Magus {Complete}

3

 "Jika," Cinder's voice shook as he stood in the doorway to the room that the druid had taken Kydyn to.

"He's fine, Cinder. I promise you. No need to worry so much, besides, if you do that it'll just inflate his ego. It's already the size of the solar system, let's not make it infinite."

"Jika," Cinder called his name a second time, but the urgency in it had the druid looking over his shoulder in surprise. "I know I don't know any of you, but he shouldn't have fallen over like that. I... I did something. Didn't I?"

Jika's silence was deafening. It tore at Cinder's chest. From behind Cinder, Lyn stuck his head in the doorway. His eyes were bright with curiosity, though he wasn't worried like Cinder was. After surveying the room, he poked Cinder's side which earned him a sharp yelp and a jump from the young man. "It's all right. Kydyn's done worse, trust us."

"But I did this," Cinder retorted.

Jika sighed and stood up from the chair he'd brought over to the edge of the bed where Kydyn was. He walked over and put both hands on Cinder's shoulders. "You didn't do it on purpose. You were in the middle of being released from the seal and Kydyn was an idiot to think he could control it without a scratch. You've been sealed off from your magic for so long that it's built up to be incredibly strong. He had to use a lot of his own power to keep you from losing too much control. Although it would have been just fine with the three council members doing it but he had to take things into his own hands."

Jika gave Kydyn a sour look before he turned back to Cinder. He was gentle, but firm in turning the young magus around and leading him out into the hallway. Lyn shut the door to the room as they left and followed right behind until they reached the living room. "I'll make some tea!"

"Thanks, Lyn," Jika said.

Sitting down on the couch, Cinder released a heavy breath and braced his elbows on his knees. Rubbing his hands along his face, he groaned before resting his forehead in his palms. "You said the ritual wouldn't hurt."

"I did. Honestly I've never seen anyone in pain before by having a seal undone," Jika paused. "Do you mind? Talking about it, that is. Did something happen?"

Cinder shrugged. He didn't answer for some time. A lot had happened and none of it was anything he'd been prepared for. It felt like someone else's life had flooded through him. Almost like it wasn't even real, but he knew it was. And he knew who those people were in the memories. His parents.

A realization hit him so hard that he straightened on the couch and stared at the far wall in shock. Jika started next to him. The druid touched him gingerly and it was like a switch. His breathing was ragged, eyes burning as they swam with tears. Raw emotions that hadn't seen the light of day in ages bubbled up and he turned and buried his face against Jika's shoulder.

"Cinder? What's wrong?" Jika didn't hesitate to wrap an arm around him and hold him a little closer.

"Why now? I haven't thought of them all this time. They never crossed mind. Not once. I never wondered what happened to them, or why I didn't know where they were. I never even made an effort to look for them! What the hell was wrong with me?"

"Who? Look for who?"

"My parents," Cinder choked the words out.

Jika sucked in a sharp drag of air. "What did you see?"

"Fire. So much smoke. I couldn't breathe. S-stuck in a corner because I was too scared to move. Someone was hurting them. I saw dad fall from the top floor. There was someone tangled up with him. They both burned. And mom. She. S-she..."