Chapter 278 - A Storm for Seekers (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1714 9th day of the 1st month*

Devina bit her lip awkwardly as she walked inside the cabin. Aegin stood at the far end of the room, looking out of the porthole. They had barely been able to talk amicably since the incident, not at all until a week afterwards when Aegin had stated he needed to feed.

They'd tried to keep up appearances as best they could, but with Gelling and the rest of crew, not to mention many of the passengers, whispering about the disappearance of the two Magicians mid-journey, there had been an added pressure that had made resolving their differences all the more difficult. In the end, whenever Devina had gathered the courage to speak with him, Aegin had found a way to avoid it or had simply ignored her. It was growing increasingly frustrating.

”Do you need to-”

”Not tonight,” said Aegin.

Devina frowned, ”I...I can sense your hunger”.

She'd realised what that feeling within her was. That part of her that trusted him. She'd found that if she tried to grab a hold of it, she could actually sense when he needed to feed. It was why she'd made her way back to the room immediately upon finishing dinner.

Aegin sighed, ”I'm always hungry, Devina”.

”Then why don't you just-”

Aegin turned to face her, standing straighter. She saw the challenge in his eyes. The question asking if she really wanted to go there again. Devina bit her lip again.

Aegin turned away, picking up his jacket and moving past her towards the door, ”Stay inside tonight”.

Devina's eyes widened, ”No, please, you're not really going to-”

Aegin paused, turning to look at her, ”Don't make me knock you out”.

Devina frowned, crossing her arms, ”Well, perhaps you might have to. We made a deal, you feed off me and not the rest of the crew for this journey”.

Aegin turned fully to face Devina, his eyes narrowed at her challenge.

”Devina, why do you always push your ideals onto me?” asked Aegin, ”Why? You know that I am fundamentally different from you, don't you? It's part of the reason you came after me, wasn't it?”

Devina's eyes widened in surprise at his questions, ”Do you not even acknowledge that taking lives as you do is wrong?”

Aegin sighed, ”Devina, if you think for a moment that I enjoy taking lives, you are severely mistaken. I take them because of people like you and your Paladins, and your magician friends. People who, given the chance, would condemn me and all like me and seek to end my life simply because of the danger it poses to yours”.

”A danger you are only proving,” Devina pointed out.

”Because I don't have a choice,” Aegin stated in exasperation, ”I'm not like him, I...” Aegin trailed off, turning away before he sighed and continued, ”I've never been someone that can find alternative solutions to problems. I'm not a great thinker. What I am is a survivor. And that is all I am trying to do. Survive. Survive and hopefully find somewhere where I can live a simple and peaceful life”.

Devina could see the exhaustion in his expression. He was tired of having this argument with her. But she was tired too. Tired of trying to fight a battle that she was only just beginning to realise that she didn't understand.