Storm was deeply agitated by what direction the topic was turning to.
Uncertain, he contacted Mimereus to ask for advice.
"I feel like you should tell them the truth now." Mimereus explained.
"How can you say that !!
You said at first that it would be best if they didn't find out!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"I did, and I would have preferred if they didn't find out!
But they've seen to much now!! If you continue to withold information, it will force them to draw their own conclusions!
Paranoia could cause them to think up even worse situations than the truth.
It's best to come clean and pray that they understand our situation. " Explained Mimereus.
And so Storm told them everything that had happened since he and Mimereus had bonded.
He told them about Mimereus's own experiences and how he had helped them in the past.
They remained completely silent as Storm confessed everything to them.
After a few minutes, his account was finished and he awaited their judgement.
"So.... let me see if I got this right!!
You agreed to house an ancient draconic specter inside your body?" Asked Razor.
"Technically, the bonding was an accident at first!!
Neither of us knew what we were doing at the time!!"
"But you agreed to undertake this task he set before you?!
And you have been actively concealing his existence from us?!" Countered Razor.
"..... Yes....." replied Storm.
Razor shook her head in disapproval.
"Damn it, Storm!! You should have told us earlier!!
Do you have any idea how dangerous this is!!
No living body is meant to contain 2 minds! This goes against the natural order!
Even if you could ignore the moral ramifications of denying someone their well earned rest, Dealing with specters is extremely dangerous!!
They are individuals who have experienced such a terrible fate, that not even death can dull their anger.
Even if the spirit was good before, the transformation to specter warps their mind and character!!
Many go mad with anger!
Other maintain their sanity, only to lose it later when the truth of their situation sinks in.
They are forever cut off from the world!
They can't act upon it or influence it, they can only watch as the world goes on without them!
Some grow jealous of the living!
Wishing to take what they consider others are taking for granted!
Others grow spiteful, wishing to make the living experience the same torment they are enduring!" Razor explained.
"Mimereus isn't like this at all! All he's done is help!
He saved my life! And he helped free us all now!" Defended Storm.
"He may be fine now! But what about 100 years from now? Or 200?
Can you really be so sure he'll still be sane at that point?" Asked Razor.
"With any luck it won't be that long!
He's just staying until we can kill the one who cursed him."
Aurora was completely silent the entire time that Razor and Storm was talking.
This wasn't a good sign.
She was shaking, but whether this was from anger or shock Storm was unable to tell.
"You.... kept this from me!!? This entire time?!" She said.
"Aurora.... If I had told you I was hearing the voice of a long dead dragon in my head. You would have thought I was going crazy!" Explained Storm.
"If you must blame someone child, then blame me!! I was the one who suggested he keep my presence a secret!!
I wanted to avoid these feelings of mistrust that I knew my presence would cause. " Explained Mimereus.
Everyone flinched when they heard Mimereus's voice echo in their minds.
Storm tried to embrace Aurora to reassure her, but she pulled away from him when he touched her.
This reaction hurt Storm more that any physical wound he had endured.
"Just.... Stay away from me!!" Said Aurora.
She turned around and flew away in the direction of the hideout. Dust'an flew after her a moment later.
"Aurora!!! Wait!!!" Yelled Storm.
"Let her go! She needs time alone to think and process this!! We all do!!" Explained Razor.
Storm reluctantly obeyed.
"We should return to the hideout. The others should be told about this development as well!
You've got a lot of explaining to do!!" Said Razor.
Razor turned to the prisoners they had saved from the Lich.
"You'd better come with us for now! Until we can return you to your own clan."
Without another word, she too took flight as well with the remaining prisoners, leaving Storm standing all alone.
Regret filled his heart as he flew back towards the hideout.
When they landed, Aurora retreated to her quarters and Storm didn't see her again for the rest of the day.
He spent the remainder of the day explaining the situation to his other advisors.
Understandably none of them were pleased with the situation, but accepted that nothing could be done about that now.
After a long day of talks, Storm returned to his dwelling to sleep.
Unlike most evenings, Aurora wasn't there waiting for him.
He stared at the empty nest, before deciding to check in on Mimereus.
He closed his eyes and concentrated on Mimereus's thoughts.
When he opened his eyes again he was in the same mindscape as he was the first time he met Mimereus.
He was sitting by himself in the far corner and was staring at the shifting backgrounds.
"Mind if I join you?" Asked Storm.
"Do as you wish. It's your mind after all." Replied Mimereus.
They sat in silence as they wrestled with their own thoughts.
"I'm sorry." Said Mimereus suddenly.
Causing Storm to look up.
"For what?"
"Causing trouble between you and Aurora. " replied Mimereus.
"It's not entirely your fault. I was the one who chose to keep it from her. I appreciate the gesture however. "
"Do you think I did the right thing? Joining with you instead of passing on like I should have?" Asked Mimereus.
Storm hesitated as he considered how to answer his question.
"I cannot tell you if it's right or wrong as I'm not the most 'unbiased' person to ask.
You remember that I too am driven by an desire for retribution?
But I don't regret forming our pact. Do you?" Asked Storm.
Mimereus shook his head.
"If I may ask, though? Why do it? Is it purely for vengeance? Or was there another motive?" Asked Storm.
"Vengeance is part of it. But it's not all that I want.
My only 'legacy' is my greatest failure. No one knows anything else about me. This isn't how I want to be remembered. "
"You seek redemption?" Asked Storm.
Mimereus nodded his head.
"Perhaps we can find it together then. You're not the only one who has made mistakes. " replied Storm.
"It seems like no matter what I do though, my decisions keep hurting others! Is this all I am?! A failure!!?" Asked Mimereus.
"You're too hard on yourself!! So you made mistakes!! Who hasn't?!"
"Problem is, Someone else keeps paying for my mistakes!!" Shouted Mimereus.
" 'I' was the one who begged 'you' to help us!!"
" I suggested you keep my identity secret!!" Retorted Mimereus.
"And I was the one who chose to act on it!! I have no one to blame but myself for this quarrel!!" Said Storm
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Storm. But I cannot accept it.
I can't just place my guilt someone else's shoulders. "
Mimereus smiled.
"I feel better though, thank you for your kind words."
Storm severed his connection to Mimereus and returned to his body.
He crawled into his nest and slept alone.
He slept lightly, and so, in the early hours of the morning, he woke up easily when something heavy and warm crawled into the nest behind him.
He turned around and saw Aurora curled up behind him.
He smiled then lowered a wing over her.