Re: James, Gabe and Open
Gabe huffed softly as the last words while the others churned around in his mind. The one thing that stood out to him was the singularity of James' viewpoint, brought on by his interactions with Elfleda. He didn't know much, if anything of James' life, other than the work they had done together in the coven. What James said sounded so completely at odds with Gabe's own experience of the world in which they both lived, a world with different realms, different powers, different skills. Gabe's family had been the core of his world, and he'd grown up as part of a powerful group of individuals. It had never been about him, about what he knew, or needed, or wanted. Nor had it ever just been up to him alone, there'd always been others willing to help when needed, and yes, sometimes when it wasn't needed, but that was the balance, and that's what it was all about, balance Everything they did had to have balance.
Gabe had grown up knowing his family had, and always would be there, if not in the same room, or even country, at least 'there'. He knew his skills and abilities were what they were thanks to the knowledge, experience and training he'd received, had been privileged to receive, from those who cared for him. And he knew only too well how much more powerful he was with 'friends'. His eyes darted across to where Cian and Rhiannon were standing, arm in arm, talking.
The concept of believing you were the only one who knew what was best for everyone had never crossed his mind. To him that was a crushing weight of responsibility no individual should be made to feel they had to carry alone. And from the sounds of what James had said, that's exactly what the Corruptress had done. Taken him to a place where he felt alone even when completely surrounded by others, isolated, without anyone else to talk to, reach out to, no-one able to understand and see what he saw. No-one who could even listen, and offer support. And this led him down a path where he ended up believing what he did.
He'd never felt gratitude for his family as he did right at that moment.
That's what I knew, or thought I knew...
"And now?" the other magic-user asked as he lifted his hand and looked at the mark on his finger, rubbing it lightly with his thumb before looking at James. "Are you still feeling alone?"