Rebirth of a Fey Lord

The library was a labyrinth of towering bookshelves, their spines worn and faded from centuries of handling. A soft glow from enchanted lanterns illuminated the vast space, casting long shadows that danced across the wooden floors. Eogan sat at a large oak table, quill in hand, staring at the parchment before him. His assignment for the Theory of Arcane Arts lay unfinished, a simple prompt asking for an analysis of elemental control theories. Yet his mind was elsewhere, his gaze unfocused.

Lorcan and Lirien sat nearby, their parchments filled with scribbles and diagrams. They exchanged glances, both noting Eogan's eerie stillness. Lorcan's fingers tapped nervously against the table's edge while Lirien's eyes flicked between his notes and Eogan's blank parchment.

"What's wrong with him?" Lorcan whispered, leaning closer to Lirien.

Lirien shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "He hasn't said a word since we got here. It's like he's... somewhere else. Do you think it has to do with what happened earlier?"

Lorcan nodded. "Probably. The professor cutting class short after Eogan's magic got out of control? That wasn't normal." He glanced briefly at his lap, where his cloak twitched slightly. He carefully placed his hand over Neala, the baby imp, hiding her from view. The tiny creature's claws occasionally brushed against his arm, and he could feel her soft, worried chirps vibrating through the fabric.

"She's been like this since the training ground," Lorcan murmured under his breath, careful not to draw attention to Neala. "It's like she's scared for him."

Lirien folded his arms, his gaze fixed on Eogan. "He's stronger than he lets on," he said quietly. "But that kind of power... it's not something you just shrug off. Whatever he's dealing with, it's bigger than we realize."

Inside Eogan's mind, a different conversation was unfolding. Leanan's voice was a soft murmur, wrapping around his thoughts like a gentle breeze.

"You need to focus, Eogan. They're starting to worry about you."

He sighed inwardly, his quill still motionless. "I can't stop thinking about it, Leanan. That moment back at the training grounds... it was like I was back in my old life, but everything was wrong. The power was there, but it was wild. Unrefined. I've never felt so... out of control."

Leanan's voice softened further. "It's because you're human now. Your body isn't built for the kind of magic you wielded as a fey lord. The pathways—your mana meridians—they're still adjusting. But you can learn to adapt. You just need time."

"Time," Eogan repeated bitterly. "I don't have time, Leanan. If I lose control again, it won't just be me who gets hurt."

"That's why I'm here," she said firmly. "You don't have to do this alone. We'll figure it out together."

He glanced down at his parchment, the quill trembling in his hand. Slowly, he began to write, his thoughts finally aligning. Leanan's presence steadied him, and her encouragement was a quiet strength that pushed back the chaos in his mind.

Meanwhile, Lorcan and Lirien's whispered conversation continued.

"Do you think the professor noticed something?" Lorcan asked. "He seemed... off. Like he knew more than he was letting on."

Lirien frowned. "Faelan's a mystery. But he's smart. If he noticed something unusual about Eogan, he'll keep it to himself until he's certain."

Lorcan hesitated, his hand resting protectively over Neala, concealed within his cloak. He didn't want to reveal her presence to Lirien just yet. "I felt it, too," he said quietly. "When Eogan lost control, something within me... it reacted. I don't know how to explain it, but it was like I could feel the weight of his magic." He carefully says, hinting that he could feel Eogan's magic through his bond with Neala but keeping Lirien in the dark as to why he could.

"And?" Lirien prompted, oblivious to Neala's presence.

"And it scared me," Lorcan admitted. "I'm not scared of him. I'm scared for him. It's as though he's carrying something too heavy for one person." Neala nodded in agreement with Lorcan's words, hidden under the comfort of his cloak.

Lirien's gaze softened. "Then we'll help him. Whatever it is, he doesn't have to carry it alone."

Eogan's quill moved steadily now, the words flowing as he transcribed his thoughts on elemental control. Leanan's guidance was a constant undercurrent, helping him navigate the complexities of human magical theory.

"It's strange," he said to her. "The way humans approach magic... it's so rigid. Like they're trying to tame something never meant to be caged."

"That's because they fear what they don't understand," Leanan replied. "Fey magic is wild, unpredictable. It's alive in a way human magic isn't. They see it as a threat and try to control it with rules and theories."

"But that's not how it works," Eogan said. "Magic isn't just a tool. It's a part of us. It flows through everything, connecting us to the world. Trying to control it like this... it's unnatural."

Leanan's laugh was soft, tinged with sadness. "You've always understood that even before you became human. That's what made you different, Eogan. It's why the other lords feared you."

Her words sent a chill down his spine. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. The memories of his past life were still fragmented, but they carried a weight he couldn't ignore.

"Eogan?" Lorcan's voice broke through his thoughts. Eogan looked up, startled to find both Lorcan and Lirien watching him intently.

"What is it?" Eogan asked, his voice hoarse.

Lorcan frowned. "You've been quiet for too long. Are you okay?"

Eogan hesitated, his gaze darting to Neala, still concealed beneath Lorcan's cloak. Her tiny eyes, filled with concern, peeked out from the folds of his sleeve. He forced a small smile.

"I'm fine," he said, though his voice lacked conviction. "Just... focused on the assignment."

Lirien raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Instead, he slid a book across the table toward Eogan. "Here. This might help. It's an old text on elemental theories. Professor Faelan referenced it in class once."

Eogan took the book with a nod of thanks, though his mind was still racing. He couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in around him. The weight of his power, secrets, and past loomed over him like a storm waiting to break.

Leanan's voice was a whisper in his mind. "We'll get through this, Eogan. Together."

As he opened the book and began to read, he clung to her words like a lifeline. But deep down, he couldn't help but wonder how long he could keep everything from unraveling.