[ The party starts late enough that Cale was long since tucked away in bed, unconscious after another bout of overusing his ancient powers. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean anything in the face of mandatory attendance, and one way or another, Cale is dressed up by the fae for a party in clothes that would be quite comfortable if not for the large, open back exposing the dragon scales decorating his spine like expensive finery.

Additionally, while the fae were generous enough to place him in a seat, they didn't take the time to ensure he would stay in said seat. His long hair is first to tumble to the side, followed shortly by the rest of his body tilting over, threatening to fall onto the ground.

Of course, Cale is still thoroughly unconscious, so he has no complaints at the moment.

His ancient powers, however, are filled with them.

— How dare they treat our kid like this!
— What the hell is this?
— ...Hm. I,Isn't he a bit underdressed?
— I want to fuck all those shitty bastards up! You can't leave our weakass owner out all helpless and vulnerable!
— We can still protect him while he's like this though? My shield and Cheapskate's fire are more than enough.
— ...
— ...That's true! I will set everything on fire!
— *sigh* Please don't. ]

[ The trick with labyrinths is to keep your hand on one wall and continue moving forward. Though Cale quickly learns that doesn't work in this particular maze, with hedges that don't feel quite like nature in the way he knows. Everything around him is alive but... absent. It leaves him feeling cold chills on the back of his neck with each and every step.

At least until he makes another left turn and sees Alberu blocking his path. The necklace containing his disguise is still around his neck, yet his skin and hair are both the deep brown of his Dark Elf heritage.

Cale forgets to breathe.

He closes his eyes. Opens them. The partly burnt form of his sworn brother remains. ]

...Ha!

[ He scoffs, albeit weakly.

What bullshit.

Cale pulls up some records of Alberu in his mind, happy, healthy, and driving him absolutely crazy. He uses these memories as a shield against the shitty hallucination in front of him and continues forward.

It isn't until he comes across the sight of his youngest, Raon Miru, covered with wounds more severe than he experienced during the first four years of his life, wings absent from his shoulders, that Cale falters. Everything about his boisterous, energetic, unstoppable son is still. Quiet. Devoid of life. ]

...Hm.

[ On shaky feet, Cale moves past the hallucination. He keeps moving, as though in a trance, until the phantom scent of Raon's blood no longer overwhelms him.

Then he sinks to the ground, struggling for breath and shaking from something other than the cold.

Cale stares blankly at nothing as he pulls up his records of Raon, going through the countless memories he has of his baby dragon, over and over until his heart and lungs no longer feel as though they're being squeezed in a vice.

He continues playing the records in his mind, ignoring how his nose begins to bleed and bleed and bleed, and focusing instead on the way Raon's smooth head feels under his hand. ]

[ By the time Cale hears wailing from around the next corner he is more than ready to fight. He knows exactly what makes a sound like that, and can't think of a better target for his fury.

There is no hesitation in his stride as he walks over to this child-killer, a grin on his face that shows too many teeth, and a gleam in his eyes that promises pain. ]

Hey, you crazy bitch. You're the worst kind of trash that makes even steaming dog shit seem amazing in comparison.

[ Cale shoves at her with his foot before she can fully stand, staggering her for a moment. ]

Someone like you can't be called a mother. Fucking crazy, child-killing bitch.

[ If La Llorona was mad before that was nothing compared to now. Cale just grins widely as she lunges for his neck, making no effort to dodge. With the Super Rock reinforcing his throat there is no risk of his windpipe being crushed.

Now he has this piece of shit spirit exactly where he wants — close enough that he can reach out with his hands to strangle her with even more ferocity. ]

That day I woke up in an illusion of the future where I was the only one who survived the war.

(( feel free to tag in with something different if you like! You can also reach me via PM or froakie

also! for characters sensitive to nature/elements, Cale has Nature™ balanced inside of him and is known to feel and smell like nature to people sensitive to that sort of thing.

he also has blood that smells super delicious to vampires lol ))