This took me a little while to update due to the fact I had exams...
But, now I'm free for a bit! So hooray!!
Chapter 5
An Unfortunate Argument
Perhaps he felt he needed to prove something.
Caderyn felt the wetness of the red, sticky substance at the side of his face with the back of his hand before slowly pulling it down to his chin leaving a deep, scarlet mark. He gritted his teeth menacingly before staring at the woman's corpse in disdain with his condescending manner- the green eyes blazing from under his lashes in a bitter enjoyment at the scene before him.
He was in control- he was above this.
He needed this feeling. Caderyn tightened his grip on the large weapon, now dripping with the blood of the woman, before bringing his bloodied hand to run through his locks. His work was far too mess to be called profession yet it was brutal enough to be called terrifying- Indeed, his knees shook beneath him as he became horrified of himself.
Licking his lips, his breathing before irregular before staggering backwards while his fingers attempted to keep his eyes hidden, he mumbled something resembling a healing spell and put it over his chest. Unfortunately for Caderyn, the head mother's guard had managed to get through hid defenses even after a surprise attack- Caderyn cursed himself for his lack of awareness and sloppiness of the entire job.
He heard the woman approach, caress his head for a moment before speaking. By the sound of her voice, he could already notice, that she was more than pleased with the results. Yet, Caderyn realized, her words were nothing but mumbles to him. Mutterings of pride and a gluttonous desire for power satisfied, Caderyn felt sick before swallowing uncomfortably before wandering outside. Leaning against the stone of the building, he realized that she had wiped his face clean without him noticing and only specs of red were less than obvious in his head- but the smell, Caderyn wretched much to the guard's alarm, was irrevocably disgusting to him.
Even if the guards were unable to understand what made the man crawl into a ball outside the building, Caderyn knew they would say nothing. No words of comfort, condolences or repulsion- simple silences, which was enough to allow Caderyn a moment to cry.
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"Boss!? Boss!" Deekin exclaimed gladly, sitting on the steps of the temple with his harp in his hands.
The kobold was happily strumming against the harp which Caderyn had given to him rather warmly one afternoon of their former travels. He had been so enamored with the item that he begged and pleaded with Caderyn to purchase it for him only to receive a glare which was heavily laced in irritation- it was enough to stop Deekin from talking for the entire day. Yet, when he awoke the next day- Caderyn was sleeping against the door frame of their lodging room with the harp already lying on Deekin's bed.
They never spoke of it again as when Deekin ever asked about it, he would be heavily boxed on his head and forced to carry the rest of Caderyn's bags. Being a fast learning, he realized that it was just a topic not to be approached- Caderyn's strange kindness.
"Ah…," Caderyn mumbled, slightly dazed, "Deekin, didn't I tell you not to wait up you, ridiculous-,"
"Boss! Deekin be so worried what happened! Boss walk off and, and-," the kobold was already frantic at the cleric's attitude.
The man groaned before putting his hand to his forehead and began to massage it slowly. The daze around him didn't fade as he already walked pass the loyal servant before stumbling due to missing a step- he didn't laugh and remained eerily silent. Slowly, he put his hand against the stone of the large doorway, he exhaled in irritation before putting his other hand against it and stood in that position for a short while. Perhaps it's was a moment of hesitation or maybe it was a flicker of the heart's better judgment- either way, it lost against Caderyn's raging emotions as the man yelled out loudly as he shoved the large doors open.
"What is!?" a cry from inside the building was heard as the doors swung open.
Due to their heavy mass and large size, the doors stopped with a slight waver after they left Caderyn's force and allowed only a small stream of light to enter the temple. Valen gritted his teeth sharply, his hand was already position on his weapon in a defensive position. He had heard rumors of the murderous daughter against her mother and yet, more proof to the idea, standing before him was their dearest savior stained in red and smelling of salt and bitter disgust.
"So you killed her…" he mumbled, not moving from his position away from him.
"If it was necessary, it will show later when we need it to,"
"Oh? If she killed her own mother for her own desires- what do you think she may do with you?"
Caderyn gritted his lips together, a carnal expression on his face before sneering at the tiefling with a bitter laugh.
"Perhaps she will betray me, and perhaps her mother might have done the same in case I failed to remove the threat-,"
"So you felt satisfied with a half hearted chance?! Enough to end someone's life?"
Caderyn jerked his head back in shock at the tiefling's cold voice. He was sure the man disliked him with an intense passion yet he was unaware of how strong the feeling of hatred could radiate from the tiefling. He felt almost entirely repelled by the killing urge the red haired man presented to him from right across the room. The silver haired man stood his ground before glaring.
"I had more hearted chance than you possibly ever did! Judging by what I see, how many lives have you ended, Valen?" he questioned, tilting his head upwards as if looking down upon him.
"Caderyn!" Nathyrra shouted from the side lines, thrown off by the sudden comment.
Valen's eyes flashed at the sudden reminder and mocking of Caderyn's words. He growled in protest at his mockery before stepping forward with his back arched- it was a learned instinct for him to react when called upon by a threat. His fingers stretched and his glare grew more intense before he heard a cry from above him. He shivered under her voice.
"Valen, stand down," the Seer finally intervened, "Caderyn… What is the meaning of your outburst?"
"I did not wish to disrupt your plans, Seer, but if it were up to me I'd prefer you kept your animal on a leash!"
Caderyn barked finally, his eyes wild and his movements erratic as he ran his fingers through his hair before hesitating while staring at the shocked, mystical woman. The dramatic exit moment had been lost and yet, awkwardly, the savior turned on his heels and stumbled out of the chamber in a large, shaky run before collapsing against the door frame and pushing himself out.
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His run slowed eventually the moment he reached close to the large door leading to the rest of the darkness which Caderyn had learned to hate the moment he arrived. His silver haired fell before his face as his shoulders heaved with his breathing which was irregular from his sudden running. Taking in a few breaths, gripping and releasing his fingers from fists, he clenched his eyes closed to already imagine the spy master above him with a cocky smirk.
'I don't see what you are getting so entirely worked up over'
His movements were like a panther, a graceful enigma against his memory which Caderyn seemed unable to separate from reality.
'Rejoice! You are the Hero of Neverwinter… and the thief of my affection.'
"Caderyn! What has gotten into you?" the imagine disappeared as Caderyn's eyes shot open from the female voice, "Before you were terrible but you were getting better- now you're just-"
The sound of her voice brought back the realization of where he was. He put his hand through his fingers in obvious hatred for the mere existence of this darkness and isolation- he shook slightly, in dungeons he knew which way was up and down and that there was a light at the end… but here he had no idea. Here, he stifled a cry; he knew he had a chance of losing himself to the blackness of the abyss that surrounded him. He was going insane because no one here would ever understand the way he felt chained to the grounds and the words of the one they called a Seer.
"The man, no… That thing!" Caderyn roared, turning to Nathyrra's shocked face, "He's a psychopath! A rampant, insane maniac! I can't have him flip out and, and kill a whole crowd if I mention a- a cape!"
The argument sounded entirely ridiculous and yet to Caderyn's wide eyed madness, it made all the sense in the world. Nathyrra stepped backwards slightly, frightened of the changing attitudes of the man's moods. At first he was happy, then he was cruel and suddenly he could burst into tears then yell at you right after- her eyes studied his heaving figure before the silver haired man closed his eyes and snorted in her direction.
Licking her lips, the drow stepped forward and extended her hand in his direction- unsure if she was willing to touch him in such a state.
"He's passionate and unrestrained! Plus, he has all that rage built up from his captivity, the war and his demon blood-," Nathyrra, too, found herself raising her voice against him.
Caderyn's laugh rang out with a bitter passion before he flung his arms wide.
"Oh! Boo hoo, daddy touched me at night angst? I'm not buying it as an excuse," he gritted his teeth arrogantly, "Everyone has problems! Not my fault he doesn't want to fix his mental health!"
Nathyrra glared at the silver haired man's absolute selfishness in ignoring everyone else's emotions and feelings due to the fact that they hindered his wallowing in his own self pity.
"You provoked him, Caderyn!" she moved her hands in a begging motion, "Part of this is your fault!"
Caderyn's eyes widened at her accusation before he scoffed at her. His scoff was interrupted in a slight laugh which resonated darkly along the walls of the area. A bitter grin found itself on his lips before he put his palm to his forehead and closed his eyes. Opening a single eye to stare at the drow woman, he chuckled again.
"What?... My fault?" his emotions flipped once more as he glared at her murderously, "All I did was ask for a demonstration! Is everything bad that happens my fault now?! This fucking geas?"
Nathyrra stepped backwards hesitantly as he approached her, a strong expression upon her façade.
"The live or die instance I'm in if I don't help you all out?" Caderyn's voice grew louder, "Waterdeep?! Neverwinter? Aribeth! Oh, I've heard that line before-"
Nathyrra shoved her hands onto his shoulders, keeping him at a distance, before gripping it reassuringly and staring into his blazing green eyes.
"Calm down! All I was saying-," she began, trying to reason with him in a calm tone.
He jerked from her tough with a pained and angry expression, as if her fingers burnt his skin. He slammed her arms outwards and staggered backwards, not willing to listen to a thing she spoke. Too wrapped up in his own self loathing and paranoia, he snarled at her in a beastly motion while grasping his arms over his chest.
"-And I'm not willing to listen to any more shit from you drow! Either you want my help and listen to everything I say or you walk the fuck out of my face!"
"Caderyn, listen!!" Nathyrra finally shouted back, reaching her limit with the man.
Valen, not being one to comfort, was unsure what to do by this stage. The confrontation Nathyrra was offering had gotten far out of hand and she was in no position to handle this man. This man who's body shows rough training of a professional nature which had been molded and twisted into one of raw desire for survival. Staring at them from afar, he realized the feral creature residing within the small cleric's body and the fire that lingered within his spirit.
Perhaps, Valen realized, if harnessed and directed it could lead the people to a salvation.
This was the man the Valsharess feared so. The man who had the power to bring her attempts to their knees- yet, his emotions were acting out in terror and frustration. He needed something sturdy, something that wouldn't fall against all his battering and emotional attacks. A barrier that protected from yet could handle blows from the inside of the shield as well…
Stepping forward as Caderyn spoke, he approached from behind even surprising the drow assassin.
"Grow up already, you," the tiefling grabbed his arm and spun him around, "I'm getting sick just standing by and watching."
Caderyn gritted his teeth before wrenching his arm out of the man's powerful grip. Staggering backwards slightly, his hand rested on a rock structure which had stopped his backwards movements. He raised an eyebrow before staring at the tiefling in a cocky manner.
"What do you want? To try and lay a few more on me cause I assure you I have zero tolerance in men who-,"
Valen scoffed before putting his hands on his hips, cutting off the cleric's words with a single sound from his lips.
"Cut the smart mouth, I see right through it already," he ordered, stone faced against the pretty man's wide eyes.
The shock took a short moment to wash away before Caderyn's appealing green eyes narrowed once more into a murderous glare.
"….What did you say?" he muttered.
Valen folded his arms before his chest as Nathyrra shifted uncomfortably. She felt as if this were a conversation she wasn't allowed to see, Caderyn's tense body began to relax slightly as he stood to his full length which was still slightly shorter than the tiefling.
"Not even a day in the Underdark and you're terrified…," Valen tilted his head disbelievingly, "Can you really be our savior? This is the reason I cannot believe in blind faith."
Caderyn narrowed his eyes darkly at the tiefling- who seemed rather unfazed by his actions.
"Valen…Explain your words carefully," he muttered dangerously.
"I said them quite plain. I think, no, I know you're scared. Terrified of the darkness that surrounds you. To know you're out of reach from all the others you knew before, you're out of your familiar surroundings…," Valen kept his gaze on Caderyn's eyes, "You only know how to act out negatively. You feel as if you're on a war ground with no allies…"
Caderyn growled loudly, forming fists with his hands as his figure shook. His expression changed into one of an ugly snarl before he jerked his face away from Valen's studying gaze.
"How dare you!-," Caderyn shrilled, his voice low and hoarse.
"Tell the truth, admit it, Rivvil," the red haired man spat bitterly, "You don't think you're able to be our savior. That is why you're slowly reverting into anger. Pushing everyone to hate you so they don't depend on you…"
Nathyrra allowed a small gasp to escape as she realized Caderyn had yet to reply. There was a small silence between them, awkward and suffocating against the parties involved.
"Valen…" Nathyrra muttered, softening her expression into one of understanding.
It was taking all the will power the tiefling had to stand there and not express all the hatred he felt from the bottom of his heart. It took all the training and the strength not to just try and kill the man on the spot- as it was already known to her, it was all for the Seer.
"You… what the hell do you know?" Caderyn finally replied, lifting his gaze to the tiefling.
His tone wasn't as violent and his shaking had stopped, now all he did was stare at Valen in a slightly twitching expression. Valen took a deep breath before lowering his head slightly, he put his hand against his forehead before playing with the horns atop of his head.
"We've all got our problems. I..," he cringed, "I apologize for my actions earlier, I understand the truth in your statement,"
Caderyn tilted his head once more, a signature move, in his usual condescending expression. He twitched before putting his hands against his silver mane.
"I acknowledge none in yours. I am fearless, I am the Hero of Neverwinter and I am a Champion of Torm!!" Caderyn called his titles in an insane fervor.
Valen seemed unmoved by his antics, the cleric's arms were shaking as his fingers dug into his scalp. It seemed like a pathetic and childish reaction to such a silly thing- he narrowed his eyes as he realized the many things Caderyn had managed to hide himself behind to feed that esteem which seemed so entirely bruised.
"Those are all titles you throw… are you that disgusted with yourself that you hide behind titles and medals?" Valen finally asked, narrowing his eyes.
Caderyn's blood froze, his lips hung open in shock as his eyes shook slightly
"….," he bit his lip, "I….You…Just….,"
Nathyrra finally noticed the silver haired man was breaking, he wasn't sure how to react to such an intense cornering of his attitude- he wasn't one to out right admit his wrongs and Nathyrra doubted he may ever become such a thing.
"Caderyn… Valen that was overstepping your-," Nathyrra started, beginning to walk behind the silver haired man.
She stopped when the silver haired cleric raised his hand to stop her in her tracks. She complied before frowning confusedly as she noticed him turn in her direction with a painful expression.
"Nathyrra, forgive me. I believe here we must part. We are too much on an equal footing therefore- you will be of no use to me," Caderyn managed shakily.
Nathyrra took offense at first, reeling her head back in shock as she blinked. The expression on Caderyn's face was obviously irritated as his eyes were narrowed and his eye twitched slightly. His hands were balled into firsts and his face contorted into an attempt of a smirk through a growl. Yet, there was the sound on his voice- a sound of trying.
Smiling, the realized, this was Caderyn's way of polite- as primitive as it may be.
"I understand… I will always offer my services when needed," she nodded.
Caderyn turned to the red haired tiefling who cringed under the silver haired man's inspection of him. The cleric looked him up and down before settling on his face. He took in a deep breath and placed his hands at his sides before extending his right open palm to the soldier who reeled back slightly, shocked at the sudden gesture.
"Valen…Shadowbreath," Caderyn bit his lip cutely, "…Will you offer your services to my cause?"
Valen was taken aback for a few moments before realizing that this was merely a start of what Caderyn could do. He could accept, he could understand and he could reciprocate. Indeed, they weren't done in the 'normal' way which people would do it in a more polite and understanding manner- yet, Valen realized, perhaps this was what made Caderyn so extraordinary from all the other adventurers.
He was curious of this man, who had managed to overwhelm him with hate and now succeeded in overpowering him with pride.
"I would be honored to, Caderyn de Vercingetorix," he replied, taking Caderyn's hand.
"You pronounced it, eh…," Caderyn chuckled awkwardly while looking away, "I guess you're a step higher than a meat shield…"
Valen twitched slightly, a small smirk on his lips.
"I take it in a stride, Caderyn, Don't push it," he mumbled, shaking his head.
"You almost sound as if you like it," Caderyn pulled their arms closer before raising an eyebrow to the tiefling.
"In stride, Caderyn… In stride," he finished, pulling away.
After releasing Caderyn's hand, Valen never realized how cold the passing wind could be- nor how warm the man's body was.