Chapter 27 - Part 1

The sun began to set over all of Elo'yn and the bustle of the busy city toned down. Merchants closed up their shops, food vendors took the last orders, and brothers of the Order and guards patrolled the winding alleys and streets picking up anyone who loitered.

Deep shadows stretched across the city in a beautiful display of darks and burnt crimsons as the green sister slowly made her way on her throne of darkness.

On the Academy grounds, people celebrated with food and drinks well beyond the curfew, in the canteen for the Ashen and dinner hall for the Wielders. Master Uligarth brought his timsol, a chorded instrument that can only be played by a skilled Wielder, with enchanting and mesmerizing full tones that filled the room with odes of triumph and glory for those who have passed the Trials of Agility, although few, they were celebrated. Bras sat with Nolan and Malticia on one table, surrounded by people eagerly asking questions and listening to their overly exaggerated stories on how they managed through the difficult course while Justinia cried on her Ashen's shoulder with a blackened eye complaining how awful it was for her and wished she had never entered the Trials in the first place. Master Coner was too busy tending to those actually wounded and in need for him to help her with her black eye and she refused to let anyone without the proper skill even touch her; scared that they might ruin her beautiful face. The poor Ashen had no choice but to sit there and listen to her as she bawled her eyes out, preventing him from spending this celebration with his fellow Ashen in the canteen. Although he did not complain his face showed he would much rather be somewhere else..

Haiden and Maree stood on the other side of the room along with Camila, enjoying good food and drinks, their heads swaying with the music.

"I haven't heard anything like this before." Haiden mentioned as he took another bite of juicy roasted chickhog breast that was smothered in butter and herbs. The smell was incredible as it filled the room with a pleasant toastiness. Haiden tried to relax but there was something weighing on his mind that not even the music or delicious food and drinks would take away.

"The timsol is usually kept for important celebrations. I never knew that old fart knew how to play so beautifully." Maree said between breaths, he stuffed meat in his face as fat as he could.

Camila looked at him in disgust and said under her breath. "You know that its dead, it won't run away." And rolled her eyes. "You have to keep the tension in the chords just right with Wielding and project the vibrations outward, controlling intensity and pitch. This is why you can hear it as if Master Uligarth is playing it right next to you even if he's on the other side of the room." She added. "I myself prefer the Osen tail, It has a much deeper sound that touches one's soul." Camila mimicked with her hands the motions of how she would play the instrument.

"There are more?" Haiden asked, surprised.

"More?" She asked confused.

"Like that tinsel thing." Haiden replied.

"You mean... instruments?" Maree asked in disbelief. "Of course there are more! Have you been living under a rock!?" He began laughing but Camila's elbow to the side put a stop to it and made him choke. She gave him a disapproving stare and motioned with her head towards Haiden. "Oh!" He said in realisation. "Of course. Sorry, Haid. I keep forgetting your...uhm...condition."

Camila palmed her face and grunted.

"You don't have to apologize." Haiden was unphased, he was used to Maree by now forgetting he had lost his memories, most of the times it didn't even matter as he was learning so much at the Academy along with everyone, even he would forget at sometimes the overwhelming blackness of his past. Only for a few core memories that haunted him almost nightly. "It's not your fault the only songs I've ever heard until now were a few horrendous attempts from Regor he used to sing while waiting for the food to cook around the campfire." Camila and Maree laughed awkwardly feeling sorry for him. His eyes were looking longingly at the food, lost in thought.

"Well I'm glad you're here now, listening to Master Uligarth play in both of your honor." Camila changed the subject.

"Here here!" Maree raised his glass of mulberry wine and all three of them clinked their glasses together.

Haiden sighed after taking a big refreshing gulp. "I wish they'd give us wine more often." he whispered, holding the glass to his lips and then downed the rest. He had finished his second glass and reached for the pitcher.

"We can't have drunk Wielders running about trying new spells for the first time, can we." Master Rwoy came out of nowhere.

"At least we can dream." Maree added and laughed, Master Rwoy joined in and settled at the table. Haiden crisped up immediately.

"Congratulations on the win." He said with a smile on his face, he seemed genuinely happy for them though he Haiden could feel there was something more to it. "Maree, you have grown extraordinarily. Headmistress Helena told me how proud she is of you and expects nothing more from her protegee. Are you ready for the big reveal tomorrow?" He asked, ignoring Haiden. It irked him that he focused on Maree, a sense of jealousy flared within him and tried to focus on his wine and food.

"Neither was I, if I'm being honest." Maree leaned in. "Bras was being a proper dick head, he was." He began to recount their fight before he had freed Haiden with exaggerated gestures and embellished words, "if it weren't for the mobility spell I would've been six feet under by now, somehow I manage to get away from that monster."

"You did well." Master Rwoy agreed and Haiden scoffed.

"You got something to add? I didn't see you do any better while being stuck in those vines." Maree said, clearly annoyed at Haiden.

"No, I didn't mean it like that." Haiden tried to defend himself.

"Than what?" Maree asked under his breath.

"Stop acting like children!" Camila intervened.

"Now, now. Let's not ruin the mood." Master Rwoy added, both Maree and Haiden looked away embarrassed. He took a glass and poured himself a glass and sighed. "I thought you'd pack more of a punch, kid. Didn't expect you to go down that fast."

"I... " Haiden began playing with his food.

"He had to, if Bras and Malticia weren't enough he'd had all of those fake assholes on him, not that they're on good terms." Maree said matter of factly.

"Mar!" Camila gasped. "That's not your place to say. Sorry Haiden." She apologized for him like a mother. Haiden kept quiet.

"Is that so..." Master Rwoy rubbed his chin. "You're telling me that you were holding back?" He swished around his wine. Haiden nodded, and Master Rwoy began to laugh. Everyone froze.

"I'm sorry I - " Haiden began but he was stopped by Rwoy.

"No need. Can you two please excuse us?" He looked towards Maree and Camila. Without saying a word Maree was dragged by Camila away in the crowd.

"I know it was stupid, but I didn't have a choice."

"I'm proud of you, Haiden." Master Rwoy said, leaving Haiden with his mouth ajar, waiting for the man to finish his thought. "When you first came here, at the Academy, you were so concerned about hurting everyone around you from your lack of control you were blocking yourself and your true potential. Look at you now." He gave him an appreciative look and raised his glass. "You've become so skilled and finely tuned your power within just under a full cycle. You really came a long way, kid."

Haiden was stunned. The moment he heard those words from Master Rwoy his heart swelled up, almost tearing up. He never knew how much he wanted this man's approval before. "Thank you. It was all thanks to you." Haiden managed to say after calming down and swallowing his tears.

"I believe it's all you, kid. You always had it in you. You're a tough nut, but Bras is tough too. Don't let him get to you. His father is in town, Councilman Ameral, so you best believe the man will watch his son tomorrow. That boy," he paused in thought, his face fell into a look of pity. "he will be more dangerous than you think tomorrow. He wants his father's validation more than anything and I'm sure he will do everything in his power to get it."

"I know how far Bras is willing to go." Haiden said but his thoughts were of Tasgal. He didn't like to think about Tasgal's and Bras' connection, but he could not run from it any longer. The man that Bras calls father Tasgal calls Master, and Haiden was at odds with that concept. That man had raised Bras to be monster, cruel, emotionless, and scheming with no regard for human life, to think that Tasgal held that man in such high regards, it sickened Haiden.

"I don't think you do." He shook his head. "If I had any say into this I would not let you fight tomorrow. I know this was my idea, but now I don't think both of you will be coming out of this unharmed, better, and stronger." He said with a regretful look in his eyes. "I think you should run." Master Rwoy said, his voice toned down, Haiden could barely hear him.

"Ah! Rwoy!" Master Parvel called from the back. The man didn't say anything, got up and left to greet the old Master.

Haiden pondered on Rwoy's words, playing with his food while chugging another glass of wine. He could run and live somewhere quietly, he could be a local Wielder in a distant village, away from everyone. But as he dreamed of a quiet life in the mountains, rage flared within him as he remembered what Bras had done to him, the countless attempts at his life. Not only his, but Maree's and Tasgal's. The man was a monster, he had to learn his lesson and Haiden was more than happy to be the one who would beat it into him. Even if Haiden left Bras could get revenge by making Tasgal's life a living hell or even worse, he suspected both of them that they were Yeva'Ahs. Thinking back at the woman in the plaza and the people strung on the wall by the canal. Without even realizing it he had released energy around him, the forks and spoons around him curled up.

"Am I interrupting." A familiar voice called from behind. The cutlery clanked as it dropped on the table as Haiden jumped in surprise. He turned around to see Tasgal behind.

"Tas." Haiden got up and gave the man a once over, inspecting his body. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Tasgal flexed his bicep which bulged out of his sleeveless tunic. "Fresh out of the infirmary. Not one scratch."

"Thank Creators." Haiden sighed in relief.

"You got a minute, I want to talk to you." Tasgal said and scratched his nose. Haiden nodded. "Good, but not here. Let's go somewhere private." he said and motioned Haiden to follow him.

Haiden kept quiet and followed the Ashen through the winding stone tiled ways towards the Ashen dorms. The cool night had a refreshing breeze to it and the green haze of the sister brought a calmness into Haiden that he welcomed. He had a lot of questions for Tasgal.

Tasgal opened the door to his room and let Haiden in. There had been no one in the dorms, everyone was celebrating merily with music of their own, though compared with the Wielder music the Ashen warriors played more crude instruments that sounded clumsy but rhythmic.

Without realizing Haiden found himself embraced in a smothering hug. Tasgal had wrapped his thick arms around him and squeezed gently, Haiden's head falling snugly in his chest. It fit so perfectly, it calmed Haiden almost instantly his legs buckling under him. He had no strength to hug him back, but he didn't need to.

"I don't know what I've done, Haid. But I'm sorry, please forgive me. I promise whatever it is I won't do it again. I promise." The voice of a hurt man whispered in his ear. He could feel moisture on Tasgal's cheek.

"Tasgal..." Haiden lifted his hands on the man's hips and pushed away slightly to look him in his deep blue eyes that mimicked the beautiful cloudless summer skies. They flickered in the light of a lamp. At that moment he saw how foolish he had been for letting his thoughts get the best of him. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hurt you. I was just... I don't know, " he looked away. "I was worried and I guess jealous."

"Worried about what? Jealous?" Tasgal asked, confused.

"I..." for a moment he thought it would be better to not bring it up but his mouth opened without him realizing. "I came here last night, and you weren't here. I didn't know if you were hurt or..." He couldn't bring himself to say the last part.

"Or screwing around with someone else?" Tasgal continued. Haiden, embarrassed, plunged his face into Tasgal's face and nodded. "You can rest assured, Haid. You are the only man for me." Tasgal grabbed Haiden's head, lifting it up and leaned in for a kiss. Haiden flinched as soon as their hot lips touched. It burned into his skin. Tasgal then pulled away, looking into his eyes. "Master Ameral came to Elo'yn to watch Bras, Haid. I was summoned at his home along with Bras yesterday. He had been here for a while, and I couldn't say no."

"Oh." Haiden said, his thoughts rushing. It wasn't as bad as he thought, but again he still did not know how to feel about that.

"So you were looking for me late at night." Tasgal said with a smile on his face. "I see you're hungry for some Tasgal pie."

Haiden could not believe his ears that those words came out of Tasgal's mouth, he cringed internally, but he couldn't lie to himself, it made him smile.

"I wanted to - "

"To what?" Tasgal's hands brushed Haiden's waist as they went down to grab his buttocks. He squeezed them firmly, making Haiden shiver with desire. Not that he was not already thinking very unsavory thoughts, but that simple action made him lose his composure and year for more. He had forgotten what he wanted to say, his attention only on Tasgal's lips. He felt his cock throb against his tight breaches.

"Shit," he whispered, trying to shift so Tasgal wouldn't notice but it was already too late as he felt something hard poke him.

"I know what will make you feel better, Haid." And Tasgal leaned his head down, his coarse stubble brushing against his cheek, and bit Haiden's ear, licking down his neck.

Haiden gasped with pleasure, grabbing tight a hand full of Tasgal's shirt. "We shouldn't, it's too early, someone might catch us." Haiden tried to pull away but Tasgal's arms were too strong.

"Everyone's out there celebrating, no one's going to come." He smirked. "Besides us." He whispered in his ear, making Haiden burn red with embarrassment, but his words filled Haiden with even more desire. He let himself be led to the bed on which Tasgal carefully laid Haiden down then while their lips smashed together in an intense moment of pleasure.

Tasgal's tongue brushed over his lips as he opened his mouth to meet the Ashen with his own in a deep kiss.

Tasgal began to undress Haiden. His nimble hands making fast work, the wielder found himself fully naked in moments. Tasgal at the same time had worked on his own clothing and the head of a another body enveloped Haiden.

Skin to skin they embraced naked on the bed. Haiden grabbed Tasgal's head as they kissed, his hands brushed through Tasgal's thick hair and moaned while they rubbed against each other.

Tasgal was eager to taste Haiden and began tracing his tongue down his body. Haiden's constant training was beginning to show even more, his muscles were more defined and his figure more manly. His dark curls brushed against Tasgal's face as he took his cock in his mouth making him gasp in pleasure.

Tasgal moaned as he pleasured him with great hunger. His hands trailed on his body, trying to take everything in at the same time, every sensation across Haiden's body, the firmness of his abbs, the form of his hips and the tautness of his hairy thighs.

Haiden squirmed as his release was close. He begged Tasgal to stop so he could reciprocate but Tasgal didn't listen. Instead he began to move faster and his lips tighten around Haiden's cock, he felt his tongue around as it moved as if independently.

He couldn't hold it any longer and with an uncontrolled moan Haiden released into Tasgal's mouth. He felt Tasgal's tongue as it lapped everything up. Tasgal then straddled Haiden, rubbing his hard cock and looking him straight in the eyes with intense hunger until he closed his eyes for his own release. He sprayed Haiden's abdomen with a moan, hot cum burned on his skin.

The mattress sank with Tasgal's weight beside Haiden. "You are beautiful." His finger brushing Haiden's red cheek.

"Shut up!" Haiden said under his breath.