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[center][h1][color=LightSlateGray]*~*The Sorcerer ~ Present Day ~ Hidden Cave*~*[/color][/h1][/center]

[i]Clear skies, stars glimmering in the distance like millions of lightning bugs, twinkling in beautiful mystery. The only sounds that could be heard outside were the crashing of waves against the shoreline, receding back into the tide and repeating themselves eternally. 

The sound of water granted the Sorcerer comfort, as though keeping him company in the long silence that came with midnight's turning.

Seated at a marble stone desk that was littered with papers, the Sorcerer had been drawing various sketches and diagrams for longer than he could remember, the writings themselves comprised of a strange language; unlike any other known outside these lands. Each parchment, however, contained one thing in common: an image of a great monstrosity, a creature of magnificent size, resembling what can only be described as some sort of lobster. Containing two sets of pincers that looked large enough to crush a sea vessel with a single snip, the beast looked as though its only purpose was as a war machine; a harbinger of destruction. 

Engrossed in his work, the Sorcerer neglected to hear the sound of bare footsteps descending the stone staircase, growing slightly louder the closer the footsteps came. 

A [url=https://freshet.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/107.jpg?w=480]woman[/url] made herself known in the common room, garbed only in a thin sarong that covered her womanhood, the woman appeared to hold no reservations being bare-breasted, though showed no intention of purposefully flaunting her voluptuous physique for appeal.

The woman moved closer until she was merely inches from the back of the Sorcerer's chair, leaning in slowly and resting her head on his shoulder. "It is late, you should be in bed." The woman said quietly, though her voice was neither stern nor upset. 

"I was just about to do so before you came down." The Sorcerer replied with a soft smile, returning his quill to its inkpot.

Straightening her posture, the woman let her fingers dance through his hair for a few moments before speaking again, this time her tone sounding somewhat more nervous, apprehensive, "I could not wait...there was something I had to tell you."

Narrowing his eyes in confusion, the Sorcerer stood up from his chair to speak to her face-to-face. "What is it?" He asked, his tone becoming wary as his stormy blue eyes searched hers for any information. 

"I am with child." The woman replied, a mixture of excitement and slight fear in her eyes as a small smile played on her lips, unsure as to how the Sorcerer would react to such news. 

The Sorcerer at first did not respond, instead keeping his gaze fixed on the woman as he seemed to internally process the information. "That's....that's wonderful!" He returned excitedly, beaming as he had finally begun to realize what was going to happen...he was to be a father. 

Pulling his wife into a tight embrace, the Sorcerer felt fresh tears of joy stream down his face, feeling wholly and completely elated...[/i]

*~*~*

The Sorcerer's eyes fluttered open as he once again entered the world of reality, both a nostalgic and painful feeling settling in his chest as he held onto the memory of days long past. 

Rising to his feet, the Sorcerer heaved a small sigh as he looked out the mouth of his cave, feeling the beams of morning sunlight providing him with warmth. The early birds sang their chirping songs, and dew on the grass glistened like chrysalis in the sunlight. The Sorcerer held a single gloved hand out in front of him, a smooth black orb apparating in his palm. A perfect sphere, the orb looked as though it simply did not [i]belong[/i] in the world. There appeared to be a dark storm or flurry of wind inside the orb, shifting and turning in a constant maelstrom. 

The Sorcerer raised his free hand above the orb, waving it in a slow circle as he watched the storm seem to fade away and clear, revealing an image of Earth, specifically Lake Tahoe. The Children...well, they aren't children anymore, living their lives in blissful ignorance; unaware of who they were or where they came from. The Sorcerer had watched them since they first came to Earth, all young, all forced into a strange new world with no family there for them. There were days when the Sorcerer felt an inclination to speak to the Guardians, but that was not his position. He was a watcher, an observer...the Guardians would do their job, and the Children would return - when they were ready.