Warriors of Light: Caged

Part One

The oaken door creaked open as Mikh'a stepped into the main hall. Y'shara followed behind, her feet moving lightly and eyes darting to the newfound tapestries and maps pinned to the marble walls. In the time since the pair had last visited the Baldesion Annex, stacks of leather-bound tomes and research notes had crowded the space. He looked dubiously at several exhausted candles, charred wicks perilously near timeworn papers. Sliding a flickering flame away from the frayed edge of a tapestry, Mikh'a scanned over the erratic parchment landscape. He singled out a set of scarlet ears, poking out from behind the hills of books. The captain tapped his ally on the arm, whose attention had been drawn by a curious trinket that she toyed with. The miqo'te pair strode past the cluttered environs, and slipped close, their quarry fixated on the pages laid before them. Mikh'a crept up and swiftly delivered a kiss to G'raha's head. The exarch jumped slightly before turning and pulling the captain into an embrace. He stood from his chair and clasped Y'shara's arm as she offered her own greeting. A buzz of excitement danced through G'raha's words as he spoke,

"It's been much too long. I'm delighted to see you here, both of you." Mikh'a gave a sly smile and wrapped an arm around the exarch. His words came coy,

"You sent me a missive promising adventure. You know I can't damn well resist that, especially not by your side." A slight tinge of red colored G'raha's face as he gripped the captain's hand and smiled. Y'shara ruffled his scarlet hair, her voice prodding,

"Though you weren't very clear about what that adventure would be. Care to enlighten us?" He nodded and broke from the embrace to scour the desk, scattering papers and quills in a search for something particular. His hand gripped a furled parchment and extracted it from the mess. Unrolling it, G'raha spread an inked map onto the desk's surface. Mikh'a's eyes traced the vaguely familiar lands of Ilsabard, though many of the areas bore little to no detail, regions yet unexplored. The exarch pointed to a marked location, situated amidst scrawled mountains and ravines.

"I received this map some nights ago, sent to me by our mutual friend Erenville. Ever since Garlemald was liberated, no small number of gleaners have taken to those hostile lands in pursuit of knowledge. Erenville being among that number, he recounted in a letter that his travels had brought him to a place that he believed was the remnants of Allagan civilization." Mikh'a mulled over the information, his eyes looking to Y'shara as she grinned. Her voice came with a rising anticipation,

"Do we know anything other than it might be Allagan?" G'raha cocked his head and shrugged,

"Unfortunately, Erenville could not enter so we are quite unsure of what could be hidden inside." Y'shara smiled as she clapped Mikh'a on the back,

"Sounds perfect for us. Don't you think?" Mikh'a feigned hesitation for a moment before letting his teeth bare in a wide grin.

"I think... I do agree." G'raha rolled the map up as the pair looked to him. Putting it aside, the exarch began to gather key tomes and papers, his voice brimming with energy at the prospect ahead of them,

"Take some time to prepare yourselves. I'll arrange for transport in the meanwhile." The captain tapped the fox mask at his side, interjecting with a subtle response,

"About that..."

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The Starfall burst through white tufts, its sails straining as winds pushed it forwards. Engines purred in harmony, propelling the vessel through the sky akin to a bounding beast. Crimson eyes gleamed as they drank in the vast expanse of azure. G'raha leaned against Mikh'a, his head nestling against the other's. Their hands entwined as they swayed with the ship's rocking, gusts carrying it through the air. Locked in embrace, Mikh'a's mind lay in peace as he traced over the exarch's features. Soft locks of scarlet hair, marks adorning his face, the delicate murmur of breath escaping his lips as the exarch reposed. Ease trickled through his person, a gentle feeling as he cradled his beloved. The pair rested by the railing, watching the earth pass beneath them. A melody floated from Mikh'a's throat, a tune that rang with his heart's passion. Humming, the captain coiled a scarlet lock about his finger. The exarch placed a hand against Mikh'a's. G'raha's voice finally issued out,