“It’s not just your hair I guess. It’s your stature too,” Aria laughed a bit now. “Though he had the brightest bluest eyes just like Cinder.” It made the room feel a bit sadder as Kirika frowned a bit she realized that she hadn’t known her brother either.

“It’s alright Colden because of Mother I didn’t know Casimir either. I just know that Aria was sent here for the head of the household. If it wasn’t for Lotus recognizing the name I wouldn’t have known what to do.” Crystaline let his hand go and she turned on her aura sight just for a second to see what he was doing. She realized that Cinder was clinging to her uncle now.

Aria and Kirika smiled as he picked up Cinder and hugged her. Cinder patted his head. “Tis okay Uncle Colden, it is okay to be sad.” The little girl was hugging him back now as he held her.

The women all nodded and agreed with Colden that it was best that Cinder remained a secret. She was so bubbly and cute that even Crystaline was amused by her. She could almost catch Cinder’s happiness like a bug. When Colden rubbed at her arm Crystaline gave him a smile.

“Who knows when he even left Arri. It could have been well before you were born. Casimir is older than Lotus.” Kirika smiled at him. “I only know what Lotus has told me about him but it makes sense if he left way before you were born. That would help with why he was alive… and if he survived there might be others but it is hard to tell because we have no records.”

They spent the better part of the evening talking about the family and teaching Colden things about his brothers and sisters. Cinder was on his lap most of the time and eventually, she had even fallen asleep in his arms. The night of Sularia rolled in quick after that and Aria took Cinder up for bed.

Crystaline weaseled her way into sleeping next to Colden since it was still thundering out. She stuck close to him and slept with relative ease. In the morning, their clothes were all washed and dried for them just as the morning had arrived. They were laying out on the dresser. Crystaline had been awake for a while but she had been laying next to Colden taking in his scent. Once she knew he was awake she smiled. “We should go to the Purple Court today… You should meet my mother since you met Liz.”

Colden glanced onto Kirika, remembering that she likely knew little more than he had about their family tree. Both of them had been victims of their mother’s hatred and greed but were fortunate enough to still be breathing. Most of their siblings, on the other hand, weren’t as lucky. “Not sad. I’m happy, Cinder”, he reassured her as he hugged her with great care to not hurt her. He would have rather perish than to see her, her mother, or anyone else in his family have to suffer any more injustices.

“Guess you are right about that. I don’t remember him at all. I can barely recall Eldora and some of the others that she showed me. I hadn’t even known about you until later on”, he sighed. “Perhaps he is out there…” He followed into the conversation of his siblings, listening with keen and yearning ears while he held Cinder onto him. He could feel her tugging at him even in her slumber which made him smile brightly and made sure to plant a kiss onto her head before she was taken by Aria to be put into bed. He had lost track of time himself and so he led Crystaline back into his room. He slipped out of the robes and put on some trousers before getting into bed and she was adamant about joining him especially when the storm wouldn’t let up. Honestly he didn’t mind nor think much of it as he held onto her and made sure she was able to sleep before succumbing to its call himself. Her warmth made it rather an easy task to do so and when dawn hit, he was still soundly asleep and softly breathed before he could feel that she was awake.

Yawning a bit, he was still out of it but was enough to know what she was saying. “Sure, they must be worried about you. And it's only fair that I get to know where you live.” He carefully rolled out of bed with the grace of a canine before he turned over and retrieved his shirt. He made sure that her clothes were dry before handing them to her. “I’ll be outside the door until you are ready. If you need help, just let me know.” Colden made sure to close the door and waiting in the hall until either situation came up. Afterwards he led her out of the estate and started to the trek to the Purple Court. “I hope everything is alright as far as me coming over there”, he stated, still unsure if this was a good idea or not, but he wanted to return the favor and he was genuinely curious about her home.

Crystaline smiled at him as she heard him yawn. “Probably but they knew that I was here so probably not too much.” She took her clothes from him and held them close before nodding to him. “I’ll be sure to let you know.” After she got the dress up she called for him to come tie it up. That was the one thing she couldn’t do by herself no matter how hard she tried and that was alright. She didn’t know anyone who could tie a dress perfectly by themselves.

She held onto his arm as they went out into the streets of Sularia. “Well, it should be. My mother welcomes all kinds of visitors.” She smiled at him as she felt the hot air upon her skin. “This is your first time out and about since you came home, isn’t it? You should enjoy the sights while we walk.”

The road to the Purple Court was easy enough to find as the obsidian stones of the black court turned to Sularia’s regular Castle district’s gold and silver bricked roads. “I’ve been told we need to look for the opal and amethyst decorated bricks.” She smiled up at him and soon they were on the right path. The manor for the purple court looked more like it was designed for functionality rather than regal flair like the others. It was made from the same glistening white stone the castle was with tall windows.

Once they made it inside Colden could be able to tell that the place was more like a giant library as tall shelves full of books were all around, with magnificent paintings and other works of art. Cathrine did like her art and books after all. She was the Queen of Wisdom.

”Welcome home Crystaline, I see you have brought Colden here,” Cathrine’s voice resonated through their minds and Crystaline smiled a bit and patted his hand.

“Where are you so we can come see you?” Crystaline called out and there was a shushing sound.

”The library.

Crystaline guided Colden to the library. It was gorgeously made out of many fine materials and it was many floors by itself. The library could have very well have taken up much of the space in the manor. Cathrine was by a book shelf. She was taller than Angela but built much the same way. Her long white curls fell just as far as Crystaline’s and she had wings as well. “What are you reading today?”

Cathrine’s green eyes looked over to them and she smiled. ”Ancient alchemical texts.” Crystaline tilted her head as if not really understanding. ”This is only my light reading of course. I found this in the market today.”

“Yeah, I’m just hoping she will welcome me as well”, he spoke with a smile though he was still somewhat self conscious about it. But if Crystaline insisted and if his deeds were forgiven, then he had nothing to worry about, right? Regardless the pair traveled down the dark road that usually lead to his home, not that he had known that since he had been out like a lamp when Steele carried him here. “Yes, it is. My father had knocked me out and my brother brought me here with the others. I hadn’t looked at…home in a long time.” Some of the things looked somewhat familiar and others things were added to the city or changed, But then again, for as long as he had been away, he wouldn’t expect much would have remained the same. He held onto Crystaline as they made their way through the Castle district and he looked on to see the hustle and bustle of the city dwellers at work. Many of them were women running the stands or conversing and children flocking and playing about the streets.

He led her until they came across the very brick road she had spoken about. “Found it”, he proclaimed as he lead her onto it and continued to watch the liveliness of Sularia. “Things seem so much happy than I remembered. But then again, it has been a long time since I found myself here.” He wasn’t sure, but they seemed to reach her home at the end of the path, but it seemed vastly different from what he had expected. A curious look came over his face before turning to Crystaline. “The manor is sure different looking. I guess the homes of the Courts differ depending on its owners and such.”

When they came inside, he stared and gasped in wonder in how it was from the inside. “I feel like I’m in an academy. Are you sure we are in the right place?” But then he heard the call from his Aunt, which made him jump a bit before remembering that she was muted. Fortunately his cousin seemed aware enough to lead him to the library where she was at. He was grateful that it seemed like she knew her way around the place. Granted this was her home, she had more than enough time to adjust to it but still he couldn’t help but to be amazed by it.

“Aunt Cathrine”, he managed to speak before bowing, “I wanted to make sure that Crystaline was brought home safe and sound, and also to see how it is over here, if you don’t mind.” It seemed like an angel he was talking to more than a Rosenite, and her daughter only served to prove that theory.

Crystaline frowned a bit and nodded. “I’m sure that with different eyes everything will appear fresh to you anyways. You’ll learn that Sularia rarely changes and when it does… It doesn’t happen fast.” Crystaline offered a smile to lighten the sad memory.

“Oh good!” Crystaline smiled as he found the path. “Happiness was always here but I think that your mind was clouded by whatever was going on back home.” She tilted her head as she thought about his words. “Is it much different from the others? I suppose it would be since all of our homes are so different…”

The half angel laughed a bit as they entered the manor and nodded her head. “Well yes, you know my mother is the Queen of Wisdom and Wind. I do suppose it would look more like an academy here. She collects books, paintings, and various other things of the arts.”

Cathrine nodded to the boy and smiled before turning back to her book. ”I do thank you for that. You may wander for however long you wish. You are quite welcome in my halls as you would be in your other aunts’ houses.” When Cathrine looked at him again she supposed he was looking at her wings. ”Granted to me by the spirits of Sularia. They hollowed my bones and allowed me to flight with a pair of wings. I have no angelic blood like Crystaline… and yes it hurt. It was part of my trial along with a logic puzzle that spanned days.”

Crystaline held onto Colden’s arm as she listened to them speak and before long she was tugging on him. “When you’re done talking to Mother can we go see the Gardens? Maybe my room?” She mused lightly. “Or whatever you want to see?”

Cathrine eyed her at first before chuckling. ”Careful, you don’t want his head spinning and falling off from every direction you are pulling him Crystaline. Take it easy, you have all day.”

“I guess so. Perhaps we will go and see the homes of the other Courts.” Colden hadn’t visited any of the other three and he suppose that eventually he would have to explore those parts of his extended family since they had been so kind in trying to help him. Crystalline didn’t seem to have seen them either so he wouldn’t mind taking her some day.

He was curious as to what her mother was like; by some reason or logic he thought that his aunt would be similar to her daughter because how else would she had been as kind and sweet as she was? So far as he interacted with Cathrine, it seemed to prove his case. Colden nodded towards her as he stepped forward. “Thank you, Aunt Cathrine.” It was still so strange to be accepted by his family even with everything that happened. Had his siblings didn’t try to rescue him, he would have certainly been killed, one way or another. Such a thought made him shiver a bit before collecting himself again. “Sorry, didn’t mean to stare. Just…I never saw someone with wings before.” Crystaline would have likely been the first to have that, but…that thought alone made him all the more aware about her blight once more and it saddened him a bit for she deserved better than that.

He peeked over to his cousin as he felt her excitement in wanting show him nearly everywhere. He couldn’t help but to smile. “It’s fine, we can go see whatever you’d like first. Like your mother said, we have all the time we’d like.” He still couldn’t believe how their home was like, and he pondered if her room had any resemblance to this or was it her own slice of heaven. The gardens also sounded like a pleasant place to him though it sounded like it seemed out of place in a home like this. Regardless, Colden would go whether she wanted and take it all in into memory for later.

“That would be fun… Though I imagine going and seeing Aunt Toya would be quite a trip…” She chuckled a bit.

Cathrine laughed as soon as he said that he hadn’t seen anyone with wings. Though the vocal noise she made was a little different than most the mental laughter was sweet. “It is alright, it is unnatural for most Rosenites to have wings. Mine were a special circumstance. Maybe later we can discuss just how all the trials work if you would be interested.” She didn’t mind educating him on what he had once wanted. “Careful Boy, she will keep you out all day.”

The warning had gone completely over Crystaline as she pulled him around the home all around. By the end of the day she had completely wiped herself out and Colden had gotten her up to her room just in time for her to fall asleep.

It was well past midnight by the time she had gotten done showing him what all the Purple Court had. Crystaline was so lively and she had wiped herself out so much that she hadn’t even told him good night. She was out as soon as she had hit the bed, probably well before.

“You can stay here tonight if you wish,” It was Cathrine at the door in her night clothes. “There is a free room across the hall. It seems like an awful like of trouble for you to go all the way back tonight. She kept you out way too late,” the queen gave him a smile and bid him good night before disappearing.

Colden didn’t think too much of Crystaline’s mother’s warning, at least not at the time. He hadn’t minded the thought of her dragging him up and down the place. Her excitement was what mattered to him. No matter how big or small, he took keen interest in everything she showed him. Time slipped by very quickly and before long he found himself carrying a burnt out Crystaline all the way to her chambers and laid her on her bed. She seemed so peaceful as she slept and he backed away a few steps before turning to face his aunt at the door. “If you wish, then I can remain here. I’m sure that she would like that as well since she stayed at my home previously.” She was right, there walk home seemed rather long and he was still getting used to navigating his way through Sularia. Nighttime would only help to make things worse for him to get back.

“It was no problem, I did enjoy myself”, he said before returning the gesture and saying good night to his aunt. Colden went to leave and took one more look at his cousin before closing the door and headed for the room mentioned earlier. He fell onto the bed and soon he found the exhaustion catching up to him and he faded into slumber.

—-

It had been a day since his visit with Aunt Angela and the rosenite was a bit nervous to say the least. He had went to bargain with her for Crystaline’s sight to come back but there were complications. Fortunately there was something that he could do for her after everything she done for him and hopefully it would help to undo some of the pain that was caused to her.

The power to do all of that seemed very strange to him but at the same time he couldn’t say that he would refuse to do it. No, he owed her all that and then some. Colden was heading to the Purple Court, his fingers fidgeting as with each step closer he could feel his nerves seem like they were on fire. How was he suppose to go through with this? He counted to himself as he reached her home and slipped right in. “Crystaline? You here?” He looked around, room by room until he eventually found her. “Hey, I…have something for you. But… I was told not to give you it inside. We have to go outside… “

Crystaline had a wonderful day and her dreams were happy too. She didn’t dream in pictures but she did dream in wonderful happy colors. She was so happy. It was all because of Colden and the way he seemed to protect her from all the negative. She couldn’t understand why she felt like he did but… she just knew he did in his own way.

She was disappointed to find him gone and she hadn’t seen him. There hadn’t been a day that went by when she hadn’t been with Colden and this was the first time in a while that she had been alone. It was odd but she knew that something important must have happened.

Crystaline was in the indoor night garden and she knew that the flowers were beautiful but the smell here was still comforting overall even if she couldn’t see. She ran her fingers over the petals and she tilted her head as she heard him. “I’ve been wondering where you were.” She mused as she stood up so he could see her. She smiled in his direction.

“Something for me? But why?” She had never asked for anything in return. She hadn’t even thought about it and yet here he was trying his best… even the thought of it made her blush and she made her way over to him with little help as she knew the area well. “I thought something bad happened to you… Are you alright?” She reached out and took his hands so she could feel them. She had been alone but she felt better now even in the darkness.

Colden felt bad that he had left Crystaline alone, even if briefly. It hadn’t dawned on him that they were nearly inseparable for the longest time. Hell, he couldn’t remember a time in Sularia where he hadn’t been visited by her or ended up seeing her in some fashion. ”Sorry, didn’t mean to make you worry. I just had to work on something.” That much was true, but he would save the details until a later time, should he had to reveal to her of it. He wished he wasn’t so damn nervous right about now, but he wasn’t sure how to approach this matter. He wished that their aunt had made this task much more simpler than what it was.

Even looking at her made him shy away a bit, whether she was sightless or not was irrelevant. He looked on enough to make sure that she was on her way and he felt guilty about his departure. But it also had to be done in his mind. “I’m okay”, he said sheepishly. The feeling of her hands against his own made this all the more tedious and he swallowed hard. “Because I wanted to do something for you for a change.” His hands squeezed hers back before he started to lead her out of the gardens. “Trust me, we have to go outside.”

Colden lead her out of the house and out to the front of it. He lead her a few more steps before pausing. She would likely feel his hands shaking but he mustered up the courage to look at her and take a step in her direction. “I know this is going to sound strange, but I want you to close your eyes, Crystaline.” Slowly he released her hand and he moved in closer. He reached out to brushed at her cheek before taking a quick breath and placing his lips against hers. He felt like his breath was leaving him during the embrace and hoped that he hadn’t gone too far with his actions. He didn’t want to ruin anything good between them because of this, but it was the only way to return to her what was taken so long ago.