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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on January 6, 2023 at 3:52

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

Bexley hadn’t let her walls down easily, her past was the reason for this. All the aspects knew her past in some various ways, she was sure that Ery himself met the men he harmed her and helped them move on to the next realm. Would he know they were the start of making her the dark diviner she was? Probably not. She was never overly sure what the aspect did with those who had passed. She never asked, maybe she should. Did he spend time with them? Did he give them a pat on the and send them on their way?

She wanted to open her mouth to ask questions but at that moment her feelings had been hurt and she was trying not to be as reactive as she had been in the past. So she was quite trying to realign her emotions before they moved on from that moment. She reached out to rest her hand on his shoulder though as a way to say she understood that he didn’t mean to hurt her. They both were lost, and broken and they could either lean on each other for the better or they could let it divide them. Bexley refused to lose someone else she cared about.

Focusing on the task at hand. “A start is all we can do right?” she smiled finally trying to soften towards him before taking his hand and pulling him through the portal into her home. It was filled with potion mixes, books, plants and a ghost of the Crane they both knew.

“Welcome home Bexley, oh Erythreus!” He waved as he moved closer to a silhouette of the man that once was the strongest Dhampir among the Ailward ranks. “Wow it's been so long since I have seen your face.” He went to hug Erythreus but went right through him. “Oh yeah forgot about that.” he sighed before moving back towards Bexley. “You are home early.”

Bexley gave Crane a sad smile. “I am. Ery wanted to come see you. I realized I have made a mistake.” She said softly reaching out to touch his cheek, using a small amount of magic to touch the translucent cheek of Crane. “You don’t need to be tied to this plan my dear.” She was choked up slightly getting the words out.

“But how can I let you be sad?” Crane asked as he rested his hand on her shoulder but because the magic wasn’t there it passed through it. “Though I am not much use here either.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on January 7, 2023 at 18:49

Erythreus had been lost for a long time. He couldn’t remember his human life, if he’d been happy and had a loving family or a miserable start. Then came decades of being a valkyr during what the modern time called the Middle Ages. Bloodshed and slaughter was all that era had been. Naturally Erys humanity had vanished during this time to be able to endure all the murders he both were responsible for and wittnesed. It had taken a long time until that part of him awoke again. When becoming an aspect and becoming a part of a family again some of his humanity had come back. However some bits were lost forever. With every hard decision and adversity it felt like the closed off male grew closer to loosing his humanity once again.

Bexley’s past had as well as his own not been a dance on roses. The aspect knew all too well which torments the guard had been force to live through. As the souls passed over to his realm he got a quick glimpse, almost as their life in replay. He needed this info so that he could get a better understand what would help them fully pass over. Some souls chose to never do leaving them a shatter of who the once where forever stuck between worlds doomed to always drift. For the who passed it wasn’t as simple as heaven or hell. Kingdom of death was a very complex world. The soul was pretty much in command. Those who believed they needed punishment would forever relive their worst fears. And those who had come to peace with what had been could look forward to a new start and harmony. Therefore Ery played an important role to guide them and help them come to peace with their past decisions. A hard job for someone who hadn’t gotten his life together and a duty he had neglected the passed two years. Other problems overshadowing the males agenda.

Both were lost in thought. Afraid to pierce the silence with the questions they wanted to ask and maybe stir up another hurtful situation as the one the insensitive aspect had just caused. A comforting squeeze of his shoulder warmed him easing the guilt and self loath that had started to build in his chest after his clumsy exclaims. ”Yes” He confirmed smiling back at her and following her through the portal to her house. Her house smelled of different potions and ancient stuff, and Crane stood there as a Welcome committee, a faint copy of the dhampir warrior he’d been. ”Hey man can’t say I am very happy to see you like the even tho it is nice to see you again” Erythreus said sincerely. The sour male couldn’t help but be moved by the emotions, but they helped him understand what kept Crane from going back to the after life. ”That’s what’s keeping you here isn’t it” Erytheus mumbled to himself.

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on January 11, 2023 at 15:43

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

Bexley took a weak breath in before focusing her gaze off of the translucent Crane and back on Erythreus. She had to do this, she had to let him go. She knew the reason she couldn’t let him go before was because he was the one that treated her like she was soft. He didn’t shun her because of her brooding nature. It was always a double standard, male could be brooding and people would fawn over them, yet when a woman was broody she was classified as a bitch. Bexley just eventually let the title of bitch become her armor as she watched even in the guard how the broody males fawned over. Crane was the first to see past that armor and seemed to want her around. She allowed herself to want something with him, to open up that chance to be soft and a version of herself she missed.

Crane looked between the pair and felt the frown on his face. “Is this what you want?” He directed it to Bexley yet his gaze stayed on Erythreus. “You want me to go?”

Bexley swallowed hard, allowing her face to be soft as she turned her face back towards Crane and she gave a weak smile. “Of course I don’t want you to go, I wish so much it was I who was killed that day, you chose to not be selfish and save me. I live with that daily. I think about the life we could have had but I am being selfish to keep your soul from resting when you deserve to rest. You deserve to have peace.”

“How can I be at peace when you wish that you had died instead of me?” His brows pulled together in frustration before looking at Erythreus. “Do you understand why I stayed when she called me? I could have returned or not answered the call but she doesn’t understand why I saved her. How valuable she is.” He said in frustration before throwing his ghostly hands up. “Both of you don’t see your value.” he grumbled out before turning his ghostly back to them. “The fall was hard for you all but you all managed to survive and can’t still see your worth.”

Bexley frowned deeply as she hadn’t seen Crane react so passionately in their talks here. “You chose to return?” she finally asked in the quiet moment. Her gaze flicked to Erythreus. “Could a Spirit choose to stay?”

“Doesn’t matter with the vail being all weird as of lately anyways” Crane muttered as he walked towards the kitchen.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on January 16, 2023 at 9:31

Seeing ghosts weren’t something extraordinary for the aspect of death, it was expected. Most often he wished he didn’t have to be bothered by their presence. It wasn’t very pleasant  being haunted by souls frustrated and angry that their time had ended much too soon but if he didn’t see the souls of the dead there was something clearly wrong. However even tho he was used to the see trough faint version that you became after dying, it was always a shock seeing someone you knew.

Cranes eyes bore in to his ice blue. He looked torn as if he hadn’t slept for days. Hi didn’t speak directly to him but his eyes were framing him awakening the guilt that always thrived at the back of his mind. Cranes death had been a been caused a lot of guilt and anxiety for Erythreus. The ancient male was convinced that it was his fault that Crane had died. His decisions had lead to the events forcing them to flee from Skye. ”I wish that you were here with us, that I could turn back time and save you, but this” he said considering his word carefully ”This isnt living” the blunt aspect spoke watching his former friend to see how the words hit him.

He listened to Bexleys words saying the same thing as him. That she didn’t want him gone and that she too felt guilty for his death. The words made Erythreus frown how could she feel guilty when clearly he was the one to blame. He didn’t quite understand how she hadn’t made the connection. ”You’re a great friend Crane but you can’t fix that, the isn’t your world anymore” Erythreus hated saying the words separating two friends. ”But you are right we have failed in supporting Bexley and help her grieve”.

Ery could see the hope glimmer in the guards eyes and he hated that he would be the one to blow it out. ”He could” he took a short pause considering his word carefully. ”He could even be a while but it would be an illusion and it would break him. Souls who choose to stay in this world shatter they can’t stay in one place they are doomed to a restless life always searching for something missing”. 

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on February 19, 2023 at 4:11

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

Crane scoffed at Erythreus for a moment, “I am doing what I did alive minus the perks of being able to touch.” A slight frown touched his lips. “I am helping Bexley not be sad, if I could leave the house I would help others.” He muttered stubbornly. “Due to the issues with the Veil I have been here watching long before Bexley was able to make me visible. I watched her mourn me, withdrawing from everyone in the manor. No one was coming to check up on her, until she broke into Reus' memory vault. And even then he really only came to scold her for doing so. Maybe if the aspects would act more like they cared she wouldn’t have needed me.”

“Crane, that isn’t fair.” Bexley chimed in as she shook her head. “They care, but they also have their hands full. The world, something isn’t right.” She said as she crossed her arms. Still not fully over the whole fact he chose to come back, that he had been here longer than she realized. How many nights he must have heard her cry out to him.

“I have nowhere else to go.” He said in slight frustration, “All that would be happening is that you wouldn’t see me anymore.” He wasn’t making clear how the threats that had recently come into play were happening. He was just angry that Bexley seemed to want him gone. “Ery, when was the last time you shepherded a soul into the beyond? A while I bet right?” He crossed his arm for a moment even though it was only to make a point. “The veil seems to be broken, the dead aren’t crossing like they should be.”

“Veil? What is this Veil that you are talking about?” Realizing that things are probably much worse than she had realized. Has she broken something with the spell she managed to cast? Then she remembered the new species that had found its way into the town. “Oh no. The Aurazin, they are the ones from the Veil, maybe we could get some answers from them?” Bexley turned to Erythreus. “Ery how long has it been since you have seen a soul to cross over?” she asked in a questioning moment. Maybe the Aurazin problem was affecting more than just the species, it could be stopping the dead from crossing over.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on March 7, 2023 at 18:36

• ”If that all your life was then you had a sad pathetic life” Erythreus said bluntly. Staring at what had once been his friend. His friend that obviously had lost it. To stubborn for his own best willing to sacrifice his own luck and sanity to help friend. It wasn’t uncommon among the ghosts to wish to stay in the world of the living lingering there with the excuse and belief that it would help their beloved. Ery had seen it time and time again. Maybe it had been helpful at first helping through the first phase of paralyzing grief. But what they didn’t realize was that they only made the final unavoidable separation harder. It hurt both parties. The realm for the living wasn’t for the death and the kingdom of death wasn’t for the living. Only the warden of death was allowed to wander freely between the two worlds once the soul had accepted its fate and found inner peace. And Erythreus didn’t do it without a cost. He payed  with his sanity for it everyday. Almost never someone thanked him for keeping the order.
• ”Oh how noble of you” Thee aspect said rolling his eyes at Crane. He didn’t know why but something about this whole situation provoked him. Erythreus stood quiet as the ghost accused him and the others for not looking after Bexley, and he couldn’t more than agree. He knew he hadn’t looked after his friends. He hadn’t been in shape to help himself even and was already ashamed of that. He couldn’t speak for the rest of the rest of his family but he knew he deserved those words. ”No he is right Bexley we should’ve done better by you. By everyone who lost someone when Isle of sky fell.” The broody Aspect sighed.
• ”You haven’t tried there is a whole kingdom there. For you try finding the others who died that day” Ery frowned as Crane continued to talk. He almost got his hopes up maybe it wasn’t his flaws as an aspect that prevented him from helping the souls pass all these months maybe it was something else something out of his control. Oh how he wanted to believe that. He quickly crushed that thought before it spread to much hope. Of course that wasn’t the case. The former guard didn’t know what he was talking about he just wanted another reason to stay.  The veil is like curtain separating our realms once you cant go back or are not suppose to” The aspect explained giving a meaning look to Crane . ”You’re wrong I escorted some souls there just last week” Erythreus said stubbornly. Actually that had been one of the few souls he’d been able to leave this world behind in months.

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on March 25, 2023 at 21:23

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

“That is uncalled for also Erythreus.” Bexley's voice chimed in as he told Crane his life must have been sad and pathetic if that was all he believed he had to live for. Bexley watched as the aspect of death seemed to be losing its grip with having patience with the dead that didn’t want to move on. She knew for a fact that other ghosts had done the same thing. She watched as Erythreus only seemed to get more aggravated in that moment, making her question in her own brain if she should have brought him here in the first place. She probably could have convinced Crane to move on eventually. She gave a gentle sigh past her lips.

“You eight have a whole world to keep in balance. My problems are trivial.” She said with a shrug. She had put the space. She knew where she stood for the most part when it came to playing a part in other people's lives. She accepted this a long time ago. That is why losing Crane hit her so deeply. He was the only one that had ever Made her feel seen as if she was someone worth loving and respecting. Losing that and wanting it even in his death was her own selfish act. “None of us would ask for help, and you guys couldn’t even process your own pain. We knew taking jobs as guards came with risk and danger and a not so great mental health plan.” She chuckled weakly.

“Did you?” Crane questioned with a cocky look on his face. Rather irritated in that moment at how harsh the aspect of death was towards his wanting to stay. He was just as stubborn in this state now. “Or did you just give the souls to the voidlings that have taken over the vile? If the Aurazin can’t get into the veil of their realm what makes you think you are doing right? What if someone is trying to collect souls?” He stood there crossed arms.

“Aurazin, I heard the mention of them taking residence in the Perrier. They are beings that help the people who lost people on the mortal plane learn to grieve the loss and move on.” Maybe that was an option she could look into after Crane is where he needed to be. “Malva? No Deus? No one of the other aspects informed a guard when I overheard the conversation. Maybe this is something we should look into before trying to release Crane soul? If a dark force is at play we wouldn’t want to throw a guard soul towards it. Especially not such a pure one. Right?” She asked him before moving over to Crane.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on April 2, 2023 at 12:54

”Oh I am sorry, not as if things can get any worse for him” Erythreus said rolling his eyes. He wasn’t a very subtle person normally. With ghosts haunting him for months celestials hating his guts and an unsuccessful love life any delicacy he had harbored was gone. The angry aspect took a deep breath to calm down trying to remember that it wasn’t Crane and certainly not Bexley’s fault. ”I apologize it was a long time since I had to interact with others, I shall try and behave” Ery said sternly still trying to calm down.

”And an important part of that is noticing the people in it offering help to those in need” the aspect argued. ”Something myself has been worthless at these last few months” He let out another deep sigh his blue eyes meeting the floor. He wasn’t proud of where he had let his life go. Neglecting his duties and feeling sorry for himself not baring to identify his fellow faction members pain.

”That’s absurd” Erythreus laughed. He hadn’t interacted much with the aurazins, too caught up in his own problems. However he had heard their stories and their history and knew they were the only species besides him who could had returned from the kingdom of death once leaving earth. Valkyrs souls never passed it stayed during their short transition time, while the aurazins souls passed over to the other side before returning something that should be impossible. Ery hadn’t been sober enough to give it much thought or go over there to examine it further. Another miss to add to his growing pile. Would he ever get back on track?

”Of course not wouldn’t want to lose him twice” A plan formed in his head. It was a risky plan and he would need Cranes help to go through with it.

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on April 8, 2023 at 2:53

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

Bexley wanted to reach out and try to bring some comfort to Erythreus and maybe even herself during this conundrum she had caused somewhat. Watching him breath out she moved closer to place her hand on his forearm softly. “I have known you for a long time, Ery, I understand that you are frustrated we all are. I have always wanted to be a help to the guard, not a hindrance.” She sighed softly lately with herself pushing away from the guard and no one running after her made her guard go up more. She needed to let them back down to the family she had chosen in her life. “We both haven’t behaved well so I can’t judge you on that.”

Bexley wondered in her mind if other forces could be making them all this way towards each other. “You aren’t worthless things just aren’t right in the cosmos it feels.” She sighed with him watching his beautiful gaze move to the floor. They both had a lot to not be proud of, but it also wouldn’t stop them from doing what was best for their family. In a lot of ways all Bexley could see was herself in Erythreus. “We will all figure it out.”

“Is it really that absurd that someone could be messing with the aspect of death? If someone is able to stop souls from crossing, maybe they are trying to create an undead army.” Sure it sounded like something out of the movies or a dungeons and dragons game. Yet was it so far out of reach with all the magical beings in the world that they knew about? Was it so crazy to think that someone would want an unstoppable army? There was a new fear in her that someone could have been making such a nefarious plan and none of them noticed till now.

Was her thirst for wanting Crane back the only reason this thought was forming and this worry had come to the light. Maybe that is why she wanted him back because she knew something was wrong. Helping him fully pass would maybe ease the guilt and pain she was feeling if he really moved on. “Thank you.” She said as her hand lowered to his hand to give it a gentle squeeze. “Field trip to the Aurazin to learn more about the vile and why they are stuck here?” She asked gently as she focused her eyes on him ready to portal them away.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on April 30, 2023 at 17:55

Physical touch had always been Erythreus language. He wasn’t good with words or showing affection, but he loved to cuddle, hug and hold hands it calmed him and kept the darkness away. It had been one of the reasons him and his ex hadn’t worked. She’d always flinched away from his touch in public and never gave comforting squeezes or hugs. ”Thank you” he said sighing. Relaxing under her touch. He wished he was better at finding the right moments to give assuring hugs or comforting pats. Usually he just stood beside lost while others came to the rescue.

”It’s nice that someone has a little faith left with everything that is wrong in the world” Ery said chuckling. He’d lost his belief a long time ago. He’d never been very religious. Not even when he grew up and the churches had immense power. When turning supernatural and seeing all the magic affecting the world he’d stopped believing in a higher power all together. The broody aspect wasn’t as sure that things would work out for the better but he kept his mouth shut for once.

”Yes it is ridiculous, stupid and absurd” The emotional aspect withhold. ”Undead Army I’ve never heard of such nonsense” Erythreus muttered to himself. He couldn’t see point of it. The undead couldn’t do much harm tho this world. They couldn’t even be noticed by most. There must be another motive or reason behind it all. Maybe it was all just a big mistake.

”That wasn´t what I had in mind” he stopped her before she started to use her magic they would need her energy later if plan A didn’t work. ”Do you trust me despite the way I’ve selected you the past year?” He asked knowing what he was to propose wouldn’t be very popular but still necessary to find out if things were as they suspected.

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Ailward GuardPermalink Reply by ✓ Bexley Dumont on May 29, 2023 at 20:55

✧ Two Lost Souls ✧

Bexley watched as Erythreus relaxed and it made her feel like she had put out the fuse they had both lit with their heated exchange. There was no point and not realizing that they both had good and bad points when it came to what was said here tonight. She had spent so much time with Erythreus when she had first joined the Guard that she remembered what always calmed him. Touch. She knew he needed it to understand that there were really no hard feelings they where just moving towards a common goal that was brought to the surface with her own fuck up. Honestly she would have hugged him if she didn’t think it would have been too much in the moment.

“Isn’t our whole point to try and be the light, the fate, the hope in the world.” She said with a soft chuckle. The Aspects were after all a balancing force for the world as they knew it. She ran her fingers along the back of his hand to calm him again as he felt emotional. It was a surge of emotional energy in a house filled with magical items. “Coming from the stance of Fae and Necromancer magic at one point in history. Ruling undead things to make an army that never died, ate, or had any needs. Was something many Necromancers craved.” She said trying not to upset him more, but it was a fact of magic in the past.

When he asked if she trusted him she gave an easy smile towards him, “I will always have trust in you. I know you better than the other aspects. Sometimes I believe we are crafted from the same material.” She chuckled softly before giving him a soft nod of her head. “What did you have in mind?” It was fact though, out of all the aspects she would follow Erythreus. They had an unspoken understanding.

Like best friends who could go months without talking and pick up from where they left off like no time had passed. She believed he was far more amazing and believed in him when he didn’t even believe in himself. She was hoping one day he would let the darkness power him and not rule him like she was still trying to master.

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Ailward AspectPermalink Reply by ✓ Erythreus Aliward on May 30, 2023 at 19:47

Being accused of being too social and extrovert had never been the case with Ery. Not even before becoming a depressed drunk who isolated himself from the world and lost control of his powers. He’d keep to a close circle of friends, Dom and Bexley being his closest allies even tho he valued everyone in the family equally. Especially Bex matched his vibe and had always understood him. The complex brunette didn’t feel obligated to share him up or undermine his feelings by saying it was all going to be okay when it wasn’t. A trait much appreciated by the aspect of death. It wasn’t many people who understood that when he was upset he usually didn’t want a quick fix. He just wanted confirmation and someone to sit in the sinking ship beside him a while. Bexley had done that for him numerous times but they, just as him and Dom, had lost their way. Other relations had been prioritized a while and then it had been too much of an effort to reach out. The sensitive aspect realized now how much he had missed his friend.

”Thought it was our dear friends the celestials job” Erythreus said jokingly rolling his eyes. ”We´ll see if you still do after my next proposal” he mumbled quietly looking at Crane who would play a big part in his plans. He took a deep breath, trying to collect strength knowing that what he was about to say might as well make Bexley refuse and send him on his way back to the manor. ”I suggest we try and make Crane pass over” Ery dropped the shocking announcement and put up a hand before any of them could start protesting.

”Let me explain” He asked keeping eye contact with the pair. ”When someone dies and has accepted their fate, ready to cut all ties keeping them in this world, well usually it takes a little job from me to get them there, anyways then I escort them to their new realm in my dragon form” The aspect of death hadn’t explained the procedure to anyone before. It wasn’t like anyone wanted to hear. Mostly people just wanted to connect to passed ones through him. ”The veil is only working one way for the souls they can pass through on the way in but not go back, or at least it is supposed to be that way.”  He paused knowing his next revelation would be even more shocking. ”I think Ive figured out a way to bring you along as well Bex” Knowing that she wouldn’t want to miss out on the action.

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