That was all the confirmation he needed. Alden struggled to control his expression, a tremor racking his body.
He took a deep breath and closed his good eye, composing himself.
'Of course the Asterons were involved…'
It was completely in line with their behaviour - Alden didn't know why he had expected something else. Why he had held out a small hope they weren't involved.
Grinding his teeth, the young man tried not to buckle under the immense pressure. An immeasurable distance separated him and the nebulous beings, both physical and metaphorical. Alden wanted to bridge that gap, but it was much too early for him to even think about such things.
The Keeper's Apprentice sighed.
He shook off the unwanted thoughts, and bade his master farewell, his feet instinctively tracing the way back home. The cold environment surrounding him turned indistinct, as Alden tuned it out, his attention focused inward as the relatively short journey came to an end.
