Frostfyre

[Karl Dracul]

He rubbed his eyes, seemingly refusing to sob or shed tears in front of Seraphine. He replied to her in a tone that was slightly calmer, but still reflected the bitterness of his decision. "I left because my parents and I had very different points of view. They made no attempt to peruse me when I announced that I was leaving, so I assume they care very little if at all about my whereabouts. As to 'exactly' why I left, my father wanted me to abandon my claims to the throne, due to my apparent 'condition', which you may have noticed." He realized his tone was sounding rather harsh, so he eased it off a little so as not to sound aggressive. "I have no living brothers or sisters it could have passed to, he was a fool for trying to get rid of me like that." Again, his voice sounded far too bitter for his liking, and as he slowly came to his senses, he decided to ease it off to show he had calmed down. "I am deeply sorry for not being entirely honest with you, I didn't know if I could trust you or not. Though I must ask, in future could you avoid reading my thoughts? A lot of things go on in my head that I am far from proud of, and I wouldn't want you to think less of me because of it." He seemed very sincere with what he said, despite the minor traces of his jealous disheartened tone from seeing her dance with the other Prince.

 

[Oberons Veil]

Seraphine stared at him as she listened. At least he is being honest now, the voice said calmly. It was true, while she wasn't reading his thoughts at this point, she could tell he was being honest. She didn't have to read thoughts all the time, she could sense a person's aura and only other High Valir were impossible to read. The High Valir had a much stronger and more open mind allowing them to use different kinds of magics and powers, one of which was to read the aura of a person, it was not even remotely as taxing as it was to read minds but it didn't work on other Valir, just a side effect from the Gods. You should tell him, the voice said again more calm than before. "Allistair, I didn't read your thoughts, it would have been far too taxing, I simply read your aura and I can't really help that. We High Valir, it comes naturally to us to read other's aura, though it doesn't work on our own." She said smoothly trying to avoid making herself or her kin sound over powered. Since he hadn't known about the High Valir he also wouldn't know that there were so few left in the world, following the collapse of the Vyrion Empire some eight hundred years prior. "Allistair will you come with me to the War Council tomorrow in the Senate?" She asked wondering if he would like that or not. I doubt this child would want to watch old humans and alves argue about war between the League and the Southern Kingdoms. The voice was probably right but that mattered little at this point.

 

[Karl Dracul]

Alistair did not know entirely what to make of this. You're being manipulated, and you know it. Look at how quickly she turned from being sympathetic, to trying to drag you into her politics. The cynical voice's incessant jeering was starting to get on Alistair's nerves, but he couldn't help but feel that part of it was right. Why are you so obsessed with a Princess you met at an inn? Is she your goddess now, is that why you're so eager to let her parade you around like a pet? The mocking voice wasn't proving to be any more helpful. She told you that you were going to get yourself killed in an inn, now you suddenly trust her with everything because she got all emotional? You're going to get dragged into a war that has nothing to do with you, exploited for the advantage, then abandoned for 'Prince Perfect'. How could anyone be so blin- Alistair cut the cynical voice off, coldly. Now both of you listen to me, if either one of you tries to interrupt me again, I will take up advanced alchemy like father wanted. I will not have either of you badmouthing Seraphine until she has given me reason to distrust her. Alistair contemplated whether or not he was being a little too defensive, then realized he was having an argument with himself in his head. What am I doing, arguing with voices in my head? You're truly unhinged, Alistair. He thought to himself as he responded to Seraphine's question. "I would like some time to think about it, a lot has happened here tonight and I am not sure why you would even want me to come to a War Council." He sounded unsure of himself, of her motives and of the situation as a whole.





Look, it is in my best interests not to have you die, seeing as how I am a part of you Alistair. I will try to avoid influencing your decisions, but be careful. These people do not have your welfare in mind, until now they didn't even believe something you have no reason to lie about. What does that say about all of them? You have no idea what you are getting yourself in to. The cynical voice sounded as though there was some reason behind its delusional rantings, but Alistair didn't care all that much. I will be the judge of who these people are, not you. As for Seraphine, I am not a complete fool, I have my own doubts and concerns. Whether I 'like' her in the way you so arrogantly claim that I do, or not, is irrelevant. She has, up until this event, been generous, sincere and far from unkind. Which is more than I can say for many of the other people I've run into in this cursed place.

 

[Oberons Veil]

Seraphine nodded and just stood there silently, unsure of what to do. How does it feel darling? Asked the voice in her head. You hurt him... it said mockingly. She was offended by the voice, and wasn't sure how to reply to that either. Here she was, a Princess of the most powerful Empire in Nemora, and a proud scion of the High Valir the most powerful and eldest of the Alven races and she was arguing with a voice in her head. Though... to be fair, the voice was that of another and not simply just a made up voice by Seraphine. Hurt him, kill him, bring him down to the darkness Princess. I won't mind, or think less of you. Darling Seraphine, oh my darling, how I would love to see you do that. The voice went on about the dark things that dwelt within her. Please stop... Seraphine begged. The voice vanished not to be heard of for a while. Slowly Seraphine brought her gaze up to Allistair.


"Come with me," She said taking his hand, glancing and seeing her guards back a ways and milling about. With a bit of a jerk Seraphine began running and dragging Allistair along, soon the guards were shouting for the Princess to stop. She didn't. What in Aelia's name are you doing Seraphine! The voice screamed before being silenced by Seraphine once again. She led Allistair through the winding streets of the upper districts before descending through the Merchant District and finally into the Garden District. She had forced him to hide in an alley briefly in the Merchant District while they evaded her guards. Soon though the Terisian Guards would be alerted and a search would begin throughout the city for her. Once in the Garden District she knocked on a door to a very lavish house. An older woman clad in beautiful blue robes answered the door, "Ah, Milady a pleasure to have y-" she cut herself off seeing Allistair. Seraphine began to step inside and the woman moved allowing the pair entry. The room was just as lavish as the house and the room was devoid of other people. "Seraphine, what are you doing with that boy," the older woman said with a warm voice that was full of questions. "Running from my guards." Seraphine said with a childish grin. The old woman with a sly smile raised a finger and fake scolded the Princess, "Now see here young lady, did you do as I told you too?" She questioned. Seraphine with an equally sly grin nodded, "Yes ma'am, lost them in the Merchant District and well quite frankly they haven't gotten any wiser." She said and the pair just began to laugh.


Soon their attention turned to Allistair, "Allistair," Seraphine said finally dropping his hand from her own. "This is Hildegarde Aesier, last Empress of the Vyrion Empire," she said smiling. If Allistair had paid attention he would realize this woman was well over eight hundred years old and was a High Valir of the highest caliber. The Empress smiled and offered a bow of the head. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance young man." She said her voice sweet as ever. "I do hope Seraphine didn't scare you too much," she added smiling. The pair seemed at home with one another and were clearly good friends.

 

[Karl Dracul]

A little bewildered by the situation but not forgetting his etiquette, Alistair eyed the Empress with great curiosity, offering a courteous nod as he smiled graciously. Why would Seraphine have to run from her own guards? He asked himself, addressing the Empress with respectable eloquence. "Not at all, I was in fact more curious about why it was we had to flee from her guards?" He asked, his eyes glowing with intrigue at the situation. He realized that he had forgotten to even exchange a proper greeting, quickly uttering a follow up to his question. "Oh, and the pleasure is all mine, this is perhaps, rather embarrassingly, the most gracious and friendly introduction I have received since I arrived on the continent. Though, I am guessing you have already worked I am an outlander. In fact, I would estimate you possibly know more about me than I do at this stage, but it is a great honor to meet you none the less." When he spoke, it seemed almost too fast but still clear enough, a common trait of Ahrylians being that their thoughts often get ahead of how quickly they can convey them.

 

[Oberons Veil]

The Empress smiled at how polite Allistair is, "Outlander yes, and a follower of Aerion I presume. Your people are known to me Prince Allistair." She said keeping her tone inviting and pleasant. She was old, not many wrinkles but her hair was white with age but well maintained and styled. "You ran from her guards because they must not know that I live, no one must." She said her expression growing far more serious. "As far as anyone is concerned I died with the Vyrion Empire." She said firmly, soon having a distant look on her face. "I apologize but I asked Seraphine to bring you to me, so that I could see you and discuss an important matter." The Empress said walking a bit ahead of the pair as they came to a bookshelf. She looked back at them with a childish grin, "I always liked this part, no matter how cliche it is," She said laughing a little as she revealed a hidden passage behind the book case. They walked for some ways before coming to a large internal library. The lighting in the library was soft and pleasant for the eyes. Just bright enough to offer ample light, but dark enough so as to not harm the parchments and books. Soft glowing orbs of light were centered on pedestals throughout. "This Allistair is the Codex. A grand library I have assembled with the Elemental Masters for some time now. Here is all the knowledge we posses and you may look around if you wish, I have nothing to hide from you and very little to ask of you." She said motioning for him to look around.


Seraphine meanwhile was also looking around though she had been here before several times. Some of her childhood had been spent here. The Empress was actually one of her distant relatives through her mother's side and as such they were close. She took a seat and found a book on Elemental Magic, a subject she had a keen interest in. She had already become quite adept at Fire Magic but she was beginning to test out Air and Lightning as well. Something that was incredibly difficult because the techniques were far different between each element offering a marvelous challenge to learn and become skilled in multiple. "Allistair do you know Magic?" Seraphine asked idly not really paying much mind to why she asked, mainly just curiosity.

 

[Karl Dracul]

Alistair gazed in awe at the endless rows of books, scrolls and other papers that lined the shelves. Maybe there are books on advanced alchemy. He joked to himself, surveying the layout of the library with great wonder. While looking around, he answered Seraphine's question somewhat distantly, taking in all he could of the surroundings. "I know of it, though I've never studied it. Ahrylian's have acolytes who train in the various disciplines of magic at a young age, perfecting their own area area until they can manipulate it with little to no physical toll." He continued to look around for a moment before turning his gaze back to Seraphine. "I never really found the idea of dedicating my life to a specific perspective very appealing. Though I can see why other cultures insist on generalizing, there is so much knowledge one can explore when they are unbound. Perhaps that's another reason why I left home, I didn't want to be weighed down by responsibilities." He spoke in a very sincere tone, clearly interested in the subject of magic but slightly distracted by the thought of home. There is no easy way back, Alistair. Get used to being here and push that out of your mind. For once, Alistair could agree with the cynical voice. He knew there was no easy way to return to his homeland, and even if he could, his parents would be no more welcoming than when he left.

 

[Oberons Veil]

Seraphine just paid less and less attention to her surrounding not really realizing when she heard the Empress speaking to her, "Seraphine!" quipped the Empress finally rousing Seraphine from her focused studies of a certain scroll containing some ancient elemental magic techniques. "Yes, your majesty?" She responded politely finally paying her full attention to the Empress. "Have you told Allistair of the war?" She questioned noticing how Allistair was somewhere in the library, most likely out of earshot. Why? Why should I have to tell Allistair of the war? Seraphine thought to herself, "No" she responded rather discourteously. The Empress frowned and looked around before continuing. "You mean this Outlander has no idea that you are your father's prisoner?" She said shaking her head in relative disbelief. Ugh.... why does this woman have to remind me of that every time I come here? Seraphine's thoughts began to race as she thought of the outcome of Allistair's reactions. She would in time tell him, but not until they were within the Empire and entering the Capitol. "He will be told when the moment is right, but that isn't now." She said finally quieting the Empress. In her advanced age the Empress had amassed untold amounts of knowledge and magical abilities but she also was rather paranoid.

 

[Karl Dracul]

After having wondered around the library for some time, picking up the odd book and flicking through it to see if it was interesting, Alistair began to make his way back. Attempting to retrace his steps, he noted that the place smelled rather musty from the endless old books. This place feels like a rather pleasant tomb. He thought, carefully trying to retrace his steps among the winding rows of shelves. His footsteps echoed throughout the library as he paced more briskly to try and find the Empress and Seraphine. No books on advanced alchemy eh? What a pity, you might actually have learned something. The mocking voice didn't seem to bother Alistair after a while, it was nowhere near as bad as the other voices in his head and far less forceful. I wonder if I truly am insane, why do I hear all of these voices? Why do I even talk to them? He asked himself, spotting Seraphine and almost walking into a bookcase.


He quickly paced over to her, panting slightly and looking behind him as though he had just been chased over. You're really smooth, you know that? The mocking tone jested as he smiled at her sincerely. "This place is truly amazing, I could spend hours, if not days exploring the vast wealth of knowledge you have here." He spoke in a greatly intrigued and almost excited fashion. Noticing that Seraphine's mood appeared somewhat 'off', his face shifted to a more inquisitive expression. "Is everything alright? I just thought I would take a look around." His tone seemed a lot slower and his words seemed to trail ponderously with his discomfort at seeing her slightly agitated.

 

[Oberons Veil]

"Thank you," the Empress said smiling a little. The Empress turned her attention to a magical time device on the wall and nodded to herself. "I must get going to meet a couple of old friends at a Tavern so I do hope the two of you make it back home safely." She said nodding to Seraphine before walking over to Allistair and whispering in his ear, "Take care of her" She said before smiling and walking out of the library from whence they came. She disappeared in a brief flash as she used some lost ancient magic to make her appear at the Tavern. That left Seraphine and Allistair in the Library, alone to their thoughts.


Seraphine sat and nodded as the Empress departed for her meeting. Once the Empress was gone she looked at Allistair, "Tell me, what you think about me?" She said clearly determined to get the truth. You? You darling are a psychopathic princess hellbent on killing her tyrannical father, taking the throne and waging a war of reclamation against your neighbors. The voice said laughing before Seraphine shut it up with a curt tone. She waited for his reply just thinking to herself of how she would explain slipping away to her guards.

 

[Karl Dracul]

He thought for a moment. Hold on a moment Alistair, she can read minds. Why would she ask you this? The cynical voice sounded serious. Never call me by name again, or I'll bash my head in until you leave. Alistair snapped at the voice, even if it did make perfect sense. Well, what do I think of her? You two seem to know me better than I know myself. He asked them, seemingly less demanding. Oh we've discussed that at great lengths, haven't we. The mocking voice taunted, though for the first time it spoke to the cynical voice as though the two were aware of each other. Wait, you both- He tried to question them but the cynical voice interrupted. Yes, yes, there is little time to explain all of that. However, we have come to the conclusion that you have some form of 'emotional attraction' to this female. Now, as to the extent of this- The mocking tone cut in to finish the sentence as if it has been rehearsed. We've decided it is quite extensive.





Alistair stood there for a moment, realizing that the two voices were both talking to him and were both quite aware of each other. You're both no help what so ever, you know that? Every time I ask a question you just create more questions. He realized that he'd been standing there for a couple of moments and hadn't said anything. In a somewhat awkward tone he managed to respond to Seraphine's question. "I, uh." He hesitated for a moment. "Excuse me, I lost track of my thoughts there. I don't really know many people here, but out of everyone I've met so far, I seem to like you the most. You've been very generous and have shown me a quite gracious level of hospitality. Even if there have been some minor misunderstandings, I think you're capable of being quite charming." As he continued talking, his voice became more confident with what he was saying, causing him to smile with the last sentence.

 

[Oberons Veil]

Seraphine blushed a little at his comment but couldn't really think straight. Darling, you really should reign in this congress in your mind. It cannot be helping you one bit. Came a voice from the back of a cacophony of noise that filled her mind. Her mind was back home at the Senate building, the voices of her mind were in the shapes of the Senators, men and women wearing togas with different color stripes denoting their House or Guild. Darling, came the voice again, the voice was shaped as an older woman with red hair with grey streaks throughout. She was moving towards where Seraphine sat. You my dear, should gather your thoughts and not listen to these old coots bicker about your life. Listen to me and you will do quite well. Tell this boy that you both need to return to your home, take your chastisement well and carry on with your plan. He will be told later as to the ramifications. Now go. The voice said before everything disappeared into a flurry of colored smoke and darkness. "We should return to my townhouse, they will not stop causing a ruckus until we are back." She said looking rather displeased with herself before standing and motioning for him to follow her back to the Townhouse.

 

[Karl Dracul]

Alistair followed after her without another word. Now, the question is, what do we make of all that? In fact, what do you make of any of that. The cynical voice seemed to have been considering the Princess's response more than Alistair had. What do you mean? She didn't really react at all. In fact, she sounded more distracted than anything else. By this point he had given up all hope of ever dismissing the voices as delusion, if they could actually talk to him in a manner that merited a response so naturally, there must be more to them. She didn't even explain why she wanted to know. Maybe she was so flattered that she cannot wait to get back to 'privacy'? The mocking voice's facetious tone had rather lost its effect, if anything it sounded just as uncertain as all of the voices in his head, including his own.


His expression seemed to become rather puzzled as he drifted away into his thoughts on the journey back to the Townhouse. After a while, Alistair found himself trudging along, far less focused than his usual brisk, surefooted pace. In his mind, the voices battled for dominance over one another, both raging with different theories and attempting to provoke each other into various insidious acts. Alistair had long since stopped listening to their ranting, though he did occasionally pick up details of their arguments. One thing he had been hoping for, something that had plagued his mind for quite some time, was an answer to what happened on the night they attempted to cross the Vale. Why did I, out of everyone on the expedition, survive? Why has this never crossed my mind before? Why are there two voices arguing in my head who've been taunting me since I survived? Why do I remember absolutely nothing of what happened? The questions raced in his mind as the other two voices ignored him. The mocking voice seemed to be more interested in treating the logic of the cynical voice with flippant sophistry, meanwhile its counterpart seemed to be far too concerned with picking apart every response and pointing out the flaws in the voice's counterargument. Alistair contemplated bashing his head against a wall to silence them, but decided against it on the grounds that he was already receiving strange looks just for being a foreigner. If they didn't already think you're insane, they're going to. He thought to himself as he pressed onward behind Seraphine.