Aether Beasts

Zirani had not felt such nostalgia in a while, but when Aiden had been walking through the green court area, she had felt it. It wasn\'t home, but she recognized everything, and seeing races other than humans was a blessing, not that there was anything wrong with humans, but she missed being around dryads, fae, and other races.

The expedition was not as large as she had expected. Nowhere near as large as it had been the one time she had seen it off, but nevertheless it was still here and with people from the green court. Things would be far easier from here on, at least until they crossed the scar and had to deal with the politics and all that would come once it was widely known that she was still alive.

She felt bad for Aiden, especially since he had never been in such situations and wouldn\'t be used to court politics and maneuvering. Despite the fact she knew he could and had the necessary intelligence to succeed at anything, he was more of an upfront type of person.

She would have to teach him on the journey across the scar. He would need to know at least the basics so he didn\'t put his own foot in his mouth. Even with all of the potential problems to come, she was happy.

Happy that she was around her people once more, happy that she would be heading home, with her bonded lover.

"You look happy, sister," Aeverie commented as she waved a hand. The flowers that made up the chair dispersed and reformed into two smaller seats and a table. The table was a larger flower and atop it sat a pitcher of purple liquid and two ornately carved cups which she recognized as being made from crystal silk.

"Why wouldn\'t I be happy," Zirani said as Aeverie lifted a finger and both cups filled with the purple liquid. The liquid in the pitcher went down as the cups filled, and if Aiden had been here, he would have been very confused.

The fae possessed a strange and unique form of aether, a mix of dream, life, and colorless aether. It allowed them to do much, and she hadn\'t discovered its inner working until far later in her life, thought inner workings might have been an overstatement. There was still much she didn\'t know or understand. The fae did not reveal their secrets so easily and even when they did, it took a bit to understand.

Zirani savored the drink which was a mix of fruits, some of which she recognized, but some of which she didn\'t. It must have new sorts. The green court was constantly developing new foods, and products.

They sat in silence for a long moment, before Zirani finally asked, "So what happened after I… left."

Aeverie who had not taken a sip, only swirled the liquid in her glass, sighed. "It was chaos, sister. After news of confirmation of your death, or apparent confirmation now, your mother went into a fury the likes of which few have ever seen. The sect the spatial arcanist who attacked you was from, is gone. Wiped off the face of the map. No one dares utter their name in her presence."

Zirani wasn\'t surprised. Her mother loved her children, and they had always been close, closer than most.

\'I\'m her favorite, even though it took me so long to admit it back then.\'

"Her favored daughter dead,\' Aeverie continued. "She realized that she had been too lenient and too lax. The increase in attacks and conflicts, in people pushing and cheating the court. Your mother raised a force, and led by your sisters and many lords and ladies, alongside others, began setting things right. Borders were pushed, old lands and territories reclaimed. We began to push back and barred many from trading with us if they did not apologize and seek forgiveness for past actions."

Zirani stared down at her drink, feeling both happy and guilty. She had always spoken to her mother of pushing back and of how they were growing too lenient. She was glad her supposed death hadn\'t just caused problems, though imagining the grief her mother had gone through, made Zirani\'s heart ache."

"It worked." Aeverie leaned back. "We reclaimed a lot, and even gained some. Those who had been in conflict with us at the time either ran or took a step back. The one demonic incursion that occurred didn\'t last for more than an hour and it was one of the few times, the demons retreated. Your death sparked a lot and well, the green court has never been better."

"I\'m glad," Zirani said. "How is my mother?"

Aeverie took a sip from her drink. "When I last saw her, she was recovering, but also still grieving your loss. You were her favorite, don\'t try to deny it as you once did. The favored daughter, the prodigy, the princess who many thought would succeed her mother. You would have, you might still… if you leave the boy."

Zirani\'s gaze sharpened and her sadness morphed into cold controlled anger. She met Averie\'s eyes and held her stare. "Aiden is my bonded and my lover. He and I are together."

Aeverie scoffed. "Be serious, Sister. He is just a human, an average one at that. I must say I am impressed at the level he is at, but it is clear that it is because of you. Do not get me wrong, sister. He will be handsomely rewarded and welcomed, but he is not worthy of you, no one is, but if there was ever to be, it should be a prince, a king, or a lord of some kind. I know your mother was thinking of trying to get you to marry the merkin prince, what of that union?"

Zirani calmed herself. Once she might have thought the same way, but not anymore. She loved Aiden, and no matter what she said Aeverie wasn\'t going to change her mind, so she would have to show her.

"Give me your hand, sister." Zirani moved a hand across the table. "I love him, but I know you don\'t care for that, so allow me to show why else he is worthy."

Aeverie seemed hesitant but then grasped Zirani\'s hand.

"I will form a link, and send over a few memories," Zirnai said, and Aeverie nodded.

If it was anyone else but Aeverie, or at least, almost anyone else, she would not be doing this, but she knew her younger sister and knew the last thing Aeverie would do was betray someone. Zirani had raised her, helped teach her, and had been the one to rescue her from that fire all those years ago. That burning blue titan had done much harm and created many orphans.

Once the link was formed, Zirani began to send over a few bits of information, not everything, but just enough. She kept the information of the ki core secret but showed some information about his divine bloodline. She trusted Aeveire, but no need to be hasty and show everything, that would just be stupid. She only needed to show enough that she would stop with talk of being him being unworthy.

She enjoyed the look on her sister\'s face as her eyes grew wider and her mouth dropped open.

"What… what is he?" Aeverie asked.

Zirani shrugged. "I\'ve no clue. He is part human at the very least, but also something else, divine in nature."

"Did you plan this?" Aeverie asked.

Zirani held back a chuckle. "How could I have? This was all chance that he and I met, that we fell for each other and made it here."

Aeverie\'s disdain for Aiden had now changed to interest, and Zirani knew that Aiden would be getting propositioned and that a conflict would arise between her sister\'s consort and him. Zirani would have to explain certain customs to Aiden, and she\'d find it amusing when Aeverie realized that Aiden wouldn\'t be so easily fooled or seduced. Sure, he could be distracted by beauty but when it came to anything further than looking, he took things seriously. Aiden\'s care and love for her and the others was greater than any simple lust she knew.

"Who is the half breed?" Zirani asked.

Aeverie\'s eyes cleared from their thoughts and she turned to Zirani. "He is my consort."

Zirani gave her sister a blank stare and Aeveire sighed. "Fine, fine, sister. In truth, the only reason I keep him around is because of his usefulness in my projects, and he\'s decent in bed."

"I take it he thinks he\'s in love and you don\'t care to tell him?"

Aeverie smiled. "You know so well sister."

"He\'s a jealous one," Zirani said. "He won\'t take kindly to Aiden\'s presence."

"Scared for him?\' Aerie asked.

Zirani snorted. "I showed you enough that you should know Aiden could handle him."

Aerie nodded. "You trained him well, and in such a short time."

"Why is it that there are so few this time?" Zirani asked, remembering her thoughts from earlier. "I don\'t think it\'s ever been this small."

"There was no interest." Aeverie shrugged a shoulder. "A few came this time, but things haven\'t just been chaotic in our lands you know. The vampires have been trying to get a place on the Grand York council. There was a large-scale sect war that ended badly and the nearby nations had to scorch the land after a wild undead outbreak. I believe things have calmed down there now and the lands are well, but it\'s not just that."

"It might have something to do with the clash, but that is still two years away," Zirani mused. "Although it\'s not like any of it is unusual. There have always been periods of greater chaos and there\'s always a war or conflict going on somewhere."

"True enough," Aeverie replied. "Well, I think we should move onto the topic of the others you brought."

Zirani nodded and focused on Aiden. "Give a minute. I need to call someone."