Early 36th Millennium, dawn of the Plague of Unbelief
Unnamed Cluster within the Deep Reach
Craftworld Rubha Àird Driseig
Dome of the Crystal Seers
The Dome of Crystal Seers was a dark, but comfortingly quiet. Living trees made of Wraithbone were scattered about. Some with red bark and others black. Some with red leaves had blooms of white flowers while others had white leaves with black flowers. Several crystal statues were scattered about too. Statues of the far Seers who had become one with the Infinity Circuit of the craftworld.
And among those trees and flowers stood three Aeldari. One, a silver-eyed Aeldari with matching silver hair, was Taliesin ap Enniaun, Prince of the Aelion Corsairs and Patriarch of the family which had once ruled Mirain before the Fall. The blonde-haired female was Rhiannwynn, Void Dreamer to the Prince, his spouse, and sister to Siân Aanwen. And the third was a tall and lean golden-eyed Aeldari, Basil Cadmus.
"I thank you for all you have done," the Prince said in Aeldari. "You permanently defeated a great servant of She Who Thirsts and defeated a traitor to my people as well." He looked Basil in the eye and a twinkle shone in his silver eyes. " I just don't know about this Phoenix reborn bit. I'll have to get back with you on that," he added with a laugh.
Basil laughed in response although it was clear his mind was elsewhere.
"Come, my love," Rhiannwynn said as she cupped the Prince's cheek with her hand. "Leave him be." Without another word the two walked away leaving Basil standing alone in the Dome.
But he was not alone.
Siân Aanwen stepped out from behind one of the wraithbone trees, only it was not her in the flesh. It was her spirit, a ghost. She formed a small smile and then spoke. "Please don't do that. You can appear as you want, at will. Do not let me see you in this form."
"I thought it might make you more comfortable," Basil answered with a shrug as his form quickly returned to that of the boy who had accompanied her to the Black Library.
She looked at him a moment and then her smile faded. "What is wrong?" she asked. "You know that you can speak to me."
Basil reached out and took her spirit in his arms as if she were flesh and blood. "I'm lonely," he answered. "So much to do and an eternity to do it. The Inquisitors…well, Moneka Joku literally worships the ground that I walk upon and the other two are always seeking to manipulate me. The Void Spectres may call me 'Brother' on occasion but they mostly treat me as their Lord." Tears streamed down his boyish face. "I need you," he whispered into her ear."
"I'll always be here when you need me," she answered.
"But, I need more," he rebutted.
Her spirit clutched him tighter, then a crystal tear slid down her cheek and dropped to the floor. "I know," she said.