#updaaaaate

Caspian wakes, once again, to silence. 

Not heavy this time, not hard or hurting. This silence is calm, and open, and easy. It beckons him back to consciousness, invites him to fill the empty space around him with his breath. Tells him that whatever chaos had claimed his existence before - it is over.

On instinct, he inhales sharply. The air tastes unnaturally clean upon his tongue, almost sterile, and disoriented, he drags his eyes open.

He is the sole occupant of a small medical bay, lying in the bed nearest the door. Though all medbays look similar, in his experience - the same equipment lining the walls, the same orderly row of beds - the industrial bulk of the gold-accented architecture, and the flash of familiar green carpet in the corner of his eye, tell him that he is still on Corellia. 

A suggestion of sunlight seeps in through the narrow windows set high in the silver walls; it seems that dawn has just barely broken. But what day is it? How long has he been here?

The relief induced by his safe surroundings is overrun by sudden urgency, as his last memories come jolting back. Tau, Arn - the crumbling Meridian Complex - Malgus -

Desperate for answers, he sits himself up - and immediately cries out, as seemingly every muscle and nerve in his body seizes with pain under the abrupt movement. He grits his teeth. Push through it, he tells himself, though sparks are cavorting across his vision. 

He drags the single blanket aside, and finds that he’s clad in only a long, robe-like garment of soft white fabric. Ignoring this, he tries to concentrate on scooting himself centimetre by agonising centimetre towards the edge of the bed - even as he hears the door slide open.

“Oh, that just figures,” says a familiar voice, filled with fond exasperation. “I step outside for two seconds, and you choose that exact moment to find out if you’ve still got working legs.”

Cas jerks his attention to the doorway, and he’s so shocked by what he sees that he promptly falls back against the pillows.

“...Kira?!” he croaks out.

“The one and only,” Kira replies, giving him a wink and a smirk as she steps inside and closes the door behind her.

Caspian stares, all painful throbbing forgotten as he gapes at Kira in utter disbelief. Her hair is a bit longer now, like his own, and she’s wearing darker, heavier armour than he remembers. There’s a newfound maturity on her face, and in the way she carries herself. But beneath all that is the same brightness, the same infectious vivacity, that irrepressible glint of mischief in her eyes.

“The doctors said you probably wouldn’t wake up for another day, at least,” she goes on, moving to plunk herself down on the end of his bed without invitation. “Guess I should’ve known better. You were never really good at being unconscious.”

The two night elves approached the congregation of Lightforged Draenei, inquiring the state of Ashraf, Tanefrun’s father. The young elf approached Captain Fareeya, who did confirm that Ashraf fought in the Army of the Light.

To Tanefrun’s dismay, it was revealed that only a couple days ago, Ashraf was killed on a strike mission in Antorus, where the team was jeopardized by the sudden reappearance of reinforcements, almost wiping out the entire team. Ashraf did not make it. Fareeya had also revealed that his soul was preserved in a Vigilant construct, and once that had been said, Tanefrun sprinted down to the lower level, searching frantically.

Elliistra tried to catch up to her, but got down to the lower level in time to see Tanefrun run past a Vigilant that had creaked in movement, causing her to stop dead in her tracks and run back to it, collapsing in front of it, asking it desperately if it was him.

The Vigilant powered up, and revealed itself as the host of Ashraf’s soul.

The Vigilant creaked as it adjusted its position, kneeling in front of Tanefrun. “My child...I prayed you would not find me like this. Doubt would have given you more peace.” Ashraf’s voice echoed through the Vigilant, Tanefrun sobbing. “Elarion told me you were alive! I came too late!” She exclaimed, her face red as she carefully wiped her eyes, trying to not hurt herself with her mail gloves. “Dad...I can’t...This can’t be true!” Her lips trembled as she closed her eyes, covering her face. “You disappeared...for a year! I thought you were missing! Or worse!” She convulsed. “This...This can’t be...This can’t be how this ends!” Her tears dropped onto the floor, and she sniffled, trying not to create too much of a mess. “Tanefrun...My Little Dove...I regret not informing you. I regret so much. This was a war larger than myself, and a war I wish you could have been shielded from. But, this is not the case, and you have found a different path to follow. I am proud of you. I can only imagine what you have become. But, I am relieved,” the Vigilant housing Ashraf’s soul turned to Elliistra as it still knelt in front of Tanefrun, “that you are being nursed by your own people.”

Tanefrun was completely distraught and could barely speak. Ashraf had attempted to offer reassurance to both Tanefrun and Elliistra, reinforcing that she was going to be in better hands with her own people.

“Tanefrun.” Ashraf’s voice beckoned Tanefrun’s gaze upwards, and the young elf looked at the Vigilant with puffy eyes, snot running down her nose and her lips trembling. “Father…” She croaked out, her voice filled with heartbreak. The shield-arm of the Vigilant reached out and landed beside Tanefrun, almost as if it were a replacement for a hug. “My soul lives on. I am not gone forever, Little Dove. I pray you still have the crystal, yes?” Tanefrun nodded. There was no way for anyone to tell, but anyone could feel it; Ashraf was bearing a smile. “I know I cannot stop you, but do not cry.” The sign of the Naaru appeared on the Vigilant’s head construct, and only seconds after, did it appear on Tanefrun’s forehead. “The Light surrounds us, and with that, I will always be with you. Do not forget this, Little Dove. In the Light we are one.” Tanefrun felt herself begin to sob once more, grasping onto the shield-arm of the Vigilant, almost for dear life. She felt she couldn’t leave his side. The Vigilant’s head construct turned to Elliistra. “I pray that you will take good care of her, priestess. She may be a bit strong willed,” A small laugh escaped the Vigilant, even if it was a time for mourning, “but she can fill anyone with joy. Receive my blessing, priestess; I have faith that you will raise her into a fine woman.”

Ashraf gave a blessing to Elliistra, and Tanefrun, ensuring that he would always be with her. Even with the reassurance, Tanefrun still can’t believe that her father is gone, and can only find the respite of family within the new group of Night Elves she belongs to, the Silver Circle.