Why did I save her? Riven asked himself as his shield of condensed smoke dissipated and returned to the air around him. It's not like I felt a need to save her; I just did.
Riven knew it would have been better to let his grandfather waste his magic on these people and catch him off guard again.
Why was I forced to act? Was it because of the spirit? If that's the case, then it narrows it down to the heavenly realm or the fae circle, he thought while turning his attention to his grandfather, who was staring daggers at him as he continued to cough violently.
"Release my grandson, you abomination!" His grandfather shouted between coughs while he pointed his finger at him.
He thinks I'm fully possessed, Riven gathered. But he wasn't surprised by how I looked when he saw me first, which means he must definitely be aware of the plan for a spirit to possess me, was the plan for it to not do so fully?
As he was thinking, his grandfather suddenly shot out another flurry of flames at him.
Without hesitation, Riven grabbed the woman by the hand, his wings materializing before he took off into the sky. He evaded the attack as it surged forward into the burning building behind him, making the fire worse.
"Here I go again," he muttered while looking at the woman he just saved twice.
"Thank you, Thank you so much," the lady stammered, but Riven wasn't listening.
It looks like I can't help it, he thought as he tried to let go of her, but his hand wouldn't let him.
"Right then," he said, quick to accept his new reality.
I need to get them all out of here, he told himself, knowing he wouldn't be able to fight and protect all at once.
"Listen," he commanded while pulling her by the wrist so that her face was in his direct line of sight. "I need you to get everyone out of here—the firefighters, the paramedics, and the crowd. They all need to go, or they'll be caught in the crossfire."
"But—" she said while looking at the roaring fire behind him. It blazed higher now that all the firefighters had turned their attention to the Royal, which threatened to fan the flames even higher.
"Don't," he said firmly.
"You know him…" Riven started while turning her to look down at his grandfather.
The Royal looked around, confused and coughing, as he searched for Riven, who seemed to have just disappeared.
"He's one of seven great Royals; he will kill you and everyone else here without an ounce of hesitation." He continued to further prove his point: "He did the same thing in the building that is currently burning to the ground."
Hearing this, she froze in shock as a deep consummation hit her like a truck.
"No other bodies," she muttered, realization dawning of what must've happened.
"Yes," he replied flatly. His eyes never changed even as hers teared up.
Crushing the tears before they could fall, she asked: "But what about the fire?"
"I'll handle it. You just get everyone out of here," he commanded as he flew a bit to the side, out of his grandfather's line of sight, before descending to the ground.
Reaching the ground, he finally was able to release her. As he was about to walk away, he felt her hand grab his. Eyes widening in brief shock, he turned around, questioning in his mind why she was able to touch him when everyone else who tried simply went through.
However, the next words that came out of her mouth pushed those thoughts to the back burner.
"Who are you?"
Hearing this, he froze, but not because the question confused him; it was because he didn't have an answer, not even a non-answer. His mind went blank.
Who am I? he asked himself as time seemed to slow. I'm not Riven anymore. I don't look like him, and I'm not even acting like him, so who does that make me?
But as he pondered, a delicate yet familiar voice spoke in his head.
"You know what would have been a better name for you?"
"What?"
"Lucien."
"Why is there something wrong with Riven?"
"Yeah, it's depressing. Your name means 'to be broken or torn apart violently.' And it doesn't suit you at all. It would be better if it were 'Lucien,' because it means light... And you're so bright after all."
Hearing this voice for the first time since his transformation, a single tear fell from his eye, looking all but foreign on his otherwise unexpressive face.
"Are you okay?" the woman he held by the wrist asked, noticing the sudden tear. Her voice was imbued with the gentleness and concern of someone who could only be a mother.
Not replying to the question, Riven turned back around, and through no will of his own, his voice was no longer monotone.
"I'm Lucien."
Then he turned to smoke, and disappeared right before her very eyes.