From the way the old archmage acted towards most people, often gruff and impersonal, one would never think that he might possibly be lonely... But he was. Nephal had been living nearby since the boy had been sixteen years of age...and now he was going elsewhere? Darreon felt cold...and sad. Calca hardly ever came to see him anymore, she had too much work to do... The same situation with Amoura... None of his family members ever came to see him unless they needed something anymore... Darreon knew Calca, Amoura, and his granddaughters would if they had time, but they didn't have time... They were always off fighting for the universe against some sort of monstrosity or another.

It made Darreon feel suddenly old to think that he was no longer fighting for the fate of the universe...he was on the sidelines, simply helping when they needed it. He'd gone from warrior to master tutor practically...and he felt awful. It was hard to think that he'd defeated Mystral not too long ago...it felt like ages ago. He was getting old, even by demi-immortal standards, he would never die of old age but even it those who didn't age past a certain point memories could become faulty and things could seem too tiring.

The old archmage made his way to the bathing/swimming lake towards the center of the island where all manner of dragons were gathered: young and old, elemental and non, big and small. The archmage really wanted to talk to his apprentice but the young Spirit/Shadow Dragon halfling was nowhere to be seen and neither was his mate. Alasyan, the Spirit/Shadow Dragon's silver-white Spirit Dragon dam, sat perched on a boulder watching a group of younglings swim.

Alasyan was a beautiful dragoness. As all Spirit Dragons she had a long, slender body with her neck being as long as her body and her tail one and a half times that length. All four long, lengthy clawed limbs were planted firmly on the stone and her long mane waved in the breeze.

~Hello,~ the Spirit Dragoness greeted the mage as he approached. ~Are you seeking my son?~

Darreon nodded. "Yes, I was wondering if I could perhaps speak to him..."

~I'm sorry, he's not here. He's off retrieving a message to you from Council Hall I do believe... I'm sure he'll find you when he returns, though.~

The archmage nodded again then turned to head back to his abode in even glummier of a mood.

Days went past and still no sign of the young dragon. Evidently the High Council had kept Kallent, for that was Darreon's apprentice's name, for quite a while. Nephal and Grenam had left as the black Master Dragon had said they were going to. Nephal had stopped by to bid his father farewell, of course, but Darreon's mood hadn't lightened. He was lonely, with no one he really felt like talking to so he sat in his quarters and continued to search for the anti-aging enchantment technique. Even more than usual.

Eventually he found the technique and used it on the amulet. When he was finished he decided he'd might as well deliver it that very day even though it was raining. Darreon grabbed his Earth-made rainslicker off the coat rack, unbolted the door, and shoved the heavy thing open...to find the ten-foot-long Kallent standing on his doorstep, dripping wet.

Kallent was the image of his mother, rather than his father, but was less than half the dragoness's size with longer horns and mane running down to his haunches as was the trait of the male gender of Spirit Dragons. His coloration was also different, a charcoal grey rather than a silver-white although his horns were also gold...but instead of blue, his eyes were gold.

The little Spirit/Shadow Dragon stepped inside the mage's home and shook himself violently managing to soak a few of the books.

~Sorry it took me so long, Darreon. You're always telling me to fly rather than phase since it helps strengthen my flight muscles,~ Kallent apologized, taking a scroll of paper from the pack he had looped around his neck and over one arm and one wing. ~I'd like to stay and talk, but I have to get back to Nalia.~ With that the grey dragon darted outside and swooped off the ledge heading back towards the main lake.

"Coming in here and soaking my materials then swooping off like that, good-for-nothing hatchling!" Darreon yelled after his apprentice, a bit irritably. What little company he'd gotten and it immediately flew off! The archmage went back inside and pulled the door shut behind him. The human mage would have to wait even longer for his anti-aging trinket to be delivered.

Inside Darreon removed his rainslicker and sat down on his cot, unrolling the scroll and examining the lovely handwriting upon the inside.

Dear father,

You know that I hate to be the bearer of bad news, and to only message you when something is needed. However, I feel that this situation may need your attention... The Tor Demons are back for another round, even though they leave us be for a time they are still an ever-present threat. The other Council Members and myself are doing what we can to take care of them, but we still leave one unattended to. I'm sorry for disturbing you...~Your Daughter, The Archangel Amoura

Darreon sighed and rolled back the scroll back up to toss it onto a pile of books. Bad news...just what he needed. He had hoped it would be something nice...but of course it wasn't. Well, he'd better take care of this threat before it got out of hand.

Next...