Warning: This is long.

Also I wrote this a couple years ago.

~~~~

The Gray Prince

"Would you hurry up Relik? We are going to be late!"

"Calm down Eleya," Relik responded, yet he did increase his pace. "It doesn't matter anyway. There won't be any class, only the telling of the story in preparation for tonight's ceremony."

"I know. But I like hearing the story. You should especially."

Relik resided an eyebrow at her as they turned the corner. "And why is that?"

"Because you're a Potential this year. You're in the ceremony," she smiled.

Relik gave her a small smile back in replace of a response. She hasn't needed to remind him. He knew what today was. Everyone knew.

They continued on to school walking through the streets along with the other children age of seventeen and under. Relik frowned and looked up at the stone ceiling over the street. Today would be his final day of school. After the ceremony he'd need to find work to contribute to the family and help Eleya finish her last few years of school. Though there wouldn't be much work available for someone void of Sight. As if his family weren't harassed enough already simply for their lack of wealth due to their mother running off with it, their youngest son didn't even have the Sight. He had cost his family so much already, his siblings seldom had friends, and without his Sight he failed nearly every class he ever took.

With a sigh he found himself tasting the damp air which lingered constantly due to their city being so far underground, away from the sky and the world above. Only the warriors and the Elders were allowed to venture past the Grayer Gates and outside into the world beyond Seeair. People had tried to leave of course, but it never ended well. It resulted in treason for threatening to expose the location of Seeair to Selkix. But even so Relik knew these stone walls wouldn't hold forever.

Relik jolted out of his thoughts when a bell sounded in the distance and he felt a hand grab his own.

"I told you we would be late!" Eleya shouted starting to run and pulling him along.

Relik began to run himself along with her as they hurried through the streets and toward the school. When they approached the large slab of concrete which was the building the bell was luckily still ringing and few other students hurried up the stairs into it. Relik followed suit pulling Eleya with him as they hurried toward the auditorium.

Relik slowed down as they reached the auditorium as they slipped inside. Relik gave Eleya a parting nod and she hurried off to sit with the other fourteen year olds and Relik to the front with the other seventeen year olds.

As Relik hurried to the only open seat and sat down just alas Principal Telin walked on to the stage and began to speak. "Children," she started walking center stage. "It is the time of the anniversary once again. As such today classes have been canceled, and instead our history will be told yet again before you all are to return home and change into your best clothes and proceed to the ceremony which will commence at four this afternoon. And to the Potentials I trust you have enjoyed your time and schooling at this institution and will succeed in the workforce. With that said  I would now like introduce Elder Deleya who shall tell the story of our history."

Relik watched and clapped politely as Principal Telin walked off the stage and a woman walked on. The new woman- Elder Deleya-  wore a long and flowy green dress, it was covered in jewels and other things and her long brown hair was braided and her glowed bright. They shone a bright blue and then shifted to a green and then purple. Her eyes closed for a moment before they suddenly opened wide and shone a bright blue and an image erupted around her pulling everyone in, as if they were inside the vision itself.

The start of the vision was dark as always. Relik let out a silent sigh as he waited to hear the story he had heard every year since he had started school at age three.

"Our story starts Thousands of years ago with Heaven and Hell," Elder Deleya started and around him Relik could see the generic pictures of the two worlds. Heaven covered in its white and gold and a blue sky as a backdrop then beside it appeared the red fiery pictures of Hell. "Back then," Elder Deleya continued, "the Kings of each were at odds, but mortal enemies is a more fitting description. The King of the Angels then had a daughter, Reyleana." At those words an image of a young woman appeared. Her hair was long and golden and her eyes a light gray. Large white wings protruded from her back and Relik silently wondered if there were special holes built into her blue dress to account for them. Though seemingly out of place on her was the almost evil smirk on her face.

"The King of the Demons also had a child about the same age, a son named Myix." The image of the princess faded instead replaced with one of a tall young man. His hair was jet black and his eyes a deep red. Black wings sprouted from his back and a black tail curled around his waist.But despite his appearance he gave a kind yet cunning smile.

"The two much to their father's anger fell in love. There was a great battle between them and their children fled to our world, Misce in search of safety. They found it with a small tribe of people but their father's caught up with them. A large fight ensued and Prince Myix sacrificed his life in order to save those people and the woman he loved." With that said the image of Prince Myix vanished and was replaced by Princess Reyleana holding a wrapped bundle. "Though he did not know at the time of his death that he was to be a father. Princess Reyleana had given birth to a boy, a hybrid, named Mecezark. A boy with the white wings and gray eyes of an Angel but they would turn red when he was angered, he also had a Demon's tail." As she spoke an image of a man fitting that description with a sword in his hand. "They called him the Gray Prince.

"The Prince's arrival was not well welcomed and his mother, Princess Reyleana, was executed by her father when the Prince was only twelve. The Prince ran, he ran to Misce and spent a year wandering and searching for those people who had helped his father years before. He soon found their village but it overrun by the Selkix." The man's image faded replaced by a scene of burning homes and a large armored Selkix man standing in front. He stood tall as most of them did at close to eight feet tall. His rock like skin and heavy armor was covered in soot, dirt, and blood. A large sword held in his large and meaty hands. "The Prince seeing this, grew angry. In less than a few hours he had slaughtered nearly all the Selkix and driven the rest out of the village.

"He healed those villagers remaining and then he blessed them," Relik muttered as the Elder said the same.

"He gifted them with the power of Sight," Elder Deylea said as the images around Relik disappeared and her eyes stopped shining. "The power to see the past and the future. These people became known as Seers. The Prince stayed with them for a little over twenty years protecting them and being worshipped him as a god in return. Though when word had spread of both his grandfathers searching for him he left the people with the promise of his return. Years passed until the village elders had a shared vision. This vision showed a ceremony of all the children age seventeen gathered on the anniversary of the day the Prince had blessed them. So when the day came the children gathered and the elders prayed to the Prince, and at sunset the Prince then appeared to them as a spirit. He told them that he was not able to return just yet but he would when the ceremony occurred and his people needed him the most. He then would take one of the seventeen year olds as a vessel to focus his power and through them he would smite the enemy.

"This why children that every year we gather the Potential Vessels and pray to the Prince in hopes he may come to us. This may very much happen tonight, the Selkix draw near. We must pray for his strength and his power for the Gray Prince will once again come to us," Elder Deylea finished with a low bow and the crowd of students clapped as she then made her way off the stage and Principal Telin returned.

"Return home children and prepare for tonight's ceremony," she told everyone before walking off. When she did Relik stood and with everyone else made his way outside the auditorium. He went along with the crowd as they walked out the school where he turned sharply to stand by the side and wait for Eleya.

She emerged from the crowd a few moments later and together the two began their walk home.

"The story was shorter this year," Eleya commented.
Relik nodded. "Elder Deylea is clearly not much of a story teller. I preferred when Elder Lehder did our speech he at least made it entertaining."

"You do remember that Elder Lehder died correct?"

"I remember but that doesn't change the fact that I prefer his version."

Eleya rolled her eyes. "Well that was your last time hearing it. You're done with school now."

"I know," Relik sighed. "I'm not sure what I am going to do, it's clear if he does appear he won't pick me. I don't know where I could work."

"You could work with Mezil and Zarkien?" Eleya suggested. "They did mention that Mr. Farray needed extra help."

Relik shook his head. "Yes but they use Sight to get stuff done there. If I was to work there the two would bother me to no end about it."

Eleya paused and glanced at the shops around them. "I'm sure someone would hire you. Anyone could use a set of extra hands to lift things. Or you could remain without a job for a short time and build up your skills in-"

"No," Relik responded shaking his head and continuing to walk. "Kyna is working two jobs to care for us. I am going to help, she needs can't work at the Drilles' anymore. They treat her like dirt and give her little pay."

"Would you like me to pass that onto my aunt?" A voice asked from the side. Relik froze and sent a glare over his shoulder. "I'm sure my aunt would not mind firing your filthy sister if that is what you'd like, hmm?" A boy about Relik's age asked stepping forward. His eyes were bright green and his light brown hair and stupid cocky smile only made Relik want to punch him more.

"Go home Leox," Relik growled.

"I will," Leox nodded stepping forward so Relik could unfortunately get a better view of the other boy's fancy suit and tie. "I need to go through my dozens of outfits and have them tailored for the ceremony tonight. But now I'm thinking I should drop my aunt's place and tell her to fire a certain servant."

Relik bit down hard on the inside of his mouth trying to keep himself from speaking. He felt Eleya's hand rest on his arm trying to silently tell him to calm down.

"I suppose I can skip my visit there," Leox continued taking another step closer to Relik. His larger form of both muscle but mostly fat loomed over Relik blocking out the light around them. "If, I were paid the right price. So tell me poor boy, how much do have on you? Or do you need to go out and beg so you can pay me?"

Relik clenched his fists and was about to swing when Eleya spoke first.

"You know we have little," Eleya said calmly. "What kind of person would you be to take from those who have nothing? You would take our money but I know you would never use it, then what would you gain?"

"Exactly what I want," Leox responded stepping up into Relik's face. Relik still said nothing as he silently pushed Eleya behind him.

"And what is that?" Eleya questioned.

Leox cocked his head to one side but didn't move for a moment. Relik was going to take that moment to run away from this when a fist slammed into his stomach and he doubled over. He coughed as pain traveled to his stomach. He tried to ignore the feeling and instead began thinking about what he would do to Leox had Eleya not been watching. His murderous thoughts were interrupted as a second punch landed in the same spot. Air was forced out of his body, and Relik gasped for breath as words were said in his ear.

"I want you to learn your place," Leox's voice said in his ear. He heard as Leox back away and Eleya spoke instead.

"Are you al-"

"Fine Eleya," Relik responded sharply. He breathed heavily as he straightened himself and refused to look at Leox. "Let's just get home."

"I think home should be used loosely in your case," Leox laughed from behind him. Relik clenched his fists but said nothing as he grabbed Eleya by the arm and pulled her along as he walked hurriedly. He her words as he tried, and failed to calm down.

Unfortunately for Relik, over the years of their fights Leox, had learned exactly what he needed to say in order to upset Relik. He knew exactly what buttons to press and in what order he needed to press them in order to get what he wanted.

Finally Relik took a breath and released Eleya's arm. "Leox was truly no better than I am. So what if he has money? And Sight? And friends? And siblings who don't hate him..."

"None of us hate you Relik," Eleya cut in moving to stand in front of him.

Relik gave a hollow laugh and walked around her. "Sure, just like we live above ground."

"I'm serious Relik. I don't hate you, and neither does Mizel, or Kyna. She is strict, yes, but she takes care of everything now."

"You skipped Zarkien," Relik pointed out.

Relik couldn't help but smile as Eleya gave him a simple shrug. "Zarkien hates everything but Mizel, and that is only because Mizel is the older of the twins."

"Very true."

"Now let's go home."

~~~~

Relik opened the door to his small home around five minutes later. Eleya headed in first and Relik followed. Inside there wasn't much to speak of. A miniscule kitchen consisting of a stove, oven, fridge, a few cabinets and a table with four chairs. Beside the small kitchen was a door leading the bathroom. The kitchen though was part of one larger room, the rest of the small room was covered in various cushions and pillows instead of beds. A few dressers, a bookshelf and a mirror stood crowded together against a window to the side.

"The speech got shorter?" Kyna guessed from where she sat in a chair in the kitchen with a book in hand.

Eleya nodded.

"Well I suppose there is more time to prepare for the ceremony now," Mizel shrugged from he sat on a cushion by the window. "We know Zarkien will needed it."

"You're supposed to be on my side," Zarkien called from where he lay on the other side of the room.

"We are twins but we do not share a brain," Mizel pointed out.

"If you did it would explain a lot," Relik cut in making his way to the spot where he usually slept. "Actually on second thought it wouldn't. Since Mizel is the only one with the brain."

"Aren't you hilarious," Zarkien responded with an eye roll.

Relik smiled to himself and laid down on a cushion to nap before getting ready for the ceremony.

~~~~

"Relik let me mend this for you."

"Mending it won't change anything. That jacket is beyond repair."

Relik rolled his eyes and turned taking off his jacket and handed it Eleya. "It isn't beyond repair just yet," she told Zarkien.

Zarkien flopped onto his cushion next to his twin with a frown. "I don't understand all this fuss. Nothing ever happens at the ceremony. What is even the point?"

Kyna stepped forward and swatted Zarkien's head with her book. "Do not dishonor the ceremony and our traditions. The Gray Prince will one day appear and select a Vessel."

"Well it's been thousands of years you'd think he'd show up already," Zarkien shrugged choosing to lean on Mizel.

Kyna narrowed her eyes at him as she went to stand in front of him. "Let me put it this way. I am the eldest. I am the one father left in charge after his passing. And he always followed our society's traditions. So as the eldest I will follow them too. You and Mizel are of age so both can do as you please but I will lead Relik and Eleya until they are both past their own ceremonies."

Zarkien opened his mouth to speak but Mizel placed a hand on his shoulder quieting him.

Kyna nodded and turned to Eleya and Relik. "Eleya mend Relik's jacket and then get dressed yourself. The ceremony will start in two hours."

Eleya nodded quickly and hurried across the small home to dresser and pulled out her sewing kit. When she did Kyna nodded and exited the home silently closing the door behind her. Relik stared at the door for a moment waiting for her to comeback before shifting his gaze to Zarkien.

Zarkien gave Relik a glare. "I will only go to your ceremony because the Elders require it."

Relik didn't respond and instead turned his attention to moving cushions around to search for his best pair of boots.

"It doesn't matter if the Gray Prince makes an appearance or not," Mizel said quietly. "He wouldn't choose Relik. He doesn't even have Sight. He's a disgrace to us Seers as it is."
Relik didn't respond but continued to search for the boots. He couldn't argue with Mezil. Mezil was smart and blunt about how he felt about anything, add to that his mood had a habit of switching in a moment, all of that combined with those moments when agreed with his twin? By now Relik knew it wasn't worth the argument. Without Kyna to hold the twins back he could never win.

"He simply hasn't found his Sight yet," Eleya piped in in his defense.

"I haven't and I won't," Relik put in before either of the twins could go against her. Finding his boots he pulled them out and sat on a cushion to put them on "I'm a Seer without Sight. If the Gray Prince appears he won't come to me."

"The Gray Prince won't come," Zarkien said sternly. "Heaven and Hell are closed off while the Selkix have ravaged and pillaged all across Misce for centuries. Why would he come now?"

"You don't believe in the Gray Prince?" Mizel asked his twin surprised.

"I believe he existed. I believe that angel princess and the demon prince did come together to create him. I do believe he was persecuted. I do believe that have gave power to our race. But I don't believe he will return. He is nothing more than a legend. Otherwise would he would've come for us before our race was forced underground to survive."

"I believe in the Gray Prince," Eleya said certainly. "Just as I believe that we age. The ceremony exists because others share that belief."

The small home fell silent. Relik shifted his gaze away from his brother and to his sister instead. Eleya sat in a chair near the stove Relik's jacket and a needle in her hand as she added another patch. But her eyes weren't on the jacket.

Eleya was the one to break the silence a few moments later. "It's finished Relik."

"Thank you," Relik told her standing and walking over to take it from her. He headed to the mirror and started at himself in it. His dark brown hair was messy as always, his brown pants looked alright compared to his other pairs they weren't horribly faded nor worn. His green shirt looked worse for wear, as it had belonged to one or both of twins. After a moment he put on the jacket. The jacket was black and covered in various nice and sloppy patches. It had been many years since he used to take his father's jacket and put it on to march around their home. And only a few years since Relik had last seen his father wearing it when he was sent on what would be his final deployment. The jacket was all that had been recovered, that night Relik had stayed up all night scrubbing blood off of it and performing sloppy patchwork.

"It doesn't look horrific for once," Zarkien told him.

"The rest of you should get ready before Kyna returns," Relik advised his siblings while still staring into his own brown eyes in the mirror.

~~~~

Relik trailed behind his siblings once they exited their home and joined the crowd of other people headed to the ceremony. He walked slowly behind them trailing in the crowd but keeping an eye on them by keeping his eyes looking out for Kyna's tall form. She was the tallest of the family allowing her stand out. Like everyone else out Kyna wore her best clothes but unlike others outside their family they weren't much. A long faded blue dress sat on her body a bit awkwardly. She had managed to tame her long black hair into a braid. She looked older than she was, probably closer to thirty despite she was only twenty three. Though he supposed it made sense, years of working tirelessly to support herself and her siblings had aged her physically and mentally, now it rare to see her smile. Relik saw her dark eyes glance back at him, but he couldn't see through her stoic mask to tell what she was thinking. Beside her Eleya was the opposite.

As the crowd began to slow down, Relik could see easily see his younger sister. The smaller girl was short a wore a pink dress and her light brown hair was masterfully styled in a way which didn't make much sense to Relik but he knew she was good with her hands so he didn't doubt that it had come easily to her.

"Hurry it up!" Zarkien shouted behind him at Relik. Relik sighed and shuffled forward faster while staring at his boots. He soon came closer to his family where Zarkien shot him a glare. "This is your ceremony not ours."

"There no need worry," Mezil told Relik seriously. "The ceremony is easy."

"I am not worried about the ceremony," Relik admitted.

Mezil said nothing at first as they walked along. Relik could see as anger flashed behind his brown eyes as he silently ran a hand over the locket around his neck, which primarily served to tell the twins apart. "Two years later you can see we survived the harassment just fine. You will too."

"I doubt Zarkien is considered fine."

Mezil chuckled and brown eyes flickered over to his twin who was busy having his dark haired fixed by Eleya. "He's... what's the word?"

"Stubborn? Prideful? Arrogant?" Relik supplied.

Mezil laughed again. "All of those yes, but it is only because he- actually despite the fact we're twins it isn't my story to tell."

Relik didn't question but instead focused on the crowd moving around him. The crowd moved at a steady pace everyone in a hurry to get to the ceremony, or to get it over with. The air around him felt oddly warm with all the bodies in addition to its usual damp feel.

~~~~

"Potentials this way!" A voice shouted over the crowd as they neared the ceremony space.

Relik paused and looked over to where the crowd had split to make way for those would be participating in the ceremony. He felt a shove on his back and he glanced back to Eleya who gave a small smile and another nudge forward. For a moment he nearly forgot why until he remembered that for the first and only time he too was a Potential.

"We'll meet you after the ceremony," Kyna told him with a squeeze on the shoulder. Before Relik could argue she released his shoulder with a parting nod and lead the rest of her siblings along with the crowd.

Relik took a deep breath but stepped forward none the less and joined the small but steady stream of Potentials.

"Potentials this way!" A man continued to cry out drawing more into the stream of Potentials Relik walked with. He followed the other Potentials away from the main part of the crowd and down into a separate tunnel. They headed down some stairs before taking a turn and walking again. When they finally slowed Relik found he could hear his heartbeat speed up, thundering in his chest. The crowd of teenagers gradually evolved into a single file line. When Relik glanced ahead he could see as the line lead to one woman behind a table. Her eyes were glowing a bright blue but then switched to a green as the person in front of her left the line to pass through the open door beside her. Her eyes then switched again to a yellow as is proving she was of Sight was needed.

Relik tried to calm himself as he got closer to the table but nothing seemed to work. Too soon it seemed he made it to the table. The woman behind it watched him barely blinking and her eyes turned to a dark green. "Relik Chanling," she said suddenly. "Age 17. You have little to no social status or money to speak of. Your mother left when your youngest sister was young and took all of the money with her. Your father fell in battle a few years ago. You live in a small one level, one room- besides the bathroom- home which you share with your four siblings. Your life generally mundane expect for the fact- that you do not seem to have the the Sight. Anything incorrect?" She said sounding monotone but behind him Relik could hear people snicker.

"No ma'am," Relik answered quietly.

The woman nodded and waved him off to the door which Relik quickly hurried through.

On the other side of the door chair had been set up in a semicircle around a symbol on the floor, a mosaic of a large gray eye with a tear coming from it. Tall thick walls surrounded the chairs but simply based on the floor Relik knew where he was. He stood inside the center of the ceremony space. The largest room in Seeair. When those walls lowered behind him would stand the altar and the thrones of the Elders. In front of him would be the rest of the citizens of Seeair standing and watching from anywhere they could within the seven levels of seating with the richest being in the bottom level. He would never be able to see his family from here.

Relik took a deep breath before making his away from where most of the Potentials spoke amongst themselves and toward an empty chair away from people. Though he didn't have a chance to get comfortable.

"Why are you even here?" A voice asked with a sneer.

Relik grimaced recognizing the sound.

"Oh don't try to ignore me Chanling."

"Unfortunately a face as ugly as yours is hard to miss," Relik replied turning around in his seat to face Leox. Leox had a smirk on his face from where he stood leaning against the wall behind Relik. Leox was certainly dressed his best, his shoes were shined and glinted in the light, his black pants were perfectly pressed, and his shirt and jacket seemed tailored to him to account for both his fat and his muscles. A black tie was wrapped around his neck and Relik had the sudden urge to grab it and pull, perhaps it would wipe the stupid smirk off of his face.

"How sad it must be for you Chanling," Leox told him still smiling. "You need to insult to compensate for your lack of Sight... and wealth. Tell me Chanling, how did it feel to have your mother steal everything from you? I guess she truly must've hated your father, but I bet finding out her son didn't have Sight really sent her over the edge huh?"

Relik's eyes narrowed as he clenched fists. Perhaps now he could pay Leox back for the encounter this morning. Though he wouldn't use his fists. After all these years of fighting, Relik had fortunately learned exactly what to say to Leox to get his way. He released his fists and took a deep breath before smiling back at Leox. "How sad it must be for you Handril. You need to make up stories about other's mothers to compensate for your own. Tell me Handril," he continued smiling wider as Leox glared at him response. "How does it feel to watch your mother go out to meet her pimp every night? I guess she truly must hate your family, but I bet your arrogant ways sent her over the edge huh?"

"My mother does not-"

"Get paid to sleep with strangers? So sorry, how much does your father pay her to stick around?" Relik asked innocently. He smiled again as Leox stepped closer to him. Leox stared him down but for once Relik didn't fight back or move. He only looked up at Leox with a smile on his face. Relik watched as Leox's meaty hand reached out and grabbed his shift and pulled him out of his chair and to his feet but Relik's smile never wavered. Leox pulled him to his tip toes and breathed in his face.

"Do you want me to smash that face in?" Leox threatened his spit flying onto Relik's face.

"You could do that," Relik shrugged. "But, do remember that these walls will soon fade and the Elders will see it.

"Luckily I don't need a lot of time."

"You could but, if an Elder was to ask me what had happened to my face, I would be forced to tell them. And once that happens? The Elders will scar your whole career. You wouldn't be able to work anywhere even  within your father's business. You'd end up as even less of a person than a Sightless." As he spoke he could see Leox's eyes widened and the felt his grip on his clothes loosen.

Finally Relik watched as Leox set him down and slowly retreated. Relik internally smiled congratulated himself as he he wiped the spit off his face and sat back down feeling satisfied as he waited for the ceremony to begin.

~~~~

Over dramatic music started suddenly and Relik saw as the walls around them vanished. In front of him stood the tall altar and the elders standing on either side of it.

When the room had officially silenced a voice called out, "Introducing the Elders! Elders Catel! Deleya! Likar! Myel! And Manalay!"

The large room was silent as the Elders marched in and took their places by the altar. When the music stopped each Elder began to light the man candles surrounding and on the altar and then Elder Catel walked to the front. "People of Seeair! It has come, the time where once again our Potentials shall present themselves to The Gray Prince. If he finds one worthy, then he shall take them as a vessel to defeat the Selkix who are getting closer to our lands. "To waste no more time we give each Potential a moment to demonstrate their sight!"

Relik has known this was coming, but now it seemed all the more real. As he watched as one by one the others rose from their seats and stood before the altar. Their eyes would shine a color which represented their specific sight and they tell what they saw, or show others what they saw. As each person went Relik's heart beat faster and faster in his chest.

Leox was next and it was clear he could see Relik's worry due to the smirk on his face. He walked up and smiled to the crowd as his eyes shone a brilliant blue and the Elder's placed their hands on his shoulders he shouted that he could see people crossing river before they were forced underground.

"I'm going to die," Relik mumbled to himself as his forced his eyes to stay trained on the floor.

"Relik Chanling!"

His name was called too soon. They were going the order opposite of the alphabet, shouldn't it take longer to get to C? He thought as he walked up to the altar his hands shaking. He stood between the Elders as each put a hand on his shoulder.

"Well?" Elder Likar asked him raising and old bushy eyebrow.

Relik's eyes fell to the floor, "I am a Sightless sir," he responded quietly.

"A Sightless?" Elder Manalay said loudly and the whole room- their whole race- could hear. Relik refused to look up at his people, he had disgraced his family enough for one day.

"Step down son," Elder Myel told him and Relik hurriedly did as he was told.

He didn't look up until the demonstrations were finished. And when they were Elder Catel was once again front and center as he began the prayer.

He spoke it once and then Relik stood with everyone present as they sang. And the Elders instead said an incantation by the altar.

My Prince, my savior, my god above,
We give you are loyalty and our love.
But to ensure we land in your favor,
We present you a Vessel our savior.
They have been trained, prepared, and taught them all we know.
So please, your face, let it show!
We stand beside the Potentials here,
Take one as your vessel,
Until then we await your arrival!

The song cut off there and as always Relik thought it was a strange way to end but either way the moments after the ritual were filled with silence. To Relik it seemed that the entire city's population was holding their breath, he then realized he was too. His heart drummed in his chest as he stared waiting for something. As he watched he saw as Elder Catel walked back up to the altar. Elder Catel turned back to face all the people before he spoke, "People of Seeair! It seems that one this day The Gray-" He was cut off suddenly as the candles upon the altar went out.

Relik felt a chill overcome his skin causing goosebumps. His eyes darted around frantically for the source of the sudden feeling. Around him people gasped and began whispering fiercely. Relik found himself turning around and looking up to the top level. His eyes scanned searching for his family's faces but they were too far away to see. A scream drew his attention back up to the altar. On it a large gray liquid floated about. Relik felt his mouth drop open as he watched it. His eyes flickered over to the Elders but even they seemed at a loss.

The gray swirling mass then moved away from the altar and began darting through the Potentials some of which screamed in response, others didn't dare to move. Relik fell into the latter category, his blood had run cold, he found himself unable to breathe or move. His eyes widened as the swirling mass came to a pause near him. He didn't dare to even blink. The mass then flowed into and out of itself creating a large silhouette of a man who stood at least ten feet tall. "I am The Gray Prince," a voice boomed coming from the silhouette. "My loyal Seers the time of my return has come. The Selkix draw near and time is of the essence but you all have failed me!"

A murmur erupted throughout the large room before the silhouette- The Gray Prince held up a hand silencing them in an instant. "None of these have what is required of them to become my chosen Vessel."

Relik didn't dare to speak and it seemed that others didn't either as The Gray Prince's silhouette almost glaring down at the Potentials gathered. "But, there are two who may in time become worthy of being my Vessel. I have decided that I will train and fight alongside both until the final battle where I shall take one."

"And who are these chosen Vessels?" Elder Catel called out.

The Gray Prince raised his hands. "Leox Handril and Relik Chanling!"

Relik was pretty sure his heart had stopped. Him? He couldn't even See! Others seemed to agree with his thoughts.

"But My Lord!" Elder Likar called out. "He does not even posses the Sight!"

The Gray Prince raised his arms and the chairs, other Potentials, and Elders were shoved back leaving only Relik, The Gray Prince, and Leox in the center of the room. "Does not possess the Sight or is his power so extreme that he cannot control it? Either way you have no authority to question me," The Gray Prince growled. Relik's mind was still processing, how could he of all people be even somewhat worthy? He was no one. He was nothing. Just a useless poor boy. These thoughts were suddenly interrupted as one of The Gray Prince's massive hand reached toward him. Relik tried to scream but no sound escaped his mouth. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Leox in a similar situation.

Relik felt the urge to run and cower and fear but there was nowhere to run. The Gray Prince's hand encircled him but did not squeeze. Rather the flowing gray liquid drew closer before forcing itself into and down Relik's nose, ears, eyes, and throat. The feeling burned. He felt as if liquid fire was pouring it's way into his body. He tried to scream and shout, he tried to trash but he could only feel immense pain which he found was oddly accompanied by a sense strength. As if every bone in his body had been crushed all at once then all at once repaired. When the liquid stopped and feeling faded Relik collapsed to the ground on his knees doubled over, and coughing. When he stopped coughing he looked up and he could see that the Gray Prince's form had shrunk. He now appeared shorter, smaller than Relik. "I have given each some of my power," he informed in the same booming voice. "But I will not yet fully inhabit them."

The swirling mass of liquid around The Gray Prince began to solidify and soon Relik could pick out a normal foot, and then hand, before the liquid vanished revealing a whole body. The body was that of a teenage boy's, perhaps around fifteen. He had large white wings and a black tail nearly reached the ground. His hair was jet black, and his eyes opened suddenly to reveal a startling gray. But most shocking thing about him to Relik, was his lack of clothing.

Here stood the legendary Gray Prince stark naked. "What?" The Gray Prince asked annoyed, his voice now sounding that of an average teenage boy's. "No applause?"

Silence fell for a moment as everyone stared at him in disbelief.

"Um My Lord?" A Potential girl not far from Relik asked quietly stepping forward to break the silence.

"What?" He asked her stepping toward to her.

She looked down her face bright red. "M-my Lord, you're naked."

The Gray Prince looked down at himself before looking back to her a smirk on his face. "What? Don't like what you see?"

The girl said nothing but Relik could see her face turn redder as she glued her eyes to the floor directly in front of her.

The Gray Prince gave a laugh and Relik watched as gave his arms a stretch forward and cracked his knuckles with a cocky smile on his face as he stared out at the crowd. "I haven't had a body in a while, anyone willing? I'm not picky," he told them looking around and scanning people with his eyes before he frowned and pointed to a woman in the bottom level. "Well except for you, you're fucking ugly."

Relik opened and closed his mouth a couple times as he slowly stood up. If this was the Gray Prince who was supposed to lead them to victory, they might as well surrender now.

~~~~

He was so not what Relik had been expecting. Not like he had expected The Gray Prince to show up at all, but that was beside the point.

Just by staring at the cocky, naked, and clearly condescending "boy" in front of him, Relik knew he and the The Gray Prince wouldn't get along. He seemed to be a fitter Leox with wings and tail, not exactly what Relik needed in his life.

"Do you need dying in your life?" A voice questioned.

Relik was jerked from his thoughts and focus his attention on the The Gray Prince who stood beside him. He quickly shifted his gaze to the floor once seeing once again seeing the nakedness of The Gray Prince.

"Do you need dying in your life?" The Gray Prince asked from above him.

Relik kept his eyes trained on the floor beneath him. "No my lord."

"Then perhaps you can get over my cockyness and how condescending I am, hmm?"

Relik's eyes widened and he quickly stood up to stare him in the face his mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

The Gray Prince gave him a smirk and cocked his head. "You and I share a bond now. So as long as your mind is vulnerable I can probe it, as I please." He leaned closer to Relik, close to his ear causing Relik to freeze despite how much as he wanted to sprint away. "So get used to it Relik."

The way the Gray Prince said his name made it sound strange and foreign even to himself. It didn't sound like a name, it sounded like a form of intimidation, something like an insult. Trying not to show his weakness he found himself speaking his mind, "I might need to get used that, but I don't need to get used to your nakedness, my lord."

Relik heard everyone within the room stop. Gaps sounded even from the top level as Relik's voice had carried through the earlier silence. It wasn't until he had heard those gasps and saw the fear within the eyes of those staring upon him that Relik realized he'd probably be killed on the spot.

Then The Gray Prince laughed. He laughed hard and stepped back away from Relik holding his stomach as he did. The Gray Prince laughed hard and as he tried to catch his breath Relik's eyes noticed that the other "boy's" tail seemed to wag behind him.

The Gray Prince took a few calming breaths and once he did he walked over to Elder Myel and pulled off the large cloak adorning the old man and wrapped it around his waist. He tied it in a knot before turning back to Relik with a large smile. "We are gonna have fun."

Relik only blinked a few times unsure of what else to do. He watched silently as The Gray Prince rounded on Leox. Leox only stared up at him from the floor. Silently The Gray Prince motioned for Leox to stand, and fumbling over himself Leox finally did. The Gray Prince leaned closer to him as if giving him. An examination and Leox shrinked away. Relik watched as something was whispered  in Leox's ear but he couldn't tell what. Though he did see Leox's eyes widen.

"My Lord?" A voice questioned from behind Relik. He turned around to see Elder Manalay had forced her old body into a low bow.

"What?" The Gray Prince responded walking past Relik to stand directly in front of her.

"What is it that we shall do My Lord?"

The Gray Prince didn't respond at first. His face was void of any emotion but Relik had the slightest feeling that he was void of what to say as well. "You'll learn in time," he responded finally. "For now I will simply train with my Vessels. Have them learn their power. You do not need me to guide you completely. You do have your own brains no?"

"O-of course My Lord. As you wish," Elder Likar put in as he came to stand and bow beside Elder Manalay. "And where is it that you'll stay as you train with your Vessels?"

He shrugged. "A great home shall be constructed for me and my Vessels. One with all luxuries and space for training the greatest of Seeair's warriors. Though, I shall stay with the both of them in the meantime."

Relik internally grimaced and he could hear as Leox scoffed. He had a pretty good feeling that The Gray Prince would not approve his luxuryless home.

"Though going back and forth will be annoying..." The Gray Prince frowned rubbing his chin. "Ah! Vessels come!"

Relik silently walked to his side. The Gray Prince placed a over Leox's eyes and Relik forced himself not to ask questions as his own eyes were covered. After a moment a chill ran through his body and he heard gasps and a few shrieks. Questions bubbled to his mind but he tried to push them away thinking instead of his favorite foods incase his mind was "probed" once more.

Finally the hand was removed Relik slowly opened his eyes, wide as his mouth dropped open. In front of him stood The Gray Prince who once again was naked and gave him a small salute in greeting. Beside him also stood The Gray Prince who gave him a wink.

"Now I can go with each of you," They said as one.

"You're naked again," was all Relik managed to say. The one who was semi clothed laughed while the naked one shrugged.

"Copying my clothes is more effort than simply splitting myself."

"Naturally..."

"Well then," the clothed one said stretching his arms.

"Shall we go?" Asked the naked one. "I'm pretty tired. I can't even begin to explain how much being summoned drains a guy."

"Then giving my power away to two people?"

"And splitting?"

"Ugh," They said as one. "I want a nap."

Five minutes later, Relik stood outside on the street to the side of the building where people poured out the doors. They moved slowly and mostly silent as all of their eyes were glued to The semi clothed Gray Prince beside Relik.

"Why are we standing here?" The Gray Prince asked suddenly causing Relik to startling him.

"My family is still inside," Relik explained.

"Well they are taking forever."

"They are on the top most level. Nearly everyone will be gone by the time they get down here," Relik told him before adding as an afterthought, "my lord."

"Don't do that. Just call me by my name when we aren't around important people. Our fates are now intertwined and we be spending a lot of time together."

Relik nodded slowly. "Mecezark right?"

He nodded. "Yup. but you can call me a nickname, I know it's a mouthful. Just don't call me Zarky or I will incinerate you."

Relik swallowed and nodded quickly. "Got it. I'll just um stick to your name."

Mecezark gave a shrug. "Suit yourself. But do we need to wait for your family? I do assume they know their own way home."

Relik paused but finally nodded. "Alright. Let's go."

~~~~

Relik couldn't help but hesitate outside his home. What would Mecezark say about where he lived? Mecezark had specifically requested a magnificent place be constructed for him to live in, so what would he say about the poor home.

"Do you plan on staying out here all night?" Mecezark asked him. "I am quite cold if you haven't noticed I'm not wearing much."

Relik didn't respond but instead pushed the door open. He stepped inside and sat upon the first cushion he saw and turned and watched as Mecezark walked in. His gray eyes flickered across the room, his face held no emotion but Relik recognized the look in his eyes: disgust, and disappointment.

Mecezark closed the door and turned to face Relik. The both stared at each other for a moment before Mecezark cleared his throat.

"Well this place is uh-"

"Just get it over with," Relik told him crossing his arms.

"Not at all what I expected. Like honestly this place is tiny and pretty sad. What the hell happened?"

"I thought you were supposed to know everything about everything?" Relik countered with a slight glare.

Mecezark shrugged and glanced around once more. "I'm not at full capacity. I split my power in three, one third for you, another for Leox, and then I split what I had left for myself to give to each of me. So at this moment you actually have more power than I do, but as you don't know how to control it I'm more powerful. But-"

Relik blinked surprised. "You just gave away the majority of your power?"

"That's how Vessels work," Mecezark shrugged sitting in one of the kitchen chairs. "I share with them my power, and I keep the remainder then when it's necessary I combine the two of us using your body as my own."

"That seems..." Relik trailed off trying to find the right words which wouldn't offend.

"Stupid?" Mecezark finished. "Yeah I know. But I didn't make up the rules of Vessels. It is a classic Demon spell. But you still didn't answer my question."

Relik sighed. "My mom ran off a while back and she took all the money she had with her. We were kicked out of our nice house and into this place."

"While I would like to even know how that is possible," Mecezark started. "I rather have some clothes."

Relik stood up with a groan and headed over to the dressers. He opened one and began looking through it. "You seem to be a bit smaller than me so my clothes might be a bit big, but we can go after school tomorrow and get-" Relik paused before shaking his head and continuing. "well actually nevermind we can just go get you your own clothes tomorrow."

"Why the nevermind?" Mecezark asked joining Relik by the dresser and reaching in to pull out a few pieces of clothing.

"I just forgot that I no longer go to school. You change in there," Relik said pointing to the door to the bathroom without looking up.

"Why don't you go to school?" Mecezark asked him and Relik turned around to see that he had chosen to pull the shirt over his head without leaving the room.

"I'm 17, and- and how do you get a shirt on with your wings?"

Mecezark blinked and glanced behind him as if the large wings which sprung out his back had been forgotten. "Oh yeah..." He paused and bent over looking in pain as his wings slowly seemed to sink their way back into his skin until nothing was there at all. He pulled this shirt over his head and looked back to Relik. "So why don't you go to school anymore?"

Relik blinked and shook his head before continuing his previous thought. "After all ceremony of all the Potentials- at which usually nothing happens since this only time you've showed up- all those who were Potentials go work."

"Well you don't have to work now," Mecezark shrugged walking toward the kitchen area. He opened and closed things until he found a knife.

"What are you-" Relik didn't need to finish to understand as Mecezark used the knife to cut a hole in the back of the pants Relik had given him.

He nodded at he hole and then slipped each of his legs in and pulled them up over his naked body while his tail went out the hole he had made.

Relik grimaced. "You can keep those pants."

"I don't want to keep them, but alright. So what do we do now?"

"My siblings come home and then dinner is made. Then we eat and sleep I guess."

Mecezark made a face between a frown and looking disgusted.

"What?"

"Your mind... it's so- so... boring."

"Stop that!" Relik yelled. "Don't read my mind!"

Mecezark shrugged moving over and sitting down at the kitchen table. "There's not many interesting things in it anyway."

"Not the point. How would you feel if I invaded your mind?"

"You can't. Not without your Sight."

Relik paused and took a deep breath before he changed the topic slightly. "Do you- do you really think I have Sight? I mean after what you said as to why you chose me. That it could just be that I can't control it?"

"I dunno," Mecezark answered propping his feet up on the table. "You just seemed interesting really. I mean a Seer who can't See?" He continued beginning to laugh. "What could be more entertaining! You're so fucking pathetic it's hilarious!"

Relik's mouth dropped open as he stared at Mecezark. "You-you picked me because I seemed entertaining? What the fuck? Do you not care about the Selkix getting closer?"

"Oh calm down," Mecezark told him once taking a few deep breaths to calm his laughter. "I do. But I also enjoy entertainment. And there is still a chance that anything could happen with you. I shall just say two things, firstly I lie, a lot. Secondly, I'm not often wrong."

"Couldn't that be a lie in itself?"

"That's for you to figure out."

Relik didn't respond as that was when the door knob rattled before it opened to reveal his siblings. They all simply stared at Mezcezark unsure of what to do.

Mecezark flashed Relik a smile. "This home of yours is pitiful but damn, there is a light in it." He smiled wider walking over to Relik's siblings and pushing others away to better see Eleya. "And who are you?"

Eleya's eyes widened and her cheeks turned bright red and her eyes flickered between him and the floor. "M-my name is Eleya my Lord."

"Ooh cute," Mecezark told her his tail flicking behind him.

"She's 14," Relik cut in crossing his arms with a slight glare toward Mecezark.

Mecezark looked back to Relik with a toothy grin and a wink. "Good thing I don't have morals then."

Relik glared harder and Mecezark shrugged and moved away from Eleya, "Ah well once the palace is constructed I shall fill it with lovely ladies anyway. Now," he clapped once. "Which one of you is making dinner?"