Forewarning of Blood and Bits of skin
A week. In one more week, Arryn would be set to leave for Stella Lux. She would start her training under her uncle that would see her in just a few years becoming the ruler. Ardyn did not want her to leave. Since the announcement he made sure to spend as much time as he could when not training or studying for his own day to rule. Today, had him riding chocobos with just her.
Glancing towards her Ardyn took in the way the breeze of the spring wind lifting bits of stray burgundy hairs as she faced up to the sun. Eyes closed, basking in the warmth that she enjoyed more than cold or rainy days. Skin tanned from being outside that was only a few shades darker than his. In the last six months she had grown more into the future woman she would all to soon become. He had grown as well but not as much as she that she now stood a few inches on him. Mother had only softly laughed at this when he bemoaned her about it. She only stated to wait a few more years to see who would truly be the tallest.
Slowly a shadow of a cloud drifted over the sun blocking the warmth she had been absorbing. Her lips parted some, a sigh left them as she lowered her face and opened amber eyes to look around the large open field full of wild flowers of all colors. Soft warks and chirps came from the chocobos as they worked to eat some of the flowers within the area.
Another thing that has changed in the last month was the clothing style she wore and much of this was not due to growing older into a woman. Once Arryn would wear dresses that covered much of her figure from the neck down leaving her arms free. Now, she could only tolerate open backed dresses that left much of her back and shoulders open to the air. It has become a concern to their mother. None could understand why Arryn would nearly tear at her back if she were to wear her once usual style. Even the use of her shawl to ward off the chill made her react after a bit.
"What are you thinking, dear sister?" Ardyn asked, eyes watching her. Sadness was heavy in her amber eyes yet she gave him a small smile. "Just that I am enjoying the peace of today with one who is my other half." Ardyn returned the smile as he moved his chocobo closer to his sister's side. "I will miss these days the most." Arryn said softly as she leaned over to lay her head on his right shoulder.
Ardyn gave a hum in agreement. "I will never be far from you. If you ever need of me...I will be there. I'm sure I could find ways to you during the years."
Arryn looked up at her brother with a bigger smile. "That's only because the Crystal hasn't given you the blessing of becoming King even if Father's family has been the ones ruling over the people. Have you been before the Crystal?"
"No." Ardyn answered. "But father has." She shot him a raised brow at that being it was news to her. "Apparently, when we were born he fought to stand before the Crystal to kneel and pray. No one knows what he prayed for but many speculate of his asking for the Crystal's blessing to bring forth the True King."
"True King? Where have I heard of that before?"
Ardyn shrugged. "It's been this story or rumor for a few centuries that the Crystal waits to bring forth the Chosen, the King of Light, the one to bring the Light back from Dark. Many think that the time is soon because the Crystal showed signs of awakening the moment of our birth. Which is why Father went before the Crystal thinking that the True King will come from his line."
"Well...It will not be me as I am destined to be the ruler for Stella Lux." Arryn stated straightening up in
her saddle earning a soft wark from her chocobo. Her hand moved to itch at her back as she thought not seeing the way Ardyn kept his attention to the action. "All I know, is that the Crystal will choose you. I feel it. You are the eldest of us and so the throne is yours by right."
Ardyn smiled at her conviction. "I truly appreciate your absolute of my future, dear sister." Gently he took a hold of her hand to stop the continued itching she did to her back. That was another thing Ardyn noticed she started doing several days ago. It was the reason at times they had to go to their mother to help heal some of the more damaging scratches Arryn gave herself. Just the other day, Arryn had rubbed that skin off her back so bad that she had what looked like rivers running down the area. "Are you okay?"
Arryn hummed moving to use her other hand to continue. "My back just feels like ants are under my skin. It is annoying. And pa-painful." Ardyn went to take her other hand but had to stop when she hunched over with a grunt of pain, her chocobo becoming alert to her movements to glance around. "Some..some thing is w-wrong." She strained to say. "It hurts. Brother...it, it hurts!"
Suddenly, she snatched her hand back from Ardyn and scrambled out of the saddle causing the chocobo to squawk and prance a few feet from her crumbled form. Tears fell as her nails dug into the skin of her back creating beads of blood to seep out as she curled into herself on the grassy ground. Ardyn was quick to remove himself for his own saddle to kneel at her side. Her eyes were quick to seek out his own showing her pain and fear at what was happening to her. Ardyn took a hold of her hand seeing the damage done as blood was rapidly running down her back, staining it and her pale purple dress.
Looking over her back he found the damage done in those few seconds was even worse than the other day. She had dug hard enough that she left chucks of skin under her nails and on her back. It was then Ardyn had to focus on keeping his hold on her wrist when she started to thrash and scream. "IT HURTS!" A blast of flames burst from her. It threw Ardyn back a few inches causing his to lose his hold. Her screams echoed in the opened field that had the chocobos fleeing in terror.
Quickly Ardyn went back to her side but had to stop at the sight of her back seeming to ripple. Fresh blood seeped out as the skin grew transparent at parts that weren't covered in red. He watched as his sister twitched and convulsed from the level of pain she was being put through. "Make it stop! Make it STOP!"
Another blast of flames came, this time Ardyn was ready and withstood the heat. Heat that did not burn but seemed to sooth. A feeling that was similar to the flames of their mother's flames. His eyes widened thinking that Arryn was being boiled alive from her own power of flames which could explain the rippling of her back. Those thoughts induced more fear into him that led him to being frightened he was about to lose his sister to a power that shouldn't do any harm.
Then sounds of ripping flesh rung out, nearly being drowned out by Arryn's pained pleas if Ardyn wasn't watching from his kneeled position at her side. Flames gently licked along a pair of appendages and along the span of her back. The appendages were covered in slim making the fur that covered them wet and clumped together. He watched as the flames worked to restore the damage done to free them. It was then he noticed the screaming and pleas had stopped making the field silent even though she remained crumbled into herself.
Her breathing was still haggard but the tension slowly left her body. With a feather like touch Ardyn used the pads of his fingertips to marvel at them. "Don't! Stop!" Arryn cried jerking away from the touch. Ardyn let out an apology drawing back his hand. She turned to look behind her as much as she could, the appendages twitching and stretching. Turning back to her brother both could only stare in shock.
"What...what just happened to me?" she asked, her voice barely being heard by Ardyn.
All he could do was shake his head and shrug. "I...I do not know Arryn." Minutes passed before he spoke again. "We should find Mother." Making sure to not touch any place on her back he helped her up and with a sharp whistle came the answering calls of the chocobos. Their vibrant yellow feathers glowed in the sunlight as they stopped inches from their riders. "Do you want to ride with me?" He asked Arryn. When she gave her answer he helped her up once he seated himself.
It only took twenty or so minutes to return home. Making sure he wouldn't hit any spot of her back Ardyn helped her down as both went in search of their Mother. Many stopped to stare at Arryn as they passed that had Ardyn feeling his hackles raise and glares being sent out that made them scurry away.
"To the Gods above!" The twins stopped to turn to the voice of their mother. "What happened!?" Her hurried steps drew her closer to her children, flames sparking from her hands as they glided over them. Ardyn closed his eyes to the warmth that spread throughout him as Arryn let out a sigh, her weight settling even more into his hold.
Opening them he answered her. "It happened while out on our ride. She started to itch again only this time it seemed to be more aggressive. More so than yesterday, that led to these coming out of her back. She also seemed to produce flames."
"Come, lets bring your sister to her room. She can rest there." She led the two to the room. "It is rare for this to happen, but it does."
"What happened to her?" Ardyn asked as he went about to gather another dress for his sister while their mother went to help wash the dried blood from behind Arryn's changing screen.
"As you have been taught, those in the bloodline to rule Stella Lux go before the Egg." Ardyn nodded even though his mother could not see him while divided by the thick screen. "Those that are deemed worthy are granted the wings and inner light of the Seraphim that link past rulers and current rulers. There have been times that even with a chosen ruler, others in the bloodline can be born with wings that will later appear as they mature. As for the flames, that is a common ability for those even distant in the bloodline to have."
"How long does it take to grow the feathers?" Arryn asked as she came out from the other side of the screen. Ardyn looked over her noticing she was wearing her shawl again. Seeing his lingering gaze. "My back has slowly lost the aversion to touch since they appeared."
"I should have seen the signs of them appearing. My brother went through the same once he was granted the Blessing. It just did not click and for that I am sorry, my dear." Arryn only shook her head and quickly wrapped her arms around the older woman. "It is a good sign. The people of Stella Lux will be comforted that you have them and may even celebrate when you arrive." Caitlynn drew back to run a hand over her daughter's hair. "As for the feathers...at least a month to nearly two for them to fully come in. Your uncle will train you in flight once they have finished growing."
Leading Arryn to her bed Caitlynn took a hold of the shawl. "Now, rest. Having wings appear as they do makes the body stressed and tired." With a peck to the forehead Caitlynn left taking Ardyn with her. "As for you, my dear, you should start packing."
"For what reason?" He asked bewildered.
Caitlynn sent him a smirk. "Plans have changed. You will be escorting your sister to Stella Lux and staying for a bit. She will need someone who knows her to help her adjust to a new place that she will have to make as her home. That person is you. It will also help you to make peace if you are there to see where she will now reside. You both are growing up. Soon you will begin to take responsibility for roles meant for you."
Ardyn was silent as they walked, which Caitlynn took in stride, knowing her son was thinking. "Being twins, neither of you have been apart for long nor at such a distance. I may not understand the depths of such closeness you share with your sister, but I make sure that this next chapter of your lives will have a closure, an understanding that the two of you are growing up. A path that once held both going down will now have you splitting into different directions that life takes you both on."
Ardyn felt his stomach twist at that yet could understand why his mother was stating such things. Winding arms around her midsection he held onto her tight. Caitlynn hummed at his action but returned a prompt hug. "Thank you, Mother. For letting me go with her." She could only give another hum.