Within Lucki...
As the cub slipped silently back into his corner of the mind, of his own free will, Lady Bane's curses and slurs for once fell harmless upon his back. Oh, she noticed, but she was too wound up to quit. Sliding into sullen mutterings to herself and a violent mental pacing, the witch continued her frantic fuming.
Blast the bear! How dare he steal the mouth! How dare he rend control for even a second! She would have him jeer as he ripped his family limb from limb! She would take the mouth back and have him cackle like a hell-thing on holiday! She... she... She had to contend herself with yells and threats, at least at present, for she could not do much right now.
Lady Bane frothed and writhed within her encasement of the wretched gummi. Encasement was correct, for she was denying it just as she realized it, tried to hide from the truth as it stretched out to take an inescapable hold on her mind and cradle the very dulled sensation of fear, rearing it and coddling it into full-blown terror. Oh, it wasn't just that Emi had breached her wall, muscled her way in, had sat gloating within the confines of this body she occupied, and then slipped out with ease. No, not just. Not just that. And she mustn't let the brat hear her, mustn't let any of them know. Know that she not only occupied the cub's body but that, within the degradation the body was currently experiencing, her exit, her escape plan, had also degraded until it was nothing more than a little speck - a peek-hole - which she could only stare at angrily; because just as she refused to release the body and soul back to one another, so, too, had their natural connection fogged over hers to her own body. She knew it was fine, where it lay hidden so carefully away, but it was now like the degradation of the gummi body had created a fog of decomposition which obscured her connection. If she tried to leave the body, Lady Bane feared that she'd be stuck in the fog, unable to either get out of this body or find her way back to her own. She was indeed stuck and trying very hard not to let on to anyone any such thing. In its desperation to survive, to piece itself back together, the connection between the body and soul had inescapably latched onto her own somehow. And, unfortunately, that meant she could also not harm this vessel any further, nor allow him to harm himself, if she were to have any hope of getting out alive. There had to be a way to escape him and do harm. There had to be! She just needed time to think, perhaps even let the cub think he'd gained more control than he had...
Healer Sarrika's Office
Once in her own secluded office, she shut her door and sat to deliver the remainder of her sad news to Sir Gumlittle, Councilor Wooddale, and young Tavi.
"How can you say there's no way you can save him?!" Tavi demanded of her previously delivered news.
Bewildered and equally shocked, Wooddale said, "My niece is right. You have all of the knowledge of your predecessor's in the many libraries of Gummadoon at your disposal and you've found nothing?"
"I... I was getting to that, but I warn you that what I have found is disturbing. I am unsure if you want Tavi here."
The cub bridled with fury. "Oh, you just try and kick me out and see what happens!" but then she turned pleading. "Healer Sarrika, if we can do anything, anything at all, Gum as my witness, we'll do it! I'll do it! He's my brother!"
A grim smile shadowed the healer's face. "I... know, child; which makes this all the more difficult. What I found, based on the research and testimonials transcribed by Healer Shrei and Spiritualist Nivi from long ago... I'm not sure how else to say but what they recorded. That... that a soul which has departed from its original body has a link that is forever severed and it can never be reconnected again. The harshness of separation is also a natural process and to go against it, for humans, creates aberrations like zombies and worse. For gummies, however, the reconnecting of a soul to its deceased form, as with Lucki... The body as we've begun to see begins to degrade and will shut down completely. Lucki will die again but it is so much worse for gummies because..." Despite her career, the necessity of delivering terrible news no stranger to her, Healer Sarrika could not help silent tears as she became the bearer of the worst news imaginable. "because the soul is also destroyed. It is obliterated upon the second death of the body. I... I am so sorry but as a healer I cannot save him."
The room was deathly silent as all within absorbed the full of her news. It was a terrible blow. Councilor Wooddale began to weep quietly. Sir Gumlittle held her for comfort but even he seemed lost. Tavi... Tavi eyed Sarrika with a set jaw.
"You said you can't save him. Does that mean someone else can?"
"Perhaps." Healer Sarrika stressed. She had purposefully waited before mentioning this possible hope, for they all needed to realize what was at stake: literally Lucki's soul. "There was mention of a rare and wondrous artifact, an artifact of legend, one that breaks or creates bonds. If it exists, if it could be found in time, it... it might work to restore your brother successfully."
Tavi's eyes gleamed greedily at the prospect of such a cure. "What is it? What's it called?"
Sarrika wasn't sure she liked the look in the child's eyes but could not resist answering. "Concordia."
Wooddale recoiled on a gasp. Gumlittle's eyes grew round in further shock. Of course, they'd heard of it, too. This younger generation though was so focused on the now, they'd little time for such far off notions as a magical talisman no one had seen for ages let alone witnessed anything of what Healer Sarrika had described it capable of.
"Well? Where is it? Let's get it and try it!" Tavi demanded, a stern bent to her features.
"I would, Tavi. I truly would. But I've no idea where it could be, nor what it even looks like, nor have I found any clues as to where it is yet. I'm still looking, and I'll keep looking, but you know as I that time is against us. We must find it, and soon, or I fear young Lucki will be lost forever."
"That's not gonna happen. I won't let it!" Tavi whirled on her aunt. "Auntie, please tell me you heard of this thing? You know where it is?" She grasped at the councilor's robes.
Wooddale caught the girl's hands in her own. "I... I don't know. That information is beyond the councilors, the knights, the magicians. We do know a select few are chosen to know, and they pass it to their pupils, but the knowledge of the whereabouts of Concordia is a closely-guarded secret. To learn who may know if it, we may very well need to address the entire populace of Gummadoon to find the individual or individuals who hold such knowledge. I'm afraid we may not have time, for it would incite panic when we are just now discovering where we may very well strike at our enemy. I wish there was another way, Tavi." The councilor turned to the healer. "Sarrika, how much time do we have?"
She shook her head, unsure. "Perhaps a few days? We don't know how long it's been since his resurrection. Nor was it clear in the manuscripts how long the... the degradation process takes. I can give him supplements which should extend his health some but it won't last. I understand that this artifact is very powerful, and the need to keep it secret. I just wish there were more time to locate it because I fear there is no alternative known to save Lucki at this time."
"I don't believe you," Tavi said, anger in her eyes. "It can't be true! There's gotta be something else! We just haven't thought of it!"
"That may be true, Tavi, but with the threat of Emi-"
"I don't care about her right now!" the girl yelled. Her hair, with the curious gold streaks in it, began to lift from her shoulders and float in her rising fury. "My brother needs help or he's gonna be lost forever. You said so! And I... I just..." Tavi turned from them and ran for the door. She reached for it but it opened at her will before she even touched it, thrown open with more force than intended, more than she knew she had to wield. It was all too much for her as she tore from the room and ran back to her brother.
Witness to the budding wizardress's power, they three were delayed in their shock just briefly before pursuing her. They found her with her arms thrown around her poor brother's bruised and unresponsive form, tears pouring from her eyes.
Healer Sarrika checked Lucki briefly, Corvi still at his prone side, before slipping into a small anteroom.
Councilor Wooddale knelt to comfort her niece with a gentle hand and her own tears went unnoticed.
Sir Gumlittle asked Corvi, "Has he woke any?"
"Yeah... Just briefly. We talked a minute. Does Healer Sarrika know what's wrong? Can I do anything to help?"
Sir Gumlittle stood silent. There was that hope in poor Corvi's voice, along with a bit of a crack in there, too, if he wasn't mistaken, but the hope caught a bout of emotion in his throat. What could he say? Nothing. Just like there was nothing he could do. Nothing but deliver the bad news to this devoted squire, that his best friend, once dead and now returned, was soon to be lost completely and forever, and nothing the big knight could do would help.
"Sir Gumlittle?" The silence from the knight told Corvi it was bad; real bad. So was all the crying from Tavi and Councilor Wooddale. Why wouldn't anybody tell him?
Then Healer Sarrika returned. She had an orangey-yellow colored drink in her hand. She handed it to Councilor Wooddale. "Have her drink this."
At the councilor's urgings, she managed to get her niece to swallow a few gulps of the draught past her sobs. In a few moments, the potent solution took hold and the girl was slumped against her aunt's chest. It was all any of them could do to ease the child at this time and, as she slumbered, they found a small measure of peace knowing the girl was calmed. So much sadness for a single family. Sarrika mentally shook her head and pressed only well-wishings in their future. Please, because it isn't fair...
Corvi stood; stood in front of the healer. "He's my best friend. Please, tell me what's wrong with him?"
And that measure of calm left her completely as she had to relate it once more... "The body and soul were severed by natural means. They will not recombine. Once the cub's body dies, the soul will also perish. He'll be lost for good." And so easily it tumbled from her lips, so harsh she sounded! Her lower lip trembled and she shed her tears as she fell into her seat, her head in her hands.
Wooddale focused on laying the sleeping Tavi in a cot near her brother, Corvi's pale face turned to Sir Gumlittle. The squire asked, "Isn't there...?"
The knight shook his head. "No way known, except maybe an ancient artifact called Concordia, but no one we know knows where it could be."
"Maybe the library-"
Gumlittle shook his head, shooting down the idea. "Won't be in any book. It's the most powerful artifact we ever created. And even if I did know who knows about the thing, I wouldn't be comfortable speaking about it outside a magically sealed room anyway, what with Emi nosing around who-knows-where."
Corvi gulped. "Does... does Lucki know?"
Gumlittle could only shrug hopelessly. He felt he knew so little, could help so little... Gum, what a mock of his name. The knight sighed and said, "I'm sorry to say that, and that I have to return to the council chambers. I'm not sayin' Lucki's less important. I'm sayin' I can help in there, and maybe in helping in there, I can find more answers for Lucki in here. I... I haven't given up, Corvi. I just... I don't know what to do here. With my brothers, in there, maybe..." He trailed off, unable to go further. And with that, he turned on his heels and went out, heading straight for his brothers where, hopefully, he could do some good for all.
Corvi looked from Wooddale to Sarrika. "You said no one you know would know of this Concordia. What about... I don't know... gummies overseas, or even, um, dead gummies, like Destini."
While Healer Sarrika looked perplexed and a bit disturbed at the mention of dead gummies, Councilor Wooddale recoiled with a gasp. "Corvi..." she breathed, knowing it was hardly sanctioned to do any such thing, but... if it helped her poor nephew... and they'd already spoken once to the spirit of Destini... Had they a chance there? Dare they disturb a spirit to save that of another?
Corvi saw Wooddale understood, saw her thinking it through. "Maybe... Maybe when Tavi wakes up, she could ask Destini."
Healer Sarrika, still mystified, asked, "I'm sorry but, did you just say Tavi could ask Destini about Concordia? And by Destini, you mean...?"
"Yeah." Corvi sighed. "Tavi called her spirit a few days ago. It's one reason we know as much as we do. Tavi got scared at the thought that Emi was coming back so she used a spell in the Great Book to summon Destini's spirit. It... it was creepy but Tavi knows her stuff when it comes to magic." Corvi's eyes fell away from the others as his mind slipped to other things. His mother, his father, his brother... Once this all blew over, once things settled down and it was all out in the air, would it be too much to ask - after all he'd done - or maybe inappropriate to ask? Could he maybe talk to them one final time? He knew he should be able to feel them but he couldn't. And it wasn't probably that they weren't there for him, their spirits. It's just that... his life was such a jumble right now, sometimes he felt he'd explode! With things the way they were, he could only feel the great stress and strain, and his talk with Lucki calmed that but now he just learned his friend's very soul was gonna die and all that anxiety and angst got stirred up again. His stomach ached but he didn't feel like talking to Sarrika for a remedy, or Wooddale for counsel. He muttered a brief excuse and hurried out. Out, to find a remedy for the swell of memories and pressure and his now pounding head and hurting gut. A remedy he'd only heard mention of. A remedy that wasn't really one but he'd take anything right now at the oversick feeling attacking his very being. The only remedy on his mind? Gummiberry brandy.
Outer Gummadoon Library
"Cubbi?" Perplexed, Sir Plucki reached down to pick up the book.
"DON'T!" Cubbi shrieked, running forward to stop him.
The knight-captain paused, straightened, and eyed his squire, demanding an explanation. "You ran out so quickly... Explain, please."
"I will. Just... Get away from that book! Emi was in it!"
At Cubbi's wild gesticulating, Sir Plucki stepped away quickly and joined his squire. He drew his sword, eyeing the book with renewed caution.
"I was close, Sir Plucki! And she knew it, somehow, and she messed up the book and she... she talked to me!" He shuddered and found himself clinging with one hand to his mentor's tunic.
With care, he peeled Cubbi's hand away and approached the book as if it were a very dangerous foe. With his sword tip, he flipped the book open.
The page he turned to was blank.
"I swear, Sir Plucki." Cubbi whispered, his voice strained. "She was in there."
The knight-captain flipped another page, and several more. The entire book was blank.
He backed away, returned to Cubbi, led his squire from the library.
Librarian Jenni peeked her head around the doorway of the adjoining library at the ruckus she was hearing. "Everything alright, Sir Plucki?" she queried.
"... Yes. But this wing of the library is potentially contaminated and dangerous. Please put up a sign immediately which forbids its use until further notice."
Beside him, Cubbi visibly relaxed.
Jenni looked perplexed but did as he asked.
When the note was posted, Sir Plucki took his squire by the hand and they started back to the council chambers.
So absorbed was he in his own fevered search, Sir Ecri wasn't even aware of the goings-on in the side library next door.
As they walked, Sir Plucki looked down at the cub's face, still paled by what he experienced. "Tell me what you saw; what you heard. Tell me everything."
Cubbi described as best he could Emi's voice, what she'd done to the pages, and started to say what he was trying to find out. When they reached the council chambers once more and Sir Horli let them in, he was about to start describing why when Gruffi interrupted him.
The concerned handibear walked over and asked, "What made ya run off, kid?"
"Aw, it's all this talk of death and evil machinations, Gruff. It'd freak anybody out!" Gusto said.
"I wasn't scared, Gusto." Cubbi remarked. "I remembered something." Now he got to the meat of the matter. "There's a tapestry here; one I've seen; and I was pretty sure it was the one you guys were talking about. I know we need answers, and quick, so I went to do some research but... um... I got interrupted." No sense scaring them any more than they probably were. If they knew Emi could get into these very walls, get anywhere near him, they'd be all over him to be safe and protected and he couldn't let that happen. He had to be out there, doin' stuff, because there was so much he could do, and so much he knew that it'd take too long to explain and nothing would get done!
"You know which tapestry, Cubbi?" Sir Plucki asked, catching onto this news right away.
"Sure. The one in the hall, with all the knights holding the flowers. But I told you what happened to the book with all the information on the tapestry. You saw just like I did."
His mentor gave a grave nod and, instead of waiting for questions to pop up, addressed the querying looks of the Glens, knights, and councilors gathered. Sir Plucki faced them all. "Fellow gummies, Emi is able to peer into the goings-on here within our very walls. I am even loathe to mention a plan inside this warded room but it is all we have, and I fear time is leaving us. Cubbi discovered a book which held the answers we seek but the information has since been lost due to Emi's influence. Do any here know anything further on the tapestry Cubbi just mentioned? It's imperative that we remember all we can."
The silence in the hall was staggering and just seemed to stack up against their woes.
The creek of the door as Sir Horli let in Sir Gumlittle did some to repair their hope but as the knight held a tight huddle only with his captain to relay some obviously bad news - given how pale and hollow and grave Sir Plucki became - Cubbi thought it best not to know right now whatever it was and just focused on the tapestry again.
Cubbi turned his focus on the gathered gummies. "C'mon; no one? I caught just a few looks at the original tapestry. I know the thing's worn and faded now. Doesn't anybody remember what it used to look like? Y'know, any details? The book I was looking in was called A Call To Arms. Nobody else has read it? C'mon!"
Those gathered began muttering and talking amongst themselves when Zummi gave out a startled cry. He'd been holding onto the coveted journal of Merlinni and yelped when it began to glow, flip open to a page, and words began to flow across the previously blank surface.
Cubbi rushed over, knowing that the book heard him and it was answering. He read the words with more ease than any other he'd ever tried to discern before, much to his surprise.
You wish to access the manuscript called A Call To Arms by Feliciti Gummi?
"Yes! Do you know the book?" Cubbi asked the journal.
"My word..." Zummi exclaimed on a breath, leaning down eagerly to examine the words as more appeared.
Yes. I am also a reference source. I have access to any and all manuscripts, scrolls, and books written during and before my time. All you need to is say "Recall: A Call To Arms by Feliciti Gummi." and you shall have your reference.
"Recall: A Call To Arms, by Feliciti Gummi!" Cubbi all but shouted. Not that any could blame him. He picked up the book as it began to glow again, his hands shaking but not with fear. No, he was excited. The book's pages filled in and he found himself staring at an exact copy of the book he'd found in the library, before Emi wrecked it. Finally, the answers they sought lay in his grasp. And he had a sneaking suspicion that Emi couldn't smear anything in this magic book. Ha!
Inside Lucki...
Lady Bane mentally glanced at the silent presence of the cub she inhabited. Though he was drained from taking over, he wasn't unaware as one normally would be when unconscious. One blasted side-effect of possession... So they'd both heard what the bears said about this body dying, and that the soul inside which she liked to torment would be gone as well, forever. Hm. As delightful as that sounded, she knew what would happen to her own if she remained in the body when such occurred: her own soul would not return to her body and she'd essentially die as well.
There were no eyes to use inside one's mind but they eyed each other none-the-less. Gummi cub and sorceress each knew the fate which was before them.
Lucki was the one to bring it up, observing the intruder's presence as one would a foe he was about to make an unlikely alliance with, because that's exactly what he had in mind. "I think we should talk."
"Shut up!" And Lady Bane would have none of it. In fact, she exerted the force of her presence, pushing and twisting his like a child viciously attacking clay. It was uncomfortable, and probably painful. His wordless writhing put her mind at ease and she'd be smiling a wicked smile if she had a mouth to do so. It was the last bit of pleasure she'd get from this horrid cub, because - and she hated to admit it - but if she wanted to leave him, leave and live and be in her beautiful body once more, a kind of truce was the only way out. One that she'd find a way to stab him in the back with, to be sure, but she loathed the notion just the same. She contented herself with squashing him a bit more before, exerting her authority here, before presenting the idea herself to show she was truly and only the one in charge. Remember, she told herself. He doesn't know I'm just as stuck as he is and I've no way out of his blasted body unless it's fixed, because the bloody possession ties had wrapped around her own soul, clinging to it like roots around a solid rock to help uphold a tree.
"Listen up, little bear. I still own you and I don't like it when my toys break before I'm done playing with them. For now, until I figure out how to have you fixed, I'll ease up on making you hurt yourself and others. No sense breaking you further or you'll be useless to me later. In exchange for that... kindness... I expect you to leave full control of this body to me and stop making things difficult or I'll simply let you get hurt and you can die and be forgotten forever, unlike myself."
The soul of Lucki continued to regard her in a piercing way and she thought she felt a hint of a smirk from him. Smug little...
"I don't think so." he told her. "Pretty sure you're lying, about everything, and you'll hurt me first chance you get, every chance you get. So why would you offer not to? I'd guess it's because you can't leave me, for whatever reason. I've seen you scared. You are definitely scared. When you're scared, you probably run just like during the battle when you were losing, after you... you killed me. Maybe it's Gum who's got you stuck, or maybe it's Emi who's trapped you in me." His soul snorted a laugh her way.
Petulant little—
"Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure if you could leave you'd have done so already. So you shut up and listen to what I'm gonna say and maybe we can figure out a way to beat this. I don't know about you but I didn't like dying the first time. I'm pretty sure you don't want to try it so shut up and listen."
Inside Tavi...
Groggily, Tavi slowly became aware of the fact that she was dreaming. She blinked sleepily, looked around at gray nothing, and started to wonder what was going on when a dull light began to take shape before her. And who faded into view but the wispy, glowy form of Destini Gummi herself!
Tavi almost cried and fought the urge to throw herself at the ghost's feet. "Destini! Please, ya gotta help me! My brother-"
"Feel at ease, child, for I know the ailment, as I know the cure. Yes, Concordia, as you have heard. It is your brother's only hope. Listen well and I shall tell you where it may be found but be quick. His time is short and you must take a journey."
Council Chambers
Preparations were underway for a thorough investigation of Lady Bane's castle. It was not a minor undertaking however. Blastus and his brothers had been busy nearly all night with planning, brainstorming, speaking with the boys and the council. As for himself, he had spent some extra time with Corvi. How horrific to unveil such a memory! A boy's last memory of his father should not be such a scene of carnage. Corvi, as always, was quick to calm himself and in fact, one of Cubbi's clan, the elderly woman named Grammi had swiftly stepped in to spend some time with him. He seemed to accept her offer so Blastus took it upon himself to investigate other matters and aid in the supplying for their journey after answers.
That was when one of the librarians, Lady Jenni, had approached him and told him she was concerned for Sir Ecri as he had not left the library for many hours, pouring over one book then another, jotting down notes here and there and then simply returning to the shelves for more. He had not been responsive when approached and while that had become the norm, the fact that he HAD approached Blastus earlier made it unnerving. That plus the fact that no one could go on and on like that without ill effects. And if his appearance when Blastus had last seen him was any indication, he was already working on less than stellar conditions.
So, he had taken it upon himself to seek out his old squire in the library, following the librarian's gentle directions. While Ecri was grown, he was still his old squire and that bond did not vanish with age. He had been so close before, to finally getting some kind of response from Ecri when the lad had turned and ran. He needed to get through to him!
Blastus remembered when Illsi and Aldi had died. He and Gumlittle had been by their brother's side but there had been another who showed up-Sir Valei, Plucki's old mentor and long since retired. He had stunned all of them with his appearance and despite being quite the stern gummi, he had been nothing but comfort for his old squire. Many may have found it odd, a Gummadoon captain sobbing into his old mentor but it was just like a father and a son. That was the type of bond they established with these cubs and it did not die with knighthood. It endured.
It seemed that he needed to call upon that again.
Finding Ecri was easy, judging by the huge stack of books on a table, the candles burned past their quicks and the gummi high on one of the ladders, muttering softly to himself. Blastus took a breath, called to him, "Ecri!"
The knight did not move and in fact, made no gesture he had heard him at all. Blastus raised his voice, just slightly, "Ecri!"
Again nothing.
Taking a deep breath, Blastus sighed, "Alright, if we're going to play that game-" He narrowed his eyes, deepened his tone and called out, in French "Ecri Mulian Gummi! I'm talking to you!"
That got a reaction. Oh, did it ever get a reaction.
Whirling around, Ecri locked eyes with his old mentor, stunned speechless for the moment. Blastus did not allow him a chance to respond, adding, still maintaining that commanding tone, "Get down here. I need to talk to you."
"Blastus, I'm-"
"That wasn't a request, Sir Ecri." Blastus added, his eyes still narrowed, "Get your tail end down here. Now."
The knight clenched his jaw and looked ready to reject so Blastus added, "Do you really want me to go up there and get you like you're a little cub again?"
Face flushing, the knight finally relented and climbed down, addressing his mentor, "Sir Blastus, I was working."
"I can see that." Blastus remarked. "I admire that but you're taking too much on yourself. We are ALL working hard but we need to work together."
"I...am pursuing my own research. When I have-"
"So, we are not considered wise enough to share your discoveries?" the tone was clipped, short.
Ecri lowered his head, "I never said that, Blastus."
"Yet you are implying it."
"I just...am close. If I could just have a little more-"
"More time? Ecri how long have you been in here?"
"It's only been..." Ecri paused. He thought.
Blastus frowned, "How long?"
"I cannot...say for certain..." The fact he couldn't recall actually startled Ecri to be quite honest. He had simply begun absorbing book after book after book.
"Long enough to wear four large candles down the quick." Blastus remarked. "Long enough that Jenni took notice and that means at least a day." He stepped closer to the younger gummi and wrinkled his nose in pure Blastus bluntness, "Long enough that you need to take a shower."
Scoffing, Ecri replied, "Blastus, it is not as bad as-"
Fed up, Blastus grasped his former squire by the arm and dragged him out of the library. Anyone passing by would have though it humorous-an adult knight being hauled off like he was little child. Blastus pulled him into the nearest washroom and forced him to look in the mirror, "Look at yourself, Ecri! Really, truly, LOOK at yourself!"
Not really able to do otherwise, the knight relented. He had to admit, it had been a long time since he had really looked in a mirror. It reminded him of his brother and so it hurt but surely, Blastus was exaggerating like he always—
His thought stopped and he froze.
Blastus, still standing behind him, went on, "Look at yourself, Ecri. You haven't slept. You're barely eating, you've lost weight. Your color is bad. What is the first thing a knight must do to help others, hmm?"
"Blastus, I'm not a little cub any-"
"To me, you always will be now answer me. If it helps your pride, it isn't Blastus asking. It's your commanding officer asking. Now answer me."
"We...must take care of ourselves...and one another...before we can help the fallen and weak." he repeated the old mantra, still staring at his reflection. At his worn skin, the circles under his eyes. The way his uniform hung so loose.
"Then why aren't you?" Blastus inquired again, still staying firm behind him.
"I...must help stop Emi. I think I am close. If I can..."
"And how long until your body takes what it needs by force, hmm?" Blastus asked again, though his tone was softer. "How long until someone comes and tells me that you've collapsed?" He tightened his grip on the knight's shoulders. "You've noted the odd behaviors in Corvi and I appreciate that. But I need you to see the behaviors in yourself! Ecri, I am here. We all are here. Give us some of this burden that you needlessly put on yourself! Did I not make that clear when I was raising you to knighthood? That knights are a family? Have I failed in that respect?"
The sudden accusation shot through his heart. He remembered Blastus always being there. Helping him prepare to go out for his first dance, helping him learn to shoot a bow, tolerating his tone deaf ability to play an instrument, wrestling with him on rainy nights, always one that he could go to, that he could tell anything to. Granted, he did not know what it was like to lose a brother but...did that make any of the other things he had done for him any less significant?
He remembered that time in the hall, when he had nearly cracked. When he had wanted to alleviate some of this pain, just a bit.
Turning, slightly, he met Blastus with broken eyes, saying, "You...already have so much on your plate. I could not-"
Blastus moved his hands to clasp the knight's cheeks, "Ecri...my little jelly bear..." He smiled at the faint color in Ecri's cheeks, "No matter how busy I am, not matter how much I have to deal with, my family will always take priority. YOU are still my family. Just as Corvi is. Just as Flynn is. Just as Plucki and Gumlittle are. I let you go too long. I should have had this conversation with you months ago." He shook his head, "Forgive me for that." He rubbed the knight's face, where a few tears linger just the base of his eyes, "Am I not still dear to you as well? Could you not always come to me with anything?"
Ecri was silent for so long that Blastus was almost afraid he had shut down again. Then, "You are...you...always...have been...Blastie."
The broken knight gave in, laid his face into Blastus' chest and sobbed.