illness draining him of power. He listened closely to them still however, hoping they would help him with his one request. The dragon and rider seemed to be exchanging dialogue mentally, but Sol-lu could not be completely positive on that. Soon after some murmurs from the elves the blue-furred one stepped up once again, some worry in his voice as he spoke. He glanced at Sol-lu then for a moment as if asking him the same question as well. Sol-lu would of had some witty remark to say to the elf if he had not been so weak, without a doubt. Of course he knew the implications of what he asked, did they take him for a fool? Either way he might very well turn into a fool if they did not perform this spell correctly, to erase all memories of Alalëa and erase memory of everything he learned of there were two different things, although tricky to isolate.

Moving to sit up again he closed his eyes, as if to lessen the pain of a headache when it was much worse than that. "If you are now ready I will open my mind," he said as he began to lower his mental defenses and let his mind fill the courtyard. Hopefully the lot of them would be enough to bear the weight of all the memories collectively as they sorted through them, but just in case he had opened his mind slowly.

[Harbor]

Fasail went to close her eyes instinctively as the lot of them began to focus, the elven spellcasters humming among themselves, not yet taking the words that Blodgharm would choose for them. Fasail held her hand out and Sivara knelt beside her to help transfer the energy from Fasail to the other spellcasters evenly, as needed. Blodgharm knew the spells--he knew every spell, Fasail often thought, and she had the highest respect for both him and his magic, even if that respect was touched with a faint shadow of self-facing remorse--and soon he inhaled to lead them forth. Fasail did not sing--her magic was not useful--but her energy definitely was.

Sol-lu opened his mind, at first a trickle, and then slowly the dam went down. Fasail's hand tightened around Sivara's, and the other hand tightening around Aroure's claw. Fasail was able to protect her inner mind from the pressure of thousands of years of thought but her outer mind was free to be assailed by the eons. Sol-lu was right that Aroure's mind was stronger, however, and the combination of both kept Fasail aloft when Sol-lu's memories threatened to lift her away.

Blodgharm and the other spellcasters were singing. Fasail felt her gems beginning to drain. Conducting the energy was a straightforward exercise, but any exercise done repeatedly without rest was exhausting. Fasail sank back against the tree with Sol-lu, letting her closest mental barriers loosen so it wasn't so difficult to keep them in place.

She felt Aroure tense when the memories began sliding into a slightly separated piece of her mind, so Sol-lu's memories wouldn't interfere with Aroure's own. The immeasurably space of a sentient mind began to stretch, and Fasail sensed Aroure's mental grimace. When the Rider inquired after the health of the dragon, the dragon grumbled back, This is certainly different.

Well I should hope so, you're taking the identity of another life in return for several decades of my energy.

The trade works for me. I shall now be capable of claiming I am in fact older than you are.

Oh hush and concentrate.

How are you by the way?

Fasail gave a slight grimace of her own. I'm still conscious.

[shadowclaw]

Sol-lu grimaced himself as he finally opened his mind fully, lowering all defenses. The elves began almost immediately, multiple presences worming their way through his mind at once. It took great concentration to not instinctively push them out and defend himself again, their presence as they worked was excruciating. It felt akin to actual worms burrowing into his head and eating him from the inside as they stripped away the memories, and he slowly begun to forget. He did not cast a spell of his own during this time, as it would of done more harm than good with his present state. 

As they continued it had gotten more and more difficult to maintain consciousness now, his mind entering a state of shock slowly but surely. Most would fall unconscious by now, the mind shutting down in order to rest after such a strain as stripping away a majority of its memories but Sol-lu remained awake still, dragon spirits did also have the blood of dragons in them. This anguish seemed to last forever to him. Eventually he could feel them clawing towards the earliest memories of Alalëa he had, now the only ones he had. He had already begun to wonder why that place was a home to him if he had spent so little time there...

Soon the spell-casters withdrew however, Sol-lu could faintly hear some words being spoken as his vision blackened and he slumped against the tree. Even for the ancient dragon spirit the strain of stripping away so much memory had left his mind much to weary and he had fallen unconscious.