[GW2] Sap or Blood

[Talon]

((Ewin's journal has reached its end but his tale, before meeting all of you, isn't yet done.))

It had been a long night. The rain was falling steadily but not heavily. It beat out a rhythm on the leaves nearby as well as his own. Ewin turned his face up to the rain and closed his eyes, letting the water nourish and soothe him. The sun would rise soon but the moon and night were still refreshing. Parts of him glowed, gently lighting what he held in his hand.



The blood ran freely through the cracks in the cobbles. Divinity's Reach didn't look as pretty at night. It was looming and foreboding to outsiders. The dark figure of the thief, called Twig by his most dear friend and Sylvari brother, slipped away. Lying on the street behind him was a well-dressed human. A man.  A corpse.

The man had been walking home when Twig was suddenly behind him and the dagger he held, equally suddenly, had slipped so precisely into his heart.

There was only one more. Twig crept through the window, without making a sound. He'd heard whispers that Ewin had been looking into the Sect, though not quite as subtly as he'd like; involving asura, involving other races too. The information was worthwhile, though. His closest friend's missives had found him and revealed the identity of the Sect's founders. Unsurprisingly, they were all human.
Killing was distasteful and, as an exceptionally accomplished thief, entirely unnecessary and the sign of sloppy thiefcraft. However, there were exceptions.
This wasn't a heist job where the pride of slipping in and out unnoticed were the goal, well, other than gold and trinkets to fence for more gold. Threatening him and his acquisition of wealth was one thing but attempting to kill his brother was not going to go without a response.
The hitmen had given up, of course, Twig and Ewin having faked their deaths and the mesmer having concealed the artefact they had discovered; the prize The Sect wanted and thought lost. The underground was full of rumours about their search for their prize continuing but no longer did they hunt the two members of an amateur expedition.
That, however, didn't excuse them from orchestrating his and Ewin's demise rather than offering to pay for the wonderous item. That didn't sit well with Twig at all.

The human rose from his desk and moved toward the door, moonlight showing his face for the briefest moment. No matter, this had to be done whether or not it was a faceless victim or not.

Twig had often considered extending his services to assassinations, since the art of theft and silent killing often had overlapping skill sets but had thought it all too distasteful ... And messy.

Special circumstances, he thought yet again. The man had almost reached the door to his study when the poison from his glass of whatever pretentious drink took hold. He gasped for breath, unable to find it. Paralysis of pretty much everything was a splendid bonus. And poison was much cleaner than stabbing.

Emerging from the darkness, Twig looked down at the dying man. The dulling eyes realised who he was, that was obvious. Twig smiled a grim and vengeful smile before all that was left was another corpse.



"Twig!" Ewin said, joy and relief lighting his face. His friend shook his head, pretending the nickname irked him.
"Ewin," The thief replied, smoothly, the corners of his mouth turning up. He seemed distracted but Ewin didn't press it.
"I'm glad you're all right," Ewin lowered his voice, "The Sect's members aren't as numerous as we thought. They really, really want this artefact but I don't believe it's as dangerous as we thought. I was -"
Twig's eyes hardened and he dragged Ewin into a nearby building. It was oddly deserted. "I got your letters. Stop talking about it. Stop writing about it." He frowned again when Ewin looked away when he'd said something about writing. He glared.

"It's just a journal. I'm planning to burn it. I just had to get the thoughts out of my head. They were ganging up on me," Ewin blurted out.
Twig paused to take his friend's words in. Sometimes it took him a moment to follow. "Do it as soon as you get home. We don't want any trail. We'll sell the bloody thing soon and be rid of it. The Sect believe we're dead and their artefact is lost."
It was Ewin's turn to notice something odd but he said nothing. Twig had flinched slightly when he'd cursed the item.
"Won't they get suspicious when it shows up on the market?" Ewin asked, frowning.
"It won't show up there. I have a contact in the Consortium that can take care of it."
"The what?"

"Never mind. I'm going to take care of it. It's good to see you," Twig smiled and embraced his friend. Ewin relaxed and smiled again, himself. "Let's get something to eat."

[Talon]

"Why do you wear those?" Twig asked, with a mouth full of stew.

"Why do you?" Ewin replied.

"To fit in!" Twig replied, as though it were obvious. Ewin just smiled. Twig shook his head. "That's for necessity. I don't want attention. I really don't understand why you find humans and their ways so fascinating."

Ewin shrugged. The truth was that everyone considered the Sylvari so strange. They were stared at and looked down upon as childish and naive. He had taken to making his own clothing to emulate the humans' so he also wouldn't draw attention. It hadn't worked.

"It's odd you ask that, given that we're hiding from," He paused and looked around, "Someone."

Twig seemed to see something in his eyes. "Maybe one day you will embrace that you are Sylvari."

Ewin looked startled for a moment but quickly changed the subject. "So what's the Consortium?"

His friend shook his head. "Don't ask," Twig said, "They won't appreciate that anyone's asking questions about them."
The mesmer frowned. That wasn't comforting.

"Take me to the hiding place tomorrow. We need to collect the artefact so I can meet with their respresentative."

"Can't I go too?" Ewin asked. "I helped find it."

Twig looked surprised. "You'll get paid for that but ... They get twitchy about too many people knowing their business."

Ewin sighed, obviously not pleased about being kept in the dark yet again. "Payment isn't what I ... Never mind. Let's go to bed. I'll take you to it tomorrow afternoon."

"Afternoon?"

"I have things to do before we go," Ewin said, and left it at that. He left the table and went to bed. Let's see how Twig like being kept out of things.

[Talon]

The dark figure of Twig slipped in through the window to their room. Ewin had once asked him why he hated doors so much. He had been fairly certain the mesmer had been joking but with Ewin he could never be sure.

Twig looked at the bed next to his own, Ewin hadn't stirred. He looked calm and content as he slept. It was the only time when he got to forget that they were hiding their identities, always keeping out of situations that drew attention.

Silently, he hid the collected jewels and other valuable items he had accumulated and slid into his bed. He smiled over at Ewin's sleeping form before drifting off to sleep.



Ewin took another sip of tea. It was a peculiar blend he couldn't pick. The human nobleman beckoned him to another table, away from the tea and he knew why. Ewin put down his cup and joined the human at the other table. The library of the human's estate was impressive and made Ewin wish he could live there. The historical volumes alone made him quiver with excitement. The thought of anything damaging the tomes was abhorrent.

"As you know, our mutual asuran friend did not wish to be in contact with you again after ... Events. But he and I regularly correspond, so directing me to you was no problem at all. Thank you for coming."

The noble bowed slightly and the young Sylvari smiled. "I was surprised to get your invitation. Those Asura Gates are very handy." Had it not been for the gates, Ewin doubted that he'd have received the letter in time, anyway, let alone have been able to get to Divinity's Reach and be back at his and Twig's room before morning in Lion's Arch. He also wouldn't have been able to keep the illusion of himself in his bed going for any longer than that without significant strain.

"So you and the Sect aren't getting along, hmm?" The human chuckled, snapping Ewin back from his thoughts.

Ewin instantly tensed. Had this been a trap? He was not naive but he did sometimes make a blunder when pursuing exciting stories or history but he had generally trusted the asura given their mutual break-and-enter escapade. Suddenly he wondered if that trust was misplaced.

"Relax," The human said, "The Sect and I are no longer in one another's good graces." When Ewin frowned, the man continued. "It had started out innocently, much like your own passion for the past. My great grandfather was a skilled necromancer in Ascalon. He was one of the refugees after the Charr repossession of Ascalon. It was a turbulent time ..."

The man seemed to trail off and stare into space for a moment before shaking his head and gesturing to the books. "He wasn't the best journal keeper but, given all he saw, he put down most of the experiences for a record; an unbiased account."

"I share his name, Alexiel," He sighed, "It's an honour in my family but it's a lot to live up to." He shook his head again. "Pardon me, I do tend to ramble. The Sect started as a society of historians, much like the Durmand Priory. Their intentions may have been good to begin with but they slowly grew greedy and prideful."

Ewin opened his mouth and Alexiel shook his head and went on, "I don't believe the dragons were involved, as I think you were about to ask, it was just regular human nature. They wanted more from life - as most of us do - and, in the course of their studies, they uncovered the potential to get it: Various artifacts and locations of power in Tyria.
"Such power still exists, after all this time?" Ewin didn't seem convinced. He'd love to believe stories but it sounded a bit too good to be true.
"Such things, well, I can't guarantee they still would work but ancient magic was very powerful, going by my namesake's accounts, so I wouldn't be surprised. Not like today, enchantments and spells don't have the oomph that once did."

The mesmer stayed silent and Alexiel opened one of the books and pointed out a few passages to demonstrate his point. Things about ancient races, Ascensions, powerful armour enchantments, something called 'Agony', and descriptions of some of the ancient spells his ancestors had accessed, most of which had been diluted in the last two centuries, or the abilities lost altogether.

"I was a member, for lack of a better word, but their methods and intent grew darker and more sinister. I, and many others, took our leave before things got out of hand," He sighed again, "Perhaps we should have done more to stop them instead of just getting out. Most of the members are little more than thugs, now, but some are dangerous and influential. Regardless, I do not want them to get whatever you have found."

Ewin tensed again. "I presume you won't tell them I'm not as dead as they were led to believe," He said.

Alexiel laughed. "No, that will be our secret." The young man looked down at the books. "One of many."

[Talon]

He'd released the illusion an hour ago. It was late enough that Twig should have been in bed but early enough that he wouldn't be awake yet so he'd just assume Ewin had left early. The thief thought his excursions to steal from the city were hidden from Ewin but the mesmer was not a fool. Ewin didn't really approve but such was the thief's nature so, Ewin smirked, he would let his friend keep his illusions.

Alexiel had been a fun companion. Someone whose interest in the Krytan and Ascalonian histories matched his own. It was refreshing, especially when compared with Twig's utter disinterest in the subject.

Ewin shook off the bizarre feeling of the Gate's energies as he materialised in Lion's Arch. He checked his mask was still secured and strolled through the central plaza toward an inn.

As quietly as he could, he re-entered the room. Twig stirred, there really wasn't any sneaking up on him. "Is it time to go, already?" He asked, groggily.

Ewin smiled. "It's coming up to midday. Let's go have some lunch and then we can adventure," He said and watched the thief get dressed.
They spent a few hours walking around Lion's Arch. No doubt Twig had seen it all before but there had been areas Ewin hadn't ventured and he took in the city with his usual, unquenchable curiosity.

Twig had kept up admirably and pointed out a lot of things he thought Ewin would find interesting, although, being Ewin, it was almost always a safe bet he'd find something about anything of interest. Twig didn't know any of the history but Ewin never held that against him. They ran about the city, laughed, and shared another meal. For a few hours, they pretended to forget their situation.

Finally they couldn't put it off. Ewin hugged Twig tightly, a silent thank you for the tour and time together like they used to have, before the ugliness with the Sect.
With a deep breath and a deeper sigh, Ewin led Twig out of the city.

[Talon]

"Yet more ruins." Twig didn't look impressed but no matter how many he visited, Ewin was thrilled every time. The stories that were buried, the history of the locations and the items' individual tales. He sighed, content.

Twig rolled his eyes and stared down into the abyss below them, wondering how far down it was. "Would you and the decaying architecture like to be alone?" He said.

Ewin ignored him and lifted a rusting metal box out of some rubble. "Here we are," He said.

"You didn't hide it very well," Twig frowned again, his joking manner hidden once more.

"You never found it and you know me better than anyone."

Twig shrugged at that and gestured around them. "I cannot believe you hid it in the same ruin we found it."

"Exactly," Ewin smirked, seemingly very pleased with himself. "I'm still looking through the Sect's papers. I can't help but think it has something to do with the odd crystal that asura was loo-" Ewin stopped talking when Twig's face tightened disapprovingly when he mentioned the asura he'd helped into the cavern.
"I wish you hadn't gone poking around."
"Everything has a story. I like to know what the stories are," Ewin said. He felt like a child being chastised and didn't like it one bit. "Besides, it gave us lots of information about what the Sect are doing and why they want this so much," Ewin added, holding up the box.

Reluctantly, Twig nodded.

"How did you find out it hadn't be destroyed?" Ewin asked.

The thief smiled, "As you said: I know you better than anyone."

Ewin tilted his head.

Twig went on, "When you told me you destroyed it," He said and paused a second, looking a little ashamed, "I was unkind. I was upset given all the trouble we've been through, it felt like it was all for nothing. But the more I thought about it, the less I could make your destroying it fit. You always talk about the stories. You couldn't destroy something so ancient, with such a history ... I may not share your perspective but I understand what it means to you."

Twig  watched Ewin with concern. The mesmer looked sad and happy at the same time. It was an odd expression. Then he had the look on his face that indicated he was thinking deep thoughts. Deep and troublesome.

"Did you consider trying to use it ourselves?" Ewin suddenly asked. "Complete their research and use it instead?"
Twig shook his head. "Power, knowledge ... All that mysticism and ancient lore stuff doesn't interest me," He said. "Are you?"
Ewin shrugged. "Such old and interesting things. I don't like the idea of  them just going to the highest bidder. As we've established, they have history. They deserve something more than killing over them or exchanges of coins."
Twig shook his head again. "I never figured you for the type to go after power." Ewin blushed and looked incredibly offended.
"I know better than to meddle with ancient powers, unlike this Sect. I just wondered ... Never mind." He trailed off, still seeming upset.
Trying to make his friend forget the burn of his accusation, Twig changed the subject, "The buyer is eager to get his hands on that and he's tired of waiting, once we hand it over we can finally forget about all this, we'll be free."
"Except the Sect is still after us, I can't imagine they'll give up just because we sell it. Wait. Buyer?" Ewin looked confused. "You said you had a contact in the Consortium, and then refused to explain what that was. Twig, what aren't you telling me?"
Twig sighed. "You really are too observant, Ewin." He twirled one of his daggers in his hand, something the thief did when idle.
Ewin's face changed from confusion to annoyance and he held the box over the edge of the chasm behind them and closed his eyes. Twig looked instantly alarmed. Ewin opened his eyes and spoke very deliberately, "I think it's time we had a chat, my friend."

Twig's dagger thudded into the ground and he darted forward. Ewin tossed the box in his direction. Twig's reflexes were as sharp as ever, certainly now sharper than his, and he caught it, his relief visible.
"Now, tell me the real story," Ewin said, crossing his arms in front of him but clearly prepared to stand his ground this time.
Twig set the box on a broken wall and collected his dagger to stall for time. Ewin obviously had his suspicions about what was really going on. The mesmer really was too astute for his own good. Still, he never stayed angry with Twig for long on the rare occasion they clashed. He took a breath to do something he rarely ever did. He was going to tell the truth.
"There they are!" A voice called out, breaking the easy exchange. Ten humans came into the antechamber from the entrance tunnel. Twig narrowed his eyes. They were probably all that was left of The Sect. Perfect. With nimble fingers, he tucked the box into his belt pouch and secured it in only a second.
The next second there was a bow in his hand and then an arrow through the neck of one of the invading humans. He didn't watch this one's pain or fear, instead, he re-drew his bow.
Ewin was slower to react but soon ran along-side one of the walls of the ruin but an arrow stopped him short, having narrowly missed him to the detriment of the portion of wall in front of him.  Two more followed and quickly Ewin shattered into swirling colours and shapes.
"Damn mesmers. Find the real one!" Any further instructions were cut short as they were soon distracted by pistols firing rapidly at their position.

Ewin slipped around the corner and the stealth illusion melted off him in thin wisps of transparent smoke. He grinned, all promises to himself of stopping expeditions long forgotten.
Twig looked up at the sounds of pistol fire and slid behind a casket or a ruined wall, who knows what it used to be. Right now, it was cover. He pulled out his own pistols and took a deep breath in.
Twig and Ewin kept trying to get glances of the other to make sure they were each unharmed. So far they'd been lucky. Smoke clouds wafted with the breeze, lit by the torches in the ruin. Cries of pain or alarm pierced the rest of the gloom but otherwise it was a pleasant sight.
The thief saw his friend knock down one of the Sect members and the man didn't get up. Yet another sliver of innocence lost for them both. Twig shook the thoughts out of his head and darted in and out of the fray, almost a blur.
Twig was breathing heavily and the leader of the invading band swung his blade to take advantage but Twig seemed to just vanish into thin air. The human looked around, swinging his blade, wildly. Then he noticed the thief on a ledge across the way. The leader drew a pistol. The ledge the thief was on was narrow but his footing seemed sure. Twig held a pistol and aimed at the human.
The two adversaries fired together. Ewin ducked from pure instinct at the sound and turned toward its source. He saw Twig's eyes widen and watched him tumble off the ledge, dropping his pistol, Twig scrambled for purchase but found none. Ewin's own mouth open in horror. Twig never fell. The leader of the humans clutched at his own shoulder but he looked viciously pleased with himself. Ewin turned a fierce gaze on the human.
The mesmer seemed to split into three. They scattered amongst the ruins and the remaining Sect members tried to determine which was imagined and which was real. The trio of Sylvari made their way to the ledge while the humans were confused but they saw only a pistol. Looking down they could see nothing. Twig was gone. Ewin was alone.
The sound of scuffed rocks broke his stare into the abyss. Ewin turned slowly, the true sylvari was obvious since the copies didn't echo the deep pain or the barely controlled grief in his eyes.

Four humans remained and they converged on him, weapons drawn but they still kept their distance. One took an additional step back. Had he just imagined that spark of lightning flicker in the sylvari's eyes? He must have.

"Give us the vial." The leader demanded, now sporting a makeshift bandage around his arm.

"No," Ewin said, his eyes slightly unfocussed. "Is this anger? I've never felt it before."

"Shut up and give us the vial or you're dead like your friend."

The sound that Ewin made then was beastial. All three images of Ewin seemed to explode, he vanished, leaving behind settling purple butterflies before they faded away. The air crackled and chaos itself seemed to spill out around them as a single Ewin reappeared directly in front of them.  Some of the humans panicked and fired their weapons only to somehow have shot themselves. Others writhed on the ground, clutching their heads and screaming as the mesmer's grief and power tore at their minds more fiercely than a blade at their bodies.

Another was on fire. Or at least thought he was. Soon the screaming stopped bar his own. Ewin surveyed the dusty floor where the humans all lay still. Ewin stopped his own cries and turned back to the chasm.

Solemly, he did not notice any wounds from the battle as he left the ruin and emerged into the night air. It was raining. The water cleansing him of the dust and the tears staining his face.

The sat down and cradled the small pistol from his closest friend and stared at the beautiful view.

[Talon]

Ewin opened his eyes and saw the breathtaking morning. He took a deep breath in before the previous day's events crashed in on his thoughts. It would be too much to hope for it to have been a nightmare.

He sat up and turned his head. A transparent figure was lying next to him. He'd summoned an illusion in his sleep. He smiled sadly down at as close a copy of Twig as he could make. It's obvious transparency a give-away but his presence had been comforting.

The rain had stopped. The illusion melted away, a tiny purple butterfly lingering for a moment as if to say goodbye.

The beautiful morning seemed dulled now. A haze pulled over it. Panic cut through the haze as he looked around for the precious remnant of his friend. Relief flooded through him when he found the pistol next to him. Ewin stood up and replaced his own sidearm with that of his closest friend. The only thing that had remained when Twig fell into the chasm.

Not fell, Ewin corrected himself, murdered.

Dazedly, he walked back into the ruin. He felt fragile. When he entered the ruin he saw the bodies of the humans. The unfamiliar feeling of anger and what was probably hatred burned inside him when he saw the leader, the corpse still bearing the wound inflicted by Twig.

It hurt him that they defiled this beautiful, ancient place but he could not bring himself to touch them. To move them.

He stared at their bodies, the pain somehow frozen on some of the faces, the charred remains of another. The marks left by chaotic tendril of the storm he'd unleashed ...



Alexiel handed Ewin the tea cup. The warm liquid felt comforting in his hands. The human smiled when he saw Ewin drink from it but quickly made his face neutral again before Ewin saw.

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Alexiel said. Ewin had told me the story, although he suspected quite a bit had been left out. "You hadn't had any sleep, your beloved friend," Alexiel stopped talking then quickly pressed on, "... And you were in danger. That sort of reaction is not completely your responsibility."

"Don't tell me that," Ewin moaned. "I don't want an excuse. It was frightening. That I ... Let's talk about something else."

Ewin dipped his head slightly and frowned at the tea. Alexiel smiled again only this time it was malicious then the world went black.



Ewin slowly opened his eyes and winced at the brightly lit room. He tried to shade his eyes with his hand but found it secured to his chair. Alexiel looked up from over the way.

"It's about time you woke up," He said, but as the sentence progressed, his voice changed. Becoming higher and sickly-sweet. His shape changed too, the illusion melted away and a woman stood before him. A female. He sensed a bitter taste to her mind that told him she was Nightmare Court.

"I was getting tired of holding that illusion," She continued. "It's a good thing you're so off balance. After what I saw in that ruin, I thought you'd see right through my illusion."

Ewin winced again but not at the light. She was right, normally he'd have noticed the enchantment instantly and as he thought of it, a few mannerisms Alexiel didn't normally have should have alerted him.
"We felt your pain, your desire for vengeance was so strong. It's quieter now. It needs to grow, we can help you."

Ewin recoiled as much as he could while tied to a chair. The movement didn't go unnoticed.

"That's always the first reaction, it's because of the Pale Tree and the Firstborn. They pollute your mind with niceties and those stupid tenets from members of races too busy trying to kill one another to do anything useful."

The mesmers stared at each other. Ewin could still feel the fragility of his mind. He could hold his own, especially now he knew this woman's game, but he wasn't as strong as he could be. Recent events and his own psyche were tearing him apart. He needed time to deal with it. Out of harm's way.

"I'm Meryl, by the way. We really do hope you'll join us. It'll be such fun."

"Alexiel?" He asked, hoping his human friend was all right. Even though it hadn't been him, the perceived betrayal still hurt. He wasn't having much luck with friends, lately.

"The human is fine, for now. We'll deal with him later." The woman smiled maliciously once more. "Though I can't say as much for his manservant."

Ewin tensed and, in vain, pulled at the ropes again.

"In fact, I think I may go check on him," Meryl said and left the library. As soon as she left, Ewin concentrated nearby and vanished. He, the chair and the ropes all reappeared a short distance away. The mesmer growled at himself in frustration. He thought about the Nightmare Court and their perspective. Many Sylvari were almost fanatical when it came to the tenets left by Ventari. It was one of the reasons Ewin hadn't been upset about being kept away from the Grove.

But cultivating visciousness and pain was surely not the right answer, either.

Twig's death deserved some sort of response. But hadn't he already exacted the price from the men that killed him. At the memory, Ewin winced once more.

A scream pierced his thoughts and brought him back to his surroundings. Judging by the pitch, it was Meryl. He heart a clash of power and then clomping. Whatever was coming was not human and definitely not Sylvari.

Desperately, Ewin tried to collect himself enough to escape but deep down he knew that healing a mind could not be rushed.
Meryl appeared in the doorway, limp and carried by some sort of monstrosity. It entered the room slowly, making that terrible clomping sound with what shouldn't be called feet but there was no other word for it.

It moved to the chair next to him and dumped Meryl into it. Movement caught Ewin's attention and he looked back at the doorway. Alexiel, hopefully the real one, stood there. He was bleeding from slices in his arms and his side. Silently, Ewin attempted to relay a warning.

Alexiel moved into the room but the monster turned and looked directly at him. Ewin's heart froze and he continued his eternal struggle with his bindings. There was no way he was losing another friend. Not again.

The beast charged at the human, bounding leaps on all fours. Ewin closed his eyes, not bearing to watch the desmise of yet another companion. No screams followed. The mesmer opened his eyes and saw Alexiel patting the creature.

Looking at Meryl, Alexiel spoke, "Leaving a necromancer in a room with a corpse was not your brightest move." He grinned, cheekily, at Ewin. "They're not the most dextrous creatures but loyal," He said, gesturing to his wounds that lined up where ropes would have wound around him.

Ewin stared. The creature .. Had it been bounding like a puppy rather than an assault charge? He laughed out loud, a laugh that sounded a little on edge. Alexiel looked at him with concern.

When he tensed as the two approached, the creature moved over to the corner at the human's direction. Alexiel approached, slowly. Ewin's eyes were wide and wild, unfocussed.

"Ewin?"

[Talon]

Ewin looked around. It was a village. He hadn't been in a village, had he?

Urgent shouts filtered through the door closed door before it opened. A group of villagers entered. One of them looked beaten and was staring blankly ahead as the others helped her to a chair.

He remembered this. He had been hiding in this village from the Sect during one of the times when Twig and he had been separated. A villager had been attacked or seen something horrible. The woman was catatonic, traumatised by some event outside that he hadn't witnessed.

Everyone was scared, their fear filled the air. A little boy tugged his mother's skirt but she barely moved.

"Let me help," Ewin said. The villagers had been kind enough to let him stay but they hadn't accepted his help with chores or preparing food. This was something he could do, he knew it.

The villagers milled about, uncertain. The boy cried out to let Ewin try. The men nodded consent and Ewin gently guided them outside and closed the door.

He walked back over to woman. She was still sitting but didn't seem to register anyone had left or that he was there. He pulled another chair closer and sat in front of her. She was lost and very frightened. Her mind had shattered to protect itself, locking off whatever bad memory had caused her pain.

He met her eyes and there was a flicker of recognition before it was gone again. "Let me help," He whispered and closed his eyes. He felt the resistance slip and gently became aware of her mind. The pieces were jagged and sharp but they could be repaired. He talked to her, a soothing balm of words while he reassembled the fragments, they slid together and held their place.

He remembered this. The next morning she would be fine. It would take time but she would heal completely. Her son would be thrilled.

Ewin opened his eyes and saw himself. The other him had unfocussed eyes and was listening to the words. Looking around again he noticed the room had changed, it was now purple shards, like broken mirrors. This was his own mind. "Oh," He said, "That explains the memory."

Slowly and carefully, Ewin fitted the shards together, making larger and larger fragments, avoiding the sharp edges. It was long and delicate work, just like it had been with the woman in the village. Finally, he was done and he saw the trauma in the result: Friends in pain, lies or betrayals, death. Ewin winced. This was harsh but they needed to deal with it.

He examined them more closely, detached. They had shattered too finely. The pieces were even but so small. He could see the cracks clearly. It would still heal but some cracks may remain.
"We need to accept this," He told himself. The eyes stared at him and started to focus.

"Use it to grow."

They both closed their eyes



Ewin opened his eyes, the room had a soft light, perhaps a candle. He had no idea how much time had passed. Healing minds could take minutes, hours or days depending on the damage. He'd guess it had been at least a day for his.

Alexiel came into the room, perhaps having heard his stirring. "You're awake," He said, relief obvious.

"I'm fine," Ewin answered the unspoken question. "I'm starving."

Alexiel laughed and Ewin smiled. Events filtered back into his head and Ewin frowned, withdrawing from his friend a little.

"What's wrong?" The human asked.

Ewin stared at him for only a moment. He was back in form, there was no illusion, no deception. This was his friend. The imaginary betrayal still tainted the relationship but he could work past it. "What of Meryl?" He asked.

"While you were ... Resting, I contacted the Seraph. They collected her straight away. I think she'll be out of trouble for a while."

"Good," Ewin said and then looked uncomfortable. "Do you mind if I stay a little while? I still need to rest."

"Of course," Alexiel replied, smiling kindly and he went to get some more tea for each of them.