Chapter 7: Cobalt

Cobalt gently lifted Liadrin and carried her back to the carriage. Her limbs began to grow warm. And this is why I didn't want her to exhaust herself. One of the first things he had trained Liadrin in was using her control of flames to keep her body from heating up the environment around it.

He focused his will and covered her now scorching limbs in a small layer of supercooled air - something he could easily maintain for a long period of time. As he glanced up all he could make out on Arestil's face was curiosity.

Fort seemed impressed with a wild grin on his face, and his Sword Saints were all gob smacked as well.

Cobalt gently set Liadrin on the seat in the carriage before re-emerging. He willed the air to lift him and floated up to Arestil, "She is still training, hence my request to remove that one clause about collateral damage."

Arestil began laughing. Not a laugh of enjoyment, but a nervous laugh that bordered on the maniacal. "That was…I don't even know how to describe it! She could obliterate an entire town! I bet that beam of fire could easily demolish a keep's walls. Armies, wiped away in moments!" He smiled nervously at Cobalt, "This can change the balance of power in…so many ways. I dread to know what you can do, being her mentor."

Cobalt nodded and gestured behind him, focusing his will and feeling the air respond to his commands. Unlike Liadrin, who conjured her flames from her bestial nature - a fortuitous side of her curse - Cobalt had to rely on air being present.

Thankfully, that wasn't an issue except in the most extreme of environments. He narrowed his focus to a single thought.

Scour.

The air immediately gathered behind him and formed a vortex that swirled with such ferocity and force that the carriage was pulled towards it slightly. He didn't look at the swirling winds, instead focused on Arestil. "I have more refined control, but make no mistake…I could obliterate armies if I desired." To demonstrate, he willed the tornado to travel away from him and expand.

And expand it did, until the entire horizon was naught but a swirling, slicing wind of destruction. After a few seconds, Cobalt ceased the magic and the air returned to normal - the shredded and torn grasslands settling to the ground once more.

Arestil cackled once more, "Unbelievable! And you two are not sworn yet? This…changes everything." He switched from a sitting position to a kneeling one and bowed towards Cobalt, "I need you two in my court. With you at my disposal, I could take over the entirety of Thori'din Talo…I could be Emperor of The Dark Crescent." He looked up, "Of course, my magi would be well compensated and respected. What do I need to do to convince you?"

Cobalt alighted atop the carriage and sat next to Arestil who shifted back to a sitting position facing him, "I don't want much." He gestured down, "She is like me - but only recently became beast-cursed. I desire to only do three things," He held up three fingers to emphasize, "I want to keep mentoring her in magic. I want to mentor her in dealing with her curse." He lowered his voice slightly, "And, in all honesty, I want to court her as well."

Arestil's expression turned to one of curiosity, "I see…she is quite beautiful."

Cobalt shook his head and lowered his hand, "It's more than that." He stared into Arestil's blood-red eyes, "I have been chased down, beaten, almost executed, and scorned throughout my life…She met me randomly within the Scorch Wood and didn't judge, didn't scream, didn’t run away. She just accepted the situation and treated me like a person."

Arestil rubbed a ring on his finger - a black band with a sapphire gem embedded in it, "I know the feeling. Outside of my homeland, I have experienced such hatred myself - though obviously not to the same extent, being of noble lineage." He looked up at Cobalt, "It sounds like she may be the first person to actually give a damn about you that you've experienced since your curse manifested. Don't mistake her kindness for fondness."

Cobalt nodded, "I am well aware. There's something more than that. I feel a connection. Perhaps it is the beast-curse that makes me drawn to another of my kind."

Arestil shrugged, "Perhaps it is the gods’ way of ensuring that your curse does not spread too far into the masses. I have heard that it is passed along by parentage."

"That's what they say."

Arestil stood and offered a hand to Cobalt, which he accepted. As Arestil began towards the ladder Cobalt grinned and gestured as the air lifted the two. Arestil smiled broadly as Cobalt set the two of them on the ground gently.

Fort came up to the two, "My Lord, we really should continue. It's getting on to nightfall, and - no offense to you, master mage - your two new companions stink." He gave Cobalt a quick grin before reaching out to hold the carriage door open and assist Arestil in clambering in.

Cobalt joined him and was pleased to see Liadrin had not ignited the carriage - the small sheath of air surrounding her limbs still kept them cool. Arestil slid sideways slightly on his bench and patted it, "I don't mind sharing a seat - the scent doesn’t bother me. I obliterated mine from too much moon powder."

Cobalt sat next to him, "The drug?"

Arestil nodded, "Excellent for seeing the near-future; but you pay a dear cost in one of your senses. I lost my sense of smell - thankfully it wasn't my eyesight or hearing." He grinned, "It's how I took control of Aran'Danil Falan. I was the youngest child, now I'm the only child. And my father…well, let's just say that he and my mother aren't an issue."

Cobalt understood immediately what the implication was. He is a dangerous man; crafty for sure. I best keep my wits about me. He looked at Liadrin. Ultimately, it's her decision, but I should investigate this opportunity further. Cobalt smiled at Arestil, "Do tell more about your home country, I'm quite intrigued. And if we are to travel there in the end, it would be good for me to understand the political climate."

Arestil finished striking out the collateral damage clause in the contract before setting the parchment down to dry. "Well," he began, "The eldest child inherits. Blood Elves aren't the most plentiful of the elven races - but we are the longest-lived, healthiest, and most conscientious of our kin and cousins. For that reason, we are often defaulted to as the ruling class. My father is Erestol the Black, for his skin as black as night - not for any foul deeds I assure you. Our family - the Falan family - has ruled over Aran'Danil Falan for millennia. There are several other city-states within what used to be The Empire of Thori'din Talo - The Dark Crescent in your tongue. We are fairly civil as of now, but wars brew up every now and again when another of the less evenly-tempered elves takes control."

"What did you do to your siblings?

"I was able to, through my use of moon powder, see which lords would need husbands and wives for their children. I then engaged in some political machinations and book-keeping shenanigans to make our city-state seem less profitable. After that, it was simply a matter of playing matchmaker until my siblings all jumped ship. I then paid for my parents to have a lovely estate on the outskirts of the city. When I inherited, I made the city prosperous once more."

"Quite the devious scheme."

Arestil shrugged, "I did what I needed to in order to obtain power. If my siblings were smarter, they could have seen what was going on. The downside of living a long, long time is that one can become decadent and lead their city-state into decline - hence the occasional uprising where one of the younger elf races takes over and goes to war."

Arestil gestured with his hand in a circular motion, "The cycle repeats itself every couple of decades. Except for Aran'Danil Falan. My city-state has been under my control for the past three hundred years. Prosperous, well protected, and influential." He grinned at Cobalt, "With a powerful mage duo at my side, so much could be accomplished."

Cobalt nodded and the elf continued, "Your air and her fire could obliterate entire counties, let alone armies. Imagine it - us coming in to 'save a city-state' from a rebellion, only to instate a puppet ruler under my command. I could easily incite uprisings in other cities to repeat the process." Arestil grabbed the bottle of wine and took a swig, offering it to Cobalt after. Cobalt took the bottle and drank as the Blood Elf continued, "Twenty years - give or take a decade - and I could be de-facto emperor of Thori'din Talo."

"You've got one problem," Cobalt said after downing some of the dark, acrid red wine. "Liadrin and I won't live past fifty." He was referencing the other side of being beast-cursed - shortened life spans. "What happens to your kingdom when we both are gone?"

Arestil grinned, "I was wondering when that would come up." He sat upright and reached into a pocket, pulling out a small pouch which he upended into his palm. Four larger Miracle Seeds - not as big as Cobalt's gem from The Magister - sat in his hand. "These Miracle Orbs are powerful enough to turn back the wheels of time. Reverse your age but retain your memory, experiences, and power…this was to be my last offer if I couldn't convince the two of you to swear to my court. I know it works on beast-cursed, as I’ve seen it with my own eyes."

Cobalt's eyes widened upon hearing this. I…don’t have to die? The thought had been on Cobalt’s mind since he had turned twenty-five just a few days prior, knowing his life was half over. He had come to terms with it and chose not to inform Liadrin so as to not overburden her with stress. He looked at Arestil, "Two questions: first, how many times can one do this consecutively? And second: how rare are they?"

Arestil put the four orbs back into the pouch and pocketed them, "All Miracle Seeds are…grown and harvested deep underground. The small ones in the chest are harvested each month. We get about thirty from each crop yield and replant all but five. Sadly the…producers don't exceed a one-to-one ratio all the time. Miracle Orbs can be harvested each year. As for the ability to use them consecutively to be effectively immortal…" Arestil smiled broadly, "How do you think us Blood Elves live the longest?"

Cobalt narrowed his eyes, "So you aren't longer lived than other elves?"

Arestil nodded, "Correct. All elves, regardless of type - Blood, Forest, Ocean, Sun - live until around five hundred years of age. The difference between us, Humans, and Smallkin is that our appearance remains relatively the same as when we turn thirty." He ran a hand through his short hair, "I think the longest-lived Blood Elf was around eight thousand years old? Then he just didn't use a Miracle Orb because he was sick of living."

“How do I know it will work on a beast-cursed multiple times?”

“The longest-lived Blood Elf I mentioned. He rose to power after killing his family in a rage when his curse manifested. I know for a fact it works consecutively.”

"Are there any others that are bigger or more powerful than Miracle Orbs?"

Arestil shook his head, "Not that I know of."

Cobalt shifted on the seat, "I think the idea of having two immortal, beast-cursed magi at your disposal who seemingly defy the laws of the curse would be quite the tool to keep people in check."

Arestil chuckled, "Ah, so you saw through that little bit of subterfuge and future-planning."

"I read some books at The Magister's Estate on politics. Just the mere presence of myself or Liadrin would be enough to cause someone who questioned your rule to think twice before attempting a coup. I doubt anyone would attempt to raise a finger against you. And as for my own craftiness, how do you think I survived this long?"

Arestil smiled, "You would be a most excellent advisor. So, is my offer enticing enough?"

Cobalt shook his head, "It's not my choice." He looked to the sleeping Liadrin who captivated him every time he looked at her. "It's up to her. If she agrees, I'll agree."

"That seems rather cowardly - pushing the decision onto a young woman who is still finding her place in the world."

"I'm not a coward," Cobalt growled, "But you're right. She is finding her place in the world. I know mine."

Arestil's expression changed to one of curiosity, "And what would that be?"

Cobalt stared at him and grinned, showing off his sharp canines, "I'm cursed. I'll always be cursed…but I see a great opportunity to stay alive, and who doesn't want that? You'll have yourself your two beast-cursed magi. I'll make sure of it."

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