One Eternal Ember

Chapter 21

Kasdeya

  The smile he gives me is a challenge more than anything. My entire life has been challenge after challenge, I would be disappointed if this moment, here, with him was any different. I can't keep the amusement out of my gaze as I stare at him.

"So it's from the RENX?" I ask, failing to hide my curiosity.

He smiles and nods his head once. "That's what my father believes, yes."

I furrow my brows at his words. How would his father know about the abilities of the RENX? Any power gifted by the Gods is a gift. Even he should know this. There are many gifts. There is elemental control, Wind, Earth, Fire, and Water. These consist of total control, or small manipulation. The only Faeries who have more power that requires control, are Royals. There are Pixies who control dream landscapes, Nymphs who control present landscapes, Faeries with gifts of strength, speed, or the ability to hold their breath longer than anyone else normally could. Those are only the smaller gifts, the more common ones. There are other gifts such as Mind Reading, Light, Emotion Control, and the one gift I have never encountered until now. Shadow Wind. The one gift that originates from Thessius. Which makes the bearer only more dangerous.

I stare at him for longer than needed, and finally deem to respond. "Is it simply a wind?"

His eyes go instantly cold. "I unfortunately don't know." He examines his hands, extending his fingers, then forming a fist. "I've never heard of anyone else with this gift. There was one Fae who had this gift a millennia ago.. Ever since it has been unheard of." He looks back to me his eyes colder, yet somehow angrier than I've ever seen. "My Father believes it a beautiful gift, but I can't seem to shake the dread that comes with it."

  I look away from him once again. Dread? With a gift? What could he even mean. It must be exhilarating. A pang of jealousy swarms through me, and I struggle to swallow it. Humans have no gifts. We have nothing special to distinguish us, let alone help us survive. We train harder than Faeries ever have too, and still fall short. It is true, we are the inferior species. There are still things we can use to help us survive in a world with no gifts. Rune protection spells, Iron, and pure wits. Even then it's still an uphill battle.

  I clench my jaw once, twice, before responding. "There are many things I would do to have a gift." I look back to him with fire in my eyes, and his eyes widen slightly. "Throwing away my humanity is out of the question." I laugh slightly, and it almost sounds deranged. "I lost that a long time ago."

"You keep surprising me, Kasdeya. I think we could be friends you and I." He smiles at me, his teeth perfect and as white as his hair. I smile back, for once, at peace.

"I'd like that, Malakai."

  With that we both turn and study the full moon, and some part of me could've sworn it was a half moon when I walked out here alone.