The Spark And The Flame

Ten Long Years

Theran could do nothing but evade, paladin elementals are among the fastest, which makes it challenging. The stone that makes it up is difficult to damage, the easiest way to destroy it  completely would be to get to the obsidian core. The core itself is the actual elemental, and the stone is more akin to a shell. Theran charged it, swinging his sword with such speed it was barely more than a blur. Yet somehow, the elemental still managed to parry his blade.

Shocked, Theran took a staggered step back.

What the hell? I'm not that rusty! He thought, something was definitely amiss. He hadn't seen a paladin elemental as fast as that since the war... no it can't be, I thought they all died during the siege Theran thought incredulously.

"Filos? Is that you? How?" The elemental didn't cease, but it did hesitate. The stone features moved, its eyebrows did the closest thing it could to furrowing. It started to cautiously walk forward, as a slow and deep groan escaped from its depths.

"Shel Locktear" Theran said steadily. Immediately, Filos became still, no longer aggressive.

"It is! Get down here" Theran said, happy to see an old friend. In response, Filos' stone shell fell apart, leaving the obsidian exposed, This living glass started to compress, and become more dense. Until it was the size of Theran's head, then the stone started forming around it again, taking a much more tame form. It became a slightly larger duplicate of the person standing in front of him, making himself a face, choosing to keep it blank in this smaller form.

"Do you still have your disguise?" Theran asked. Filos, who was much more animated in this form, put up one finger quickly, as if to say 'one moment'. He then jogged over to the stone that was his head and punched it, the stone split in two, revealing a cavity. In that cavity laid the clothes Theran told him to hold onto so long ago.

"Its so good to see you" Theran said.

"You have returned! I have waited for ten years, it is great to once again be able to journey with you." Filos said as he put on the clothes, except, his voice was actually a series of groans at various different pitches; but because Filos chose to make a bond with him, he and all of his blood kin may understand him.

"Tell me, what mission are we on now, I crave adventure, like the days of war we shared together" continued Filos.

"Well, first we must go to the City of Jearefel and tell them I killed the golem that's been causing damage " Theran said.

"Oh my, I'm sorry, after ten years, our bond started to wane and I got a little bored. But now that your back our bond is as strong as ever."

"Not that I mind, but your quite a bit more talkative than you were back then."

"Well, have you been hearing me say I have been alone waiting for you for ten years, it may not be that much of my life time, but its a long time to be solitary."

"Fair point, can you grab your old face, we gotta show proof we killed you."

"No problem, what do we tell them about me being there?"

"I'll think of something. When we get close, stay behind me"

"Gotcha,  I'm gonna guess they are paranoid about my return?"

"Among other things. Oh yeah, you got your hammer?"

Filos walked over and picked up half of the face, but it was too big, so he broke it down to a quarter of the face. He then picked up the other side of the his face, which upon his lifting it began to morph, melting into an over sized war-hammer, parts fell to the ground, leaving it the size of Theran's torso.