Had I been able to read my boys mind I may well have been amused at his thoughts and his inability to understand myself, who I was and how such a being could function. I was a walking paradox I suppose and yet that is part of my allure, after all, it is difficult to fight what you cannot understand and in turn others fear what they cannot perceive. It is merely annoyer layer upon the very cake of mystery I have been content to eat from for several years. Eden in turn, I hear, is rather the riddle himself and perhaps in time he may even become as me- or close enough, after all, can anyone ever really be who I was? Can anyone really ever become greater? I think that is highly debatable. As to his belief my history will die with me however- well, we will see now won’t we? Such a shame I cannot read minds, although truly I have rather the talent for reading intentions and I am not wholly convinced of Eden’s in this moment. I suppose I will let him play his little game though, for now, although I had little intention of wandering into the depths of Asteraia though that was a point to be argued upon arrival I suppose. Why is it packs lead by wolves called Jaidah always seem to be so very…irritating and full of imbeciles who eat each other? Truly Eden’s choice of pack for his children was less then agreeable, his explanation merely seeing one eye lift in curiosity. He was correct to an extent I suppose, his children providing a line of contact to be utilised and yet….he was gambling, far more then perhaps he truly realised. Maybe this is why no one has ever yet emulated me, they lack my superior intelligence. Twenty-four I may be but it would seem still maintain much of my mind, a mind once capable of rather exceptional and cunning thoughts.
“If your ties to Asteraia exist only through one female and one litter of pups then they are not truly sufficient, especially if the female is weak-willed. Children are a weakness Eden, no matter how much you may pretend otherwise. If the Alphess of Asteraia should decide to use them against you they are easily at her disposal. Your children are your history, do not squander them.”
Besides, I hardly wanted my grandchildren, or great, great grandchildren as I suppose I shall refer to them as- growing up only to be murdered or used as bargaining chips, although I suppose my….son, will have to learn the hard way, my mind pushing the thoughts away deliberately now until the boy spoke again, my aged shoulders rolling in a shrug of sorts.
“I did not know children well when my first litter was born, in fact, I made them cry. I still make Azrael cry. You will learn what sort of Father you are in time but it may be better to…distance yourself somewhat.”
I saw no nee d to explain further, if he wanted to spend every day hugging them and telling them of their wonder then let him. My own affection was perhaps…lacking and yet I told my children of only the truths they needed to know and understand, seeing no need to dash ego or self-assurance. Let them believe they are great, in time, others will believe it too. Hyrule perhaps the last prodigy of my own teachings and really the boy was coming along nicely. He offers space to myself as I leap down from my stone. Leap was perhaps a little adventurous, it was more of a….fall with grace and a shaky landing, but the goal was achieved nonetheless as I move to stride past him, the boy following as well he should before speaking in hushed tones once more, my aged ears straining a little to hear him as if he believed saying such things to loudly may well bring down the rapture upon him.
“Nemsis? Why do you allow the mothers to name your children? Why do they all start with an ‘E’? In my day we didn’t do this ridiculous modern naming although I suppose they are not totally unacceptable. Nemsis needs to be changed however, as does Erebos- I dislike them both.”
My opinion after all, surely mattered the most, my form slowing slightly to allow him to lead momentarily although why we seemed to be heading towards the river I hardly knew. It was a flatter walk I suppose, rather than attempting to go down the ravine, my own snowy figure taking over once his direction had been assured, paws padding softly upon the earth that had lost all colour now, the stars above beginning to gleam as we wandered. It was…pleasing I suppose, though I had no desire to admit it, to walk beside my son, one whom I held some hope for yet, a true heir perhaps in the wake of Azrael and his failings, some part of myself given to enjoy his company and be told of his life in this way. I have never been capable of being an…open Father to him, instead I have merely watched over him since the day of his birth and though I still choose not to freely offer him such information I am content in this moment to at least….take pride in the thing I have created, even if I have never told him so. His comment saw my lips lift in that moment, a smirk of sorts as a chuckle hissed between my teeth.
“I have never fathered a deformed child, never, each and every child sired by myself has been perfection and yet that is the result of superior blood. When I was….younger, there was a practice amongst assassins and those born from our lineage. Children born deaf, blind, deformed or in other ways imperfect were slain before adulthood, removed from our breeding pool, it kept the blood strong and the lines pure as they should be. That is why I have never fathered a lesser child, because my blood holds no weakness. I cannot speak…wholly for the blood of their mothers, which has perhaps seen small weakness appear in some of my grandchildren- yet for the most part the blood has remained strong. If any of yours have been born….lesser, remove them, Eden- it will only do you well in the end. Kill them before they grow to old, act when they are small and vulnerable and will not cry out. It saves…..any emotion.”
Saintly. Saintly was perhaps the one and only child born to myself whom had suffered any weakness and yet it was not a weakness of birth, he had been born as perfect as each before him, more so he had caught a sickness and when he grew weak I had taken him in my jaws and done as needed. Perhaps others view it as harsh, Isola had refused to remove Sera and Haziel as I suggested yet in time they will only weaken the blood. I had done what was needed, because I have the spine to do it. At least it would seem, that Eden has the foresight to ask and the nerve to understand the price of success as it should be.
“The girl of Diveen is a pleasing thing, but of this other girl you were…foolish. Perhaps learning to control yourself in the winter may be a practice for you to endeavour upon else suffer further imperfect offspring. Eyes do not lie about parentage as coat does, eyes will tell you of her bloodlines if you are unwilling to ask though I am willing I suppose, to look upon her and them if that is what you desire.”
At this rate I would be gone all night, Zen assured to worry herself far more then she need be as I moved to step over the border now, a feeling of sorts twisting within my chest and yet one I ignored, violet eyes cast back a moment to linger upon Diveen before turning away once more and pressing further on, walking beside Eden now within the darkness for some miles until the river approached and the wide fields that expanded it came into what view I still possessed. We had gone…unusually wide, aged form faltering slightly.
“Eden- why have we come so wide? It may not have occurred to you, boy, but walking further then necessary is not particularly a pastime I wish to engage in. Maybe when you are twenty-four, should you actually live that long, you will understand.”
I offered a snort in response, eyes rolling loosely. I had been leading to an extent I suppose and yet surely, unless the boy is blind himself, he has noticed my gaze is no longer….full. Why on earth he had allowed me to wander so far out I cannot say, form shifting once more to adjust my direction again towards Asteraia before managing another sigh as Eden halted.
“Is there an actual reason we have stopped here, Eden? You cannot possibly be tired if I am still walking.”
h e y e l
The Legend
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