Greyashe chapter 317 is entitled 'For every action..'

Previous chapter 316: Ripple.

Next chapter 318: Everyone's own discourse.

Summaries page.

-Short summary-

One reunion sets up a domino effect of reunions for Van, but as dominos fall will relationships lie fallen in their wake?

-Long summary-

Father and son regard each other silently as time seemingly catches up to them. Colin orders his son to stand, and that they’re leaving. His eyes reflect no warmth, or kindness towards the long lost son he had managed to find after nearly fourteen years of searching. The son still shattered by the events surrounding him over the last few days is still slow to react, first he lost a father figure, and now his actual father has shown up. He wants to be happy about these developments, but it’s all just too sudden. Plus does someone like him deserve to ever know happiness again? Wait…his father…he couldn’t already know? It just now dawns on the boy that his father had greeted him as ‘killer’.

Colin takes his son’s arm and begins to lead him out of the alleyway, but he shirks back and asks how could he possibly have known he’d be here? Does he know what he’s been through recently? Why is he even here?

The father farseer gives his son a few minutes to regain his composure after asking his questions in rapid succession, and answers them in the order they were asked. He had ‘divine’ help which more or less told him where Van might be going, and yes he is very aware of what Van has recently ‘done’. As for the last question, see the first answer. Van’s brow furrows upon hearing about ‘divine help’, and asks what he means? Colin states frankly that he and the winter goddess Ancasta had discussed protecting him until he could perform his duty as a father and husband. Simply put, he had been protected by the winter goddess until he had left Greyashe. Van’s eyes widen and he asks why the winter goddess would protect him of all people? Colin shrugs and replies that he could have been for any number of reasons really, but the truth remains that she had been on his side from his childhood. Not to the extent of having effect on his free will and thoughts, but enough that he grew up safely and happily.

Van realizes now why she had appeared to take Claire back when he and his group had visited GMAGY the first time. She had claimed it was for Claire’s benefit, but it had been for his benefit as well. She had all but told him where to find another of his kind, and done so without breaking any of the rules regarding influencing free will. After all, Van could have chosen to ignore her and acted on his own…like he had when he left his friends and gone to Aschner. So then he had been protected by Ancasta for most of his life. For some reason however, he finds this more discomforting than reassuring.

Colin shakes his head and continues that the winter goddess would be extremely disappointed to know that the life she had protected had only come to this, that she had only spared a murderer. Van locks eyes with his dad and feels the same sense of emptiness he had when he looked into the eyes of another farseer for the first time. The older farseer comments that he can’t actually see into his son since his eyes don’t work on those of his kind, but all one would have to do is follow the tracks around him. He had questioned the people in the vicinity, recalled what Ancasta had told him, and then put the puzzle pieces together. Farseeing isn’t just using your eyes haphazardly or even all of the time. It’s using them to gather evidence to draw a highly accurate ‘conclusion’. Of course that isn’t to say farseers are never wrong, but it’s not something that happens often. Ancasta had told him what happened in his second visit to GMAGY where he had subjugated magic to bend to his will. Although at the time he was overjoyed that his boy had found a way to turn the tables on the dregs of the sentients, but once the recall occurred and Butcher had called everything back he knew that the whisper of power would influence the boy to make bad decisions, hence him putting more of an emphasis on finding him. Despite this, he never would have imagined his son would stoop as low as murdering someone. This is the result of basing one’s sense of self on how much ‘power’ they wield, rather than using this power to protect this sense of self. No matter how noble the reason, anyone who pursues power to subjugate power ends up worse off….it may not be right away but it always happens. 

Van glares at his father and in a hiss demands him to explain what right he has to talk to him this way? He had been an absentee father his entire life, leaving he and his mother to fend for themselves! He left Greyashe to find his mother, and when they met she was under the impression that he had died. Yet he wants to claim that he had been looking for them? For him? Worst yet, they had finally reunited and the only words he has for him are those of condemnation? Father or not, he has no reason to stand for this treatment, especially from a father who had been dead to him up until a few moments ago.

Colin’s lips spread into a slasher grin and he informs his son that he’s actually going easy on him as his father. If he’s having problems taking a lecture from daddy dearest, then he’s going to just go to pieces when public opinion gets a hold of him. Spoiler alert: no one likes murderers.  As his dad, he’s only trying to prepare him for what will be the hell that is the rest of his life. Van’s mouth opens and he fumbles to find a word as Colin continues, saying that he’s speaking from experience after all. Anna Rose; his mom had informed him that he died? She probably told him what he had died doing too right? He was a soldier, who had seen combat and not surprisingly had taken a few lives. Even after he had recovered and started his search for his family, there were people who had lost loved ones at his hands, those who generally did not support the war, and of course those who hate peace. It always seems when you take a life, the ones who will support you are in the minority. Without a sense of purpose, it becomes impossible to keep yourself from falling into the abyss. For every action…there is an equal or greater reaction. Especially when the person you killed is a high ranking offer in the Kaiser mage’s cabinet. Van balks and his father laughs derisively. He didn’t even know that much huh?

Van snaps back that he had no choice but to act out of self defense! Even a weakened enemy can come back and deliver a fatal ending if he is allowed to live! What else could Van do but to attack before being attacked?! As a fellow soldier he should understand that much…!! Colin rebukes his son and replies that soldiers don’t kill to save themselves, but for the sake of saving others. Van begins to counter this but a voice, dainty and familiar calls out to him and erases all of his animosity. He turns and nearly collapses in shock when he sees…

Kani had been walking by with supplies for the group when she heard Van raise his voice. Even though it had been some time since she heard him, and he sounds a little different she can still pick his voice out of a crowd. She immediately went to find them, and upon confirming that it is indeed Van she drops her bag as her hands go up to her mouth in surprise. She calls his name and he turns to her, the two regarding each other for a moment that spans an eternity. Van’s lip quivers and he manages to gasp her name, and despite her stating before how angry she is with the farseer she bounds over and gives him a big hug. Van wraps himself in the embrace, her warmth her scent…her everything. He remembers about his father standing behind them and suddenly his body becomes heavy with realization. He’d have to tell her what he did too…

Reid is hanging out in the hotel room designated for the men in their group of four when Guy nearly rips the door to the room off its hinges and bellows to Reid that ‘she found him’. Reid is understandably confused by this, and Guy clarifies. He had been taking a smoke break outside of the hotel when the receptionist informed him that he had a phone call. Turns out it was Kani who had gone out for supplies, and she had run into –of all people, Van! She called them immediately to inform them, and had said where they are. Guy then ran to tell Reid the news, and that he intends to go see the boy right now. Reid barely fights back a grin of his own, and says that he’ll go too…but this is a good opportunity to bring up their ‘plans’ with Kani. They had been worried about telling her before, but now that Van is back in the picture, perhaps this is the best time to do so. Guy stops in his tracks and frowns, asking if maybe this won’t be too harsh on her? Reid comments that they’ve been discussing their futures for a while and had determined that this is the best scenario for both of them. They had dragged it out long enough to be honest, and it would only make things that much more complicated should they continue to perpetuate things.

Guy mulls this over for a moment, and then gives Reid a disgusted look. He gets what he’s saying and pretty much agrees, but could he refrain from using ‘us’ and ‘our future’ so much when talking about this? It is somewhat…not cool. Reid frowns for a moment and reminds Guy that he has a sword. Guy flexes his muscles and replies that he has his guns.

Candle who’s next door hears the commotion and heads over to the men’s room to find out what’s going on. She witnesses Guy and Reid putting each other in headlocks, and watches for a few moments until they notice her. She then asks if this is that ‘male bonding’ thing she had heard so much about? Will they go and get ice cream afterward? That’s what she and Kani do when they’re bonding, anyway. The two trade glances and quickly back away from one another. Reid then excitably announces that Kani had found Van while shopping and they’re going to see him. Candle nods, and announces that she’ll accompany them. Reid then adds that he wants to explain something to her, and asks Candle to have a seat.

After his explanation Candle is surprised and asks why he’d do this? Reid says that it’s something he and Guy have been mulling over ever since Van left, and now that they’ve found him again, it would be the best time to begin. Candle looks forlornly at the swordsman and asks what she is supposed to do? Reid asks her for a favor, but only if she feels up to it. Candle gives him a perplexed look but nonetheless agrees.

Van and his Dad sit some distance from each other on a wide park bench as Kani returns from making her phone call to Guy, Reid and Candle. She remarks with a smile that Guy sounded really excited over the phone and that once he gathered Reid and Candle he’d be right over. She then notes that father and son are both metaphorically and physically distant from each other, and sits in between them.  She glances over at Colin who gives her quick look. Kani is surprised to see him since Van had said he died, or at least his mother believed he did but he had introduced this man as his father. True enough they look very similar in ways that are not limited to a farseer’s heritage. Colin grins and comments that a lady who can look good in bandages is a truly beautiful one, and bows his head thanking her for looking out for his idiot son –emphasizing the ‘idiot’ part. Kani blushes and wonders why both of his parents had gotten the wrong impression about she and Van’s relationship from the outset? Do they really suit each other that much as a couple? She then turns to Van who has kept his head down and his mouth closed. She asks if he’s okay? Van replies that he can’t look her in the eye after all that he’s seen…and done. Kani sighs and fixes her gaze forward, replying that she is furious with him for running away and leaving them…and her like he had but she doesn’t want him to think that she’ll never forgive him. She then places her hand on her back and softly tells him that she’s missed him and that they’re all here and in this together. Van peers up and meets her smile, genuine and unknowing of the weight he’s bearing.

His psyche crumbles.

Van holds his head in his hands and confesses to being a murderer. Kani’s mouth hangs open and she stammers a question but Van continues, that he is the one who killed Langston Hydon with the magic he had been able to obtain thanks to Candle. Hydon had been defenseless, and wouldn’t be able to harm him in any way, but he had done it because the magic had pushed him. No—he had been of stable mind when it all happened, but he had done it anyway. He had been scared, and most of all angry. Angry that he’s always being pushed to the brink like this, always too weak to do anything. What was he supposed to do? The man had even killed Aschner as powerful as he was….and he couldn’t take it. He couldn’t bear this weight anymore.

He turns to Kani and begs her to say something. Kani regards her friend for a moment, her expression remote, considering what she has heard. She starts to speak but then reconsiders and stays silent. Van stares at her and pleads with her not to stay quiet. To tell him what she is thinking, he doesn’t want to rely on that power if he doesn’t have to. No matter what he prides himself on not peeking into his friends and he wants to keep it that way. Kani then asks what he would do if she doesn’t say anything? Would he use that power on her too? Van gasps and shakes his head so violently that his hat flies off his head. Never would he even venture to--- Kani corrects him ‘Not never. Only if he doesn’t have to.’ So if he feels the need to use that power then…he would. What qualifies this ‘need’, and what will stop it from eventually becoming ‘whenever I want to?’ Van glares at her and asks if she knows what she’s saying? He’d never do that. Ever. She should know that better than anyone else.

Kani shakes her head and replies that she thought she knew him….but…

Van grips her shoulders and asks her what more he could have done? He was going to die before seeing them again! Could she really tell him that she wouldn’t have done the same in his situation? The witch gives him a cold gaze and replies that she has some principals at least, and one of those is not to kill those who are not fighting back.

Guy, Reid and Candle appear and excitably clamor over Van upon seeing him. Kani surprises them however by standing up and walking away. She stops some distance away and reminds Van that they were never seeking ‘strength’ but each other. The moment he decided he’d be better off without them –even if it was only for a brief moment was the moment that he became completely immersed in a ill begotten lust for power.

She then metaphorically turns the knife in his wound and adds that she saw Claire and that she regretfully had to attend to other matters so she couldn’t accompany them. Though maybe it’s for the best, since she’d only be disappointed in what he is now.

Kani leaves as Guy, Reid and Candle trade confused glances and glance at Van who simply stares at the ground, too shocked to speak, move or even to give in to his overwhelming sense of anger. He is once again just numb.

All the while Colin Rayleigh simply stares into the air.