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If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Oh-oh, oh-oh
Lord, make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother
She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors
Oh, and life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no
Ain't even gray, but she buries her baby
Pyro Dagmeare hadn’t slept properly in days.
It had been a little over a week since he had discovered his terrible affliction, he was struggling with the fact their symptoms were only getting worse as their grip on reality slipped through their ash-stained hands. It's evil claws ripped open his nightmares and fed on them like they were a seven course meal, parading his worst fears before him, he was tormented every hour of each day he survived. He couldn’t trust his eyes, there had been many occasions where the corruption would torture him with visions of their dearest friend saying absolutely terrible things to them. It matched their voices perfectly, he had only barely seen through the last one but he felt like he was hanging onto a mere thread of his sanity, something that was one simple tug away from choking him instead.
Still reeling from what he had just seen, he leans back gasping against the hallway wall of his town hall where he had been putting the finishing touches on the interior.
“I never forgave you for leaving. You should have stayed gone, we were better off without you.” Those words had tumbled from what appeared to be Scott just before what was supposedly the ice mage disappeared before their frantic eyes, his Harbinger blade thrust deep into the wall where that fucking evil corruption had just been taunting him.
“How much longer must I endure this?” His deep voice shakes as he mumbles that aloud, a hand clutched over his racing heart where it thuds against his sore ribcage.
“Scott would never say that, you know he wouldn't. Pull it together Dagmeare.” Scolding himself he groans afterwards yanking his sword out from where it had been stuck, cursing under his laboured breath as they stare with exhaustion at the damage he would have to patch up later. “Gods above, I wish I could get drunk.”
Logically, they were well aware this was not a healthy coping method to escape into the drink, however he would do anything for a mere hour of proper, unbothered rest at this point.
His entire body ached like he had been tossed from the top of the Academy, their thoughts raced with every passing heartbeat from thought to urge to annoyance to rage and they barely remembered what had occurred within the past few days. Cindy watched with concern as they shambled around like a corpse, their only marker of time passing being how many rooms were furnished within their town hall.
When they weren't doing that they were spending time with Scott and Ambear researching and compiling all they knew about corruption searching for a way to purge it from their beloved fire mage. Many, many books covered every surface of their study from these attempts, thick stacks of paper inked heavily with slowly devolving handwriting as they tried to document everything they discovered between the large stacks of dusty volumes. Frustrated to no end Pyro had nearly set them ablaze last night until Scott held him back, making them vow to rest today as he felt they needed to change their approach and had promised to spend the day himself in the Academy's library leaving Pyro to recover the smallest amount, something Pyro now realizes was a mistake as his memories mixed with reality without his grounding factor who had been holding them both together.
“He cares about you. He is glad you were reunited. All those problems are in the past.” Rambling aloud trying to convince themselves they growl as anxiety causes his hand to tremble nearly dropping his sword before they are able to put it away properly.
Pushing the door open with more force than necessary he raises his voice as he shouts into the sky, “Cindermeare! To me!”
With a graceful flap of majestic glimmering ruby wings Cindy launches herself from where she had been basking in the bright sunlight on a nearby rooftop while she stood guard, she glides over to where her Rider stood before landing with a heavy thud in front of the brunette mage. He doesn't even have to say a thing as he leans close to rest their foreheads together, Cindy nudging back with a huff of smoke that wafts around them as she does her best to comfort the desperate brunette.
“Cindy…Cindy I don't know how much more I can do this…” He whispers into her crimson scales, both of them flinching hearing the true exhaustion in his tone. He hasn't admitted that terrible thought to anyone yet, but now that he said it aloud, it felt painfully real. “How do I know what is true anymore and what isn’t corrupted lies?”
His confused mind tugs at glimpses of experiences while mixing them with the horrible words the corruption had been whispering to him constantly, concocting memories that brought him to his knees before Cindy who makes a concerned noise as she follows him down to where he is resting. Using one of her muscular legs to wrap around his torso she pulls him in close as he hugs her around her neck, clasping her broad beautiful wings around them both she does her best to protect the other half of her soul, even if it was from themself.
“Why did it have to be me?” They mumble into her polished scales, a pained noise echoing from the depths of Cindermeare’s throat as she uses her chin to push him closer into the safety of her embrace. They hate how immature they sound but this corruption was exposing some of his deepest shames carving him raw allowing all emotions to bleed from him, this wouldn’t be the last time he wondered this. He knew within his heart that he would fight like hell if it was anyone else and search for all ways that he could help…just why was he the first instead? Why did it have to be them?
Unable to hold back their burning tears they escape to drop down his drawn cheeks, their appetite ranging between ravenous and nauseous meant their form had started to become gaunt, worryingly so in fact. Each and every time the real Scott appeared he brought him a feast of food to see what tempted his best friend into eating, staying until Pyro finished at least one thing that he had cooked and usually beyond that to simply be the company Pyro needed as he faced these trials ahead. However the corruption had learned this by now and last time the wrong Scott showed up at his town hall he had a similar haul of food with him except when Pyro took a bite it became freezing blue ice cream reminding him what the evil truly craved as he spit it back out.
Their memories felt like sand slipping through their calloused fingertips into the abyss the rot urged him to toss himself into, each and every time he managed a blink of sleep he awoke with larger patches of fog surrounding thoughts of their past. Frantically updating the book Scott had scribed for him with each bit of information he had gathered he tried his best to keep up with conversations but their forgetfulness had begun to be noticed by their peers, more than one person asking if he is okay among other caring queries. Ambear and Scott had successfully managed to cover for him thus far but that would only work for so long, those around them were clever and were bound to become more concerned as he grew worse.
“Cindy I’m so scared…so much is a blur now…” What he could remember about his childhood was patchy at best and he hated each and every single time Scott had to remind him about something he should know with that disguised glimmer of pity deep within his lavender eyes. To anyone else he hid his true feelings well enough but Pyro knew all the signs and then some about how to read his closest companion, besides Cindermeare, and he had already caught onto Scott starting to feel helpless in the ways he could help.
Just a few days ago Pyro had accidently overheard Ambear and Scott comforting each other through crying as they worried aloud about the fire mage, trying their best to compose themselves when the brunette had wandered into the conversation but the tears tracks were still drying down their lovely faces. He knew the odds he faced. They had been brought to this Academy to fight this evil and now it had woven its withering roots deep within their soul, absorbing the moments in time which made Pyro who he was among other terrible visions they tormented him with.
They were trying to break him, to convince them to give into their inhumane hunger, to drain the rest of their Riders of their mana in some endless quest to consume the world.
And the terrible thing is he was starting to crack. He had no idea how long he could endure this, only barely clinging on for the sake of those who held them dear and the steadfast urge to not become something that would harm those he had sworn to protect. But the corruption refused to give them any time to recover, constantly whispering evil into their head when they weren’t standing before him wearing the face of his family while spewing the most vile things. He fucking despised how easily they wove their voices into malicious ones, speaking his worst fears aloud with the biggest mocking smile they could twist their face into as they wounded them to their core with a few pointed words.
Cindermeare growls, shocking him back to reality, reminding him to stay alert for the dangers that surrounded them. Whether they be physical or mental threats, many things wished them harm here. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have broken down.”
She pulls her head back and narrows her eyes, clearly searching for something within his stormy gaze as he wipes his face clean of any evidence of his weakness, clambering back to their feet with a pained moan as his body reminds him of the torture they had been living through. Thrusting her chin over her shoulder she hums, clearly pointing towards the brewery where his bed lies until he shakes his head. “I can’t, lovely girl, I have a front hall to repair and a spare office to plan the furnishings for. I have to keep myself busy…or…well you know why—”
The crimson dragon snarls at that, stepping forward once more like she was going to grab him in some fashion until he stumbles backwards out of her reach, rushing for the threshold that was too small for her to fit through he winces while trying to ignore the rage and agony in Cindy’s roar of frustration as he slams the door behind them. Separating Rider and dragon in one painful instant, as the brunette felt the overwhelming need to keep himself busy if only to avoid the nightmares that had been slowly draining them dry.
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
The moon has begun to rise by the time Pyro has worked themself to the point they could no longer remain upright, the moon found them as they lounged beside a roaring fire where they were picking at a bag of dried fruits and nuts and occasionally reaching out to pet Cindy’s head where she rested it across his thighs. He had begged her forgiveness and worked their way back into the crimson creature’s good graces with a fresh deer he hunted with her alongside several fish he caught from the river just before he settled down to think about his own dinner. Initially he went fishing for himself but midway through his stomach turned against the idea, leaving them feeling incredibly weak and irritated as they rested their back against Cindy’s pleasantly warm scales debating what to do from here.
Reaching their hand forward they encourage the fire higher with a sigh, pondering what to work on tomorrow. Getting lucky with materials they managed to finish the office they had been working on ahead of schedule, leaving him without a current project which was dangerous with where his thoughts threatened to wander right now. The constant vigilance that this affliction had forced upon him was wearing him down to his very bones, leaning heavier into Cindy as she peeks one eye open to stare at him with her intelligent amber gaze.
“Think I can sleep peacefully tonight?” Knowing it won’t happen the moment he voices it, they pick up the fruit wine bottle laying beside them to finish the rest of it with heavy swallows craving that warmth and peaceful ignorance that comes with giving into inebriation even if it was temporary at best. They feel the burn of her concern without even having to look at his dragon which held the other half of his soul, their bond louder than words and overflowing with her worries as he practically drowns himself searching for any type of peace.
“Good evening Pyro, drinking yourself to death I see?” Shivering before he even rises to meet the ice mage’s judgemental freezing stare, the bottle falls from his hands onto his lap only to bounce and shatter against a nearby rock with a loud piercing fracture of glass. “Good, no body will miss you, especially not me.”
Staring in horror at the easy smirk Scott wore, the handsome blonde with hair slowly staining pale blue stands with a hand on one cocked hip as he plays with snowflakes he had manifested with his other in a nonchalant way that only reinforced he didn’t view Pyro as a threat. The brunette is clumsy at best desperately throwing himself across the shattered glass for where his blade rested against a nearby log rolled next to the pit of stones just outside the brewery, they try their best to ignore the sharp pain of the glass cutting into his flesh in the small places his armour didn’t protect. Cindy moves quick like a snake to push her way between them, giving Pyro a precious few moments to make his way to his feet as he looks around for Aurora, one of the first signs this is reality becoming apparent from where the beautiful ice dragon sat just behind Scott causing his tentative hope this was fake to waver.
“No—no…no you aren’t him.” Their steady voice shatters apart watching the blonde give a dramatic sigh, rolling his eyes as he continues to fidget with the ice storm above his palm while waving Cindy away like a pesky fly which she refuses with a snarl full of fire.
“You can’t even recognize your best friend anymore? Gods you are stupid, you can’t even recognize the man you have known for twenty odd years, does he mean that little to you?” Levelling their stares together, Pyro searches that face he knew better than his own for any imperfections or lies and finding none as his stomach drops from beneath them. So lost in the moment he doesn’t even notice as Cindy leaves to sit beside Aurora, giving space for Scott to step closer to Pyro with an elegant sneer full of disdain.
“Pathetic. You are weak, he knew you would be the one to give into the corruption, you were always the weaker one of us two after all. Useless since the beginning, your parents were glad to get rid of you. You contributed nothing.”
“No, you are wrong!” Pyro protests back while trying not to let those brutal words shake their conviction, finally managing to get to his feet after strapping the sword to their belt. “I just…I couldn’t stay there…it was so suffocating…”
“Good riddance.” His voice is full of the mountain air chill, filling Pyro’s veins with icy terror watching the man he trusted the most use his knowledge about the brunette to tear him to shreds with his words alone. Scott had quite a way with words in the best of times, he had a talent for choosing the phrases that cut the deepest, and Pyro would have nightmares about this conversation for many moons going forward being on the other end of the scathing remarks. “You aren’t worthy of being a story passed down, you are nothing, you lack the spark to contribute anything to your Folk Flame. You will die alone and forgotten, having done nothing of note to be remembered even by those closest to you. Erased from history, a perfect ending for a failure like you, you never should have become a dragon Rider. You didn’t have the strength too hold such a respectable title and you are an embarrassment to the Academy as a whole.”
“STOP!” The fire mage screams, ripping his blade from it’s sheath he aims it directly at his once best friend. “Shut up! You don’t know me anymore!”
Within a heartbeat Scott had summoned his own blade made of deep blue ice, both of them colliding in a bright cloud of sparks as the metallic ringing of sword striking sword echoed throughout Kindling. Throwing all his weight into pushing the sword closer to the ice mage, Pyro catches the sparkling presence of diamonds lining the edge of Scott’s frosty blade, shoving him back to dance a few steps back away from that dangerous sharpness.
Leading the blonde out to a wider part of the path, they circle each other while summoning their magic into their other hand, Pyro conjuring a burning ball of fire above his palm as whirling sharp ice surrounded the blonde’s across from him. Their dragons backed up, unsure how to break up this fight as they stood closer together, Aurora trembling as Cindy maneuvers herself between the snow dragon and the Riders who were attacking each other.
“I’m ice and you are fire, we were never going to work as friends. It’s a miracle we held up the facade as long as we did but it’s time we end this.” Scott announces, this time being the one to step forth with intent putting all his strength behind the attack Pyro barely managed to block before angling his sword so Scott’s slides off towards the left while he ducked right.
Unfortunately for Pyro his exhaustion caught up with them during the next strike and he makes a mistake, earning a stab through his shoulder that left him screeching in agony as the ice slices deep into the muscles just below his collarbone, the taller ice mage yanking the blade back afterwards in preparation for another strike Pyro barely manages to dodge while retreating further back. Gritting their teeth together they reach up with their free hand to press hot flames against the leaking wound, cauterizing it momentarily as they jump forward to attempt to land his own swing.
Fully fighting for his life his thoughts silence as the ultimate urge to survive takes hold, trading strength-filled attacks with Scott who was a graceful as he was brutal. When they had first arrived at the Academy they were at about the same in terms of fighting prowess but somewhere within these last few moons Scott’s swordplay skills had grown tenfold. What used to be weaknesses within his defense had been adjusted and compensated for, leaving Pyro constantly on the retreat as they focused everything on surviving the blows Scott did manage to land as blood begins to leak from the lacerations the ice mage caused.
Even at his best he would have struggled against this assault, which is why he is shocked when Scott makes a single wrong step and twists his foot over a tree root of a stump Pyro had been working to evacuate. As the large man collapses backwards Pyro follows him down, with a roar of triumph he brings his sword down upon the blonde stabbing deep into his gut just beneath the polished pale blue chest plate of his new armour, putting all his weight behind the strike begging in his mind that this was the end of the torment as it slides clean through deep into the ground below with a startling crunch and a loud exhale of breath.
And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom
I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger
I've never known the lovin' of man
But it sure felt nice when he was holdin' my hand
There's a boy here in town, says he'll love me forever
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
Gasping for air, Pyro’s senses slowly return as he leans heavily against his sword where it is still pierced through the being below him, blinking quickly to clear their gaze of tears their chest heaves as they try to recover. His hearing returns last, arriving in sudden clarity only for him to listen as as the soul beneath him cries his name in a painfully recognizable voice.
Dreading the crimson slowly starting to bloom from the mortal wound across pale snow white and sky blue armour Pyro moves his head slowly to meet Scott’s terrified blurry lilac gaze, reality snapping back into place in a terrible realization the vision he had just fought was simply a trick of his mind yet again and…and—
“FUCK, fuck fuck fuck, I am so sorry Scott—” Releasing the grip of the hilt of his sword he cups his hands above the weeping flesh the blade had cut through and applies pressure, the ice mage reaching out with one of his hands to grasp Pyro’s wrist in a shaking grasp.
“Don’t—don’t waste your energy…” His sweet voice is already so painfully weak, doing his best to smile at least the smallest amount up at Pyro. “It’s okay Pyro, I know…it’s going to be okay—”
“Like hell it is Scott, oh ancestors above, what have I done?!” Pyro wails as tears yet again fill his eyes, staring down in horror as they search for any way to save his life. As he puts his weight upon Scott’s torso his collarbone reminded him of the burn covering it, giving him a terrible and dangerous idea. Tearing off a piece of his tattered shirt he presses it to Scott’s lips. “Here, bite on this, I am going to try to—”
“Pyro. Stop.” Scott demands Pyro’s frantic attention with two simple words, shaking his head slightly to dislodge the fabric before he continues speaking. “I should have recognized you were seeing things—this is on me…”
“Scott, I stabbed you.” Pyro laments, his strength finally giving out as Scott weaves one of their hands together once he convinces him to pull away.
The brunette winces watching him cough to clear his throat, a trail of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth telling the fire mage exactly which internal organs he had managed to strike, and they weren’t wounds he could burn shut as they lay deep within beyond what he could reach. “Don’t—blame yourself. I still got two more chances…it’s okay…”
“Scott, I didn’t know it was you and now you are dying because I didn’t recognize you! You are in pain because of me, because of me and my inability to see through the delusions…”
“Pyro you have been facing them for days, anyone is bound to make a mistake…” Pyro’s panic kicks it up a notch listening to Scott’s beautiful words begin to slur together, reaching up with his other free hand to cup Scott’s cheek as they plead with whoever above that someone appears who can still save him. “You are my best friend, I know you didn’t…mean…it…”
“Scott, you better hold on.” The brunette pleads through a slowly closing throat, crimson pooling beneath them both from the wound the ice mage had suffered by the fire mage’s own hand. “You are my reason for living, you can’t leave me…”
“I’ll be back, I promise.” Scott mumbles, Pyro having to lean impossibly close to hear his dearest companion speak. “I—I love you Pyro, I’ll see you soon.”
“SCOTT DON’T YOU DARE!” The brunette screams as Scott’s entire form grows still, his final breaths laboured before an overwhelming silence follows. Searching multiple pulse points with trembling fingers Pyro’s sobs grow louder as they mourn exactly what had just transpired, not finding a single trace of that grounding heartbeat that had been Pyro’s lullaby.
The streets of Kindling echo with his grieving, part of them still not believing Scott was actually dead despite his body laying before him while the fire mage was covered in his icy blood, the essence growing sticky between his fingers as he held Scott’s face oh so gently while staring at his wonderful features while shame and despair threatened to drown him from the inside. Struggling with round after round of tears as each wave of realization washes over him he collapses against Scott’s broad chest, embracing him tight as he holds the body of his childhood friend as close as he possibly can. The sword that still pierced through his ribs didn’t allow Pyro to pull him into his lap, but he did his best as he lamented their actions tonight while embracing the weight of their sins.
In the distance he heard the soul-rending cry of Cindy as Aurora fell beside her, clutching Scott’s torso as his thoughts raced. How did he not recognize Scott? He should have known him, his eyes opening the smallest amount to memorize every beautiful edge of the amazing man he had just slain, hating how he could name the cause of every healed scar he saw as their memories remind them of things at the worst moment of their life. He had just murdered his biggest supporter, someone who had held him as he fell apart and forgave him for some truly unforgivable actions, Pyro had just killed the man he viewed as his confidante, all because his mind had fallen apart enough he didn’t see the truth staring him in the face.
As their fractured mind tries to pull itself together flashes of reality appear that he didn’t notice while they had been exchanging sword swings; Scott pleading with them to break through as he merely defended himself, the complete opposite of what the delusion lead him to believe watching himself on the relentless attack instead.
The ice mage appeared as he always had with a plate full of food and that quiet sense of strength Pyro had enjoyed watching his best friend wield to his own, Pyro and all the other’s benefits. Whether that be because he was the mayor’s son or it came naturally to him, Scott’s immovable loyalty and comforting compassion were some of his best traits which the other Riders had come to rely on. It was well known he would listen when you needed it and the advice that followed was to be treasured, wise beyond his years he was an amazing mediator while still encouraging his loved ones to find and be their best selves.
Tonight, Pyro had responded to their usual dinner plans with a bloody and absolute sword swing instead of a relieved sigh they were back in the presence of the one who kept him tethered to this plane.
They were such a terrible person for that, their guilt threatening to drag them into an early grave as their eyes catch the sword still weeping blood where it pierced through the one who had protected Pyro for their entire lives. Gathering their remaining strength they reach for the hilt and miss, groaning as their slippery hands fail to find a place to hold while their own chest caves in until they eventually find a proper grasp. Holding on tight, he lets out another sob before growling as they struggle to remove the blade, a sickening sound following as it does finally releases and grinds against bone on the way out with another burst of deep red blood splattering nearby clothing.
Letting it fall beside Scott’s limp form he throws himself yet again atop Scott’s body, searching for tears to cry they mumble back something they should have repeated long ago while the blood between them stained deep into both their clothes and drenched his soul in regret.
“I love you too, Scott. I never should have forgotten who you are, I failed you.”
So put on your best, boys, and I'll wear my pearls
What I never did is done
A penny for my thoughts—oh no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I've been singin'
Funny when you're dead, how people start listenin'
If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a bed of roses
Sink me in the river at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
Three days had passed since Pyro killed Scott, the fire mage had completely cut of contact with every other Rider and would summon Cindermeare to fly away anytime anyone approached him, refusing to return to Kindling until the moon was high in the sky and only they remained. At some point during that time Scott and Aurora’s corpses disappeared, after his atrocious actions Pyro had dragged himself to the brewery, drank himself stupid and passed out right then and there. They had no idea how long they remained there before they awoke with a pounding headache and overwhelming sense of guilt for betraying his best friend, avoiding going outside until he had to out of fear of what he would find but instead of bodies only bloodstains remained nearby the firepit long cold.
For some fucking reason the corruption had backed off its attacks, which meant Pyro had spent these last several days in an endless loop of accusing themself of terrible things between avoiding everyone and everything besides Cindy who didn’t let him out of her keen sight. His soul dragon refused to be separated from her Rider, he did try to escape once or twice before she stubbornly reminded them they were very much connected and their bond would always lead them back to each other and no matter how much distance he put between them she would always catch up.
When they had brief moments of clarity he wondered why Osteon hadn’t come to speak to him yet, he was positive that once people found out who took away one of Scott’s precious chances there would have been hell to pay, or at least several questions as to what had been going on with the fire mage but so far there had been completely and utterly nothing. In the times he had fled Kindling it had been from their fellow students, Osteon and her terrifying wither dragon had yet to make an appearance and Pyro was bracing for when it did happen.
The brunette had even considered once or twice just flying back to the Academy to turn themselves in, letting the justice system deal with his crimes and giving him a way to atone for the terrible things they had done. A dragon Rider, his best friend, murdered by his own blade in a fit of corrupted delusion and mistaken rage. They deserved capital punishment at the very least, a chance for a chance was the very beginning of what should happen to them in exchange for the agony they had forced upon their lifelong protector.
“Pyro?” Speak of the devil…Pyro freezes where they had been pacing in their brewery, so muddled up in their own racing mind they didn’t even hear the ice mage approach. He watches with sad eyes as Pyro flinches away, unable to meet his lavender gaze for any longer they turn around to face the opposite wall with hunched shoulders as the weight of their tragedies dragged them towards the ground below.
“No Scott, go away…I don’t want to hurt you again…” Wrapping their arms tight around themselves as they feel the vicious shadow of blood that was no longer there stuck between his fingers and painted down his face, Pyro tries to keep themselves held together as they internally fall apart in the presence of the one person who should have been safe from them no matter the depth of his corruption.
“Pyro Dagmeare, look at me.” Flinching at the stern tone he swallows heavily, turning the smallest amount to peer back over their shoulder. “You aren’t to blame, you stop that line of thinking right now.”
“Scott Boralith, it was my blade which ended your life, how is it not my fault?” Snapping back, they can only pray their sorrow-fuelled ire is enough to chase him far away and out of danger once more, leaving the fire mage to wither away in isolation at least until he was found and punished by those who would deliver a proper unbiased accusation against him as a murderer. “I killed you, I stabbed my dearest friend and cost you one of our three chances, you need to stay far away from me for your own safety. I won’t be the cause of another…it’s pure agony I was the cost of one…how can you even look at me and not see your killer?”
“All I see before me is my best friend and they are in pain…let me help you…” Holding out his arms Scott offers a tiny smile while waiting patiently for Pyro to cross the distance to the blonde he had hurt.
“How do I know this isn’t another trick?” Pyro’s suspicion peaks out its ugly head, reminding him of how the last time they saw each other went. Just because they hadn’t tormented him recently doesn’t mean this wasn’t another corruption manifestation, they didn’t trust a single thing anymore after the chaos of recent events atop the malicious whispers that followed his every heavy thought.
Scott tilts his head, letting one of his hands drop to his side as he uses the other to fiddle with his gauntlet as words tumble forth, “My name is Scott Boralith of Tegrith, the Mayor’s son and most importantly a Dragon rider with ice magic running through my blood, perhaps an element I felt close to because of the environment we grew up in. My best friend is someone you wouldn’t expect as we are opposites in many ways but the crazy thing is that might be why we work so well together.”
Taking a step forward to close the distance between them, Scott continues to talk as Pyro ever so slowly turns to face the approaching taller blonde who didn’t appear the least bit angry, only vulnerable as he pleaded with the brunette to trust this reality. “My best friend’s name is Pyro Dagmeare, we have been friends since we were wee babes huddled in furs for warmth from the ice and snow that coated our homeland, we grew up side by side making thousands of memories in Tegrith including many, many hours spent in the shade of a particular grove just on the outside of town with the best view of the once thriving city our mountain overlooked. Their fire magic rivals my own with their mastery, however that just makes us a more deadly pairing on the battlefield as instead of being at odds, we turned it into our greatest strength.”
Holding his breath, Pyro watches Scott approach him preparing for the worst. “We arrived at the Academy several moons ago after eight years of separation, something we initially fought about before we found common ground eventually after we both worked on it and agreed to start over. At first I was afraid we wouldn’t be able to bridge the distance, I never understood his thirst for knowledge and he struggled to understand my perspective and why I chose to remain with our people while they set their sights on the world. I spent many sleepless nights staring at my door that opposed his preparing for any conversation we might have, nowadays I look forward to every heartbeat we spend together.”
The fire mage holds entirely still as Scott reaches forward to lay one hand on each shoulder, dropping his volume to a secret just for them to enjoy in the voice that soothed each and every single one of Pyro’s worries as he slowly relaxed in the presence of the soul who knew everything about him. “I don’t blame you for what the corruption forced you to do, it’s entirely your choice what we do from here but I, for one, want to put this in our past and focus on saving you from the fate you stare down. No one deserves it and we will solve it, I swear to you.”
Silence grows when he finishes talking, Pyro rolling what he said over and over in his mind but instead of finding blame they only find understanding and he is unable to hold himself back from leaning into Scott’s tentative embrace. Once the ice mage feels that movement he sweeps the fiery brunette into his strong arms as the thickened walls around the fiery mage’s emotions fracture and shatter, somehow finding the tears to cry yet again into the arms of the man he had slain mere days ago.
“I’m so, so sorry, Scott.” He blubbers, Scott shushing him and humming gently as he rocks them side to side.
“I’m here Pyro, I forgive you, and I swear I will not leave your side no matter what happens. You are stuck with me, for better or worse, and only this corruption faces my wrath. Not you, never you, not anymore. I refuse to lose my best friend for any reason, we still have stories to build and friends to protect once we cleanse the corruption out of you. It was never welcome and you are not to blame for it’s actions.” He mumbles into Pyro’s temple as he holds them tight. “I love you Pyro, don’t ever forget that, I trust you and I want you fighting at my side.”
“I love you too Scott.” He chokes out, Scott’s own tears matching his own hearing Pyro return the sentiment after months of it being un-reciprocated. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness…don’t look at me like that, I don’t.” Returning Scott’s raised eyebrow, Pyro shakes his head but can’t hold back their grateful grin as it settles in this is the real Scott and they will find a way to beat the affliction that tormented him and so many others. “I honestly don’t know if I will ever forgive myself for what I did…but it is comforting knowing that you still chose to come see me regardless.”
“I spent the last few days in Whisperville getting patched up by Ambear and spilling everything to her, she repeatedly reminded me that I would be the only one you couldn’t bear to run away from again and she was right. As she usually is.” That was followed by a knowing chuckle shared between them, Pyro leaning forward to rest his head against Scott’s shoulder once more as he absorbs this moment into his soul to remind him what to cling to for whenever the corruption chose to torment him next. “She made me promise to tell her when things worked out and she said she wanted to check on you afterwards…also you aren’t allowed to refuse.”
“When things worked out, not if?” Pyro questions, Scott’s laugh rumbling against his cheek where it was pressed against the chilly metal.
“When, she was quite confident that things would be resolved once I convinced you to talk.” His icy touch trails up Pyro’s neck to rest at the base of his skull, providing a soothing cold that Pyro had dearly missed the touch of. “You get stuck in your own thoughts too much Pyro, someone needs to drag you out and as your best friend that’s my job and one I do happily whenever you need me too.”
Taking a few more breaths while wrapped in safety he eventually pulls back the smallest amount, clearing his throat before making his request. “Let me see the scar.”
“Pyro…” Scott admonishes, whatever he was going to reply dying on his tongue seeing the stubborn set of Pyro’s sharp jaw he sighs before moving to do as the fire mage asked.
Having to unclasp some of his armour he lets it drop to the stone floor before rolling up his white tunic, showing his firm stomach and where a large fresh scar lay beneath his ribs to the left side of his chest. Reaching out to touch it Pyro shakily traces it as guilt sinks back in, flashes of that bloody evening a few days ago where he had attacked Scott, the physical marker of that deadly altercation showing in a permanent slash Scott would have for the rest of their time upon this world. Scott’s firm hand grabs Pyro and moves his hand so the palm is pressed into the divot the wound had caused, holding it there as he speaks in a stern tone.
“You are not the cause of this Pyro, my death was not your fault, it was the corruption clouding your mind and you struck out in fear. I. Don’t. Blame. You.” Practically seeing the next remark Pyro was about to fire back, he forges forth. “I still and will forever trust you, you didn’t kill me, the corruption did. In fact, I want you to repeat that to my face.”
Pausing his tirade he waits for Pyro to raise their chin to meet his own lavender gaze, waiting patiently as Pyro clears their throat as their voice shakes when they speak next. “I didn’t…I didn’t kill you—the corruption did.”
“Good, now say it a few more times until I actually believe you.” Throwing in some of his classic sass just to pull the tiniest of smile out of his best friend, Pyro does as he asks until Scott releases his hold on his wrist. Letting his hand fall Scott readjusts his tunic and straps back on his new armour before reaching forward to grab Pyro’s hand. “Now, we have some research to do and you have people you need to talk to that are worried about you. Let’s get to solving the impossible, eh?”
“Aye Scott, let’s do it.” Finding his strength responding to Scott’s own determination, they do their best to remind themselves it is all going to be okay as Scott drags him back outside to where Aurora and Cindermeare wait.
Hesitating before he follows Scott’s lead where he climbs up onto Aurora Pyro stops to rest his forehead against Cindy, drinking in the relief she was projecting through their bond seeing the fact fire and ice had mended their friendship. “Thank you sweet girl, for staying at my side despite what has transpired.”
Nudging back she huffs a small bout of fire followed by a cheeky wink, the flames tickling at Pyro’s skin which he snickers at while rubbing her crimson scales in a manner that grounded them both. “Now, it’s time we stopped running away.”
“You just needed someone to remind you where home is, that’s all. You didn’t flee from this.” Scott responds with a warm expression that begged him to accept this belief, Pyro finding that sanctuary he spoke of within that gaze that kept him sane even with the chaotic storms he was positive lay ahead of them. “To Whisperville first? Ambear’s been worried sick.”
“To Whisperville.” Pyro agrees, quickly settling into Cindy’s saddle as she prepares to take flight, Aurora doing so first ascending high into the bright blue sky as Pyro whispers one final vow to the ice mage that only his dragon hears. “Wherever you need to go, Scott, I swear I will be there. For as long as my heart shall beat, I will be the sword at your side and the fire to your ice, forever.”
Cindermeare grunts her agreement before they climb into the brilliant morning of a new dawn, following his best friend in the direction of another in pursuit of a solution yet undiscovered.
If anyone could find it though, it would be them. Scott promised that to him a little over a week ago, and it was something Pyro could put his faith in given how strong their friendship had grown despite what they had already faced. The proof was in their constant reassurances and check-ins that the other was as safe as they could be, all so they could be at their best for whatever conflict they faced next even if it was reminding the other of what was important even in the most dire of circumstances. There was no Pyro Dagmeare without his most trusted companion, Scott Boralith, and as long as their hearts continued to beat that would become their resolve and their strength for as long as they continued to fight for a brighter future.
Oh, oh, the ballad of a dove
Go with peace and love
Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket
Save 'em for a time when you're really gonna need 'em
Oh, the sharp knife of a short life
Well, I've had just enough time
So put on your best, boys
And I'll wear my pearls