With the meeting over, Storm returned home to his family.
He found Aurora watching as Pyros, Pyrite and Lapis played with Orian.
"I shouldn't be more than a week at the longest.
I'm sorry for dropping you like this!" Said Storm.
She rubbed up against him in response.
"Don't worry about!!
I knew when I chose to be with you that things like this may occur!
And I still chose to be with you!
Just... be careful... alright!" Said Aurora.
Storm stroked her cheek with a claw.
"I'll make it up to you when I get back!
To both of you!" Said Storm.
Storm watched as Orian tried his best to catch the tip of Storm's twitching tail.
Completely oblivious to the fact that this would be the last time he would see his father for at least a week.
"I'm sorry that I can't accompany you, nephew!!
But these damn metallic parts are interfering with my ability to shift forms!!" Said Pyros.
"Don't worry about it, uncle.
You'll get an opportunity to help out soon enough!!" Exclaimed Storm.
"I hope so!! I'm going stir crazy sitting in these caves all day!" Replied Pyros.
"Just take it easy and heal up, uncle!! You've been through a terrible ordeal!!
Don't be ashamed to take some time off to recover!" Said Storm.
He spent the remainder of the day in leisure with his family.
When night came he had an early night as he would be expected to rise early the next morning.
At dawn, he had a light breakfast before meeting Augustus at the city gates.
The elf was dressed in a long hooded cloak to conceal his armor and weapons.
A small travel pack was strapped to his back.
Their plan was to fly out towards their forward outpost of Twin Rivers.
From there they would travel on foot to 'Wanderer's Rest', a medium sized town that was constructed to act as a waypoint between Stone Helm and Kingsport.
They would secure transport towards Northburg from there using the false identity the Matriarch had provided them.
One of her many contacts, was the son of a duke who owned a minor holding near Kingsport.
The son had abandoned his name and rank to be with a Kitsune lover.
As the news would cause great dishonor to the family, they went to great lengths to conceal that fact from the rest of humanity.
The people outside the family believed that the prince had entered a political marriage with a princess of some exotic kingdom.
As he was never fully disowned, he still had some authority and pull in the human kingdoms provided it wasn't anywhere near his family's holdings.
He secured a pass for Storm as an envoy for his family towards Northburg.
It was decided that Augustus would pretend to be a personal servant to Storm in order to gain entry into the city.
Augustus climbed onto Storm's back and a few minutes later, they were in the air.
They flew for several hours in complete silence which somehow was making the flight even longer than it actually was.
After an unknown amount of time, Storm finally spoke up.
"I can't take it anymore!!"
The Ashenari elf looked at Storm curiously.
"The flight? We can stop to rest if you like?"
"Not that!! The awkward silence!!"
"Do you consider the silence awkward?"
"Well.. yes!! For everyone else, the only people who sit in silence like this are people who are feuding !!" Explained Storm.
"If you are concerned that I am upset with you , then you don't need to worry!!
Elves like me don't hold grudges. " Explained Augustus.
"I'd still prefer to talk about something.... anything...
What do you think of the city we've built?" Asked Storm.
"It is adequate for our needs and is reasonable well defended.
With some additional time and resources, it can be further improved upon!" Said Augustus.
"That's not what I meant, what is your favorite place in the city?
What do you think of it's people?
That sort of thing.
"..."
"..."
"You haven't explored it have you?!" Accused Storm.
" 'Exploring' is a waste of time. I go where I need to go.
Wandering aimlessly serves no purpose. " Explained Augustus.
"You're wrong in that. It helps to clear my mind and ensures that I don't bite people's heads off in frustration during meetings!
I can't imagine staying sane through all of this without my family to help ground me!"
"Ashenari don't experience stress like everyone else, so we don't need to worry about things like 'burning out from work'."
"So you don't relax? Or enjoy a hobby?"Asked Storm.
"I take up a certain number of tasks each day.
When I'm done with a task I assign myself another one.
This continues until the day is over, then I return home to eat, then sleep until the next morning and repeat the cycle anew." Explained Augustus.
"Sounds like a miserable existence. " said Storm.
"It would be for most people, but Ashenari do not experience 'misery' like others. Explained Augustus.
"You surely had hobbies before you became like this?" Asked Storm.
"I remember before my transformation into Ashenari that I used to like carving wooden sculptures of animals or magical creatures?" Augustus pointed out.
"Then why don't you try and do it again?"
"I did at first... tried to maintain some of my old habits and hobbies in the beginning stages of the curse. We're told that it helps to slow down the spread of the curse.
But I dropped the habit eventually when I found that I no longer experienced joy in the task. And so I found a more productive use of my time." Explained Augustus.
"What about family or friends?" Asked Storm.
"You already asked this once before.
I don't feel any attachment to any of them.
I remember their faces, and how interacting with them would bring me joy but I don't feel anything anymore.
Not even for you, Storm. I follow your orders and do anything I can to help and protect you.
But if you suddenly perished, I would simply go on without any positive or negative thoughts. " Explained Augustus.
Storm felt a great deal of pity for Augustus. He always had a small amount of resentment to elves for using the Ashenari curse to pass off their responsibilities to defend themselves to other people.
But hearing Augustus describe what it was like to live as an Ashenari , Storm began to understand why they feared the curse so much.
He couldn't even begin to imagine what it would be like if he could no longer feel love for Aurora or Orian.
To feel joy watching his son grow up, find love and eventually start a family of his own. The only mercy was that the Ashenari couldn't even realize the value of what they had lost.
"You have my word that I will find some way to undo what has been done, Augustus!!" Said Storm.
"Many have tried, Storm. But none have succeeded. We cannot change our nature. And you need not worry about me. I am content with the life I have. As are all Ashenari!" Explained Augustus.