n

n

n

"S'ryn, blondie over here says it's you that got him into an arm sling.

" Sebastian was leaning against the carriage and smirking.

nThe alchemist shrugged.

"He could've avoided it.

"

nLucien received a head pat from Rowan as he climbed aboard Sebastian's carriage.

n

"Avoided it? So yer tellin' me that Rowan let ya break his bone deliberately?

"

n

"Syryn didn't mean to,

" Rowan interjected. He looked towards the house and back at the alchemist.

"Ryn, have you locked the house down or is there someone inside?

"

nSyryn wondered how safe it was to leave Riha alone in the house. The selkie wasn't exactly defenceless but if they were being watched, it was a good time for an enemy to break into the manor.

n

"Has Salem not returned?

" Lucien asked. Salem had left home to go on a shopping trip for their alchemy business.

n

"Nope.

" An answer to both Rowan and Lucien.

nThe beginnings of a bad idea came knocking on the door to Syryn's mind. Risky, was his first thought about the idea. But the house needed security that would keep away the curious folks and kill the ones that trespassed. Yes, why not? He asked himself. A corpse tree, that was what his mind brilliantly settled on. They would require the services of a priest who would suppress the tree every month. Alka's little priest could solve both problems. As for the dead people needed to feed the tree, Syryn had a few ideas for it. The plan was starting to sound better as he pitched it to himself.

nAnd as if the universe was telling Syryn to go ahead with his plan, a rift opened up to reveal their plant mage. It was a sign from the spirits, Syryn decided. He waved at Alka and began walking towards him and further away from the others. The alchemist was aware of how outrageous his plan was, how Rowan and Sebastian would both try to convince him out of it.

n

"Alka, is Qairu still in Elysium?

" He asked the plant mage who raised his brows at the mention of the priest.

n

"He is. Why?

"

n

"Can he get us a seed of the corpse tree?

" Syryn quickly asked.

nThe plant mage blinked at Syryn.

"Us? Corpse tree?

"

n

"Yes.

" Syryn wasn't sure if Alka's level of insane was high enough to accept the idea. It was one thing to plant a corpse tree out in a forest and another to plant it right in their backyard.

nThe plant mage nodded warily.

"I think it's possible. Where will you plant it?

"

nSyryn's gaze surveyed their compound. He wasn't sure yet which area was best.

n

"Are you serious?

" Alka asked in a monotone.

"In this compound?

"

n

"It's either that or a dog.

" Syryn had harped at Alka about the dangers of a corpse tree and here he was, attempting to pitch this idea like the hypocrite he was.

nAlka took a deep breath and stared down at the ground, thinking it through because Syryn was obviously nuts. The plant mage's heart began to beat faster at the thought of a predatory plant in their home. He liked the idea. He liked it too much.

"I'll get it from him.

"

nSyryn took in the way Alka's shining eyes betrayed his cool cover. The plant mage was delighted about a corpse tree in their compound.

n

"Great.

" Syryn placed his hands on his hips confidently. He hadn't had time to reflect on the plan but it was already coalescing into reality. They would deal with the ensuing problems one step at a time.

n

"Okay, so have fun wherever it is you're going.

" Alka looked towards the carriage and its occupants.

n

"Take care of the house till I return. Don't let demons get to Riha.

"

nThe plant mage looked worried for a second.

"Is that a possibility?

"

n

"I'll come home as soon as possible, Alka. Drag Riha into the path if trouble appears.

"

n

"Right. They're getting impatient so off you go.

"

n--------

n

"S'ryn, we should spar sometime.

" Sebastian began as soon as his carriage was on the move.

"I'm impressed by how much damage ya put on Rowan. You should know that nobody has ever gotten close to puttin' anything but a bruise on him.

"

nThe alchemist guiltily looked at the anti mage.

"Like I said, he allowed it to happen so I wouldn't get hurt.

"

n

"You didn't do it on purpose, Syryn. It was my words that had triggered you. The least I could have done was minimise the damage done to you,

" the blond solemnly informed Syryn.

n

"Rowan, are you actually blaming yourself for something that not even I was expecting to happen? Are you cosseting me? Let me take responsibility for my own faults. I'm not a goddamn child, you know.

"

nSebastian was looking between the two not understanding what they were talking about. What was it that had triggered Syryn, the not child? And what did it have to do with Rowan's injury?

n

"Enough. You're both really cringy.

" The redhead glared at the two of them and went back to staring out of the window.

nThe anti mage smiled at Lucien's declaration. Syryn on the other hand was offended. How dare Red suggest that he was cringy? Rowan had the tendency to sometimes behave like an elder but not Syryn, never Syryn.

n

"Keep that up and we won't be going to Nua,

" he retorted.

n

"You're going to Nua?

" Rowan's attention turned to him.

nSyryn winced. He hadn't meant for the anti mage to find out this way.

n

"I wanted to tell you about it but it slipped my mind.

" He realised that he'd said the wrong thing when Rowan frowned. Mercifully, the anti mage smoothened out his frown and jumped straight to questions.

n

"When are you leaving?

"

n

"Eh. Well...it was a sudden plan....

" Syryn hemmed and hawed as he answered.

"So.. Tomorrow?

"

n

"Tomorrow,

" Rowan deadpanned.

n

"Tomorrow,

" Syryn repeated foolishly,

"-ish.

"

nSebastian was quietly enjoying the show. It wasn't often that Rowan ragged on someone, and it wasn't often that Syryn looked so uncomfortable.

n

"I have no intention to meddle in your travel decisions but I need to know, Syryn. You were intending to tell me about it, weren't you?

" Rowan asked as a tight smile made itself known on his face.

n

"Yes,

" Syryn immediately answered. His response was unnecessarily loud.

nRowan slowly nodded.

"Why have you suddenly decided to go to Nua?

"

n

"Someone's grandson asked me to examine his dearest grandmother since she's been in low health. I couldn't refuse the heartfelt request of a filial grandson now, could I? As a healer, I consider it my duty to go where the sick-

"

n

"Big brother is going to Nua because of me,

" Luci cut into the opening of Syryn's monologue.

"I've been feeling down so he thought it might cheer me up if we travelled somewhere nice.

"

n

"Why have you been feeling that way, Lucien?

" Asked the anti mage who was sat adjacent to the redhead.

nLucien stared at his shoes wondering how safe it was to speak about Magnus' departure.

"I miss someone.

"

nRowan looked at Syryn needing to know if an acquaintance of Lucien had passed away. It was too bad that messages could not be exchanged mentally between them.

n

"It's Magnus,

" Syryn answered.

"We won't be seeing him for a while. Lucien and I both need the distraction of a journey. I miss him too Luci. I think he misses us more than we miss him though.

"

n

"That's not possible,

" the redhead answered.

"It hurts more when you're the one that's left behind.

"

n

"Kid,

" Sebastian flicked the redhead on the forehead.

"Your precious Magnus is still alive, and he will stay that way for a long time so don't go mournin' him like he's passed away.

"

nSyryn mulled over Lucien's words. Was the boy afraid of being left by the people he loved? He had been rejected by his blood family so the trauma of that would have left a mark on his psyche.

nLucien was silent. The alchemist hadn't wanted to remind him of the missing fire mage but it was too late now.

n

"Rowan, are you sure you can catch the squid in the condition you're in?

" Syryn asked while eying his arm sling and injured thigh. The alchemist couldn't help but let his gaze graze past the place where the anti mage's manhood was hidden. His eyes lingered on it for far too long to not have had the adults notice his brazen stare. Sebastian's sly leer and Rowan's embarrassed little cough attested to the confirmation of that fact.

nSyryn didn't care. He smiled proudly at the anti mage. Rowan though surreptitiously looked at Lucien and then back at Syryn. 'There's a child in here,' his expression seemed to indicate. The alchemist shrugged nonchalantly and wiggled his brows at Rowan, and then used his curled fingers to mimic a motion that was not suitable for the eyes of children.

n

"Oh S'ryn,

" Sebastian chuckled at the shameless teen. Rowan had taken to ignoring Syryn. Lucien awkwardly twiddled his fingers like he was trying very hard to pretend he didn't understand what was happening.

n

"He doesn't get it,

" Syryn rolled his eyes at the stiff anti mage.

"He's 12.

"

n

"That doesn't make it any less inappropriate, Syryn. Don't corrupt the innocent child.

" The alchemist hadn't seen Rowan around children before. It was a revelation to him that the anti mage was not very different from a clucking hen fussing over its chick.

n

"I know what it means,

" Lucien informed them.

"I'm 12, not stupid.

"

n

"Syryn!

" The anti mage's censure was sharp.

n

"What? It wasn't me. I didn't teach him those things!

"

nRowan's eyes were serious with worry.

"Lucien, has someone been acting inappropriately with you?

"

nRed made a surprised face at the man. Syryn had already told him about Artemus and then Rowan's recent discovery of Lucien's status as a half breed. Did Rowan not know about how rampant abuse was among the demon halfbreeds? No, nobody had informed the anti mage about it because humans didn't care about why children like him became monsters. Only Rowan had put in the time and the effort to get inside a demon lord's head. But had Syryn said anything about it to the man? Judging from Rowan's reaction, the answer was a resounding no.

nRed didn't like it but he could understand the reasoning behind humanity's apathy for the suffering of half breeds. Their demonic side was violent, horrifying, destructive. The prejudice against them was justified by the experience they'd had in the past with every out of control half demonic child. Red found that he couldn't truly blame them for the fear they harboured for his kin. But how awful was it that only Rowan had tried to help one of their kind?

n

"Thank you, Rowan,

" Red seriously told him.

"I'm fine.

"

nThe blond was not convinced but he refrained from further questioning. Syryn had a feeling that a grilling would come later.

n