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Next picture, based on role-playing session with amazing Artha-Amberose, with her characters Kraeos and Orios. Liner and coloured pencils used.

Beware - a huge walll of text follows!

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Orios followed, then looked over his shoulder. "Pay attention to Kraeos; he's a good teacher. Even if you WILL grow to hate this Training Hall after a while.' He said, then laughed softly at Alaeos as he followed her out the door.
He gave his head a small shake, feeling that strange weakness coming on again. He said nothing of it, though.. Orios was not one to worry others.
Sillaya looked over her shoulder too, when she heard Orios talking to the newling. She waited for him for a little while and saw him shake his head.
"Anything wrong?" she asked Orios while they were walking through the entrance to the Training hall.
"Mh... I'm allright." He said, giving her a smile. "Probably just overdoing it lately. Maybe I should lay off a bit, but this is all very important, and I've seen Kraeos work himself harder without flinching."
Aedyn was sitting there, and looked up as they stepped out.
"I take it you were distracting too?" He chuckled.
"It could be so. Let's have a seat there," she looked at Aedyn, who smiled at them.
"Well, we were, I think. Not that he minded it too badly."
Orios sat down, leaning back a bit.
"Even with that, I can't stop thinking of all of this... This is time-sensitive, I need to find what I can find - something that will NOT hurt Kraeos, myself, or anybody else in this Pantheon." He was still very preoccupied; and determined.
"I could see you as a leader, someday, Orios." Aedyn chuckled.
Orios blushed a bit. "Oh no no no.. Not at ALL, Aedyn, I am no leader..."
"But you are a good teacher, and you care about the entire Pantheon."
"Well, I know but... I'm no leader." He scratched the back of his head.
"You may not be a leader now, Orios. But this can change," she smiled at Orios. "And I consider only the one, who does not wish to lead the others, knows, how much responsible he must be about it - and that makes a good leader, at least, I think."
Orios blushed again, shaking his head. "No... I'm not a good leader. I try to be the best I can be, but I don't want to lead.. I'm not cut out for it."
"That's what Kraeos said at first, you know... and look at him now." Aedyn said.
"If you insist," she shrugged, smiling. She paused for a while. "Kraeos told me, I would go through some change to be ageless and that I'll be a human no more. What is happening to me?" she asked Aedyn.
"How did he put it? Like turning you into a Messenger, as they are called?" he asked. "Having him do that would be a good idea... Most Gods you would become bound to... but with Kraeos he can not bind, he can only release, being a God of Freedom... You would retain your entire will."
"I don't know, but it seems to me, that he was thinking the same like me for a while and found a way, that would work best for us," she blushed a bit. "But I wouldn't mind being bound to you," she smiled tenderly at Aedyn. "But I won't refuse a chance to keep my free will," she nodded.
"I wouldn't want you to be bound to me." He said. "And Kraeos wouldn't want it either. Keeping your full free will is best."
"I know that. And that's why...I love you so much," she almost whispered, flushing bright pink. She looked to Orios, who was quiet. Maybe he just didn't want to disturb their conversation. "I wonder know, how much I have to learn yet, since I should become..a sort of servant," she mused.
"You would not be a servant in anything but name. The other Gods would see you as Kraeos' servant; thus your presence here would not be contested." Aedyn explained. "And between Orios and myself, we could teach you how to move between this realm and the Mortal world. You would not have to eat and drink, or breathe anymore.. You'd become immortal. Though you could be killed; it would be very hard, and would take more then normal mortal weapons."
Orios had his head leaned back and his eyes closed, not asleep, just trying to rest a bit.
He really did not feel well.
"I see..that was why I hesitated for so long to ask for that. I didn't want to be a cause of arguments between you Gods," she smiled a little. She listened Aedyns explanation. "Well...this I will have to get used, I think. It means, that I won't feel the need to eat, drink or even breathe? Because I remember Kraeos eating in his temple..." she paused and frowned at Orios.
"Oh..Orios, it is getting worse. You should not delay that checking out any longer," she told hom softly, with remarkable concerns.
"Oh, you can eat if you want. You won't need to, though. Gods do that for fun. We do enjoy eating," Aedyn said.
"I like to bake." Orios said. "But... I kinda always make a mess of it." He had opened an eye.
"Baking?" she widened her eyes in aw. "You are suprising me more and more," she smiled at Orios. "I used to do that too at home, before the plague came. It was always fun," she remembered for a while. "Maybe we can bake something together one day," she grinned. "I would like to see what you meant with that mess," she added. Athough Orios seemed to be awake , he wasn't as well as a few moments ago.
"Aedyn, can you check out Orios' energy, please?" she whispered to the white-haired God.
"Well, it comes out tasting good." he said. "But last time I had flour and frosting everywhere. Didn't mind, it tasted good. Oh, and I mixed too hard and ended up with the batter all over the place." He laughed ."No... I prefer to do baking the mortal way... Just making it all appear takes the fun out of it."
Aedyn blinked. "Why?" He asked, but he nodded. Orios seemed fine; at least for now.
"I'll tell you later, if Orios won't tell you himself. He is loosing his energy from time to time," she whispered to Aedyn and then listened again to Orios.
"Simple hand work is worth the results, in this case," she nodded to Orios.
Orios nodded, "Yeah, it tastes better when I make it myself." he said. "But I don't clean the mortal way."
Aedyn nodded, and reached his energy out for Orios, carefully.
"Yeah, that can be boring and annoying, " she nodded. "Especially if you have to do it alone. But when it comes to clean up together with somebody, it can be fun," she smiled.
"All I have to do is snap my fingers and the mess is gone!" Orios said. He was trying to take his mind off of how he was feeling.
Aedyn frowned. 'Mnh... It's hard to sense what exactly it is. There is something there that seems a bit concerning; but I can't get a handle on it. It hurts to touch it with my own energy, but I can feel Kraeos' seal there too.' he told her, mentally.
"yeah. Do you know how many times I wished I could clean up this way?" she grinned.
She tensed a little, when Aedyn spoke to her in her mind.‘ Now..I don't know if it is accute, but we came to conclusion, that Kraeos' seal weakens. And that it will cause something bad in the future - that was why we went away for a while,‘ she thought and looked to Aedyn, hoping, he will catch her thoughts.
Orios laughed. "A lot of Mortals do. A LOT." He said. He felt Aedyn's touch to his energy, and looked over at him, blinking a few times.
'From what I can tell, it'll keep coming back. It's forming outside of the seal... " He sounded concerned in her mind. 'He is... He's honestly a lot sicker then he admits, I can feel that. He does not feel well... But he is not wanting to say it.'
' Maybe giving him a little privacy with you will help,' she thought in response.
"Well since I am still one of them, I have my needs. Nature calls, and I must obey," she excused herself, and stood up to find a toilet.

The Palace did not have them; at least not normally, but her chamber had one because she was mortal; most of the times Mortals were not found in the Realm of the Gods; and thus no preparations were made for them.
Aedyn nodded, and as she left, looked to Orios,
"You're sick." He said, calmly. Orios frowned.
"I'm fine, really..." He said.
When they came back, Aedyn was checking into Orios' energy deeper, Orios just standing there looking on. After a while, Aedyn pulled back, frowning.
"Orios, you're getting weak. Have you been having trouble with your powers?"
".. Not really..."
"Orios..."
"Well... It's been a bit harder to look into my Orbs..." He admitted, "But Kraeos is under so much stress I don't want to worry him, really, I'll be fine."

When she returned, she sighed with a little relief. At least Aedyn knew by now, how serious Orios' sickness is. She came back to them and joined Aedyn by convincing Orios to do something about his weakening.

"But he will be in a huge stress, when something happens to you, that he couldn't do nothing about, just because you didn't trust yourself to ask for his help," she insisted softly.
"There is nothing good in pushing yourself too hard," she added seriously.
Orios frowned a bit. "I'll talk to him about, see what he can do.." He said. He moved to take a step, and that caused a rush which made him stagger. He almost lost his footing then, shaking his head again. "... as soon as I can get some rest...' He said, faintly.
She paled and quickly stepped beside him, embraced him around his waist, giving him a support. "You know what? We better ask now, Alaeos surely welcomes some pause," she told him firmly now. She gave Aedyn a look full of concerns and headed to the door

Aedyn nodded, opening the door.
"Kraeos. It's Orios." He said.
Kraeos frowned. "What..."
"He's sick."
Kraeos looked to Alaeos. "YOu can have a break, Alaeos, I need to check on your older brother."
Alaeos nodded. Kraeos moved to Orios, and touched his energy, and after some time drew back.
"This is.. THis is REALLY bad." He said, sounding very concerned. "The corruption is not what is making him sick.... It's his own energy conflicting with it. His energy ... His essence, is turning against itself, and sealing it won't help. At all. It's working fast..."
Orios started to feel weaker, most of his weight supported by Sillaya, before his legs gave out on him, and Aedyn had to help hold him up.
"What caused it?"
"...It feels as if more was forming outside of my seal, and it's been there for a while... And he is finally succumbing. It was like you, and the hatred... but he's conflicting with himself." Kraeos said. Oh he sounded worried. VERY worried.

"What can be done now? He was worried about that...that tearing away that corruption could kill him," she sighed heavily.
She bit her lip. She should have told that Kraeos right after she came back to his palace with Orios.

"It could! But so could this." Kraeos said. He was starting to sound paniced. "No matter what we do, he could die." He was starting to pace. Orios suddenly faded out, and was gone.
"Shit! He's lost the strength to remain here, he's in the Mortal World..." That was bad. VERY bad. There was a flash of light, and they, all but Alaeos, who looked confused, were where Orios had appeared. Orios was simply laying down, looking definately sick, his face pale... it looked worse here then it did in his own Realm.
Instructions were left to Alaeos to find one of the other Gods; Alaeos was still young, but he was able to fend for himself, well enough. He figured he'd just enjoy the time off of training.

"No!" she exhaled sharply in a shock, frightened that the worst had happened. But when she heard Kraeos, she calmed a little - Orios wasn't lost yet.
But seeing him in the Mortal world, it hurt her badly. She had to wipe out first tears, and steel herself to anything, that was about to come. One panicking God was enough, no need to add another person.
"Can he hear us?"

Kraeos bent down next to Orios. "Can you hear me?" He asked. Orios nodded. "I really don't feel good." he said, shifting uncomfortably. The vision.
"I'm going to die... aren't I?" He muttered.
Kraeos looked stricken, worried. "No... Not if I can help it." he said.
Orios shivered, and much like Aedyn had, he threw up; though Kraeos, who had suffered the same corruption, recognized it. He didn't seem to care, though, only holding him close.
"I have to do it... I have to tear it out of him." Kraeos said, panic right on the edge of his voice. "If I don't he WILL die.. if I do it gives him at least a chance..."

" Can I help somehow?" she asked quietly. She wondered, if she could do something with her own energy, to keep him at least stabile.

"They are both going to need moral support. As much as they can get." Aedyn said. "And... if Orios does not survive this, Kraeos is going to need a friend... "
Kraeos dropped into a trance, as his energy delved into Orios'... he didn' care that the corruption coudl infect him too. He'd survived it once. He could do it again. It was WORTH it if he could save his Orios...
Orios twisted in pain as he felt the first parts of his energy starting to be isolated. He kept his mouth shut, though, and made absolutely no sound... He was not going to break Kraeos' concentration.

She kneeled to Orios's side, to the place where she would not hinder Kraeos during his healing attempt. Seeing Orios suffering brought her to a thought. She concentrated for a while and tried to touch Orios with her own energy, carefully tuned to feel soothingly warm and assuring him.

"D.. Dont.." Orios said. "If.. if this curruption touches you, it will kill you in an instant... It kills Gods... Think what it could do to a Mortal, I will not be the.. the cause for your death..." he shuddered and threw up again, as if he'd eaten something bad, but it was only energy. "It may be better to keep the touches physical." Aedyn said, softly, hearing Orios.

She nodded sadly. "Don't be afraid about me, Orios. I'll be careful, okay? Please, hold on. We all need you to survive," she told him quietly, and pulled her energy carfully back.

Orios nodded weakly, then winced again. he couldn't hold back the pain in his voice and his face as he whimpered softly.
He was weak from the corruption, and having part of him taken away was only making it worse. He felt that voilent burning starting to grow stronger, and he moved as fast as he was able to shove Sillaya away as he started to retch again; but this time, with the energy came up something black. Aedyn was fast to seal it, and destroy it.
If Orios hadn't moved her, it would have touched her... and even the barest touch meant no survival.

She gasped for her breath and her eyes widened, when she saw that black energy coming out of him. It was deadly close. She exhaled heavily, a while after that corrupted thing was sealed and got back on her feet, only to get close to Orios and Kraeos near him, and see, wheather he is okay enough to heal after a time or not.

"You should be fine if you stay away from his head." Aedyn said. He was already working on creating a seal that would destroy the black energy as it came up; for a while nothing happened, other then the occasional shiver from Orios before he threw up more of that black energy... But he was getting worse; a physical touch would reveal he was burning with a fever that would kill a Mortal... hot to the touch, and his energy even felt weak and sick. Kraeos' expression of worry was deepening, but his concentration did not let up.

She nodded to Aedyn. and went near to Kraeos and Orios very carefully, not to get in touch with that black energy. She touched gently Orios' shoulder and was ready to quickly avoid anything that would seem to harm her. She wondered, why would Orios' energy conflict itself.
"Could it be that...Orios has lost his believe in himself?" she mused quietly.

Aedyn shook his head. "The energy that causes the corruption is very volatile; and evil in nature. He is good and kind.. If he was evil, like his father... It wouldn't conflict with him. That's what it is... If he were to let it take him over, that would save him; but it is not in his nature to be evil, or cruel."
Orios only seemed worse, his slender form shivering in pain, but he was moving less and less, his energy starting to grow weaker. Between having the corruption taken out of him, and the corruption poisoning him, and the conflicting going on in his energy... Things didn't look good.

"Orios," she whispered in horror, "...please, hold on," she pleaded softly, her eyes flooded with tears. "I don't want you to disappear...."she softly pressed his shoulder.

It was several hours of touch and go before there was a final shudder and he threw up the last of the corruption.
Problem was, his glow was flickering dangerously, and no matter what Kraeos did, it didn't seem to stabilize.
The older God was starting to panic, and even with Aedyn's help, Orios appeared to have faded away. Their energy was not related; and did little for him.

When the last bit of corruption was thrown out, the things went even worse. She saw despair in faces of both Kraeos and Aedyn and felt the same. She was feeling once again like she was loosing her dear brother again.
Without a single thought, she tried to reach Orios' energy very smoothly with her own, trying to keep it from vanishing away entirely. She couldn't bear even a thought of loosing the one who was the reason of her happiness in her life. She didn't want to loose her new and very close friend.

There was nothing to be felt; at least it seemed so. Aedyn finally drew back, as did Kraeos. Aedyn looked sad...Kraeos looked crushed.
"...I think we've lost him." Kraeos said, and even his voice sounded broken. Orios was limp and not moving, and there was no glow to him.

"No," she moaned and embraced Orios fully, her voice barely audible, but her pain making her shiver. She put all her awareness in search of even tiniest feel of that fresh, chilly gentle night breeze... That wind, whispering its mysteries in the night under silvery stars...
"Don't go, Orios, please! " she whispered.

"Let's go back." Aedyn said. "If there is anything left of him at all, it will regenerate better in our own Realm..." He said.
Kraeos just held the limp form close and nodded. He didn't speak.
Aedyn patted his shoulder, then looked to Sillaya. "There could still be hope... but with no energy to be felt..." He shook his head. He hadn't known Orios that long, but already he loved the younger God; like family. But not as much as Kraeos did, and Kraeos was taking it the hardest.
Aedyn did the teleport, taking them all back, as Kraeos laid Orios on a bed in the chamber he'd stayed in while he was training.
If there was any; it wasn't enough to be detected, even by the experienced probing of the two older Gods.

She heard Aedyn somewhat distantly, and it was hard to stop trying to feel for Orios' energy right now. After a while she lifted her head, taking a deep shaky breath. She felt so guilty now, that she didn't tell Kraeos about Orios' sickness right when they arrived back to Kraeos. If she told him, maybe this wouldn't happen,...she swallowed her tears, when she saw Kraeos laying Orios in his bed. She remembered the moment, when Orios told her of his vision of Kraeos in front of the door leading to this room, being utterly upset and went on her knees, crying silently.

"Don't blame yourself," Kraeos said, quietly. "No matter when I did this, the outcome could be the same...He didn't have much going for him. It was his own gentle, good nature that ..." He paused. "That did this to him." He quietly walked out the door. "I have some duties to attend to... If.. If there's any change, please let me know."
Aedyn frowned as Kraeos left.
"He's... crushed." He said, softly. He looked at Orios.
"If... There IS anything left, it will take time to show itself..." He said.

She lifted her head and tried very hard to meet Kraeos' gaze. She couldn't remember, if this simple thing felt so hard before. She swalloved her tears again and tried to wipe out the rest of them of her face...but the new ones were still coming.
"I'll be there and wait. You both have too much to do," she sobbed. At least, she could do THIS. She nodded unhapilly to Aedyn, and remained in Orios' room.

That was when Athervias was unfortunate enough to have business with Kraeos; he had something to report to him.
This happened, probably, right outside the door; Athervias coming up... And Kraeos snapping on him.
"I hope you're fucking happy, Athervias!" Kraeos yelled, for the first time in a VERY long time losing control over his emotions; that caused a wave of energy to ripple out, which would make Aedyn and Sillaya both tingle; the energy even FELT angry.
"What..."
"I know it's EXACTLY what you always wanted. Well! I hope you're fucking PROUD of yourself!"
"Kraeos..."
"YOU WILL REFER TO ME AS LORD KRAEOS!" There was another rage-induced wave of power, followed by footsteps. "Get out of my sight!" came next, and the slam of a door.
Athervias just stood there, looking confused. WHAT had happened?

It wasn't very long, when she heard Kraeos' voice filled with heated pain and anger. She went to the door and opened them, only to hear and see Kraeos, yelling at Athervias like mad.

"Lord Athervias," she called him with a husky voice, and stepped a bit to side, to let the God see the reason of Kraeos' anger.

Athervias turned, almost to glare.
"What the hell happened?" He asked. His pride had taken a pretty good blow... "What has Kraeos all in a knot?"
Aedyn glared. "Do you remember your words? The things you said to Orios?" He asked. "Well, you got your wish." Even Aedyn looked angry.
Athervias went quiet, confusion replaced with guilt. That look in Kraeos' eyes... He knew that look.
It had been the look in his own eyes when she had left him; and blamed him for what had happened to her... The same pain, anger.
".. I see..." He said, frowning, lowering his gaze. "I... I never thought it would actually happen..."
He looked towards Orios again.

"We are afraid that the worst happened, Lord Athervias. I can tell you what has happened exactly, if you wish," she said sadly. "Will you come in?" she asked Athervias and then looked to Aedyn.

He frowned, but stepped inside, looking to Orios again.
He couldn't push down the guilt that nagged at him. The little voice saying 'you wanted this'
"... I spent so much time thinking how much he looked like HIM... I never saw his mother in him..." He said, quietly, looking down at Orios' face. "What happened?" All he knew was Orios looked dead. Very much dead; and felt it, too.

" I think, It begun a few weeks ago, when I came here. Orios ran into Kraeos' chamber, terribly scared of one vision he had. And scared of the heritage from his father - the corrupting touch. Kraeos sealed it in him, and it was planned to be taken away from Orios - but since then he had been very busy," she paused for a while.
"In his visions he saw his father being freed and was trying very hard to find as much as possible anything, that could prevent him from making too much damage. The last days he was becoming more and more tired," she sighed and looked to Orios' calm and a bit troubled face.
"All these visions had something to do with a half-blood, called Larem Fansen, who was guided by Derik Fansen - a man who died not long ago. Today, this man was brought by Lord Ladoros to Kraeos, so that he and Orios could find more about it," she looked somewhere in distance, trying to reveal her memories as clear as possible.
"I was there, when Kraeosand Orios were talking with Derik's spirit.
"The thing was, Orios found a way, how to get rid of his inheritage and use it against Orandis, when he rises. But today, he was not that happy about it and so I noticed, that there is something wrong with him. I asked him about it and went with him, because he wished to talk about it with me in privacy," she forced her not to sob.
"He showed me some very blurred visions of that half-blood Larem...and Kraeos being beside him, but in terrible state. He has also showed me a vision, where Kraeos was standing in front of this door utterly upset as you probably saw him, when you were coming here. Orios was very afraid of it, because he couldn't tell even roughly, when this can happen. I guessed almost rightly, what was this vision about." she paused again.
"And after that, Orios told me about his sickness. We decided to check out the seal, Kraeos made on that corrupting ability, but at that time, Kraeos was teaching his son and Orios seemed to be at least well enough to wait."
"His condition was growing worse minute by minute and by the time I made Orios to go back to Kraeos, it hit him fully, consuming him alive and making his own energy grow weaker and fading. Aedyn said...that there was a conflict in him. That there was evil, trying to consume Orios, and that it violently conflicted with his tender nature. He said..." she swalowed another sob.
"He said, that if Orios was at least a bit evil in his heart, it wouldn't hit him so badly but now..even he can't sense Orios‘ energy now," she almost started crying again.

Athervias was quiet for a while, watching Orios as he listened to her words.
Athervias looked down, finally. "I guess he wasn't... wasn't that bad." He said. "I mean... I guess I thought he was the reason she left, and all I saw in him was his father, but... he has her eyes... How could I have been so.. so stupid." He scowled, still looking at Orios.
Aedyn was still sitting beside him. "I did realize something, though... when a God dies, others feel it. Kraeos felt me die... I didn't FEEL him go. That's what tells me there may be some hope... It could just be that his... end was not as voilent as mine, more like quietly fading out instead of it being torn away from him... But all the same, I've felt Gods die. I didn't feel it, with him,"
She looked up to Aedyn. He sounded so sure...if there really is a hope, then...then what should she do? She decided to hold on this hope as long until it proves right or wrong.
"Perhaps you were only...blinded by your own pain, my lord," she said quietly to Athervias.

He just nodded, frowning.
"I have a lot to think about." he said, and finally left the room, heading down the hall.
"At least he learned his lesson." Aedyn said.
After a few hours, Aedyn had to leave; Alaeos needed some training at least, and Kraeos hadn't left his chambers; they were firmly locked.
Sillaya thanked him with a small bow, when Athervias was leaving. She heard Aedyns statement.
"Then let's hope, it will sink deep in," she nodded. Together with him, they both checked if Orios's energy is replenishing up to a noticable level from time to time.

After a few hours Aedyn left her alone with Orios to teach Alaeos, so he would not be fretting about his fathers worries and other things related with it.

After some more hours the very barest spark could be felt, like a familiar night breeze. Weak, barely there - but there all the same.
Every half of an hour she tried to sense Orios' energy again and again. Next few hours passed without any sign of a smallest change, but when she tried again, stubbornly determined, she felt something. It felt like a shaky breath of a night. That feeling was weak, but familiar. She held her breath and tried to reach for it again, just to make sure.

It was there, definately there. VERY weak; Orios wasn‘t moving and still had no glow... But he WAS alive. Hanging by the barest thread - but alive...
She pulled back as gently as possible and waited for another half of an hour and then checked it again very carefully. She sighed from relief, and frowned it thinking what to do. She didn't want to leave Orios' bedside.

Then, after a short moment she got an idea. She concentrated again and reached for Kraeos' energy to call him to her this way too.
"He's coming back, Kraeos," she said quietly, in the silence of the room.

All she felt was grief; It was true, Kraeos was a mess at the moment. He hadn't left his chambers, and hadn't spoken to anybody. He heard her, but only very distantly. He didn't actually register what she had said.

It seemed that she will have to leave and try to get to Kraeos' chamber.
"Please, keep holding on, Orios," she whispered in his ears and carefully kissed his forehead. After that, she quietly walked out of his former chamber and headed to Kraeos.
She stopped in front of the locked door and knocked on it after a short hesitating.
"Lord Kraeos? Orios is coming back. I felt him again a while ago."

There was a moment before the door opened, Kraeos practically running to Orios' chamber, where he placed his hand on his chest. He felt it, too - in fact, it was starting to get stronger. Orios was a fighter... If he hadn't been so determined, he WOULD have died... It was willpower alone that had brought him back.

She went after him in not that quick pace and stopped at the door, wondering if it was a good idea to tell it Aedyn and Alaeos too. She thought over for a while and then went to the training hall, to pass the message.

Alaeos was distracted; wondering why Aedyn was there and not Kraeos; and he wanted to see Kraeos; not to mention he kept asking about Orios; he liked when Orios joined him and helped him out. He didn't even sense Orios, and his concentration easily broke again when Sillaya came to the door.

Seeing Alaeos so confused, she stopped at the door. "Sorry for disturbing you," she smiled a little to Aedyn. "I wanted to tell you this," she paused and went closer to him, so Alaeos could not hear her.
"Orios is slowly coming back. I felt his energy again," she whispered almost to his ear.

Aedyn paused. "Alaeos, you can take a break." he said, making the young God sit down with relief. The training was hard and frusterating! He moved quickly to Orios' room, where Kraeos was beside the bed. He had Orios' hand in his, and it seemed like he was sharing his energy as best as he was able.
"You can make it..." he said.

She smiled to Alaeos. "Enjoy your break," she waved at him and went back with Aedyn. When they entered to Orios' room, they saw kraeos putting all he had to help Orios to heal from his deadly ordeal. She watched them both, Kraeos and Aedyn and waited.

Kraeos finally looked up. "I... I can feel it." He said. "It's not much, but there's something. I wish I was actually related, my energy would do him more good if I was..."

She smiled a little sadly. It will sure take long until Orios will be allright. With his relatives being a) sealed or b) somewhere far away and lost - there couldn't be done much more, than was done already. She looked to Aedyn and was about to ask if she should stay here or go to Alaeos, before he gets too bored.

"You can stay here with Kraeos and Orios... I should probably let Alaeos know Orios is allright. I didn't tell him what happened because I don't think he'll understand, but he doesn't sense his energy and is getting worried... I just need to tell him Orios is healing after being hurt and sick." Aedyn said.

"Okay," she nodded and smiled a little in relief. Her hope grew stronger every minute now, that she and also these two could sense Orios' energy.
"Um.." she paused in flash of an idea. "Are there any sweets Orios particurarly likes?"

"He's always loved cookies." Kraeos said, though his voice was quiet. He was still worried; there was hope but no he was just the immensely worried parent hoping for the best. "Once, one of the Gods from Earth said something of his name, one letter away from a cookie called an oreo... I brought some to him, and he seemed to really like them... Sometimes I jokingly called him the God of Destiny and Cookies... he's fond of any sweet really, but cookies were always his favorite."

"Oreo?" she widened her eyes. "Now that's something," she shook her head. "My mum used to bake them every sunday...for our afternoon snack. Me and my brother always used to steal them, even when they were already pulled out of the owen and hot like hell," she chuckled. "How to bake them was the last thing my mum tought me," she sighed a little sadly.

Kraeos nodded, "I don't know how much it'd help... but when he's regenerated enough to wake out of his coma, it might be a welcome taste and smell."

"I meant it as a welcome...when he wakes up," she looked to Orios and reached with her senses for his energy. It was slowly getting stronger.

Kraeos moved some of Orios' hair out of his face, touching his cheek gently.
"Just hang in there, Orios, We'll be here. Take your time and heal."
He nodded. "I think he'd like that." he said. He hadn't let anybody see his tears; even as easy-going as he was, he was still very proud; he was a God after all. But one could tell he'd cried - a lot, even if he hid it well.

"Then..there is only one problem...where can I get the ingredients?" she looked with rather shy smile to Kraeos, trying to ease his worries a little.

"I can make them appear for you.. that's not a problem" he said, still staying close to Orios.

"Good then," she nodded. "Should I write a list for you or remembering what is needed will be enough?" she asked, now very puzzled.

"Write a list for me... I'm not likely to remember much right now." He said. It was strange, to see Kraeos without that cheeky smirk and shine to his eyes. He just looked miserable and worried, even his wildly curly hair somewhat tame.

She bit her lower lip and nodded. No use in trying to cheer him too much. After hesitating for a while, she went to her guest quarters to get things to write and returned.
It took her a some time to remember all, what was needed, she didn't bake anything for at least more then three years, since she lost her family.

Athervias had decided to come back, though he hesitated. As he came to the door, he recoiled under a sharp glare, but bowed low.
"I came to apologize, Lord Kraeos." He said, trying to be as humble as he could. "My actions towards Lord Orios were... uncalled for."
Kraeos was silent, looking to the side. Though he KNEW snapping was wrong, and he KNEW he should accept the apology back... he just couldn't.
He just dismissed Athervias with a nod and a wave of a hand; far better then yelling, at any rate.

Seeing Athervias, staying hesitantly at the door was an unexpected surprise. At that moment, when he spoke to excuse for being mean to Orios, she wished she wasn't there. She had a feeling, that her presence here was now making it harder for them both.
But before he left, she bowed towards him deeply. She had always respected those, who were able to swallow their own pride and to do, what was right.
She was watching him leaving for a while and then turned to Kraeos. She went a little closer, her list of ingredients in one hand and sat nearby on the bedside.

Kraeos took it and tucked it in a pocket. "They will be in your chambers when you need them.. Though Orios' palace is the one with a kitchen because he likes to bake and cook. He sometimes supplied the food in some of my temples..." He smiled sadly. "I wish he hadn't inherited that power... I had to take a part of it out of his very Center, which was incredibly hard to do...

She nodded and smiled. "I hope he won't mind me baking here without his permission," she grinned a little. But then went serious.
"No wonder that it turned to such cruel ordeal for you both," she nodded. "I was so scared seeing it..and not being able to help much. Maybe Lord Ladoros tried to warn me about things like that," she mused. "I saw him only twice and I was always a little frightened at first and had to calm down. He seems to be somehow....gentle deep inside.." she paused and flushed.

Kraeos nodded, "He represents the better side of Death. Peace, rest, and an end." He said. "But also a new beginning. He is sometimes called the Soul Shepherd, because he takes the souls of the dead and guides them to their final peace." He said. "Ladoros has a noble heart, even if his element is a bit frightening."

"I was a little bit worried especially about how he would react , when I asked you to make me ageless. I didn't want to go against the rules but...well, I'm quite certain, that you know, how I felt," she smiled a little sheepishly.

"It is not aginst the rules. Honestly, now that Aedyn back he needs a Messenger; it is not unheard of for a God to take a Mortal as their Messenger, if the Mortal proves himself to the God." Kraeos said. "No rules would be broken; not to mention, I am undebted to you for bringing Aedyn back to me; and he owes you his life." He was still stroking Orios' cheek gently.

"If he owes me his life, than I owe him too very much. He made me smile again, he made me feel really alive...and accepted me. I wasn't lonely any more. That means very much for me."

"Seems we changed your thoughts on the Gods." Kraeos said, giving a rather weak attempt at a smile.

"You did indeed," she smiled genuinely. "It is only a bit strange..I cannot think of you other way then of my older brother, if I ever had any..and it's a bit similar by Orios - he reminds me my younger brother. In our family I was always the wild one and he the good and kind one."

"Most Gods are not so easy going... But I try to be. We are not that different then Mortals, really."

"I will keep that in mind. I don't want to repeat my first meeting with Athervias anytime soon," she grinned. "It wasn't very nice. But it seems he changed his mind a little," she added thoughtfully.

"I was not nice to him either. It was wrong of me to snap on him like that... I am the Leader... those under me should not suffer because I do." He said. "But I'm still so worried about him.. what if it comes back? I may not be able to save him if that happens..."

"Well, it is not for me to judge anyone. You both suffered too much or too long, and that was just the result of it," she shrugged. and looked at Orios, still lying quietly and motionless in his bed.
"I wish I could quess," she sighed. "But I think you'll do everything you can to prevent that. Let's hope you won't need to," she said. It was not like her to make false promises.

"That same corruption killed me, too... but I was able to set it up so I would regenerate... I sealed my healthy energy... then sealed my center. I died... Which stopped the corruption. Two days later, the seal around my Center broke, and my regenerating energy broke the second seal... Even then it was weeks before I woke up. They say they didn't even sense my energy, like Orios, until my second seal broke..."

She reached for Orios' energy once more, to find out how he heals.

Progress was slow, but his energy was still there. He was still hanging in there.

"I feel his energy grows stronger, little by little," she smiled. "I wondered, if trying to sense the energy of other Gods there could help me to know them better, since it is ..sort of your essence."

"Feel mine... Then you will have an idea of how it should feel." He was a little hesitant, though.. He didn"t want his emotions to overwhealm her; He had a lot going around in his mind.

She nodded, trying not to be too eager and closed her eyes for a short moment, to help herself to concentrate. After that, she felt for her own energy first, just to have it under propriate control. Then, she reached very gently and carefully for his energy. In her mind she had an image of a hand, formed from golden sunlight, placing itself lightly on Kraeos' chest.

His energy was strong, powerful, noble... and so. very. free. Touching it was like being released from chains; made one want to sing and dance and laugh - but she could feel his worry, fear for Orios' wellbeing... And the fact that he was holding back tears over the whole thing.

She frowned barely visibly. He had to release his feeling and stop puting himself in chains. She thought for a while and then stood quietly up and stepped closer to Kraeos, not very sure of her idea.
"Will you allow me to..touch you?"

"If you please." He said. Normally he would have cracked a joke... But this time he didn't even smirk.

She nodded and moved right next to him, blushing a little and slowly hugged him, holding him firmly enough for him to feel her support, but at the same time loose enough to pull out, if he would wish to.
"If Gods are allowed to play jokes and have laughfits, why shouldn't they be allowed to cry, when they feel so? It won't lessen my respect towards you," she said softly.

"Pride is a thing that befalls even the greatest of Gods..." He said, rather softly. Even touching him she could feel the tingle of his energy.

"It is," she agreed. "I suppose same it goes by a good father," she pointed out softly.

Kraeos looked at Orios again, at how dead he looked... One could only tell that he lived by checking for the energy. Even being in contact, she could feel the emotions going through him. "Not only that, but I have to stay strong for my pantheon and for the Mortals who look up to me." He sounded sad still, and closed his eyes to bring it back under his control.

"You ARE strong," she said and smiled, her head layed on his shoulder. He sure was a great leader and now it was burdening him heavily. "And Orios takes this one feature after you. I believe, that he won't give up, when he got this far by now," she said firmly.

"I know he is strong, to come back from being so near death... But seeing him like that... " He shook his head. "I can hardly bear it."

"This is a burden of all, who dare to love someone very deeply," she shrugged a little. "And only the strongest ones find the courage that is needed to really love someone," she mused quietly.

He nodded a bit. "Orios... Is more then just a son to me. He's my friend; a very close one. So young but so dedicated and wise."

There was nothing she could say any more, all was already said. She only tightened a little her arms around him. She didn't want to promise him, that it would be okay, unless she knew that for sure. That would not be honest to him and that was not, what Kraeos already needed. she just listened and was there with him.

"I still remember the day he was born. Like the rest, I had my doubts... I was going to let them until I saw his face... He was so scared. I couldn't let my anger towards Orandis hurt him. I still remember singing to him and stroking his hair, assuring him that he was safe and that I would not let anything happen to him. He... always stayed so close to me... was such a timid youngling. He cried a lot, but never gave up and never threw a tantrum, not once."

"Which song he likes most?" she asked, before she could even think over, if this apropriate. But it was too late. But who knows...maybe singing it would help him to ease his worries? It would hardly be bad to hear Kraeos singing...oh. don't start being this selfish, she reproved herself.

Kraeos just gave a ghost of a smile. "An old song I heard a mortal woman sing to her frightened child." He said. "I held him like this..." He gently pulled Orios' limp form into his arms, bringing him into Sillaya's embrace, and started to sing... Almost as if the song would bring Orios back. The language was as pretty as the song, and even the feel of it was comforting and assuring. It didn't help that Kraeos' voice was simply heavenly.

When Kraeos pulled slowly Orios into their embrance too, she widened her eyes a little, but embraced him as well. When Kraeos started singing, a shiver ran over her spine - a pleasant one, startling her to her very soul. She didn't understand the words, but it wasn't necessary - the melody sent the message of the song clear enough. She was a little sorry when he ended, she could listen to him for hours.

"The words.. Well, they are actually about me.." He said, with another ghost of a smile. "About how the Lord of Freedom will release the sleeping one from the chains of fear and let them fly peacefully into sleep, free of fears and nightmares."

" That is a pleasant thought," she mused. "My mother sung me a lullaby about guardian angels, who watch the body and soul of children and chase every evil away and protect them from any harm. Strange is, I sort of believe in angels, but not in ...well, you know who," she stopped.

"Oh, they exist. They were once a free people but Yahweh enslaved them... Some are so deep under his control they can only bow before his damn throne and call out that he is the Lord Allmighty.." He snorted. "It disgusts me." He still held Orios. "I have some of his corruption still sealed. I have half a mind to throw it at that bastard." He looked down at Orios, running a hand through his hair. "My little one... "

"I never doubted it even," she widened her eyes a little in a surprise of this discovery. "I suppose it's ...because...well, there were times, when I felt sudden urge to pull back and my body reacted almost on its own....and in the next moment a carriage passed by, driven fast by the coachman, or something fell off the roof I was walking under," she remembered.
She smiled at the sight of Kraeos - a father is so gentle to his little boy - even though he actually is not his own.

Description
Next picture, based on role-playing session with amazing Artha-Amberose, with her characters Kraeos and Orios. Liner and coloured pencils used.

Beware - a huge walll of text follows!

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Orios followed, then looked over his shoulder. "Pay attention to Kraeos; he's a good teacher. Even if you WILL grow to hate this Training Hall after a while.' He said, then laughed softly at Alaeos as he followed her out the door.
He gave his head a small shake, feeling that strange weakness coming on again. He said nothing of it, though.. Orios was not one to worry others.
Sillaya looked over her shoulder too, when she heard Orios talking to the newling. She waited for him for a little while and saw him shake his head.
"Anything wrong?" she asked Orios while they were walking through the entrance to the Training hall.
"Mh... I'm allright." He said, giving her a smile. "Probably just overdoing it lately. Maybe I should lay off a bit, but this is all very important, and I've seen Kraeos work himself harder without flinching."
Aedyn was sitting there, and looked up as they stepped out.
"I take it you were distracting too?" He chuckled.
"It could be so. Let's have a seat there," she looked at Aedyn, who smiled at them.
"Well, we were, I think. Not that he minded it too badly."
Orios sat down, leaning back a bit.
"Even with that, I can't stop thinking of all of this... This is time-sensitive, I need to find what I can find - something that will NOT hurt Kraeos, myself, or anybody else in this Pantheon." He was still very preoccupied; and determined.
"I could see you as a leader, someday, Orios." Aedyn chuckled.
Orios blushed a bit. "Oh no no no.. Not at ALL, Aedyn, I am no leader..."
"But you are a good teacher, and you care about the entire Pantheon."
"Well, I know but... I'm no leader." He scratched the back of his head.
"You may not be a leader now, Orios. But this can change," she smiled at Orios. "And I consider only the one, who does not wish to lead the others, knows, how much responsible he must be about it - and that makes a good leader, at least, I think."
Orios blushed again, shaking his head. "No... I'm not a good leader. I try to be the best I can be, but I don't want to lead.. I'm not cut out for it."
"That's what Kraeos said at first, you know... and look at him now." Aedyn said.
"If you insist," she shrugged, smiling. She paused for a while. "Kraeos told me, I would go through some change to be ageless and that I'll be a human no more. What is happening to me?" she asked Aedyn.
"How did he put it? Like turning you into a Messenger, as they are called?" he asked. "Having him do that would be a good idea... Most Gods you would become bound to... but with Kraeos he can not bind, he can only release, being a God of Freedom... You would retain your entire will."
"I don't know, but it seems to me, that he was thinking the same like me for a while and found a way, that would work best for us," she blushed a bit. "But I wouldn't mind being bound to you," she smiled tenderly at Aedyn. "But I won't refuse a chance to keep my free will," she nodded.
"I wouldn't want you to be bound to me." He said. "And Kraeos wouldn't want it either. Keeping your full free will is best."
"I know that. And that's why...I love you so much," she almost whispered, flushing bright pink. She looked to Orios, who was quiet. Maybe he just didn't want to disturb their conversation. "I wonder know, how much I have to learn yet, since I should become..a sort of servant," she mused.
"You would not be a servant in anything but name. The other Gods would see you as Kraeos' servant; thus your presence here would not be contested." Aedyn explained. "And between Orios and myself, we could teach you how to move between this realm and the Mortal world. You would not have to eat and drink, or breathe anymore.. You'd become immortal. Though you could be killed; it would be very hard, and would take more then normal mortal weapons."
Orios had his head leaned back and his eyes closed, not asleep, just trying to rest a bit.
He really did not feel well.
"I see..that was why I hesitated for so long to ask for that. I didn't want to be a cause of arguments between you Gods," she smiled a little. She listened Aedyns explanation. "Well...this I will have to get used, I think. It means, that I won't feel the need to eat, drink or even breathe? Because I remember Kraeos eating in his temple..." she paused and frowned at Orios.
"Oh..Orios, it is getting worse. You should not delay that checking out any longer," she told hom softly, with remarkable concerns.
"Oh, you can eat if you want. You won't need to, though. Gods do that for fun. We do enjoy eating," Aedyn said.
"I like to bake." Orios said. "But... I kinda always make a mess of it." He had opened an eye.
"Baking?" she widened her eyes in aw. "You are suprising me more and more," she smiled at Orios. "I used to do that too at home, before the plague came. It was always fun," she remembered for a while. "Maybe we can bake something together one day," she grinned. "I would like to see what you meant with that mess," she added. Athough Orios seemed to be awake , he wasn't as well as a few moments ago.
"Aedyn, can you check out Orios' energy, please?" she whispered to the white-haired God.
"Well, it comes out tasting good." he said. "But last time I had flour and frosting everywhere. Didn't mind, it tasted good. Oh, and I mixed too hard and ended up with the batter all over the place." He laughed ."No... I prefer to do baking the mortal way... Just making it all appear takes the fun out of it."
Aedyn blinked. "Why?" He asked, but he nodded. Orios seemed fine; at least for now.
"I'll tell you later, if Orios won't tell you himself. He is loosing his energy from time to time," she whispered to Aedyn and then listened again to Orios.
"Simple hand work is worth the results, in this case," she nodded to Orios.
Orios nodded, "Yeah, it tastes better when I make it myself." he said. "But I don't clean the mortal way."
Aedyn nodded, and reached his energy out for Orios, carefully.
"Yeah, that can be boring and annoying, " she nodded. "Especially if you have to do it alone. But when it comes to clean up together with somebody, it can be fun," she smiled.
"All I have to do is snap my fingers and the mess is gone!" Orios said. He was trying to take his mind off of how he was feeling.
Aedyn frowned. 'Mnh... It's hard to sense what exactly it is. There is something there that seems a bit concerning; but I can't get a handle on it. It hurts to touch it with my own energy, but I can feel Kraeos' seal there too.' he told her, mentally.
"yeah. Do you know how many times I wished I could clean up this way?" she grinned.
She tensed a little, when Aedyn spoke to her in her mind.‘ Now..I don't know if it is accute, but we came to conclusion, that Kraeos' seal weakens. And that it will cause something bad in the future - that was why we went away for a while,‘ she thought and looked to Aedyn, hoping, he will catch her thoughts.
Orios laughed. "A lot of Mortals do. A LOT." He said. He felt Aedyn's touch to his energy, and looked over at him, blinking a few times.
'From what I can tell, it'll keep coming back. It's forming outside of the seal... " He sounded concerned in her mind. 'He is... He's honestly a lot sicker then he admits, I can feel that. He does not feel well... But he is not wanting to say it.'
' Maybe giving him a little privacy with you will help,' she thought in response.
"Well since I am still one of them, I have my needs. Nature calls, and I must obey," she excused herself, and stood up to find a toilet.

The Palace did not have them; at least not normally, but her chamber had one because she was mortal; most of the times Mortals were not found in the Realm of the Gods; and thus no preparations were made for them.
Aedyn nodded, and as she left, looked to Orios,
"You're sick." He said, calmly. Orios frowned.
"I'm fine, really..." He said.
When they came back, Aedyn was checking into Orios' energy deeper, Orios just standing there looking on. After a while, Aedyn pulled back, frowning.
"Orios, you're getting weak. Have you been having trouble with your powers?"
".. Not really..."
"Orios..."
"Well... It's been a bit harder to look into my Orbs..." He admitted, "But Kraeos is under so much stress I don't want to worry him, really, I'll be fine."

When she returned, she sighed with a little relief. At least Aedyn knew by now, how serious Orios' sickness is. She came back to them and joined Aedyn by convincing Orios to do something about his weakening.

"But he will be in a huge stress, when something happens to you, that he couldn't do nothing about, just because you didn't trust yourself to ask for his help," she insisted softly.
"There is nothing good in pushing yourself too hard," she added seriously.
Orios frowned a bit. "I'll talk to him about, see what he can do.." He said. He moved to take a step, and that caused a rush which made him stagger. He almost lost his footing then, shaking his head again. "... as soon as I can get some rest...' He said, faintly.
She paled and quickly stepped beside him, embraced him around his waist, giving him a support. "You know what? We better ask now, Alaeos surely welcomes some pause," she told him firmly now. She gave Aedyn a look full of concerns and headed to the door

Aedyn nodded, opening the door.
"Kraeos. It's Orios." He said.
Kraeos frowned. "What..."
"He's sick."
Kraeos looked to Alaeos. "YOu can have a break, Alaeos, I need to check on your older brother."
Alaeos nodded. Kraeos moved to Orios, and touched his energy, and after some time drew back.
"This is.. THis is REALLY bad." He said, sounding very concerned. "The corruption is not what is making him sick.... It's his own energy conflicting with it. His energy ... His essence, is turning against itself, and sealing it won't help. At all. It's working fast..."
Orios started to feel weaker, most of his weight supported by Sillaya, before his legs gave out on him, and Aedyn had to help hold him up.
"What caused it?"
"...It feels as if more was forming outside of my seal, and it's been there for a while... And he is finally succumbing. It was like you, and the hatred... but he's conflicting with himself." Kraeos said. Oh he sounded worried. VERY worried.

"What can be done now? He was worried about that...that tearing away that corruption could kill him," she sighed heavily.
She bit her lip. She should have told that Kraeos right after she came back to his palace with Orios.

"It could! But so could this." Kraeos said. He was starting to sound paniced. "No matter what we do, he could die." He was starting to pace. Orios suddenly faded out, and was gone.
"Shit! He's lost the strength to remain here, he's in the Mortal World..." That was bad. VERY bad. There was a flash of light, and they, all but Alaeos, who looked confused, were where Orios had appeared. Orios was simply laying down, looking definately sick, his face pale... it looked worse here then it did in his own Realm.
Instructions were left to Alaeos to find one of the other Gods; Alaeos was still young, but he was able to fend for himself, well enough. He figured he'd just enjoy the time off of training.

"No!" she exhaled sharply in a shock, frightened that the worst had happened. But when she heard Kraeos, she calmed a little - Orios wasn't lost yet.
But seeing him in the Mortal world, it hurt her badly. She had to wipe out first tears, and steel herself to anything, that was about to come. One panicking God was enough, no need to add another person.
"Can he hear us?"

Kraeos bent down next to Orios. "Can you hear me?" He asked. Orios nodded. "I really don't feel good." he said, shifting uncomfortably. The vision.
"I'm going to die... aren't I?" He muttered.
Kraeos looked stricken, worried. "No... Not if I can help it." he said.
Orios shivered, and much like Aedyn had, he threw up; though Kraeos, who had suffered the same corruption, recognized it. He didn't seem to care, though, only holding him close.
"I have to do it... I have to tear it out of him." Kraeos said, panic right on the edge of his voice. "If I don't he WILL die.. if I do it gives him at least a chance..."

" Can I help somehow?" she asked quietly. She wondered, if she could do something with her own energy, to keep him at least stabile.

"They are both going to need moral support. As much as they can get." Aedyn said. "And... if Orios does not survive this, Kraeos is going to need a friend... "
Kraeos dropped into a trance, as his energy delved into Orios'... he didn' care that the corruption coudl infect him too. He'd survived it once. He could do it again. It was WORTH it if he could save his Orios...
Orios twisted in pain as he felt the first parts of his energy starting to be isolated. He kept his mouth shut, though, and made absolutely no sound... He was not going to break Kraeos' concentration.

She kneeled to Orios's side, to the place where she would not hinder Kraeos during his healing attempt. Seeing Orios suffering brought her to a thought. She concentrated for a while and tried to touch Orios with her own energy, carefully tuned to feel soothingly warm and assuring him.

"D.. Dont.." Orios said. "If.. if this curruption touches you, it will kill you in an instant... It kills Gods... Think what it could do to a Mortal, I will not be the.. the cause for your death..." he shuddered and threw up again, as if he'd eaten something bad, but it was only energy. "It may be better to keep the touches physical." Aedyn said, softly, hearing Orios.

She nodded sadly. "Don't be afraid about me, Orios. I'll be careful, okay? Please, hold on. We all need you to survive," she told him quietly, and pulled her energy carfully back.

Orios nodded weakly, then winced again. he couldn't hold back the pain in his voice and his face as he whimpered softly.
He was weak from the corruption, and having part of him taken away was only making it worse. He felt that voilent burning starting to grow stronger, and he moved as fast as he was able to shove Sillaya away as he started to retch again; but this time, with the energy came up something black. Aedyn was fast to seal it, and destroy it.
If Orios hadn't moved her, it would have touched her... and even the barest touch meant no survival.

She gasped for her breath and her eyes widened, when she saw that black energy coming out of him. It was deadly close. She exhaled heavily, a while after that corrupted thing was sealed and got back on her feet, only to get close to Orios and Kraeos near him, and see, wheather he is okay enough to heal after a time or not.

"You should be fine if you stay away from his head." Aedyn said. He was already working on creating a seal that would destroy the black energy as it came up; for a while nothing happened, other then the occasional shiver from Orios before he threw up more of that black energy... But he was getting worse; a physical touch would reveal he was burning with a fever that would kill a Mortal... hot to the touch, and his energy even felt weak and sick. Kraeos' expression of worry was deepening, but his concentration did not let up.

She nodded to Aedyn. and went near to Kraeos and Orios very carefully, not to get in touch with that black energy. She touched gently Orios' shoulder and was ready to quickly avoid anything that would seem to harm her. She wondered, why would Orios' energy conflict itself.
"Could it be that...Orios has lost his believe in himself?" she mused quietly.

Aedyn shook his head. "The energy that causes the corruption is very volatile; and evil in nature. He is good and kind.. If he was evil, like his father... It wouldn't conflict with him. That's what it is... If he were to let it take him over, that would save him; but it is not in his nature to be evil, or cruel."
Orios only seemed worse, his slender form shivering in pain, but he was moving less and less, his energy starting to grow weaker. Between having the corruption taken out of him, and the corruption poisoning him, and the conflicting going on in his energy... Things didn't look good.

"Orios," she whispered in horror, "...please, hold on," she pleaded softly, her eyes flooded with tears. "I don't want you to disappear...."she softly pressed his shoulder.

It was several hours of touch and go before there was a final shudder and he threw up the last of the corruption.
Problem was, his glow was flickering dangerously, and no matter what Kraeos did, it didn't seem to stabilize.
The older God was starting to panic, and even with Aedyn's help, Orios appeared to have faded away. Their energy was not related; and did little for him.

When the last bit of corruption was thrown out, the things went even worse. She saw despair in faces of both Kraeos and Aedyn and felt the same. She was feeling once again like she was loosing her dear brother again.
Without a single thought, she tried to reach Orios' energy very smoothly with her own, trying to keep it from vanishing away entirely. She couldn't bear even a thought of loosing the one who was the reason of her happiness in her life. She didn't want to loose her new and very close friend.

There was nothing to be felt; at least it seemed so. Aedyn finally drew back, as did Kraeos. Aedyn looked sad...Kraeos looked crushed.
"...I think we've lost him." Kraeos said, and even his voice sounded broken. Orios was limp and not moving, and there was no glow to him.

"No," she moaned and embraced Orios fully, her voice barely audible, but her pain making her shiver. She put all her awareness in search of even tiniest feel of that fresh, chilly gentle night breeze... That wind, whispering its mysteries in the night under silvery stars...
"Don't go, Orios, please! " she whispered.

"Let's go back." Aedyn said. "If there is anything left of him at all, it will regenerate better in our own Realm..." He said.
Kraeos just held the limp form close and nodded. He didn't speak.
Aedyn patted his shoulder, then looked to Sillaya. "There could still be hope... but with no energy to be felt..." He shook his head. He hadn't known Orios that long, but already he loved the younger God; like family. But not as much as Kraeos did, and Kraeos was taking it the hardest.
Aedyn did the teleport, taking them all back, as Kraeos laid Orios on a bed in the chamber he'd stayed in while he was training.
If there was any; it wasn't enough to be detected, even by the experienced probing of the two older Gods.

She heard Aedyn somewhat distantly, and it was hard to stop trying to feel for Orios' energy right now. After a while she lifted her head, taking a deep shaky breath. She felt so guilty now, that she didn't tell Kraeos about Orios' sickness right when they arrived back to Kraeos. If she told him, maybe this wouldn't happen,...she swallowed her tears, when she saw Kraeos laying Orios in his bed. She remembered the moment, when Orios told her of his vision of Kraeos in front of the door leading to this room, being utterly upset and went on her knees, crying silently.

"Don't blame yourself," Kraeos said, quietly. "No matter when I did this, the outcome could be the same...He didn't have much going for him. It was his own gentle, good nature that ..." He paused. "That did this to him." He quietly walked out the door. "I have some duties to attend to... If.. If there's any change, please let me know."
Aedyn frowned as Kraeos left.
"He's... crushed." He said, softly. He looked at Orios.
"If... There IS anything left, it will take time to show itself..." He said.

She lifted her head and tried very hard to meet Kraeos' gaze. She couldn't remember, if this simple thing felt so hard before. She swalloved her tears again and tried to wipe out the rest of them of her face...but the new ones were still coming.
"I'll be there and wait. You both have too much to do," she sobbed. At least, she could do THIS. She nodded unhapilly to Aedyn, and remained in Orios' room.

That was when Athervias was unfortunate enough to have business with Kraeos; he had something to report to him.
This happened, probably, right outside the door; Athervias coming up... And Kraeos snapping on him.
"I hope you're fucking happy, Athervias!" Kraeos yelled, for the first time in a VERY long time losing control over his emotions; that caused a wave of energy to ripple out, which would make Aedyn and Sillaya both tingle; the energy even FELT angry.
"What..."
"I know it's EXACTLY what you always wanted. Well! I hope you're fucking PROUD of yourself!"
"Kraeos..."
"YOU WILL REFER TO ME AS LORD KRAEOS!" There was another rage-induced wave of power, followed by footsteps. "Get out of my sight!" came next, and the slam of a door.
Athervias just stood there, looking confused. WHAT had happened?

It wasn't very long, when she heard Kraeos' voice filled with heated pain and anger. She went to the door and opened them, only to hear and see Kraeos, yelling at Athervias like mad.

"Lord Athervias," she called him with a husky voice, and stepped a bit to side, to let the God see the reason of Kraeos' anger.

Athervias turned, almost to glare.
"What the hell happened?" He asked. His pride had taken a pretty good blow... "What has Kraeos all in a knot?"
Aedyn glared. "Do you remember your words? The things you said to Orios?" He asked. "Well, you got your wish." Even Aedyn looked angry.
Athervias went quiet, confusion replaced with guilt. That look in Kraeos' eyes... He knew that look.
It had been the look in his own eyes when she had left him; and blamed him for what had happened to her... The same pain, anger.
".. I see..." He said, frowning, lowering his gaze. "I... I never thought it would actually happen..."
He looked towards Orios again.

"We are afraid that the worst happened, Lord Athervias. I can tell you what has happened exactly, if you wish," she said sadly. "Will you come in?" she asked Athervias and then looked to Aedyn.

He frowned, but stepped inside, looking to Orios again.
He couldn't push down the guilt that nagged at him. The little voice saying 'you wanted this'
"... I spent so much time thinking how much he looked like HIM... I never saw his mother in him..." He said, quietly, looking down at Orios' face. "What happened?" All he knew was Orios looked dead. Very much dead; and felt it, too.

" I think, It begun a few weeks ago, when I came here. Orios ran into Kraeos' chamber, terribly scared of one vision he had. And scared of the heritage from his father - the corrupting touch. Kraeos sealed it in him, and it was planned to be taken away from Orios - but since then he had been very busy," she paused for a while.
"In his visions he saw his father being freed and was trying very hard to find as much as possible anything, that could prevent him from making too much damage. The last days he was becoming more and more tired," she sighed and looked to Orios' calm and a bit troubled face.
"All these visions had something to do with a half-blood, called Larem Fansen, who was guided by Derik Fansen - a man who died not long ago. Today, this man was brought by Lord Ladoros to Kraeos, so that he and Orios could find more about it," she looked somewhere in distance, trying to reveal her memories as clear as possible.
"I was there, when Kraeosand Orios were talking with Derik's spirit.
"The thing was, Orios found a way, how to get rid of his inheritage and use it against Orandis, when he rises. But today, he was not that happy about it and so I noticed, that there is something wrong with him. I asked him about it and went with him, because he wished to talk about it with me in privacy," she forced her not to sob.
"He showed me some very blurred visions of that half-blood Larem...and Kraeos being beside him, but in terrible state. He has also showed me a vision, where Kraeos was standing in front of this door utterly upset as you probably saw him, when you were coming here. Orios was very afraid of it, because he couldn't tell even roughly, when this can happen. I guessed almost rightly, what was this vision about." she paused again.
"And after that, Orios told me about his sickness. We decided to check out the seal, Kraeos made on that corrupting ability, but at that time, Kraeos was teaching his son and Orios seemed to be at least well enough to wait."
"His condition was growing worse minute by minute and by the time I made Orios to go back to Kraeos, it hit him fully, consuming him alive and making his own energy grow weaker and fading. Aedyn said...that there was a conflict in him. That there was evil, trying to consume Orios, and that it violently conflicted with his tender nature. He said..." she swalowed another sob.
"He said, that if Orios was at least a bit evil in his heart, it wouldn't hit him so badly but now..even he can't sense Orios‘ energy now," she almost started crying again.

Athervias was quiet for a while, watching Orios as he listened to her words.
Athervias looked down, finally. "I guess he wasn't... wasn't that bad." He said. "I mean... I guess I thought he was the reason she left, and all I saw in him was his father, but... he has her eyes... How could I have been so.. so stupid." He scowled, still looking at Orios.
Aedyn was still sitting beside him. "I did realize something, though... when a God dies, others feel it. Kraeos felt me die... I didn't FEEL him go. That's what tells me there may be some hope... It could just be that his... end was not as voilent as mine, more like quietly fading out instead of it being torn away from him... But all the same, I've felt Gods die. I didn't feel it, with him,"
She looked up to Aedyn. He sounded so sure...if there really is a hope, then...then what should she do? She decided to hold on this hope as long until it proves right or wrong.
"Perhaps you were only...blinded by your own pain, my lord," she said quietly to Athervias.

He just nodded, frowning.
"I have a lot to think about." he said, and finally left the room, heading down the hall.
"At least he learned his lesson." Aedyn said.
After a few hours, Aedyn had to leave; Alaeos needed some training at least, and Kraeos hadn't left his chambers; they were firmly locked.
Sillaya thanked him with a small bow, when Athervias was leaving. She heard Aedyns statement.
"Then let's hope, it will sink deep in," she nodded. Together with him, they both checked if Orios's energy is replenishing up to a noticable level from time to time.

After a few hours Aedyn left her alone with Orios to teach Alaeos, so he would not be fretting about his fathers worries and other things related with it.

After some more hours the very barest spark could be felt, like a familiar night breeze. Weak, barely there - but there all the same.
Every half of an hour she tried to sense Orios' energy again and again. Next few hours passed without any sign of a smallest change, but when she tried again, stubbornly determined, she felt something. It felt like a shaky breath of a night. That feeling was weak, but familiar. She held her breath and tried to reach for it again, just to make sure.

It was there, definately there. VERY weak; Orios wasn‘t moving and still had no glow... But he WAS alive. Hanging by the barest thread - but alive...
She pulled back as gently as possible and waited for another half of an hour and then checked it again very carefully. She sighed from relief, and frowned it thinking what to do. She didn't want to leave Orios' bedside.

Then, after a short moment she got an idea. She concentrated again and reached for Kraeos' energy to call him to her this way too.
"He's coming back, Kraeos," she said quietly, in the silence of the room.

All she felt was grief; It was true, Kraeos was a mess at the moment. He hadn't left his chambers, and hadn't spoken to anybody. He heard her, but only very distantly. He didn't actually register what she had said.

It seemed that she will have to leave and try to get to Kraeos' chamber.
"Please, keep holding on, Orios," she whispered in his ears and carefully kissed his forehead. After that, she quietly walked out of his former chamber and headed to Kraeos.
She stopped in front of the locked door and knocked on it after a short hesitating.
"Lord Kraeos? Orios is coming back. I felt him again a while ago."

There was a moment before the door opened, Kraeos practically running to Orios' chamber, where he placed his hand on his chest. He felt it, too - in fact, it was starting to get stronger. Orios was a fighter... If he hadn't been so determined, he WOULD have died... It was willpower alone that had brought him back.

She went after him in not that quick pace and stopped at the door, wondering if it was a good idea to tell it Aedyn and Alaeos too. She thought over for a while and then went to the training hall, to pass the message.

Alaeos was distracted; wondering why Aedyn was there and not Kraeos; and he wanted to see Kraeos; not to mention he kept asking about Orios; he liked when Orios joined him and helped him out. He didn't even sense Orios, and his concentration easily broke again when Sillaya came to the door.

Seeing Alaeos so confused, she stopped at the door. "Sorry for disturbing you," she smiled a little to Aedyn. "I wanted to tell you this," she paused and went closer to him, so Alaeos could not hear her.
"Orios is slowly coming back. I felt his energy again," she whispered almost to his ear.

Aedyn paused. "Alaeos, you can take a break." he said, making the young God sit down with relief. The training was hard and frusterating! He moved quickly to Orios' room, where Kraeos was beside the bed. He had Orios' hand in his, and it seemed like he was sharing his energy as best as he was able.
"You can make it..." he said.

She smiled to Alaeos. "Enjoy your break," she waved at him and went back with Aedyn. When they entered to Orios' room, they saw kraeos putting all he had to help Orios to heal from his deadly ordeal. She watched them both, Kraeos and Aedyn and waited.

Kraeos finally looked up. "I... I can feel it." He said. "It's not much, but there's something. I wish I was actually related, my energy would do him more good if I was..."

She smiled a little sadly. It will sure take long until Orios will be allright. With his relatives being a) sealed or b) somewhere far away and lost - there couldn't be done much more, than was done already. She looked to Aedyn and was about to ask if she should stay here or go to Alaeos, before he gets too bored.

"You can stay here with Kraeos and Orios... I should probably let Alaeos know Orios is allright. I didn't tell him what happened because I don't think he'll understand, but he doesn't sense his energy and is getting worried... I just need to tell him Orios is healing after being hurt and sick." Aedyn said.

"Okay," she nodded and smiled a little in relief. Her hope grew stronger every minute now, that she and also these two could sense Orios' energy.
"Um.." she paused in flash of an idea. "Are there any sweets Orios particurarly likes?"

"He's always loved cookies." Kraeos said, though his voice was quiet. He was still worried; there was hope but no he was just the immensely worried parent hoping for the best. "Once, one of the Gods from Earth said something of his name, one letter away from a cookie called an oreo... I brought some to him, and he seemed to really like them... Sometimes I jokingly called him the God of Destiny and Cookies... he's fond of any sweet really, but cookies were always his favorite."

"Oreo?" she widened her eyes. "Now that's something," she shook her head. "My mum used to bake them every sunday...for our afternoon snack. Me and my brother always used to steal them, even when they were already pulled out of the owen and hot like hell," she chuckled. "How to bake them was the last thing my mum tought me," she sighed a little sadly.

Kraeos nodded, "I don't know how much it'd help... but when he's regenerated enough to wake out of his coma, it might be a welcome taste and smell."

"I meant it as a welcome...when he wakes up," she looked to Orios and reached with her senses for his energy. It was slowly getting stronger.

Kraeos moved some of Orios' hair out of his face, touching his cheek gently.
"Just hang in there, Orios, We'll be here. Take your time and heal."
He nodded. "I think he'd like that." he said. He hadn't let anybody see his tears; even as easy-going as he was, he was still very proud; he was a God after all. But one could tell he'd cried - a lot, even if he hid it well.

"Then..there is only one problem...where can I get the ingredients?" she looked with rather shy smile to Kraeos, trying to ease his worries a little.

"I can make them appear for you.. that's not a problem" he said, still staying close to Orios.

"Good then," she nodded. "Should I write a list for you or remembering what is needed will be enough?" she asked, now very puzzled.

"Write a list for me... I'm not likely to remember much right now." He said. It was strange, to see Kraeos without that cheeky smirk and shine to his eyes. He just looked miserable and worried, even his wildly curly hair somewhat tame.

She bit her lower lip and nodded. No use in trying to cheer him too much. After hesitating for a while, she went to her guest quarters to get things to write and returned.
It took her a some time to remember all, what was needed, she didn't bake anything for at least more then three years, since she lost her family.

Athervias had decided to come back, though he hesitated. As he came to the door, he recoiled under a sharp glare, but bowed low.
"I came to apologize, Lord Kraeos." He said, trying to be as humble as he could. "My actions towards Lord Orios were... uncalled for."
Kraeos was silent, looking to the side. Though he KNEW snapping was wrong, and he KNEW he should accept the apology back... he just couldn't.
He just dismissed Athervias with a nod and a wave of a hand; far better then yelling, at any rate.

Seeing Athervias, staying hesitantly at the door was an unexpected surprise. At that moment, when he spoke to excuse for being mean to Orios, she wished she wasn't there. She had a feeling, that her presence here was now making it harder for them both.
But before he left, she bowed towards him deeply. She had always respected those, who were able to swallow their own pride and to do, what was right.
She was watching him leaving for a while and then turned to Kraeos. She went a little closer, her list of ingredients in one hand and sat nearby on the bedside.

Kraeos took it and tucked it in a pocket. "They will be in your chambers when you need them.. Though Orios' palace is the one with a kitchen because he likes to bake and cook. He sometimes supplied the food in some of my temples..." He smiled sadly. "I wish he hadn't inherited that power... I had to take a part of it out of his very Center, which was incredibly hard to do...

She nodded and smiled. "I hope he won't mind me baking here without his permission," she grinned a little. But then went serious.
"No wonder that it turned to such cruel ordeal for you both," she nodded. "I was so scared seeing it..and not being able to help much. Maybe Lord Ladoros tried to warn me about things like that," she mused. "I saw him only twice and I was always a little frightened at first and had to calm down. He seems to be somehow....gentle deep inside.." she paused and flushed.

Kraeos nodded, "He represents the better side of Death. Peace, rest, and an end." He said. "But also a new beginning. He is sometimes called the Soul Shepherd, because he takes the souls of the dead and guides them to their final peace." He said. "Ladoros has a noble heart, even if his element is a bit frightening."

"I was a little bit worried especially about how he would react , when I asked you to make me ageless. I didn't want to go against the rules but...well, I'm quite certain, that you know, how I felt," she smiled a little sheepishly.

"It is not aginst the rules. Honestly, now that Aedyn back he needs a Messenger; it is not unheard of for a God to take a Mortal as their Messenger, if the Mortal proves himself to the God." Kraeos said. "No rules would be broken; not to mention, I am undebted to you for bringing Aedyn back to me; and he owes you his life." He was still stroking Orios' cheek gently.

"If he owes me his life, than I owe him too very much. He made me smile again, he made me feel really alive...and accepted me. I wasn't lonely any more. That means very much for me."

"Seems we changed your thoughts on the Gods." Kraeos said, giving a rather weak attempt at a smile.

"You did indeed," she smiled genuinely. "It is only a bit strange..I cannot think of you other way then of my older brother, if I ever had any..and it's a bit similar by Orios - he reminds me my younger brother. In our family I was always the wild one and he the good and kind one."

"Most Gods are not so easy going... But I try to be. We are not that different then Mortals, really."

"I will keep that in mind. I don't want to repeat my first meeting with Athervias anytime soon," she grinned. "It wasn't very nice. But it seems he changed his mind a little," she added thoughtfully.

"I was not nice to him either. It was wrong of me to snap on him like that... I am the Leader... those under me should not suffer because I do." He said. "But I'm still so worried about him.. what if it comes back? I may not be able to save him if that happens..."

"Well, it is not for me to judge anyone. You both suffered too much or too long, and that was just the result of it," she shrugged. and looked at Orios, still lying quietly and motionless in his bed.
"I wish I could quess," she sighed. "But I think you'll do everything you can to prevent that. Let's hope you won't need to," she said. It was not like her to make false promises.

"That same corruption killed me, too... but I was able to set it up so I would regenerate... I sealed my healthy energy... then sealed my center. I died... Which stopped the corruption. Two days later, the seal around my Center broke, and my regenerating energy broke the second seal... Even then it was weeks before I woke up. They say they didn't even sense my energy, like Orios, until my second seal broke..."

She reached for Orios' energy once more, to find out how he heals.

Progress was slow, but his energy was still there. He was still hanging in there.

"I feel his energy grows stronger, little by little," she smiled. "I wondered, if trying to sense the energy of other Gods there could help me to know them better, since it is ..sort of your essence."

"Feel mine... Then you will have an idea of how it should feel." He was a little hesitant, though.. He didn"t want his emotions to overwhealm her; He had a lot going around in his mind.

She nodded, trying not to be too eager and closed her eyes for a short moment, to help herself to concentrate. After that, she felt for her own energy first, just to have it under propriate control. Then, she reached very gently and carefully for his energy. In her mind she had an image of a hand, formed from golden sunlight, placing itself lightly on Kraeos' chest.

His energy was strong, powerful, noble... and so. very. free. Touching it was like being released from chains; made one want to sing and dance and laugh - but she could feel his worry, fear for Orios' wellbeing... And the fact that he was holding back tears over the whole thing.

She frowned barely visibly. He had to release his feeling and stop puting himself in chains. She thought for a while and then stood quietly up and stepped closer to Kraeos, not very sure of her idea.
"Will you allow me to..touch you?"

"If you please." He said. Normally he would have cracked a joke... But this time he didn't even smirk.

She nodded and moved right next to him, blushing a little and slowly hugged him, holding him firmly enough for him to feel her support, but at the same time loose enough to pull out, if he would wish to.
"If Gods are allowed to play jokes and have laughfits, why shouldn't they be allowed to cry, when they feel so? It won't lessen my respect towards you," she said softly.

"Pride is a thing that befalls even the greatest of Gods..." He said, rather softly. Even touching him she could feel the tingle of his energy.

"It is," she agreed. "I suppose same it goes by a good father," she pointed out softly.

Kraeos looked at Orios again, at how dead he looked... One could only tell that he lived by checking for the energy. Even being in contact, she could feel the emotions going through him. "Not only that, but I have to stay strong for my pantheon and for the Mortals who look up to me." He sounded sad still, and closed his eyes to bring it back under his control.

"You ARE strong," she said and smiled, her head layed on his shoulder. He sure was a great leader and now it was burdening him heavily. "And Orios takes this one feature after you. I believe, that he won't give up, when he got this far by now," she said firmly.

"I know he is strong, to come back from being so near death... But seeing him like that... " He shook his head. "I can hardly bear it."

"This is a burden of all, who dare to love someone very deeply," she shrugged a little. "And only the strongest ones find the courage that is needed to really love someone," she mused quietly.

He nodded a bit. "Orios... Is more then just a son to me. He's my friend; a very close one. So young but so dedicated and wise."

There was nothing she could say any more, all was already said. She only tightened a little her arms around him. She didn't want to promise him, that it would be okay, unless she knew that for sure. That would not be honest to him and that was not, what Kraeos already needed. she just listened and was there with him.

"I still remember the day he was born. Like the rest, I had my doubts... I was going to let them until I saw his face... He was so scared. I couldn't let my anger towards Orandis hurt him. I still remember singing to him and stroking his hair, assuring him that he was safe and that I would not let anything happen to him. He... always stayed so close to me... was such a timid youngling. He cried a lot, but never gave up and never threw a tantrum, not once."

"Which song he likes most?" she asked, before she could even think over, if this apropriate. But it was too late. But who knows...maybe singing it would help him to ease his worries? It would hardly be bad to hear Kraeos singing...oh. don't start being this selfish, she reproved herself.

Kraeos just gave a ghost of a smile. "An old song I heard a mortal woman sing to her frightened child." He said. "I held him like this..." He gently pulled Orios' limp form into his arms, bringing him into Sillaya's embrace, and started to sing... Almost as if the song would bring Orios back. The language was as pretty as the song, and even the feel of it was comforting and assuring. It didn't help that Kraeos' voice was simply heavenly.

When Kraeos pulled slowly Orios into their embrance too, she widened her eyes a little, but embraced him as well. When Kraeos started singing, a shiver ran over her spine - a pleasant one, startling her to her very soul. She didn't understand the words, but it wasn't necessary - the melody sent the message of the song clear enough. She was a little sorry when he ended, she could listen to him for hours.

"The words.. Well, they are actually about me.." He said, with another ghost of a smile. "About how the Lord of Freedom will release the sleeping one from the chains of fear and let them fly peacefully into sleep, free of fears and nightmares."

" That is a pleasant thought," she mused. "My mother sung me a lullaby about guardian angels, who watch the body and soul of children and chase every evil away and protect them from any harm. Strange is, I sort of believe in angels, but not in ...well, you know who," she stopped.

"Oh, they exist. They were once a free people but Yahweh enslaved them... Some are so deep under his control they can only bow before his damn throne and call out that he is the Lord Allmighty.." He snorted. "It disgusts me." He still held Orios. "I have some of his corruption still sealed. I have half a mind to throw it at that bastard." He looked down at Orios, running a hand through his hair. "My little one... "

"I never doubted it even," she widened her eyes a little in a surprise of this discovery. "I suppose it's ...because...well, there were times, when I felt sudden urge to pull back and my body reacted almost on its own....and in the next moment a carriage passed by, driven fast by the coachman, or something fell off the roof I was walking under," she remembered.
She smiled at the sight of Kraeos - a father is so gentle to his little boy - even though he actually is not his own.