Sins of the Fathers (Tenebris)

Malaki had learned much with the time he spent in the Archons presence. While it was mostly thought provoking and at times enlightening. At the moment it was life changing. The archon was not just his leader, but played another important part of his life, one could say the very creator of his life.

It was a lot of information to take in. Information that stirred up a lot of emotions. But the life of a healer kept his thought from dwelling on it. There were good days, and then there were bad days. Today was such a day.

Malaki came out from a section of cave a the base of the tower on the island his tribe now lived on completely covered in blood. There was blood spray across his face and body, but what stood out most was the bloody claw prints on him. It looked like he had just come from a battle. In truth that was not far from the truth. He had just finished coming from saving the lives of some scouts from his tribe that had run afoul of monsters. Saving there lives had been a battle in itself.

Taking up a large wooden bowl he started to collect some liquid from the cool clean pool of water near the entrance.

In truth it was a spur of the moment that had lead Tenebris his desire to check upon the infirmary wing below the Citadel. The Archon was reminded after a recent session within Court of the absence of a Chief Apothecary, ever since the previous holder of such a title had perished during the Monster Scourge's assault upon the Imperium's Capital. This muse lead him to present his presence before Malaki, a young Dragon Tenebris certainly had a peculiar interest in to watch his progress and feats, it was this motive what secretly wanted the Archon in time to later appoint the young Healer to the role of Chief Apothecary of the Potentate, along with the much desired effect of keeping Malaki close to him at court.

Flanked either side by both Hastur and Seth, the Archon's personal bodyguards and Inquisitors he descended down to the caves, choosing to walk the distance rather than fly due to an attempt to stretch out his wounded hind leg and ensure its mobility and flexibility would not one day seize to prevent restricted use to be utilised. The Archon despite his guarded escort wore no garb or adornments what would otherwise distinguish his title and prestige, after all Tenebris thought that to appear before the wounded in splendour and luxury would be insulting and only lead to later dissent, to that end he appeared humble in gesture and appearance as he came before the Cave.

He noted the weary looking Malaki covered in gore near the otherwise cleansed purity of the clear pool, the Archon had to suppress a mild snicker at the thought that the glistening water in contrast to the appearance of Malaki seemed almost mockingly to the young Dragon. None the less, moving with slow measured movements Tenebris approached, his expression stoic and apathetic as his shrewd glare took account of Malaki in his rather dire blood splendour, to which Tenebris would incline his head taking perticular interest in the bloodied claw prints, "Young Healer Malaki. I see you are engaging your work as fervently as expected, I take it the poor soul was lost to us?" .

Malaki was lost in his thoughts and did not respond right away when he was spoken to. He just poured the water over his chest, the clean pure water now tainted red. As if something clicked he finally respond to the voice. "Souls....." Malaki said with a tired voice and turned to see Tenebris with his personal guard that often trailed him as if they were the Archons shadow. Malaki never got to learn there names and made no attempts in the past to even talk to them. They were of the military caste, not like him. Were he sought to preserve life, they only knew how to destroy it.

Having grown comfortable with Tenebris's presence over the past few days Malaki would have addressed him more casually. But there were social protocols and to many eyes and ears were present that would probably frown on it. "My life has purpose again lord Archon". Putting the now empty bowl to the side Malaki lowered his chest and extended his wings in a bow. "My heart is both sad and happy". Sitting back upright to look at the Archon with his goggled eyes he added. "Sad that such suffering exists in the world that dragons like me are needed. But happy that I am indeed needed and finally of some use to my tribe".

"The outlook of the patients in question are..... Promising. I controlled the bleeding with the help of other healers and cauterized the more serious wounds. But they still have a tough journey to recovery. The greatest danger to my patients now would be infection setting in along with fever. Still, we will have to wait and see." Looking to the mouth of the clinic entrance Malaki turned back. "Please feel free to visit them. Flesh can heal, but the mind is another thing all together. I think it would do them good to see you lord Archon. Your presence would inspire."

"My shift is over but there are other healers present to tend to the injured. I am afraid I must beg your leave as I must address some private matters". Private indeed, as of late so many forgotten memories from his youth were returning to him. Memories that strangely enough centered around some locations in the Citadel. He had been here before as a hatchling. This raised questions and Malaki's inquisitive mind wanted answers, or something akin to it.

Tenebris regarded Malaki through his shrewd apathetic visage as he listened intently. "Ah, grand to know we haven't lost them yet then". While the Archon spoke matter of factly, it was truly a relief to hear not another of the Nightwing kin had embraced Nimbus's grasp, they couldn't afford to even lose the lowest of their fold given their withering numbers. It was clear to the Archon the excessive exertion what Malaki had recently under gone, as the young Dragon appeared worn and fatigued.

Tenebris give a nod at the thought of entering to visit the wounded, but truth be told, Tenebris was no inspiring presence himself, scared and disfigured the Archon thought he may of been the last Dragon who would be welcomed to raise morale of causalities, yet there was wisdom in Malaki's words, that if he appeared before them it would give them hope that even the Archon was willing to see to the well being of those who served.

Tenebris strode forward towards the infirmary before turning once more to Malaki as the young healer was about to retire and dismiss himself. "Private Matters? Please, Malaki, if you need assistance perhaps I could be of some aid". The Archon narrowed his glare upon the disturbed expression of the Healer, "You know you can speak in confidence with myself, your skills are perhaps one of the greatest assets within our Tribe, if something troubles you, I'd make it a personal point to remedy such, it would be an affront to our Tribe if you were not performing your best due to matters beyond your control". While Tenebris remained stalwart and intrigued, Hastur's expression was one of suspicion at the note private matters, after all to the Inquisitors nothing was ever considered private.

It caught Malaki off guard to hear the Archon speak so plainly in front of his personal guards as such conversation was normally reserved when they were alone in private. But with the narrowed eyes of the archon and his personal guard he could not help but realize the mistake of his words. With rank and position not only came power, but responsibility. Malaki was exhausted from the said responsibility, but with his position, only now he realized there could be no private matters. Normally he would know otherwise, but mental exhaustion created lapses in judgment. Medically he understood it from school. But he doubted others did. It could create a false impression of his intentions. If any power came with his position he would have to learn it in the future.

Sighing Malaki spoke and laid it all out. "If we are to be honest, candid, and forthright with each other…..very well". Malaki flicked out his tongue in the direction of the guard and took in all the information that came with it, very much like how a monitor lizard would with its forked tongue.

"As you know, I am adopted". Malaki said lowly. "Its no secret as I told you before Tenebris". Malaki spoke plainly now as he would normally do in private with the Archon. As his tribal leader started the casual conversation and spoke his mind, Malaki figured he could as well as social etiquette demanded.

"I am adopted. I never thought much about my past as whoever my birth mother and dad were, they made it clear they did not care about me as I lived on the streets back in the capital. But ever since coming to this tower I have been". Malaki paused to choose his words carefully. "Been plagued with dreams of my past and déjà vu". Malaki went quiet. "I think I was born here. My birth mother from what memories I can gather was as white as fresh fallen snow and had blue eyes. But her left for arm was fused to her body. A birth defect I believe. I had brewed a potion the other day that could make my mind more lucid and receptive to the memories. I don't think I will have peace until I know how I am connected to this tower. How I am connected to your study and that locked up door right next to your living quarters."

Tenebris seemed to sober at Malaki's words, while the change in his expression was minimal for one with a shrewd determined understanding of the Archon's visage it was clear to see the transition from the usual solemn stoic countenance of his features into a slight grimace. Almost instantly at the first mention however of the Albino Dragon, it was the Inquisitors Hastur and Seth what reacted with prominence, each of them tensing and Hastur even snarling under his breath in an animalistic manner baring his fangs. Tenebris craned his neck forward to Malaki, his eyes narrowing as though how a scholar would examine something of interest under a magnifying glass. The Archon would then give a single thump of his long serpentine tail across the floor as a gesture for Hastur and Seth to stop their scrutiny and reactions. Inclining his head to the left in a tilt, the Archon remained silent for a moment, his internal thoughts musing over Malaki and his course of questioning.

The Archon could silence the young healer with a command and simply ensure ignorance, yet Tenebris had thus far made no attempt to truly hide Malaki's parentage from him. The Pale Dragoness was a haunting memory of the past but one which the Archon had dealt with accordingly, even if their past was sordid and twisted. The contempt which Tenebris felt for the White Dragon was assured with with his dominance over her in the end, and while it was commonly refereed to an an unspoken heresy to mention her, it was ultimately up to the Archon and not the Inquisitors to ensuring the legacy of the past. Attempting a soft smile, which visually failed due to the mutilations upon Tenebris's visage he continued to regard Malaki. "Tis' true, that I cannot deny, that the Pale one is your birth mother. I know the answers to the questions you desire, but ignorance might be a bliss. I will answer some of such, but note it is also my privileged to refuse to answer should I feel the need. Yet anything I do not answer, you are free to speak to the servants who are not under any oath of silence like my Inquisitors before you".

Tenebris's desire was two fold, not only did he not want to answer every question personally as a matter of pride and his own hubris, there served a second purpose, should Malaki seek out knowledge from the servants, or rather their true purpose as slaves. The Inquisitors can shadow such, and see which of the Lesser members of the Imperium still hold the Pale one in high regard or sympathy to her past revolt. "So then, speak in confidence".

Malaki tensed up at the snarling of the other dragons. His eyes once full of life and glowing light now flickered faintly like the dying light of a candle clinging to breath. He saw many futures in that instant that resulted in his death, or being beaten up by dragons to stupid and savage that did not think things other then "I strong, you weak". but death did not come and the failing, flickering light in his eyes slowly resumed there steady glow. Yet some images of dragons bowing and calling him "the one true prophet", remained. It was a evil future that he tried to resist. A future that had shown itself more then once.

The sudden sharp thump of a commanding tail on the ground was the cause of his continued existence. So many paths in the spider web of life and choices flooded his eyes. Malaki grew a bit distant as his eyes did.

"Ignorance might be bliss as I think I know the answer to the questions I want. So I shall keep the questions simple and skip the song and dance as I not in the mood for games." Pausing at that he looked in his leaders eyes with his own unusual glowing ones. While Malaki enjoyed games of wit as much as the next night wing he was not in the mood today.

"She is my mother, but who is she to you. Who are you to me?" It was the only question he would ask. It was a simple question and quite direct and to the point. If it was not a question answered, he could find others that would answer it.