Demetrius

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Mate: --- Family: --- Occupation: Third to Command

Artwork: Album

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Drawn away from the clan he called home for so long, Demetrius followed his sightless eyes deep into the Tangled Wood, led only by his spiritual instincts. In a time of upheaval, he found himself drifting amidst Nocte. Having just lost some of its eldest members, the presence of a dragon with such age and wisdom as Demetrius calmed many of the unsettled dragons.

Demetrius found himself with a powerful connection to the clan's leader, Avon-Kei, and the two bonded swiftly. It was not just his companionship Demetrius found solace in, however; the Imperial's spirit was a powerful one that burned brightly in his mind's eye, extended outwards into each and every member of his clan.

The clan of intellects and knowledge gatherers became a home Demetrius had never known he yearned for. His insight and age placed him high within the clan's regard, earning him the position of Avon-Kei's adviser and third in command. He took both titles humbly and with gratitude and strives to fulfill each role in its fullest. He spends much time in the Annex when he is not beside Avon-Kei, aiding and instructing Archivists young and old.

When not there, he takes his place at Avon-Kei's side, keeping his friend company even if in silence. Though perhaps not obvious to those not so attuned to the spirits of dragons, Demetrius was fully aware the moment his friend finally acknowledged that he had imprinted. Avon-Kei and Sei-Shun's fleeting dance, as they tried to avoid their mutual feelings for one another, unaware that they were returned on either side, was almost amusing. Admittedly, more than once Demetrius was tempted to gently prod them towards one another, but he deemed it not his place to take such intimate matters into his own hands. Instead he watched their fumbling fondly, content to let them work things out on their own.

Demetrius’ third eye had been open long before he lost his physical sight, but now as his only means of vision it roamed constantly, tracing the flow of magic around him. His almost precognitive sight was in most instances useful, allowing him a certain foresight with which to help his clan. One would think that such an ability for reading the twists of fate might have allowed him to foresee the coming betrayal at the hands of the then second in command, Sepheraph, or at least the siege that was to follow. Yet something blinded Demetrius, like staring into a bursting sun, aware of how it is turning you to ash.

Had he not known what it was, Demetrius may have thought it a sign from a Deity themself-- But he is an old dragon, a dragon who has flown the earth long enough to remember the days of old, when there was little more than chaos in the lands below. He knew the unholy magic that scored his third eye like a brand, though he had not felt it for many, many years. In the blink it took for him to recover from the assault of the Shade’s mere presence, enough time had passed that the siege was already upon them. Aware that his faltering had cost them what small sliver of preparedness they might have had, Demetrius plunged boldly into the rising fray.

Finding his apprentice, Seishin, he began to rally the other young dragons, pulling them back from the main body of the fight. If singled out he had little doubt that the apprentices, regardless of their chosen profession, would not last terribly long. As a group, they managed to make a formidable defense and offense, at least long enough to back themselves towards the Annex. Here, Demetrius had planned to lock the young ones in and keep them from harm, but the apprentices would hear nothing of it. Young they may be, but this was their home, and they would defend it.

So instead, the line of apprentices held the Annex doors, their cooperative efforts far more significant than Demetrius had anticipated. As students, they had all been working alongside one another in various exercises for months, and while they did not have the same capability on their own as an elder dragon, when it came to coordinating themselves as a team, they were remarkably adept. While healers took up residence inside the Annex as a makeshift medical bay, the apprentices were joined by several older dragons to help them hold the line.

Demetrius did his best to help, but in his state he was best suited for shouting warnings and directions rather than actual combat. Shade fragments littered the battlefield and scrambled his vision by simply existing near him. Though he tried vainly to search through the skirmish for any signs of Avon-Kei, or the source of this calamity, his third eye was far too distorted to reach very far. In the end, he was just as much at the mercy of confusion as the rest of the dragons.

He may have gone to Avon-Kei’s side as the fighting subsided, he would have liked to, but the effort of keeping himself conscious against the onslaught of the Shade’s presence had taken its toll. There was little more he could do than allow himself to be taken somewhere to rest, though not before pressing his third eye just one last time, reaching as far as he could to find some sign of those he cared for. Seishin was well, if rattled. Avon-Kei alive and brimming with unbridled power, unleashed from his core like it never had been before. And close to him, Sei-Shun’s life flickered like a dying candle flame. But they lived, and that was peace enough for him to allow himself to rest.

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