After a while, Arin went back into the Mirror of Record.
He didn't bother with seeing any more of Rin's memories with Ralen. He himself had already experienced first-hand the way their last interaction had gone. Judging by the bruises on Ralen's face, not well for him. Then again, judging by the fact that Rin's soul had pretty much been thrown out of its own body midway through it, it hadn't exactly gone any better for him either.
Well, it wouldn't be right to say he was done with the memories of the two of them together. There was still one other thing he needed to confirm. However, he figured he'd get to that at the very end.
Whatever. For now…
Why was Rin living here?
…
…
Rin was lying on the ground, looking at the sunlight-dappled canopy above him. The air was pleasantly warm, sweet, and earthy. Its fresh, comforting scent filled his nose with each breath that heaved his chest. He must've been in the middle of the forest somewhere; there was no trace of any human activity, nor any noise around him, other than the rustling of leaves, and the occasional, distant birdsong.
It would've been a pleasant memory, if not for the fact that he was lying there not for relaxation, but because he was physically incapable of moving.
His body hurt, and his appendages were splayed around him like a broken toy's limbs. They might as well have been that; he couldn't move even a finger. In fact, he couldn't even feel most of them.
It was so, in such a strange combination of pain and numbness, that Rin was on the forest floor. The strangest thing was that, despite his current state, he didn't seem to be struggling to maintain consciousness. If anything, his senses (at least, what he could feel of them) seemed to be amplified somehow.
He didn't say anything. He probably couldn't. All he seemed capable of in the moment was continuing to lie there, and breathing. That, he didn't stop.
In… out… in… out…
Maintaining a steady rhythm, he focused on a single point above him – a spot where the gap in the treetops was somewhat larger, allowing more of the sunlight through. His gaze stayed fixed there, without him even screwing his eyes to keep some of the almost painful brightness out.
It was then that Arin suddenly realized there was a wetness around his temples.
He was crying.
Was it from forcing himself to stare at the light? Or was it…
The sound of something large flapping, coming his way from the distance, broke through the silence. Rin pursed his lips slightly, but didn't react in any other way. He didn't even look to see who was coming.
The flapping sounds seemed to descend from the sky a distance away, and were followed by the soft thudding of hooves against the earth. They fast approached him from somewhere to his left, and then seemed to stop about twenty feet away.
Still, Rin didn't turn to look.
Someone dismounted and slowly walked closer to him, dried leaves crackling under their steps.
'Crown prince,' came a familiar, deep voice, and a shadow fell over him as the white-haired man walked into view. 'How kind of you to join me in my exile.'