Chapter THIRTEEN: Sun Priests-TALIA

...

The three of them stepped out of the Oracle's quarters, stepping out into the surreal landscape. Talia suddenly realized that Trinity was missing.

"Did Trin head off somewhere else?" she asked Leana.

"Yes, she left a moment ago... I am really sorry about my sister's, well...impoliteness. She can be somewhat wary and difficult at times. You will have to give her some time..." Leana explained briefly as she glanced momentarily at the Sun Priest and then looked away.

Aydan walked closely beside Talia as they walked down the steep hillside. He wanted to offer his hand for her to hold, but then changed his mind after thinking about her initial reaction to him kissing her hand earlier.

Leana followed slightly behind them and remained silent. Talia also stayed silent as sad thoughts still pulled her attention.

She's as beautiful as the Deities, Aydan thought in awe. Though, she appears to be saddened about something. Considering she had just become the Dreamer, she should be in high spirits.

"Talia, is everything alright?" Aydan asked, after their long silence, once they reached the near bottom. He wondered if he could help somehow.

Talia suddenly remembered her manners, nodded and smiled as warmly as she could.

"Forgive me...I'm just a little homesick right now."

"I understand...It is not easy leaving the world and loved ones behind. But you will get used to being immortal."

She appreciated his concern and empathy for her, but if only he knew how much she wished to go home and why she really wanted to be home.

"I, myself have only been the Druid of Light for three years now. My father was the Sun Priest before me. But when I was sixteen, he decided to leave his duties after nearly 2400 years...to be with my dying mortal mother."

Talia was a little shocked that he was not older considering the few immortals she had met were well over normal life expectancies.

"What happened to your mother?" Talia asked as she suddenly thought about her own mother, whom she thought dead until recently. "How did they meet?" she added, curious to know how a mortal and immortal came to be together.

"My mother lived in the woods alone-I am sure, a place you have never heard of. Before she met my father, she was a witch and lived in a new settlement of warlocks and witches in the Lower Eastern Isle. However, she was made an outcast because she did not meet their absurd aesthetic preferences of being a hideous wretch; though, she herself was beautiful. It is funny how she would always tell me that she was lucky that they did not turn her into a toad or rat or some other pestilence... Nevertheless, she remained close by to her home, but resided deep in the forest for safety.

"Years later she met my father, who was on his way back to his shrine in Aveyond after a short quest in the mountains. It all just happened by luck, they used to tell me... They had me not long after; but because of my father duties, here in the High Realm and in Aveyond, my time with my mother, who remained in the world, was limited to only summers. I spent most of my childhood here in Vin'aneer outskirts and Aveyond close to my father. And since he was a druid, to attend the High Realm's Preparatory of Magic the rest of the year. But my mother made sure I also learned the warlock-ways when I was with her."

"Where is Aveyond?" Talia asked never hearing of such a place.

"It is where the Sun Temple is currently located. I call it my home away from home. My father would take me there when he had time, as a child. Perhaps, some time, I will take you there as well. It is the most important shrine in all the world. Aveyond itself is quite an incredible place," he finished, hopeful that he had sparked some interest.

"Druid Aydan, you know that the Dreamer cannot walk the world," Leana interrupted.

"Oh...Of course. How could I forget?" he murmured softly.

"No matters," Leana said, letting them walk ahead without her. "I must leave you two behind. Talia, we can meet later on at the castle." Leana then hurried away and teleported into white mist.

The Sun Priest was glad to see her go.

"...But to answer your question, on my mother death, my parents did not really spend much time together. They could not with my father's position as the Sun Druid. Then my mother fell very ill one day. Father and I knew that she was not going to make it, in spite of all the healing magic, so he asked me to take his place as Sun Priest. Little did I know that he was going to age himself to die with her soon after..." Aydan stopped and looked away with immense grief. "Though...I understand his choice now, although it took me a very long time to understand that choice...Now, I think I would have done the same in his place," he finished, realizing that that moment was actually right now as he looked into Talia's eyes.

Talia felt very sorry for him, and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. She knew how it felt to not have both a father and a mother.

At first, a little uncertain, she decided to tell Aydan about her own past. How she was raised by her grouchy but loving grandmother because of her mother absence, which was due to her mother being a fairy in need of her enchanted forest. As well as mentioning the father she never knew as he was not alive long after her birth. And, of course, her long journey with the princess, shape-shifter, thief, dwarf and Devin.

"We have so much in common, Dreamer. We are both half of a mystical creation and share some similarities about our upbringing," he pointed out happily.

They continued to chat for a long while. The two spoke a lot about magic spells and potions. Talia felt content that she had made a friend in her short time there, making her feel a little more at ease.

On a change of topics, Aydan managed to ask more about her friends. Particularly, about her long time village friend. "Hmm..Pardon me asking...but you mentioned a certain Devin fellow... Was he a close friend of yours?" Aydan asked carefully and watched Talia close her eyes because of his inquiry.

Talia was shocked that Aydan was asking about Devin. She did not think that she had been so obvious, but decided that she would tell Aydan the truth.

"Yes, we are friends, but...until recently-we did not know it for a long time-that we are in love with each other," Talia whispered softly, realizing that it had only been a day since she was last with Devin, and her eyes began to glisten. She began to tell Aydan everything that had happened.

Aydan now knew why she was so detached when they met. He felt sorry for Talia's loss, but at the same time, somewhat relieved that Devin was no longer a part of her life.

"Oh dear! I'm sorry... I just yapped my whole life to you!" Talia exclaimed, covering her mouth for saying so much to a complete stranger.

"No, no. I was in need of talking as well. Perhaps, we can carry on our conversation later? Right now you have to get to the Dreamworld," he mentioned as he looked out to the setting sun. "I will take you if you would like to avoid the long walk back to the castle."

Talia shook her head to consent to his offer and thanked him as they disappeared in a haze of light.