"Rise, son of Cerufen." -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=- The mali'aheral woke up on top of his steed, his wounds were healed and even his left eye was back to normal, his scars were nowhere to be seen. The armor clad looked around, better than he ever has in years, he seemed to be in some kind of forest, an oddly familiar one at that. The horse he rode seemed to know exactly where it was going, following a road. It didn't take long before they found themselves in a grassland. A large ruined cathedral-like building stood at the end of it. . . he noticed the sky started to turn dark as the sun began to set down. Castamir rode towards the ruins, finding a spot to set up a camp, before then racking up his mount nearby. The mali sat by a campfire now, a moment of peace for the veteran. . . -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=- The sound of a branch breaking was heard, not too far from Castamir, his gaze snapping to it before he picked his sword up, ready for a fight. . . silence, and then: "At ease son."
The stranger spoke with a stoic and calm voice, power eminated from it, almost as if commanding him. "And who may you be. . . ?" Inquired Castamir, lofting an eyebrow, the man did seem familiar. "You do not recognize your own ancestor. . . ?" he raised an eyebrow in return. "Evarir Cerufen. . . ?" "Ti, since when were my children reduced to mere vagabonds?" a huff left the old mali. "They were not my lord, I woke up here, I do not exactly know what's happening either. . ." "Hmm, you've lost your fire, and now. . . your sight." "I am afraid I do not understand. . ." Confusion washed over his face. The founder produced a hand mirror then raised it. Castamir would glance to his reflection, his stomach sank, his right eye was completely devoid of any color whilst the other one was still burnt with malflame. "Is this how you expect to fulfill your duty son?" "No but, how else can I m'lord. . . I lost my sight. . ." "But not your vision." "What does that even mean?" "You have a goal don't you, an ambition. It does not die with your sight, or with the loss of your blessing. This is a test, you lost the tools with which you sharpened your first blade, so what will you do now?" "Make new ones. . . but how?" The Evarir summoned what looked like a mask, the death mask of a weeping woman, one he knew all too well. The two Cerusils exchanged glances, understanding coursing through Castamir's mind. "Don't be harsh on yourself, you're only mortal." He placed a hand on the mali's shoulder, the other placing the mask on Castamir's hand. "You know what to do, continue the noble work you've shed so many tears for." The veteran nodded, he glanced at the campfire, it's flames turned white, a sign of hope perhaps? As he raised the mask to his face, darkness engulfed his sight as everything disappeared. . .