Collection of Shards

Shard collection (2)

Lullaby to tired one

Your soul is hidden behind wall
Of iron , stone and steel
You cannot hear angry roar
Of world who wants you to kneel
In arms of illusive dream
You rest your wounded heart
No matter what , no matter who
Shall pay if he disturbs such art

   His body soaked in warm , mana rich water as smell of chocolate filled his nostrils . Feeling of her chest pressed to his scarred back , her head resting on his left shoulder , her arms wrapped around his chiselled chest , it all calmed him greatly even if pain in his whole existence from usage of near all mana still remained.
    Strings of scarlet red fell down like liquefied flames while gentle eyes of azure and gray beautifully mixed looked forward at the dancing lights of aromatic candles standing on the edge of the bath that was closer in size to a small pool .
   Black marble with white crack-like pattern was smooth , but he felt her skin and could tell it was much more pleasant to touch . Her warm , dancing mana of wind and fire elements tickled his mana vision with its graceful calm motion .
     Her red lips parted as she breathed out some cold air onto his ear , lifting her head up from his shoulder. Gentle fingers traced their way along his sides and up his back before ending up on his shoulders.
     Tingle ran down his spine as sigh left his mouth . He let himself slide slightly down now resting his head on her bosoms , seeing her smiling warmly down at him.
      -May this time stretch for a bit longer… - he spoke as a wild mixture of cold mana and aevum danced out of his body creating a dome of shifted time flow .
    -Hear the song of the storm away far , as you rest upon waters edge
       Human or asura , sword wielder or a mage ?
       There is no softer , sadder melody than pouring rain
       No pain more like hot iron mark that betrayal you can unwillingly gain
       But rest now as you finally found your way  , your home , and now you can finally feel more than sorrow , hate and pain… - her voice was changed by sound magic , her will turning her hair bright glowing gold , he melted into both heat and pleasant sound as his eyes shut.  He let sleepiness take over knowing his safe haven was only near her .

Rest oh betrayed king

You were lost , thrown away like toy
Broken , forgotten , hurt
Heart wrapped in hard to melt alloy
Yet still through it her feelings burnt
Now rest your soul in her arms
Let her heart rhythm sing
For each of long , on your heart , scars
She will give you healing

   Caera watched as clothing fell of off his body revealing slender yet muscular build hidden under it . Now long auburn hair loosely falling down his back and shoulders , bright azure eyes looking at her like pair of lights in such dim light of candles.
    Smell of mint was flying around in the air as white candles shone with gentle orange flames . Gray marble with long blue crack pattern was still cool even tho water was steaming hot .
     Grey couldn't look away from her as he made his way to the bathtub. Beautiful curves of trained body , pale skin , navy blue hair flowing on the water surface , crown of obsidian horns as if crafted by masters surpassing asurian skill and eyes , those ruby eyes looking into his very soul.
    As he sat down Caera pulled him into a hug , her chest pressed to his back , his skin sensing her heartbeat . Grey smiled letting sensation of closeness devour his worries .
    She loved him . He was unworthy but he would be even worse if he didn't make her happy , that's how long ago he made the right choice .
     Caera smiled feeling him relax in her gentle hold.  She knew how much it took for this benevolent , selfless man to open up to her , then to accept her feelings.  She still didn't teach him to love himself fully , but Caera knew that one day Grey Denoir would smile without weight on his tired heart . She would do her best to make that reality .

Fideicommissum

   Laying on what was left of battlefield man thought about what brought him here. An accident in underground lab that killed him and 13 more , bringing their souls into this magic , horror and wonder filled world consisting of many smaller worlds , each a small planet connected by gates .
    He remembered his first days . Hunts , training , pain of forcing mana to burn through him making channels , constantly pushing himself until his regeneration of mana sped up . Learning from beasts to take in mana all the time , forming a core to store more in .
    His memory moved to days he hunted bandits , observed those of 14 that chose to move towards civilization built here by many races . Outwardly he called such people fools for having lack of distrust towards new , also inwardly he somewhat envied their nativity.
    Weeks passed and once in a while he met others brought here from different times of different versions of earth . Between them was … one particular redhead .
    He saved her group from any actual deaths , before leaving with few bodies of beasts to pay for such aid to some extent.
    Love was a thing he desired but knew would hurt . Already checked blood vow spell on a few bandits was with him but who would be as crazy as himself to not just agree on deal , but on such a close relationship under a literal magic binding?
     Zeeras chuckled to himself as another memory resurfaced . Dying dragon he found and who was surprisingly kind . One who agreed on a vow of friendship and whose will he carried on within his core now .
  Young man did a lot since then. Assassination , raids , hunts all under mask and blood contract . Yet here he was , mask broken , mo vow on anyone who could be ally , wounded after giving his all just to aid them .
    Why did he care to aid ? Zeeras couldn't know. Maybe because hunger of fresh mana those beast-men released on death from cracking cores was similar to high quality mana beasts ? No he had plenty of safer ways . Or was it his drive to die ? Closer , perhaps without hope and people to understand damnation wasn't bad …
    Suddenly someone leaned over him. Feeling familiar smell he smiled solemnly as healers started to mend his wounds. Sweet , cinnamon bun with rose tea , all the same.
    Pair of deep blue eyes with a hint of violet on the edges of irises looked down at him. Beautiful orange with ruby red hint hair falling down over her shoulders . Tight yet good leather armour in brown and gray colours outlining her amazing figure . Slightly tanned skin of her cheeks slightly wet as tears fell onto his face .
    -Idiot , so much for having all those safety spells and artifacts… - she mumbled. Zeeras wheezed at that - you could have died…
     -I care red arrow ? - he asked using a nickname - no crazy enough i found that would make it worthwhile…. Perhaps i was just lost to begin with…. Care to stop healers red? - he got a strong flick on his forehead - ouch…
     -Don't try… you think those slaves you freed , or those you saved from beasts in forests don't care ? - her voice was unusually serious for out of battle talk - Also you are paranoid , definitely cynic to no end and dark humour of yours devours light…. I don't think any of those want you dead…
    -I care?... - he asked now openly trying to catch breathing that became harder from something in his throat - i hated past for lack of trust and love , i thought… i will find like-minded here but … none had such lack of hope in men as i … none! So stop keeping me here ! I want to rest… rest at least in death … i am too tired… of being alone and unable to trust but that's what i am , accursed being made by cursed world to survive to suffer another day…
    -I… - red arrow seemed shocked , yet next moment she smiled gently. Taking out a document he once threw at her in annoyance she dropped blood on it . Vow of friendship - then can i be one to keep you here with that ? - weak smile didn't hide from him… care ? Desire ? His magic sight couldn't find the illusion … was it a metamorph again ?
    Red string wrapped around his and her left pinky fingers on hand . Anastarea smiled letting out sigh of relief .
    -You… owe me a date for all the worry - she mumbled barely holding herself to not break down and hug him but knowing him Zeeras would probably be even more suspicious towards touch than words .
    -Ha…. Hug will do for start Skarlet bird - he hummed wrapping one hand around her back and pulling her down. She felt his heartbeat under her cheek as her face touched his chest , exposed after armour was torn apart but skin and flesh already healed .
    She found herself blushing from gentle touch . Anastarea always noticed his longing , hidden under a mask of simple accidental aid and price he took . Inwardly she really hoped one day to warm that broken , scarred and thrown out soul that found its way here .
    Zeeras cried silently, to sleep . If it was death door he wouldn't mind , but for some reason now he was filled with more desire to live than ever before in both lives combined .

   Waking up to soft snoring was interesting experience. Anastarea looked to her left to see Zeeras was asleep still , after being brought to her room to rest more as healers did their job already .
   Girl was most pleased to notice his hand holding onto her robes sleeve , so she cuddle into his side happily taking in the familiar scent of cold and metal he was always coming with from his lab.
   
Blooming embrace

   Arthur heard her run off , felt an afterburn of pain on his cheek . His desire to cry didn't break through just yet .
   King stood up ignoring his bond , his steps were slow , steady , mechanical even as he made his way towards a balcony . His senses caught a presence .
    -Lance Godspell ? - Alea asked . He smiled , barely tho . - i … overheard your talk with the princess…
    -Do you hate me too…? - he asked, not caring to turn around.  Right now Grey felt like stab through the heart wouldn't hurt at all , it would free him . Yet instead Alea answered .
    -Why would i ? It isn't your fault you were reincarnated , not your own will … i don't think it is right to blame people for fears that have a reason or for actions they had no control over… - his surprised look met her teal blue eyes . Soft smile of care on her face - Need a hug little brother?
    -I am still younger than you combining both lives ? - she pouted . For some reason Grey felt calm near her , protected and assured . No one gave him such a feeling before .
   Hug was gentle yet firm . Her chest felt softer than any pillow in the royal palace or Xyrus , her heartbeat more calming than any lullaby Alice ever sang .
    Grey melted into her embrace , soon he noticed Sylvie who jumped on top of Alea's shoulder nuzzling her cheek as if thanking the lance .

    Few weeks passed . Arthur didn't care to try mending what he had with Tessia Eralith . Only now , without veil of her being Sylvie's "mama" or his close person Grey saw how flawed and worthless she was both as princess and comrade during war .
   Alea …. His rose as he mentally called her , was by his side all the time away from missions . They played tag with Aya , went to wild places for her to train growing plants with different effects , trained together.
   Today she fell asleep by his side.  Simply because the two were tired after their respective work and mentally exhausted . Sylvie was enjoying the softness of elven Lance's chest while Arthur was alright with just feeling her heartbeat with his sharpened senses.

    He looked at Forest queen core . Using Sylvia's will he learned to purify them . Idea got to him because of Alea who created an anti-venom producing plant .
    He used this on Tessia of course but the main reason was to give Alea more strength. She took a break too and now while he trained with four teachers she assimilated .
    Grey was also enjoying more time by her side , while using his quadra elemental affinity to ease the process for His rose.

    Alea smiled as she saw a man with long auburn hair enter her room . Simple nightgown on her moved as she walked towards him .
    Arthur returned the hug.  Then his lips touched her neck , then higher until he found hers .
     After her full assimilation and all the training together she became much stronger , Arthur learned purification of corrupted wills and even managed to unlock plant affinity , also he wasn't much good in it outside of the second stage for now.
   Next morning they awoke in each others arms , naked , tired but happier than each of them ever was before .
   She was his rose , he was her king .
   
Shiver…

   It was a long time since he stepped into the city of men. Xyrus felt very… unimpressive after journey through the depth of Beast Glades and meeting with ancients.
    Still he couldn't help but feel nostalgia, not his own but rather echoing emotion from the experience of reading.
    Suddenly his eyes caught a figure. Long scarlet red strings collected into a ponytail, beautiful focused gray eyes with a hint of blue as a calm still ocean surface.
    Rapier in her hand stabbed the air with grace and swiftness and even though he already saw many more impressive individuals something was too different about her.
     Vanleef smiled softly, suddenly his mana, very soul shivered. A soul chord let out melodic sound that only those able to hear both mana and aether could actually hear.

   Kaspian felt the air itself change after a few moments. Familiar strong presence was very close yet it wasn't the same at all.
   Usual cold, suffocating mana seemed calm, more like pleasant warm summer wind. It carried no chaotic, destructive intent instead filling the surrounding with calm, almost intoxicating peacefulness.
     Claire could feel the changes too but didn't know where it came from. Only thing the girl felt for sure is that she didn't dislike the presence, and that mana wave had both fire and emitter powers in it as pleasant warmth took away some of the exhaust from training she did…