Chapter 331 - Reclamation of the Returning (I)

*Eldovian Era 1722, 1st day of the 12th month*

The blades were perhaps the most beautiful Aegin had ever made. Twin blades, each the length of a man's arm, with single edge that was curved so that it was wider about a hand's length from the hilt before it curved to a point at the end. The silver, glass-like blade caught the light magnificently, shining like ornamental crystal, yet with a deadly spark that made even Aegin feel a chill when he'd first witnessed it.

Sitting in the cave he'd called home for these long years in the Hava Rastellan, Aegin could not help but stare at them. Admire them. He honestly could not believe he'd managed to pull it off. He'd barely been able to believe it when he'd forged his daggers.

The 'Daggers of Truth'. Rima had dubbed them. Six daggers made from the same composition of Evanine and Anthrite, melted and bonded together in the river of fire below. A river of fire, Aegin had found after he'd grown curious, that originated from the maw of a Dragon's skeleton.

The fire burning there had been doing so for who knew how long, but it had been enough for Aegin to work with.

When he'd managed to forge the daggers, he'd been stumped at first at what rune to draw on them. He only knew a few. He'd tried Clarity against Yashi, and while it had been affective for a moment, it had always felt incomplete to Aegin. Like it didn't quite fit.

It had taken him many nights before Aegin finally settled on Truth. It was a promise as much as it was a resolution. The belief in that rune when he carved it made the daggers so much more powerful and effective.

Even Yashi, for once, had been impressed.

It had been several years since then, and Aegin hadn't attempted to forge any more of the Named Blades. He'd seen how powerful and affective his own were, he was not just going to give that power to anyone who asked.

But there was one person whom Aegin knew deserved such blades. And who, more than anyone else, Aegin wanted to give such power to.

Aegin was sure he'd never need them. He was also sure that as runes went, there were likely better ones that the creator himself could come up with. But Aegin had forged the blades anyway, and now he sat with his own Light Element Tool in hand, ready to carve the two runes he'd settled on.

He'd sat like this many times for the last year.

Was he truly ready? Was he truly deserving? Would they take him back and welcome him after he'd been gone for so long? He'd always questioned himself out of it. Had always ended up putting down the tool, closing the boxes he'd hand carved for the swords, and going off to find something to distract himself.

But this time would be different, he was sure. Unlike every other time, Aegin hadn't purposely pushed himself to sit down and finish the task. This time, it had happened quite organically. Aegin hadn't felt forced at all.

He recalled the conversation now that he'd had with Rima after she, Tigin and Sevis had come to pay him a visit on their way back to their respective Tribes after they'd been travelling south.

"So, have you finished them yet?"

"I haven't".

"It's been over a year, Aegin, surely you've settled on a Rune by now, there are only so many," said Rima.

Aegin had shaken his head, "No, I decided on what Runes to use a while ago. I just…it hasn't felt like the right time to carve them".

Rima had raised an eyebrow at that, "Moonshadow pumps those things out like a well-oiled machine. I don't think you need to wait for the right time".

Aegin sighed, "That's not…nevermind".

"No, go on, I know it's important to you. Remember, we talked about sharing, didn't we?" asked Rima.

Aegin rolled his eyes, glancing at the young woman who flashed her fledgling fangs in amus.e.m.e.nt.

Yes, Aegin had turned her. She'd done the same for Tigin and Sevis. Rima had served her time at Blue Sands, passing over the reigns to another as soon as she could. When she was done, she'd brought Tigin back to Red Eyes for a visit with Sevis, and the three of them had just ended up in Aegin's cave not long after that.

They'd found, after years of being friends, that though the Tribes held a place in their hearts and always would, something else was out there. They'd asked Aegin about it, and he'd been just about as helpful as he usually was.

Unhelpfulness aside, Aegin had felt compelled to tell them about how he'd met Rassa. About how they travelled together. About the struggles he was sure Rassa had gone through, yet had never spoken of.

"Then…are you going to share your burden with anyone?" Rima had asked him.

Aegin had confessed that he'd never really thought about it.

"Then share it with us," Sevis had said.

Aegin had been hesitant and about to protest when he'd seen the looks in their eyes. They were serious. They understood it too. The Tribesman were not like those in Eldovia. They understood that those who walked the Paths of Chaos had to pay a price. They understood more than any other peoples. And, as Aegin had learned, they were more accepting of it too.

Of course, Aegin hiding away in his cave with impromptu visits to other parts of the Western Continent when he was bored was not a life style they were accustomed to, seeing as they were grounded in their Tribes. Aegin could feel that if they were to become unsealed, they would have to break away from what they knew. He'd hinted as much, and the group had travelled south. But they'd returned three days before, still sealed.

"Rassa, when he spoke to me before I left, he was so sure. So unapologetic," Aegin stated, "So powerful…I ran from that. From becoming that".

"You didn't run from becoming that," Rima huffed, "Don't be ridiculous. You're your own person, Aegin. Stop trying to fit into someone else's shadow when yours in just the right size and shape".

Aegin smiled remembering Rima's words. She was always one to council him. To council all of them really. She'd always been good at it too. She'd said just the right thing for him to stop questioning himself.

He was ready now. Ready to go back and not feel the need to fit into the space he had left there. Ready to go back as his own man.