Chapter Text
Kalec takes a seat at the desk in his quarters. It’s the dead of night— a night following a day and a week of much commotion at the Azure Archives. Much change… And after all of it Kalec stares down at his desk with tired eyes.
And he finds himself thinking, how difficult it all is. It’s not as if he expected it to be easy— being an Aspect. But the strain on his heart and his body tonight makes him realize it all over again. That he’s not quite sure if he’s suited for this. And as that realization comes to him a new one overcomes it— a sense that, it doesn’t really matter if he’s suited for it or not.
This is who he is now.
Kalec is beginning to see clearer and clearer these days that facing these difficult times alongside his flight… bearing it all with them is in many ways exactly where he belongs. With his flight— his family— as their leader.
Although of course, his place amongst the Blue Dragonflight doesn’t quite capture Kalec’s full sense of belonging. It can’t.
Not anymore…
Opening the heavy black bound journal before him, guilt stings in Kalec’s chest. He’s been so preoccupied with his flight this past week that he’s barely had time to write. He takes a moment, to review the words already there on the page. And then, with a soft smile coming up on the corner of his mouth, and a warm feeling in his heart to ease whatever else was there, he magics a pen into his hand.
And he begins to write.
***
“What is the plan now, my Prince?”
In that particular moment, Wrathion wants to tell Kavia that the plan is for him to go to sleep and any further ‘planning’ will have to be taken care of in the morning. After today, after all that has happened he truly does not have it in him to plan, anything.
“We will keep a small entourage of agents here in the caverns,” Wrathion instructs as he looks over the humble Blacktalon camp set up down in the deepest part of the Dragon Isles. “In the morning I’ll be returning to the surface. I trust you to assign each of our forces a suitable position, as we shift our focus elsewhere.”
The elven woman nods, dutifully.
“Excellent.” With a deep breath, Wrathion murmurs, “to tell the truth, I’ll be quite relieved to be rid of this place.”
With that he transforms into his true form, and soars off.
Although he is eager to return to the bright wide open skies he has become used to in the land above, there is something about the feeling of being surrounded by the earth on all sides that suits Wrathion. Since he arrived in Zaralak Caverns he has taken to finding a secluded cave to retire to on his own at night. Or at least, Wrathion presumes that it’s at night when he does this. There is no sign of the sun— no way to tell for certain down here.
In any case, Wrathion soon lands just outside an oddly cozy looking nook in the rocky cavern wall. Complete with an excellent view of some nearby lava flows.
Tucking himself away in that little cave, Wrathion settles in, curling in on himself in his draconic form, and closing his eyes. It’s the very least he deserves, after his time here in the caverns. After all that has transpired over the past weeks… At least, Wrathion is pretty certain that it has been weeks since they arrived. Days, at the very least. Though it could have just as easily been months. In any case— all Wrathion wants now, in this moment, is some rest.
However it will not be a completely peaceful slumber, for Wrathion, on his own. Not these days. Never again, he suspects.
But he will manage.
Suddenly, Wrathion’s red eyes shoot open, as he realizes, with a sense of regret, that he was so eager for some rest he very nearly forgot something terribly important.
Wrathion shifts back into his human form. He grabs at his belt— at a satchel he wears there now, containing a simple diary, and a pen to write. Eagerly he tears open to the most recent page, intrigued to find the words shining up at him look as if they are traced in fresh ink—still nearly wet to the touch.
Settling against one of the rocky walls of the nook, with his knees propped up in front of him to balance the journal there, Wrathion begins to read by the light of the lava flows.
My love,
Upon reading the very first line scrawled at the top of the page— Wrathion pauses there. Allowing the quality of those two simple words— the careful yet messy style of the penmanship— the sound of the voice they seem to carry when he reads them to fill up his mind. He likes those words. The sight of them, the sound of them. He’s certain the very concept of them will help him sleep tonight. Although first he ought to read the rest…
In our time apart I’ve tried not to bring it up too often… I know we’re both busy with matters of great importance to our flights, and I’m certain it’s something we both understand without having to mention it each time we write to one another… but tonight I feel as if I have to just, get the words out… I have to tell you— I need you to know— that I miss you terribly, Wrathion.
Again, Wrathion finds himself pausing on the words. He adjusts the book in his grip a little closer, reading on…
I know we will see each other again before too long but I find myself wishing the time away. I’ll be going to bed soon, and as always my thoughts will go to you, and how I yearn to have you close. To hold you in my arms.
Wrathion glances around, as if someone might be looking over his shoulder here in this rocky hideaway, of all places. A ridiculous thought, but after days or weeks or perhaps months of traipsing around these caverns with Sabellian often on his heels he has become especially careful about keeping his correspondences with Kalec to himself. Especially when words like ‘yearn’ come up. It’s not as if Wrathion is particularly shy about these things, but he can’t help but feel Kalec would never say that particular word out loud to him, rather it’s something about the process of writing down his thoughts and feelings that brings these… interesting phrases out of him.
Things have changed at the Archives, since you were last here. There are a number of dragons who have joined us from across Azeroth. I’m eager to introduce you to many of them. Things seem, busier. Brighter in a way. I certainly can’t deny that it brings my great joy to see my flight reunited like this…
Wrathion wonders, briefly, why Kalec would even consider denying such a thing.
Although things will only truly feel right here for me… things will only feel complete, when I am able to return to your side. And you to mine.
Those scrawled words grip at his heart, in the moment. Wrathion reads on…
I don’t mean to make you feel like you need to rush back to me. For now I’m managing on my own. I’m certain you and your brothers are still in the middle of things down there. Stay safe my love— and keep me updated. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’m always glad to send an image. Although I’m certain you’ll all be fine without me. You have each other, after all.
“Hm…” Wrathion offers a slight nod to the journal.
It’s to be expected, I know, that we miss each other. And I know that in many ways it’s a good thing that we can spend some time apart… I think part of why I’m yearning for your company tonight…
Wrathion rolls his eyes ever so slightly.
… Is because, things have changed so much here. The Archives are changing… my flight is changing. I believe I’m changing too. It’s strange how these things affect us…
Tilting his head, Wrathion wonders what he means by that. Does Kalec mean ‘us’ as in, dragons? Or is he referring to himself and the other Aspects of the Dragonflights? Wrathion knows that due to his position Kalec is especially connected to his flight. And his flight is especially connected to him. And the idea that great changes in the Blue Dragonflight, and in his mate have been happening, and Wrathion has been stuck in this place sunken beneath the earth makes something nervous prick at Wrathion’s heart.
Though, to be fair, Wrathion has faced his own changes in the time that has passed since they last saw each other. And not just Wrathion, but the Black Dragonflight as well…
With so many changes, I can’t help but think of you. Of how to me you are this wonderful constant at the center of my world.
As Wrathion considers this, he frowns slightly. A constant in Kalec’s life? Him? While he understands well enough that their connection to each other runs deep… up until a few months ago, they hardly knew each other. Could it really be that Kalec sees their relationship in that way already? As a part of his life that’s reliably unchanging? Wrathion can’t be sure if that is very sweet of him, or perhaps a bit stupid. He decides to try to think of it as sweet for the time being.
And even if we can’t be together physically right now, I know we are facing these changes together in our own ways.
Things are beginning to calm down here, so write to me anytime. I should be around. In the meantime I will eagerly await the day I see your face again (although there is no rush).
All my love,
Kalec.
Wrathion runs his fingers along the page— the ink looks drier now. He takes a minute just to appreciate the shape of the paragraphs. The cramped quality of the words. Confident nobody is watching him, he brings the page to his lips and plants a quick kiss there. Perhaps with all his magical inclinations Kalec will have some way of picking up on the gesture. After all, these twin journals they are using to correspond are connected with his magic.
After another long moment of staring at the first line… My love … and the last line… Kalec … Wrathion turns the page, and picks up his pen.
***
As the words begin to appear on the page before him— in that lovely flourishing script he has become so used to— Kalec closes the journal tight. He wants to wait to read it. He wants to give Wrathion time to write out a response without staring at every word as it comes to him across the seemingly endless distance between them.
Trying his best to pass the time while Wrathion writes, Kalec gets up from his desk. He looks over his bookshelf, straightening some texts and rearranging some knick knacks. Not exactly restless about it… but certainly not, not restless. He goes to check out the wide windows overlooking the Archives below. It looks much more lively than he was expecting, especially considering it’s the middle of the night. Dragons are strolling through the valley, some resting on hilltops. Kalec makes a note to himself, to make sure everyone has adequate sleeping arrangements.
With the wave of a hand Kalec turns the lights down in his quarters. A quick twirl of his body, and he’s in his sleeping clothes. He goes to his desk, and picks up the book in a careful manner, holding it to his heart.
Kalec climbs into bed with that book close. He sits against the headboard, and carefully peaks in at the page that was completely blank just minutes ago— now filled with words. It makes Kalec’s heart swell with a sense of eagerness, as he begins to read.
To you— and only you— Kalec,
It brings a smile to Kalec’s face right away.
I’m pleased to say that your letter reached me well. Your journal entry, perhaps, is a better way of putting it. You know what I mean. In any case the good news is, we won’t need to communicate like this for much longer. I will be returning to the surface tomorrow, along with my brothers.
Relief comes over Kalec, as he takes this in, pulling the journal closer as he reads on…
I believe the plan is to make a quick stop in Valdrakken and briefly report on our findings before going about our business from there. Perhaps I’ll see you in the city. If not I’ll see you sometime, I’m sure. We’ll have so much to catch up on. I’m interested to hear about all that has transpired with you and your flight. To think you were traveling across Azeroth, visiting the most beautiful magical corners of this great wide world of ours to find your fellow Blue Dragons all this time, while I’ve been cooped up in a cave with Sabellian, and… others. It does not seem quite fair, does it?
Sympathy and regret strain in Kalec’s heart at that. Although he knows on some level Wrathion is merely playing with him. He makes a note to himself, that he should plan a trip with Wrathion soon. It would be good for them, to travel together.
Truly it was a necessary diversion. The journey down to these deeper parts of the Isles… It’s something I needed to do. We needed to do it. To meet it all head on… I wish I could say the things I have seen, and the way things have changed for me and the rest of my flight gives me hope, or joy, or something like that. However… to tell you the truth, I still feel rather uncertain about our future.
The sudden urge to hug his mate despite the distance between them is so bad it almost makes Kalec want to writhe in his sheets.
I don’t mean to make you worry, my dearest one… I’m certain my mind will be clearer about all this, when we see each other again. Which, as I’ve said, will be very soon. I suspect we both ought to get some sleep in the meantime. But to make things very clear, before I put this book aside and go to rest my eyes… I miss you. And I love you. Very much.
Here’s wishing us both peaceful dreams. Perhaps I’ll see you there…
Wrathion
Kalec pulls the book into his chest. He holds it there, for a long moment.
He takes a deep breath.
And he smiles wide, with the knowledge that they will see each other tomorrow, after what seems like ages apart. Tomorrow. In a way it sounds too long from now. Kalec is almost tempted to portal down to Zaralack Caverns and reunite with his love right now. Although, there’s probably good reason to wait… It’s true, he should try to sleep.
He can wait a little longer.
Pulling out of his embrace with the journal, Kalec looks back down at the message before him, smiling softly. He wonders if Wrathion has already laid down to sleep. He hopes he has. That he’s resting well. Kalec knows that he should do the same… that he should stop combing the message before him, appreciating each line, each word…
But just when Kalec is about to put the book away, something strange happens.
At the bottom of the page, in the space left over, more of that lovely scripted handwriting suddenly begins to trace itself into the page.
Kalec frowns down as he watches the quick addition appear before him…
PS: We decided Ebyssian should be Aspect. Just so you know.
For a long, drawn out moment Kalec stares down at that simple line of text.
He waits, for a while, for more to appear. For some, further explanation. Something to grasp onto. To help him know what to make of this…
Kalec turns the page over to make sure there’s not more there. Nothing. As he realizes that truly is the end of the message his heart begins to pound in the strangest way.
And he truly doesn’t know what to think.
All he knows is Wrathion… his love, his mate… he went down into those caverns with the intention of proving himself as a leader. All he knows is when they parted ways, Wrathion saw it as his destiny— to become the Aspect of the Black Dragonflight.
So what does this mean.
What’s changed?
Why Ebyssian…? Up until just now Kalec had no idea Ebyssian was even interested in becoming the next Black Dragon Aspect.
“There will be much to catch up on indeed…” Kalec murmurs to the journal, perfectly mystified, “my love.” He sets the book on his nightstand. As he lays down in bed, he stares over at it with confusion, and concern.
And although Kalec wants more than ever to go to Wrathion’s side, it seems that at this point he must simply wait until morning.
He must try to get some sleep. Some time to dream.
And he hopes he really will see Wrathion there.