Family Reunion. (Saranade/Alexander)

Alexander had another sleepless night again, it never mattered what he did anymore. His dreams were plagued with nightmares and a risk for demonic possession. And now he had an opportunity of a lifetime, to build something in his lifetime amongst all the pain and destruction. Would it be worth it though? It would technically be called a dark guild after all, a guild not shackled with rules and regulation. A free guild... How many would actually be joining it?


He was quietly stoking the holy white fire that was cooking the 4 rabbits he caught along with corn on the cob that he bought. It was a farcry from the bakery goods and 5 star cooking, but people thought they were delicious. So Alexander slow cooked as he patiently waited for the dawn to rise. His white hair and jacket fluttered slightly in the wind and an contemplating personality on his face. He seemed to be patiently waiting for the sunrise that was going to come in about 15 minutes.

Little did he know today was going to be an eventful day.

With a heavy sigh and what little energy she had left, Saranade plopped down on the ground. It had been a long journey across Fiore, but it could never stop. Everywhere she turned around, there were rumors. Rumors that caused her to travel halfway across the land, only for some imposing kid, or to find out she was too late. Her mind swimming of thoughts, she was beginning to doubt that he was even alive.

Her last expedition was to Sabertooth Hall. Sara believed she finally found him, but the Guild Master had told her of his leave to form his own guild. So once again the search continued, and she had no where to start. Sara decided to roam around, and was leaving Sabertooth behind her. So close to giving up.

Sitting up she took a glance around. And in the corner of her eyes she saw a light flickering. What was that? She stood up, It was a light. But from what. It was too bright for a fire. Curious, she decided to give a look and walked closer. It was a fire, but it was white, and sitting there, was a man, and he had stark white hair, just like her's. Interesting. She was sure she had been discovered by now, " I - I apologize " She said in her deep voice, " I was just curious of the light." A white flame, she had never seen anything like that. She has seen colored flames before, but nothing like this.

Alexander smiled at the new lady that arrived to the camp, she was elegantly dressed but was pragmatic at same time. He was obviously a woman that deserved respect and Alexander would give it to her regardless. Just there was not a lot of fancy stuff here in the woods, just Alexander’s mini bar in his backpack and whatever he cooked. Alexander still would show some amount of respect that she deserved. And would gladly answer her question, but only after she was comfortable. He offered her a bottle of whiskey, because carrying glasses in camping was not best idea. He did notice that the lady in front of him had same flowing silver hair as his, what a coincidence.

“Well that is a long story, so let me offer you some food. People keep telling me that my cooking is best thing they ever eaten, but I must have eaten my cooking so long that I don’t tell difference.”

Alexander offered the lady a cooked rabbit and some corn, somehow the flavor getting enhanced by the holy fire. He then popped his bottle of whiskey open and started his story. It was condensed, but spared the horrifying details to her. Some things were best not told to others. He looked up to the lady and despite he was smiling, there was a jaded look in his eyes. Like his soul was beaten down so much and the weight of the world crushed his shoulders, but was still alive by the merest of sparks in his eyes. Like he was waiting for something to relight it.

“I was about 5 years old when it happened… I was playing with my sister at the family house… or was it a mansion? I was so young that I don’t remember it anymore, my childhood beforehand was hazy. Like if it was another lifetime ago. I was held there for 5 years, tortured, beaten and scarred in more ways than one can imagine. However I had that one spark of hope that I never let go, an inner fire if you would… Soon the fire became anger at everything around me, slavery, torture and demons in general. That fire became holy when I made that last remnant of hope as my weapon to burn one of my slavers alive. Then I ran away and escaped capture, until one stupid coincidence a summoner got me out of hell instead of the Archdemon he wanted. The first thing I saw was a beautiful sunrise and until this day never miss it. It’s a sign that I am still alive and despite losing everything… There’s still hope for me and others.”

Alexander chuckled slightly as he took yet another drink and looked to the ground. His life was hell, but he had power to protect and harm now. He however then stood up and offered to shake the ladies hand, “I am sorry that I was rude, but allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexander Zenneth, may I have your name?”

At first she was just going to leave, his business was none of hers, but he offered her a bottle of whiskey, and she did enjoy a good drink. She nodded while taking the bottle, dripping it in her hand and taking a gulp. It was strong, and burned, but it was a good burn. Saranade figured she could listen a bit to his story, unsure of why he wanted to tell a complete stranger his story. Perhaps he was one of those very lonely people. Either way, she got a drink from it, so she would be nice and listen respectfully.

With each sentence of his story, her gaze grew more and more distant. He finished his story, and then offered to shake her hand and introduced himself. Her eyes were fixated ahead. It couldn't be. He was here, right in front of her, right when she was about to lose hope. The bottle dropped from her hand, destined to hit the ground.

Sara looked down, and collapsed, holding him close to her. " I found you. " she said softly, closing her eyes and just feeling his touch, " I finally found you. " She held him for a moment, she believed it was him, this was no imposer. Saranade released him and leaned back on her ankles. " It's me. Your sister." She always believed he was alive, and here was proof, right in front of her eyes.

Alexander watched as the bottle dropped and smashed in the ground, it was wasted alcohol. He was about to say something about it, but was immediately was hugged. What was going on? Was the story that dramatic? He even tamed it down a bit for her, it could be described as much worse than it was. It was then than she claimed to be his sister, but it couldn't be. She was dead like his last life, he saw everything burn. An entire lifetime ago gone in a flash, but then there was nothing that proved that she wasn't alive. He got closer and looked into her blood red eyes again. Like 2 pupils of pure amber... It was her... He wasn't alone anymore. He wasn't the last Zenneth in the world. A single boiling hot tear fell into the ground and sunk into the earth, just like his current realization. He was not alone anymore...

"Saranade... I thought you were dead... I was told nobody survived that night..."

Taking his hand into her's she felt more than just relief come over her. She felt guilt and remorse, she felt bad for nearly abandoning him. Sara watched as he let a tear fall. The woman wanted to comfort him, there was so much that was just thrown at him all at once. Perhaps she should have taken it slower.

" No.. " She said gently, and gripped his hand tighter, " I have searched for you, for many years." She said letting a bright smile come across his face. Through the time it took to search for him, Sara developed this thought about people. She continued to be alone for years. She lost faith in humanity, but her brother. He was her one weakness, and will be forever. Cause in the beginning, it was her that was abandoned.

Sara placed her hand on his head, letting the feeling of his hair push through her glove. She couldn't remember very much when they were younger. She was 3 and a half years old. But through pictures and stories, she knew that she had to find him. He couldn't be left alone like thier parents left her.

Alexander was guilty, he wished that he had done the same. He had given up on his family, on his duty that he should have committed to. And what was he doing with his life? Wasting it away drinking and feeling sorry for himself. He needed to atone for this transgression, find a reason to actually live instead of being a dead man walking again. So despite just getting a hug, he did it to her this time. This hug was long in coming, it was as if a part of him feared he may lose her again. He would not though...

"Never again... I should have looked for you... I should have had your fire to not give up... I am a failure as a brother..."

As he hugged her, her mind wandered through their past, she could see glimpses. But her most favorite one, was picking a photo up from a pile of ashes. That one photo survived, and it was of their family. Her mother, father, and brother; and there she was, held in the arms of her older brother. It was a picture of when she was brought home. They were so little back then, but you could still see their bright eyes.

Saranade held him for the long moment, then reach into her side pocket. There she pulled out that photo from her memory, it was a little crinkled and folded, but still held true. She handed it to Alex, " No one blames you. " She smiled sweetly, " I want you to have this. This picture is what kept me going after many failures." She could fail over and over again, why couldn't he?

She let herself relax, her search had finally come to an end. She had met him, and told him she was alive, but now what? Was she to go back home? Wander around Fiore? She didn't have anywhere else to go. She had burnt down the family home after her parents had died, that is when she began her search.

Alexander held the picture in his hands and his mind wandered of in better days. Happier days for the two of them, but it was all a memory now. He had almost forgotten what his father and mother looked like and a picture only brought faces for the dead. He looked at the house and reminisced a bit. It was right at that moment that he finally made a decision. He simply ate the fire in a vacuum and started to pack his bags as the new sunrise came up. He soon had everything in the bag and started to walk back to his sister. The brothers eye's seemed have found new life again and a small smile on his face.

"I have learned through my fire magic is that destruction is not the end of all things, but the rebirth of said thing. The house may have been burnt down and memories may be sour, but I want to go back to that house and see if it can be rebuilt so we can create new memories. Something that our parents can be proud of..."

And also the nearby lake would be a perfect place to hire a construction crew to build his idea, but for now the house came first. He wanted a better place to live in case he ever planned to retire and settle down. A legacy for the family at least...

She was a little shocked while he ingested the flames; Definitely not expecting that. Saranade let a smile spread across her face and she held her hands at her waist. This was why she wanted to find him, she needed to make sure he didn't give up, that he still had the want to move forward.

She stood up and waited for him to finish packing his things. The sun was beginning to rise, and she stared off to the horizon. The beautiful colors flushed on her pale face. Saranade listened to her brother's planned. She has not been back to that house, she was unsure of how it looked, the land, the area. Was it still ash?

"I have what we need to make this dream come true brother," She said before turning back to face him, " All we have to do is start. Together."

Alexander nodded quietly as he carried the bag over his back and walked. There was a bit of of a sunrise he wanted to enjoy before he moved forward. Forward with life and towards the old house the lived in. It was weird walking down the long and winding road up the cliffs and into the secluded mansion. It was still there untouched, maybe cause they thought this place was cursed or something. This was not pleasant to watch, the place was beginning to get overgrown and taken over by local wildlife. This would take a bit, but there was one thing that was needed. Something that would take time to find...

He reminisced his childhood and pointed at the apple tree that came back to him as memories. He chuckled, "We used to love eating the apples that fell from that tree and the lazy summer days we spent under there. I completely forgotten about that... Still no point in remembering the past... We need to find the will that our parents left up. Those magic vaults could take an abuse after all."