Radiance

Knowledge

||Corin||

"C-Calon?!" I reel back a bit, hissing out an exclamation. He moves almost like a bolt of lightning, catching me before I hit into the shelf behind me and knocked something down. He lithely lets me straight, then steps back a bit, keeping a safe distance from my sword. "Heh, Did I startle you from your instincts, Corin? I had to step in before you hit something." Calon's voice is quiet, but carries enough for it to reach my ears only.

Then it occurred to me... I hadn't heard word about Calon and his whereabouts for nearly twenty years now. How was he even still alive and around these parts...

"Yeah... I guess. Calon, how are you alive?" I let my hand stray from my hilt, then approach my old friend cautiously. He relaxes as well, then chuckles lightly. "I never did tell you where I went, did I? Apologies old friend. I had other dire duties to attend to." He tilts his head towards me a bit, his hair drifting only minimally into his face. His eyes flick up to mine quickly, the darkness of the room making them appear black. But I knew how he looked: Shockingly blonde hair, clean-cut appearance with absolutely no scars on his face, and silvery eyes that sparked with the quickness of his body.

"No... You never did Calon." I shake my head gently, then eye his appearance.

Reaper. True reaper.

He sighs, then motions for me to sit down at the table in the corner behind him. His eyes take on a much more serious look, one that set me on edge and let me know what he wanted to discuss was serious. "Sit, Corin. My visit isn't something to be taken lightly, much as I'd like it to be in better days."

I cautiously go to sit down, then turn to look at Calon as he pulls his chair to sit to my left. "I'm listening..."

He takes a moment to flip his hood down, then rests his elbows on his knees.

"Corin, your son, Sabre. He has the Favre family birthright, correct?" Calon's voice sounds strained, as if he'd had rehearsed this conversation many times, but still wasn't confident on having it. I nod slowly, a feeling starting to weigh down on my chest. "Yes... he has it. That's why I gave him the blindfold, to hide the sign of it." I don't prod further as to allow Calon to speak his mind.

"Corin, We've found the possible location of your son, but the connection we had to him was taken by our member, Ryan Nebula, who went ahead and took Lucas Le'Spike with him. They... They were all alive. For how long is to be determined, but I assume ever since they all had disappeared on the day the Le'Spike estate was burned to the ground by the Sa'aal. There were rumors that the three had been spotted at the estate and then ran into the woods. Ryan had been protecting your son and Janis's son, and even I did not know that he was. However, I have received worse news..." He takes a moment to pause, a chill spreading across my skin and making me feel open and exposed to the room around us.

"We now know who killed Eric Nebula, Felis Makrov, and burned the Le'Spike Estate. They also recently harassed the Nebula Family on the whereabouts of Ryan. And... You nor the King will like this news..." He rubs the bridge of his nose before he utters the name that would turn my blood cold and freeze me in place.

"It's The Exiled son, Xenos. He's the leader of the Sa'aal."

---

||Rechin||

To sacrifice one's life for another, is the greatest achievement of loyalty. That's what has been engraved in my mind ever since I was brought up in the Reapers. I knew that Ryan had been concerned about his friend, Sabre, so when Calon pulled us into his office to discuss the legend of the Creation and the fact that this entire time, the star gem Calon had on his desk was the connection, I knew I needed to keep an eye on Ryan and follow him.

Once I had seen Ryan head through the portal, I had quickly switched into my inner dae-em. A Reaper's strongest form for those who accepted it's bloodthirsty revenge to aid their missions against the Sa'aal. 

It felt like I had become like the sea: Mighty and powerful and as swift and slick like the tides rolling off of the beaches.

However, even my dae-em couldn't prevent Xenos from making his escape, along with three of the Sa'aal. The rest we managed to either kill or tie up and take them to our dungeons.

I grit my teeth, pacing around my room as I waited for my almost certain strict briefing from Dakin. After I had rushed into Calon's office to alert him about the exiled Son of the king being back, I saw Vel standing there. Usually a report from Vel meant news about Corin or his guardsmen. I quickly explained my intrusion to Calon, who immediately got a stormy look in his eyes, then got up and strode over to the door. 

"Thank you for the information Rechin, but head back to your quarters and await your debriefing from Dakin. He'll be back within 10 minutes."

After that, Vel took me to my quarters and the leader of the Reapers disappeared into the night. 

"Rechin." Vel's voice stops my pacing and I turn to look at her. "Never seen you this anxious. Take a moment to relax." I shake my head and reach up to rub my neck. I was rightfully anxious. Dakin was severe with his briefings, you usually hoped you got briefed by Calon or one of the other Elite Reapers...

"Let him, the fact that I've straight walked in here five minutes ago without sneaking means his nerves are high." I jump at the sudden deep voice in the room and whirl around to where Dakin sat on my squad mate, Loś's, bed. I grit my teeth, then stand at attention. With a sigh, Dakin stands and walks over to me. But he simply sets his hand on my shoulder instead of scolding me.

"You protected Ryan and Lucas Le'Spike, didn't you?" I nod quietly, waiting for any sort of scolding or punishment, but it never came.

"You did admirable work, Rechin. I don't commend you for sneaking out and aiding in thievery, but I commend you for facing up against Xenos to protect Ryan. You, Loś, and Ryan are devout to each other in your loyalty." He sighs, then moves me to sit on my bed next to Vel. "Tell me the full story, Rechin. Where did you go, and how many Sa'aal were there."

"Thirteen men, not including Xenos. Ryan and Lucas Le'Spike had been followed to the Talmoth Ruins where an informant had priority told Ryan that Sa'aal mercenaries had trailed Sabre Favre to the Portal ruins in Zameneth. I wasn't able to follow Xenos however."

I hold my breath, still doubtful of Dakin's kindness. Dakin nods slowly, his fingers drumming the side of his chin while he rests his arm on his leg.

"I'll ask the rest of the group who went along with you, but for now, take it easy. Your dae-ma is weak and you need to get that slash on your hip healed." Dakin looks at me and motions to where blood had started to soak through my makeshift bandages around my hip. Ughhhh. I-

I sigh and nod, not even bothering to protest. Dakin stands up, then gives Vel a look. She nods softly, then stands up as well. "Don't move anywhere Rechin. I'll grab some supplies to stitch it up." She and Dakin leave the room, then close the door behind them with a soft click. Even if I did protest, I'd be hindering my ability to help Los with missions and protecting Ryan so he wouldn't be in the path of danger.

"Do you think Ryan will be ok?" A little apparition appears and hops up beside me, taking the form of a wolf. I shrug and sigh as I reach to pet Xylas, my birthright guide. I lay down, sighing. I just hope I did enough to throw off anybody from finding them. As a Reaper, I was meant to do anything in my ability to stop the Sa'aal from recovering the City of Life.

"No clue Xylas." I mumble quietly, wincing as my side flared up. I had been keeping the pain out of mind as to not slow me down with my return. Xylas hops over to my opposite side and bite drags my hand over to my wound. "Ow-!" Xylas then proceeds to headbutt my hand to apply pressure to my wound. I sigh, closing my eyes as I let myself relax.

I had done my part for now, so now I could rest.