Write your own story

34. Worries

Fharan leaned his head against the cool stone wall behind him and closed his eyes.
Cir had left again but not without positioning an additional guard in front of the room.
Afrit insisted on staying by his side and Fharan didn't mind. Physical contact seemed to calm the overflowing energy of their bond.

He was wide awake despite the physical exhaustion and he mulled over the things Aeithalis had told him.
The betrayal of the imperial family...
His so called 'destiny'...
No, all of that was meaningless as long as it didn't help him to find out who exactly was behind all of it.

He had to admit he had thought that he had been close to figuring it all out. That's why he had returned to the city. Had decided to entroll in the academy.
The academy...

According to Afrit he had been 'gone' for barely a day. Fharan wondered if his absence had been noticed yet.
The day after the contest was technically also free of any classes but the display of his magic had surely gathered quite a bit of attention.
He groaned. He would have to come up with a plausible excuse for all this.

Fharan felt how Afrit, still in his significantly enlarged animal form, moved beside him. His bond had undoubtedly felt his shifting mood.
What is haunting you?, he asked, putting his head onto Fharan's lap.
The latter sank his hand into his companions soft fur.
"It's nothing.", he murmured absentmindedly.
It's not nothing., Afrit disagreed, rolling on to his side and burying his nose into Fharan's stomach.
The darkness inside your mind is stirring.
You can not shut everything out, least of all me. Do not forget that.
"I'm not about too. Nether the less, it's nothing to worry about, for now. Not until we return to the academy.", Fharan replied.

Your thoughts are, once more, reaching too far into the future. You should let your mind rest, at least for a few hours.
We are not going anywhere until we have fully recovered.
"So my absence has affected you as well?"
Afrit huffed.
Not as much as you but it was....well....unsettlingly. There is a reason for why we have stayed together since we first 'met'.
"Your lack of a physical form for most of that time might have also played a roll in it."

Afrit let out a low growl, slightly annoyed.
It seems that I was not fully aware how greatly you had been affected by our separation., he commented, That you even started to joke...
"And your mood has turned uncharacteristically grave.", Fharan retorted.

Afrit became quiet and Fharan half opened his eyes to glance at his companion, only to find silver-white eyes staring right back at him.
While Fharan watched the black fur started to fade away. He lifted his hand as Afrit's form regained its humanity.
Afrit sat up a bit, half hovering over his bond. He carefully reached out one of his hands, almost as if not to scare Fharan, and let it rest on the side of the young ones face. Then he slowly leaned down until their foreheads touched, closing his eyes.
Fharan felt how his bond's energy flooded him, pushing back the spreading cold in him which he hadn't even realized was there.

"You are falling again.", Afrit eventually said. "Ever since we have entered Rish'ka you started to close yourself off. Started to get careless. Your thoughts are spiralling into chaos.
Don't think I haven't noticed."
Fharan could feel Afrits gaze on him. He didn't need to open his eyes to know that his bond took note of his every breath, his every move.
"However unintended it might have happened, we are one now. Bound in mind and soul. It is no longer only your life that you must carry. Regardless of how selfish it might sound but I have no intention of dying so soon after I received a second chance."

Afrit was right. He had started to push him out ever since he had returned to the city. Fharan hadn't even realized what he had been doing with all the thoughts swirling in his mind.
Their bond was still there, of course, but he had unconsciously blocked a parts of it off.
He had thought he could handle returning here but it had obviously pushed him much more off balance than he had anticipated.
This time was different through.

He took a deep breath and leaned into Afrits touch while mentally reaching for their bond.
"I'm sorry.", he said softly. "I did not intend to push you out."
Bit by bit he started to pull everything down, allowing Afrits spirit to flood his very soul.
He could feel his bonds emotions, even see bits and pieces of his memories.

Afrit slowly retreated as their bond finally settled down. He leaned back on the wall next to the former prince.
"You should sleep a bit.", he said, eyes fixed on his companion.
Fharan leaned against Afrits side, reaching for the ever present tiredness inside him.
"You should seep as well.", he pointed out, absentmindedly staring at the ceiling.
"I always have time to sleep.", Afrit replied.

Fharan refrained from further comments and instead tried to clear his mind completely. There was no helping it. As much as he wanted it, he would be unable to solve all of his problems in one night.