A Short Story by @LumosJared, inspired by @MantaRey's writing| The Balcony from the new Shilais Estate was not a wholly quiet place. The gentle babbling of the stream below, the sounds of far-off voices surrounding the Cathedral to the South, the everpresent sound of birds in the trees surrounding the Estate. The sun had only just set. Darkness swept over the Capital, and there was a gentle hush to all these sounds. Arahael stood there, of course, as he often did at this time of night. He sang quietly, a low bassy sound, as his mind wandered back through the many years that had taken him to this place. Behind him was a fair walk-through closet, a wardrobe that housed not only his few outfits and armors and weapons, but now a myriad of fine dresses, a collection of hair accessories, a new, dusty-looking coat made for a slim figure, and a smaller cupboard of simple children's clothing. And beyond this wardrobe, Arahael could hear the two of them. "Hey, Let's go! Hey, Let's go! I'm happy as can be Let's go walking you and me-" Gwenyth's voice was clear and perfect on nearly any day, but as the young Antonius, barely past his second winter, stomped along off-beat, the smile on her face shone through her voice. Singing and Storytime were a sacred tradition in their Home, now. As Gwenyth sang and weaved her hands through the air, she conjured an amused cackle from the Prince. Her walking song changed to a song of heroes long since gone, and the grand places they had walked. She had sung it more than once of course, but only on this night was Arahael listening as he was now. He remembered wandering between the far corners of the world, himself. How far had he wandered, searching for something more? To be so committed to fighting something he had not the power to fight. But the promise had been made. Stop the Archdemon. And he had. Sealed away in a statue by his hand, but not forever. Defeated armies of monstrosities that threatened the balance. Pushed the Empire to accept him, and those like him. He had even risen to the highest leadership in the land. Done his part, imperfectly, and kept an eye on what was to come after. He was among the Empire's strongest warriors, and his inner strength had been further unlocked by the Dragons themselves. But none of it would last. Not forever. What was it all for, if his end was to fight some ambiguous evil and lose? What was it all for, if he remained cold and cutting without the need for it? What was it all for, if, by protecting his loved ones, he betrayed all others close to him? Did it matter if he had not lied to a single person since the wedding? Did it matter if he even tried to change? For who could forgive someone who had done what he had done, in the name of... what he thought was right. His dark, self-centered musings were broken as Gwenyth picked up the walking song again. "Ready, set, come on, let's go Over the hills, across the field, through the tunnel we'll go!" The laughter of the young Prince after the song, as he was picked up into Gwenyth's arms. As that laughter, for a moment, was joined. Arahael turned. He could see the two of them, Gwenyth leant over Antonius' crib, her energetic singing turning slower and more gentle, as she slowly set him down to only a bit of vocal protest from the young Prince. She had grown stronger in more ways than one, these past few years. From across the corridor, she glanced his way, and that smile remained. Arahael returned it and began to walk past the wardrobe, and over to Antonius' crib. Change rarely comes in a singular moment. It is painstaking work the likes of which no weight can equal. And Arahael, as he strode further inside with his shoulders lowered and relaxed, his smile calm and considered, his mind not thinking of how best to react, but how decently to treat others, had many lessons yet to learn. Yet he knew for certain that if this moment was preserved in his mind. If he could remember how it felt to walk towards the one person to truly forgive him, to love him. Then he could become something more. Forgiven or not by others, his duty was no longer to just be strong, to just be brave, to just be a warrior. "We'll run across the bridge and down the bumpy gravel road Right beneath the spider's web Ready, set, let's go! Hey let's go..." Hey, let's go..." A hand gently embraced Gwenyth by the side, as his other set a small blanket closer to the Prince on this chilly January evening. Arahael's voice joined hers, a soft, low timbre, as Antonius was slowly persuaded to fall asleep.
