Petals
Disclaimer: This is a non-profit story written for entertainment purposes only. The original characters of Escaflowne belong to their respective owners.
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Petals
Chapter 3
I tried for a very long time to understand my Sword Master. He was a simple and honest man, that I could see right away, but there was also something else about him that left me wondering. He never spoke much of himself, but he educated me in far more than simply swordsmanship. He taught me of strategy, of course, of tactics and how best to act in difficult situations. He also taught me of life, and during the time he was my teacher, I felt some of my resentment and bitterness dissipate, because they somehow seemed so silly in comparison to his stark, solid logic. He taught me of honour and chivalry, manners of the 'high society,' of vengeance and pain. In time, I learned not to calculate my Master, and I left his hidden past be. He'd taught me that it did not matter what kind of past people had or what family they came from, just as long as they have purity of heart and love of the art. He became almost a surrogate father to me, and I respected him far more.
"You're trying to do too much all at once," he had instructed me one time. "Do not try to run when you can't walk." And he had promptly knocked my sword out of my hands with one swift gesture while I was in the middle of trying a technique. "Learn the basics properly, and the rest will come much easier."
I heeded his advice, and I practiced hard. Pretty soon, we had gone far past the basics and into more complicated tuition. I was an apt student and a fast learner, and not too long after I was able to hold my own against Balgus, if only for a short while.
Years passed without our knowing. One day, while we were in the middle of our training, Balgus suddenly stopped and gazed up at the clear blue sky. I found it to be more than odd, and had to use all my strength to pull back an attack that I had already launched. Balgus never lost concentration during a match and he most certainly didn't lower his guard. I followed his gaze into the heavens, but I saw nothing there except lazy clouds moving slowly across the cerulean expanse and a slender white feather fluttering towards the ground. It quivered briefly in the wind, dancing with its breeze of a lover, before falling steadily to land on his sword sheath, over the engraved maroon and gold crest that I didn't recognize. A small breeze passed by, kicking up some dried, fallen leaves, and blowing the white feather from the ground into a frenzy of steps of an intricate dance, and finally into the outstretched palm of my Sword Master. I didn't understand, but I got the feeling that I would never see him again. This would be our final goodbye.
Balgus held the feather softly in a grip I didn't think he was capable of, and re-sheathed his sword. "That'll have to be all for today," he said to me, turning to leave me in that small clearing by myself. "Have your things ready to leave first thing tomorrow morning. I'm taking you to someone who can look after you."
There were so many things I wanted to ask him, but I knew that he wouldn't answer. His statement also wasn't a request; it was a command.
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Glancing over periodically at the silent man walking beside me, I saw that something significant had happened to make him upset. I had a feeling that the feather conveyed a silent message, a secret code, but what it was I could only guess. With my head feeling light and the small owl I had affectionately named Natal dozing peacefully on my shoulder, I simply let Balgus lead me where I was supposed to go. I had cut my hair the previous night, so that it now hung just above my shoulders. I had called Natal to me close to dawn, and I was afraid that he would already be sleeping and not answer my call. Relieved was I to see the familiar flutter of white wings after my third try.
The trees were less dense now, and the canopy was no longer fully shielding the forest floor so that erratic patterns of light shone through the leaves overhead. It all looked so green and peacefully still, and had I the choice, I would've stopped by the little creek that ran by the large willow trees and on down the gentle slope. But Balgus didn't even seem to look at the scenery; his eyes flickered over everything as if he saw through it, and we pressed grimly onwards. Finally, when we had reached the edge of the forest, we came out in a grass-covered clearing and the sun glared so blindingly bright that all I saw were little black dots and I was forced to shield my eyes.
Squinting until my pupils had adjusted themselves, I found that we were standing on a small hill overlooking a fairly large town. In actuality, it was more a city than a town, but I'd not been in a place with many people for so long that it was all too much for my mind to take in at once. The houses looked to be of a light orange colour, with crooked roofs and winding streets creating alleyways to divide them apart. The city was shaped almost like a drawn heart, and even from a distance the voices of many chattering people emanated and reached our ears. I looked up at Balgus to see his reaction, but there was only blank neutrality written on his face. Not for the first time in the years that I'd known him, I wished I could've read my Master's thoughts, to know what he was thinking and feeling. I didn't have long to ponder, however, because after a quick sweep with his eyes over the landscape, Balgus proceeded down the hill, and I had to run to catch up with him.
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We entered the city through the main gates, unnoticed and unheeded by most of the various people crowding the wide street. Some vendors tried to call us to buy their products, but Balgus's now icy exterior kept most of them away. Natal was hooting angrily on my shoulder, not liking the glare of the sunlight or the commotion that made so much noise. With my feet kicking up dust from the clay-coloured ground as we went along, I let my eyes roam over the brightly coloured booths that stood in the street, selling everything from jewellery to fresh fish. Children ran away from their mothers, who were buying groceries for supper. A mule kicked its owner in the stomach, sending him crashing into a booth and making the vendor furious. A tall, bulky man was carrying a long wooden pole slung over his shoulder, and he created a wide path through the crowd. Every time someone shouted at him and he turned to talk, people would have to duck to avoid being hit. There was a piper playing to captivate the attention of a small group of watchers, who were peering eagerly at a woven basket in front of the piper, where the scaly head of a snake was beginning to appear.
Growing up in a small town, I was unaccustomed to seeing so many people and things in the same place all at once. I gaped when I first saw a beast man walk by, but luckily I caught myself and he didn't seem to notice. I wanted to browse around, to talk and meet people, since everyone seemed so friendly and it had been a long time since I'd spoken to anyone my own age. But Balgus would not stop; once again, we trod on.
After a few twists and turns through several small alleys, we emerged in a quieter part of town with sparser, larger houses. The street was narrower and flatter here, but the dust still blew into my face if I didn't lift my feet. To me, the houses all looked the same, with identical architectural designs and constructed with the same orange-coloured clay bricks that the builder of the city appeared to be fond of. My feet were getting tired, and we had not stopped to rest all day. Letting my curiosity get the best of me, I finally asked one of the numerous questions I'd been dying to ask since that feather had fallen out of the sky.
"Balgus," I began hesitantly. "Where are we?"
He looked at me as if truly seeing me for the first time that day, and the steel glint in his eyes softened a bit.
"My mind has been preoccupied. I haven't told you much, have I, Allen? We are in Daedelus. I am taking you to an old friend of mine."
He stopped there, and I thought that he still hadn't told me much, but at least I knew where we were. Unable to hold them in any longer, I asked him more questions, even though it was very rude.
"But what about you? What did that feather in the sky mean?"
He halted in his long stride and turned around to face me, coming back to kneel so that he was at my eye level.
"I've been summoned home," he said, and I could tell from his voice that he wanted to resolve this now. "I can't take you with me, but I'm taking you to someone who will look after you and continue your education. I want you to train just as hard, and don't be stubborn." Balgus was getting up as he clapped a large, calloused hand on my shoulder, almost walking away again, but my next sentence, sounding dead even to my own ears, stopped him in mid stride.
"I'll never see you again, will I? You're not coming back."
To be continued…***************
Author's Notes: Thanks to the people kind enough to leave reviews for chapter three.
