Chapter Text
Silence. The heavy and deafening silence, allowing no other sounds except for slow, deep breathing. And then soft footsteps, growing louder with every step. Where…where was he? His body was heavy—he couldn’t move. His fingers curled with some effort, and then a woman’s voice, though muffled, sounded excited over something. Who was that?
It sounded as though the voice was calling him. Should he follow it? His mind was in a fog, but slowly a groan passed by his lips, yet he couldn’t form words.
”Faheem—“
Yes…that was his name. Faheem held onto that voice, and yet another voice joined it in a chorus of gentle encouragement. Two bodies—he sense two people around him. And then another, and another joined them. Yet his eyes wouldn’t open. How long had it been since he last viewed the world with his own eyes?
”Faheem—you can do this honey, come on. Open your eyes!” Came a woman’s voice again. It sounded familiar—as though he’d known that voice for many years. He felt small hands take his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Slowly he managed to return that grasp, leading to further whispers of excitement from the people around him.
And then finally, his golden eyes fluttered open for a moment, before shutting them tightly as his eyes couldn’t tolerate the twilight at first. Moments later he opened them again, his vision blurred and crossed, and he blinked several times in order to focus. The first face he saw, he knew quite well. He coughed and swallowed hard, groaning at how dry his throat was.
“…Miana…” he croaked, and the old nurse wept with relieved happiness. With tears streaming down her round cheeks, she cupped his face with her small hands, and kissed him on the forehead. He was like a grandson to her—and seeing him awake again filled her worried heart with joy.
“Oh honey, Faheem—I’m so happy to see you’re awake!!” she cried, and the other healers surrounding them voiced their relieved excitement, chattering amongst themselves. Immediately they went to work and clasped their hands together, giving Faheem a healing spell to rejuvenate him. The warmth that soon followed washed over his body, and he gasped before breathing more slowly once more. Once they finished, they soon brought him water to drink, helping hold his head up and bringing the goblet to his mouth. He swallowed what he could and then cleared his throat, offering his hand to the old nurse. She took his hand in hers, patting the top of it with one hand.
“…Miana…wh-what happened to me? Wh-where is Yldae…?” he asked at first, looking down at his body, covered in bandages. In that moment he knew he must have used the claw for some reason, but he couldn’t remember why. Then he noticed Miana smile sadly, and he furrowed his brow with concern.
“You really don’t remember yet?” she asked, and Faheem shook his head.
“Faheem—you’ve been comatose for nearly four months. Before that, you dealt with a madman…” she trailed, gently trying to ease him into remembering that painful day. And then Faheem’s eyes widened as he shot up, immediately grimacing at the pain in his body when he sat up suddenly. He pulled his hand from Miana and gripped his face, rubbing his temples with his fingers.
That’s right—he remembered. That day, those months ago, Otheno terrorized him and they fought at the isle of no return. Because his claw had been active for hours, it left him comatose for months. But even still, wouldn’t his injuries have healed during that time? He looked to his shoulder and noticed he must have reopened that wound when he sat up so quickly. He furrowed his brow in confusion.
Miana noticed this and sighed. “We did our best to heal you, Faheem, but your body just wouldn’t respond. I believe it’s because you lost so much of your power through the claw, and your body couldn’t heal until your life energy returned. Really the only thing that went away was that scrape on your face.” She explained, wringing her hands. And then she pat his arm as another healer brought him a tray of food, getting to her feet once more.
“Now I need you to eat and get some rest. As long as your wounds start healing over the next few days, you’ll be able to go home. I’ll send Yldae word that you’re awake.” She smiled, and left him alone to his thoughts.
Days then passed by, and the day that Faheem was allowed to go home finally arrived. And yet, throughout the time he had been awake, no one ever visited him. He did remember sensing other presences early on in his recovery, but those numbers dwindled over time. His friends, his students…no one came to see him. Did anyone see him while he remained comatose?
’Who needs Faheem, the man without a heart?’ echoed Otheno’s words at the forefront of his mind. Faheem frowned, silently making his way toward home. No one truly needed him, it seems, if he remained alone. He paid no mind to the people around him, and then he simply teleported directly home.
Rematerializing in his living room, he breathed in the stagnant air, frowning at how empty his house was. Light dust settled over everything, and he felt lost. What should he do now? Silently he summoned everything he had stored in his shadow. The provisions Miana gave him for his kitchen, his staff, and the old journal…his Master Tellah’s old journal.
Quickly he set everything aside, except for that journal, taking it in hand and sitting on the lounge. He touched the weathered cover with his fingers and they trembled with apprehension as he considered his options. Should he read it? Or banish the object to the endless abyss below the isle?
Before he realized what he was doing, he opened the book and viewed the first page. Upon it was a signature only he knew so well. ‘Master Tellah’, in fine twilin script. Faheem shut his eyes for a moment, feeling overwhelmed with memories of his master. The many times he stood and watched the old man scratching notes on scrolls, and Faheem’s curious young eyes watching and learning. And…the beatings—the physical abuse. Faheem suddenly felt like he shouldn’t even be looking at this book. What if the journal was fake? What if it was a trick set by Otheno and everything inside was false? But Faheem shook his head. It must be real. It had to be. There was no mistaking the handwriting, it was certainly Tellah’s for sure. He needed to read it—he needed to know the truth.
Then he turned the page, only to fumble the book and it slipped off his lap and to the floor. It landed open to a page toward the back of the book. He sighed and bent over to pick it up, stopping short when he noticed a faint line etching itself into the page. He looked around for a moment, wondering if it was a trick somehow, and then picked up the book to look closer. Immediately the ink became words, as though an invisible hand were writing with a quill. His eyes widened—it was a message for him.
’Faheem, mine apprentice. It has been many a year since I left thee. Return to the isle of thine training, my mansion. Thou shall find me there, awaiting thine return. If this command is not obeyed, a disaster beyond thine imagination will occur. So says I, Tellah.’
Faheem shook his head—he knew this spell. It wasn’t simply a secret message he happened to discover, it was active and the author was writing as he viewed the page. His breath hitched in his throat as the writing continued.
’Come boy…the end is nigh.’
Immediately Faheem shut the journal and let it fall to the floor when he stood, trying to slow his panicked breathing. His old master was alive—was he dreaming?? But he knew that handwriting, the pattern of speech. There was no denying it was real.
Tellah demanded his presence. And even after decades of living alone, Faheem couldn’t help but feel the pull of obedience to his Master’s commands. He knew he couldn’t do this alone, however—not after what happened with Otheno. Because he dealt with the madman alone, he nearly lost his life and risked the wellbeing of the entire realm by foolishly listening to the threats.
In the next moments Faheem immediately rushed to his desk to find an empty parchment, and began a letter. Once signed, he muttered a spell and watched the note fold itself into the shape of a bird, and flew out the window to its intended recipient.
Yldae…
Although the curtain of night had lifted from the heavy clouds in the eternal twilight, it was still a quiet morning—eerily silent almost. Something in the air seemed to fill Yldae with dread as she thought she could feel tension lurking in the realm. As she stared outside the window with a deep frown on her face, she set her teacup down on the short table in front of her and reached out to pick up the piece of parchment that lay on it.
The previous evening she received this note as it flew through her window, and its contents although short, worried her. Deep in thought, she carefully unfolded Faheem’s message and glanced at his writings once more.
"Yldae, it has been some time. A matter of great importance has arisen that I must attend to immediately. Please be ready when I come on the morrow. -Faheem"
This short note may have seemed vague to anyone else that might read it, but after all the years Yldae had known the Master of Magic, she felt the man was up to something. Even more, the fact that he had finally recovered from his coma and further sought her out, gave her pause. The man hadn’t spoken to her in what seemed like an eternity to her, during the previous several years when he would only converse in their sign language, if at all. Eventually she gave up, and these four months later, deeply regretted that decision. Because of it, she felt responsible for Faheem having faced the madman alone, and suffered a coma because of it. His lifeless body in the infirmary shook her to her core that day—and every day since she could not see him. Why should she dare to visit him, when he was better off without her? She wasn’t a healer like her sister. Ylith…Faheem deserved someone like her, a healer. Weren’t they close anyway?
The questions and memories set a storm lose in her mind, but her sister's deep sigh pulled Yldae from her thoughts, and she glanced up from Faheem's message to look at the younger woman. Ylith had grown quiet over the past months, and Yldae could see the sadness in her sister’s normally bright eyes. She managed to pull off a smile around her children, but Yldae felt as though Ylith was mourning. She replaced the note in her hand with the teacup and took a sip, wanting to speak and ask Ylith what it was that depressed her so. But before a sound could slip past her lips, she sensed a familiar presence approaching her home.
Faheem was near.
It took an entire night for Faheem to prepare for this visit and attempt to convince himself that he would be okay. Yet, he wasn't, and though he tried to keep his expression calm, it would be obvious to those that knew him well that he was stressed and tired. With the slight furrow in his brow and darker eyes, he knew Yldae would see right through him. She always could read the smallest changes in his expression. He paused at the door to her house to take in a deep breath. Then he entered.
He saw Yldae look up at him, and by the look on her face he knew it was pointless to even try to keep any secrets. Then as he stepped forward, he stopped when he saw Ylith, not expecting to see her. She looked far more depressed than he remembered of her last. He looked between the two sisters for a moment, then turned his gaze to Yldae.
"...I trust you received my message?" he asked. Before Yldae could start, he shook his head. "Yldae, perhaps we should both sit down before I speak concerning this matter." he added, then moved over to take on the far side of the couch from where Ylith sat. Then he looked across the tea table at Yldae, sitting in the padded chair. How, and where to begin? He let out a quiet sigh—his efforts to prepare for this visit did nothing to help him.
Yldae watched Faheem quietly as he sat far from Ylith who only bowed her head to him, her frown still present, but softening slightly. "You are correct, I received your note..." she began with a puzzled expression, wondering why he'd even seek her out to begin with, but stopped for a moment when Ylith stood to find a cup for her mentor and offer him some tea. Yldae cleared her throat, then continued when she looked back at her old friend. "I assume you did not expect to see my sister, but I feel that you are planning something and I am not certain I'll like your plan. Therefore, I wish to make sure you are well enough for whatever it is you are up to, please understand."
When Ylith returned from the kitchen and glanced down at the single cup she held in her hands and back at Faheem, she looked at him with somber eyes, offering him the tea in silence. But he didn’t take the cup from her, so with downcast eyes she set it on the table and returned to her seat—feeling as though she made a mistake.
Yldae frowned when Faheem didn’t even glance at the teacup Ylith brought him. It wasn’t normal of him to refuse tea. Even during his silent years, he always drank the tea Yldae offered him. "I have known you for a long time, Faheem...I can sense a heavy weight upon your shoulders...there is something that greatly plagues your mind, isn't there? Please talk to me...you are free to speak your mind within these walls.” She said to him, her heart pounding in nervousness. Would he speak to her at last?
Faheem silently nodded. Instead of sitting up straight as he normally did, his shoulders were slumped forward. He rubbed his temples with his hand, then moved it down his face and letting his hand fall to his lap. In this moment, he was overwhelmed. With a heavy sigh, he finally looked up at Yldae.
"...I have been summoned by Master Tellah, Yldae, which is why I am here. I-I cannot face him alone. Not after what happened with Otheno…"
Yldae simply stared at Faheem in disbelief and frowned. She failed to notice Ylith's reaction to the mention of Otheno, and how the younger woman was trying to hold back her tears. Yldae took several moments to fully comprehend Faheem's words, but hearing that his former master was still alive brought back countless unpleasant memories, and fear.
"He lives...?!" she managed with a trembling voice, then cleared her throat. "I...I-I cannot believe this...after all this time, I was certain he had died. We both were certain of it—you cannot really be serious about wanting to see the former Master of Magic. Faheem, as your friend, I must strongly disagree. I know he was your master, but still, I do not believe that this is a good idea."
Faheem's gaze met Yldae's and his eyes were noticeably dull and not glowing warmly as they usually did. "...believe me, Yldae, I share your feelings on this. As much as I wish this were simply a dream, it is not. You and I both know how powerful he is...if he is indeed alive, this will bring great strife to the realm. Otheno’s dealings will seem miniscule compared to Tellah’s. The political upset will be far worse now than it was when I first assumed this role...especially given the state of the palace, the school, and all of the horrors this people have endured in the recent months and years." he replied. His mind was swimming with thoughts and memories of his youth, especially when he first discovered he could use his claw power...all to protect Yldae, his friend, from his master. Shaking his head, he continued. "...the possible outcomes and reasons behind the messages I received only indicate terror...either Master Tellah indeed alive and demands my presence, to which horrors I can only imagine he may inflict upon me for my failings...or it is possible that Otheno is behind this and still lives to seek out and destroy me and everything that has ever mattered to me." his voice trembled slightly toward the end, but he remained steady as he spoke.
Yldae narrowed her eyes slightly while she frowned. The name of Tellah, Faheem's former master, was a memory that remained…though she hoped to never hear of him again. But now that she knew the man might still be alive after decades of thinking he was gone, she felt like she could sense his magic, his mere presence somewhere out there within the depths of the twilight. She felt scared, remembering their last encounter, and knew well her friend didn't feel much different. His words echoed in her mind and she quietly growled to herself at the impact that his former master had on Faheem even now. "What 'failings', Faheem? I have known you for several decades by now, and not once have I witnessed you fail. Do not let the past consume you." she commented with a stern look on her face, then slowly reached for her cup before leaning back against the back of her chair.
Ylith, on the other hand, let her shoulders slump while she held onto her cup with both hands, simply staring at her reflection on the surface of the liquid with a dull glow in her eyes. Her mind flooded with memories at every mention of her lover's name, and she fought her tears and aching heart. With every moment that passed, she felt smaller, and slightly hidden away behind the veil she wore now. Her true feelings remained unbeknownst to everyone around her, being the only one to truly know the man of the name Otheno and who he really was, but her sorrow was something she failed to hide after all the years and the news of his probable demise.
Yldae’s features softened for a moment when she observed Ylith with a sad look, but knew the younger woman wouldn't speak to anyone and sighed. She took a deep breath, then looked back at Faheem. "...I do know of his power, and the danger that comes from him. The realm will not find peace if he or the man that sought to rob you of your life were to return...Whatever it is that awaits, your safety is at stake and that I cannot accept, Faheem. I will not stand by and watch you putting yourself in danger again. The last time I saw you before you fell comatose, you were flying off to an unknown place without me. I-I will not stand aside." she finally added, then took a sip from her cup to swallow her anger.
Faheem silently reached for his cup finally, bringing it to his lips with a shaking hand. Then he set it back down, for a moment feeling thankful for simple things such as tea. It always calmed his nerves, yet he still frowned. "...I may not have failed in your eyes, however, I always failed in his." he said quietly. Every time he didn't do something exactly the way Tellah wanted, he was beaten for it. Everything he asked of Faheem was a test, and somehow despite completing his tasks, it was never good enough. Faheem leaned over to rest his forehead on his fist, his face looking down at his lap. It was certainly a sad and strange sight for the two women to see, but in a way welcoming to see Faheem open himself up.
“…forgive me, both of you—please…I allowed myself to become silent in the face of those whom cared about me. Brushed aside the children, ignored my duties on the council…and then I was foolish enough to believe I could atone for my mistakes by dealing with Otheno alone.”
“Faheem, I-I—“
"...do you remember when we first met, Yldae?” Faheem cut her off, shaking his head, “...you heard Tellah strike me for being exactly one minute late. I was beaten into submission every time I questioned him, or did not perform a spell perfectly...I was severely abused during my apprenticeship..." he trailed, then sat up again, yet avoiding the eyes of his friends. "...even now I feel that I am failing. I have allowed myself to feel despite being trained to ignore every emotion..." he added, with a tear escaping his eye. He didn't bother to hide it or wipe that tear away, but instead shut his eyes to prevent any more from escaping.
"...there is too much that has happened to this realm as a direct result of my assuming this title, more than twenty years ago. In some way...it must end. Despite these innermost feelings of fear and anxiety, I-I have no choice...if I do not go, this evil will seek me out just as Otheno did...too many lives have been lost to the skies already." he finished, opening his eyes again and shaking his head. It was simply too much to take on alone.
Yldae fell silent. She knew Tellah had been cruel to Faheem when he was but a child, but what she heard from her friend now left her speechless. All the things she didn't know when they had been close for so many years. She felt blind, and a strong sense of regret and sadness pulled at her heart. It was almost surreal. There had never been a time where she saw her dear friend like this, and the image of seeing him so anxious to express himself, to express his fear and sadness pained her. As if connected by an invisible thread, her eyelashes flickered when a single tear rolled down her cheek as well. Yldae wiped at it quickly with her free hand and set her cup down on the table, then stood after a moment of thought.
Ylith watched her older sister quietly when the latter slowly neared her mentor, and her tired eyes widened slightly in surprise. Yldae hesitated and rested a hand on his shoulder, but then, without another word, slowly kneeled down in front of Faheem and reached her shaky hand up to his cheek to gently wipe away the tear he shed just a few moments ago. Her eyes still fixed on him, she pulled her hand back, and pondered on her actions, but soon dismissed her thoughts. In what seemed like an eternity to her, Yldae slowly extended her arms to carefully wrap them around Faheem's chest in an embrace, followed by her sister moving across the couch to rest her hand and head on her mentor's shoulder. But the situation soon proved to be too much for Ylith. Before her tears could start to flow, she stood to dismiss herself and left for the kitchen with swift steps to leave Yldae and Faheem alone.
Yldae pulled back a little and her gaze settled on Faheem's eyes. After all this time, she had learned to read his emotions well, and as he lifted his head to meet her bright ones, his eyes revealed how he felt. It was as though she was looking at his younger self, and memories of when they were younger and so much more carefree came back to her. Without wasting another moment, she reached out to him once more, gently holding him in an almost shy but strong embrace; soft enough to make sure she didn't come across any bruises, but strong enough to tell him she supported him no matter what.
She held him like that for a few long moments with her one hand gently caressing the back of Faheem's head occasionally. "...I'm here." slipped past her lips in a soft, barely audible whisper.
Faheem wept silently as Yldae embraced him, allowing more tears to fall freely. It had been so long since he last confided in her, and her embrace also reminded him of their youth. Back then, his happiest memories were when he was with her, helping each other with spells or trying new experiences Tellah would never let him have. She had always been the highlight of his day, whether they saw each other, or conversed using the stones Yldae managed to enchant--using the book he gave her after marking that particular spell for her to find.
Then he remembered the times when he wanted and needed support, quietly taking her hand without saying a word. Yldae releasing him and standing brought him back to the present, and as if it were instinct from a time long past, he reached out and took her hand. He had not held her hand since they fought together during the usurper’s reign, he realized. And then he looked up at her as if to say he wasn't ready to let go. So he stood from his seat, now looking down at her.
"...Yldae." his low and quiet voice managed. And without another word, released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, followed by lowering his head and hiding his face in her shoulder. "...thank you."
A slight blush spread on her cheeks at Faheem's sudden move, and Yldae, her eyes wide in surprise, took a moment to realize just how close she and her friend were now. Hesitantly, she lifted her arms to rest her hands on his back, and slowly wrapped her arms around him a little tighter. Her heart raced, beating against her ribs when she remembered just how she felt about his man. For just a moment, Yldae felt a faint sense of hope within herself, but it was soon replaced by some guilt. Several times had she failed to stand by his side to support him, when he had gone through so many trials.
"Faheem--" she began, ready to speak, but cut herself off to change her direction. "No need to thank me. I am always there to support you, just like I always have been—when I could…" Yldae wanted to say more, but stopped when she felt that her voice would fail her any moment. Instead, she took a deep breath. At this moment, she did not only do her best to comfort her beloved friend, but she herself found some peace as well.
With Yldae's words, Faheem quickly felt guilt about not confiding in her sooner. She had always been there to support him, and yet in recent years he chose to become more reclusive. She knew about the pain he experienced in his arm, but he chose not to disclose the red runes spreading up to his shoulder. And when Otheno attacked...he failed to seek her out for help. Yet despite the feeling of guilt, he continued to embrace her. His shoulders shook briefly from additional sobs, and then felt calm as Yldae responded with a tighter embrace.
Finally, after a few minutes of silence, he pulled back and rested his hand on her shoulder. Yldae offered him a small smile, reaching up to hold each side of his face with her delicate hands and wiping the remaining tears from his face with her thumbs. But he still had a frown on the corners of his mouth, and Yldae sighed.
"Speak to me, my dear friend." she said quietly, and Faheem nodded in response. Then he removed his hand from her shoulder, prompting Yldae to step back as Faheem returned to his seat. He gestured to the empty spot next to him, and Yldae obliged. He was sure Ylith wouldn't mind when she returned, so he leaned into the cushion behind him.
"...I suppose I am not sure where to begin." he started, then sighed. "...I am ashamed to admit my guilt, Yldae. I chose to keep my thoughts to myself over the last few years, and that I greatly regret." then he turned his gaze to hers for a moment, before looking down. "...you have always supported me, and I took our friendship for granted. Ever since our old pupil, Zant, committed his crimes, you had more on your plate to manage...we both did. It took time to re-establish the school for use, and you...were also busy assisting Ylith and her children where possible...as you remember, my title required me to assist Midna politically after her return...and yet, even after things had settled, I only attended to my duties and chose solitude as much as possible." he explained. However, knowing that Yldae did not currently know about the runes on his arm, he hesitated to continue. He knew she would likely scold him for keeping them a secret.
"...If you had never noticed I experienced pain in my arm over the last twenty years, I am not sure I would have told you about it. However..." he trailed, then decided to pull up his sleeve to reveal his missing arm, with the bright red runes that had climbed all the way up to his shoulder. "...I should have told you about this before now."
Her eyes wide in shock, Yldae's gaze lingered on the red runes on Faheem's arm. Their shade meant harm was done, she knew this deep color all too well from the curse her sister was suffering from. She felt angry at this moment, she knew his arm caused him pain but never knew of Faheem's true state. But her anger and disappointment slipped away when she looked at the man now, and was replaced by sadness because she was unable to tell just what caused Faheem to suffer. "Why...why haven't you told me about this...?" she scolded, but her voice trembled. Carefully, she traced some of the runes on his arm up to her shoulder with her long fingers before resting her hand on his shoulder. "You should have told me, I-- I could have tried to find some way to help, even if I'm not capable to heal those I care about like my sister. But then again, I should have asked you what burdened you. I cannot bear seeing you in pain, Faheem...even if there was a lot for me to take care of during that time, you knew I was always there. Waiting for a purpose. I know you prefer not to speak of your burdens, but this?"
Yldae stopped. She knew Faheem too well to be angry; their shared past had formed a strong bond between them. After another moment of tracing part of the runes on the stub of his arm, she took a deep breath, then sighed. "There is no sense in dwelling on the past now. You had your duties, just like myself. I am grateful that you are willing to tell me now, and I promise I will find a way to help you." she added then, and gave Faheem a slight smile, even if it lasted for only a moment.
Meanwhile, Ylith stood crying quietly, with one hand covering her eyes, and the other gripping the fabric of her dress tightly while she sobbed. She felt heartbroken, knowing that the man she loved and asked her to be his in the letter he once wrote and she found, the very man that fathered her beloved children, had ceased to exist after his battle with her mentor. The memories wouldn't slip from her mind, they haunted her even, and sadness constantly kept her company. How she longed to hold him again, when he loved her, or was gentle with her in bed; how she wished she could have saved his mind from being driven into madness. The memories were painful. But she knew she couldn't tell anyone; she couldn't break the promise she once made to Otheno, her beloved. The more his name was mentioned, the more she was being pushed to her limits, but Ylith tried hard to keep to herself. She breathed slowly to calm herself, and wiped at her tears. Her mentor and sister should not see her mourning like this. She straightened her dress, then reached out for the tea pot, letting it warm her hands and breathing in the tea's scent. Surely, Yldae and Faheem were already waiting for her.
Slowly, Ylith made her way back to the living room with the tea pot in her hands, but soon stopped in her tracks. She held on to the tea pot tightly with both hands when she almost dropped it at the sight she found before her. The red runes on her mentor's arm easily caught her attention, knowing well where he got them from. Otheno's link to his half-brother had manifested itself in a sickly red color and spread considerably on Faheem's arm. The crooked pattern consumed her attention, and Ylith didn't notice Yldae turning to face her until the latter called her name and she jumped.
"Ylith?" Yldae called quietly, and stood, removing her hand from Faheem's shoulder when she saw her younger sister trembling and doing her best not to drop the tea pot she gripped tightly with both hands. She quickly made her way over to Ylith, taking the teapot from her and urging her to sit in the soft chair where Yldae herself sat earlier. She calmly refilled their cups, then returned to her seat next to Faheem. She noticed her sister wasn't well, and looked at her with a sad and worried expression. "Ylith, what is the matter?" she pressed quietly, but Ylith remained silent for a minute, considering her words carefully.
"I-- I'm worried is all..." she stuttered, and tried to avoid gazing at the red runes. For a moment, she considered telling her mentor what was unknown to him, but she couldn't bring herself to break her promise. "Faheem, I...I worry about your health." Ylith continued instead. Again, she failed to reveal the truth to him, but she had to do something at least. Even if it only helped to calm her aching heart. "I myself know that runes like yours...like those on your arm, are a sign of illness, and I-- I would like to help. My sister, she asked me to come so I could help with your healing progress, I know you were wounded. If- if you really wish to go and see y-your former master, let me at least make sure you are well enough to face him. I know there isn't much I can do by now, but…Let me heal you, even if my powers are limited." She wanted to say more, but was interrupted when Yldae slowly reached her hands up to the hairclip she wore, and her lips parted to speak.
"...not quite."
Faheem was suddenly overwhelmed by the situation at hand. He knew Ylith wanted to heal him, but before he could object, Yldae moving to remove her hairclip quickly caught his attention. Knowing what he knew about Yldae and her ability to sense magic through her hands, and the pain it caused, it worried him--and even brought more memories back--that she would remove the hairclip he crafted for her.
"Yldae, no...I do not want you to endure such pain on my behalf." he said, frowning. Despite his objections, Yldae placed her hairclip into Faheem's hand, and the man sighed. "...you are as stubborn as I am." he muttered quietly, then turned his gaze to Ylith. "...Ylith...if you so desire to help me, I will not stop you. Just know that I too, am concerned about your health, as you are about mine."
"I might be stubborn, yes...that we have in common, Faheem." was Yldae's short reply without looking at him. Her gaze lingered on the hairclip he once crafted for her when they were young, she still held on to it for a while although she had placed it in its creator's hand. Just like back then, her hair now fell forward, and she moved it behind her ear with her free hand. A part of her was scared, knowing the risk should she eventually pull her hand back, but it was a risk she was willing to take for him. Then she looked back at him. "But the pain doesn't matter to me as long as it is for a purpose. If you are to face your old master, you would do well to be healthy. Ylith's powers might be limited after all this time, but my magic is still considerable. If she were to heal you through me, it would be far more effective, and less exhausting for her. I'm sure Ylith agrees." she continued, and turned her head to look at the younger who looked between Yldae and Faheem, and nodded in reply.
Then, after a few moments of hesitating, Yldae finally pulled her hand back, and held her hands close to her chest in an attempt to curb the pain in her hands and fingers as soon as her fingers no longer touched her enchanted hairclip Faheem now held in his hand. A sharp pain rushed through her hands as if pierced by needles, but Yldae only frowned at the sensation. She reached her trembling right hand up to Faheem's left upper arm, just above where it was missing, and hovered above his skin. She felt something there, and closed her eyes, concentrating on the strange sensation. "There is something here..." she spoke calmly despite the pain she experienced, as if she simply ignored it.
"It is as if some of your magic escaped in this region...like a pathway, or a leak...it is faint, but I can sense it clearly. How strange..." she mused quietly, then gently pressed her palm against his skin while, at the same time, Ylith rested her hands on Yldae's left arm and concentrated on her own magic. Slowly, she let her magic flow through her hands over to her sister, and Yldae winced slightly, but felt the magic rush through her. Her fingers tingled where she touched Faheem's arm, and it was a strange, new experience for her that made her wonder whether Ylith felt the same way when she healed another person.
Yldae took a slow, deep breath and sighed when she sensed Faheem's heartbeat returning to a slower, calmer pace and he seemed to relax. It was a welcome change. Seeing him so upset and anxious was hard, and Yldae remembered how she felt her heart sink at the sight of Faheem in such strong fear. But now, as she slowly opened her eyes and saw him, he seemed a fair bit more at ease than before.
Despite his individual concern about both of the sisters, he relaxed as he felt the healing power enter his body. Then he considered Yldae's comment about there being a faint pathway where his magic left his body, and he sighed. "...you were not wrong about what you sensed." he said quietly, pausing while the warmth washed over his body. "...I do not yet know how it occurred...however...Otheno created a link between us. Over the years he had been stealing my power and energy from me...hence the pain and the physical evidence." he mused, referring to the red runes. He wasn't sure if they were permanent or not, but as long as the pain was gone, he didn't mind them too much. Even with the reminder, he had grown accustomed to seeing them on his body for so many years.
He felt a great sense of peace as Ylith's magic flowed through Yldae and into him. His cracked rib, though originally taking a natural course of healing, began to mend itself quickly. The bruising disappeared and Faheem drew in a deep breath with no pain. He shut his eyes. The stab-wounds on his shoulder and his side closed entirely, mending itself from the inside and out. It was as though the magic was putting the pieces together, the wounds being empty puzzle pieces filled with the correct piece.
Finally, his body was healed as the magic accelerated his recovery. Opening his eyes, he saw immediately the pained expressions on the faces of his friends. Ylith looked faint, and Yldae was fighting showing any pain. Faheem shook his head, feeling overcome with gratitude from their personal sacrifices, as well as guilt for allowing it.
"...it is well, my friends. You have restored my strength, so I cannot allow this to go on any longer." he said, with warm glowing eyes.
At Faheem's words, Yldae slowly removed her hand from his shoulder and took the hairclip from him to put it back in her hair when he offered it back to her. She took a deep breath in relief and gave Faheem a brief smile, then looked at Ylith who barely paid attention. "I am glad we were successful, but Ylith, you do not look well. I'll accompany you home to make sure nothing happens to you on the way." she said, and gently took Ylith's small hands, pulling her up with her when she stood. She wrapped one arm around her sister's shoulder to help her stand, then looked back at Faheem who still sat on the lounge.
"You stay here. We have important matters to discuss once I return." she then said with a serious tone of voice, then left with Ylith. When the sisters arrived at Ylith's home, Ethine helped her aunt getting her mother to bed where the latter soon fell asleep to recover her strength. Yldae briefly informed her oldest niece of the recent events, and then left for home where her friend was waiting.