Click.

Locked. Finally, she was safe. Away from the confusion of the bar. Away from the foolish hope that had rekindled. Away from him.

How could she had been so stupid. She should have just left well enough alone. She had gotten a meeting with him! They were going to talk privately! There had been no reason for her to even mention her old class number. There had been no reason to bring up that connection. But… even so… it was him. Her old friend who she thought perished years ago. Her soul wanted to trust him, wanted him to help her, wanted him to be the friend she once knew.

Five Minutes.

Her feet were pacing quickly back and forth across the small room, making sure to stay light on her toes to not attract any unwanted complaints. What was she supposed to even talk to him about? Was she supposed to drag him into this mess? What was he supposed do?! Was she really going to drag him and his friends down with her? He seemed to care about them from what she observed in the bar. Now here she was, expecting some form of rescue, accomplice, or just someone to unload too without even giving a second thought to the fact that he had his own life now. People he wanted to protect.

Selfish…

10 minutes.

Frustration was boiling inside her as she fumbled with the latch on her cloak. As it fell away to the floor, her reflection in the mirror caught her eye. Ceasing her pacing, she glanced over herself but quickly looked away.

And she thought Caleb looked different. She defiantly was the one who had changed the most… Her new but still, plain peasants clothing was a far cry from the white and gold dress uniform she wore almost every day. Just to be able to wear that uniform was a great honor, she even remembered feeling on top of the world when Master Oremid Hass had presented it to her as a mark of her ascension as his underling. But, now that she knew what that all represented and meant, she couldn't be happier that she had left it to burn in the embers of her campfire.

Her once long, flowing, snow white hair which, at it's longest, had sat just under her lower back was gone. Roughly chopped into a shoulder length bob. She probably should have sharpened the dagger before cutting her hair but she needed it to be gone. The length of her hair had been not only a symbol of status, but also one of her most defining features. So off it came. Not only was her hair gone but also shape of her body. Being on the run definitely did do wonders for ones figure. As an Elf, she always enjoyed the perks of having a slender but coveted form. It was just one more thing that she had taken for granted while sitting high and mighty…

She gently pulled at the skin around her eyes, to briefly make the bags disappear. God's she had been lucky to inherit her Father's skin tone and body shape. Her mother had gifted her exotic hair and eye color but she was certain that her life would be worlds different if she had also inherited her mother's grey skin tone. Thank the God's her Father past on the genes to help her live a normal life.

15 Minutes.

A frustrated grumble exited her body as she made her way to the window. What was she supposed to say? What was she even planning on doing? How was he supposed to help…

The cloak was swept off the bed and fastened once more around her neck. A quick inside pocket check. The scroll was still safety tucked at the bottom. The scroll that she was risking her life for…

She swiftly made her way to the widow and was soon greeted with the rain. It was letting up with was nice. She hoped that it would stop soon so Caleb's friends didn't have to walk back battling more weather…

It was time to go.

A faint green glow emitted from her skin as her druidic markings appeared on her forehead, cheeks, and arms. Her entire body began to change, morphing seamlessly into a smaller and smaller form. Feathers grew from nothing as her clothing melded into the magic. Soon a snowy white owl was left standing on the floor of the room. With one hoot and powerful flap of it's wings, the owl disappeared into the night sky searching the second floor for room 16.

At least he kept his side of the bargin. Room 16 was easy to find since it was the only room to have it's window slightly ajar in this weather. Making a bee line towards it, her owl form came to rest on the widow sill, pecking the opening wider for her to slip into. It was hard for her to tell how brightly lit the room was for, as an owl, her vision in the dark was impeccable but she did notice only a few candles were lit near the bed. The room was almost bare as her own. Nothing of interest expect a few bag thrown haphazardly into the corner, a couple of the bags looked as though they belonged to a child with their small size.

He wasn't hard to spot. He was sitting pensively at the very edge of the bed, his sharp gaze watching her every motion, the rest of his face hidden behind his clasped hands. He didn't seem to move as she hopped into the room and half way closed the widow with her head. Giving a small hoot, she shook off some of the water that had found it's way in-between her feathers. His head cocked to the side as he observed this highly intelligent owl wonder into his room. He was rather calm for, perceivably, a wild animal making it's way into his room. It was think she caught the magical aura that his being was excreting. He was using a spell. A concentration spell by the looks of it. She had been careless…

She cocked her owl head to the side as she gazed up at him. Had she just walked into a trap. She still had a means of escape but still… she hadn't anticipated him to already casting spells in caution. She gave another small hoot, waiting for him to make the first movement.

"Well your not a creature akin to Frumpkin." Again he was mumbling to himself but, since there was no white noise, she understood every word he muttered. What the hell was a Frumpkin?

Another hoot.

"Transmutation… I'm guessing this is why you wanted me to keep the widow open?"

What a clever man. She should have spotted it the moment she recognized he using a spell. He was detecting magic. Just like the Caleb of her memories, always outsmarting his opponent. There was no point in her staying in her bird form. The same green glow emitted from her eyes as she slowly morphed back into her Elven form, the druidic symbols giving off my light than the flickering candles. As she stood from her transformation, she allowed her hood to fully fall from her head so that he could properly see who he was about to negotiate with. Caleb said nothing as he watched. Some of her bones cracked as she adjusted her body into as strong a stance she could muster in her tired state.

As she took one step towards him, he opened his mouth to retort but she simply held up a hand to silence him.

"Let me fulfill my promise first."

A slightly confused look came across his face as she moved in front of him. A small smile appeared across her mouth as her the center of her chest began to glow a soft golden hue. Putting her hands on her décolletage, she guided the glow up into her chest until it was inside her mouth. She gently blew and a golden mist escaped her lips. She used her hands to gently guide the mist over to Caleb's face and, while some of it he inhaled, most of it absorbed into his skin. A crisp, clean, and lilac smell filled the air as she blew more of this golden mist into Caleb. Almost immediately, his wounds were closing, his skin began to regain it's healthy peach tone, and the exhaustion around his eyes was dispersing. However, as the healing process continued, the source of the golden mist, the magical glowing light that continued to emanate from her chest, began to dim.

After a minute or two, the glow had fully burnt out and the mist stopped. She took a deep breath as she took a step away, rubbing her chest as she did. Well, he certainly looked worlds better than he had. He had been more injured than she had first thought. Her magic had found deep gashes that he had hidden underneath his cloak. She hadn't anticipated using her entire balm to heal him. Caleb's eyes were wide in fascination and curiosity, first pointed towards her but then towards himself as he examine his skin. He was good as new.

She took another deep breath as he examined her handy work. She knew she was tired from her life on the run but, even still, it surprised her how much that natural act of magic took out of her. As Caleb's attention returned onto her, she fought to keep her exhaustion out of her expressions.

"Thank you." His tone was genuine but she could still hear the mistrust underneath.

"It's no big deal. My pleasure." Her small smile warmed a bit as she backed toward the window sill once more. Leaning against it as she wiped from bangs out of her face, she watched as Caleb dropped his eyes to the floor, grumble in disappoint or frustration. At himself? At her? At the situation? She couldn't tell for sure. After a few moment, his eyes returned to hers as he began to stand.

"What do you want? Classmate 13?"

His voice was sharp, almost acid-like in it's attack. She couldn't help but wince slightly as her old class number. The only form of identification you had during your first year at the academy. She had left that years ago and, to be reminded of the past she had destroyed away, stung.

"Please Caleb… Use my real name."

The rain continued to lessen a bit more. No longer was it sharply rapping against the windows. She was still close enough to it that she could make the escape if she wanted to. However, she kept her attention squarely on him. Her eyes round with a small pleading gaze. She wasn't fully convinced that had figured out who he was talking to. Of course he knew he was talking to someone from the academy but it had been years… would he remember a close friend that he abandoned? Then again, she had to assume he had abandoned a lot of things. From the bright shining star of Soltryce Academy to a make who looked as if he desperately needed a new pair of clothing. What had happened…

After a few moments of silence, Caleb finally sighed, running his fingers through his reddish brown hair.

"I… I don't remember you. I know your face but your name escapes me…"

Her heart sunk. Of course… she had expected this answer but it still hurt. She had mourned his apparently death and yet he apparently had no qualms about forgetting her. Had he forgotten Astrid and Eodwulf as well?

She looked away, holding her arms as she did. With little more than a whisper, she allowed her true name to flit into the air.

"Ahvir Kore."

The name took a minute to wash over him but she could tell that memories began to surface in the back of his mind. It looked like he was recalling repressed, or even suppressed events. Things he hadn't thought about in years. Things he had forgotten, or had been forced to forget. As the full weight of her name took its hold, he slunk slightly once more into the bed post he had been holding. He said nothing as he just visually gaped at her.

Ahvir cleared her throat, pushing the random strands of hair out of her face. They didn't have all night.

"What are your feelings on the Empire?" her tone was calculated, not unlike his when he was examining things of interest.

A small smile cracked onto the side of his lips. Why? She didn't particularly think that was an amusing question.

"That's the same question I once asked…" Once more he seemed to be muttering to himself but, thanks to the absence of white noise, she caught every word. Before she could even ask for an explanation, he continued.

"I like to keep unnoticed Ahvir, if you couldn't tell." He gestured to his tattered and dirtied person, "That should tell you everything you need to know."

Unnoticed… The star of the Soltryce Academy preferred to stay unnoticed? He preferred to look like a dirty hobo. He preferred to keep eyes, prying or otherwise, off of him. He wanted to be invisible. But yet he still practiced his magic? She had seen his books tucked under his cloak down at the bar and they looked worn and used. So he was still practicing magic but yet wanted to be a ghost.

The Caleb she had once known, the bright shining student and jovial youth she had admired and…, he had truly died during the fire in Blumental. Well… she couldn't be too surprised for the Ahvir he had once known had been destroyed along her accomplices.

"What happened to you Caleb? We all thought you died in during the invasion…"

At this, Caleb's eyes sharpened. What once had been a nostalgic and warm gaze had immediately returned to their calculated stare.

"Entschuldigung?" There wasn't really any tone to his voice, but more of sharp hiss. She stood her ground against the sudden aggressive manner.

"The invasion of Blumental. The night where Xhorasian assassins had been spotted in Blumental heading towards Rexxentrum. The people and Master Ikiton's students managed to stop them but the town suffered heavy casualties… Half of it was burnt down… When you didn't return with the Master… well… we all thought you had died."

The more she spoke, the darker and darker Caleb's expression became. His small smile, which had began innocent, was quickly twisting into a maniacal smirk. It was an unsettling look that it even caused her to look away from him.

"…So…" she continued uneasily, "When I see you in a random tavern all the way south here in Zadash… call me mildly confused and astonished…" she snuck a side view back at him. He hadn't changed, it was almost as if he was hanging on her every word. She felt like prey that was about to devoured by a predator. Once more she looked away, "So… what happened to you Caleb?"

She heard no movement from him nor did she hear anything in general. Stealing another glance, she could see that he had brought back some of his composure but he couldn't seem to fully wipe away that crazed half smirk.

"They lied to you…" The hiss was gone but it had been replaced by a deep and dark timbre, "They always lie… they aren't afraid too.. I died?! That's what he went with?!" He had started out strong but as he continued, his volume trailed off until it became nothing more than mumbling she couldn't make out. He began to pull into himself slightly as he looked towards the grounds. Her heart panged. It looked as if he was going through feelings and thoughts faster than he could process them. She took a step towards him but that seemed to snap him out of his mental snow ball. His hand shot up to stop her and she immediately complied.

"Caleb…"

"All you need to know is that they have lied to you." His attention slowly was brought back up to her as she stood there frozen, staring at him with concern radiating off her being, "That's not what happened…"

A pause. Then one more ginger step towards him.

"Then- then what happened?" she inquired cautiously.

Caleb shook his head furiously as he brought himself back to his feet.

"You don't need to be burdened with that Ahvir." The maniacal smirk was fading thankfully as he began to re-recognize her. "Just know, they've lied to you."

A slow nod answered him.

So he had been wronged… by the Empire? Maybe. By the Academy? Maybe. By Master Ikithon? Maybe. Whoever or whatever had wronged him had hurt him. Badly. Caleb was a broken shell of what he used to be… She wished to know. Wanted desperately to know what had happened to him. To rush to his side like she had always done and lift him up. To comfort him… But some wounds, she could see, she couldn't heal. Not with magic and not with her words.

Her nod seemed to soothe him slightly but his eyes never lost their intensity. He took one more glance over her as his head raised slightly. In confirmation? In understanding? In realization? It was hard to tell.

His hand rest on his chin, "What do you want Ahvir?"

She hadn't anticipated faltering slightly as she heard his question. The weight of the scroll seemed to double in her inside pocket. The weight of so much was at stake… She had just circled back to the same question she had been asking herself the entire night…

Could she trust him?

Another pause as the two looked deep into each other. Trying desperately to find any reason, any sign that might tell her he would turn her in. But after everything she had seen from him and his accusation that she had been lied to as a cover up…

She would trust him.

She glanced at the candles flickering nearby.

"Don't freak out." With a wave of her fingers, she extinguished the flames. Darkness now enveloped the room and she waited a few minutes for his human eyes to adjust. She could see though that he was casting his own spell and a very dim glob of light came into being. He quickly covered it under his cloak to further hide it's light but at least now, he could still see somewhat. She couldn't help but internally smile. She made her way swiftly to his side and began to speak in nothing more than a whisper.

Sylvan exited her mouth, "Have you ever heard of a Xhorhasian artifact called a Beacon?"

She watched for any reaction from his face. They were in extremely close proximity now. She could smell the dirt from his journey mixing with his natural earthy scent. She could see every detail of his mud splattered skin and the unkempt hairstyle he donned. Every crevasse and color shift his ice ice gave. She was glad the room was mostly dark as she felt her ears go slightly pink.

"Let's say I have." he replied, echoing her new chosen language.

He was urging her to continue.

"Ok… well if you've heard of it then you probably know about as much as every other apprentice. They keep any information about the Beacon hidden from anyone lower than Academy members and their direct underlings." She was doing her best to talk as expediently and clearly as she could. Sylvan was a very flowery language so it made it easier to speak quickly but if she wasn't careful, it was easy to get lost if not spoken with good diction. "What they tell us in general is that the Beacon is a powerful Xhorhasian artifact that helps them in their worship. I took their word for it for the longest time… I trusted them… but there much more than that! They can do so much more than that!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the desperation rising in her chest, "They've been testing them. Yes them! They have multiple and they've been trying to see what they are. What they can do. One of the things they've discovered is that, with enough focus and energy, one can control probability! While that it self is powerful… it can do much more… time, matter, life… gates… all of them are within reach to twist. And with all of them…"

She faltered… her mind spinning, remembering the first time she had read this. Deep within her masters private library. She could see her masters handwriting leaping from the scrolls. Hurriedly jolting down observations, clues, and findings as they experimented. Her stomach churned…

"Caleb…" Her eyes dug deeper into his. The weight of what she had done bearing into her back, "The Empire… no the country… Wildemount… everyone… if the Assembly get's this back… no one will be safe… everyone… everything will change. Everything will be gone… They don't understand what they're doing! They… everything will end if they get this back…"

She opened her cloak every so slightly and the very top of the scroll peaked out of her pocket. Caleb's eyes glanced down and the moment he saw it, she hid it once more.

"I stole it. Once I found out… Once I… Me and a few of my other friends, not apprentices but just higher up mages, we hatched a plan to steal this. Their scroll of answers. Their scroll of knowledge… We couldn't not do something! We had to! So we did… and I'm the only one left…"

Her eyes involuntarily filled with tears.

"Help me. Help me either get this information to someone who can help or help me escape with it. I can't destroy it… I've tried… So I need to keep it away or give it to someone who can do something and fix what they've been doing… please…"

There was a long silence as Ahvir just stared imploringly into Caleb. She could tell the wheels were turning quickly. This had been a lot of information she had just dumped onto him.

The silence seemed to go on forever. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she could hear his breath quicken and then grow deeper.

"Why do you have to do anything?"

That was his response… Why? Why was she willing to risk her life to do what she felt was right? Why…

He had clearly seen her receive his question poorly as he was quick to clarify, "Why do you have to do anything more? You've done what you've done so rid yourself of it. Bury it in the ground! Just get rid of it."

She stared back at him, stunned. Caleb Widogast, the boy who had dreamed of making a difference, making everyone proud, making the world a bit safer, a bit fairer, a bit livelier, was asking her why she cared…

The old Caleb died in that fire…

A tear fell from her eye as the water over pooled. It took her a minute, but she finally found the words to answer.

"My Father used to tell me tales of a group of heroes that lived far across Lucidian Sea. They were a group of nobodies but they had immense strength, magic, and courage. They were a family and when they discovered evil, they decided to rise to meet it. Nobody asked them too, they chose to. They chose to be the ones to stand against evil. Even the God's were willing to help them in their stand."

Another tear fell.

"My father speaks of heroes. People who chose to do the right thing even against all the odds. They saved the world. I don't think of myself so highly as to call me a hero or even that I'm saving the world…" Her eyes fell to gaze unseeingly at his chin, "But, like the heroes in my father's tales, they fought to save what they loved… so… I can fight to save what I love."

As she finished, her words drifted into the noise of the pittering rain. She quickly wiped away her tears from her cheeks as she looked back up at him. His face had softened. Understanding over coming him even if she did see a bit of unease still lingering behind his eyes. His gaze had lost his sharpness as empathy was creeping it's way in. Maybe the Caleb she knew, wasn't completely gone.

Suddenly, her elven ears perked as she heard slight movement from under the bed frame. Her veins went cold.

A/N;

Please feel free to comment, like, and all those other lovely things! I really do appreciate them so much and I'd love to share this story with more amazing critters!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Two chapters of build up so I thought it was time to open up the plot curtain a bit. I'm sorry it took a bit longer to get this chapter out but I have been busy and I wanted to get this one right! This was such a fun section to write because I had to still work within what we know cannonically while also giving Ahriv motivation. Also, writing this pretty intense interaction was fun exercise for me! So wins all around.

In case you all were wondering, her name is pronounced [Ah-reev]. I wanted to play off of Caleb's Hebrew name so I chose a Hebrew name for my character. Since Caleb is highly associated with the element of fire, Ahriv's name means 'air' in Hebrew. Why not Water (as it would be the most logical choice to go the complete opposite of fire)? Well, you'll know why later :)

Her last name Kore is another name for the Greek Goddess of Spring and Queen of the Underworld, Persephone. I like to have names mean and reveal something about characters (which I'm sure many writers like to do as well). So with that knowledge, infer what you will :)

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