Ancient Pasts - Tbate

Mere Messengers

Cathan Leywin Pov

My eyes opened as if I had just blinked, yet it felt like I had been sleeping for days. I sat up in my bed, a mixture of feelings weighing down my shoulders. My fear of not being able to protect my family. My fear of not surviving this war.

"Is everything all right?" Azrael asked, standing on his perch next to my bed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I lied, running my fingers through my hair.

My hair was shorter than Arthur's since Viska burned it a few times, but my hair still looked good. I swept my hair to the side. My hair looked the same way it did during Xyrus academy.

"Come in," I called out, sensing a presence on the other side of the door.

A man that appeared to be in his late twenties, dressed in black clothes underneath a thin leather armor used by scouts, came in. He dipped his head in a respectful bow before relaying a message.

"General Leywin, the meeting place with the Alacryan messager has been decided. Commander Virion has asked me to inform you to get ready to meet with the messenger along with him and Lord Aldir."

"Got it. I'll be out in ten minutes," I replied, getting out of bed.

"Shall I send over a maid to help you get ready?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No need."

"Very well." The man left after another bow, closing the door behind him.

I wore a black suit and a white shirt. This shirt redistributed the impact of an attack making the impact hit my entire body rather than just one spot. It behaved similarly to vests that cops wore in my old world. The suit was designed for stealth since it had the ability to change how it looked. If I cover my entire body with mana, the outfit would immediately return to my dimensional ring, leaving me with my shirt and pants.

"A rather dapper appearance for one about to fight in a war," Virion remarked as I approached him and Aldir with Azrael right beside me.

"Thanks," I winked, smoothing my sleeve.

While Aldir's wardrobe practically lit up from the amount of gold and gems it contained, Virion wore a simple black robe as he was still in mourning over Director Cynthia's murder. Only a few days had passed since that day, but Virion appeared to have aged a century during that time.

Studying the black metal spike jutting out of Cynthia's, we all knew that the assassination was done by one that possessed the powers of the Vritra Clan. It was unlikely that an actual clan member had performed the attack since that would jeopardize the no-asura agreement in the war, but that didn't mean one of their descendants couldn't have done it.

"The ships are about a day away from reaching our shore, Arthur, Cathan. Are you ready to meet this messenger?" Virion asked.

"Are you ready?" Arthur asked back. "You're not going to kill the messenger, right?"

Revealing a faint smile, Virion shook his head.

Aldir stepped forward in front of the glowing teleportation gate. "Good, then let us depart."

'Are you okay, Cathan?' Azrael spoke through our bond.

"I'm fine, Azraey. Other than the fact that you call me by my name now,' I replied, stroking his head.

'Grandfather said that it's important that I uphold the dignity of the dragons.' My bond held his head up high as we came out of the teleportation gate that Aldir had conjured.

'Well, I can't say you weren't cuter before when you used to call me "Papa,"' I smirked.

'Don't worry. I still see you as my papa!' He comforted, perching on my shoulder.