Venril
Venril could see it in his brothers eyes, Nexyl was pondering something. He knew his brother to hide things from him sometimes. Most of the time, he didn't question it, because he knew that if he got too close to the truth, he'd just be setting himself up for something far worse than he anticipated. He wondered though what his brother was up to. He could tell his brother interested in learning magick, but not necessarily for the craft's sake. He still couldn't question it or his brother because they were family and he didn't think ill-will towards anyone or about anyone. It wasn't his style. He was not about to assume the worse out of his brother, even if his gut was clenching tightly in the thought of it.
He led his brother down the long hallway, their ancestors paying no expense at making the corridors seem long and confusing as if it was just some tunnel that would lead to the outside on the other side of the mountain outside their kingdom walls. For some reason the Elves built walls around their kingdom in a world of peace, as if they knew that one day in the future war would break out and they would be forced to defend themselves with any possible structure knowing that the world would someday come to such chaos. Chaos. Why was the world coming to that? What was so wrong in the world that was stirring up turmoil as bad as rumoring of a world-wide war against nations. Why? Why has it come to that? It was a terrible thought. He loved all the creatures of Reydothe and he didn't want to use the very craft of archery and swordplay against any one of them, not to spar or to fight and kill. This shouldn't be happening. Was their laws truly that messed up and hypocritical? That wouldn't make all Elves hypocritical would it? Because he wasn't. He knew he wasn't. He was willing to give any other creature power and status and create equality for all creatures, and if creating a council was the way to do it, then so be it, he was all for it.
They finally reached the end of the tunnel into a large cavern room filled with bookshelves, tables, papers, and the occasional dust and cobwebs. It seems time has expended its hold on this room without the duties of a maid service. Venril wasn't too worried about a little dirty furniture standing in his way of obtaining some information. However, his brother seemed quite distasteful with the idea of how dirty the place was.
"Someone never ordered maid service in the last few centuries huh?" Nexyl spoke up as he brushed his index finger along a chair and then brushed the dust and dirt off of it on his pants.
Venril almost looked annoyed at his brother's comment, sensing no respect for their ancestors and too enamored with high quality life. It was a spoiled child displeased with his certain state of affairs in a new location, and Venril only thought of how much of a brat his brother was being. He sighed and took a deep breath and moved it pass him so he could move on with his tour.
"This is the Ancient Library. It has books on the history, our ancestors story, magick, the creation of the Dragons, and much more." He said enthusiastically. He looked over his shoulder at his brother who seemed to be preoccupied in a book about politics. Typical. He always did care for politics even when it always distressed him. He never understood why his brother worked so hard to achieve such knowledge. It seemed pointless to know everything and to study so hard for it.
A person needed a balanced nutritious diet, even with that of knowledge and wisdom. If you gorge yourself on just carbs, you were bound to gain weight and if all you eat is sweets, you gain cavities. There was such a thing as too much of a good thing. Venril knew he was the one with the sweet tooth, always hungry for something fun, new, and exciting. He did little studying but when he did, he put his heart into it. Never once did he half-ass his studies. He even already half of the books that were in this room before he showed his brother and he knew of the knowledge already. He just didn't stress himself out on how much he did at one time or how it affected his day. He always flowed with the wind, easy-going and calm, never once stirring unless the clouds commanded the air to do so. His brother, however, always swam against the current without complaining, never resting from the tide. He never went through with the flow, always against it and always swam underneath to know its secrets and why they were against him. Why couldn't his brother just be an element of them all. He could be passionate like fire, calm like the wind, fluent like the water, and sturdy like the earth. He knew that you had to obtain one elemental trait to be who you are, but all to be full. He understood the elements and followed them when they asked him too. Never once did he fight the elements nor argued with them.
Why was his brother so keen on learning about politics, namely the book he just looked at: battle strategies? Also what was with this obsession with the Dragons, why was he after the secrets of a beast that evolves from the personal struggle of any being on Reydothe. The book told him of the first Dragon. It was originally a lost soul who wanted to save his family, feeling helpless as what he was: a Fairy who was too small and too weak to protect others. He wanted to save his friends and family from the giant rogue beast that was going to kill and eat his small village hidden in the garden. He stood his ground and when he was almost squished, a light glowed, brighter than an Elf light for such a small creature. He grew twenty-times his size and in Dragon form and attacked the beast attacking his home. However, the battle was so tremendous for the small village, it was shattered in the garden and his family was bought underneath the rubble. Able to change his size and form he was able to realize that in the end he wound up destroying them not understanding what he was or who he was becoming. He realized that once he was a Dragon, there was no turning back and no easy way out of his situation. So he decided to train himself and any other person who became like him in order to save lives, however, Dragons have fury and despite their true heart, their actions spawn just as many mistakes as they do successes. The first Dragon was a blue type, the color representing sadness and grief but also desperation and change for blue represents water and with it comes the change water endures. He wanted to meet the Dragon, the once small Fairy, and learn more but he also understood that people fear Dragons based on the mistakes that they happen to create and probably would much rather stay away from anyone who wants to get too close, namely someone who wants to get close for the sake of knowledge and power.
Venril could care less if he became a Dragon. They were cool creatures but not necessarily a life he wanted to lead on his own. It seemed like a hard life, having to deal with the public always viewing you as an outsider, a beast, a monster. It seemed like a hollow victory. Especially, for your own kind who would much rather look at the destruction you cause then the heart you tried to show to the world, the once pure heart whose main purpose was to protect those dear and then wound up causing their deaths. To do so much with little respect. He tried, that was the point right? Yes, that was the point. Despite the effort, always look towards saving people even if you can't. Even to try and save a person is still the same as at least doing something, even if it is out of your hands. If you can't save a person, don't beat yourself up, just give them a respectful passing onto the next world and tell them before they are buried, that they will be reborn with a life full and grand.
He never helped others or saved lives for the respect from others or the satisfaction of doing something right, just that it was the right thing to do regardless of how it is viewed. He knew that if he became a Dragon, he would want to do it the right way and never turn back, no regrets. Becoming one may be based on an internal self-related resolution of completing oneself for the benefit of becoming stronger in their own way, but that doesn't mean it is how it is done. Throughout history, each Dragon was born because the person found the resolution they were seeking, whether it be to improve in knowledge, strength, or power or to become stronger so you can save others. It isn't the only way, saving lives and and knowing that despite what you do, it is meant to be whether you die saving the person or become better, you tried and that is all that mattered. No life is spent in vain. He wouldn't want to get into that kind of lifestyle for the sake of himself. He would much rather do it for the sake of others and only that. To become a Dragon for the right reasons, there is no honor in becoming such a beautiful, powerful creature if all you are doing is to benefit yourself. If he became one, he wouldn't care about being one, just how he became one and if it meant doing it for someone else's sake and protecting lives, that was all he needed to be content with the life of a Dragon. And he'd be the first to evolve for the sake of someone else's life above his own or the wellbeing of his own. That was his nature.
The very resolution growing within him, to evolve for the sake of someone else made his light glow brighter. He did not evolve right then and there based on that fact, but deep within in him, he felt stronger just thinking he could help in some way to anyone who needed him. That was all he needed, to wish to everyone a healthy, full life and if anything happens, he'd do his best to be there for them and make sure they have a chance at a life more than what fate has decided for them. He'd do anything he could to save lives, even at the cost of his own.
Nexyl
He looked over his brother just as Venril's light flickered brighter than any Elf light has before. He wondered what was on his brother's mind, always deep in thought over fantasy and a full head in the clouds. Typical. He never knew when his brother studied or if he even read one word of information of Reydothe's Scroll let alone the books in their professional library on history, politics, linguistics, and science. The only science given was the art of discovering the unknown outside their own planet as well as the elements. That was science for them, elements and the ground beneath them. Not chemicals or technological developments. Those were subjects looking into. Technology seemed fascinating to Nexyl, however, it wasn't necessary to obtain. He thought that science in general was fascinating but not for the sake of others and benefiting life and helping people, but for creating machines to help defend his own kingdom. Where was the knowledge in helping others you don't know? What good comes from that? Sure, even he knew it was the right thing to do but why would you go to such risks for your own sake? Why would you be a martyr for someone who you barely know or don't even know at all? That logic didn't make sense to him.
Light. He looked down at his own hand and his light was growing dim, one more minute and he may pass out. How long has it been since he ate? Fifteen hours it seemed. How long since he had gotten any sleep? Thirty-four. Yes, it has been over a day since he has had a good nights rest. He should go and rest before he causes any troubles for his brother or for his image as a prince. A prince's duty is not to sleep standing up and to fall on his face and get his robe dirty. He should go to bed respectfully with poise and dignity. Yes, he should go to bed.
"I think we should come back later when we have eaten, freshen up, and rested." Nexyl told his brother with a soft smile. His brother looked up from his deep thoughts and smiled happily.
"Yes brother. You need rest. Early to bed, early to rise, makes an Elf healthy, wealthy, and wise. And you are beyond wisdom, dear brother. I shall help you to your room and tell the staff you needed your beauty sleep and that I will take over any tasks in your place till dinnertime. How does that sound?" He asked his brother.
"Thank you Ven, but that won't be necessary. The court can wait a day to catch up on what's needed to be done. The court needs its rest too. Let's go then." He said with a smile.
Venril smiled back and they headed out the second entrance to the chambers, that connected to Venril's closet. Nexyl seemed perplexed by the weird teleporting portal.
"What is this?" He questioned astounded.
"It's a portal I made with magick, so I can come down there whenever I needed to know more. I can show you how to make one in your closet so you can do the same." Venil said with a smile.
Nexyl looked confused but smiled back generously. "Thank you. I'd be honored if you show me little brother." He said before hugging his brother from behind. "You know, I give you so little credit but it seems you do consider things wisely when it comes to it. You are a great Prince, and an even better Elf. I'm proud to call you brother." He said honestly.
Venril looked confused but smiled happily to hear his brother say those words to him. "Same to you dear brother. You have all my respect and love a brother can give."
Nexyl almost felt ashamed to have doubted his brother earlier but it seems his brother was just a different person than he was. If it was him who took on the tasks of foreign affairs and civil liberties, would he too have become as naive and heartfelt as Venril is now. The amount of love and compassion his brother shared was almost insufferable, but thankfully, not unbearable.
