Returning Home (Pasture)

[athena]

Athena looked at dai and remarked dryly, "What are you to weak to teleport many times." But her eyes glittered brightly, she was glad to see that he had arrived so quickly. She nodded her approval that Raphael would be here soon. "Good, it will be nice to see a guardian again, it has been to long.." Her gaze shifted from the wizard that stood before her to the girl and she lowered her head a bit. "I'm not going to eat you." As if by que her stomach growled. A bashful look came to her face as she dipped her head slightly in embarrassment, muttering things underneath her breath about stupid stomach and other things.

[raphael]

Raphael and Miriel both appeared a second after a single flash of lightning in the pasture. He glanced around, spotting a dragon, a psychic, Dai, and his daughter. Quite a strange combination. His first instinct was to dash over to Ebony and fully apologize, but he knew he had to take care of his business first. He turned and nodded to Dai. "So what is it exactly that I had to rush over here for?" He glanced up at the golden dragon. Perhaps it had something to do with the appearance of this rare creature.

Elizabeth bowed slightly to Raphael, then said in a strong voice, "I have a concern, sir. You see, I often have what some might call premonitions. The most recent one... It was quite unsettling. I would just like to ask you a few questions." She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to remember everything clearly. "From what I remember, it seemed to be a wintery atmosphere, yet... There was fire. It was raining from the skies." She glanced up at Raphael and was taken aback at his stunned expression. "...Sir?"

Ebony, still not entirely convinced, moved slowly forward, but in the opposite direction of the dragon. She inched closer to her father, who seemed to be utterly shocked by whatever the woman had said. She tugged lightly at his shirt, and he jumped. He looked down at her, his expression softening as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She put both arms around his stomach, holding him closely.

Raphael kissed the top of Ebony's head, then looked back at the woman. "I apologize. It's just been so long since I have ever heard such a thing..." He glanced down, the memories still fresh. "What you saw was not from the future. It was a tragic event that took place in the Taiga during the Guardian Wars. It was an attack on the Ice Nymphs, which ended up killing Lord Sylfaen's father. I do apologize, but I can't really tell you everything, at least not now..."

[{Kaiji}]

Dai nodded his head in Elizabeth's attention. "She has something to say." He said. He listened to what Raphael's answer was. The event that killed Sylfaen's father? He didn't know about it and he had quite a lot of history books. The thing closest only said that it once rained fire in the taiga. He didn't really believe it before, but now he did. He was about to ask how it had rained fire when Raphael said he couldn't say anything more for the time being. He leaned on his staff and sighed. He needed one of his energy boosting potions.

[athena]

Miriel looked from Raphael to the others. Her gaze lingered on the dragon. She had never seen one in, what seemed like forever. It was a magnificent terrifying sight to be sure. The one before her seemed to be a pretty decent age. When the girl started talking about her vision Miriel listened intently, Something that had happened? In the Taiga? She shook her head, she hadn't heard of this before, but it seemed terrible. Her gaze lingered on Raphael, What was he hiding? What was beneath that calm exterior.



Athena glared at the other people, their stares were slightly annoying. After all did she sprout four heads or something? A grunt came from her mouth and she lowered her head to look Raphael straight in the eye. Her fiery eyes gleamed darkly. "You better not be hiding anything important from us. What has happened long ago has happened. Are you afraid of the past? Or do you think that talking about the past will bring what happened then into the future?" Guardians, she knew, could be tricky people, who liked to keep some people in the dark about the matters of the world. Athena certainly didn't want to be one of those beings, and she decided to let Raphael know that.

[raphael]

Raphael looked at Athena with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry. I just don't think it's my place to tell you." Raphael glanced down at Ebony for a moment. They then flickered up to the skies above them, wonder filling his mind. What was he supposed to do if this vision meant anything? This really wasn't his expertise; Axel would know what to do much better than he would. After all, he was the one mainly involved. It was just such a strange prospect. Who would want to kill such an honorable man like Lord Sylfaen's father? And who would drag Axel into it along with him? Nothing seemed to add up. "I suggest if you would like to know anything more, Axel would be the best one to ask."

Elizabeth just nodded, accepting his answer. She could understand his hesitance. She wasn't sure if she would have the courage to speak face to face with Axel. From what she had heard, he had an explosive temper. "I don't know if he would wish to speak about it, considering the circumstances."

Raphael nodded. "That is the risk of asking any question."

[»Míríel«]

Athena glanced From Raphael to Elizabeth. Her hard, scaly face seemed softened as she looked at her friend. She didn't need to speak, for her eyes showed encouragement for her friend. Nodding her head, knowing the message got through she lifted her head and gazed out at the world around her. What was this world coming to?


Miriel looked at the dragon, there seemed to be some message that the two were communicating, not by speaking, but through knowing each other so well, that you could almost read each others feelings. She shook her head, what a bond these had. Her gaze turned to Raphael when he mentioned bringing Elizabeth to talk to Axel. Her head turned away from a second in a different direction, trying to act nonchalant when her stomach had butterflies in them.The slightest hint of color adorned her cheeks like the blush of a sunrise as it climbed to the sky. Hopefully Raphael wouldn't notice

A flash of red could be seen in the distance. A girl's form could be seen skipping toward the, her feet making a steady rhythm against the ground. Blue eyes shone brightly from beneath black lashes, making them stand out against her pale white skin. As she came nearer it was obvious to see that she had just been somewhere cold. A coat was on her shoulder, despite the warmer climate of the pasture, and there was still reminates of snow sprinkled in her hair, like a fine dust. Her eyes looked at the group as her skipping slowed to a stop and her gaze flicked from one to another. Yet even though Kaylen's eyes shone with happiness, as if they were bursting to tell someone something, her mouth remained closed.

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[{Kaiji}]

The girl was supposed to talk to someone else? And that person was Axel? 'I am gonna have to help her with this too, aren't I?' Dai thought with a sigh. He hadn't even met Axel in person. Truthfully he was a bit scared of him. His fears only returned to the reason of not wanting to die so young. His thought of meeting him in this world would mean his death would soon follow. His eyes wandered over to where he saw another girl. One with really blue eyes and pale skin. She probably just came from the taiga where it was freezing cold. She looked as if she was holding some secret in. "I would go with you if you want to meet Axel. Magic is a great ally to have." He said with a small smile.

[»Míríel«]

Miriel's eyes flicked to Dai when he mentioned Axel and magic being a great ally. Her eyes burned slightly. What did these people think, that Axel was going to kill them all just because they spoke to him? She sighed slightly looked at Raphael before turning away. But then again they didn't know any different, all they knew was that Axel had a raging temper and whose mood could switch quickly and dangerously. No, they hadn't been there for when he had played the piano, they hadn't been there to see another side of Axel.

[raphael]

Raphael glanced at Elizabeth and Dai sadly. So quick was their judgement of Axel. He wished that they could see the side of this man that he had come to know, even if it was rarely shown. His eyes shifted over to Miriel, who seemed to be deliberately looking away from him. Did it have something to do with the mention of Axel? Was it anger that filled her eyes? He could understand; she had seen a glimpse of his world that he had never displayed publicly. With a playful smirk on his face, he said to Dai, "What, do you think your magic could conquer the beast that is Axel's temper? I'd count my blessings if I were you."

Elizabeth smirked at Raphael's response to Dai's offer. "Well, perhaps that is impossible, but any company is appreciated." She could feel the entrance of a new presence from behind her. She seemed to be bursting with excitement. "Raphael, I believe you have another visitor.."

Raphael looked behind his shoulder and saw a young woman with firey red hair skipping toward them with an expression of delight on her face. She seemed to have come from somewhere quite cold; snow dust coated her jacket and hair. News from the Taiga, perhaps? It seemed highly unlikely, but what could be another reason? He took a step towards her approaching figure, waving a hand in greeting. "Please excuse me," he said while taking a few more steps away from the group.

[kaylen]

Kaylen looked up at Raphael, her eyes shining brightly. Her small form dipped into a low curtsy. “Hello Raphael, I thought that I just might find you here.” A knowing look came to her eyes as she looked up at the life guardian, who was a good head or two taller than her. Her wide blue eyes glanced at the group of other people who seemed to have been talking about something important. “Oh dear, I hope that I’m not interrupting anything..” The smile on her face faded a bit as she thought of interrupting something that was important. Then again, what she had to say might have some value. She dearly hoped that Sylfaen didn’t mind telling Raphael, it seemed that they weren’t the best of friends..

[{Kaiji}]

Dai looked at Rahael and Miriel. They both seemed to think something different of Axel. He smiled when Elizabeth said his company was appreciated. "Probably not. But it will help if he does anything....Not that he would just attack without reason." He replied to Raphael. He was trying not to say anything bad about Axel. Miriel seemed to be angry after he said what he did. His eyes caught the sight of a shorter girl with red hair. She seemed like she might want to tell Raphael something.

[raphael]

Raphael smiled at the girl and shook his head. "Of course not. Any important news is not an interruption." She seemed to be a bit hesitant, as if holding back for some reason. It was true he was not as friendly with the patrons of the Taiga as he should have been, but it still was necessary for him to know. The territory was not under his control, but it's condition still concerned him. He knew Axel could care less, so someone had to look over it.

Ebony scoffed at Dai. "Oh, wouldn't he? And would you consider a little tantrum a good reason?" She crossed her arms and looked away from Dai and Miriel. "He just does what he wants, like an immature child. He thinks he can do whatever without it ever catching up to him. He doesn't deserve to be guardian." She could not remember how many times her father would come home exhausted after getting in a spit with Axel. It was ridiculous, the way he just flaunted his anger about.

[»Míríel«]

Kaylen looked up into Raphael's eyes, blue met blue as she lookd at him for a moment. As if making up her mind she nodded to herself. Still her mouth did not open for a bit. It was as if she was trying to find the best way to say the news. Looking down she smoothed her dress carefully, trying to erase every line from the fabric. “Sylfaen’s back” She said this so gently and softly you would have thought that she was remarking about the weather. Her gaze lifted from her dress to Raphael as her eyes shone brightly with excitement. “He’s back Raphael.. he’s truly back!” Excitement showed in her voice this time as she clasped her hands in front of her joyfully.

Anger registered in Miriel’s face. It seemed as though this was an Axel bashing party. But then her features softened and she shook her head. Now she knew, everyone had a view like this about Axel. Now she could understand the pain that rested on him. Looking at Ebony Miriel replied with a soft voice, “Perhaps he has his reasons for his actions. But he was chosen to be the Death guardian for a reason, why he was chosen, I don’t think he even knows. But surely there is a reason that he was chosen, something that might be beyond tall of us, perhaps there is snmething in Axel that none of us have dreamed of.”

[{Kaiji}]

"No, a tantrum isn't really a good reason to attack. Even though I have seen quite a few fights start over something like that. Sometimes things not even as bad as that." Dai said, smiling at Athena and Elizabeth. His smile widened a little when he heard Sylfaen being back. HE had wanted to meet him for a while, ever since he read about him a little in a book. "You're probably right about Axel. Nobody really gives him a chance, do they? I will make sure to." Dai said to Miriel.

[raphael]

Raphael's eyes widened with shock and realization. "He's-!" He pushed the hair off his forehead with a gawking expression. Could this be possible? How could he have returned at such short notice? He knew he had to go there. He had to go there now. Without another word, he practically sprinted into his home, ran into the master bedroom, threw open his chest of drawers, and dug through them frantically. After about half of their contents lay scattered on the floor, he finally pulled out a long, wool coat and gloves. He buttoned the outerwear hastily, his fingers fumbling in anticipation. He stepped over all of the rest of the clothing that had been dumped all over the floor and dashed back outside.

"I apologize for leaving you all like this, but I have to go." As he said this, he was already dashing for a clear space in the pasture. He stood still for a moment, breathing heavily, before being engulfed in a bolt of white lightning. He had to get to Sylfaen before anyone else had the chance to.

Ebony just raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Well, if that is true, I wish he would show it." She looked back at her father, who was running around like a madman. Off on another errand, no doubt. She sighed and watched him shoot off with frustration. "I wish he could be as lazy as Axel. That way he wouldn't be shooting off somewhere all the time," she mumbled under her breath.