Read Forever, After... :: FA - Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - ' Learnt Lessons '

I have to...

Qylian knocked on the door before entering. Besides the furniture, the room was bare. He dashed inside. The one he was sent to collect was ... missing! He could feel the pull of their link, yet Raith was nowhere to be seen. The door slammed behind Qylian.

No!

With God speed he flew out the room. The corridor, though visibly empty, held the faint tappings of light footsteps running off to the right. Being fooled once was enough for Qylian, a deep growl left his throat. His skin hardened and a single horn, silver in colour extended from the crown of his head. A step forward took him where he wanted to be.

Amethyst eyes opened to the third plane of existence known as the inbetween. A spiritual space which connected the living and dead. Most creatures needed assistance to see within the darkness, but the Qilin were one of the few that didn't.

The flutter that broke the corner to his left gained his attention in the dark space. He chased after the piece of cloth. Each stride of his hooves brought him closer to his goal. Wings at full span he arrived at the fleeing body in seconds. In his haste he stumbled leading to an ungraceful landing. Raith looked at him accusingly.

"Get off me!" Raith's demanding tone echoed in the darkness.

Qylian couldn't help but notice the deep bass of his flower's voice when angry.

Goddess that's hot!

Qylian lifted his Qilin, giving the haala beneath him the space to move. However had he had his way, Raith would have stayed under him even if it was for a short while longer. His heart leaped to many heights at the thought of covering his flower in his scent, but it was not to be. Shifting to a more recognizable form the haala approached Raith.

Raith staggered to his feet, his wings acting more like dead weights than aids to stabilize him. Qylian smirked, ready to cause trouble.

Reaching out he stroked the soft feathers saying, "Wouldn't it be easier to escape without these holding you back?"

Raith's eyes widened at Qylian's mocking statement. He pulled away from the haala's touch.

"Come on, let me relieve you of them. It's going to happen sooner or later," said Qylian.

His eyes following every action of the man before him. Quick on his toes, he nabbed Raith's retreating figure by the waist. They both knew no one else could remove his burden.

"You don't need them anymore. Please? I promise to be gentle," Qylian cajoled, but Raith wasn't having it. In one last attempt coax his flower bud, he said, "Let me have them. You can already conjure small floaters! Look!"

At Qylian's revelation Raith looked down, shock plastered to his face. Seeing nothing beneath his feet, the anger felt in that moment was soon taken over by relief. Floaters would mean his wings were completely useless. The mature form of the Qilin lacked this feature, as the body would have amassed enough energy through pairing, to sustain the formation and usage of floaters.

Qylian desperately tried to choke back his laughter to no avail. His eyes were nothing more than moon crescents, and his cheeks flushed pink. Although he chose Raith to be paired with, Raith had not chosen him. This meant the link between them was a one way channel with an imbalance in the follow of energy. If anything, he should be the one able to create floaters!

"Do not worry! The day you float with clouds beneath your feet, is the day I get you to mark me!" said Qylian.

Tears streamed out the corners of his eyes. He clasped Raith's hands between his. The laughter that wanted to be freed, made his lips tremble.

"Floaters aside, come back with me." An exit tunnel was opened near them. Qylian tugged on the hands in his.

"I can't. I have to leave Qylian. The Order, they are not good people! I don't know how you can even work for them. Have you not the same amethyst eyes as me? None of the people that reside here are good in nature!" Raith's deep voice held an edge to it that Qylian did not appreciate.

"I work for the leader. He, he, ah Goddess! He may do things that ... appear as evil, but," Qylian turned Raith to face him, as he tried to walk off. Exhaling heavily, he continued, "Aren't the most atrocious acts done with the best intentions? Rox is not an evil man! He is anything but! Maybe a bit misguided, maybe even a bit eccentric, but not evil! He is ... a good person."

"There is no such thing as a good murderer!" Raith's anger was projected in his voice. The scowl on Qylian's face was nasty.

You're so unreasonable!

A scuffle ensued, as Raith tried to escape. The victor could be determined without much guessing. The eyes of the one who lost watered. His hands shot up clutching the fingers that grabbed him. Not willing to show an ounce of weakness, he choked back the tears that stabbed behind his eyelids.

The scene being played out would have worried anyone who saw. Qylian removed his hands from around the shaking man's neck. His words barely made it past his lips. His head shook from left to right in disbelief.

I didn't mean to. Raith...

"I'm ... sorry," said Qylian.

"Good bye!" Raith slinked away.

Holding Raith's arm in desperation, Qylian said, "Wait!"

"For what? You to bed me, or worse yet, beat me!"

A second was all Raith needed to break free. He'd be crazy to stay with Qylian after that near death experience.

Beams of sunlight prickled the skin of the one that flew among the clouds. Beating his wings as hard as he could, he raced away from the Dome. Not sparing a glance behind, he flew home as though his life depended on it. In this case, it did.

The landing in his weakened state was sloppy, but he didn't care. He was home. Crawling along the scorching landing pad he reached the door.

Using the last of his energy, he pounded on the door. Back against the wall, he continued slamming his arm on the door in hopes of someone hearing. Footsteps slipped under the door, but they didn't seem to reach fast enough. Physically and emotionally drained, the dam he tried to hold back overflowed.

"Open up!" said Raith. The pain in his head, but mostly his heart, consumed him. "Someone! Open, Up!" He cried out to whomever approached the door.

He could not stop the sobs that left his throat. His head throbbed and the glare of the sun was becoming overbearing.

Why won't someone open the door?

Qylian watched his mission fly away like a dark raven out of the underworld. It was his job as a member of The Order to stop and retrieve any runaways, but his legs refused to work. Stepping out of the in between he closed the space.

Rox would have his head if he knew of what transpired. Thank the Goddess he was given one week to give results. Pale eyelids covered amethyst eyes, squeezing them tightly he stilled his mind. Happy with the result he opened them once more.

Raith was just one portion of the plan, he could do the rest then find his flower bud. It was not as though Raith could hide forever. The link, though faint was there, he would use that to retrieve what was his. Extending his wings he took off to the sky.

On the second day of his journey, Qylian arrived in Reisvor. The capital city reminded him of all the reasons he hated the current monarch. Most creatures saw the tall buildings and bright stalls that occupied close to two hundred unit phen of the city. They focused on the flashy appearance of the city and overlooked the dubious actions of their benevolent King.

If any creature who used the intelligence granted to them by the Gods and Goddesses, they would realize the madness around them. The King did as he pleased and threw it right into their faces.

Qylian made his way to the quieter residential area at the edge of the massive city, called Jahcath. Jahcath sprawled ninety-three unit wens though it fell short of one unit phen. Holding his head high he walked through the crowd.

The neighbourhood consisted of mostly of the master's of death and the master's of rebirth. Qylian's heart bled at the sight of how many of the creatures were robbed of their heritage, their birthright. To make matters worse they moved around in subservience and without complaint.

Zyra's most powerful creatures once lived among the heavens and within the earth. The duality of the dragons and the undead paved the way for a prosperous era in Xyra's rich history.

This was until the Nymph gained a higher awareness. Where they attained the energy to enlighten themselves no one knew. However the story of the first nymph King flooded Qylian's memory.

Rising from the sea almost one hundred years prior. The nymph came to the shores of Reisvor seeking trade with the ones that dwelled on the land. They were welcomed with open arms. It was not known at the time of the nymph deceptive ways.

They easily blinded the eyes of the ones that were hospitable with new methods of magic and interesting new ways to build what was already established.

A nymph was said to challenge the ones that ruled the land with the aid of their God, Isomorphe. Unpreparedness was ultimately the downfall of the skeletal practitioners that day.

The location where the battle occured still remained littered with broken bones and crushed pearls. An ugly scar they tried to cover but couldn't. The untamed energy that radiated from the creatures that once lived was great, leaving the area uninhabitable to the present day.

The dragons, being witness to the downfall of the skeletal practitioners came down to their defense and protected the survivors. Many creatures looked up to them as the saviours of the city. Or they did until the moment the greatest warrior of the storm dragons openly pledged his allegiance to the Nymph King through offering his birthstone.

Symbolic in nature, the gift was equated to everything his energy consisted of. The most meaningful gift to be given in nymph culture was one's life energy, the soul. The exchange was not taken lightly, and was seen as sacred. You only had one soul. To give it away meant you wanted that person to have all of you.

His actions left both kingdoms in an uproar. The King chose to ignore the masses giving favour to the dragon. Through this position, the dragon was able to ensure a future for his people, even though it was only a select few. They earned the title of the King's soldiers and served the monarch.

There were many speculations as to why the nymph King allowed the dragons and practitioners to serve him, but they were all far from the bitter truth. Lust, the driving force behind his actions was the reason.

Unable to see past the dragon's beauty, he listened blindly to his words. The dragon took full advantage of this and used his position to bring things to their current state. The depressing thoughts that circled his mind, left him queasy. Shaking it off Qylian knew one day the nymph would fall and he hoped to be one of the people that made it happen.

Qylian stopped at his destination. A guesthouse whose sign read, 'the Dainty Parsnip'. Vyllot's request for him to return to his duties had been a bit unpresidented, but he accepted the palm branch nonetheless.

He may not have liked the head supervisor of the messengers division, but the man truly had perfect timing. He just so happened to need an avenue into the castle and this was his opportunity.

Qylian entered the establishment avoiding the stares of the pubs patrons. One look at his uniform and the bartender slid a key across the wooden counter. Qylian went upstairs to his designated room. Although it was small in size, it catered to his needs with the private bath attached.

Clean and lying comfortably in the bed. It was time for him to rest in preparation for tomorrow. One last person however, occupied his thoughts and he couldn't wait to see them again. A hint of a smile could be seen on his face, as he drifted off to sleep.

My flower bud, please wait on me.