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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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Where ever they ended up for Winter's Veil, a thin, wrapped parcel showed up in Madivh's bag. The wrapping was plain, a solid cheery red color, and had a small note attached: I thought I wouldn't know how to use the instrument still, but it came back easily. Hopefully, it is the same for you.

Inside the wrapping paper was a sketch book. Though it didn't have many pages, the ones it did have were high quality material. It was also completely bound on all sides to protect it better from say, falling into a river and getting ruined.

As was usual for his routine in the morning, Madivh picked up his bag in his grogginess. The weight of the bag seemed heavier, but he dismissed it for just not sleeping well that night. So when he reached in to pull the first thing he could touch he froze when his knuckles brushed up paper in form of a box.

Eyes narrowed lightly, as he retreated his hand and opened the bag wide to see wrapping paper. A present. Madivh stared in disbelief for a moment, unable to believe that what he saw was of good intentions. His eyes moved over to Mey's sleeping form, wondered briefly if this was something kind of planted bomb, and then stood up, bag finding its way on his shoulder and left the room.

He headed downstairs, silent as he stepped off to the left of the stairways where he knew the boards creaked in the middle, stepped to the right on the last step where they were loose on the left edges, skipped the first step on the base floor where it was loose entirely and then rounded his way into the living room, kitchen, and out to the garden.

The cool early dawn breeze shivered him awake a little more. The thought of the present being a bomb eased into a more rational curiosity. Perhaps this was a present. Perhaps this was a present from their son in form of a crude joke.

He frowned at the image of an old engineering friend who use to pull pranks like that and then grinned as amusement filled his heart.

Madivh settled down on the brick planter that housed what looked to be long bush like plants with frills that were wilted and grey surrounding a large and old tree. He set his bag down, withdrew the present, and saw the note.

An easy breath released the tension in his body and a smile grew wide. He recongized the handwriting and all pretense of the present being dangerous was ripped away like the wrapping paper to uncover the sketch book.

For awhile, Madivh stared at the cover, his finger tracing the outer edges of the cover. The sun was faintly peeking over the edge of the mountain edges, the soft sunlight flickering into the leaves and speckling the ground. His smile never faded, not even when he opened the sketchbook, saw the empty pages, and knew exactly what he was going to fill those pages with.

His heart filled with excitement, Madivh reached into his bag to grab the one pencil he had, moved to sit at the edge of the patio by the gardens back door, and began the smooth, short lines of an outline of the rising sun, mountain peaks, and the trees and wilted plants.

@divergent-lines

#presents #madivh

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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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saying “hm. must be the curse” every time something bad happens and refusing to elaborate is my new hobby

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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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Tavern Conversation (4/4)

Part 1 Family Reunion

Part 2 Truths Within

Part 3 Refugee Meetings

Part 4 Doctor’s Memories

They didn’t go far. Madivh lead the way into the city, and upon arriving at the destination, he informed the waitress it was only the two of them, and then they were lead to their seats on the balcony above; it was a dwarven tavern with dwarven food.

Nairus kept his frown the entire way, not seeming to be able to relax. He wasn’t sure why, but he accepted it for now as a thing he could not fix at the moment.

Upon taking their seats, Madivh took off his hat and set it on the chair beside him, giving Nairus a wide smile and giving him a chance to get a good look at Madivh’s face. There was something off about him; it wasn’t matching the face that Nairus mind had crafted. Had it been so long since he had last seen the man?

It must be.

“You still refuse to drink?” Madivh said as the woman left with his order.

Nairus stiffened then reminded himself this man did in fact know him. “Yes. Perhaps–”

Madivh continued, “Do you remember why?”

Nairus blinked as he tipped his head oddly in his confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Trying to gauge how much you’ve forgotten. So, do you remember why you don’t drink?”

Nairus shook his head. “Just something I’ve never enjoyed.”

“Or being around drunk people?”

Irritation gritted at Nairu’s throat as he said, “How long have we known each other?”

Madivh quirked a grin. “Well enough, it's been a while. I’m actually glad to see you in better spirits.”

Naiurs stared thoughtfully. The warmth in the man’s voice was perhaps the most genuine emotion he had seen thus far. After a moment more, Nairus leaned back into his chair and took a deep breath. But he couldn’t find any words to say, and so he sat there, letting his eyes drift and his mind wander. Wonder if this really was a good idea or not.

Madivh said nothing in that silence, and so they seemed to be at ease with each other's presence until the waitress came back with Madivh’s glass of water and a meaty sandwich. The man’s smile was wide and his eyes glowed hungrily even as he thanked the woman.

Nairus had ordered nothing and was content in that. Still, the way Madivh acted as he looked over his sandwich, Nairus gave pause in the behavior before letting his gaze take in a more calculated look.

His body was thin, muscles easy to see, and for his height and the way his clothes fit they seemed strangely looser than they should be in comparison to shoulder width and waist.

Starvation? No. His eyes trailed to the hidden hat. Living on what is necessary. Not a lot of money. Not eating a proper diet.

Nairus sighed. “If you want to order food to go, I can pay for it as well.”

Madivh looked up from his sandwich that he was three bites in. Nairus could see the consideration being weighed heavily towards the acceptance of the offer.

Madivh smiled, laughed lightly, and said, “Military pay isn’t that great.” He took another bite, ate it, and added. “Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of talks I’m sure. So,” he took a drink. “What bothers you most that you felt compelled to approach me?”

Nairus eyes drifted, then rose once more. “Savian and Neia.”

His companion's eyes narrowed slightly. “Of course,” he chuckled. “A couple of young adults,” he phrased lightly. “I don’t know much of your history after the last time I saw you, but you were watching over them.”

Madivh took a bite of his sandwich, and, when he didn’t continue, Nairus asked. “What do you mean watching?”

Madivh shrugged. “In the realm of too much too quickly I say.” He sighed. “But what I’m really curious about is, why do you remember me, but not them?”

Nairus blinked, then scowled. “That’s why we are talking.”

Taken aback, Madivh’s lips quirked just the lightest with an amused grin that he was keeping well in check. He raised his hands. “Easy, easy.” Madivh smiled now. “I’m actually being sincere. You should have a better connection to the twi-two than to me. And honestly, we haven’t seen each other in well over a decade.” Nairus stared at him when it was clear Madivh wanted him to speak. He refused, and for that, his companion frowned and continued. “Which is a long time for us mere humans. So, you can see why I’m curious why you remember me well enough to call forth a few things, but with Neia and Savian, you can’t even picture a face.”

“How would you know that?”

“Because you wouldn’t be getting mad at me if you could.” He sighed resting his hand on his cheek. “Am I right?”

Nairus felt a terrible pull to not answer him. “Yes.”

A silence crept between them, hardly an easy one, but his companion seemed to not care or notice. He stared, waiting, in a patient way that was familiar and yet, it seemed odd coming from him. He’s calm. Shouldn’t he be more..

Images flickered in his mind, quick but clear. Images of the man, but with less freckles and a sturdier form; it was the same backdrop of wooden walls, incense filled candles and lighting, beer and food around with chatter about.

Nairus looked away, closing his eyes at the memories, and realizing only then he had leaned forward. Nairus relaxed back into the chair. “So you aren’t going to tell me anymore about these two?”

“At the moment?” He paused, clearly for dramatic effect. “No.”

Nairus began standing up, and as he did, pulled out coins from his purse.

Madivh scoffed. “Seriously, that’s all you wanted to know about was them two?” Nairus set the coins down on the table and took a step away. “Clearly they matter to you,” Madivh continued, stressing the words sharply, “I think there is another reason why you aren’t remembering, so If you want my answers I’d like to know better what happened to you.” Nairus froze, his eyes drifting to Madivh.

The man motioned back to the seat. “Sit”

Nairus did not take a seat. “Knowing about me has nothing to do with what I want to know.”

“You're stubborn and like to push yourself to the edge and take dangerous risks if you believe it will help the cause you're gaining for. Trust me, will you. You said that much before. Perhaps there’s a reason you don’t want to remember, and if I can figure that out, I can tell you that not knowing them will be better for you.”

“I doubt that.”

Madivh smiled. “I’m sort of glad to hear you say that honestly, but,” his smile faded. “If I am somewhat right, why would you not want to remember something that you deem so important now? Isn’t that curious.”

Nairus looked away, finding the walls and the floor and the lack of decorations on both ends to be more interesting. This was a waste of time, but where else did he have to look? He could ask his sister, the thought occurred to him more than once in the last few days but there was a hurt at the memories of knowing his family had been lying to him. If they were so important, as the man had stated, why would he want to forget them? Was there something else he was missing? Would it be better to forget about them and move on? Maybe his sister didn’t have the full story, and his father did.

Nairus took his seat, eyes closed in frustration. “To summarize our new conversation, assuming on what I tell you, you’ll decide if you should tell me what I want to know or not?”

“About those two, yes. About other things, we can explore that avenue, such as, why do you find me so irritating despite you having little to no memories of any prior interaction with me?”

Nairus scowled. “I’m assuming because of your pompous nature.”

Madivh’s eyes were bright with laughter. “Honestly, I’m trying to be civil. Really. I just do things differently compared to your straight and bluntness.” He smiled. “So, tell me what happened?” He asked more softly.

Nairus shook his head, but eventually, he took a deep sigh. “I suppose we start where I last remember. I partook in a ritual…”

Madivh listened intently as Nairus went over his time with his family and how they began changing bits and pieces of his history now knowing that most of it was false. Nairus could remember that before the ritual he had not been living with his family or working with the druids, he had been doing something else, but could not remember what.

“And before that?”

He knew he had been working with a group in stormwind.

“And before that?”

There was a long pause, having not gone back so far in his memories before, but they strangely came back easily and smoothly and he remembered more than he cared for and all had been in the time frame with Madivh in Northrend.

He remembered why he didn’t like drinking or like to be around drunks. Madivh apologized profusely, and seemed honestly relieved he could remember certain parts, but when asked to go back forward, the memories began to grow fuzzy, however details began to connect. He could remember more of Mey and more of his own emotions and how they had worked together, how he had grown distant from them both, and decided to figure out his own path after a violent falling out.

“You don’t remember anything after that though?” Madivh had cleaned his plate and had finished off his drink.

Nairus nodded. “I suppose this has been helpful. Are you sure you weren’t a doctor beforehand?” A small smile brushed at Nairus lips that grew even more amused as Madivh processed the fact he had just teased him.

Eventually Madivh snorted and laughed. “None of this bothers you now though?”

Nairus gave a shrug. “I remember, yes, but, they feel like a different time. If that makes any sense.”

Madivh nodded. “Yeah, it does.” He said, interweaving his fingers together. “So despite this ritual and your family weaving a story to keep you from goi…going back to where they found you, how did you end up figuring something was wrong?”

Nairus eyes narrowed lightly. “What do you mean?”

Madivh grinned slightly in return. “I mean if Mey showed up your family would not have been happy to see her.” Nairus question of why crossed his lips but Madivh shook his head. “Can’t tell you why. Just take it as fact for now. So when did you start figuring it out?”

“Is it relevant?”

“Might be.”

They sat staring at each other in silence for a moment. The roar of the taverns was beginning to die down. The heaviness of bodies disappearing, switching to a lighter, foreboding feeling in the air.

Nairus sighed. “During the wars in Kul’tiras. I was sent out there, and….I’m not sure what sparked it, but the feeling of something was wrong had been growing for some time and now that the people watching me were more concerned about the war, I realized how little freedom I was actually getting.” He said as memories came back. Still the feelings ravaged him. Something forgotten. Something Important. That had been the only focus in those days. He needed to return. “So I used the cover of an ambush attack and ran off, it took some time until they realized I hadn’t died, and it gave me plenty of room to hide my tracks. From that point, it was the start of exploring my thoughts and feelings, which lead me to Stormwind. Eventually Mey and I met up again and then she brought Synric and then…”

The memories of the night came fluttering back in tense waves that made his heart race, his mind ceased despite the little nudge that he knew not to dwell, telling him to move forward to not relive the memory to be detached…

But he could see the man and the sword and feel…

“Then you were attacked, what happened after that.” Madivh’s easy voice drew him back and for a long moment Nairus only focused on the man’s face and the understanding expression. Patience.

Nairus nodded slowly. “...Once I awoke, memories began coming in about Mey and how I had hurt her in some way, and what she spoke was the truth in more matters than I could understand at the time. I remembered the ritual and the magic, the corruption, and...” He motioned towards Madivh with a twirl of his hands. “So what's your conclusion?”

Madivh hummed thoughtfully at the question. “Just one question,” he said. “I know the memory is painful but, do you not remember who attacked you?”

Nairus' eyes narrowed. Of course he did, he remembered the name that popped into his head at the time. He remembered the words the man had said to him in that familiarity that he knew Nairus. They had known each other. Yet, the memories surrounding that memory. “What relation does that have to do to bringing up memories like that?”

Madivh’s smile tipped cautiously. “Because, if you were stabbed by the man I’m assuming you were, it would make sense why you are suddenly remembering things and your corruption gone.”

Nairus huffed. “A magic expert now?”

“Just a bit of trial and error.” He grinned.

Nairus sighed. “You think that me nearly dying had something to do to affect the corruption?”

“More like the sword that was stabbed into your gut was more enchanted than you think.”

Nairus paused on that and then looked away; the tavern had grown eerily quiet and the only sounds of voices had been their own for sometime.

Madivh stretched and took a deep breath. “I should probably head out,” he said. Nairus gave him a sharp look and opened his mouth to speak when Madivh shook his head. “Listen, I got the information I need. Let me process it, and we can meet up, lets say, tomorrow night?”

Nairus sighed. “Here, again?”

Madivh nodded, grinning madly. “I appreciate it. See you then.” he said, grabbing his hat, setting it on his head, and with a short wave began to make his way down the stairs and was quick to be out the door.

Nairus watched and shook his head, letting his fingers rub at his eyes as he let his neck fall against the chair.

This was a bad idea, but it was his only idea, and…

Nairus opened his eyes, taking in the ceiling above.

And it felt good to tell someone everything.

#nairus #madivh #writing

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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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Refugee Meetings (3/4)

Part 1 Family Reunion

Part 2 Truths Within

Part 3 Refugee Meetings

Part 4 Doctor’s Memories

Mentions: @savianblackwood

The busy street of the city moved around Nairus like a flowing river around a boulder, and like that boulder, Nairus didn’t seem to notice. His attention was on a flier stuck to the wall. An event was taking place today detailing a donation event for the refugee’s of Darnassus. The topic, plants and herbal remedies. Vendors would be sporting new and different plants as well as some familiar ones. Workshops and lectures would be ranging from learning about potions to starting and taking care of your own garden.

Nairus was intrigued; it was being held by his own kind, which meant there could be something new he could possibly learn.

A few small taps of his finger against his chin gave way to his decision.

Nairus turned and joined the flow of the city, easily becoming one with it. He eased around the many twists and turns of the capital, smoothly spending only a few minutes in each district until at least he separated from the main streets and turned towards the back fields. The merry chatting of people bubbled all around him.

Nairus stepped away from the dirt path, letting the druid magic of his warp his form, and he was in the air, wrapping talons along the thick branch of a nearby tree. The majority of groups made their way towards the vendors, while only a small section of the road was for those leaving with plants and bags in hand. By the entrance, a woman was handing out pamphlets and a box with the word donation for those attending but didn’t necessarily find something to buy.

A majority of the people were elves. He smiled at the scene. Refugees mostly, he could tell by the way they dressed and the more sun kissed skin of living outdoors instead of the cozy huts and shadows of what Darnassus was made up of.

Druids were plentiful, naturally so, and a small portion seemed to be holding their own vending spot with papers and conversation and magic displays. Others seemed like botanists who had worked hard to grow their plants, and the rest had vials set up on display clearly meant for buying and teaching.

The merriment and the excitement of the event warmed him, bringing back memories of a different time. He could scarcely remember it, but he wasn’t alone and he was happy and content. A feeling that he held onto as he watched all those enjoying themselves.

This was good enough. Perhaps in a while he would go and join those below, but now, it was better to watch.

The warmth of the sun found its way through his feather, and slowly, and without realizing it, Nairus laid his head down.

“Hey!” The voice rose just enough to catch his attention. Half blurry eyes, Nairus rose his head from the crook of his wing. Confusion flickered on the way the world looked, but memories of taking flight and the hustle of the event reminded him.

He had fallen asleep. A long sigh escaped him as he stood up and shook out feathers and muscles. The voice that had awoken him though came back to his mind. His eyes shifted among the crowd. Nothing was wrong, no one was running, no one was gathering. Perhaps a child getting lost or not listening. Then his eyes fell upon a stall nearby where a woman with red hair and a man with a hat were talking.

The way the man moved and talked was all too familiar and as the woman kept talking, gesturing towards him as he gestured towards her and his seemingly disinterest in trying to get away, Nairus caught a glimpse of the man’s face and the edges of red hair.

The same face that had come up to him knowing who he was. Madivh.

Nairus fluttered down to the ground and took on his normal form, shifting through the crowd. As he did, he could hear their conversation a bit more clearly.

“...Did you find your friend?” the woman asked.

“Unfortunately no…” the man’s voice faded as the conversation around them rose.

Friend. Yes. That’s what he had asked Nairus as well. He was looking for…had the man said who he had been looking for? Nairus felt like he should have remembered but so much had been happening and why would he be expected to remember everything of a single man off the streets claiming he knows who he was when Nairus worked as a doctor. Even so, Nairus felt, for some reason, the man had been looking for Mey. But even though the nostalgia of Mey came to him, and the worry over her son gripped him, he wasn’t entirely sure if that was who he was looking for. But just as he thought that, he knew as if he had known his entire life that Mey and this man were connected. Just as the man was connected to the names his sister had provided.

Nairus moved closer, edging past a group of people with soft apologies as he made his way by.

Their voices were truly drowned out by the rise of a nearby vendor shouting out the start of his event. As Nairus broke from the majority of the crowd, the man had noticed and their eyes met.

It is him.

Nairus cleared his throat as his eyes drifted to the woman with the basket of flowers. “Evening, I hope I’m not intervening on anything?”

Madivh gave a quick grin bordering on well of thanking him for in fact intervening. The woman on the other hand giggled at him. “No problem! Send some customers my way will you?” And she turned and left.

As easy as that.

Nairus sighed as resisted the urge to rub his temples as the oddity of manners among humans continued. “You have a moment to talk?” Nairus asked, motioning out and away from the event.

Madivh looked briefly to the crowd, seemingly scanning the heads of people. Nairus followed, but he could see only the blend of everyday, normal individuals. By the time he looked back, Madivh nodded.

They made their way to the main path, but instead of going into the city, they went up to where the portals were normally kept. The seclusion wasn’t as quiet as Nairus would like, but at least with the castle nearby it allowed some measure of thought.

Madivh crossed his arms and eyed Nairus up and down. “I’m surprised you want to talk.”

That cool familiarity reached Nairus, it was akin to family or close friends. Being that the man was human, it was not family. But a close friend? He never disliked humans, but liking them enough to get close to one…

His mind started to ache into a sore throb. Memories flickered, but they were fragments, jumbled negative emotions, but in the end of it, he felt a heaviness and a trust.

Madivh shifted seemingly uncertain if he should reach or stay as he was, his eyes had grown wide with worry. “Are you okay?”

Nairus nodded. “Headaches. They come and go. Symptoms of a magical interference from an attack a while back.” An easy excuse, though now, from two nights ago thoughts, he was beginning to believe it was more physical resistance of his mind not wanting to remember the trauma of his past now it had been given an excuse to forget.

Madivh hummed thoughtfully and gave a short nod. “So what do you want to talk about then? Last we spoke, you had no clue who I was and wanted nothing to do with me.”

Nairus took a deep breath. “I remember some things.” Which rewarded him with a curious look from the man. “However, I don’t remember most of it. But, some things have been pulling at me, not letting me forget our first interaction. I was wondering…” he felt the uncertainty build. “If…” he took a deep breath. “If you would explain your side of the story that involves me.”

Madivh blinked, glanced over his shoulder, refocused and looked even more dumbfounded the second time.

Naiurs was glad the annoyance of the man’s manners was set behind one of his emotional walls though it still managed to slip and tug at his lips.

“Interesting,” Madivh said, eyeing Nairus up and down again. “Okay, but, do you really want to know? I mean. We have a past, but it's not necessarily a positive one.”

As those initial strikes of negative emotions he felt earlier said. “But there is enough that I feel I can trust you, and I’m sure I just need a little push to remember it all.”

Madivh frowned slightly, but his shoulders sagged and he shrugged. “Yeah, but I’m asking, do you want to remember it all?” He gestured out, his words and actions easy and open. There was no lie or secrets being withheld. “Is there something specific you want to know? Like maybe Mey or Synric?”

Nairus' eyes narrowed. So he had said something about that beforehand? His eyes shifted. “Not all at once.” He admitted at last. “But maybe a starting point, and I could pay you for helping me further.”

A part of him grew anxious and angry. What was he saying? Why would he trust anything this human would say; it could be false, it could be made up stories…

Madivh shook his head. An easy, light smile touching his lips. “Coin is tempting, but, if you need someone just to talk to you, I’d be more than happy to talk over dinner.” He said, the silence briefly hanging, and then, the man burst out into laughter finding that his words were the funniest joke he had heard in his lifetime.

Nairus found himself annoyed a second time, but kept his lips tight and his eyes sharp.

“Still stiff,” Madivh wiped away a tear from his eye. “Yes. Yes,” he said more seriously. “I will be happy to inform you of things bothering you, but not all.” His smile faded. “Not to say I want to hide things from you, but, you have a habit of wanting to do everything all at once, so, why don’t we start somewhere easy?”

Nairus gave a short nod, sliding the secondary uncomfortable sensation that the man was right about his personality quirk into the back of his mind.

Madivh continued. “For instance, do you know who I am?” His hand patted his chest and his eyes shimmered curiously and his smile reflected a grin of amusement.

Nairus dipped his head and glanced away momentarily. “All I can remember,” he started slowly. “Is your name, we have a complicated past, and the name Mey,” which Nairus caught the slight narrowing of Madivh’s eyes at her name. “Synric, Neia and Savian have a connection to you.” He refocused entirely back, and was faintly surprised to see that the man seemed content and listening.

“I only have meet Mey and Synric of recent, before my memories began to come back, but the other two…”

Madivh gave a nod. “Well, I’m sort of glad you reached out first to me. I could only imagine if you tried anyone else.” He said in light jest that Nairus immediately understood it as a serious remark.

“What do you mean?” Nairus interrupted.

Madivh paused and then smiled with a growing grin. “Buy me dinner, and I’ll explain a little more about us.”

Nairus took a deep breath. “Where do you want to go?”

#nairus #writing #madivh

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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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Truths Within (2/4)

Part 1 Family Reunion

Part 2 Truths Within

Part 3 Refugee Meetings

Part 4 Doctor’s Memories

In the gentle pull of the night breeze, Nairus stared down into the shimmering water. The distant cries and constant noise of the city was gone, too far away to be heard, too far away to be felt, yet the small settlement of farms just beyond the forest’s tree never gave him a sense of isolation as he wanted.

Though the moon was only a crescent of its former glory, it was bright enough that he could see the lines of his own body being reflected back like dark shadows. The sounds of the night time critters had been quiet for sometime, leaving only a blank silence, that was welcoming and reassuring.

It was the only time he could clearly think, too let down the walls he instinctively build up when people were around; those walls protected him from the scorn of love ones coming to view their dying family member, the pleading eyes of the dying as he lied to them about being able to help only to ease them to their death so it felt like nothing but sleep til their own bodies gave way. He needed to shun and lose all sense of who he was leaving only what was important and logical for diagnoses and understanding. He needed those walls when the trauma of the wounded would shout and curse and blame him. Trauma… Was that the reason for his memory issue? The magic’s ritual had done something to seal his memories of the time away, but now if it was no longer there as his sister had led him to believe, then what was keeping those memories from resurfacing?

Nairus closed his eyes as he looked away from the water surface and faced the trees and their shifting leaves.

Walls. He didn’t want to remember. Too much pain for his mind to take on its own. Maybe he should go see a doctor to help him.

A silent breeze passed by, brushing back his robes into the rock he sat upon, exposing his feet to its cold touch.

Even if he saw a doctor, he already knew what the process would be, he could do it on his own.

Silently the breeze returned, putting his robes back neatly in the grass so it covered his feet once more.

If he was his own patient, he would recommend a specialist.

But that will get me discharged. And where could I work where my father and his many friends wouldn’t be able to watch me and report back every little thing I do?

There was a few ticks of silence.

I could just start my own business. But with what money?

Some time passed, and Nairus found himself staring back at the water's reflection. During those bits of silence, he found himself wandering back to the red-headed man. What had he called himself? Madivh? His eyes closed at the name, feeling that familiar pull, but where curtains should have pulled back slowly, he could easily picture a face to that name. A different face, yet the eyes and hair were the same. His mind stuttered with sudden realization. A memory so faded that he could not bring anything to mind except the two names his sister had mentioned. Neia and Savian.

That man was connected to those two people, he knew it deep down inside, like he had known Mey was not lying about the boy, Synric, who he had been taking care of until he had been stabbed.

Nairus’s hand drifted to his stomach. Even though months had passed since then, he could still feel the slide of metal cutting through him as easily a knife through butter, and the man’s maniacal grin; it sent a cold shiver through his spine, and the forest seemed to retreat from him and the wind began to settle leaving the air heavy and cold.

Be silent. He thought towards himself and forced a deep long breath. Slowly, he began to unclench his tight fingers and let his arms lay back in his lap.

A sigh long and heavy escaped him.

Faint tweeting from small birds began to pierce the night air, and as Nairus raised his gaze to the sky, he could see the touch of deep purple. Again, he took in a deep breath and began lifting those walls he had carefully pulled down beforehand in his solitude. He didn’t need them all up yet, but he needed just a few to get him moving enough. As the chirping began to increase all around him, Nairus finally pushed himself up and began moving towards the treeline fading into the shadows of the trees and allowing them to consume him.

#nairus #writing

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thefracturedmosaic · 1 year

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Family Reunion (1/4)

Part 1 Family Reunion

Part 2 Truths Within

Part 3 Refugee Meetings

Part 4 Doctor’s Memories

Nairus stood staring at the bodies of the dead. A total of twenty-five. They were wrapped in body bags, laying on the grass, with identification tags on the zippers. All men and women fought and died in a skirmish against a band of mercenaries that had ambushed them while on patrol.

Nairus identified them all. Easy enough with simple wounds compared to the grotesque destroyed bodies from Shadowlands and Kul’tiras bodies. He shivered at the thought, and then finally turned from the sight to head back into the medical building the army had secured by the harbor.

When he turned though, he stilled as he noticed a human male walking towards him. Focused on him. The man eyed Nairus up and down. “Nairus Amberleaf?”

Nairus nodded.

“Faevanna Amberleaf is here to see you, she’s waiting for you at the front gates.”

Nairus' eyes narrowed lightly. “Did she say why she was here?”

The man casually threw one hand in the air dismissing the notation. “No, only that it is obvious why since you two share the same last name.”

A taste of a smile tipped Nairus lips upwards. He could see Fae’ lecturing the man about the important role she was in, who her father was, and who he was keeping her from seeing. “Was there anyone else with her?”

The man shook his head. “Are you going to see her or not?”

Nairus gave a short nod.

Relief clearly found the man’s shoulders as he turned and allowed Nairus to lead the way. Nairus had no objections.

The military base that had sprung up after the Kul’tiras war set right near the harbor; it was small and only allowed a a few buildings, one being meant for medical purposes, the other for storage, and the third for magic transportation of goods and people, which was to say, that a battle mage was stationed in the building at all times in case of emergencies. Thus the building had been turned into a mix of temporary residential rooms, a holding cell, and a lobby for other military personnel to hang around in while they waited for their day to start or for orders. That building was the building closest to the gate, and they had to walk around it before they could see the fence line and its magically enhanced traps.

Fae’ was waiting for him. Her long drudic robes covering her appropriately, her deep green hair tied into a bun while loose braids hung at the edges, and her arms were crossed with thin lips to emphasize her displeasure. They had only taken a few more steps out of the building's shadow before she noticed them. Her light silver eyes grew wide, her arms unwinded, and her fingers clasped into each other hiding her lips from view. She looked like she might be praying, but those eyes gave her away. She was holding herself back from breaking into tears and rushing over too hug him. l

As they came to stop at the gate, Fae’ said nothing, remembering some sort of measure in her title. The guard stuck his hand out, a thin line of magic eased through the gates and the magic traps; both opened and went quiet.

Nairus never got a chance to step beyond the threshold. As soon as the gates were wide open Fae’ hugged him and wrapped him in close. Nairus huffed a bit at the hug, taken aback, but not surprised.

Though his memories were fuzzy from before the ritual, in the last few years he had his entire memory intact; it had only been in the last year that he had disappeared from his family, after a battle in Kul’trias that had druid’s called for aid; it had been an opportunity, and it gave him time to cover his tracks and hide himself. All because he had a feeling that something wasn’t right about anything his family or friends had been telling him.

His smile came softly as he relaxed into Fae’s embrace and patted her gently on her shuddering shoulders.

“I’m alive, I am sorry to worry you.”

Her shuddering shoulders stopped, followed by her pushing him away, though he did not move and she simply took two steps back. Her stare went from worry towards anger. “Why would you not at least tell me you were back after father found you dying in an inn?”

Nairus allowed only his eyes to close at the declaration of her emotions. When he reopened them, he was looking at the guard. “Thank you, we’ll speak off camp.”

The man grunted, shooing them out, and as soon as they were beyond the doors, the magic traps were glowing and the gate closed behind them.

“Fae’,” he cooed softly, which caused her to stiffen and fall in behind him as he walked. “I didn’t leave because I wanted to be away. I left because something in my heart told me I needed some time to think beyond all the words and noise of the everyday.”

Fae’ walked quietly beside him, her eyes downcast in thought.

The silence continued as Nairus led them further down the harbor to where the white stones that supported the bank edged way to sand and rock and the waves reached for their feet; it was a quiet place, but many people used it especially around nightfall.

“Did you figure it out?” She asked at last.

He turned to face her; it surprised him, even now, how much she looked like their father, how much both of them looked like their father. Their mother had silver eyes and features sharp and curt. Yet, when Fae’ looked at him with her silver eyes, she had their father’s softness despite his demeanor and feeling of betterment of others; it was easy to just trust her even with the look of annoyance and disappointment she held for him. But she always reported back to father.

“I have to ask,” he said, his voice shifting firmer in edge. “Did father send you?”

Faevanna perked up. Her lips twitched into a frown and the silence answered all. Yes.

Nairus took in the blue sky and the still deeper blue of the ocean.

They stood in quiet once again, allowing the sea breeze to carry the sounds of the city towards them for a time; it gave him time to shift through the memories of when he had last seen his father, how there had been old wounds reopening simply because though Nairus hadn’t said anything, they both knew he had managed to remember things.

“It was the only way he would tell me where you were. He wanted to know what was wrong, and I wouldn’t have agreed if it wasn’t that I wanted to see you and because of Savian…`` She kept speaking, but Nairus felt a tug at his heart, and his mind ceased to listen to her words. Savian. A name. The pain that overwhelmed him from his time with Mey came to him screaming but where the darkness that would never open to reveal the source of his frustration, he could see the curtain pulling free and a face lining the inner eye of his mind.

“Nairus?” Fae’ has her hand wrapped around his arm.

Confused, he did what he always did when these attack came. He looked towards himself. His heart was racing, his body was tense, as a cold sweat warned him of the shock and adrenaline rush he was getting, but he was still standing. Nairus took a deep breath. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure? Father told me the wound was to your stomach. That can cause a lasting effect, maybe you shouldn’t be working yet, perhaps the…” she began reaching for his side.

Nairus quieted her by raising his hand. She went silent, but with a frown as she pulled back.

A smile came gently. “I’m a druid too you know.”

She blinked and then as the tension snapped, she laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said between giggles. “I’ve just been worried after everything that has happened and how the priestess says the corruption is gone and father won’t stop talking about it with experts and…” she sighed.

Nairus' amusement settled lightly into his smile. “I remember.”

She looked at him. “Remember?”

He nodded. “I remember bits and pieces before the ritual. I remember the ritual itself, the pain that was overcoming my body and soul, and that I had agreed to it because I was worried.”

Fae’ seemed to relax and nodded. “Worried that you wouldn’t be able to protect Neia and Savian without your magic.” She nodded again. “You remember telling me that beforehand?

He did not, and though she said the name Savian again, it did not bring that heart racing pain to his body, instead he felt that longing like he should know something important. It was like with that man with the red hair. His name…

Fae’ was beginning to give him an odd look and he cleared his threat. “I remember bits and pieces.” He paused. “How have you been?”

Fae’ relaxed fully, and rolled her eyes as his sudden transition. “It's good to see you’ve not changed since your memories returned. I have to say what is really nice is that it's good to not to lie to you anymore.” She breathed so heavilywith relief that the words on Nairus lips died away.

He remembered the priestess telling him that the corruption would be halted; it would not be a cure, but he would be able to use magic and not worry of its spread. Little did he know, they had left out the important pieces of forgetting everything beforehand attached to what made the corruption stronger.

Fae’ began again. “Father won’t be happy to hear your memories are back though. So he forbade me to speak anything unless you specifically ask, but you know I’m so tired of listening to him all the time. I can’t understand why he’s constantly moving around as if, as if…” She huffed and crossed her arms. “I’m tempted to do what you did and just leave and learn on my own.”

“Except you're just a child, barely twenty-five years of age.”

She rolled her eyes with a long look towards him. “You and father both. I am quite old enough that all the other races treat me as an adult. I could get a job in Stormwind if I wanted to.”

The age-old argument died in Nairus chest. The fact he was three hundred, and their father over a thousand, she was a child and there would be no changing that among the people of their kind. No matter what she thought or was treated by another race.

He waved his hand in surrender. “You never answered my question.” He asked and when all he got back in return was a questionable stare he restated. “How have you been doing?”

“Oh,” she said, slightly taken back before chuckling. “Busy. Do you remember how father wanted me to take some initiatives and start getting more worldly experience?”

He nodded.

“Well, after sending me off with the Priestess,” she hissed, “I’ve been traveling all over the world and into the four corners of the other worlds helping out refugees and other doctors are…”

She continued her rant, going on well enough that Nairus eventually motioned for her to sit, and they did. He nodded at her complaints and the subtle pains of seeing how the world truly was. The devastation of ignoring the elements, ignoring nature, and learning how the balance of things were more or less being thrown out of balance due to the other races interference.

He could see her pain clearly, eventually she would come to terms with it, much like he would, and find where she would want to help out most.

Most importantly, she would learn that not everything she heard from the older druids that escorted her around these towns and cities was hundred percent true. After-all there were plenty of humans trying to redo their wrongs, and there were the draenei who worked the element in both favors.

“Do you need to head back to work?” She asked drawing him out of his stupor.

He gave a light shrug. “Healers are in high demand, the worst I’ll get is a lecture, and then when I remind them that I am three generations older than them and have been in the military on and off for the last two-hundred, they go quiet.” He perked an amused grin.

Fae’ stared at him. “You just joined the military.”

Nairus smile slowly grew until he burst into laughter.

Fae’ glared at him. “That’s lying.”

Nairus shrugged. “Give me one elf that hasn’t used their age as an excuse to not do things.”

Fae’ went quiet.

He nodded.

She shook her head. “And here I thought I looked up to my older brother, only to learn he’s just as bad as these twenty year old humans.”

Nairus snorted, and as they sat in silence briefly, they both started to chuckle and laugh.

They let their amusement fade smoothly and sat and watched the ocean for a time in silence. It wasn’t until Nairus noticed the sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon that he decided he should return back. “Now that you know I’m alive and well, should I be expecting a surprise visit from now on?” He raised his eyebrows.

“If I get the time,” she shook her head. “I had to beg father just to let me come out here and miss the teachings.” She sighed. “When are you going to return home? I’d rather have you there to teach me than the others.” She pouted.

Nairus' smile came light and he looked back to the ocean. “There’s something here for me, and already I’ve remembered things that I need to process. Just give me some time.”

Fae’ nodded before speaking softly. “Did you tell Savian and Neia yet?”

Nairus looked at her, a seriousness coming over him that he wasn’t even sure why.

Fae’ seemed to take the look for something else. “They are worried, they spent the whole last year looking for you. Father lied to them when they came asking for our help.”

Nairus looked away, his eyes taking in a seagull flying from the cliff’s high edge and dipping towards the lighthouse. “I’ll send you letters.” He said, watching as her eyes grew wide with that same worry he had seen before, her lips parted as if to argue his decision and then she let her eyes fall and her mannerism dip.

He must have used a heavier tone than intended; it was too late to take it back. Instead, he reached out and with a soft tug on her shoulder, she gave in and he gave her a tight hug. “I don’t have all my memories back, I’d like some more time.” It was all he could say.

She nodded and they pulled back. “Do I tell father the truth?” She asked curiously.

Nairus gave a shrug. “I’m pretty sure he already knows. He just doesn’t know how to go about it, still, it might take him a few hundred more years before he’ll come back and say hi.”

She snorted her laugh. “Fine, but, if Savian comes asking again, I’m telling him the truth. You know he won’t like it coming from me.”

Nairus blinked and then nodded. “Are you heading back tonight?”

She gave a nod. “Unfortunately, but, I was wondering if there might be any place you recommend that I could check out?” Her smile grew wide.

Nairus eyed her.

She frowned and huffed before he could say the thoughts that came to mind. “Hardly fun. Fine, I’ll go straight home like a good girl.” She said and started walking straight off, though she didn’t get too far before she turned into a drudic bird and flew off into the sky.

Nairus shook his head, turning to look at the view once more, his thoughts shifting heavier as the sun began its slow descent.

After a moment more, he began his walk back to the military base.

#nairus #writing

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