The discomfort was back, the one that had greeted him in the morning. It was dull and throbbing, settling around his wrist with a frigid sharpness to it that was unlike any injury he had before. It... burned as if exposed to fire or extreme cold, but there was no mark that he could see, and the pain itself was deeper, intense in a biting way that reached bone and latched itself to his tendons.

Yet even if the... pain that resonated had been familiar in some way, nothing in the past few days would have caused it. There had been no fighting he found himself in the middle of during one of his patrols on the outskirts or shifts within the city. He hadn't suffered any misfortune while training with his fellow guards or practicing his marksmanship. He hadn't even slept on it awkwardly as far as he could tell. There was nothing to explain why it bothered him, why it grew more... incessant over time before fading away to nothing in the aftermath.

All he could do was endure it, endure the way it returned again and again throughout his watch. As he was doing now, his hand once more moving to his wrist where he messaged it in vain, knowing full well at this waning point in the day near the end of his shift that it would do nothing to ease the way it... hurt.

There was a wince at the corner of Sable's eyes as he stood, stoic and still, though he did not betray himself in any other way. Only those who knew him would have been able to tell he was... suffering, and there were not many who could claim that they did, private and solitary being that he was.

The way that Celeste was peering down at him from her perch on one of the corners of a roof told him that she was aware, and a part of him registered that it was strange for her not to come to him with that concern. Of the days when he bore some form of injury, she all but hovered around him, her intelligent eyes piercing and criticizing of all the things he did that caused him pain or were not mindful of his wounds, no matter how big or small they were.

...but she was keeping her distance now, and had Sable not been trying to distract himself, he might have known something was truly wrong by that alone.

He was hurting, though, and his mind strayed that he might lock it behind a door of thoughts and allowed him to draw himself away from it all. He wondered what the rest of his shift might bring, supplying himself with scenarios of what he would do if someone rounded the corner and began casting magic, if a pickpocket tried to steal while he was watching, or if it began to rain despite it being a cloudless day.

They were fanciful and silly things that he was prone to entertaining normally, and yet... there was one future he supposed that he was... somewhat looking forward: Mikael had said they would find him today, that they would meet him here for the end of Sable's shift. His hand falling away from his wrist, he found that it was something he was looking forward to, even if he did not know why and couldn't allow himself anything more than that, anything more than just... enjoying their company.

Mikael had been caring for his creatures in the morning while also working on making a few simple treats and such for Celeste and Sable wanting to surprise them at the end of their patrol with a little hum as he did so. They weren't the best as it wasn't his area of expertise but he did his best before putting everything in a basket with a small smile excited to see the other and spend time with him as his tail swayed happily behind him, soon walking out and into town with Darius at his side

It took a while for him to get to the correct area but he didn't mind as he rounded the corner with his basket lighting up as he saw the other and waving with his free hand, the other holding the basket "Sable! How was your shift? Everything go okay?" he asked tilting his head

Celeste was the first to notice Mikael, catching both his and Darius' scent amidst the other smells that swirled around her. It had her perking up, her eyes shifting away from Sable to scan the crowd, where she saw two familiar horned figures, a cant to her head as she observed... and gauged the distance between them and her.

Talons curling around the edge of the roof she had situated herself on so that she could watch over her companion, distant from the way his blood was all but singing, the small drake unfurled her wings and pulled herself forward. With a snap of them, her glide became flight as she carried herself over the heads of several other people that were walking along the street, her name following behind her as Sable called out, but she paid him no mind for the time being, knowing—always knowing—that it would be alright. Not this, but what came later.

This was a bit of fun for her, a final beat of her wings before she dove down to tackle Darius, the lightning drake suddenly collided with by a cold, blue body that made sure it was truly only a shove and wouldn't knock him to the ground. It would not be playing if either of them got hurt, and she enjoyed playing and scouting and lounging with Darius. She had never had a friend like him before. Like herself.

...and Sable couldn't help but watch as Celeste took off without a sound of warning as he was used to, a moment of tearing in his chest because, with it, he realized her behavior had been distant in a way he wasn't used to, and it almost felt like... betrayal, like he was being abandoned. It created conflict within him as, not more than a few seconds later, he saw Mikael coming around the corner, their smile bright in a way he was growing familiar with, easing some of that ache Celeste had created. Only for it all to become further... muddled in what he was feeling when that blue figure came diving out of the air to surprise Darius, leaving Sable without the words to encompass what emotions settled, that... that pain making it worse at every shift.

Did he start by greeting Mikael? Did he admonish Celeste? Did he... lie about how the day was going, how it was growing worse by the second despite them being here?

"Mikael, h-hello, I..." gods take him, if he could just manage sentences. "Forgive me—her, for..." he let out a breath. "I am not quite sure what has... gotten into her suddenly that she dives into her friends," he finally shot a glare towards Celeste, the look a bit colder than usual as he... struggled as he switched to their common tongue, the one that coated his tongue in fire. "Especially when you know better."^[1]

He sighed, shaking his head and finding he was still massaging his wrist, the motion abandoned instantly. Abruptly, even. "My shift was, or is, going well," he said, it being a lie only if he had been speaking of himself. "I have... yet to be relieved from my post, but they should be here soon, I imagine," or hope.

"Not that you have to... wait on my behalf, of course," Sable added, that faint wince still there much as he tried to smooth it away and bury it behind his usual stoicism. "I would not wish to... to keep you if you have somewhere... else to be," and because he was not... himself, not as controlled as he always was, the hand he used to motion towards the basket Mikael carried with him was the one that was pained him, that wince growing deeper, though he had constitution enough to not make a sound or betray himself further.

---

[1] Language Used - Draconic (denoted by red)

Darius let out a sound as the cold blue projectile of a drake flew from nowhere and pushed into him before pawing at her and nudging her playfully and affectionately, clearly excited to see his friend again even if it hadn't been overly long since their last meeting. It was always fun with Celeste around after all

Mikael chuckled at the two drakes making sure both were okay and with him as he stopped soon in front of the other. "Ah hello! It's no worries I don't mind at all! Are you alright though? you seem a little shaky" he remarked with a worried look as his ears perked up looking the other over for injuries though made sure not to touch him knowing how the other felt of such things. He paused seeing the other rubbing his wrist now a bit laser focused on it looking for wounds. "Well I will wait with you then! Oh and I brought you and Celeste some snacks! I probably should have bought them but I wanted to make you both something myself. Sorry if they aren't the best I'm afraid its not my forte" he added

"I don't mind waiting" he added as he heard the other before his frown finally took over as he continued to look at the wrist "what's happened that is causing you such pain..?"

Sable's expression pinched a little as Mikael asked after him, a twinge of frustration at himself coming from one of the many taut threads that ran through him being plucked. He wasn't masking it very well then, that discomfort that still pulsed, that had the muscles in his arm going painfully tense as it seemed to spread further, and now Mikael was looking at him with a concern that was... unwarranted and unearned.

"I am... fine," he said, managing to keep his voice from wavering even as it was a partial lie. "It has simply been a long and... strange day," though even as that was the truth, it did not wash away the guilt he felt over not saying anything further and all that he was omitting, that guilt only growing when Mikael declared that he would wait with him... and spoke of bringing something for him and Celeste.

Features softening a little, Sable looked from the basket to Mikael. "...thank you, Mikael," he said, a whisper of a smile present. "You... you did not have to go through all that trouble for us, and... I am certain they will still taste good regardless of your... forte."

A bit of movement from across the way caught his attention, and Sable's wintered gaze shifted to it, the quiet hope that it was his relief stirring. Before he could discern whether or not it was the telling uniform of a guard or just a trick of the light against a set of similar armor, however, Mikael was speaking once more, telling him that he didn't mind waiting before asking—

Sable flinched, a breath drawn in sharply. "It is... minor and n-nothing to worry over, I assure you," he said, catching sight of such honest concern before he forced himself to glance away that he might avoid seeing anything in an illuminated gaze that might have him faltering for his words. "Just a... a bit of discomfort that comes and goes—"

As if to spite him, though, there was a sudden flare of splitting pain that tore through his arm, centered on his wrist. It had him gasping in shock, his face twisting as it overwhelmed and shattered what control he had over himself that he reacted so... instinctively, clutching his wrist and flexing his hand. Only to make it worse.

Mikael gave a childish little pout as he stuck his lip out hearing the other day he was okay when he didn’t seem like it but sighed letting it pass over for the moment. His smile soon returned though as he heard the thank you and nodded “of course! I don’t mind really! It’s what friends do right?” He asked and opened the basket “I made a sandwich for you, a little steak for Celeste and some desserts you can both eat” he smiled showing them. The sand which and steak looked pretty good though the desserts looked more as though they were made by a child but there was a lot of effort put into them even if they didn’t look the best “I’ve never really baked before so this was a a whole new experience” he smiled though he wouldn’t say how many times he tried to make them before he finally created some that were actually edible and looked okay

seeing the others wince he set down the bag and put on a glove hoping to ease the others discomfort as he held out his gloved hand “may I examine it?”

It was not the first time that Sable wished he could give Mikael a true smile, but it was still... infrequent. Gentle whispers and quiet murmurs, a hint or the faintest upturn at the corners of his lips was not uncommon, one entertained that first time they met in the Purple Lantern, brought on by conversation and the antics of Celeste and Darius, but as Mikael called them... friends and detailed what all he brought for both he and Celeste to enjoy, there was a loosening in his chest were he wished that he was... able to.

The ache that was also there, the one that came from the vast and shattered emptiness in his chest, broken and ripped apart with what once was there cut out of him entirely. It reminded him of the reasons that he couldn't, why every mention of the word friend had him tensing out of worry and... and fear. For Mikael. Knowing always that any form of connection—any form of attachment would put him at risk... and in danger.

Although, that did not mean he was blind to how... considerate it was of Mikael. That they would think of him in such a way that they would bring... gifts. A simple bit of food and dessert for both he and Celeste, but it wasn't nothing. Just as it wasn't something he could just ignore, that... loosening.

Expression softening as much as it could while he tried to hide his discomfort, Sable looked from the contents of the basket to Mikael, the gentleness in his features there regardless of the sharpness brought on by endured pain. "...it looks delicious and well-made," he said, meaning the words despite the state the pastries might be in. "And... thank you, once again." With a glance up, he caught sight of what might be a guard's uniform some distance away before adding, "I'm afraid I will have to... delay enjoying it until I am officially relieved, though Celeste is... free to enjoy."

The mention of the small drake's name had her attention shifting from Darius, who she had invited to her previous perch above Sable with a short game of chase. Instead of drifting down to see what 'snacks' had been brought, however, she remained where she was. Watching.

...even when Sable's wrist caused him no small amount of intense, spiking pain quite suddenly.

"F-fine," Sable managed to bite out, his breath forced through his teeth. "It is... I-I am fine." The words were like glass as the pain dug in not unlike sharpened, shattered edges might, proving him to be a liar.

Another wave of that same intensity tore through him, and it pushed more thoroughly past the bounds of what Sable could tolerate without giving in. "It will... it will p-pass in a moment," he said, all but willing it to be so. "As it has... before—"

The next bit of gasped breath was torn from him with a pained hiss, his vision going black for a moment as it brought him to his knees. Never before had he felt such... agony as he did now. Save for once. But there was no fire, there were no blades that sank into his flesh, his blood splattering across the ground and sizzling with the heat. There was nothing. There was only discomfort that was now relentless in the way it felt as if it were cleaving through him.

And the cold, a freezing sensation, ice-like in the way it dug in and festered, centered on his wrist. Sable could feel it through the palm of his other hand as he continued to clutch it, though the strength from before that would have had him immovable was now spent on simply remaining... conscious.

He beamed proudly at the others words and nodded "That's okay we can wait till you're off duty!" he replied glad he seemed to think they looked good. He soon however dropped the basket rushing to the others side eyes wide "Sable?!" He quickly reached out with his gloved hands putting one hand on the others back while the other held his arm looking for any cause of this and to his arm before looking around with a look of fear and concern on his face "Help! We need a healer please!" he called praying someone would be able to help nearby. He trembled a bit feeling more scared than he had ever been "Please be okay... Please Sable..."

Such was Sable's pain that he did not notice he was being touched, that there was a hand resting on his back while another reached out to his arm and guided it forward enough for them to see. Or maybe... maybe he simply welcomed the feel of something that didn't grip him with agony, something that was grounding with its gentle contrast to the way he couldn't seem to escape the way his arm burned with an icy intensity that had him losing all sensation to it.

Yet even with the fog of pain that descended, that had him struggling to remain conscious let alone aware of what was around him, Sable knew that whatever was wrong, whatever it was that was clawing at him now, no healer would truly be able to aid him. This was different. It went beyond some simple malady that could be cured with a spell or eased with a potion with the way it felt as if it was in his blood and freezing it within his veins alone.

"Mikael," he managed, his voice strained by the effort as he gasped for breath that was all but denied him with the way the chill coursed through his veins. "Mikael, I... n-no healers. No healers, please," he asked of them with a shake of his head, his body slumping towards the other man as he continued to curl in on himself.

"I don't want others..." to crowd around him. "Alone. I want to be... away from..." here, he tried to say, the words stolen from him as a sudden flare of frigid pain lanced up his arm towards his chest.

It felt like ice was spreading across his skin, carving a path from the back of his hand and wrapping around his wrist. Distracted and... suffering as he was, though, Sable didn't notice the way his pale skin started to turn in color, growing much more sallow with the faintest hints of blue in a pattern that did not follow what being struck with the cold would cause.

"Please, Mikael," Sable forced out, shifting a bit more as he tried to straighten. "Help me... get away from... from others. F-from here."

With shallow, labored breaths, he tried to force himself to stand, managing to get his feet under him. As he pushed himself up, though, the world spun around him, and his legs felt weak. It was quite obvious that he wouldn't be going anywhere without someone helping to support his weight and guide him.

Such was the pain he was in.

His eyes widened as he looked back down to the other, eyes welling with tears of worry “b-but I can’t just sit here and let you s-suffer sable” he stammered worriedly as he held him close before pausing hearing the next few words hesitating before carefully picking him up making sure Celeste and darius were with him “o-okay it’s gonna be okay… y-yeah” he tried to convince himself. He knew the other probably wouldn’t have been too happy being carried but it would be quicker. With that he ran towards his home on the edge of the town and set him on the couch inside gently covering him with a blanket “I-I’m gonna see if I have pain killers okay?!”

Sable had... strength enough.

He had strength enough to not slip into the darkness that crept in at the edges of his vision. The teasing whispers that fettered about his mind, the words carrying nothing but false promises that he wouldn't feel anything if he allowed the shadows to swallow him, to drag him into unconsciousness, that it would all be over when he next woke up, seen for what they were and ignored.

He had strength enough to notice that Mikael was going to attempt to lift him, a frantic bit of stammering escaping him as he explained that he didn't want that, that pained as he was, he couldn't let himself be touched like that. Face sharpened further by the lines of suffering he wore, he managed to make it back on his feet with Mikael's assistance, leaning heavily against them once he stood, his apologies soft and sincere... even as he had to fight for the words.

He had strength enough to walk, to be guided along towards somewhere, and to... trust Mikael, to rely on him as they abandoned his post. His steps slow, his boots occasionally catching on the uneven cobblestone and threatening to send them both toppling forward under his own weight, and their pace agonizingly slow as seconds felt as if they were dragging on for longer than they should be, he remained on his feet, placing one in front of the other. Somehow.

He had strength enough to endure, to drag himself through the frigid pain that lanced its way through him... until he didn't, a sharp hiss leaving him as he all but collapsed on the couch Mikael led him to, uncertain when they had even entered a... a building? Someone's home? He couldn't... he couldn't remember half of what happened between begging Mikael to simply help him get away from prying eyes and those that he didn't know.

Before Sable could ask where they were, though, his voice caught in his throat, cracking like ice, bloody and broken, Mikael was stepping away and off in search of something. For the pain, his mind supplied. Delayed and sluggish. His thoughts were no longer his own. They were no longer clear as the haze of anguish took from him what control and resolve he had.

...but he was not so shattered as to miss the way Celeste's wise gaze rested on him. Watching.

Another shock of biting and ripping pain lanced through him. Teeth bared, eyes clenched shut against it all as he tried to focus past it, Sable felt the depths of winter, the inescapable sting of its cold-laden death tear its way through his body, his muscles spasming and seizing as he began to shiver under the burden of that bone-freezing chill.

His breathing shallow and labored, he forced himself to open his eyes when there was no faint ebb, no lessening in the frigid torment, and as his icy gaze fell to his wrist, he felt his heart fail its next beat.

What breath he had, what had been visible like dragon's breath when out amidst the snow of true winter, was taken from him. What panic had been abated and staved off by will clutched and snatched at every fiber of his being, wreaking its own sort of havoc on him as he watched the way a... a mark spread out across his wrist. With crystals of ice that clung to its edges, with the burn of numbing cold, it wrapped itself around him, shimmering and rippling, shifting with... with power, with energy, its color a fierce and unnatural blue.

Sable could only watch with wide and vulnerable eyes as it carved itself into him. Frightened of it, of what it could be, he didn't hear Mikael return.

"...wh-what is this...?" breathed before another wave of pain crashed itself against him, and he curled in on himself once more.

---

Mikael worried and wished to protest but sighed and agreed to let him walk helping him to the house carefully. As mikael got a few things darius flew over worriedly and landed by the others arm nudging it with a worried trill to the male as mikael soon came stumbling back with a few things. Mikael froze seeing the cold air from the other and the mark forming on him “w…what…?” He shook himself out of it seeing the other pain and ran over “here I have some pain killers that should ease the discomfort” he offered worriedly wanting to help however he could

Even as his question went unanswered, even as it was echoed by Mikael, the words sounding so distant as he withdrew within himself in an attempt to suffer less, a part of Sable knew what the mark was. Or rather... he knew what it was from, he knew why it marred his pale skin with its vibrant shock of shifting blue that swirled and churned and burned with something that dug in deep and spread out until his whole body ached.

It was because of his blood. It was because of the history his family had worked so tirelessly to remove themselves from, reinventing and denying until the fabrication of their lives and livelihood was perfect and unshakeable.

Until it wasn't.

Until it had finally come for him. First, on the soft wingbeats of a small drake that had claimed him as hers all those years ago... and now with this brand, this testament to what he was, what his family was.

He did not know why it was him that it was happening to, though. Why, out of all his brothers, it was him that looked akin to long-dead descendants that once bore this... this power themselves.

Because that's what it was. Power. He could feel it. Beneath the pain. Beneath the cold. He could hear the thunderous roar that all but coursed through his veins.

The ice of his dragon's blood had come for him.

Breathing ragged, Sable managed to open his eyes to see a look of concern fixated on him, hearing them as focus and resolve wavered under the constant torment. "...th-thank you... Mikael," coming from a cracking voice as he struggled not only to remain upright but conscious.

His hand shook as he accepted the medicine, though, and as he tried to uncork it, the potion nearly fell from his hand as he failed. A soft sound of frustration and exhaustion leaving him as he tried again... and failed again. Weakened greatly from this ordeal.

Mikado worried as he looked from the mark to the other trying to open the medicine. He soon took it back and opened it, assisting the other to drink it “o-of course. Is there anything more I can do? I’ll help however I can just ask” he replied, his worry never fading as his gaze was fixed on the other while darius continued nudging sables side before curling up by him seeming a bit worried as well by the whole ordeal

"...thank you," Sable sighed as he accepted the medicine back, silently grateful for the hovering at the moment as he swallowed it, pride having no place here where he would refuse the assistance. If he could not even manage to uncork it for himself, there was no guarantee he could bring the bottle to his lips, and that he managed to was... nothing short of him expending what final strength he had of his will, his stubbornness victorious for what was likely the last time.

Gods, but he was exhausted. His mind was tormented by the pain that lanced its way through him... just as the cold did, resonating endlessly from the mark he did not understand, burning in a way ice only could, in a way that was crippling and ravenous. A toll that rang and rang, claiming what shreds of warmth he had with each chime that denoted the seconds passing by, taking his strength with him... while something else built within, though it was not his. Not yet.

Sable shivered. The chill finally reaching his spine, he shivered under its weight... and did not stop. Not as he heard Mikael ask if there was something he could do to help. Not as he felt Darius nudging him. Not as he saw Celeste watching on from her perch, distant in a way he was not used to.

He felt frozen, and his body reacted as if he were freezing. Skin growing paler, lips turning faintly purple, cold to the touch as his body heat was seemingly nonexistent... and shaking. Uncontrollably.

"...c-cold," he managed, ducking his head. "It... th-the mark is m-making me cold."

As soon as the words were spoken, Sable cut them off, shaking his head. Still shivering. "S-sorry. I... you have a-already done so much. I-I can... manage."

He couldn't, and the lie was apparent. He simply didn't wish to be a burden on Mikael... more than he already was.