n

n

n

"Blue, get inside,

" Syryn pointed to the interior of the carriage.

n{Syryn}

n

"What?

"

n{Kill?}

n

"No one is trying to kill you. Just get inside.

"

nThe squid reluctantly floated past him and squeezed itself into the carriage. By the time it was done bundling up its tentacles, Blue was already taking up half of the space inside. Rowan went in next and he was followed by Sebastian. The sleeping redhead took little space as he was snugly wrapped in the arms of the tall mage. There wasn't much room left for the men to even stretch their long legs so Syryn had to get creative.

n

"Guess I'll have to sit on your lap then, Rowan,

" the alchemist said as he clambered aboard.

n

"You sure about that? You don't look heavy but you are,

" Rowan replied with a smile.

n

"Then I'll sit on Sebastian. You take Luci.

"

nSyryn felt two hands on his waist and he was sat atop Rowan's thighs. The alchemist jerked and pressed his weight towards Rowan's healthy leg.

"Why are you like this? Are you so eager to tear your stitches?

" He complained.

n

"I was joking, Ryn. You won't tear the stitches.

"

n

"Oh fer **s sake, he's just eager to have ya sit on his crotch. What stitches are you two talkin' about?

" Sebastian grouched as he slammed shut the door. He was disgusted by the two of them.

n

"I tore his thigh open and stitched it up good,

" Syryn replied.

"Rowan, where are you planning to stash blue?

"

n

"Somewhere in the wilderness close to the farm,

" the blond replied.

"I can't think of anywhere else at the moment.

"

nIt wasn't a bad idea but Syryn had another location in mind.

"Do you think he would be safe inside the lost path?

" If Blue stayed hidden in the darkness close to where a rift opened up, there was no chance of the creature getting lost in the path world.

n

"Blue would know better,

" Rowan answered. His arms went around Syryn's waist and he rested his chin on the teen's head.

nIt was a nice warm feeling. Syryn felt like he was being hugged but more intimately.

"Hey, Blue, have you ever been to the lost path?

"

n{Los path?}

n

"I guess you don't know about it. I'll take you inside it when we get home.

" Syryn was starting to feel worry creep in when he thought of Alka being attacked by Blue.

n

"Rowan, I am entrusting you with the lives of my mage friends. Please protect them from Blue.

" Syryn had complete faith in the anti mage's ability to protect his friends. He knew he was asking for a lot from the man, and it showed how comfortable Syryn was in his hands.

nThe anti mage made a low 'hmm' sound in response. Syryn accepted that as a yes. He yawned realising just how sleepy he felt. There was time yet to catch some sleep and so he closed his eyes and dozed off in the bracket of Rowan's arms.

nIt had scarcely felt like a second later when Syryn was awakened.

"Ryn,

" a gentle shake of his shoulders.

"We're here.

" Syryn couldn't believe he had really fallen asleep so peacefully while sharing space with a mage killing squid. The carriage door was open and Sebastian was already walking off with Lucien in his arms. The redhead needed as much sleep as he could catch because they'd be travelling very soon.

n

"Thanks,

" Syryn mumbled.

"I'll go wake Alka. Watch Blue for me.

"

n{Syryn home?}

n

"Yes, I live here, Blue. Come on out and wait for me. I'll be back with a friend. He's a mage as well so you can't attack him. Do you understand?

"

n{Mage yes}

n

"No-kill

"

n{No-kill}

nSyryn briskly walked into the house, past the kitchen where Sebastian was bustling around with easy familiarity. The mage was making tea it seemed. Lucien was comfortably sprawled on the kitchen table with his shoes off. Sebastian had at least folded a large table cloth under the boy.

nThree knocks on Alka's door brought the plant mage shuffling out, bleary-eyed and half asleep. Syryn wasn't sure how to begin to explain to Alka just what he had brought home.

n

"I think you'll need a cup of tea to hear what I have to say,

" Syryn informed the bewildered plant mage.

"Sebastian is in the kitchen making tea so let's join him.

"

n

"Did something happen to Artemus?

" Alka asked. Syryn was struck by the strangeness of the question but then realised what time of the night it was and how suspicious he was acting.

n

"No, nothing like that,

" he sheepishly answered.

"It's just a favour that I need from you.

"

n

"Another dangerous favour?

" Alka elegantly raised his brows.

n

"You have no idea.

"

nA minute later, they were seated around the kitchen table that was occupied by a sleeping Lucien. Alka had stared at the boy and then at Syryn before shaking his head and judging him for Sebastian's sin.

n

"What is it that you need to tell me?

"

nWhere to begin?

n

"Remember the squid that was haunting rum district?

" Syryn went straight to the meat of the matter.

n

"The one that killed a bunch of mages?

"

n

"Yeah.. so,

" Syryn looked towards Sebastian.

"We brought it home.

"

n

"No, Syryn brought it home. Rowan and I have nothing to do with his mad plan to adopt such a dangerous pet,

" Sebastian waved his cup of hot tea towards Syryn.

nAlka pressed a fist to his mouth and stared off into the distance. And when Syryn opened his mouth, the plant mage held out a hand that warned the teen not to say another word.

"Let me enjoy the last few restful minutes of my foreseeable future, Syryn. I will finish my tea and make peace with death. Don't speak to me till I'm done. You owe me that much at least.

"

nSyryn carried two mugs of tea and made a quick exit. He could see Rowan facing a glowing blob of blue that was waving its tentacles in the air. The blue glow began to dissipate into grey when the squid suddenly lost buoyancy. It landed on the ground and lay twitching, and unable move.

n

"Rowan, what are you doing to Blue?

" Syryn approached wide-eyed and concerned about the squid.

nThe anti mage turned a friendly smile to Syryn.

"Testing out my abilities on it. Blue agreed to be suppressed for a few seconds.

" Rowan did not mention how he had threatened Blue when it had first refused to be used as a guinea pig. The blond intended to make sure that his powers were enough to contain the squid if it attacked anyone or tried to make a break for it. Syryn's trust in him wasn't misplaced but Rowan did not have half the blind faith that Syryn had in him.

n

"Oh, I see.

" The suppression revealed the squid's true colouring. The organic part of it was a greyish transparent colour when it wasn't pulsing with magic.

"Blue, you're quite adept at camouflage, aren't you? Black, bright blue, grey, what other colours can you do?

" Syryn crouched before the creature.

n{Rowan-no}

n

"Say please and I'll stop,

" the anti mage replied like he was talking to a disobedient child. His smile was polite, handsome, and it sent a shiver down Syryn's spine. That was how Rowan had smiled at him right after he was crushed in their fight. He still remembered Rowan's booted leg pressing into his throat just hard enough to choke him.

n{Rowan!!}

nThe anti mage stood over the squid and pressured the squid harder.

n{K-killl Rowan}

n

"You can't hurt me, Blue,

" the anti mage replied good-naturedly.

"Syryn is nice to you but we aren't all like him. I'm not asking for much from you. If you say please then I'll know that you're willing to obey me.

"

n{Please}

nIt was harsh treatment but someone had to do it; Syryn understood that. He was the carrot and Rowan was the stick. Blue was cute and friendly for now because it was in his interest to befriend the human that was willing to feed him.

n

"That's all you had to say,

" Rowan said before he removed the pressure over the squid. Blue was glowing and buoyant again. The anti mage turned to Syryn apologetically.

"I wasn't expecting you to return so fast. I'm sorry you had to see that.

"

n{Syryn Rowan kill Blue}

nAnd now the squid was sulking. Syryn handed a mug to Rowan and then patted the squid on its cold blue skin.

n

"Rowan? No way, he would never hurt a fly. He was just playing with you,

" Syryn grinned at the squid as he embraced his role as the carrot.

"Why would Rowan want to hurt you anyway? It's not like you're trying to hurt any mages.

"

n{...} Blue waved a tentacle weakly. {No kill mage human}

n

"Alka, you're finally here,

" Syryn turned to his housemate. The plant mage had his arms crossed like he was protecting himself.

n

"I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't looking at it with my own eyes,

" Alka said to them.

n

"Blue, this is Alka. Don't ever hurt him. Never. No kill.

"

n{Alka}

n

"Fuck,

" the plant mage cursed softly.

"Did it just project sound into my mind?

"

n

"Yep. I'm in a hurry so let's move it Alka. We need you to open up a rift.

"

nThe plant mage moved without asking further questions.

"You have a lot of explaining to do after this.

"

nSyryn and Rowan followed Alka while Blue trailed behind them silently. When they came to the garden, Alka tore open the rift to the lost path and they all stepped inside one by one.

nThe endless grey fog slowly swept over them under the weak light of the path. They stood before the squid who had the good sense to power down its glow. It was now just as grey as its environment.

nSyryn stepped close to Blue and whispered to it.

"I want you to hide here, Blue. Are you comfortable in this place?

"

n{Syryn leave?}

n

"I am not abandoning you here,

" the alchemist replied.

"This is a place where the mage hunters cant find you, where I trust that you won't be killing mages.

"

nBlue looked around the place, moving its bulbous head in a slow circle. {Syryn come?}

n

"No, not me.

" The alchemist was disquieted by the loneliness that Blue was radiating.

"Rowan will let you out every few days to feed you. I'll be back very soon, Blue.

"

n{Home Blue go}

n

"I told you, I dont know where your home is.

"

n

"We're attracting attention. We have to leave, Ryn,

" a low voice whispered close to his ear.

n

"Blue, stay close to this place. Don't stray. Can you do that?

" Syryn urgently asked.

n{Yes Blue knows}

n

"Good, I'll see you soon.

"

nThe squid began to change again, becoming invisible in the fog. When it moved its tentacles, there was a distortion in the air and Syryn could make out the edges of its shape.

n

"Bye Blue,

" He said it one last time before turning away to leave through the rift.

n