The Beast Within

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

They went back to the hut together, then Adrik returned to his hut to wait for his mother where he would direct her to the new hut.

Ceraun was to go along with Haneul and Auris to get their daily ration of food.

Haneul was skeptical about Ceraun following along and with good reason too because perhaps it was the trick of the light but Ceraun's eyes seemed like two swirling orbs of darkness.

He would not like it if Ceraun were to unconsciously attack a non-Mage soldier, he was sure that there would be very little he could do to prevent it.

"Ceraun, you can stay back this time, Auris and I will go."

"And my ration?" Ceraun asked in a blank voice, he wanted there to be enough for everyone to eat.

"I can make an excuse to the guards, they will allow it, you can come along from tomorrow." He quickly said.

Auris just stood in a corner, her usual cloak on even Noelani was yet to see her without the cloak, she only took it off when it was still about to train.

Ceraun looked from Auris back to Haneul, gears moving in his head, he kept feeling like he was missing something.

"But I do not mind coming along." He argued. "We all had the same time of training so you should be just as exhausted as I am, besides I want to see how it is." He added.

Haneul could not counter that with words without outrightly saying what he meant but he still hesitated just the slightest bit, glancing at Auris who looked like she was also at a loss for words.

"Do you presume that I'll try to attack the guards?" Ceraun asked in his usual blunt way, looking thoughtful.

Auris’s and Haneul's tense silence was enough to give him the answers he needed.

"I will not deny that they do deserve it but you should learn to have some trust in me." He teased with an old smile smacking Haneul on the shoulder.

"I'm not thickheaded, I know exactly the repercussions those actions will bring, I will not willingly put you all in possible trouble that way." He explained carefully, his voice steady.

Haneul looked to Auris for reassurance and she shrugged because they could only take Ceraun at his word.

Eventually, Haneul caved in and allowed Ceraun to come with them, he was only delaying the inevitable because they would have to make the journey everyday.

It could not possibly get worse than the first time, especially as his grudge against the non-Mages was still quite fresh.

So they started off, headed for the gates where all of the non-Mage settlements were located.

Ceraun had never been inside of one except during the enlistment and shed that had been used was merely for the purpose of the enlistment.

Their buildings were made out of sturdy wood, made properly so as to give comfort and warmth but also made with impermanence in mind.

The shed they went into was much bigger than the small one the enlistment had happened in.

There were few Mages already there, some seemed to be on their way and others were just coming like Ceraun, Auris and Haneul.

They were quick with handing out rations, most of the orphans were old faces but with the rate at which Mages died, be it from the soldier’s whims themselves or sickness or suicide, new orphans were a common occurrence.

Haneul and Auris got their rations peaceably and then Ceraun stepped up, just as with the enlistment shed the room was divided into two like the non-Mages could not bear to be in the same space as them for so long.

A wide window was carved into the wall that divided the shed and that was where he walked up to.

"What do we have here?" The guard eyed him up like he had a family and just wanted to get extra food. "A new face? Tell me, what's your last name?" The guard asked, hiding a yawn behind his hand.

Ceraun chewed the inside of his lip and that was the only reaction he had to the guard's obnoxious behaviour, he had left his hair down to hide his scar, on a whim.

"Feyrer." He mumbled.

"Aye? I can't hear you, speak up then or you would prefer to go hungry?" The guard threatened, looking irritated.

Behind Ceraun, Haneul was starting to turn a pale ghastly shade, Auris placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, clutching her package and watching the scene unfold from behind the folds of her cloak.

"Feyrer." Ceraun spoke up this time.

The soldier fussed with something out of Ceraun's line of vision, rustling sound filling the space between them for the longest time then…

"Oy! Mervyn!" He turned around to call to another soldier behind him who was also out of sight for the Mages. "Here's the lad whose father stole the diamonds…"

Ceraun felt his skin burn at the non-Mage's words, his rage absolute in that moment that he ceased to hear the rest of the soldier’s jaunty words.

Then a strange calm settled over him, deep to his bones, burning hotter than the storming rage.

He waited patiently till both soldiers had poked their fun and he was handed his food ration for the day.

When they were finally free of the shed and from the view of the non-Mages, Haneul bent over, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to catch his breath and force back the bile crawling up his throat, he had gone lightheaded for a moment because while Auris might not know the full extent of Ceraun's impulsiveness, he was well aware of it and what could have happened.

Ceraun just smacked him on the upside of his head. "I should be irked at that reaction, I told you I would be fine." He scolded, unwilling to part with the truth of how he had almost lunged for the soldier with his magic but it hadn't happened, that was the most important part.

"I know, my head just has a hard time coming to terms with that." Haneul admitted, getting back to his feet so that they could continue the journey home.