Departure.

[Knox 1029]

All of my training has led to this point. Kaelan sat by the fire, neatly writing a letter. The blazing of the flames did warm him, even on a night as icy as this. Was there a greater comfort in the world than the heat of one’s own hearth protecting them from the elements? If there was, Kaelan did not know it. After a few more minutes of peaceful writing, the serenity and silence only interrupted by the scratching of his pen and the crackle of the fire, the mali’ had concluded his final letter.

 

 “Elarie, come here my dear, I have a task for you.” he called, his voice uncharacteristically soft. Moments later his young niece bounded into the room, her curious eyes looking up to Kaelan. He handed her a bundle of notes, the letters he had completed, and patted her on the head. “If you wouldn’t mind, could you deliver these to the people I’ve addressed them to? Tell them it’s from Kaelan, Kaelan Aldin,” he asked of her. With a quick, determined nod, the young child had darted out the door, notes in hand.

 

‘Goan Aldin’ 

“For thirty years you’ve made my life an absolute living hell, whether it be through the information you carried or through the stupid pranks you had pulled. You always carried out stupid acts, which made me wonder whether or not it was because you knew I’d protect you. It matters not, however, for I’m no longer here to protect you. Do right by Uppori, yes? And don’t vex anybody again, it makes the Aldins all look stupid.” 

 

‘Thoras Elyrion’ 

“We’re dagre'sae-mal’onn, rather, were dagre'sae-mal’onns. I apologise for betraying your trust- I am responsible for the scars and wounds you now carry. I didn’t particularly like the idea of that happening again. We’re not mindless constructs, we’re entitled to an opinion, a thought and a dream. We were taught to live and die by the blade, but did you ever think about what occurs if you do not die by the blade? It’s been less than a mali week and despite no longer wearing the armour, I feel heavier.  Control your anger and take in the important moments once in a while, for in this line of work those moments are few and fleeting.”

 

‘Dele Seregon’ 

“Admittedly, we never quite saw eye to eye, to begin with. I’m glad that we became friends, you may have given some of my comrades a rough time but it's water under the bridge. The work that you do for Laureh’thilln is great. Sleep more, try to relax, and try not to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. Be patient with people, hold your head high, and look after that plebeian Nehtamo, he’ll need you more than ever now.”

 

‘Ivoriel Elibar’acal’

“I’ve more or less already said everything I need to; however, I thought I’d leave you a physical note to remember me from. I’m so sorry I let you get lost in those woods that one time, I thought that by being sixty-six I could make amends for that. Little did I know I’d eventually think of you as my malii’lari. I love you oem’ii, you’re my living legacy after all. Perhaps our paths will cross one day, who knows? Take care.”

 

‘Alluin Miravaris-Seregon’

“You are a shining example of what every man should strive to be, I was thrown back by your work in our classroom. You always thought that I was the one teaching you, but in truth the roles were reversed. You taught me how to treat people, you taught me that rather than going by the exact protocol, to incorporate additional parts to it, I owe you for that. Search me out one of the days, we’ll sit back and reminisce about old times.” 

 

‘Storm Elibar’acal’ 

“I apologise wholeheartedly for not attending your wedding. Truth be told I had totally forgotten about the ordeal- a lack of routine recently has made things somewhat complicated. No wonders can truly resolve the slight, and I know I would not forgive such an action. I just hope that Atarah makes you happy for all time. The time you server within the Sillumir will never compare to the time you spend with her. Remember your duties as a husband.”

 

‘Rinaedith Seregon’

“Bet you never thought in a million years you’d receive a note from me, would you? Surprise surprise, here they are, the words on paper.

You’ve been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember, but I’ll admit that I never quite made life easy for you . You are extremely knowledgeable for your age yet you’re naive. Take a moment at times to step back and breathe. Think about your next move, don’t make rash decisions which could result in your harm or demise. One last piece of advice for you: do not be afraid to confront people on their actions, just march straight up to them, stand upright and speak clearly - don’t choke on your words.”

 

Kaelan then rose to his feet, walking over to the door to pick up his broadsword, strapping it to his belt before leaving the Aldin estate, tying a note to a bird, sending it off to the sky.

 

Amis Aldin

“Amis, it's me, Kaelan. It's been, what, eighty-ninety years since we last spoke? I’m sorry I left home the way I did. Amongst all that had been going on, I just couldn’t picture myself staying home anymore. I wanted, no, needed to get away. I tarnished something wonderful because of it. Siblings need one another, but you’re gone now. You’ll never see the man I have grown to become. Take care on your ventures to lands distant and unknown. I’ll remember you, always.”

 

Kaelan had turned to the nearest window, adjusting his blazer and shirt before giving a final glance to the estate he had once called home. About-facing away from the estate, much as a soldier would, the aged man walked through the northern expansion gate, running his hand across the wheat fields as he crossed to another large house. He gave the door a few knocks and awaited a response, but he was met with naught but silence. He craned his head to see the windows, hoping to see a certain face inside. They were empty, dark, cold, all suggesting that the house, much like the rest of the city that night, lay empty. With a sigh of remorse, Kaelan procured a final letter from his pockets and took a few moments to look over it, almost hesitant to part from it. After a moment, however, he slid the note under the door.

 

Ciwen

“Ciwen,

 

A decade later and it seems like just yesterday we met. I’m departing Lareh’thilln, I do not expect you to leave with me. Lareh’thilln is your home after all, though I do want to thank you. You were the only individual to treat me like a being, like the man I was and still am. You were the first person to accept the face behind the mask rather than instantly judge it. You showed me that there is more to life than four walls and taught me that I’m more than just a tin-man. You taught me what it is like to be Kaelan again and not sixty-six. For that you will have my love, always. 

 

Take care,

Kaelan.”

 

He then departed through the final gate, heading into the deep fog beyond.

 

 

((Taking a long-overdue break. May be back every now and again, depends on the situation. P E A C E ))

 

[Demented_Delila 1248]

      Dele receives her letter in the clinic, midnight oil burning more so now as she drafts and tries to understand things beyond her. She pauses, reading the letter quietly. A sense of fear swells in her heart and the beat of it thrums in her ears. When Elarie departs, She begins to cry, not quite sure why it is that she cries. 

   Perhaps, she thinks, it is the memories that she had lived through with him. With Kaelan and with #066. She trembles as she moved to sit on the cot in her office, reading it and rereading it again and again. It does nothing to stop her trickle of tears from becoming a flood, pouring down her face. Memories would not be forsaken nor forgotten, despite not all of them being delightful and pleasant.

 

”I promise to look after him, Kaelan... I just wish you’d opened up to me more, you big dumbie...”

 

   Memories of the first time she took to the tavern floor with her violin bounce in her head first, with Kaelan’s applause the only thing she hears. Next, the memories of taking Elarie trick or treating during Knoxoween do slightly staunch the flood, but not by much. She recalls his delight in #138, in being his father figure... her heart threatens to stop for a moment at the thought of #138 without #066, without Kaelan. There was a certain grief that cannot be spoken with his leaving, and a pain that went on and on. He wasn’t dead, she tells herself, but in a way he was. He left for somewhere else and she sure as hell hopes he writes.

 

”I’ll see you ‘round, you fool... You better stay safe.” 

 

She’d whisper to an empty office, recalling in brief the questions she’d anwsered here to him. Through tears she cracks a smile and stares out into the quiet city below her tower. To think he cared enough to bade her to take care of herself was kind, but to see him go would leave a Kaelan Aldin shaped hole in their lives. She hopes to see him when he comes back to them in time and to hear the stories of what the old soldier had done with his years that had gone by. 

 

 

 

[ShadyMixtape 31]

Ivoriel would initially be apprehensive of the letter, shaking as she sat in front of the fireplace of the paladin base, the warmth ever so slightly helping her mood. A small pack of ice borrowed from the tavern sat on her wrapped knee, which had been sprained from some exercising mishap. A small bout of fear covered her as she scanned the seal, delicately running a nail under the flap. With one last gasp she pries it open and takes the missive from within. While she hadn’t known Kaelan outside of one faithful trip to Brandybrook, she had been cared for by #66 for a while now, ever since her talonnii fell apart - he had been there for her. She reads the letter, over and over before clutching it to her chest, letting out a painful cry.
#66 was much like a father to Ivoriel, something she didn’t have for most her life, and now that he was gone, she felt alone once again. Howver she takes a glance around the room, settling on a chestplate that laid in the corner, the number #88 proudly displayed on it. Ivoriel’s frown slowly curves up as she thinks of Storm and the rest of the Sillumiran, who were much like a family to Ivoriel, even literally in Storm’s case. Her eyes shift back to the letter, nodding knowingly with a faint smile.

“I’m your living legacy sir.”

She says quietly while dabbing away a few tear stains that had dripped down her cheeks and onto her lap. With a flourish of motion she seals the letter again, tucking it ever so delicately into her satchel, where it would remain forever, a constant reminder to Ivoriel.

“Thank you... for everything.”