Shadow Bands

XVI. Mascon

 A week has passed since their attempted annihilation. The survivors of the fallen Kingdom of Lycra had taken refuge in Aeris' manor. They've taken jobs within the manor, learning from its workers, and they lived an earnest life once more. Though there were people in protest, not only have the survivors become employed by her, they are also under her jurisdiction–with the help of Kaelen. It was impossible to remove these new citizens.

 Lyra peered through the window from Aeris' office to find Kaelen pointing out farther, ordering some Lycans to fill in tasks. Her hand fidgeted with the device, its needle gradually losing its progress. She placed the device in her satchel and grabbed her cloak.

 "Are you off to your mother's secret lair?" Asked Aeris, scratching her head with her quill hand but never looking away from the paper she started scribing on.

 "It won't keep being a secret if you keep blurting it out like that." Lyra shot her arms out through the sleeves of her cloak. "I'm on the verge of something and I want to research it."

 "You've been in there for days," said Aeris, her eyes finally lifting from the paper. The ink smudge across her forehead from where she scratched revealed itself. "We need to be productive with our time."

 "I'll join the knight's academy or something when I'm done," Lyra said nonchalantly, her focus fully on the door that was within arm's reach.

 "You," Aeris scoffed. "A knight? You'd have a better chance of being a chef than a knight. And you can't cook."

 "I don't have time for this!"

 Lyra pulled the door and stormed out of the office. Although she knew she misdirected her anger, she needed to finish her research. After discovering the dimension Draven showed her, the possibilities of visiting the past have opened many doors for her. She couldn't waste time as the device she made was losing its power, never knowing when she could see Draven again.

 With haste, Lyra hurried out of the manor. Shrugging off any greeting that came her way. She knew she had one person she wouldn't be able to shake, and it was Kaelen. Knowing that, she snuck through the kitchen and exited the manor through the back.

· · ─ · ◯☽✵☾◯ · ─ · ·

 Despite the gnawing cold, the sun kept up with its warmth. Drops of melted snow fell from leaves still green within the manor. Their cadence was a reminder of what first spring would be like–a season to look forward to.

 Kaelen wiped the sweat off his brow as he finished chopping the firewood in his human form. His chest heaving as he stared at the pile of wood that was almost as tall as him, three times as wide. He drove the sharp edge of the wood axe into the stump he was chopping on and looked around. The second ring was peaceful. The trickling of a nearby creek gave the manor a serene ambiance.

 A deep exhale left his nostrils as he called it a day, despite it being just after noon. Kaelen entered the manor, accepting a towel from a servant once he stepped in. He found his way to Aeris' office and knocked. A flashback to a near memory played in his head when he just entered: He received a scolding from Aeris while Lyra held a laugh behind her back.

 "Come in!" He finally heard from within.

 Without hesitating, he entered the room. His eyes scanned wall to wall and said: "Where's Lyra? Usually she's glued to your hip."

 "I assumed you caught her on her way out."

 Kaelen stepped in slowly, taking his time in surveying the office. To his knowledge, there wasn't any danger present. He noticed a large portrait of a woman. Her features were unmistakable. The portrait was of the Black Death. The gravity finally settled once he figured out he was staying at the abode of a legendary warrior.