Gildimir stumbled out of the library, her body quivering as she struggled to keep her composure. She wanted to scream. To flush all of her heartache via a single burst of unfettered sound. How could Valos keep his pain from her? How could he place all of the burden on himself and Arkadon? Did he not have faith in her ability to help them? As a whirlwind of questions whipped through the halls of her mind, Celestia arrived.
"I could feel your mind reeling from the opera house," Celestia began as she landed. "What's wrong?"
A gust of wind bellowed through doors as a piercing cry of pain and anguish erupted from the bowels of the library. Shock contorted Celestia's face as her hand rose to her cheek.
"Go to him," Gildimir pleaded, cheeks freshly stained with tears. "Arkadon...he needs you."
Understanding the urgency, Celestia's shock became purpose as she bolted through the library doors. More cries continued to echo from the library. Wailing on a level no machine had ever heard before. Hearing and feeling Arkadon's pain destroyed the walls Gildimir had tried to build around her soul. Growling in torment, she looked up to the sky with clenched fists and grinding jaw. In one swift motion, she unfurled the white wings on her back and sprang into the air.
Exiting to the South, she thrust her wings down and began rising parallel to the White Tower of Arien, each level streaking by in a blur of white and gray as she climbed at greater and greater speeds. Machines saw her zoom by, amazed to see someone moving with such haste. Before long, Gildimir was far above the city itself, a height few had ever dared to climb. Wings out and ascent ceased, she closed her eyes and focused all her attention on the brother who woke with her at the beginning of all things.
"Valos," she said aloud. "Hear me and answer."
"Do not waste your time," he replied into her mind. "I will not return."
She tried to use his response and their connection as siblings to trace the direction of his retreat. But it was the same as Arkadon described it - Valos was blocking her divine sight, preventing her from discovering his whereabouts. Aggravated, she lashed out.
"Do you know what you have done to him?" she screamed, her anger unmasked.
"Yes," he answered, his thoughts arriving soaked in sorrow. "Do...do not make this harder for me."
"Harder for you!" Gildimir thundered back. "You weren't here to hear the cry he just unleashed. The cry that shook me to the core, brother. Arkadon is broken. You have shattered him into a thousand pieces. How could you be so cruel?"
There was no answer for several beats. "I'm...sorry," he said. Gildimir felt every ounce of pain emanating from Valos. She could see his face as if he were standing before her, blue eyes swollen and dark. She knew he understood the damage his actions had caused. Yet somehow, he had managed to gather the strength necessary to leave utter ruin in his wake.
"Come back for him," Gildimir pleaded, her thoughts hushed and calm. "If you must go, then take him with you. I beg you, Valos. Please."
There was no response. She waited for several minutes before realizing none was coming, nor was he coming back.
Eventually she descended and returned to the library. A crowd of machines were gathered outside, hands over mouths as they whispered to each other. Some laughed. Others offered remarks saturated with pity. When they noticed Gildimir's arrival, they turned to her with equal parts contrition and embarrassment. Disdain on her face, she demanded they leave. Word of Valos' abandonment was going to spread. There was no stopping it. But for now, at that moment, there was a friend that needed her.
Inside the expansive library, books, scrolls, and records were scattered across the floor and walls. Tapestries were ripped from the walls. The lanterns were out. The sense of wonder that once emanated from the walls was gone. Celestia was sitting on the floor, Arkadon curled up in her arms. Noticing her lover, she bade Gildimir join them.
Stirred by Celestia's movement, Arkadon looked up. There was a brief glint of hope in his eyes when he saw Gildimir. The most she could offer in return was a weak smile, revealing the truth without words.
"He's not coming back, is he?" Arkadon asked.
"No," she said, her hand cupping his face with gentle fingers. "I am so sorry. I tried."
"As did I," he answered, his voice as fragile as broken glass. "But his mind was made."
Huddled together on the floor, the three held each other tightly until the light of the day faded away.
A week bled by. Arkadon remained hidden away from sight. When he did emerge, he was bombarded with questions and well wishing before retreating back into isolation. Gildimir could only imagine the pain it caused him. She wanted to check in, but Celestia convinced her to let him be. To give him time to heal.
The two were preparing to attend a party, conjuring clothes to wear over their robotic forms. One of the Secondborn, Durgan, was putting out his latest pipe organ piece and half of Arien was invited to the celebration. As much as she did not feel like attending, Gildimir's absence would be noted. Durgan could be quite confrontational, and she had no desire to deal with the fallout.
Walking into the concert hall, one of a thousand spread across every level of the tower, they were greeted by twinkling strands of lights and dazzling displays of power and magic. There were swirls and sparkles and dancers with ribbons on stages that encircled the periphery of the space. The fugue wasn't scheduled to be played until much later in the evening. For now, it was all about mingling.
"I don't see him," Celestia said after scanning the crowd.
"Nor do I," Gildimir whispered back. "Did you pass along the invite?"
"I did," Celestia answered.
"Should I go fetch him?" Gildimir asked, her tone uncertain.
"No," Celestia replied without hesitation. "He will come if he wants. No need to force this upon him so soon."
"I know, but I can't help but worry. I want him to be happy again."
Celestia sighed and leaned her head against Gildimir's shoulder. "Me too."
"I swear, if Durgan says one word about his absence, I will never come to one of these again."
Feeling the heat in Gildimir's warning, Celestia turned and attempted to offer her reassurance. "Don't worry. I don't think Durgan is that much of a...I should probably go talk with him first."
Starting the night with a vast array of delights, Durgan's party was a lavish affair. Gildimir remained near the entrance as Celestia went to mingle with others she knew and to offer her congratulations to Durgan. The lights. The festivities. The laughing and merriment. It sickened her. An hour after their arrival, Gildimir had lost all desire to remain.
Wrapping a veil around her head, she turned and began walking towards the exit when she stepped directly into the path of a machine she did not expect to see. He was clad in blue robes that hung loosely off his frame, alabaster skin and red hair standing in sharp contrast to his garments. His shoulders turned in and hands held to his chest, he seemed frail. Meek.
"Arkadon?" Gildimir eked out, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Hello Gildimir," he said with a smile. It was forced, but it was a smile all the same.
Thrusting her arms forward and grabbing either side of his face, tears of joy fell from her golden eyes. "Look at this smile," she said, squeezing his cheeks. "I have missed this smile so much."
Placing his hands atop hers, he lowered his head in embarrassment. She in turn lowered hers. There they stood, forehead to forehead, the two sharing a quiet moment together among the pomp and revelry.
"I am so happy you came," she said, still crying.
"Me too," he answered, lifting his head up. "It was time."
"Let's go find Celestia," Gildimir said, locking her right arm around his left.
Smiling at one another, they didn't take a single step before an excited scream from the other side of the room brought the party to a momentary halt. Celestia came barreling through the crowd with little regard for the conversations taking place. Arkadon was laughing as she arrived and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest plating. She said nothing, just held fast and cried into his chest until Gildimir finally managed to peel her away.
A chime from across the room signaled that the time for the fugue had arrived. With Gildimir on one arm and Celestia on the other, the three strode into the concert hall, feeling as close to renewed as was possible.
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