Gelvian opened his eyes slowly and groggily. He stood straight up but a sharp pain reminded him of what happened. The Awakening, the attack, and the dream. Everything came crashing down. He felt dizzy. He is inside a large tent where he and others, laid down to rest and recover. A few rays of sunshine broke through a small opening near the entrance of the tent.

Gelvian looked around to see if anyone from his family are here. None. Ravia isn't here. Levia too. Fang is missing as well. Only a black cat sitting between his legs.

"Finally awake?" It meowed. "The big meowsters were worried."

Gelvian shook his head. He never heard the cats or any animal quite as clear before. 'Must be the Awakening? It must be.' He thought.

Energy deep from within travel up to his throat. He knew, this mean that he can talk to animals better and more precise. He concentrated on that deep sensation. Like a whirl, he went deeper inside. Deep green is what he felt? Gelvian can hardly describe it. He smells colors and sees sounds. Before standing in front of something. A small tree. A Bonzai tree near a small pond. Somehow he knew. This is his palace. His soul is here. He is here. This is his soul. A meow pulled him back to the real world.

"Are you fine?" The black cat asked starring at him with its green eyes.

"No, Yes. Tell... the big cat masters that I am fine." Gelvian said meowing back. His talent and energy flowed through his throat and ears.

'The black cat means most likely the large cats. The cat masters or as they call them. The meowsters.' He smiled. They were muscular as hell for housecats that just roamed the city.

The black cat tilted its head and its furry ears stood at attention. "You nearly mastered the speech." The cat meowed. "I am not impressed." It tilted its head to the side. "About time our great ally mastered the speech. Couldn't have you meowing like a feral cat at us for all time."

"Yes. That would be unbecoming of me." Gelvian meowed back.

"I shall report back to the big meowsters. Until we meet again." The black cat jumped gracefully as a cat, then ran outside.

"Wait! I did not catch your name..." Gelvian meowed after the black cat. But it was already too late.

A small sound Gelvian heard opposite of him. It sounded like a voice but it was too quiet to make out any real words.

"Come again?" Gelvian looked around for the voice. The tent was split into small rooms with curtains.

The murmuring repeated. A familiar murmuring. He had heard that a lot over the years.

"Elrian?" Gelvian asked into the tent.

"Yes... It is me. Gelvian is that you?" The voice in slow and deep breaths answered.

Gelvian stood up and walked outside of his curtain room towards the voice.

"Are you in here?" Gelvian asked.

"Hmm." In a confirmative tone came as a response.

Gelvian pushed the curtain aside. He saw the brown-haired Elrian on his bed with bandages all over his body. His arms, legs, and the right side of his lower face were covered in bandages. Going down to his chest and covering his throat. Gelvian stood shocked for a moment before catching himself staring.

"You are not well I take it?" Gelvian asked the obvious.

"It hurts... a lot." Elrian responds in a dry voice.

"What happened? How did you..."

"I got knocked down. The evil men tried to get me." He said. "They got me but Master Uther, destroyed them." A weak smile formed on his face. "I fell onto the ground but they used firebombs."

"And you couldn't get away from the fire?" Gelvian asked.

"Yes." Elrian nodded.

"I am sorry that this happened to you but should that be healable?"

"Master Uther and Miss Sunleaf told me that I would be bearing scars." Elrian said but before Gelvian could say anything "Uther told me that they have a way to heal most of my scars in Derviu. That is where I will go, in a few weeks hopefully."

"That is great news then! But... why are you telling me this?" Gelvian asked.

"Because I am sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Gelvian asked a bit confused.

"Sorry that I didn't..." Elrian closed his eyes thinking. "Can we start a new? I want to be friends with you. I was wrong about many things."

"Sure, although why the change of heart? I thought you hated me for whatever reason."

"I was not myself the last years. I felt my eyes, no, myself open after the Awakening. I feel like a fool. Like a waste of breath. Like-" Tears began streaming down Elrian eyes.

"Whoa. Elrian. You are not a waste of breath.-"

"I failed to fight evil. The Evil! The evil men. Evil in this world."

"I did too! But that isn't because we are a waste of breath. We are only ten years old. We just started training how old were those men? 20 or 30 years? They have experience, training, and were armed with blades!" Gelvian said.

"But."

"No buts. Elrian. You are strong. Stronger than many others in our class. Even when you were not. We are worth it no matter our talents or our weaknesses. I heard that divine talented such as you are can become the strongest in the world. Take pride in your potential and work on it." 'Hypocrite' a voice told in the back of Gelvian mind. Remembering the feeling of worthlessness quite clearly when he was on the shoulder of his kidnapper.

"Thank you." Elrian answered with a weak smile.

"When you feel better let us train together?" Gelvian asked happy that Elrian is smiling a bit.

"Sure." Gelvian said.

"... Were you meowing at a cat before?" Elrian half laugh-asked a short moment later. "That, was you right?"

"Oh. That. Let me tell you something about my talent and you tell me about yours?" Gelvian cringed on the inside. While he knows that people know he has a druidic talent him just meowing back at a random cat. It feels embarrassing to him.

Noticing the reaction that Gelvian had. Elrian thinks the right way to start is with brutal honesty.

"So, you can talk with cats? I talk with the gods." Elrian said flatly.

Gelvian after talking with Elrian for a little more. He left the large tent. The conversation with Elrian was interesting. If a bit disturbing with what he told Gelvian.

'Some random old god can invade your mind and force you to talk with them. Essentially, they force one to hear their elevator pitch for why you should join them and what amazing powers you can get. And only an experienced divine talent can expel them from the outside. After the Awakening, it is easier for the talented but for most, I think it is too late. You would become mad I think. Thank... god? I was not born with a divine talent.' Gelvian thought to himself.

As he went outside he noticed that the sun was shining. That most likely means midday is here. The plaza was still full of people compared to the times where most people stay inside. There is a line near the open-air kitchen. A few cats followed him silently. Most Gelvian recognized as the ones he petted and fed.

'They must have been worried. That is cute of them.' Gelvian smiled. Kneeling down picking one grey-haired up with his intact arm. Giving it an awkward one-armed hug before the cat decides to jump down. Gelvian shrugs and kept petting the rest.

Gelvian's stomach made itself noted with a rumble. Gelvian decided he need something to eat before going on a searching tour for his family.

The line for the food was swift and he sat down near a table beneath the tree that Ravia let grow in a day.

Today's menu. Mountain horse meat soup with freshly baked bread and an apple. The nice elven lady told him that this evening they will have potatoes and roasted tomatoes.

'Horsemeat soup?... I have the feeling that this horse died recently and not because it was meant to be slaughtered. An Outrider's horse maybe.' Gelvian dedicated a quick prayer hoping the might horse had a quick and clean death.

Gelvian picked up the apple with his arm. "I am curious if this apple was meant for the horse?" He chuckled to himself.

"Concerning, they say laughing about bad events is a way to handle stress, Saviour." Gelvian heard someone hissing, turned his head looking for the source of the voice before palming himself on the forehead.

"Fang, that is you? Where are you?" Gelvian concentrated on the throat and ears. And his talent obeyed. The deep green flowed through his body. A hissing escaped his lips.

"Beneath you." And true to his word Fang was between his legs. The large komodo-like lizard moved under the table and laid its jaw on the table across Gelvian.

"First. I am happy that you are alive." Gelvian said hissing. A few people nearby looked at him with unease but still went along their paths.

"Me too. It wouldn't do for you to die so early." Fang stated.

"Were you hurt?" Gelvian asked standing up a little bit to have look at Fang.

"Just a bit. The Druid. Your teacher. Healed me." Fang said presenting tilting his body.

'There are some burn marks on Fang's right side. They healed well if the color of his scales is an indicator for that.'

"That is good. I thought you had died when Ravia fought the kidnappers."

"I got tangled, in an explosion- Everything is fine." Fang said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Fang hissed with his raspy voice.

"Have you seen my sister or my parents?"

"Yes. Your sister is right behind you." Fang said the slight smile in this voice clear for Gelvian to hear.

Gelvian turned around only to be met with a hug. He instinctively hugged her back. His broken arm was pinned between their chests. A sharp pain ran up his arm but he suppressed his urge to groan in pain.

"I am so happy, brother." Levia hugged him tighter.

"Me, too." Gelvian said strained. Levia remembering that Gelvian arm was broken released him and moved to sit across him.

"Sorry. I forgot. I forgot." Levia repeated.

"It is fine, Levia. Good to see you." Gelvian smiled.

A few moments of silence passed. Levia nervously thinking what to say.

"I was so scared... That you..." Died, Levia left unsaid.

"I was scared, too but I am happy that you are not hurt." Gelvian answered.

"You scared? Really? It didn't seem that way. With you jumping at that man out of nowhere. That was pretty heroic!" Levia chuckled.

Even though it was scary and a do-it-or-die trying situation for Gelvian. 'I would be shocked too if a ten-year-old dropkicked me and kicked in my knee.' Gelvian laughed remembering that dropkick and tussle that followed.

"Nothing was heroic about that. You are my sister and my twin. It is natural after all. A big brother got to look out for his little sister." Gelvian waved her sister off.

"Older?! You are barely a few minutes older than I. I think mother accidentally mixed up, who came first anyways!" Levia pointed her finger at him.

"Sure our mother, mixing us up. Good one. We are the only thing in the house not labeled!" Gelvian laughed.

"And pray that I am not forced to label both of you." A familiar voice responded.

His mother, Elisia was right behind him. A quick hug from behind. She then sat down next to him.

Gelvian looked at his mother. She looked exhausted. Similar to his teacher Ravia he saw yesterday. Her hair was disheveled and bound in a bun. Her tunic had a few dark red and brown stains. 'Definitely blood.' Her eyes still flared a strong will and power.

"After you have eaten we can, and will go home." She looked at him examining him.

"Yes, Mother." Gelvian looked at her exhausted form contemplating to ask what she was up to the past days. After a short moment of consideration.

"Mother, what have you worked on these past days?"

"Oh! I can tell you that brother." Levia said. "We healed a lot of people! I mostly brought water or helped make fires. And mother... oh, mother made potions! You should have seen how much they relaxed after they drank it! Fang was also there!" Levia explained her arms waving as she told her story. Gelvian eyebrow shot up at that new information.

"I used Fang's venom to brew painkillers and relaxation medicine." His mother added. "I didn't have enough stock. And so, Fang was needed next to me for the past two days. He sat grump at the bonfire after I used him." His mother chuckled.

"Tell your mother, I curse her to all the hells that exist and will exist." Fang hissed with clear venom to Gelvian.

"He was uncooperative at first but people need to help. Some had been poisoned. I forced some venom off Fang." Elisia said but her voice didn't carry any regretful tone. "Tell him again that I am sorry and that steaks will be on the menu this evening. Fang saved a lot of lives... with his sacrifice. Even if he struggled." She smiled happily even if her smile looked exhausted.

The mental image of his mother and Fang wrestling came up in his mind. A slender elven mage and a large dog-sized komodo lizard wrestling for control. The respect for his mother grew even higher.

"Wow. A lot has happened while I was sleeping."

"That. it has. That, it has." Elisia sighed.

"So, Steak today?" Levia asked.

"Steak today." His mother repeated.