Am I more than you bargained for yet?
Everyone in their life experiences a point where someone or something is in their way, underestimating them, judging them unfairly, holding them back. Whatever form it takes, it leaves a lasting impression, and even after massive achievements, these kinds of things can still linger at the back of a person's mind. Who has wronged your character in the past? Who does your character most feel they still have something to prove to, if only to rub their successes in this person's face?
RP your character looking back on the successes and pains of their life to date, considering their relationships in full and what they need to do to move on from their past regrets or - if appropriate - exact a little much-deserved revenge. Do you go seeking an encounter out? Or perhaps your character simply runs into this person who has never valued or judged them adequately - how do you cope, and what helps your character to move on from the injustices of their younger years to the poise and power befitting of a true master of their art?
After presenting themselves to Marcus Ysaride, and inquiring about the path to mastering shifting into a dragon, Lithian and Casseth had headed back to the Dawnkeeper Hostel. Lithian had only lingered for a moment, plans to visit his parents’ home had been made long before they traveled to the Celestial Plane and though Casseth would have liked to accompany his mate on the journey to visit the man and woman who had so easily thrown Lithian out of the family, he had stayed behind at the hostel. The last thing Cas wanted to do was make things that much more difficult for Lithian. He would love nothing more than if his mate could mend things between his mother and himself.
Casseth frowned as he leaned against the railing of the hostel’s porch. He was not so lucky. He’d seen neither hide nor hair of the hybrid woman, who had birthed him, since he was a small child. Cas ran a hand through his loose hair as he closed his eyes and sighed. Lord Ysaride, likely unbeknownst to him, had opened a wound Casseth and thought sealed shut long ago. The minute the man had even mentioned Cas’ mother, his wings had sagged a fraction as a sharp p***k of pain shot through his heart.
So many things his mother had missed. She had missed him growing up — his whole childhood, long gone and seeming like such a blur. She had missed so many of those important milestones every young child and teenager go through. He had chosen his clan and weapon without her presence. Had turned his orbs into his father, instead of traveling to the very place he stood in, as she had promised him and his sister so long ago. Had his sister come here then? Without him? Had she stood before Lord Ysaride and handed over her orbs? Would he not have said something had she visited the Celestial Plane?
Casseth wanted, desperately, to be angry with her — craved it — but he could not force himself to feel anything but sadness at the moment. He pushed away from railing and padded, barefoot, off of the porch and onto the path that would lead him down to the beach. Fresh air was what he needed and being cooped up on the porch of the hostel was not enough. He needed to smell the water, at least be close to his mate’s element while being unable to tuck into his embrace at the moment.
Cas’ toes curled, digging into the sand, the moment he hit the beach’s surface and a small, sad smile curled up the corners of his mouth. This was his element and beyond that, his mate’s. The two met, water rushing and washing up onto the beach, dragging some of the sand back when it receded. That had been Lithian, coming into Casseth’s life. Like a wave, the young dovaa had come crashing into his life and ever since, with each meeting, had taken a part of Cas with him. Until finally, he had found himself head over heels in love with the dovaa. It had been a long, drawn out process and one that his mother had never witnessed. She had not seen their friendship develop into more than a simple bonding. Had not been witness to the ceremony that had bound them together.
Frustration slowly edged into his consciousness as he moved farther along the beach. He would love nothing more than the chance to confront his mother about all that she had missed out on. However, it was unlikely he would ever find her again. He was not even sure if she still lived on Aisko. His gaze flicked over the beach, down it’s long expanse, and he took a deep breath, arms and wings spreading out as he let his gaili magic take over. Cas felt his body separate and meld with the sand and earth beneath it. His magic reached out, feeling his way through the earth as he traveled quickly. He could feel the lap of the water against the sand, mind shuddering at it reminded him of Lithian’s fingers against his skin.
Casseth stayed that way for quite some time, letting himself forget, just in that moment, the hurt he was feeling. He lost track of which direction he traveled in and for just how long he remained one with the earth around him until he finally had to force himself back to reality. As he pulled his way back up to his physical body, Cas could feel the pressure of water around him and for a moment he feared he’d gone far out into the sea. He released a rushed breath as he broke the surface of the water and held his eyes shut, fearing opening them for a moment.
In the distance, though, he heard the waves beat against nearby rocks and even a child laughing as they passed by on the path beyond the beach. Casseth opened his eyes, gaze flicking towards the beach. He let himself relax, worry edging away as he saw that he had not traveled as far as he had first feared. Though he could no longer see the Hostel, he was sure it would be easy enough to find his way back on foot.
He floated in the water, for a moment, remembering that there was a time when he would not have gone into the water for anything. Lithian, his mate and best friend, had saw to it that Casseth learned to swim — slowly working with him until he had learned. It’d been one of the best things Cas had learned in his short lifetime. Being able to enjoy the water with Lithian meant the world to him.
His mother had missed so many things but through it all he had had his father. He had been there for each and every milestone in his life. Never abandoning him and protecting him above all else. Even when that meant killing his own father. Casseth winced, brows pinching together at the memory of the first time he’d ever stepped for on Soudul. He had been such a stupid, stubborn brat then and had almost gotten both himself and Lithian killed. Casseth made his way back to shore as he thought back on all the things he’d done in defiance of his father. The trip to Soudul and the Pit being the two things that stuck out the most to him. Despite it all, though, his father had shown nothing but love towards him.
Love and acceptance. Casseth smiled as he remembered the very day that Lithian and his relationship had been revealed to his father. Casseth had pinned Lithian to the wall, outside of their house, and was in the process of removing clothes when Kilian had made himself known. That had been the day that things had starting things tumbling into place. With the acceptance of his father and his blurting out that Lithian was his mate, Casseth’s life had shifted unexpectedly. Not that it had been a bad shift. No, it had been the best thing to ever happen to him. He had known, for quite some time, that Lithian was the one. Almost as if from the moment Lithian had kissed him, in anger, at the inn. So it had only been second nature when Casseth had claimed Lithian as his mate, even if it was not a correct statement.
Casseth would never forget the moment the two of them had exchanged their vows and their wrists had been bound together. Everything had fallen into place, eventually, despite difficulties and obstacles. Lithian was there, his father, the rest of his friends — all of them. He could not let the absence of his mother and sister weigh on him for too long. He had too much happiness in his life to allow such thoughts to be his sole focus.
He trudged through the sand, not even bothering to wipe away the granules that stuck to the soles of his feet. Instead, he savored the feel of the crunch beneath his weight. He stretched his wings out, giving them a few small shakes to knock loose some of the water from his feathers. Casseth would always hold some hurt, in him, for the mother who abandoned him but he would not, could not, let it rule his life.
Cas had much to look forward to in his future. Though he was, technically, a master, there was much he had still yet to experience. All of which he planned on experiencing with Lithian. So, as he approached the hostel again, sopping wet, Casseth’s hurt and frustration was replaced and instead, he was eager and ready for whatever the future held for him. He would never forget where he came from, or forget the woman who gave birth to him, but he would not let her rule his life, even from afar.
Lithian was his life — his family.
Word Count: 1,502
