I N F I N I T E S

They Carry Our Dreams

Redrig used the sleeve of his robe to wipe his eyes.
"Anyways that is history."
Frost's ears perked up.
"What happened to Lilian?"
Redrig stood up from the chair.
"She died long ago like most of her kin."
He looked to Frost and showed a reassuring smile.
"Now let's talk about that reward for a delivery well done."
He hobbled over to a desk closer to the wall. On the desk were strange sets of contraptions. He picked up one of the contraptions and held it in the light for inspection. It was a kind of bracer, but it didn't provide much armor. Instead it was more of interconnected black triangles.
Redrig motioned for Fern to step closer.
"Come now lad I want to see if it fits."
Fern stepped closer and Redrig grabbed his wrist.
"See if what fits?"
Redrig slid on the contraption and then took Fern's other wrist and did the same with the other bracer.
He stepped back from Fern.
"Now I want you to snap your claws as if you were starting a fire."
Fern reluctantly snapped his claws together and his hands burst into flame. Fern was not in pain, instead he turned his hands around to look at them. Redrig clapped his hands.
"Hah yes success. You see With you being a Tytenian Fire Feline you have a natural immunity to intense heat. So I constructed these bracers so that they may coat your hands in an ignitable Ilin substance."
"Ilin?"
Fern questioned.
"Yes it is a type of long burning oil substance. Each one of those triangles on the bracers contains just a small amount, but a small amount will do it."
Redrig eagerly turned to Frost next.
"Come now you next."
Redrig beckoned Frost with a waving hand. Redrig picked up another pair of bracers from the table. Frost stretched out his arm. Redrig slapped around a bracer tat sat girly near the top of Frost's hand. He then took up Frost's other arm and placed the other bracer snuggly on with straps of black leather.
"Alright that should do it."
Frost turned his hands around to look at the contraptions that now adorned his wrists. They had a silverfish steel that held several small metal canisters in place. Redrig stepped back from Frost.
"Now initiate your temperature drop."
Frost slid his claws across each other and the temperature in the air dropped. A mist sprayed out from the gauntlets and covered Frost's fingers in ice. Redrig rubbed his hands together with delight.
"You see the bracer releases a cooling mist that when in combination with your temperature drop and cold immunity provides a freezing touch that will allow you to climb much faster. And if you should need it, it also has the capability to slow your foes"
Frost looked away from his hands and to Redrig with gratitude.
"Thank you I-"
"Ah but I'm not done yet. Go into the back room."
He snapped his fingers and a bookshelf moved away to reveal a door leading to a separate room.
"There you should find sets of armor that I do believe will be to your liking."
He shooed them off with a motion of the hands. They walked to the door and opened with a creak, and then closed it behind them.
Tessra had not made a noise this entire time. Nor did she show any facial movement. Her expression was blank. She looked up at the high ceiling then down to the stone floor. A small grin creeped across her face.
"Heh you never cease to amaze."
Redrig turned to Tessra and ran a hand through his gray beard.
"Well I am an enchanter. It is my specialty."
"They were looking forward to what you might give them, but I know something's off."
She looked up at Redrig and her smile disappeared.
"I know you wouldn't give them all of this for a tea delivery."
Redrig nodded and looked off through one of the large windows to his right.
"You're right. I wouldn't."
"Then why give this to them now."
Redrig sighed deeply.
"We both know that we will not always be there to help them."
He looked to Brite who was looking at and admiring his new armor.
"There are those who would now seek to do harm to them, and they will need the means to defend themselves."
He steeped over to Tessra and put a hand on her armored shoulder.
"This is now the chance we have to be greater than anything we were before. It is their chance."
He nodded towards the door that Frost and Fern had stepped through.
"I will discuss more in detail when the lads come out."
They heard the creak of the door, and out stepped a transformed Frost and Fern. Fern was wearing a light metal shoulder pads, elbow guards, knee pads, and chest plate. A black cloth material clung around his chest, elbows, and legs but left other areas open and free for movement.
Tessra hadn't noticed before, but Fern was exceptionally well muscled. Where the baggy cloth shirt had covered was now revealed to be strikingly strong. His shoulders appeared broader, and his chest wider. Overall he looked much more powerful than the young feline who was there before.
Frost was equipped with all the same types of guards that Fern had except they were all slightly smaller to fit his stature. Strapped on shin guards with sharp metal now adorned his legs. His feet were bare but a long kind of covering stretched up his legs. Black leather flaps were stretched along his sides. Simple silver earrings pierced through his ears. He didn't really look threatening, just more like he could hold his own in a fight.
Frost noticed that everyone was staring at them. He scratched behind his head and put out an embarrassed smile. Fern was often one who enjoyed attention, but Frost never really liked being in the spotlight.
"So um, why did make all this stuff for us?"
He asked Redrig.
"That was what I mean to tell you. I want you to listen close."
The room once again had It's attention on Redrig.
"I had been saving all of that for a time when I wouldn't be around to give you anymore work. But now I think it is better a time than ever."
Redrig stepped over to the boys.
"Now that you know of Brite's existence there are those who would wish to do you harm. That is why I have given you these tools now."
They did not interrupt him. They only stared at him with an expression made up of worry yet understanding.
"I now must entrust you to look after Brite here, so I have to ask you to leave here."
Frost spoke quietly.
"But what will happen to you?"
Redrig looked at Frost with a warm smile.
"I will be fine, but I'll need you to take care of Brite. Frost I want you to teach him how to speak, how to act, how to be a good person."
Frost had a panicked look on his face now.
"M-me? I wouldn't be able to-"
"I would entrust no one else. Frost I know that you are a kind hearted and smart young lad. I know you can do it."
The panic on Frost's face subsided.
"O- ok."
Redrig turned to look Fern in the eye.
"Fern, I will need you and Tessra to teach Brite how to defend himself."
Fern put a hand on Redrig's arm.
"You can count on me."
He said with conviction.
Redrig gripped harder on both of their shoulders.
"Listen, I gave you those tools and armor not because I thought you would need them, but rather because what I thought you would do with them. You both are exceptional lads, and I don't want either of you to ever forget that you are capable of great things."
Tears welled in Frost's eyes. Fern Instinctually hugged Redrig and Frost followed. Redrig was surprised at first, but then he wrapped his arms around them and embraced Frost and Fern as if they were his own sons. Tears fell from their eyes onto his robe.
When they had fled their home world they were without family. They were a form of immigrant that was allowed on Cynthil as a means to show peace between worlds. Yet they were treated no better than rats on the streets. That was until they met Tessra and Redrig. Tessra saw how beaten and scared they were. She had only recently received the title of knight, but she used that title to immediately request that she be a form of diplomatic guard to Frost and Fern. She then became their guardian angel.
They would look for work where they could, but they could never find a steady job. Until Redrig offered them positions as his delivery boys. He did it partially because he needed someone to perform this task for him. He also did it because he saw that in these two outcasts lie a great unawakened capability for good.
He taught them about all of the plants and animals of Cynthil. He told them what berries to eat and what roads to take. He wanted them to become as strong as he knew they could be, and maybe even more.
So when Frost saw Brite wandering the streets with no way to talk and no one to help. He wanted to show the same kindness that had been shown to him.
The boys and this man were not even the same species, yet they loved each other like family.
Redrig felt their hands one last time then let go and motioned to the door that they came in through.
"It is best that you get on the road now. You are burning away daylight. With this equipment people will be more likely to offer you work due to your looks."
Frost and Fern nodded quickly but strongly.
Frost grabbed Brite by the hand and they walked to the door. Tessra followed close behind. Frost, Fern, and Brite left outside the door. Redrig stopped Tessra before she stepped out of the spire.
"Please look after them for me."
Without even looking back Tessra answered.
"You have my word."
She had one foot out the door when she turned her head just slightly.
"Thank you Redrig."
And she made her way out of the room. The door closed itself behind her and Redrig was left alone. He shambled over to one of the windows and lifted himself up to it using the magical stairs from before.
He looked out to the sapphire sky and spoke quietly to himself.
"May the stars guide them. For they carry our dreams on their shoulders."