Though no longer human, the expression of surprised delight that crossed the face of the gryphon was immediately recognizable as being the same one he'd worn the first time Canthus had brought him to Yulareil and shown him another world.

He went by another name now too. Lux, he'd chosen. Something more fitting for a creature with wings that could now soar through the stars and achieve spaceflight unaided. His new body was powerful, majestic to behold. The four eyes a subtle indication of the alien influence that had brought about his change. Their meeting had been purely by chance. Though every cell in Canthus' body hungered for him to corrupt and spread, as was the nature of his kind; he always strove to be vigilant of his urges and not transform lifeforms like humans on a whim. It was only on rare occasions that he encountered one that clicked with him. Those precious individuals were the exception he allowed himself the pleasure of inducting.

"I remembered how much you liked my collection of masks. So I made this one... specifically for you."

Cradled carefully in both hands, Canthus held out the mask of gold he'd shaped and solidified from his own nectar. Holding it out in offering to the chimera before him. There were good reasons he set rules for himself about who he transformed. Lux was now immortal. It hadn't fully sunk in for the gryphon yet, and it wouldn't for some time. But for someone born human, the eventuality of watching centuries pass by would take an unforeseen toll. Seeing familiar places become unrecognizable, watching the ebb and flow of cultures shifting through their phases, outliving mortal friends and having it truly sink in that eternity could be incredibly isolating. To be immortal was to constantly battle to retain one's sanity. It was a battle Canthus himself had been fighting as long as he'd been alive.

He'd made sure Lux had known what he was signing up for. Everything had been laid out before him. He'd accepted anyway, bless his soul. The goat worried for him. But in his heart... he was happy too.

"May it be a reminder that my island is always open to you. Gold does not tarnish, no matter how many ages pass. I wish for our friendship to be the same way."

One more person to keep him company on the voyage through aeons. He would help to keep them sane, much as their continued presence helped him to remain grounded. Whenever the darkness between the stars grew oppressive, or the passage of time weighed heavily, he hoped that Lux would remember the mask. Remember the adventure they'd shared. And that from that memory more could grow. Placing the mask into the gryphon's talons, he lifted his amber gaze and met the diamondlike eyes of the half-avian. Savouring the quiet moment between them as they sat silhouetted in the warm glow of the sanctum's halls.

*****

The night is never as lonely when the stars shine together.

Calling on the fantastic skills of   Madness_demon once again, I've wanted to share a piece with my friend   Lux-Leo for quite some time now. Now that day has finally come, and I'm overjoyed that it came out looking so absolutely wonderful!