Chapter Text
The aftermath of Ignari’s death was, to say the least, explosive back home. He’d been a cornerstone of the community for a while as the Speaker of the Nameless and thought to be the only one of the leaders to be competent. A new Speaker of the Nameless still hadn't been chosen, but gathering all the candidates and votes would take so long that Ty’wren hoped to be gone before anything took place. Additionally, Clan Kastor relied on Ignari for the moving duties, as he had near-encyclopedic knowledge of the various camping areas they used.
With him gone, they had a new pathfinder to help with preparing where the Clan would reside. Ty’wren couldn't be the one to do so; he’d been gone for so long. He hadn’t been around for the most recent move and had not learned the signs that his father had spent years remembering. When the clan settled in a new area, his father was always seen informing people of key items that could be found and the occurring wildlife.
Jakoby, his brother, was the next obvious choice, but as the General of the Tribe’s soldiers, he wouldn’t have time for family affairs that often. They still hadn’t made a choice, and Ty’wren was dreading the inevitable summoning of the clan’s more distinctive figures when that time finally came.
However, before that could occur, Ty’wren tried to make time to talk to his fellow Primes. Catalya, Grimoire, and himself were already unsure of their roles to their people. Historically, those who had a Prime Aspect were cultural leaders of the people: helping guide them to new areas and serving as a direct conduit of the Outsider’s protection. Now, things were different.
There were very few Wanderers left who actually lived as part of a tribe, most having assimilated into greater society and passing on their traditions in secret. This meant that the Primes job had become all the more defunct, save protecting the others.
Ignari had, in a way, given them purpose, Ty’wren was constantly working to grow his control over his Aspect for when he would inevitably have to fight his father. Meanwhile, Catalya and Grimoire were working with the council to more effectively find people with a quickened Black Mind and prepare to deal with them should it reach its final stage.
Ty’wren found Catalya in her tent, a book open on the ground in front of her, but she wasn't really reading it. "Did you know that the council used to be picked by bloodline rather than vote?" Catalya asked.
Ty’wren shrugged. "Vaguely. When did we make the transition to voting then? All things considered, how we function now is not that different."
She closed the book in front of her and looked up at him, frowning. "Exactly. It's been over 200 years! And yet we are stuck in this same cycle… You’d think we would know better by now."
"We’ve forgotten a lot as a people, our past mistakes haunt us even now… is Grim on their way?"
As if summoned, Grimoire ducked into the tent, whispering to themself about something.
"Right on time!" Catalya shifted, making room for them all to sit on the floor. Sometimes Ty’wren wondered how often she used her future sight for small moments like this, but decided that even if he knew, she wouldn’t stop.
Ty’wren inspected the twins to see if they had destabilized at all as their individual selves. As one soul split into two bodies, it was dangerous for them to be too far apart from each other for long periods of time, but without the knowledge of how to fuse them back together permanently, it was inevitable that sometimes, accidents would happen. They noticed the staring and looked back, waving him away. "We’re fine. If anything, it's time to worry about you."
Catalya nodded and pointed at him. "With Ignari gone, you are in the eyes of a lot of people here, for better or for worse, and by extension, so are we as well. We need to do something before it reaches its head."
Grimorie brought out a book of notes; no doubt full of whatever they found out while split, as their memory was pretty subpar. "We just visited the Council’s area to snoop. Reali is already thinking of ways to deny whatever claim you may make to your father’s seat. He wants to dispose of you since, according to him, being close to a final stage sufferer of the Black Mind risks you succumbing as well."
That was bullshit, of course. The Black Mind was quickened through combat, but it primarily fed on extreme negative emotion. If he were to fall prey to it, he would’ve done so years ago when he was young.
"Additionally, it seems that Helvic is going to start making moves against you, Catalya. Something about a nameless Prime being unworthy of that power."
Discrtimination against the nameless was not as overt as it used to be. In general, the nameless Wanderers were no less devoted to the Outsider or powerful than the named Wanderers. Even so, the stigma was there. To have lost your name was like losing a key piece of yourself and your culture for named Wanderers. To Helvic, Catalya and Grimoire were barely even Wanderers.
Catalya nodded, unfazed by the news. She’d lived her whole life nameless and dealing with the stigma. Ty’wren doubted something like this would phase her at this point.
"We can’t keep this up. The shit with the council, the general state of our people… We have to do something." As she spoke, Catalya stood from her chair. "We are going to fix this."
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Ty’wren shrugged the bag of his things, trying to adjust the weight more comfortably. After planning and discussing with the others, it was decided that Ty’wren would go back out into the human world and live there, both to learn more about the missing Wanderers and also to escape the prying eyes of the council.
Having been nomadic and mostly sheltered from the growth of humanity for so long, there was a palpable distance between the technology and tools of the two cultures. Humanity had flourished, and for its flaws, was thriving in contrast to when the Wanderers first split from the world. They couldn’t afford to hide away any longer.
Meanwhile, Grimmore was going to lands that have been lost to The Black Mind, seeking the origins of Wanderers and remnants that could provide further insight into how to combat it. Really, Ty’wren had wanted to be the one to go and search.
As a Kastor, he was raised with the records of his people’s past and there were even a few records made by him in their library. However, he had to admit Grimoire was more suited to this task. As a Split Soul, the spread of the Black Mind in them was effectively halved. If anyone would be safe traversing there, it would be them.
And finally, Catalya was going to stay with the tribe. She was the most used to dealing with the council and had contracted Jakoby, to support her should things turn bad. The exact details of her plan were lost on him, but she was never one to share her thoughts fully. Ty’wren decided to have the same faith in her that she seemed to have in him.
Nothing was keeping Ty’wren home any more. He turned to leave then heard his brother’s voice call out to him.
"Ty’wren! Wait a second!" Ty’wren turned to see Jakoby running after him, he had a package under his arm. When he caught up, he put a hand on his shoulder, and chuckled. "You’re so ready to leave you almost forgot your gift!"
He pulled out the package and unfolded it. Ty’wren’s breath caught in his throat; it was a cloak of sorts, styled after the very same one their father used to wear. The fabric was soft and dyed black with buckles across the breast that would close an inner part of the jacket while the rest fell open liek trench coat. On the breast of the coat was the sigil for the Aspect Dream, in gold.
"I think Rowan was saving this for you once you finished.I had to apply the finishing touches myself, but here you go. A way to remember us on your journey, and it’ll keep those pesky dream eaters away from you as well."
"I...Thank you, Jakoby, but you didn’t have to add that. I know how hard it is to find anyone with a Dream Aspect, much less one who could work this into the fabric."
Jakoby simply shook his head and pushed it toward him. "I said it's a gift for a reason. It was worth the trouble, and you deserve it. This is your moment, after all that's happened. "
Ty’wren took the jacket and slipped it on over his travel clothes, pleased at how easily the Dream aspected fabric attuned to him. Maybe he’d sleep well for once tonight. He looked up, hoping to thank his brother again but before he could, Jakoby was already halfway up the path to camp. He had a feeling that if he could see Jakoby’s face there might be a few tears in his eyes, and decided to spare the man his dignity.
He turned back away again, purpose renewed but imbued with a nervous confidence.