The fascination at Eliza’s professed identity as the daughter of an Immortal, of Ymiden himself, lingered in Llyr’s mind. It wasn’t merely the age, far beyond what he could ever hope to live himself, or the perspective she likely had on life as she suggested when she made mention of history, but simply the very concept of it caused Llyr to feel… awe. He liked the feeling, and he allowed for it to gather in the center of his chest where he often considered as the spot where his soul resided.
Yet the two of them weren’t there to talk about such matters. Not for the understanding of mortalborn, nor the discussion about souls and ghosts. They hadn’t met by their own volition, but rather brought together by the child dreamwalker who looked between them now.
He considered, silently, the shared explanation of why Wren was different. It made more sense why the boy had such talent within Emea. While he’d already felt kindly toward the boy, a profound compassion gathered in him while he listened to Eliza mention the death and rebirth of Wren. He nodded slowly in understanding and smiled slightly when the woman apologized for not explaining more. Llyr assured her, “That is alright. Thank you for sharing what you did. I am glad to hear he is mostly safe now, if not lost however.”
What happened next was a simple process for Llyr. While Eliza wasn’t to be an initiate of his, and he wouldn’t consider such an insult to someone of her age, the benefit of branding her was far too great to let the opportunity pass. The more options they had, the better they could handle any unexpected situations in the future. So, he caressed her and tucked her hair back, then kissed her on the lips.
Once the brand finished, he noticed the warmth on her cheeks. He smiled slightly, and a silvery-blue tinted his own cheeks when she teased him with a question. Llyr cleared his throat but before he could respond, Wren’s dismissive whine interrupted them. He dryly laughed at the boyish refusal and nodded to agree with Eliza’s insistence that Wren could brand however he wished.
Llyr stepped away to give the pair space, and he returned to his soldierly posture with shoulders back and chest out, hands folded behind him. He observed the brand between their palms and smiled when it appeared to have been successful.
“Rest assured, Miss Eliza, I will keep Wren safe,” he promised her. He hesitated and then said, “My name… it’s Llywelyn.”
“We will write to you on the scroll as soon as we arrive at my home,” he added. Llyr felt a touch at his belt, then reached to naturally allow the boy to take his hand. He felt a slight pull and supposed maybe they’d overstayed their welcome in Ymiden’s domain… or the boy simply knew something neither of them did. He said, “Let us exchange brands first, Wren.”
Their hands lit up, with the ease of familiarity to the process, and then Llyr lightly kissed the top of the boy’s forehead. Though it seemed as normal as any other, he felt a slight warble of energy that suggested it was otherwise. The brand hadn’t appeared anew like Eliza’s, but rather he recognized the transfer… the brand that settled on Wren’s forehead had the same signature as the brand that had once rested on Hazel’s forehead. He watched as it faded, then gently exhaled.
“Right then,” he looked at Eliza. He nodded and said, “Until next we see each other.”
Yet the two of them weren’t there to talk about such matters. Not for the understanding of mortalborn, nor the discussion about souls and ghosts. They hadn’t met by their own volition, but rather brought together by the child dreamwalker who looked between them now.
He considered, silently, the shared explanation of why Wren was different. It made more sense why the boy had such talent within Emea. While he’d already felt kindly toward the boy, a profound compassion gathered in him while he listened to Eliza mention the death and rebirth of Wren. He nodded slowly in understanding and smiled slightly when the woman apologized for not explaining more. Llyr assured her, “That is alright. Thank you for sharing what you did. I am glad to hear he is mostly safe now, if not lost however.”
What happened next was a simple process for Llyr. While Eliza wasn’t to be an initiate of his, and he wouldn’t consider such an insult to someone of her age, the benefit of branding her was far too great to let the opportunity pass. The more options they had, the better they could handle any unexpected situations in the future. So, he caressed her and tucked her hair back, then kissed her on the lips.
Once the brand finished, he noticed the warmth on her cheeks. He smiled slightly, and a silvery-blue tinted his own cheeks when she teased him with a question. Llyr cleared his throat but before he could respond, Wren’s dismissive whine interrupted them. He dryly laughed at the boyish refusal and nodded to agree with Eliza’s insistence that Wren could brand however he wished.
Llyr stepped away to give the pair space, and he returned to his soldierly posture with shoulders back and chest out, hands folded behind him. He observed the brand between their palms and smiled when it appeared to have been successful.
“Rest assured, Miss Eliza, I will keep Wren safe,” he promised her. He hesitated and then said, “My name… it’s Llywelyn.”
“We will write to you on the scroll as soon as we arrive at my home,” he added. Llyr felt a touch at his belt, then reached to naturally allow the boy to take his hand. He felt a slight pull and supposed maybe they’d overstayed their welcome in Ymiden’s domain… or the boy simply knew something neither of them did. He said, “Let us exchange brands first, Wren.”
Their hands lit up, with the ease of familiarity to the process, and then Llyr lightly kissed the top of the boy’s forehead. Though it seemed as normal as any other, he felt a slight warble of energy that suggested it was otherwise. The brand hadn’t appeared anew like Eliza’s, but rather he recognized the transfer… the brand that settled on Wren’s forehead had the same signature as the brand that had once rested on Hazel’s forehead. He watched as it faded, then gently exhaled.
“Right then,” he looked at Eliza. He nodded and said, “Until next we see each other.”
