Fire and Water: Aeilus's Talisman

Aeilus is playing with his newest toy. It's golden device that can walk around do tricks all by itself if he turns its key, and it is his new favorite. His uncle, Admiral, always sends him a new clockwork toy for his birthday, each one more exciting than the last, and each one his new favorite toy for the year. 

He looks up at the sound of the door opening, and the heavy footsteps that always accompany his father. 

"Aeilus, I'd like to speak to you." He states, more as a command than a question or invitation.

Aeilus obediently stands up, looking up at his father's face. Their vibrant blue eyes, essentially the only feature they share, meet, and his father pulls something out of a pocket. He presents his open hand to Aeilus. Resting in his palm is a pendant, made of a swirly purple gemstone engraved with the family symbol, a silver leaf-patterned cap, and a leather cord. Without waiting for further instruction, Aeilus greedily snatches it, twirling the cord around his fingers. His father chuckles.

"This is a symbol that you are a part of this family, Aeilus." He declares. "You are to wear it at all times, alright? It serves to prove your status, and it stops others from interacting with you magic."

Aeilus nods eagerly. He doesn't particularly care about any of the things his father just said, he's too focused on the shiny gemstone in his hands and the thoughts of when he can return to his toys. Status isn't important to him yet, and magic is a worry for when he's older.

With another light chuckle, his father slips the cord over Aeilus's head so that the gemstone settles in the middle of his chest. He spins it in his fingers and then, with a quick "Thanks!", he returns to his playing.

 

Aeilus fidgeted with his pendant, watching Kael. The Greenwing was busily looking over maps, scanning passages in books, and whatever other research to find himself a way home. The roots of his hair had shifted from purple to a violent-looking red, which only crept further across his hair every time Aeilus tried talking. He didn't know much about Kael, but he was pretty sure magic acting out of control like that was a bad sign. Personally, he didn't see why the other fairy even wanted to go back. It's not like there was anything all that great about the fairy capitol, especially in the Greenwing area. But it was kind of, a little bit, his fault that Kael was trapped here at all. So he did have to help him get home. 

He glanced down at the pendant he was still spinning between his fingers. It was one of the few items still marking him as royalty, the other being, of course, the crown sitting at the end of his bed. Aside from status, which didn't really matter in this world anyway, it was also the only thing keeping his secret safe from Kael. At least, he thought it was, he'd never been entirely sure how it worked. He wondered briefly if the secret was even worth keeping at this point, but decided there was no reason to reveal it if he didn't have to. After all, the secret was supposed to keep him safe. Or something like that.

He dropped the pendant and laid back on his bed, head still turned so he could see Kael. After a moment, he turned his gaze toward the ceiling, wondering just what sort of mess he'd gotten himself into.