17th PAWW’s story

Fashionably late again, I’m afraid. 17+ near the end. Also wink to Dragon Age.

The cold was biting his cheeks, freezing the tears gathering at the corner of his eyes. Snowflakes were covering him, making it even more difficult for him to make his way through the knee-deep snow. The storm had taken him by surprise, there was no sign announcing it before it dropped on his head, and he awoke that morning with the tip of his nose and his fingers as cold as ice, wind blowing heavy outside his tent. He would’ve been buried alive if he stayed and waited for the storm to calm down.

Amicus tightened his hold on his cloak, regretting his decision now. The trip shouldn’t have been this long, but at least he didn’t have much farther to walk to reach his destination.

He had received a missive asking for his assistance in a village, claiming he was the only one able to help a young man from dying. His healer abilities were popular throughout the country, and his price always worth the services he provided.

The storm was only growing stronger, and he would’ve freeze to death was it not for his magic. It kept him warm through the thick blanket of snow covering him when he finally reached the small village. It stood in a valley surrounded by mountains, protected by them. The boy was waiting in one of the small houses, his pain drawing Amicus forward like moths to a flame. He knocked and entered without waiting for a reply, eager to shelter from the snow. The house only had two rooms, the main one which included the kitchen, bedroom and a small bath area separated from the rest with a makeshift curtain., and the other room was the cellar to store food for winters such as this one. Three pairs of eyes stared at him like he was a god as he brushed snow off himself, quickly creating a pool under his boots.

“Apologies for the mess, I’ll clean later. I’m Amicus Silverhearth, you sent for me.”

“Bless everything that is good, serah, for you have come,” the older woman, he mother, came at him with gratefulness on her face and took his cold hands in her warm ones.

He allowed the touch for a short moment before he removed his heavy winter cloak. He gave it to the woman and approached the other household occupants. A young girl and man were seated together between the two beds, their face grim. One of the beds was occupied by the comatose boy. Glancing at the pair, his eyes straying a moment longer on the man, he turned his whole attention on the child. His skin had turned white and shiny like the belly of a fish, dark shadows dancing underneath. They had invaded his thin body. Amicus brushed back his dirty blond hair, forcing back a sigh.

“Could you prepare him a bath, please?” He asked to the girl, who nodded and set to work. Amicus turned to the other two.

“You are aware of my fee, yes?”

The mother and son exchanged a look before they nodded at him. The man was easy to look at, with full lips and square jaw and almond-shaped eyes, but innocence still clung to him.

“It is you I choose, young man. Do you consent?” He spoke to him.

After a moment, he received another nod, dark strands of hair hiding his face and his expression to Amicus who smirked.

Once the bath was ready, he went to the bathtub and used his magic to heat up the water to a scorching temperature.

“I’ll take care of him from now,” he told the three persons before he took the boy in his arms with ease and disappeared behind the curtain. He was only wearing a large tunic, so he quickly undressed him and gently settled him in the bathtub. He took some herbs from one of the pouches strapped to his belt and added it to the water before he sat down beside the bathtub, stroking the boy’s hair away from his face once again. His name was Sorath, he quickly gathered from his mind. His eyelids weren’t able to hide the dark light that invaded his eyes. Amicus began to murmur under his breath in his native tongue, his hands resting on the boy’s shoulders. The water moved despite the lack of movement, rippling around Sorath, and the herbs melted through the liquid.

The boy groaned in pain, but Amicus hushed in his ear, now working his hands down his arms. Under his fingers, hidden in the human’s skin and organs, the darkness shifted, hissed as it was forced out. Black smoke mixed in with the water’s vapors. It was a slow process, but Amicus worked the black out of the boys’ heart and mind, draining a lot of his power in the process. His goal was saving the boy, and he sighed once Sorath began to stir. He opened his eyes, blue and clear and filled with life. He looked lost in the middle of the onyx water. Amicus smiled at him, fatigued but not wanting to show it to him.

“You healed me.”

“I did. How are you feeling?”

“Sleepy.”

“Then let’s put you to bed. I’ll get your mother.”

He got on his feet and returned to the main part of the room, where all three humans were worrying their nails off, the mother mouthing silent prayers.

“It is done.”

He sat, more like crashed, in an old creaking chair while they fussed over the boy who claimed he was alright with a tired voice. He was tucked back in the bed and was asleep in seconds under the gazes of his family. Amicus watched in silence. Those displayed feelings were unknown to him, yet deep down he yearned for them. He was to live an autarkic life.

“I cannot thank you enough, serah Silverhearth.” The mother had tears in her eyes, tears of joy. He shook his head.

“Don’t thank me yet.” He looked at the young man. “Are you ready?”

“Yes.” He kissed his mother and his sister’ cheek and joined Amicus at the door. “There is a small shack nearby that nobody uses during winter.”

“After you then.”

They walked out, hit in the face by the still raging storm. The trip was short, and the shack was revealed to be quite cozy, with a cot and a fireplace that Amicus lit up with a flick of his wrist.

“What is your name?” Amicus asked.

“Laurgain.”

“Are you still willing, Laurgain?”

“I wouldn’t be here otherwise, would I?” Fire ran on his tongue, but he was nervous, fidgeting his broad farm boy shoulders.

“Does my appearance repel you?”

That made Laurgain turn an interesting shade of red. “Quite the opposite. I’ve never seen anyone like you.”

“It’s because I’m unique. Now, undress.”

After some hesitation, Laurgain obeyed him and folded his clothes in a neat pile on the bed table. “It’s cold,” he weakly complained, pale skin colored with flicks of amber and gold from the fire. He was embarrassed but stayed steady under Amicus’ gaze, and the healer was seduced.

“I’ll warm you.” He walked up to him and softly cradled his face. “Open your mouth.”

Laugain’s pupils were dilated as he did so, but soon his sky blue eyes closed, and Amicus captured his mouth in a searing kiss, stealing some of his life in the process. He gently pushed him to the cot, his hand feeling the fast-beating heart underneath the strong chest. Laugain settled himself on the bed, his breathing fastening with each piece of clothes Amicus removed. His mouth went dry at the display of naked, pale purple flesh.

Amicus straddled his hips.

The PAWW Project