Sen'udoq

Sen'udoq

A soft chuckle drifted into the air, where it wavered in the breeze, before fading into silence. "...I suppose I have been foolish these past years; I refused to forgive myself, even after you had forgiven me long ago." Red-emerald eyes, dulled by years of struggle and hardship, held their stare on the small, stone form of Allathier, the dragon of water, while slender fingers rose to a silken-clad chest, touching to the crystalline ring thereupon.

"Like a child, I have treated your keepsake like my guilt, and hid it. For that I offer a thousand apologies; I had been hurting both of us this way." Eventually drawing away, those fingers sank, reaching out to brush against the length of a deep maroon petal that belonged to the Fenrae's tear flower. "I understand you have been waiting a long time. For this, too, I apologize. I cannot run any longer.

"You have been missed, dearest." That soft baritone paused, before a silver adorned head rose skyward, a long, quiet sigh slipping forth. "Ohh... how you have been missed... so very much. Painfully. I wish I could see you, hear your voice, and feel your touch once more, but that has been impossible for years.

"I still regret never taking the chance to say good-bye, even as you died in my arms. I have dwelled over it, and over you, which has bound you here to this very spot." Shortly following that utterance, the sound of metal sliding along metal rang out into the air, and soon the length of a finely crafted dagger rose, where it hovered millimeters from the side of a fair and pallid face.

"I understand that no one can ever replace you; I have learned this from you, and from the many friends I have lost. I can only assume that it will be years before my solitude is broken, but I have grown accustomed to it. In the meantime, I only hope that what strength I have lost will return.

"I still have a long way to go before the retribution I seek will be attained, but until then I shall continue to fight for those I love, and those I have lost." Again, that soft voice eventually faded into silence, and pale fingertips found the uplifted dagger%u2019s end, pressing its tip beneath the surface of a flawless cheek, where it then was dragged down towards a smooth jaw. It was drawn away as blood flowed freely from the cut, and the end of a thumb pressed into the wound, before lifting back and reaching down for the solitary form of a white flower among many maroon.

"Here," the owner began, tracing his fingers gingerly along each petal. "Sen'udoq, kir nephriel." Each petal had been painted with incomprehensible characters in blood, whose deep shades spread slowly outward into maroon, until the entire flower had been consumed by it, much like the others. "As the last to present my offering," he began again, looking among the gradually illuminating blossoms as he drew his hand away and sluggishly rose to his feet; "I dissolve the last of your binds. Your release, I finally grant, and I pray that Nishiku's judgement offers far better than we could ever give you."

In the time he spoke, a crimson glyph had drawn itself into the air just above the Fenrae's tears, where it hovered, and a pale mist began to formulate above it, slowly shaping and molding into a slender, humanoid form. At first featureless, the definite form of a young woman gradually became apparent, given a fair and delicate countenance, and thick, lustrous blue-green hair topped her skull, which hung restlessly to the small of her back.

Her face, serene, held a certain vibrance his own had long ago forgotten. That frail visage hid no pain, held no sorrow, and seemed devoid of all things that had deteriorated into him. She had a certain radiance he could no longer match, and the subtlest of smiles that put his entire being to shame. Endearing shades of metallic silver gazed tranquilly upon morose desolation, which stared almost timidly back in a dark layer of solemnity, before a soft, clear, and calm melody of a voice drifted into the air between them.

"So racked and eaten by decades of pain that a shell of what once was stands in this place..."

"Barren of peace and devoid of serenity, this shell has grown dark and bitter, riddled with anguish, sorrow, ire, contempt, and hate."

A flinch shuddered the fellow%u2019s form; those very words bit deep beneath the flesh, burning with a sharp and vindictive sting. Those weathered emerald eyes, tainted at their pupils in contrasting scarlet, widened in startlement, before their owner wheeled around on unsteady feet, soon meeting the incomprehensible stare of a massive, pure ivory dragon.

"After all this time, you've finally returned, Iaeruki," the ethereal form behind him began, holding her calm and gentle demeanor as he turned back around; "despite the turmoil and dissonance that's rotted you away on the inside." Slowly reaching forth, a pallid hand curled slender fingers along the side of the young prince's face, pressing gently to the fresh wound therein. Though lacking in solidity, and in life, the very touch offered a hint of warmth, and sent a slight tingle along his lacerated cheek.

"You've travelled a long road, riddled with tribulation and suffering, alone, and still have so much further to go." She paused, her fair face contorting in the faintest touch of worriment. "You have aged beyond your years in worse ways than I would have thought; for all you've given, you have gained nothing in return."

Her stare was met with a steady cringe, and painfully burning, clouded eyes. He had changed a lot since last they met, and it was for the worse; he was a wreck, even in her hands, and the truth jabbed sharply beneath his chest. "A-Aikiura, I..." he stammered, trembling, "I am s-so, so very sorry... I have undone what you had worked so hard to accomplish."

"Not entirely." Aikiura's spirit smiled meekly, running an ethereal hand along Iaeruki's temple, where its heel planted, and her fingers sifted among his hair, just above his ear. "You've only changed. You've taken the first step, and now you need to do as I know others have told you, and stop waiting for a hand that will never reach you."

A slow nod passed through her hands, before she continued. "I will never be able to return to your side, Iaeruki, but that shouldn't keep others from finding your side after me." Her face softened tenderly. "Stay strong and steady on the path you believe is right, and keep your friends close. Mend what has been broken; things can only get better from here." Pausing once more, she leaned forward, pressing her lip gently to the prince%u2019s forehead, before drawing away, withdrawing her arms, drifting to the side, and then stepping silently to the ivory dragon's side.

"...And thank you, for finally letting me become a memory."

"You would be wise to heed her words, dear child." The dragon held its stare on him a moment as the low growl that served as its voice faded into silence, before turning its head and leaning down, nudging its muzzle lightly against Aikiura's cheek. "Are you ready, now?"

Nodding, the astral water dragon turned back to her betrothed, raising a slender hand, and offering a sad smile. "Sen'udoq, kir nephriel. I won't be here, but I'll still be able to watch over you from the other side."