Waterdeep: City of Splendors

Candlekeep courtyard - 28 Hammer 1359 - Midday

Near the bench in front of the gates there are two lonely figures speaking in the courtyard of the fortress. Avowed running left and right togheter with guards and the occasional visitors.

Edelgarde - "So..are you sure of your choice?"

Kelian - "I am sorry, Ed, but...you know this is not my place. You know what i think of Baldur's Gate too. There is much more i can do away from here and the house i had here is forever gone"

Edelgarde - "I know. Noone ever remains, in the end"

Sitting next to the tiefling he puts his arm over her shoulders

Kelian - "You appointed me as a Warden and Isabella wrote my name among the Friends of Candlekeep...i will always be here for you if you need me. I am just a sending away" giving a faint comforting smile

Edelgarde - "Do you know where you are going?"

After a moment of thinking he stands up

Kelian - "Back to my love first. I will not leave her behind again and there is a place where i can bring her. Far away from all this madness."

Edelgarde - "I see"

Turning to her would give another smile

Kelian - "I promise, i will visit and be sure to bring surprises. Can't promise any tome though, you know i am a bad writer"

Edelgarde - "I am not so sure about that"

The aasimar makes a bit of a playful smile, saying nothing and looking at the horizon...

...

South of the Moonshae Isles - 5 Alturiak 1359 - Early morning

On a very small island, far away from the main routes, outside of an Eillistraeen enclave, the garden beautiful and filled with life, the nearby ruined tower the only piece of the small archipelago that clashes with the beauty of the place

Calvayas - "And where will you bring her?"

Kelian - "Is...a long story, as always. Suffice to say i earned the rights to build a special place in Waterdeep. One where maybe will be possible to have a normal life"

Calvayas - "You know that is not possible. You tend to attract troubles"

a moment of heavy silence remains in the air but in the end Kelian makes a soft sigh

Kelian - "...I have made promises, a long time ago. Before all the pain and..everything happened. A promise i wish to mantain, no matter the cost. Waterdeep offers the best possibility for that."

Calvayas - "And how do you know is going to work?"

Kelian - "I don't. But i have faith...and i am bringing Nara with me. Maybe, in time, you and all the house may move as well "

Calvayas - "..we will see, little aasimar. We will see"

The silence remains heavy for a while longer as Kelian gives a soft push of his fist on the drow shoulder

Kelian - "You will always be my Abbil. And will be sure to check on you and the others whenever i can"

Calvayas - "I am just exhausted of people leaving. My sister first, now you and taking another sister with you"

The fist slowly turning into a open hand resting on his shoulder

Kelian - "..i am not leaving you behind my friend. We will meet again, you will see"

Silence remained as the two looked at the dawning sun in silence once more, less heavy than before, that only the aasimar breaks standing up and giving the eillistraen a soft smile

Kelian - "Our search will come to an end...you'll see"

Candlekeep inn - 30 Hammer 1359

... "Do you think this letter will change anything?"

Kelian "...it was worth trying"

... "She is not the sister you remember and love ,you know. She will probably throw it away"

Kelian "...maybe"

... "Then what's the purpouse of it all? hope? or self satisfaction?"

After a long silence, the aasimar looks outside the window, the dawn has passed and the morning sun peeks through the glass. The forest can be seen far into the horizon.

Kelian "..Maybe nothing will change. Maybe this pain will never go away. Maybe she will let the corruption around her make her fall further away from her ideals. Maybe i am just a naive idiot, as Alari says...but i simply wanted to see if she was still there. Still in her."

... "But she only further attached herself to her delusions. You know what her fate is. I revealed it to you myself"

Silence fills the air once more, the aasimar looks a bit down as takes a deep breath trying to ignore the words he just heard

Kelian "...you know only the most likely outcome. The future is not written in stone, and you know it."

... "When will you accept the truth. The gods have a design for each of us. Everything unfolded so far just as i told you. Then why you keep refusing?...you know it will end well for you"

Taking a deep breath the aasimar takes up his belongings, the pack ready and the room again tidey and clean after his prolonged staying

Kelian "..is it that wrong to wish for your friends to be well?..is it that wrong to hope that the people you love will have a good life?"

... "If it makes you suffer?...yes, it is. You know what will happen if you don't detach yourself from emotions."

Kelian "As i said, is not set in stone...either way, you should know as well as me. I will never see her again. This is where i draw the line with this part of the Coast..and she will never leave her village, nor i will ever be back near the Glimmerwoods again"

... "I wonder who are you trying to convince; me or yourself...but you will have an answer to your doubts only with time"

The aasimar was about to counter but instead he shutted up, walking out of the room in silence to stop and look at the room one more time, before talking to that voice that guided him through all his ordeals in those years

Kelian "You should start consider the viewpoint of mortals, one of these days."

... "Mortals are falacious, and you know it far too well now...but i am not doing this conversation with you again"

Kelian "Noone is perfect." is his only comment before continuing "..but was not what i meant. You fell in love with a mortal once. You should know how hard it is to let go...so"

Making a soft smile he walks out as he says

Kelian "I am glad that you are with me in this moment"

Silence is the only thing that remains while he walks down the corridor and out towards the world

Waterdeep - Remnants of House Isvan,Trade Ward - 19 Eleasis 1359

Entering the ruined keep the aasimar looks around, a elegant young man with golden and blue robes with a tiara on his head, watching and walking besides him

Page: "As our Lords decreed, this structure now is yours to use as you see fit so long you keep the terms of the agreement you signed"

at the same time, maybe because of the fresh air rolling in from the entrance or the simple presence of the pair, the rotten wood of a table gives in, causing a little ruckus as the plates on top of it rolls on the floor on the crash

Kelian:"...i surely hope they will mantain also their part of agreement. I am not even sure if my funds will be enough to pay for all the repairs myself"

Page: "Are you questioning our wise lords?"

The aasimar sighs

Kelian: "Sarcasm and jests. Ever heard of them? Anyway, i will hold my promise. I always do"

Page: "Very well." then taking from a pouch a key he handles to the Lathanderite "This is the passpartout for the whole place and the carpenters guild will send his best craftmans later today. You may.....let your companion enter, if you wish"

After rolling his eyes, Kelian simply nods and let the man be on his way. While contemplating the main hall a hooded figure drapped in white and amethyst robe approaches from behind slowly and gently wrapping her delicate hand in that of the Aasimar

Naraviel: "So this is where we will live?"

Turning to her beloved he makes a wide smile

Kelian "Live, study,work, have a family and well,everything my dear. It will...require some work, yes." looking again around "..lots of work" admits with a soft sigh but then turns to gently wrap his arms around her "but i have no regrets. You?"

she gently rests her head against his chest as looks around

Naraviel: "None my love"

Smiling wide to her, he gently squeezes the woman in his embrace before turning to the place again

Kelian: "Is not Dawn's Rest...but i promise, it will feel home soon enough and you won't have to go under cover forever. I am sure of it"

They silently looked at the place a moment longer hand in hand before the man moves , walking along the main hall and saying

Kelian: "I have to work directly for the Lords now. Is not...too different from what i always done"

She squeezes his hand a little in concern as he stops a moment to look at her

Naraviel: "Are you going to be alright?"

He smiles and gently hugs her again, was hard for him to let go of her for more then few minutes when she was so caring

Kelian: "I will always come back to you, my heart. You know i promised. No matter what or how, i will"

The two remained in silence a bit longer looking at the place when they heard someone knocking on the doors upstairs.

Kelian: "I guess these are the carpenters. I have to go now my dear. Will be back to you soon, alright?"

was about to turn but she holds him a little longer. He smiles to her and squeezes gently but then moves slowly away from her and towards the stairs, letting her explore the place at her leisure.

After is out of ears and eyes from her, he takes a little deep breath as he always tries hard to look strong in front of her, trying then to focus away from his own doubts and thoughts says walking towards the entrance

Kelian: "It's time to begin i guess"

Waterdeep - Sun's Rest Inn - 30 Tarsakh 1360

The keep looks completely different now, almost peach new, and has become the jewel of the trade ward. The aasimar is gazing at the festivities for Greengrass going down below on the streets with a thin smile, yet his mind lost in wonders. His beloved resting in their small apartment carved out from the east wing of the palace. All seemed going great for the first time in a long long while

...: "How long will you pretend, Kelian?"

hearing that familiar voice the smile slowly disappears and he sighs leaning on the handrail

...: "You know this peace will not last.You should prepare for the coming storm"

Kelian: "..there is always a storm. There is always a problem. There is always an almighty foe...." makes a loud sigh ".i faced so many...how many more times you want me to fight?..will you be satisfied only when i die?"

...: "..is not like that and you know it. You have always choose to fight, from the very first time in the southern Coast years ago. Do you remember how you caught my attention?"

at those words, the aasimar closes his eyes and a grimace of pain cross his face as his hand goes to his chest a moment. The wound long gone with only the scar remaining, but still his brain and memory remembers that pain far too well, both physicial and spiritual

Kelian: "..don't you dare..." whispers more grimly but then calms a little "..i still suffer"

...: "...after all this time, still can't let go those that betrayed you "

Silence hungs heavily in the air for a few moments, the smile completely disappearead from the man face as the other voice presses on

..."You met an overwhelming foe. A warlock famous for their vileness that kidnapped a bystander. Everyone else wanted to ran,cower or bargain with them. You, did not. You stood your ground and fought for that person. That was your choice, i may have whispered and encouraged you, but i never forced you to do anything that you didn't want"

Slowly leans down on the handrail, his mind going back to those days of when he knew an happines that, even now, he never really felt again.

..."I guided every step of yours from then onward to reach the best outcome possible. So that you would had been prepared to the challenges to come"

Kelian falls quiet now, looking down at the merry streets in silence

...: "To reuse the words of who hurted you the most, hoping it will get a new meaning; you brought all this on yourself. Every friend,every riches, your beloved, this home..your soon to be childrens"

Kelian: "I know."

...:"Then let go of the past. Prepare for what is coming."

At first no reaction is given as he simply watches people enjoys themselves along the streets, leaving without a care in the world as if everything they had lived in the past meant nothing, as if this Era of Upheaval should last forever. For a moment, he found himself envying them. The aasimar shoulders plops a little

Kelian: "i am so tired..."

..."I know...but this will be the last time. You'll see"

No answer came back and no more that voice talked to him. He knew far too well the meaning and the words of his ancestor, but the sounds of days passed echoed strongly than reason..and for him, the merryment ended that day.

Waterdeep – Sun's Rest Inn – 14 Kthorn 1362

Climbing quietly up the stairs of the tower, he couldn't help but look at the childrens in his arms, giving them a warm smile. It still felt strange to him, having endured so much to reach this point. These two new little beings, not older than a few days, had managed to wash away most, if not all, of his past from his mind. To him, they were the most precious and beautiful things in the world, second only to his beloved.

Finally reaching the summit, he walked onto the balcony to the familiar view of the sleepy city still enveloped in the night. The stars and Selûne were slowly disappearing as the darkness began to fall away completely. He cradled the two newborns in his hands quietly and said:

"This world will not make it easy for you... Sure, easier than the past, but not easy nonetheless." Gently squeezing them in his arms, he added, "My little Amelor, my precious Aurora. I promise you, this world, while scary, is full of beauty... and I hope you will manage to see all of it with as little hardship as possible."

For a moment, the past called to him again—the voices of those left behind or who had taken their own path. As he took a deep breath to silence them, he continued, "...but even if life will be hard, even if it will be painful, I promise that I will always be by your side, no matter what."

Gently squeezing them one last time, he turned towards the dawning skies, letting the little ones see the vibrant colors as they faded to make way for the Morninglord.

"There is so much i wish to show you, and so much i hope you will experience and see...I don't know if you will ever manage all of that and i still wonder what paths you will take. I hope one of you will be smart as your mother thought" adds playfully, lightly, he never felt so light in a long long time.

The little pair began to move a little and complain maybe for the light slowly enveloping them or the cold. He was never good in understanding what was wrong, Naraviel was definitely better than him. But he knew how to calm them down a bit.After many years of silence, Kelian closed his eyes, going back to cradle his children, and began to sing a song of dawn—for them and for his lord—in hope that he would protect them as they slowly go back to sleep..

Fields of Harpshield Castle – 40 miles from Waterdeep – Uktar 27 1378

Bloodied still from the last battle, under shock and still in pain, the aasimar slowly dragged his feet towards the road. It was hard to focus, it was hard to understand even where he is precisely. The war was just over, but he had barely escaped death...again. Not even the thought of his family back home could calm him this time, not after what happened.

While a raging river of emotions invested him, a familiar voice spoke

... :"..what were you thinking?"

He kept walking, trying to ignore the voice completely this time

"I told you -so- -many- times to leave your emotions aside. I told you that this fight would had proven finally your worth...and instead you waste it all. You have let them have the best of you. Your dead comrades can confirm"

Kelian snaps turning to face that voice "How dare yo-" but before he could finish the sentence, the solar stops him with a flutter of wings forcing him to cover his face from the sudden air current "When will you learn? look at all you have done, all the people that have seek your guidance and protection. You were a warrior meant to lead them and aid them" the voice grows angered "I don't know what i did wrong, but this was the last straw. After what you have done, you will lose my blessing and i will stop manifest to you. You can consider this our last conversation"

Kelian "..why am i not even surprised. Selfish. Prideful. You must be blind to not notice how much similar to the people you spited few minutes ago are.." points his right finger accusatory to the angelic giant "You may not care for the lives of those that dies -every- -single- time you send me to a god forsaken fight. Always bigger, always fiercer but unlike you, every single time I have to deal with the pain.I have to deal with the void their death leave or the pain of their knife behind my back.If wasn't for you, if wasn't for everything that this road leaded me too, i could still be at the Halls. I could still..." grits his teeth, both in pain and frustration, knowing fat too well that his voices falls on deaf ears and with disgust he steps back "I don't care for what you want for me, no reward, no title could ever balance this pain. You want to disappear? FINE! this way you will not plague my life anymore. MAYBE ths way i will finally have a normal life. MAYBE i will not lose this family that so hard i managed to mantain despite your efforts.You may be done but I am the one that close the door so see to disappear from my life!"

the angel this time shows anger and grab the aasimar for the collar of the cape,raising it effortlessly for one meter above ground "You have no right! every time i have leaded you to the best path to REACH this point. To even HAVE a family to return to. If wasn't for me, you would have died that day on those Snowpeak mountains! wasn't for the goddesses and gods that took interest in you, you will have been dead long ago!" the spiteful face turns swiftly to one of frustration and tiredness "I mistook you for a leader back then. For someone that could lead people to a brighter future.They mistook you for a hero.We all were wrong it seems..what a waste of time"

Something snaps in the aasimar mind and, furiously, Kelian reaches with both his hands to the angel neck and placing his feet on the chest of him pushing with all the strength he is capable of, catching the solar by surprise and yelling while pushing him back "AT LEAST I KNOW WHAT I AM FIGHTING FOR! YOU DO NOT EVEN FIGHT FOR THEM, YOU FIGHT FOR WHATEVER TWISTED DESIGN YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE" managing for some miracle to force the outsider to his back and blocking him with his knees on the ground and pushing his body on the torso "SINCE YOU CLAIM TO BE SO MUCH WISER, SINCE YOU CLAIM TO BE SUCH A GREAT BEING, WHY ARE YOU PLAGUING MY LIFE AS SUCH?! WHY ARE YOU NOT SPENDING YOUR TIME FIGHTING DEMONS OR ROAMING THE UPPER PLANES WITH YOUR KIN!?" pulling him then closer to yell at his face while staring in those topaz like eyes " I TELL YOU WHY, BECAUSE YOU ARE ALL ALONE! NOT EVEN YOUR PEERS WANT YOU, SO MAKE EVERYONE A FAVOR AND JUST DISAPPEAR INTO NOTHINGNESS AND LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The solar looking up, despite the harsh words sees the aasimar crying, his far far related blood of his own..crying like a child.Leaving him even more confused-After few moments, Kelian let him go without saying a word and stands up, turning his back to the celestial, walking down the plain and towards the road again. The celestial remains buffled few moments again before saying more collected but without standing up

"..maybe, one day, you will finally understand why i did all of this. Maybe, one day, you will understand why you had to go through all of it..." says while slowly stands up, calmly as looks at the back of the aasimar that is getting further and further away "..but afterall, you are just a mortal. This day, you have lost it all...and you wil lose more in the future" Kelian turned to yell one more time but before could say anything, the figure disappearead, leaving only few fluttering feathers in the air. Closing his hands into fists, the aasimar grits his teeh with that unquenchable rage tormenting him. After few more moments, takes a very deep breath, calming down, as turns once more, the city far ahead in the distance, where his beloved and his children are waiting for him.

[END OF PROLOGUE]