:: Silken Fire ::
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
Sequel to Smoke's Wrath
Disclaimer: I don't own Sorcerous Stabber Orphen or any of the characters mentioned.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Hartia+Krylancelo, Rai/Hartia, Majic+Orphen, eventual Orphen/Majic
Warnings: AU, shounen ai, confusion-ness, angst, language, fast-paced
Notes: Um... Yeah, this may seem like it's going quickly. -.- I apologize. But we're (finally! x_x) nearing the end of this, and then I don't have to stress so much, I can get other projects started... Whee!
I love Mariah Carey. She's so inspiring. Listen to her "Forever" song. I like it. Prettiness...
Sinnatious: ... I'm writing a lemon? *sweatdrop* Did I mention that somewhere? Oh, God, if I did I could kick myself... I can't get anywhere NEAR a lemon in this story; I'd have to write a whole new one and I told myself this would be the last! Crap... x_x
The inside of Rai's tower seemed to pulse with a faint green glow. Hartia was wary of entering so late, but he made his way down, still all too curious of Orphen's strange spells. The clairvoyant had warned him it may hurt their friend, but he has also promised that, if done correctly and at the right time, they could do it without inflicting too much damage.
Hartia found the green-haired sorcerer sitting alone, as he always was, single eye focused with relentless intent on the glowing orb floating inches above his folded legs.
"Shh," the older sorcerer cautioned as Hartia took a seat. "He is drifting to sleep." He finally glanced up, a sharp look in his eye. "He is anxious and upset, why I'm not entirely sure, though Majic may have had something to do with it. He feels restless as well."
The freckle-faced teen felt automatic defense rise, but he quickly calmed himself. There was nothing he could do from this distance, simply attempt to discover what haunted Orphen so. He nodded, still silent, and Rai looked back down again.
After more than twenty minutes, as Hartia's legs began to fall asleep, the seer spoke again. "He is asleep, at last. It is not restful, so you must be very cautious. Once disturbed, he may sense you."
"I understand," Hartia said quietly, though what was about to happen he had no idea. He didn't know how he was going to see his old friend's mind, or what he would have to do to be cautious, but he would still try. Not only for his sake, but because Rai knew what was best-- He WAS the master in most psychic fields, after all.
As though sensing his thoughts, Rai murmured, "I have no idea how this works, either. I have yet to try it. But I did do thorough research. I cannot prepare you for what is to come... Just tread cautiously."
"I will," Hartia promised.
Rai finally stopped dancing around the inevitable. Not taking his eyes off the suspended crystal, he reached out beside him, lifting a vial of murky green liquid. He pressed it into his boyfriend's hands, murmuring, "Close your eyes." Hartia complied. "Now we need to synchronize your thoughts."
Hartia tried thinking of Azari, but knew that was completely wrong. Then he tried focusing on Majic, remembering Rai's earlier words, and something along the lines of, 'I don't understand him,' passed through his mind. Almost instantly afterwards, he found that he felt lightheaded, almost as though he were drifting in the air...
"Take a deep drink," he heard Rai say distantly. Half of him was confused as to why, but instinct made him obey. A taste akin to bitter blueberries trickled down his throat, burning his tongue.
"Synchronize, Hartia..."
The redhead shuddered as an ocean of emotions swept over him, drowning him in confusion, hurt, anxiety, helplessness... And then he was lost.
Hartia blinked, confused as to where he was. Had it worked? All he could see was endless, clear, sparkling blue. Blue surrounded him, shimmering and glimmering, with depths shallow as the ocean. He dimly wondered if this was what Orphen's psyche looked like to the visual eye. Rai had once told him that auras could never be seen clearly, for mortals' sight was limited.
He reached out to touch the substance, but though he seemed to be bathed in it, he couldn't feel it. He tried clenching his fist, but even that didn't work.
A thought flitted by, barely noticed to his conscious mind. 'I wonder what I do now...'
It was likely that thought was what set off the next synchronized movement. Hartia was flooded without warning, a desperate thought of, "I don't know what to do," repeating itself. A scene unfolded slowly before him like a piece of paper, small at first and slowly growing bigger. He found himself entranced, and he studied it, hoping to learn something, anything...
People were deathly silent, save a few muffled sobs. There weren't many people, just a few adults and scattered teenagers and children. Some of the children were restless, fidgeting, and most everyone else was completely still.
Hartia grimaced, moving forward. He was correct in thinking no one could see him, nor hear or feel him as he walked right through them. These were Orphen's-- Krylancelo's-- someone's memories.
He could see himself, or someone that resembled him. The setting wasn't familiar at all, but he was certain that was him. The same dusty red hair, same length, same golden eyes...
And beside whoever it was appeared to be none other than Krylancelo himself.
The one who looked like Krylancelo was pale, hands trembling even as he folded his arms over his chest, trying to hide it. The look the boy similar to Hartia gave him was sympathetic, though slightly troubled. Whatever had happened... Was this the thing Orphen had been apologizing for?
Too confused, the scene faded from Hartia's vision. Rather than the sparkling blue, he saw blackness. Torment seemed to swallow him; it hurt. He clutched at his chest where the pain seemed to originate, swelling to the point it felt like someone was poking him with sharp, hot iron in the same place over and over and over.
Pain, pain, pain... Then snippets of a long-forgotten conversation that seemed to tear at his soul.
(( "S... Souari..."
"Go away, you brat."
"B-but... You... You said... You--"
"It was a lie, damnit! I can't stand you! Get out of my sight! GET OUT!" ))
Hartia shuddered, clenching his eyes shut. Images of a very young-looking Majic, looking so hurt as tears cascaded down his face; the boy addressed as Souari glaring so hatefully when only moments before Hartia had seen him so upset. It didn't make sense, didn't make sense at all... And he wanted out.
This had been the biggest mistake.
Majic ducked his head until his chin rested on the skin just above his collar bone, fisting covers around him as he tried not to think. He desperately wanted to sleep, to escape the horrible feelings he felt, but his body refused to relax even as his mind pleaded for relief.
He'd heard the heavy footsteps of his master late that night, much later than they usually went to bed, and he'd quickly closed his eyes, doing his best to feign sleep. Orphen had done nothing, it seemed, but gone straight to bed, falling so heavily it seemed as though he'd completely drained himself. Something about his patterns was off, certainly; coming back late, footsteps trudging rather than confident and brisk as always, not saying a word at all before simply going straight to bed... Something was wrong.
The blonde hardly dared to breathe for the longest time, and just when his body finally decided to assuage his tension he'd heard a disturbed rustle from the other bed. Pulling his full lower lip between his teeth, Majic slowly rolled over, daring a glance in his master's direction.
Orphen hadn't even undressed, sprawled out on the bed in complete disarray. His brows were stitched, sweat dampening his face and very faint colour high in his cheeks. Concerned, Majic sat up and pushed the covers away, sliding over to his master's bedside. He was still upset, yes... But did Orphen's well-being not always come first?
He was unsure whether or not to wake him; it seemed he was troubled, possibly having a nightmare of sorts, but at the same time Majic was afraid of confronting him again. He berated himself for being so pathetic...
Majic blinked, sniffing lightly before he winced. "Orphen-sama, you didn't," he whispered, disappointed and reaching to untie his headband. 'Did I do that bad a thing, Orphen-sama, to make you want to drink? Oh, gods, I'm so sorry...'
A soft groan fell from the older sorcerer, causing Majic to freeze, his heart stopping for a moment. Then he exhaled softly, relieved to see he wasn't waking. 'Why did you have to ask me? I hate having to avoid you.'
He slid the red cloth away from the sorcerer, folding it twice before setting it on the nightstand for Orphen to find it the next day. Then he quickly moved to remove his boots, doing his best not to disturb him. He was happy to be successful, but when he looked back again his master looked as though his dreams (or nightmares, as the case may have most likely been) had only gotten worse.
Majic sighed and moved back up, gently shaking his shoulder. "Oshou-sama, please wake up," he pleaded. 'If you're hurting, please tell me. If it's my fault, I can fix it. I can go away if you want me to... Just please tell me!'
Suddenly his wrist was grasped tightly, making Majic gasp and started, nearly falling backwards. Orphen was awake, it seemed, gasping as though he'd just resurfaced from the deepest of lakes.
"Oshou-sama, that hurts," Majic whispered hoarsely.
Orphen didn't respond at first, simply staring up at the ceiling in wide-eyed shock. "I killed him," he finally choked.
His apprentice stared, baffled and frightened. Rather than struggle to get away, he took a deep breath and edged closer. If he really loved Orphen -- and he was too young to know what that really was, but if he really wanted to TRY -- then he would have to face things like this, scary or not. "Who, Oshou-sama?"
He fingers clasping his bony wrist slackened, finally falling into his own lap as Orphen covered his face with his other hand. "Mychio. I killed him... I killed YOU. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck, this is so wrong..."
Wincing at the harsh language, Majic said softly, "You're probably still drunk, Oshou-sama. It was just a bad dream--"
"It was NOT a bad dream!" Orphen snapped suddenly, forcing himself to sit up. Judging from his cringe, it was likely he was suffering from a headache, but he fought it. "Hartia-- Damyn-- Whoever the hell he was, he was there! He watched, he pulled them back..."
Majic swallowed. "You believe in reincarnation?"
Orphen shook his head, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know," he said in a strangled voice. "I just don't know what to think... But it makes the most sense. You do, I'm sure... Most Paltanec do."
"Paltanec... White Magicians?" Majic gaped in disbelief. "Oshou-sama, no... I can't be... I'm just like you! And Hartia-san! I'm a sorcerer; a black-magic practicer! I AM!"
The sienna-eyed sorcerer didn't seem to hear him. "Yeah, that would make sense," he whispered. "Why you can only use offense magic in desperate situations... Why you seemed to learn the few defense attacks I taught you more quickly than the others..."
Majic shook his head; his bloodlines didn't matter. Orphen was avoiding the subject. "Oshou-sama, I still don't understand. Are you saying YOU killed me... In... In a past life?" His voice dropped to a whisper as he spoke, broken and upset. "But... But that's..."
Completely possible, his mind told him. It was possible, it made sense... Everything Orphen had said was making sense, despite his harassed-looking state. After all, he did believe in what his mother said, that those born in winter had been killed in a past life. And so... And so...
He didn't want to; he'd done it too much all day. Still he couldn't hold back the tear that escaped, and he quickly wiped it away, biting his lip so hard he bled, until he could keep in the cries his body wanted to release. No, he'd done enough of that, too much of that.
Looking back up, his master looked completely exhausted and not a little tired. No words needed to be said; Majic pulled himself back into bed, curling up protectively beneath his blankets. There was a rustle, a few movements and creaks, and then silence as Orphen, presumably, attempted to fall asleep as well.
Nothing made sense, and too much had happened at once. Majic knew they both had to sleep on this, and then come morning... Come morning he could be the one to confront Orphen and have HIM make a decision: to cut all ties with him, now, before either of them got hurt any worse, or to continue on their journey.
Majic wanted acceptance. He'd wanted it for years, and he'd been content keeping his feelings to himself, but now that they were in the open he refused to have it halfway anymore. Either Orphen would try to accept him, or he would completely reject him.
With uncharacteristic determination kindling in his lower belly, Majic finally fell into a discontented sleep.
Rai knew it was going to happen long before it did. It was easy to tap into two synchronized minds, and thus he had been able to witness much of Hartia's side of Krylancelo's inner turmoil and confusion. So when Hartia gave the barest of cries and lost consciousness, overwhelmed both by the spell and Krylancelo's emotions, Rai had been able to catch him before he'd hurt himself.
The room grew dark as the glow in his crystal orb faded. They were left alone, only one conscious, the other in a fitful state of darkness. Rai cradled him against his chest, saying nothing, knowing Hartia was beyond his hearing for the moment. It helped, at times, to be a bit psychic as well as clairvoyant.
'I am sorry,' he thought, single eye closing against the darkness. 'I knew this was a bad idea... I knew no one would be able to handle this. It is my fault. I am sorry. Hartia, Krylancelo, Majic... Please forgive me.'
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
Sequel to Smoke's Wrath
Disclaimer: I don't own Sorcerous Stabber Orphen or any of the characters mentioned.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: Hartia+Krylancelo, Rai/Hartia, Majic+Orphen, eventual Orphen/Majic
Warnings: AU, shounen ai, confusion-ness, angst, language, fast-paced
Notes: Um... Yeah, this may seem like it's going quickly. -.- I apologize. But we're (finally! x_x) nearing the end of this, and then I don't have to stress so much, I can get other projects started... Whee!
I love Mariah Carey. She's so inspiring. Listen to her "Forever" song. I like it. Prettiness...
Sinnatious: ... I'm writing a lemon? *sweatdrop* Did I mention that somewhere? Oh, God, if I did I could kick myself... I can't get anywhere NEAR a lemon in this story; I'd have to write a whole new one and I told myself this would be the last! Crap... x_x
The inside of Rai's tower seemed to pulse with a faint green glow. Hartia was wary of entering so late, but he made his way down, still all too curious of Orphen's strange spells. The clairvoyant had warned him it may hurt their friend, but he has also promised that, if done correctly and at the right time, they could do it without inflicting too much damage.
Hartia found the green-haired sorcerer sitting alone, as he always was, single eye focused with relentless intent on the glowing orb floating inches above his folded legs.
"Shh," the older sorcerer cautioned as Hartia took a seat. "He is drifting to sleep." He finally glanced up, a sharp look in his eye. "He is anxious and upset, why I'm not entirely sure, though Majic may have had something to do with it. He feels restless as well."
The freckle-faced teen felt automatic defense rise, but he quickly calmed himself. There was nothing he could do from this distance, simply attempt to discover what haunted Orphen so. He nodded, still silent, and Rai looked back down again.
After more than twenty minutes, as Hartia's legs began to fall asleep, the seer spoke again. "He is asleep, at last. It is not restful, so you must be very cautious. Once disturbed, he may sense you."
"I understand," Hartia said quietly, though what was about to happen he had no idea. He didn't know how he was going to see his old friend's mind, or what he would have to do to be cautious, but he would still try. Not only for his sake, but because Rai knew what was best-- He WAS the master in most psychic fields, after all.
As though sensing his thoughts, Rai murmured, "I have no idea how this works, either. I have yet to try it. But I did do thorough research. I cannot prepare you for what is to come... Just tread cautiously."
"I will," Hartia promised.
Rai finally stopped dancing around the inevitable. Not taking his eyes off the suspended crystal, he reached out beside him, lifting a vial of murky green liquid. He pressed it into his boyfriend's hands, murmuring, "Close your eyes." Hartia complied. "Now we need to synchronize your thoughts."
Hartia tried thinking of Azari, but knew that was completely wrong. Then he tried focusing on Majic, remembering Rai's earlier words, and something along the lines of, 'I don't understand him,' passed through his mind. Almost instantly afterwards, he found that he felt lightheaded, almost as though he were drifting in the air...
"Take a deep drink," he heard Rai say distantly. Half of him was confused as to why, but instinct made him obey. A taste akin to bitter blueberries trickled down his throat, burning his tongue.
"Synchronize, Hartia..."
The redhead shuddered as an ocean of emotions swept over him, drowning him in confusion, hurt, anxiety, helplessness... And then he was lost.
Hartia blinked, confused as to where he was. Had it worked? All he could see was endless, clear, sparkling blue. Blue surrounded him, shimmering and glimmering, with depths shallow as the ocean. He dimly wondered if this was what Orphen's psyche looked like to the visual eye. Rai had once told him that auras could never be seen clearly, for mortals' sight was limited.
He reached out to touch the substance, but though he seemed to be bathed in it, he couldn't feel it. He tried clenching his fist, but even that didn't work.
A thought flitted by, barely noticed to his conscious mind. 'I wonder what I do now...'
It was likely that thought was what set off the next synchronized movement. Hartia was flooded without warning, a desperate thought of, "I don't know what to do," repeating itself. A scene unfolded slowly before him like a piece of paper, small at first and slowly growing bigger. He found himself entranced, and he studied it, hoping to learn something, anything...
People were deathly silent, save a few muffled sobs. There weren't many people, just a few adults and scattered teenagers and children. Some of the children were restless, fidgeting, and most everyone else was completely still.
Hartia grimaced, moving forward. He was correct in thinking no one could see him, nor hear or feel him as he walked right through them. These were Orphen's-- Krylancelo's-- someone's memories.
He could see himself, or someone that resembled him. The setting wasn't familiar at all, but he was certain that was him. The same dusty red hair, same length, same golden eyes...
And beside whoever it was appeared to be none other than Krylancelo himself.
The one who looked like Krylancelo was pale, hands trembling even as he folded his arms over his chest, trying to hide it. The look the boy similar to Hartia gave him was sympathetic, though slightly troubled. Whatever had happened... Was this the thing Orphen had been apologizing for?
Too confused, the scene faded from Hartia's vision. Rather than the sparkling blue, he saw blackness. Torment seemed to swallow him; it hurt. He clutched at his chest where the pain seemed to originate, swelling to the point it felt like someone was poking him with sharp, hot iron in the same place over and over and over.
Pain, pain, pain... Then snippets of a long-forgotten conversation that seemed to tear at his soul.
(( "S... Souari..."
"Go away, you brat."
"B-but... You... You said... You--"
"It was a lie, damnit! I can't stand you! Get out of my sight! GET OUT!" ))
Hartia shuddered, clenching his eyes shut. Images of a very young-looking Majic, looking so hurt as tears cascaded down his face; the boy addressed as Souari glaring so hatefully when only moments before Hartia had seen him so upset. It didn't make sense, didn't make sense at all... And he wanted out.
This had been the biggest mistake.
Majic ducked his head until his chin rested on the skin just above his collar bone, fisting covers around him as he tried not to think. He desperately wanted to sleep, to escape the horrible feelings he felt, but his body refused to relax even as his mind pleaded for relief.
He'd heard the heavy footsteps of his master late that night, much later than they usually went to bed, and he'd quickly closed his eyes, doing his best to feign sleep. Orphen had done nothing, it seemed, but gone straight to bed, falling so heavily it seemed as though he'd completely drained himself. Something about his patterns was off, certainly; coming back late, footsteps trudging rather than confident and brisk as always, not saying a word at all before simply going straight to bed... Something was wrong.
The blonde hardly dared to breathe for the longest time, and just when his body finally decided to assuage his tension he'd heard a disturbed rustle from the other bed. Pulling his full lower lip between his teeth, Majic slowly rolled over, daring a glance in his master's direction.
Orphen hadn't even undressed, sprawled out on the bed in complete disarray. His brows were stitched, sweat dampening his face and very faint colour high in his cheeks. Concerned, Majic sat up and pushed the covers away, sliding over to his master's bedside. He was still upset, yes... But did Orphen's well-being not always come first?
He was unsure whether or not to wake him; it seemed he was troubled, possibly having a nightmare of sorts, but at the same time Majic was afraid of confronting him again. He berated himself for being so pathetic...
Majic blinked, sniffing lightly before he winced. "Orphen-sama, you didn't," he whispered, disappointed and reaching to untie his headband. 'Did I do that bad a thing, Orphen-sama, to make you want to drink? Oh, gods, I'm so sorry...'
A soft groan fell from the older sorcerer, causing Majic to freeze, his heart stopping for a moment. Then he exhaled softly, relieved to see he wasn't waking. 'Why did you have to ask me? I hate having to avoid you.'
He slid the red cloth away from the sorcerer, folding it twice before setting it on the nightstand for Orphen to find it the next day. Then he quickly moved to remove his boots, doing his best not to disturb him. He was happy to be successful, but when he looked back again his master looked as though his dreams (or nightmares, as the case may have most likely been) had only gotten worse.
Majic sighed and moved back up, gently shaking his shoulder. "Oshou-sama, please wake up," he pleaded. 'If you're hurting, please tell me. If it's my fault, I can fix it. I can go away if you want me to... Just please tell me!'
Suddenly his wrist was grasped tightly, making Majic gasp and started, nearly falling backwards. Orphen was awake, it seemed, gasping as though he'd just resurfaced from the deepest of lakes.
"Oshou-sama, that hurts," Majic whispered hoarsely.
Orphen didn't respond at first, simply staring up at the ceiling in wide-eyed shock. "I killed him," he finally choked.
His apprentice stared, baffled and frightened. Rather than struggle to get away, he took a deep breath and edged closer. If he really loved Orphen -- and he was too young to know what that really was, but if he really wanted to TRY -- then he would have to face things like this, scary or not. "Who, Oshou-sama?"
He fingers clasping his bony wrist slackened, finally falling into his own lap as Orphen covered his face with his other hand. "Mychio. I killed him... I killed YOU. Oh, fuck. Oh, fuck, this is so wrong..."
Wincing at the harsh language, Majic said softly, "You're probably still drunk, Oshou-sama. It was just a bad dream--"
"It was NOT a bad dream!" Orphen snapped suddenly, forcing himself to sit up. Judging from his cringe, it was likely he was suffering from a headache, but he fought it. "Hartia-- Damyn-- Whoever the hell he was, he was there! He watched, he pulled them back..."
Majic swallowed. "You believe in reincarnation?"
Orphen shook his head, burying his face in his hands. "I don't know," he said in a strangled voice. "I just don't know what to think... But it makes the most sense. You do, I'm sure... Most Paltanec do."
"Paltanec... White Magicians?" Majic gaped in disbelief. "Oshou-sama, no... I can't be... I'm just like you! And Hartia-san! I'm a sorcerer; a black-magic practicer! I AM!"
The sienna-eyed sorcerer didn't seem to hear him. "Yeah, that would make sense," he whispered. "Why you can only use offense magic in desperate situations... Why you seemed to learn the few defense attacks I taught you more quickly than the others..."
Majic shook his head; his bloodlines didn't matter. Orphen was avoiding the subject. "Oshou-sama, I still don't understand. Are you saying YOU killed me... In... In a past life?" His voice dropped to a whisper as he spoke, broken and upset. "But... But that's..."
Completely possible, his mind told him. It was possible, it made sense... Everything Orphen had said was making sense, despite his harassed-looking state. After all, he did believe in what his mother said, that those born in winter had been killed in a past life. And so... And so...
He didn't want to; he'd done it too much all day. Still he couldn't hold back the tear that escaped, and he quickly wiped it away, biting his lip so hard he bled, until he could keep in the cries his body wanted to release. No, he'd done enough of that, too much of that.
Looking back up, his master looked completely exhausted and not a little tired. No words needed to be said; Majic pulled himself back into bed, curling up protectively beneath his blankets. There was a rustle, a few movements and creaks, and then silence as Orphen, presumably, attempted to fall asleep as well.
Nothing made sense, and too much had happened at once. Majic knew they both had to sleep on this, and then come morning... Come morning he could be the one to confront Orphen and have HIM make a decision: to cut all ties with him, now, before either of them got hurt any worse, or to continue on their journey.
Majic wanted acceptance. He'd wanted it for years, and he'd been content keeping his feelings to himself, but now that they were in the open he refused to have it halfway anymore. Either Orphen would try to accept him, or he would completely reject him.
With uncharacteristic determination kindling in his lower belly, Majic finally fell into a discontented sleep.
Rai knew it was going to happen long before it did. It was easy to tap into two synchronized minds, and thus he had been able to witness much of Hartia's side of Krylancelo's inner turmoil and confusion. So when Hartia gave the barest of cries and lost consciousness, overwhelmed both by the spell and Krylancelo's emotions, Rai had been able to catch him before he'd hurt himself.
The room grew dark as the glow in his crystal orb faded. They were left alone, only one conscious, the other in a fitful state of darkness. Rai cradled him against his chest, saying nothing, knowing Hartia was beyond his hearing for the moment. It helped, at times, to be a bit psychic as well as clairvoyant.
'I am sorry,' he thought, single eye closing against the darkness. 'I knew this was a bad idea... I knew no one would be able to handle this. It is my fault. I am sorry. Hartia, Krylancelo, Majic... Please forgive me.'