Chapter 6: Brotherhood

A soft murmuring drew Vivi out of his dreams of soaring on the back of a massively huge dragon with prismatic scales. He stirred and opened his eyes. As he was lying on his back, the first things he saw was Orko dropping to the ground, also awakened, and as he sat up he saw Zentarou doing the same. All looked to Dregan.

The elf was still asleep, but was tossing and turning restlessly, mumbling in his sleep. His brow was slick with sweat, his eyes scrunched tight, fists clenched. Vivi reached over to gently shake his shoulder.

"Dregan?"

"...away... stay away..." they heard him mutter, growing a bit louder. "Kystri... stay away... leave me alone! Stay away from... No! Leave him alo... Savander!" He sat up with a yell, panting fiercely and tears rolling down his face. The other three hopped back a step, startled by the sudden awakening, as the elf sat up. He clutched a hand to his heart, Vivi noticed he was wearing the bracelet now, and shut his eyes, bowing his head and remaining still for many moments. Then he whispered softly, "Sorry."

"About what?" Zentarou asked. "That must have been some nightmare."

"No nightmare," replied the elf softly. "A curse, of sorts."

"Trolly-molly! A curse?" Orko echoed.

"In a sense." Dregan dried off his cheeks as he explained. "On Sindaya, my type of elf is known as a dunedi. We were made by Kystri, an evil goddess, in mockery of true, good elves and their creator. My sister, consort, and I all came to reject her and accept the following, the doctrine, of her worst deific enemies, Sovellyn and Tavanness, the Creator of the Elves and the Magic Giver, respectively."

"That's the name you said in the tower," Vivi interrupted.

"An ability given to me for my devotion. But Kystri wasn't happy with our desertion, still isn't happy. My sister is Sovellyn's Chosen, his favored, and is therefore protected. My lady consort is one of his clerics and also out of her grasp. But I, however..."

"She is able to torment you?" Zentarou asked.

"In my dreams. I see myself as I once was, a vile, twisted monster, doing things to students that I taught magic as punishments that I wouldn't wish now upon my worst enemies, when they didn't do more than talk out of turn. Or like this one. I see her destroy all my friends and loved ones, or enslaving all I hold dear."

"Trolly-molly..." Dregan chuckled a bit bitterly.

"They tend to arise whenever I'm away from my family, or worried for them, or the like," he added.

"Savander, is he one of your brothers?" Vivi asked.

"No. Savander... he's my son." They all gasped in surprise. "I didn't mention that I was a father before because I didn't want any of you feeling like my situation was worse than yours. We're all in this equally, and I worried that you might show me pity if I mentioned it." He looked at Vivi with a wistful smile. "My son is about your size, and just as bright."

"That explains why you've been almost protective of me," Vivi finally understood.

"Yeah. Heh, I guess it's instinctive. My son was born two months early, and it very... well... he's not as strong as his cousins and sister were at his age. He was sick quite often, and none of us thought he's live. I've never been far away from him since he was born." Zentarou reached over to pat Dregan's shoulder.

"Sounds like you're a great father. And we won't pity you. Promise."

"Thanks." Dregan somewhat ruefully rubbed the back of his neck. "I know it was a silly thought, but as my family will tell you, I tend to have those quite often." Vivi smiled.

"You're definitely not in this alone, Dregan. I have sons too." Now they all turned to him in surprise.

"Really?" asked Dregan.

"Yeah. On Gaia, Black Mages like myself were... built, like golems. We have a short life, most only a year, and once I passed that I began to wonder how much time I had left. So I decided to try and live on, through my sons, Calan, Sola, Ollan, Nicara, Turo, and Valian." Dregan smiled.

"That does make me feel a little better." He suddenly tipped his head, as if a thought had occurred to him. "Hey, I just realized that you all have been following my lead this while time. Why?"

"Trolly-molly," Orko explained, "you're the strongest of all of us." Dregan blinked.

"I am?"

"Yeah," agreed Zentarou. "Plus, for me at least, you're an elf. My people learn from our earliest thoughts to always listen to and respect elves, as they live much longer than we do and know more."

"Heh, I'm not used to taking a leader's role," chuckled the dunedi. "Usually my brothers lead - they're the fighters - and I follow behind, staying in the back of things."

"Fooled me with that sword," commented Vivi.

"Well, one of my brothers, Kestion, is teaching me to become a Selkynil, using a dance-like mix of magic and melee. But I'm not really even a novice."

"I'm learning a similar style, of magic and swordplay, but it doesn't really have a name," Zentarou mentioned.

"You going to be able to sleep?" Vivi asked, seeing the distress still in Dregan's ruby-gold eyes.

"Probably not. I rarely can sleep when I have those dreams. But the rest of you should rest." Zentarou grinned.

"It's been four hours. I'm set for the day."

"Four hours?" Orko repeated curiously. Dregan blinked.

"One of the elven tricks I've learned," responded the cat.

"You can reverie?" from Dregan.

"A friend, a great hero of my people names Daernanin, taught me how to. But I'm the only one who can of all the Sir'Kai."

"So it can be learned." This seemed important to Dregan. He explained to them, "I cannot reverie, nor can my consort. Sovellyn gifted my sister with the ability, but I wondered about my children. So far they haven't developed it," He smiled. "But maybe it can be learned."

"Only the gods know," replied Zentarou as he fanned the fire back to a good blaze and sat down. Vivi suddenly grinned, although of course no one could see it.

"Hey, Dregan, have you ever seen a whole society that lived in a tree... in the middle of a desert, in the eye of a sandstorm?" Everyone blinked.

"That doesn't seem possible," replied the elf mage.

"It's true. On Gaia, there's a society that lives in a huge tree. They call themselves Cleyrans..." They went like that, sharing stories to take Dregan's mind off the nightmares and getting him to laugh all the rest of the night.

The lightening of the sky was the only clue that it was dawn some three hours later. Dregan looked up, then at the three mages.

"I think it's morning." They all looked up and agreed, and the four broke down what small camp they had. Once it was done, Dregan cleared his throat. "Everyone... thanks."

"For what?" asked Orko.

"For helping me last night, making me feel better." He glanced at Vivi. "I know that's what you were doing." Vivi modestly adjusted his hat.

"Well, we're friends," he said, as if that explained everything.

"Trolly-molly, more than friends, after what we've all been through," Orko commented. Zentarou's eyes suddenly sparkled.

"We're more like brothers. After all, we're all mages. A lot of mages on Talsdia, my home, refer to themselves and brothers and sisters - although I will admit there aren't many. The magic gives them a common bond."

"Mage brothers," mused Dregan. He chuckled. "Bretheren Arcanum, as the ancient draconic mages would say." Vivi laughed.

"I like that." Orko nodded in agreement.

"A team, brothers in magic."

"Mages have to stick together," Zentarou added. Dregan nodded decidedly.

"It's settled then. Brothers, lets summon Natar and start heading home."