It’s the morning after the group camped at “Ty-Lynn’s Garden”. Morning settles soft over the camp, the mist clinging low to the bedrolls and the blackened stones of the fire. A crow mutters somewhere in the trees. Alexis stands near what’s left of the coals, warming his hands more out of habit than need.
“Since Warder Yule,” he says, eyes on the faint embers, “and especially after what happened last night, I’ve been thinking about where my magic comes from.” He straightens a little, turning his hat absently in his hands as he speaks. “Avv’s realm has its uses—finding what’s hidden, drawing the unseen to light. But I’m not her servant. Never was. And since we left Ghanil, treasure-hunting hasn’t been high on the list.”
He looks up then, toward Ca’armine, but his voice carries to all of them. “The name of Avv… tends to make people uneasy. You’ve felt it. Yule certainly did.” He gives a small, crooked smile—more acknowledgment than humor.
“I trained with the Collegium,” he goes on. “They teach you to touch where you choose, not a servant any one realm. And I’d like to be in greater harmony with you; my Raidenites.”
Turning to face them fully, the mist curls around his boots, “Are you willing to help me make the shift?”
Rask smiles wide with relief and excitement and looks to Ca’armine.
Gus looks up to show he is in thought, then says:
“You would like to be more in harmony with Raiden? You could pray to Raiden. You could fight against evil since Raiden is a wariior, which you already do. You can kill non-humans that are working against humans, which are most of them. You can come help me hunt to give sustenance to our fight. Become angry during a battle, letting your rage direct you to the right tactic.”
Rask nods excitedly as Gus speaks, then his brow furrows a bit at the end, when Gus mentions anger and rage, and he looks to Ca’armine for clarity.
Ca’armine’s mouth falls open– is it possible he didn’t hear Alexis right? Then he hears Gustav, his tone as he says, “Become angry during a battle, letting your rage direct you to the right tactic.”
Finally he speaks. “Raiden is a warrior, and a protector. Those aspects are crucial to our mission. And I do feel, powerful emotion from my conduit with my god. Is it rage? I’m not sure.”
He looks at Alexis, seeming to peer into his eyes. “I have not inquired into your faith. I sense that you are a good person, and that, when you offer me a blessing from your god, I can accept it because of the intention with which it is offered.”
“Raiden is a part of me, but Raiden cannot defeat evil in the world without the hands of the living– he needs me. He inspires me, and guides my mission, but he does not swing the sword– or the baton! As a man, I have to use my understanding, to make the right choices. The goal always, is to pursue what I believe to be, Raiden’s purpose for me.”
“It may be that Raiden has a purpose for you too. If so we can discover it together.”