Blue glanced out the window at the familiar forms of Nightmare and Dream sunbathing at the fringes of the glade, munching on a loaf of bread as Oromis served their food.
"I know why fighting Galbatorix is worth it, though thousands of people may die." Eragon suddenly said, in the language they were forced to use at the moment, thus drawing the other from his observations as he turned to his human friend.
"Oh?" Oromis asked, sitting down. "Do tell me."

"Because Galbatorix has already caused more suffering over the past hundred years than we ever could in a single generation. And unlike a normal tyrant, we cannot wait for him to die. He could rule for centuries or millennia- persecuting and tormenting people the entire time- unless we stop him. If he became strong enough, he would match on the dwarves and you here in Du Weldenvarden and kill or enslave both races. And…" He rubbed his palm's heel on the wood grain of the table thoughtfully. "…because rescuing the two eggs from Galbatorix is the only way to save the dragons."

The teapot was whistling, growing louder until it shrieked. Blue winced slightly at the piercing noise until Oromis stood and removed it from the fire, pouring the blueberry tea into cups for the two of them. "Now, you understand." He responded.
"I understand, but I take no pleasure in it." Eragon bit back a scowl.

"You shouldn't." Blue muttered.
"No you should not." Oromis affirmed. "But now we can be confident that you won't shrink from the path when you are confronted by the injustices and atrocities the Varden will surely commit. We cannot afford to have you consumed by doubts when your strength and focus are most needed." The elf steepled his fingers and stared at his own tea, pondering whatever he saw within. Blue stirred his cup, watching the steam rise from it as Oromis spoke again.
"Do you believe Galbatorix is evil?"

"Of course!" Eragon immediately answered. He turned to Blue, who was thinking.
"No. He's just mad. Very mad. Insane sort of mad." He replied slowly, glancing up from the tea momentarily. Oromis nodded as Eragon blinked.
"Do you believe he considers himself evil?"
Eragon held his tongue this time, glancing at Blue before responding. "I doubt it."
"No." The skeleton answered.
Oromis tapped his fingers against themselves before addressing the human student. "Then you must also believe that Durza was evil?"

Now Eragon fell silent as he thought for a moment. Blueberry answered first this time. "Not the sorcerer himself, but the spirits possessing him certainly were black and wicked."
Eragon nodded with his words. "He wasn't evil himself, but the spirits that controlled him were."
Oromis sipped the tea, which made Blue blink and eagerly do the same with his own as the teacher asked another question.
"And what of the Urgals? Are they evil?"

Eragon tightened his grip on his spoon until his knuckles were white like a skeleton. Blue regarded him from behind his own mug, ignoring the fact that he had a blueberry addiction because of his name. The human spoke with suppressed rage.
"When I think of death, I see an Urgal's face. They're worse than beasts. The things they've done…" He shook his head, overcome with emotion. Blue blinked, setting down his cup as he remembered his friends' reputations back in the Multiverse, how many of them tried to honor the Urgals because there was no telling what they were truly like.

Oromis posed an intelligent question in response to Eragon's opinion. "Eragon, what kind of opinion would you form of humans if all you knew of them were the actions of your warriors on the field of battle?"
"That's not…" Eragon struggled to find an argument. "It's different. Urgals deserve to be wiped out, every last one of them."
Blue immediately regretted drinking in that moment, nearly doing a spittake at that sentence. Oromis politely handed him a cloth to wipe his face and continued speaking to Eragon. "Even their females and children? The ones who haven't harmed you and likely never will? The innocents? Would you kill them and condemn an entire race to the void?"
"They wouldn't spare us, given the chance."

"Eragon!" Oromis snapped as Blue scooted away from the human, remembering the stories the elders of his AU would tell of humans and how they treated monsters. He shivered in horror.

"I never want to hear you use that excuse again, that because someone else has done- or would do- something means that you should too. It's lazy, repugnant, and indicative of an inferior mind. Am I clear?" Oromis chatsized severely.
"Yes, Master." Eragon mumbled.
The elf drank more of the tea, glaring at the human as Blue quietly stirred his own, struggling to control his emotions.

"What do you actually know of Urgals?" He finally asked, gently taking Blue's hand, stopping the mindless stirring to grab his attention.
"I know their strengths, weaknesses, and how to kill them. It's all I need to know."
Blue licked his teeth before answering unsteadily, snatching Eragon's attention with his emotional voice.
"I know the same as he does, but I often wonder why they are so violent. I don't believe they're evil, I could see the fear and pain in their faces when I fought them, as well as their list for blood."

Oromis nodded, understanding his discomfort before he addressed mostly Eragon once more. "Why do they hate and fight humans, though? What about their history and legends, or the way in which they live?"
Eragon opened his mouth, then hesitated, gazing at Blue while the skeleton avoided meeting his eyes.
"I don't see why that matters." He spoke in a subdued voice. Oromis sighed, face weary. "Just remember, that at a certain point, your enemies may have to become your allies. Such is the nature of life."
Eragon looked ready to argue, but took one look at Blue, then lost his will to fight. He instead focused on his untouched drink, swirling it in his cup as he pondered.

"Is that why Galbatorix enlisted the Urgals?"
Oromis nodded. "That is not an example I would have chosen, but yes."
Eragon peered into his cup curiously. "It seems strange that he befriended them. After all, they were the ones who killed his dragon. Look at what he did to us, the Riders, and we weren't even responsible for his loss."
"Ah." Oromis sighed. "Mad Galbatorix may be, but he's still as cunning as a fox. I guess that he intended to use the Urgals to destroy the Varden and the dwarves- and others, if he had triumphed in Farthen Dûr- thereby removing two of his enemies while simultaneously weakening the Urgals so he could dispose of them at his leisure."

And so the topic closed, Oromis guiding them on how to better control forms of energy, light, heat, electricity, gravity. Blue discovered that blue magic could manipulate more than gravity as well, though the results were always blue. Oromis still focused on spells rather than his own magic, explaining that given the greater energy drain the elements had on the caster, it was easier to shape what was there with magic rather than create it from nothing at all. Blue couldn't ignore how Oromis was clearly aware of the four gods watching from behind the treeline- or rather, two watching and two napping. Blue was pretty sure he saw Reaper wave back after he waved. By then, Eragon noticed as well and hesitated.

Then Oromis abruptly broke off and switched topics. "How would you kill with magic?" Blueberry froze, caught off guard by the question as Eragon answered. "I've done it many ways." He glanced at Blue, who just waved for him to continue as he gathered his wits. "I've hunted with a pebble- moving and aiming it with magic- as well as using word jierda to break Urgals' legs and necks. Once, with thrysta, I stopped a man's heart."

Blue finally had his own response, recalling how Oromis left the question open to ideas as well as recounting actions.
"At the simplest, I could use blue magic and throw the enemy around until they die of their wounds; it's actually a commonly used tactic by skeletons when growing desperate." He paused. "I could blast them, or drop them onto a bed of sharpened bone attacks. Gruesome, but effective. However, for spells I could probably just stop their hearts as Eragon said."

"There are more efficient methods." Oromis explained. "What does it take to kill a man, Eragon and Uniter? A sword through the chest? A broken neck? The loss of blood?" He shook his head. "All it takes is for a single artery in the brain to be pinched off, or for certain nerves to be severed. With the right spell, you could obliterate an army."

Blue blanched as Eragon scowled to himself in disgust. "I should have thought of that in Farthen Dûr." Blue gaped at the idea of giving the enemy simply no chance, but wisely kept silent.
"Again, why didn't Brom teach me this? Or even Nightmare for that matter?"
"Because he did not expect you to face an army for months or years to come; it is not a tool given to untested Riders. As for Alalëa, it is likely he saw the same wisdom."
"If I may add, I believe he simply didn't think of it. Nightmare doesn't know much more on human anatomy than the rest of us skeletons do. And what little we know is likely incorrect or heavily influenced by the few humans we are familiar with."
Oromis nodded, Eragon asking another question. "If it's so easy to kill people, though, what's the point of us or Galbatorix raising an army?"

"To be succinct, tactics." Oromis explained. "Magicians are vulnerable to physical attack when they are embroiled in their mental struggles. Therefore, they need warriors to protect them. And the warriors must be shielded, at least in part, from magical attacks, else they would be slain within minutes. These limitations mean that when armies confront one another, their magicians are scattered throughout the bulk of their forces, close to the edge but not so close as to be in danger. The magicians on both sides open their minds and attempt to sense if anyone is using or about to use magic. Since their enemies might be beyond their mental reach, magicians must also erect wards around themselves and their warriors to stop or lessen long-range attacks, such as a pebble flying toward their head from a mile away."

"Surely one man can't defend an entire army." Eragon argued as Blue just stood there in shock.
"Not alone, but with enough magicians, you can provide a reasonable amount of protection. The greatest danger in this sort of conflict is that a clever magician may think of a unique attack that can bypass your wards without tripping them. That itself could be enough to decide a battle." Oromis explained, then regarded Blue. "Also, you must keep in mind that the ability to use magic is exceedingly rare among the races. We elves are no exception, although we have a greater allotment of spellweavers than most, as a result of oaths we bound ourselves with centuries ago. The majority of those blessed with magic have little or no appreciable talent; they struggle to heal even so much as a bruise."
Eragon nodded as Blue began to wonder.

"But it still takes the same amount of energy to accomplish a task." The human continued.
"Energy, yes, but lesser magicians find it harder than you or I do to feel the flow of magic and immerse themselves in it. Few magicians are strong enough to pose a threat to an entire army. And those who are usually spend the bulk of their time during battles evading, tracking, or fighting their opposites, which is fortunate from the standpoint of ordinary warriors, else they would all soon be killed."
"The Varden don't have many magicians." Eragon realized.
"That is one reason why you are so important." Oromis gestured slightly.

"What about skeletons? Monsters?" Blue suddenly asked. "What of them?" Oromis quested back. Blue scratched his skull nervously. "We're made entirely of magic, and even the weakest of us here are capable of it. It's a natural ability. What could that mean for Alagaësia when more of us arrive? Because I can't help but notice that there seems to be some sort of balance between the races, and we disrupt that with our very nature. I'm not entirely sure, but I'm worried our very presence could damage the stability of Alagaësia." He finished fretfully. Oromis gazed off into the trees, where the visitors watched from afar.

"Your observations are duly noted, Uniter. Know this: We have already come to the same realizations and have been discussing the issue in length. You shouldn't trouble yourself with the topic when it is of no fault of your own. Understood?"
"Yes sir, Master Oromis." Blue dipped his skull and looked away.
There was a brief silence, then Eragon broke it.

"But Master, what of wards? Do they only drain energy from you when they are activated?"
"Aye."
"Then, given enough time, you could acquire countless layers of wards. You could make yourself…" The boy struggled with the elven tongue. "…Untouchable?… Impregnable? … Impregnable to any assault, magical or physical."
Oromis shook his head. "Wards," He stated, "rely upon the strength of your body. If that strength is exceeded, you die. No matter how many wards you have, you will only be able to block attacks so long as your body can sustain the output of energy."
"And Galbatorix's strength has been increasing each year.… How is that possible?"
Oromis studied the birds as Blue blinked thoughtfully.
"From the dragons." The skeleton murmured, Oromis's eyes snapping to rest on him.
"Yes, the Wyrdaí Islingrya seem to have the understanding that he somehow stole it from the now-dead dragons." Eragon explained.
"And how have you reached this conclusion?" Oromis questioned of Blue.

"I'm not sure, actually." He admitted, before staring off into the distance. "It's more of a feeling. I can feel all sorts of things, but I don't know what it means until something triggers it. Then it's like a puzzle clicking together and I understand. Though it's only small pieces… so it's more like I connected two of them rather than completed the puzzle. I feel as though I am tied to a sea of unorganized knowledge, and I can't make sense of it until I'm hinted from the outside world. Or.. inside world? Compared to that ocean, it's just.. I can't think of the words to describe it."

Oromis seemed surprised, if only for a moment. "Would you consider this ocean to be connected or even part of magic?"

"Connected, yes. Part of? Not exactly. But I do believe it's close with magic as a whole. If I may call it anything, I'd say it was fate. The Fate of Alagaësia. Not exactly a person or deity of any kind, but an entity. It's simply there. And many times we understand things that are going to happen and we feel it tighten and we can't speak up on what we know is to come. I know Galbatorix is going to die. But he isn't the only king about to die. All of us feel it, Master Oromis. We all knew Ajihad was going to die. We knew Nasuada would take his place. We knew the Twins would vanish- we knew there was going to be a battle. And when I first saw your affliction, I knew it wouldn't kill you but would result in your death all the same. I feel it all, as does GB, Nightmare, Error, the others- Draco is still trying to understand what he senses, but he is beginning to see it too. Fate is unstoppable, and it hurts knowing even a glimpse of the future." Blue choked out, wiping his face as his glowing tears dampened his shirt. He felt a small measure of relief upon letting out what was troubling him.

Oromis approached him slowly, then rested his hand on his shoulder. "Do not fret over that which you cannot control. It is good news that you can speak freely of this now. Is there anything else you want to tell me, Uniter?"
Blue rubbed his sockets, trying to compose himself. "Um. I think you should ask Horror. It speaks through him directly on occasion. Nightmare told me it warned him of Murtaugh's fate. It…" His words died in his mouth, and he was left staring at Oromis pleadingly.
"I see. You have given me much to think about, Uniter. Worry not, for you have done what you can with a rare gift. I can assure you that it will be put to use."
Blue suddenly buried himself in his teacher's abdomen, hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry." He whimpered.

The elf seemed shocked, but endured the crushing grip as Blue subtly dried his tears in the white robes. Backing away, he apologized again. "I know it's probably unbecoming of me to cry like that." His voice wobbled. "I have a hard time reining in my emotions." He rubbed his face nervously while awaiting judgement.

"Your heart is in the right place." Oromis told him. "Given that you do not let it overrule your logic, you can shed all the tears you need to. You value your own empathy over the opinion of the public; that is admirable in and of itself."
"Oh." Blue giggled softly. "I value opinions all right, I know I'm not respected as an adult most of the time. It's really useful, people don't expect things from me and I can use it to my advantage- but thank you anyway, Master Oromis."

The elf nodded before handing him water and changing the subject. "Let us begin on the methods of killing efficiently." Blue nodded wearily and let himself be buried in simple spells of lethality. It was basic memorization.

Eragon grinned as they finished. "The Ra'zac won't stand a chance the next time they cross my path."
"You must still be wary of them." Oromis warned him.
"Why? Three words and they'll be dead."
"What do ospreys eat?" The elf countered.
"Fish." Both students replied in unison. "Of course." Eragon added.
"And if a fish were slightly faster and more intelligent than it's brethren, would it be able to escape a hunting osprey?"
"Not likely." Blue shook his skull.
"I doubt it." Eragon agreed. "At least not for very long."
"Just as ospreys are designed to be the best possible hunters of fish, wolves are designed to be the best possible hunters of deer and other large game, and every animal is gifted to best suit it's purpose. So too are the Ra'zac designed to prey upon humans. They are the creatures in the dark, the dripping nightmares that haunt your race." He explained to Eragon. He regarded Blue at the mention of nightmares, who in turn glanced over at the goopy one dozing in the patch of sunlight not far off.

"What manner of creatures are they?" Eragon asked nervously. "Neither elf; dwarf; dragon; skeleton; monster; furred, finned, or feathered beast; reptile; insect; nor any other category of animal."

The human laughed humorlessly. "Are they plants, then?"
"Not that, either. They reproduce by laying eggs, like dragons. When they hatch, the young- or pupae- grow black exoskeletons that mimic the human form. It's a grotesque imitation, but convincing enough to let the Ra'zac approach without undue alarm. All areas where humans are weak, the Ra'zac are strong. They can see on a cloudy night, track a scent like a bloodhound, jump higher, and move faster. However, bright light pains them and they have a morbid fear of deep water, for they cannot swim. Their greatest weapon is their evil breath, which fogs the minds of humans- incapacitating many- though it is less potent on dwarves, and elves are immune altogether."

Blue blinked as Eragon became lost in thought.
"It felt like a dream where I wanted to run but I couldn't move, no matter how hard I tried."
"A good a description as any." Oromis nodded. "Though the Ra'zac cannot use magic, they are not to be underestimated. If they know that you hunt then, they will not reveal themselves but keep to the shadows, where they are strong, and plot to ambush you as they did in Dras-Leona. Even Brom's experience could not protect him from them. Never grow overconfident, Eragon. Same to you, Uniter. Never grow arrogant, for then you will be careless and your enemies will exploit your weakness."
"Yes, Master."
"Yes, Master Oromis." They both answered.

But the teacher wasn't done. "The Ra'zac remain pupae for twenty years while they mature. On the first full moon of their twentieth year, they shed their exoskeletons, spread their wings, and emerge as adults ready to hunt all creatures, not just humans."
Blue put his hand to his teeth in disgust as Eragon seemed to realize something.
"So the Ra'zac's mounts, the ones they fly on, are really…"
"Aye, their parents."

((Author's note.))
Ayyy, looks like Andlátkyn is back in business, beybee!
All I had to do was reread the book! I'm so happy I'm literally making a freaking author's note! XD
But I'm quite grateful for all of you in being so patient and understanding, as well as enjoying this book so much. It really is amazing, seeing so many people adore the story- I must admit that most of it is just Christopher Paolini's work written in my words. A lot of the Inheritance Cycle characters  I've copied their words. I really hope I can start getting more original, as it really bothers me doing that. It's just the Inheritance Cycle, but rewritten with the additions of a few characters that are basically having their own story within the main story!
...
Should I try to make major changes..?