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27. Rift

The fact that Fharan had fallen unconscious was not the only problem that Afrit had to deal with. Their bond had become unstable as well, greatly diminishing his own capabilities.
As much as it hurt his pride he knew that he wouldn't be able to counter any large scale attacks at the moment.
He had a vague guess of what had happened to the young one, but was sure that Cir knew a bit more about it. Afrit had seen his gaze, the mix of recognition, interest and surprise that had lightened the tiger's eyes for a moment.
There was no chance that he would have reacted that way to a mere human.

He carefully placed Fharan on the narrow bed, noticing the dust in the room and frowned a bit. Afrit knew that his bond wouldn't be bothered with it, he had lived in a hellhole for more than half a decade, but he, nonetheless, felt annoyed.
He also knew that Fharan was not planning on ever officially reclaiming his title, was aware of the risks and burdens it would bring but on the other hand....
There was no reason to lament about things that would never happen, there were other things to focus on.

He turned towards Cir. Kashun had left, but Rasha was still there, apparently the first one to monitor them. She instinctively stepped back a bit as his gaze briefly shifted towards her.
Then he solely focused on the white haired male.
"You know why he is like this, do you not?", he asked.
"Yes.", Cir answered and looked at the seemingly sleeping figure on the bed.
"But I can not tell you about the how or by whom.
I gather you also noticed the rifts aura?"
"Is it that what you call it? 'Rift'?
I can only tell that his soul is no longer with him, or parts of it at least. It is not entirely gone but it does not seem to harm him."

Cir hummed in agreement.
"But it's fascinating, is it not?
The spell seems to be especially designed not to harm him.
I have only encountered a rift once before, a more or less natural one. It sliced through the connection of body and soul with ease, a frightening power.
I do not know of anyone who ever succeeded in creating one artificially.
After all, it's a rift between this world and well...... I have yet to meet someone who can tell the tale."
"...."

"For some odd reason I have the feeling that this particular human child will return sooner than we think.
You would probably know more about that than I do."
Cir fixated Afrit with his blue eyes. He was unable to read the other, but he had noticed that he seemed quite relaxed considering that his bond was currently in some kind of coma, possibly neve to wake up again.
Afrit just smiled a bit and changed the topic.
"Is there any way to treat his hand and shoulder? Cuts and broken bones are never a very pleasant thing to wake up to."
"No worries, Rasha will take care of that.
I will show you to your quarters now."

Afrit still disliked the idea of leaving his bond, but followed his host out of the room.
Cir dropped him off at his door and explained that he would be talking about the rest tomorrow, giving everyone some time to rest at which Afrit only lifted a brow.

Soon after Cir returned to his original form, tails brushing against the walls on either side of the corridor.
He felt much more comfortable this way and let out a satisfied huff.
He was not very fond of wearing his human form, not even after all these years.

On the other side

Fharan, who had been carefully observing the blue haired man opposite him, noticed the change as well.
He continued to speak:
"Strangely enough, you seem to know quite a bit about me.
I frankly do not know how I would be supposed to assess if I was born under a cursed star or not.
I do not believe I heard of any other reason they would follow me either."

There was nothing else he could say. Nothing else he was willing to share to be precise.
He shifted a bit in his chair, once again lifting his cup.
Before he took another sip, he changed his mind and set it down again.
He lazily met Aeithalis gaze.
"I do apologize, but I have nothing else to say."
The other man sighed, letting go of most of the tension.
"I suppose it's no use to ask again.
You are the first human I have met that treats the possibility of his own death so casually."
Fharan scoffed at that, but ignored Aeithalis questioning look and the other continued on.
"And in case you're wondering, I have noticed that your bond isn't exactly what you would call 'of the regular kind' but I doubt that anyone else has come to the same conclusion.
He killed him by the way, the Amd'y I mean."
Fharan took a deep breath. That meant that Afrit was fine, even though the bond seemed to be obstructed.
He wondered once more how the older man had gathered so much information about him. He had been underground for years.

"Anyway, the dispatch of an Amd'y, how low in rank he might have been, stirred the waters quite a bit.
You will have to be more careful from now on.
There is no knowledge of any other cursed star. Hajuns have been appearing less and less since the old ages.
Nowadays it's one every hundred years or so.
Since the hunters usually don't act on anything else it draws attention when they do move."

Aeithalis stood up and, without any warning, changed the subject.
"I wanted to show you something.", he said. "Could you stand up for a moment?"
Although slightly confused Fharan complied.
He was curious on what was to come next.
Any other human being would've probably been impatient with Aeithalis roundabout ways, but if there was anything he had learned in all his years then patience.
Even if he himself forgot about it sometimes.