... And then I was sick! :Db I was really busy last week writing papers and getting ready for midterms so I didn't update, but now I'm sick and not doing anything so I have no excuse! Update!
Chapter Six - Message
"- and as thus, the world was cleft in half, broken in two, forever from then destined to be one, but separate, unable to rejoin into the paradise it had once been. And the godly rulers wept for their separation, but nevertheless, were one, but separate, just as their world had become."
"Very good."
Akira was gasping for breath, wearily tracing on his toes around Shirogane, sword held in trembling hands. Shirogane smiled… the boy was an excellent masterpiece. Ryuuko would have been proud to see him now.
"Don't leave any openings for me."
"I can't match you and recite the entire History at the same time!"
"You just did. Keep matching me."
"But –"
Shirogane lunged forward , blade screeching against Akira's. The boy, startled, lost his balance and fell backwards. He barely managed to catch himself, slamming hard into the ground up against Shirogane. There was a moment of stalemate, Akira's teeth gritted, snarling in Shirogane's face, but the elder smiled lightly and with a twist of his wrist the prince's blade went flying. It landed point-down in the withered grass, and with a hard shove with his elbow in the kickback, Akira too hit the ground. He was breathing hard, sweat streaming into his eyes, as Shirogane lightly pricked Akira's chin with the very tip of his sword.
"I win."
Those deep, stormy eyes crackled angrily. Shirogane lowered his sword with a smile.
"You're plenty strong, Akira. But you have no stamina at all. That's why I keep winning. If we can improve your stamina, you might just win."
"Is that why… you've been… having me recite… those classics… while we fight…?"
"That would help. The quickest way would be to put you through a bit more strenuous, drawn out exercise for long periods of time, but we can't always do that." Shirogane frowned, tracing his chin with a finger. "If we could find an area to stay for even just a few days with no chance of a threat, I could work wonders with you."
"Is… magic and the sword… all that… you have left… to teach me…?"
"Oh no, my dear boy, there is much that you need to be taught, and even if we take the long way to the capital it won't be enough time. These are things that most scholars spend their entire adolescence and even into adulthood studying. You're picking it up quickly, but very late. Though…" He held out his hand, helping the gasping Akira to his feet. "You are brilliant enough to have things very well memorized after only a couple times through. That is graciously cutting down on the time we need to spend on the classics, leaving more time for other things."
"Why do I need to know all of this?" Akira wheezed, finally getting his air back.
"They're things you should know."
"How do you know all of this?"
"I was well-educated, just as you deserve to be. You have far too much potential to be stuck as a villager all your life, Akira."
A faint blush painted across his cheeks… a tickle of pride from the compliment, maybe? Shirogane patted the boy on the head.
"You're doing very well with everything I teach you. I'm very proud of you."
Akira didn't say anything, but his head leaned ever so slightly into Shirogane's touch. The elder smiled, sheathing his sword and moving over to where they had left their things outside the ring of battle.
"All right. We need to keep moving now."
"How far do we need to go before we can slow down?" Akira asked, packing his own things up.
"We're getting there. We just need to keep going." Shirogane peered into his pack. They were running a bit low on food. "We should come across a village soon… perhaps if we offer some services to them they'll provide us enough food to get to the next town."
"All right."
Silence followed them their first little while on the road. Shirogane didn't mind, as Akira was still likely to be very tired, so he was surprised when Akira spoke up much earlier than he thought the boy would.
"Is magic a different language?"
"You're very sharp. Yes, magic is the ancient language. Our language today has evolved down from it, but it has changed so much that there is little power in normal words anymore."
"Are there any common words that are the same?"
"Nigh none. Sometimes names are taken from the ancient language, like mine and yours."
"Mine?"
"Your name is a stylized, colloquial take on a Raic word. A'qi means 'day' in Raic. Colloquially, you say it 'Aki'."
"Akira…?"
"I believe your parents took a'qi and combined it with a rha, which is the general root for 'long'. Your name then stylizes to Akira, which would mean 'Long Day'."
"Why name me that?"
"In ancient names, there's usually a combination of a description and a wish. In your name, I would read it to mean that to your parents, you were something bright and uplifting, just as the day is brilliant and bright. I also believe that they wish you to live a long, happy life… thus long. Long Day."
"Your name… is that Raic too?"
"Yes. Mine is rather unusual for a Raic name, however."
"How so?"
"My name is either a sentence or a normal Raic name. I've never been told which."
"It can be read sh'io a'ne, which would mean 'White Ice', but it can also be read si' hroa ne."
"Which means…?"
Shirogane looked back with a weak smile. "That would likely mean, 'You are distant'."
Akira raised an eyebrow, looking mildly concerned, but Shirogane laughed it off.
"I'm sure it's not the second. 'White Ice' seems to be what was meant."
"Then your description would be 'white', I assume. The wish?"
"To be hard and cold as ice."
He said it with a mix of disgust and torment. Akira didn't press the subject.
~.oOOo.~
"Here."
"What about here?"
Shirogane nodded towards the river that was singing past. "We'll stop here for the day."
"You said we needed to get far from the borders."
It had been a few days since their last sword-training stop. "We're far enough we can rest for a day. You're getting worn out, and it's no good to have you tired when I'm trying to teach you. Besides, you want to get clean. I can tell."
Akira was looking at the river as if it was one of the most amazing things in the world. Shirogane couldn't help but feel a bit bad – Akira had been very clean when he had stumbled across him, and he could tell the boy was one that wanted to stay well-groomed. It was difficult on the road, and he hadn't mastered enough of his water elements to be able to conjure enough water to wash. Shirogane refused to give him more than necessary as means to spur him to practice and learn.
"Go on ahead. I'll keep watch here."
Akira eyed him. "Keep watch on what?"
"Now now, don't try and make me look bad," Shirogane said airily. "Just go on."
Slowly, Akira shrugged off his pack and pulled off his shirt, dropping them down beside the one tree that marred the road. Shirogane sat down, leaning back into the shade the leaves graciously provided as Akira went down to the riverbank. He kept a sharp eye on the boy to make sure he didn't get into trouble or try to flee. He wasn't so much afraid of the latter as he was the former… the boy's very existence seemed like it was meant to draw attention.
Not that it was always a bad thing. It would be good when he was back where he needed to be. Shirogane let out a sigh, then looked over Akira's body critically for a moment as the boy continued stripping down. Pure, unmarred skin… and he wondered.
He turned his head back to the road as Akira dove into the river, blue eyes lazily scanning the horizon. It was good to rest… he needed some too.
There was someone approaching. He got to his feet, raising a hand and whispering a few words. He was tense, ready to strike, but as the pied horse galloped closer he relaxed.
"Hae, ystavae!" he called.
"Hae, ystavae!" was the response. The horse was reined in front of him, and the Eastern messenger held out a scroll. "You are quite a pain to track."
"I apologize. You know I need to keep moving." Shirogane took the scroll. "What is this?"
"His Majesty has sent it for you. I believe he wishes you to return to the palace immediately."
Shirogane slowly opened the scroll, eyes scanning the neat, small writing. "Tell him I will come as quickly as I can."
"Will do. Hail." The messenger saluted him before wheeling the horse and leaving in the direction he had come from. Shirogane waited a few moments before dropping the spell. Turning, he was startled by Akira right behind him.
"What was that?" the boy asked, shivering.
"A message for me."
Akira's eyes narrowed. "I want to see it."
"You're very wet," Shirogane replied lightly. "You'll smudge the writing. When you're dry, perhaps I'll let you look at it, though I'll warn you now it's nothing you'll understand."
"Are you going to bathe?"
"Would you like me to?"
"Just go to it," Akira grumbled, giving him a slight shove.
"All right, all right." He untied his hair, letting it fall out behind him, then unfastened his shirt. He dropped that down beside his things. "Stay on the side of the tree facing the river. We can't let anyone see you."
"Fine…"
The boy's voice was slightly strangled… he must have seen them. Shirogane sighed, descending the gentle slope to the riverbank. The water was cool and refreshing – it felt amazing as it rippled through his hair. But he had been dreading it… he knew Akira would ask questions. Pulling his wet, heavy hair over one shoulder, he twisted slightly to look at the reflection of his back in the water.
The dark, ugly slashes down his shoulders to the small of his back were still very vivid.
As he emerged from the river and approached Akira, he saw there was something pained in those grey eyes. He shook out his hair, pulling it into a very loose braid in order to keep it off the ground. As he sat down beside the boy, Akira asked in a trembling voice:
"Shirogane… those scars…?"
He remained silent as he worked his hair, trying to decide what would be best to say. He hadn't wanted to show these, but Akira would have seen them at some point. Probably better earlier than later.
"They're from the king."
"This… this king? King Shisui…?"
"No. The other one." He didn't hold the bitterness back. "King Homurabi did this to me."
He felt a soft, hesitant touch run down them. "Homurabi…? That one…?"
"Yes. The one whose soldiers are trying to kill you." Shirogane looked at Akira. "He wants me dead, too."
