NEVEN

"What did you want to speak to me about, Commander?"

It was a rare thing indeed for a young-blooded Storm Warden to find themselves within the office of the Warden-Commanders. Thick tomes squished into shelved walls, where two doors split into bedrooms of reinforced stone and glass windows. Warden-Commander Faehariel sat behind one of the desks, with the other one empty save for a tiny snow globe of the Aethejiin mountain range and Whitehaven pass, the sole entrance into his home kingdom. Neven clasped his hands behind his back and waited for his question to be answered, Yuven's voice haunted him. You are not my enemy, a deep soulsong cried out the reply to Yuven's claim. You are not my enemy, I promised to protect the light.

Faehariel penned a scroll with a deft scrawl. "Tell me of your observations on Yuven, then I shall explain why I called you up here."

"He's a magickal genius."

"Yes, I had him tested recently. He is without a doubt, a Flare, and without a doubt, a genius," Commander Faehariel affirmed and added another note onto the paper, flicking the feather of the quill at him as an invitation to continue.

"But... he didn't appear to understand Fenrer when he shrugged off not being able to do the same level of magicks," Neven recalled. "I also didn't notice any toys, and the bedroom he was in was too small. He also hid behind the runestone and remained there when I left him." He tapped his elbows with his fingertips, then frowned. "Warden-Commander... what is this about?"

Motes of hesitation flickered across her opal pupils. "Neven Lotayrin, do you have any experience with children?" her question came out cautious when she leaned further in her chair. It squeaked with the motion, but the tension in her shoulders left.

"Not really, my mother was... I believe it is called a midwife outside of Naveera - for other noblewomen," he mused and tasted her poundcakes from lands away. "I do not have any experience with children, though. Kemal does, I know he has several younger siblings... I daresay he is much better with children than I am." He faltered at the intensity within her expression. "Why do you ask?"

"I would not sell yourself too short, Lotayrin. Experience comes with time." Faehariel signed off the scroll. "As a Trainee, you were told that there were certain specialties within our Order. Riders. Shieldbearers. Spymasters. Each one serves a vital function to our faded population, but there is no duty more important than the one Guardian's bear. The former three involve hunting down Derelicts in one way or another, but Chirugeons, Guardians... play the most important role of all. You expressed interest in none of them," she explained, and he wracked his brain at the familiarity of the teachings.

I'm afraid of heights, my magick is more about subtlety than strength... but I myself am not subtle enough to gather information without being questioned. I'd stress out too much having someone's health in my hands. "They just didn't sing out to me, Warden-Commander." He hid the reasonings to himself, having nothing to justify to his senior officer. Though I doubt she'd judge me for them anyway. "Guardian's weren't touched upon at great lengths during my training."

"Because often the responsibility is too much, and it requires tact, wit and diplomacy with those at their lowest moments, and not many have the patience and experience for that," she explained. "It was not touched upon because you yourselves were still children learning how to temper your minds and bodies in a healthy manner." Her hand folded over the other on the paper. "Guardian's are those who take displaced magickae children - whether by Derelict attack or other extreme circumstances - under their wing caring for them until they reach of age... and I have failed to find someone who could act as such for Yuven Traye." A sigh left her lips. "Or, that is to say, everyone I have asked was too unwilling."

"What? Why?"

Her eyes closed in one slow blink. "We are only ever mortal with our inherent biases and misunderstandings," she whispered in grief. "Yuven Traye is a Corrupter, and through misunderstanding, many believe him to be no better than a Derelict, liable to spread their contagion through the land from his simple existence, and no matter how hard I try to disprove this... we have a long way to go in that field of medical knowledge."

Ice crawled through his throat and pierced into his heart. "What does this have to do with me?"
"I remember your words Turns ago," she pointed out. "How in the face of fear, you emboldened yourself and those around you through their understandable hesitance. You have a long way to go... but I see something in you — the same thing Anaysa told me of. After all..." Her gaze drifted to the bookshelves. "The true measure of strength is only found within the heart," she spoke out the final words of the legendary Snow Prince, a hero beyond all measure, his strength of heart unquestioned as he raised Ezcali'sere, the silver blade against a Great Crimson Dusk. "Neven Lotayrin, I shall pose this question to you where all others have denied me. Are you willing to become a Guardian to not only Yuven Traye, but Fenrer Pyren? You will not be without assistance and help, I understand the magnitude of my request, especially to an Avaerilian your age."

Neven stood in silence. Wyvern scales shuddered in his throat and a plume of mist escaped his nose, a call of his ancestors and inner soul song, a combative cry against the fae of the sky of which they danced with. Lips sucked in, he said, "I will do it, Warden-Commander. I'll take care of Yuven Traye and Fenrer Pyren as their Guardian until they come of age... and beyond."

Her uncertainty gave way to surprise and no small amount of glee. Her fox-like ears perked up against her painted black horns. She turned the scroll around to face him. "Understand, Warden Lotayrin, once you sign this scroll... you are filling a role for them after it has been stolen from their lives," she warned. "It will not be easy. It will be extremely difficult. You will be taking care of two traumatized children with powerful magick, along with the health issues Yuven Traye will face as he grows. You will be their greatest defender in times of strife... and you will be all that stands between them and the abyss which will seek to claim them." Spirals swam within the opal flames. "You may very well bleed and suffer for your efforts."

"I swore an oath in the light of Evenfall." He took the quill from her. "There is no amount of suffering I will go through that can compare to what they've experienced."

I am not your enemy.

Her gaze intensified. "If you are sure... you can sign this document. It will be put on record that you are their Guardian to the end of your days."

Neven signed his name in both Navei and Common, the penmanship of two homes. It furled up with a wisp of opaline smoke, and Faehariel tucked it into one of the stands with a smile at him. "I advise you to seek counsel from Kemal Tyronai, for now, I should show you where you will be lodging," she said and got out of the chair. "I am pleased to say though... Fenrer and Yuven have become quite attached to each other." Her attention trailed to the thin window, the marble garden in sight where their two shapes sat together, surrounded by books. "I have allowed them an opportunity to get out of that space, they are only going so far as the start of the Gauntlet which will give us time to discuss what comes next as we walk."

Neven followed her out of the tall spire and into the lift which took them down to the main levels of the citadel. "You had lodgings prepared?"

"There are empty houses around the mountain for this express purpose," she explained and they walked out into the cold caldera breeze. The fields weaved with the breath of the world, and he followed her steps on the marble path to the entrance. "You will be taking a residence close to the harbor, but far enough out of the way for some peace and quiet and with plenty of room for them to grow... to regain some of the normality taken from them." Her hand found his shoulder and guided him to the runelift they took before, and it followed the large steps for those who sought the exercise and were able to make the ascent. Its system of wheels and runes slid them down the volcanic face, past the rungs of artisans and into plateaus of fertile lands, before slowing to a stop at the base of the mountain, where the activity heightened.

People parted for the Warden-Commander who remained on Euros, and he followed, a lone Warden in a sea of faces he swore to protect and shield with his life. Nameless as he was. Waves lapped against the stones, but Faehariel cut through a park tucked far away from dangers, fenced off as children played on the swingsets and magick apparatus which took their explorations of their abilities in stride. One girl with golden hair threw fire into the vents with a gleeful jump and a point at an auburn-haired man, who gave her big thumbs up of playful pride. Children's laughter echoed over another soft giggle, a baby's noise of happiness. His feathers tucked around his ears, and he forced himself forward.

Detached from the activity, a house with redstone foundations and thick brick walls held up an arched, shingled roof. A steady path led around it and to the south beach where one of the Gauntlet paths ended. Yusari's force of nature had him glide over waves and crescents. Up the wooden steps of the small porch hidden behind a white trellis, Faehariel unlocked the door and stepped aside for him to take a peek inside.

"This should serve all of you well enough," she said, ducking inside herself, her horns grazing the ceiling. "It is already furnished, most of it may need a quick sweep to get the dust out but that should be no trouble for you or Kemal. You will also need to pick up a month's worth of food, which I will be assigning Yuo as Yuven's personal Chirurgeon and he will have to give you details on his diet." Faehariel hovered by the window where beams of the sun slipped past the blinds. "I will get you started and pick up some food for the first week and leave it within the icebox, but the rest will be up to you."

Neven headed into the living area, where a couch sat in front of a gated fireplace. An open kitchen took another corner with an island counter and a robust runestove and a tall icebox. A staircase covered by another wall led up to a second landing, but he left his exploration of the rest of the house for another time to make his way to the back area, where a door led into a small yard with a shallow creek running through it to rejoin the ocean.

"I like it," he stated when he returned to her. "I think they'll like it too."

"That's what I'm hoping," Faehariel said with a smile. "I do implore you to talk to Kemal first, once you've done that, come find me and we shall get you four moved down here. I will want weekly reports of their status for the first month, then switch to monthly for recordkeeping sake for the first Turn." Her instructions for his duty came out clear and concise, and he committed each to memory. "Neven... you will have to work very hard to gain Yuven's trust, especially."

"He doesn't trust adults," he stated, though second-guessed his answer.

"Good that you observed that," she said. "Yes... and Naveeran adults in particular are a sore spot."

"But I'm not... technically an adult Avaerilian," he pointed out.

"You are of average adult age on this continent, it will make no difference for him. Anyone larger and more experienced than he is... he will consider an adult, even if their experience does not equate to their age," her voice came out a soft laugh. "But if anyone can gain his trust, I do believe it is you. You can speak his language, which he has clung onto above all else, and he has already made mention of you to me during our lessons."

"He... has?"

"He is still a child," Faehariel said and leaned forward. "An insatiably curious, stubborn child who has weathered the storm older folk can only have nightmares of... and you intrigue him."

"I know not whether to be flattered or scared."

"I'd choose flattery... he seems to like you from what I gathered."

"He... does?"

Faehariel chuckled. "It is something you'll understand given time. Children are often blunt, and will speak without the filter we learn over Turns," she said. "He said you sing to the snow roses and make them blossom with your voice."

Waves of heat slammed into his cheeks. "Oh, uh..." He drove his fangs into his lips and forced himself to smile. "I am glad to hear he likes my singing?" He tucked his fingers together and hunched into his shoulders. Feathers flat against the ridge of his ears, he pursed his lips, but he released the awkwardness and nodded to her. "I will... earn his trust, Warden-Commander, I will not demand it from him... I wish for him to trust me on his own terms."

Her expression softened at his words. "Of that... I do not doubt. I am very glad Anaysa found you when she did, Neven Lotayrin. Your heart is a rarity indeed in this world of crimson pitch. Do not lose it." Her tone shifted into folded steel, unbent and unbroken against pressure. "Measure your strength by it. You will need it in the coming days." Faehariel motioned for him to leave the house, and they walked down the steps together. "Go back up to the caldera and explain the situation to Tyronai. Talk to Fenrer and Yuven if you are able as well."

"Will do," Neven said with a hand to his heart, an oath to his song and words to his voice. In the unseen mirror, he looked up to sapphire beads of a larger creature. Scales rippled over their jaw and revealed razor sharp teeth when it breathed upon the glass, but when the image blurred, though the melody became clear when he drew closer. Over the road to the staircase, he followed his heart.

The wyvern answered and came to life in a flurry, sending him backwards on his own wings.