Casseth stood staring at the case that held his orbs. All but two of them had been earned while in the presence of Lithian. He thought back to his best friend and smiled. His gaze flit to the kiandri and peisio orbs as he remembered how they had earned those. Casseth had almost lost his life, twice, that day. He rubbed his arms as he moved backwards, falling to as it as the back of his legs hit up against his bed. The scar on his leg throbbed, as if to remind him that he could have lost his leg, if not his life, that day had it not been for Lithian. Not to mention his lack of swimming skills. To this day, he still did not know how to swim. His brows pinched together at that, cheeks flushing. Lithian was so at ease in the water, maybe he could learn from him.

His gaze moved to the diabi and a shudder coursed through his body. Not because of the dragon fight. It had gone well, save for him losing his axe in the water. No, that trip to Soudul had ended badly and it had been all of Casseth’s fault. He sighed as he leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs as he let his face rest in his hands. Because of him, Lithian had been put in grave danger and his grandfather was dead. Not that the b*****d hadn’t deserved it. He had dared to touch Lithian. Cas sat back up straight, scrubbing his face with his hands. No, he wasn’t sorry his grandfather was dead. What he was sorry for was that his father had had to do the deed.

His dad. Kilian was the best dad Casseth could have asked for. He knew that. Knew that Kilian wanted nothing but the best for him, wanted him safe and most of all...wanted him happy. The orbs he would hand over to his father that day, held more than just the proof that he was strong and the promise to become stronger. With it, Casseth would tell his father about the pit. It was becoming increasingly harder to hide that little bit of information from Kilian, and Cassth knew that it would be better received coming from him than his dad finding out about it in the markets of Eowyn.

With a deep breath, he flicked open the case and pulled out one peisio orb, one kiandri orb and three diabi orbs. Five orbs in total were what he needed to present to his dad and what better ones to do so with, than the ones he’d earned with his friend? He carefully stored them in his pack. As he closed the flap over his orbs, his gaze went back up to the case and the remainder of his orbs. He promised himself there would be more to come. He would not stop at what he had. He needed to become stronger. With that thought in the back of his head, Cas headed downstairs to find Kilian.

Casseth was none too quiet about coming down the stairs. So when Kilian heard the familiar foot falls he stopped what he was doing and moved to greet his son. “You’ve decided then?” He asked as he patted Cas on the shoulder and guided him over to the couch to sit.

Casseth hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of the flap on his pack. “Yes.” He kept his eyes cast downwards as he spoke. “There’s...something else I want to talk to you about.” Cas kept his father’s past words in mind. After his trip to Soudul, Kilian had been sure to let Cas know that he could talk to his dad about anything. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You remember me talking about the Pit, right?”

“Yes,” Kilian said as he eyed his son. He had heard many things about the Pit. Facts beyond those that his son had told him. The one common thing between all those facts was that it could be very dangerous. “What’s this about Casseth?” Kilian asked.

Cas glanced up, instantly aware of his father’s gaze on him. “Well…” he started to speak. His voice failed him as his nerves go the better of him. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I joined.”

Kilian stared for a moment, at a loss for words. Finally, though, he found his voice. “You what?” Kilian’s eyes narrowed on his son. He knew he shouldn’t be as surprised as he was. Casseth had always enjoyed getting into the middle of hunts. Though Kilian had never seen his son fight another Magescian. Not even in practice, even though he knew that he trained with both Lithian and Detraeus.

“I joined,” Cas repeated as he opened his eyes back up. “I’ve fought in the Pit dad.” He watched for a reaction, sure that his father would be mad.

Kilian just sat there, stunned into silence for what seemed like forever. Finally, though, he snapped out of it. “Have you been hurt?”

Cas’ brows pinched together at his father’s question. His hand automatically touched on his stomach. “I…” He started to speak but clammed up as soon as he saw Kilian’s gaze drop and lock on to where his hand was resting.

“Let me see,” KIlian said as a panic, that only a father could feel, flooded into him.

Casseth hesitated, bunching the fabric beneath his hands. At the raise of one of Kilian’s eyebrows Cas gave in and raised his shirt. The puckered scar stood out against his dark gray skin. It ran from just below his left rib cage, down and across his stomach over to his right hip. He ran his fingers over his stomach, following the path of the scar and remembering how he got it. “From a rhamidon’s tail,” he said way of explaining. “I’m fine though. It was healed right after I won the fight.” Cas left out the fact that the healers of the pit had done such a poor job and Lithian had had to heal him afterwards.

His gaze lifted back to his dad, opening his mouth to speak. When Kilian held a hand up, however, Cas snapped his mouth shut. “I’m not happy you didn’t come to me before you joined.” Again, Casseth’s mouth opened. “Don’t. I won’t make you stop. You’re seventeen and old enough, now, to make your own choices.” Kilian frowned, shaking his head. “I will always worry about you. It doesn’t matter what you decide to do.” He patted Casseth on the shoulder, giving a small smile.