She understood something deeply about her demon at that point. He'd been troubled by his haunted past for a long time since before joining the master's fold. She continued to just stand there, holding him against her. "Let's just go to bed tonight." She said calmly to him.

He nodded in response and kissed her deeply.

***

"You understand now don't you?" Aelldra asked of him.

Llukai son of Lancaster nodded. "Yes...for the first time in my life things make sense. I don't know...maybe it's the effects of the black blood or something like that. I don't really know, but things make more sense now." An effect of his acceptance of the master's gift.

Aelldra nodded. "You're the first you know...the first one I've ever turned."

Llukai looked at her carefully. "It is an honour." He said calmly, trying to think how Nosdyn would react in such a situation.

She placed her hand on the side of his face. "You don't have to be like your instructor, just be yourself." She said in a very understanding way.

"My whole life...he was all I ever knew. I cannot even begin to tell you how much I've made him suffer because of my failure. Xyllea...we knew me and my father knew. My father was already ailing and close to his own death by that point. I was too scared to back him..." Llukai sighed. "The one man who ever gave a shit about a stupid boy from Ettermire. I owe him...I will always owe him." There was a war being waged for his heart and soul.

She saw the struggle and turmoil in his heart, it excited her. "Such debts are repaid someday. You will be fine Llukai, you've already proven enough. You're a highly skilled warrior by now."

Llukai nodded and hugged his companion close to her. "There is a storm coming." Llukai suddenly said, perhaps hinting at things to come.