Normally, he was so enthusiastic, even quietly so. When comfortable, he could still talk someone's ear off with explanations of various things, describe in great detail his favorite types of magic he'd come across so far in his young life. He certainly loved magic. It was so... well, magical. He didn't have any of his own, but he didn't mind so much. He would still learn all he could about all the different kinds there were.
At night, he was different. The light in his eyes was gone, and thankfully so. The shadows and darkness were better. More comfortable. Quieter and peaceful. And home. He seemed wiser and solemn. As if he'd lived so many more lifetimes than he as a small child could count.
Shadows were timeless.
He could feel that he was getting closer, could sense when it watched him. A ghost of a smile crept over his dark lips, and his shaded blue eyes glanced around slowly again, each step so soft in the damp dirt. The forest welcomed him in its blackness, cradled him as if he'd always belonged. As if he would always belong. He could feel the shift though, so subtle, as if the forest's guardian rose to meet him. Or perhaps the night's guardian. He paused, and waited, seeing nothing but black and shadow although he sensed something more.
He wasn't sure how long he waited. Time didn't feel like it mattered anymore, or even existed anymore.
"Hello," a breath of darkness, a sweet caress of perfect gloom and quiet. Cimmerian smiled slowly, a boy whose name itself meant dark, lack of light. His head turned, and he settled on golden eyes embedded in their entwining souls of black.
"I found you," he whispered back, a grave secret that held an impish hint of excitement, dimmed down for their murmurous environment. He wanted to touch it though, touch the night that felt so tied to his heart, his every breath. This was his soul, he knew. Most people already had them, but he had to find his.
And he had.
Before he could become twisted and cause damage, so much damage.
"Are you Cimmerian?" he asked softly, unaware of any other way to confirm his soul matched him. It would have the same name, wouldn't it? How else could he know for sure? It felt real enough. There was gold instead of blue, but perhaps that was such a minor thing.
[ Cimmerian ]
try to make a fire burn again