On any other occasion, a Soulweaver being sent to the Plane of Elemental Spirits to find themselves a SoulAlly would be a happy occasion; the time that they were ready to begin their Soulweaving training in earnest alongside a companion who would stay with them for life.
But not for Tomix.
Ever since Lust's revelation that Aspar was Envy, his whole world had come crashing down. At first he was convinced she was lying; she was a Corrupt Spirit after all, and such a lie would be the ideal tactic to throw him off just as he was to embark on his hunt for the final spirit. Besides, he knew Aspar…or at least he thought he did. But with Aspar's disappearance after banishing Lust, the feeling of their Bond becoming corrupted, and all other evidence confirmed that Lust was right.
(Ten years. Ten years he had been on this hunt and the whole time Aspar, who he considered his dearest friend, was Envy, using him for his own gain. Was anything they had real…?)
Tomix had returned to Ravenloss to help rebuild the once deserted underground city, reuniting with Izaac and Riadne in the process and it was revealed that they were together. And he was happy for them, he really was, but it still caused a pang of loneliness.
He had hoped to reunite with the Hero as well of course, but as if to make things even worse, it turned out they had been frozen in a magical block of ice two years ago.
(And in that moment he found out, Tomix found himself hating Jaania, hating her for taking away one of the few people left who he could call a friend while the grief over Aspar's betrayal was still so fresh, hating her for founding the Rose and their anti-magic crusade causing refugees to pour into Falconreach and Ravenloss, which was beginning to encounter the effects of the Void leaking through the Equilibrium Gate from Pellow Village, when they should have been able to remain safely in their homes. The intensity of those feelings had subsided, and he had other things to worry about, but he still hoped that he would never meet her.)
Asp-Envy had been quiet, with no inclination of where he was and what he was planning, so Tomix threw himself into the rebuilding of Ravenloss and helping whoever he could when a problem that he knew was coming but had been avoiding emerged; without a SoulAlly, he couldn't Weave.
Izaac had offered to send him to the Plane of Elemental Spirits so he could find a new SoulAlly, with Salla supervising, and he had agreed, which is why he is currently hovering in between two curving trees and surveying the rolling hills, ignoring the pangs of sadness every time he's reminded of what he thought he shared with Aspar.
Tomix is a Soulweaver on a mission, and he will banish the Seven Corrupted Spirits and to do so, he needs to find a new SoulAlly. Now all he has to do is find a spirit willing to bond with him…
"Hello?" a voice calls in what is probably the most fortunate timing he has ever experienced, and an icy blue spirit floats down in front of him. "I was doing my regular patrol when I saw you here. Can I help you?"
"I hope so," Tomix replies, taking the spirit in; he's clad in white leg and shoulder armour with an ornate helmet, one arm has a shield attached to it while the other has a charm hanging off it. "I'm a Soulweaver who's here to find a new SoulAlly."
"Well I'm certain you'll be able to find one," the spirit replies warmly, extending the arm that has the shield on it and pointing eastwards. "There is a group of elemental spirits off in that direction if you wish to start your search there. I would offer myself, but my intention is to bond with a hero, who I can respect and support. What's your name, by the way?"
"Tomix Danao."
"Wait…" the spirit blinks. "The Tomix?!"
"Uh, yes?"
"I've heard so much about you!" the spirit grins. "I am Aegis."
"Oh!" Tomix perks up. "I've heard much about you as well from the Hero and Pandora. How…how is Pandora?"
Aegis sighs sadly. "It varies. I visit her when I can but the whole freezing incident has, understandably, hit her very hard." He strokes his chin thoughtfully. "Would you like to see her? I think she would appreciate another friendly presence."
"Of course," Tomix replies as the two of them set off. "I may not be able to stay for too long though."
"Perfectly understandable," Aegis nods. "Am I correct in saying that you are on a very important quest?"
"Yes. I have banished all but one of the Seven Corrupt Spirits that I released and no matter what it takes, I will complete my quest!"
"An admirable goal," Aegis smiles before coming to a halt outside an area that's a darker hue to the rest of their surroundings with a slight shimmer in front of it. "Pandora! There's someone here to see you."
The area in front of them shifts and parts as Pandora emerges and gasps at the spirit and the soul in front of her, one that she recognises immediately thanks to all the Soulweaving training the Hero had undertaken. "Tomix? Oh it's so wonderful to see you!"
"Hello Pandora, I'm happy to see you too. Sorry it's been a while, but I had to go and hunt Lust after the Mysterious Stranger was defeated. How are you?"
"I'm…coping," Pandora gives a weak smile. "It's been hard, and there's no sign that the Hero will thaw out any time soon, but their dragon guards the crystal and I still have hope that they will break free. What brings you to the Plane of Elemental Spirits? Did something go wrong with your hunt for Lust?"
"You said you were looking for a new SoulAlly," Aegis adds. "Did something happen to your old one?"
Tomix exhales shakily. "Yes. Before I banished her, Lust revealed that Aspar, my SoulAlly, was actually Envy all along."
Pandora and Aegis both gasp, the former covering her mouth with her hand. "Oh no…Tomix, I'm so sorry…"
"It hurts," Tomix admits. "For so long I thought we were friends, and to find out he's been using me this whole time… But it's my duty to banish the Seven Corrupt Spirits no matter what, and I will do so. I cannot weave without a SoulAlly by my side so I came to the Plane of Elemental Spirits to find one."
Aegis strokes his chin, looking thoughtful, and exchanges a glance with Pandora. "Tomix…your quest is very important and I admire your dedication to see it through. Tell me, are you also good? And helpful?"
"I…" Tomix blinks, taken aback by the question. "I can honestly say I try. I know I committed a great wrong by releasing the corrupted spirits in the first place so I embarked on my hunt to rectify that. I try to help where I can, be that in Ravenloss with rebuilding the city and aiding the refugees, or Falconreach when I first met the Hero at Mogloween, or Pellow Village with the two Chaosweaver children…"
"I think I've heard enough," Aegis breaks in gently, smiling. "Tomix, I am the Elemental Spirit of Valour. If you will have me, I would be honoured to become your SoulAlly. I told you that I was looking for someone who I can respect and support and from what you've told me, that person is you."
"I…thank you, Aegis," Tomix responds as Pandora gives a soft cry of delight. "I would also be honoured for you to be my SoulAlly."
Aegis grins and both soul and spirit begin to glow, SoulThreads reaching out from both of them, intertwining and becoming whole. Tomix tentatively reaches out with their new bond and immediately feels a rush of warmth from Aegis' end (how ironic from an ice spirit, the Hero would have found that very amusing).
"I'm so happy for you both," Pandora beams, her domain brightening behind her to reflect her mood.
"Thanks Pandora," Aegis laughs. "Tomix, we had better get you back to the material world."
"Of course," Tomix agrees. "I wouldn't want Izaac and Salla to worry. Pandora, it was a pleasure to see you again."
"Now who does that remind me of?" Aegis grins as Pandora gives a tinkling laugh, waving at Tomix. "I look forward to working with you, Tomix. Together we can stop Envy and complete your quest, and at the same time do many good and helpful things!"
Disclaimer: DragonFable is owned by Artix Entertainment. Based on the quest 'Meet Aegis'.
Salla, the Elemental Spirit of Wisdom, is Izaac's SoulAlly as mentioned by Dove on Twitter.
