Training Ewan was indeed interesting. Like with any training the first few
weeks were tough and hard. There was not a day Ewan's body was not covered
with bruises or where his muscles never ached from the strenuous workout
Kael had put him through. There were days where Ewan had doubted he would
survive another session. On those days, he would take a hold of his ring
and let Lazar's words run though his mind. Eventually Ewan had adapted,
endured, and even excelled Kael's expectation. Ewan's insatiable thirst for
knowledge and the hunger to be the best had helped him during his training.
The years had worn on. Ewan had grown into a strapping young man.
By the age of seventeen, he had sprouted to be as tall as Kael is. His body no longer resembled that gawky frame of adolescence that most boys his age would have. With all the training, Kael had been putting him through along with the added physical chores he was responsible for, Ewan's body had been defined one of a warrior. He not as burly as Kael but still he was strong and sleek.
His hair had grown longer, just passing the middle of his back. Even the little growth of facial hair was starting to show. Ewan looked into the mirror and began inspecting his face. Feeling the faint coarse stubble under his palm and fingers as he rubbed his cheeks and chin. "What are you doing, Ewan?" Kael had come up behind him. Ewan spun around when he heard Kael's deep voice. He redden from embarrassment after being caught looking at himself in the mirror.
Ewan had always been a modest person. Never once thought of himself as handsome or attractive. He felt plain in comparison to the other boys in the village. Even with those occasions where some of the girls and yes-even women from the village would try to prove him wrong by making their advances. Still he did not feel anything at all and in return, the women received nothing for their effort, just a simple smile and a nod. He was just plain Ewan in his eyes.
"I was just, uh," For once the boy was lost for words. Ewan pointed to the mirror as he tried to explain, "Just...looking." Kael grinned and began stroking his own long fiery beard. Teasing Ewan because he knew what the boy was doing. He had done it himself at his age. "Just looking, huh?" Ewan nodded his head and lowered his eyes. He could feel the blush on his face burning. Kael chuckled lightly and said, "My father once told me a beard is the symbol of a boy turning into a man. With this change he carries an infinite wisdom and strength." Ewan rubbed his face a bit disappointed with what little he had. "Your father sounded very wise, Kael." Kael roared with laughter.
"What? Didn't your father's words hold any truth?" Ewan wondered.
"Aye it did. That the men in my family were hairy. I had a full growth by the time I was your age. Eh, my father, bless his soul, was a blathering drunkard Ewan. What wisdom did he carry? How to fall gracefully in the mud after drinking so much mead?" Kael continued to laugh.
"But you're a wise man, Kael. Your father's must words hold some truth." Ewan added.
Kael shook his head and laid a hand on Ewan's shoulder. "There is more to a man then just having hair on his face. Wisdom does not come with a growth of a beard. I have experienced life, learned, lived, and in time I have become the man you know. Like all things, Ewan, you must let them come naturally. Do not force things to happen. Be patient. In the end the rewards will speak for themselves." Kael took the hand that was resting on Ewan's shoulder and gently patted his face.
Kael narrowed his eyes and stared at Ewan. He could see in the young man's eyes that there was more. "I have never seen you so aware of you appearance before, Ewan. Why the sudden interest in a beard, eh?" Ewan lowered his eyes. Kael sensed there was something deeply bothering the boy. He ushered Ewan to sit in the chair near the fire while he occupied the other. "What's really bothering you, Ewan?" Kael leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, hands clasp in front. Ewan took a deep breath and as he exhaled said, "Kellan."
Kael's brows furrowed, "Kellan?" Ewan nodded his head, sparing a glance at Kael. The older man shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. That Kellan boy had it in for Ewan since the boy arrived six years ago. The boy had always gone out of his way to make things difficult for Ewan. In Kael's eyes, the boy was an arrogant, pompous, brat who lacked discipline. Nevertheless, with all the trouble Kellan caused, Ewan simply ignored the bully. This in return only infuriated Kellan. Kael had a feeling that the dislike for Ewan was in fact a guise for the jealousy in his heart. Kellan felt threaten because Ewan was everything he had ever wanted to be.
In the beginning, Ewan had tired in vain to make friends with Kellan and the other children in the village. He tried to fit in but they never truly accepted, they cast him aside as an outsider. Ewan soon realized he was different from most people here in the village. In addition, sometimes being different was undesirable. Ewan had soon given up trying to fit in and kept to himself. Instead, he concentrated on his training, his studies, and on the wielder.
"What has Kellan done this time?" Kael asked.
Ewan began to recall their encounter. Ewan had accompanied Kael into the village earlier that day. They gathered the needed supplies and were about to head out but someone had called Kael attention. "Ewan finish up here. I won't be long." Ewan nodded his head and continued to finish loading the wagon. He was just about done when he heard familiar voices behind him.
"Only real men have beards." Ewan snorted and shook his head at the arrogant comment. "What do you think Ewan?" Ewan sighed. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned around and stared at Kellan. Kellan was not as tall as Ewan falling by just a few feet. However, he was a bit more muscular then Ewan. His blonde hair flowed down his back, stopping just above his waist. Icy blues eyes stared back into brown ones. A smirk crossed Kellan's lips; he brought up a hand to rub against the growth of hair on his face. Kellan turned to his two companions. "I forgot Ewan here isn't a man. He's just a bared faced boy." Kellan turned his attention back to Ewan, "You should go home and stay there until you've grown something. " Kellan began to laugh along with his two friends. "It takes more then a few hairs to make a man." Ewan's witty retort abruptly stopped the fits of laughter. Kellan, flanked by his two friends, moved closer. With a smirk on his lips, Ewan stood his ground as they advanced.
"And what would you know about being a man? You don't even have a tuath." Ewan's smirk immediately faded and a flash of pain reflected in his eyes. Kellan caught the glint of pain and continued. "An orphan with nothing. The only family you ever had was the old man that brought you here. And even he abandoned you. And Kael only took you in cause he owed a favor to that old man." Kellan lowered his head, his eyes roaming over Ewan, "You may dress like us, you may act like us, but you will never be one of us. You will always be an outcast with no past and no family."
Kellan took a step back, readying himself for an attack. Ewan's eyes flashed with anger, his nostrils flared, his jaw clenched, and his hands rolled into fists. Ewan had been ready to pounce but Kael's deep voice stopped him from even taking a step. "Come along Ewan. We have much work to do back home." Ewan did not respond right away. "Ewan?!" Kael's voice grew louder. Ewan knew getting into a fight with Kellan would only insult Kael. Ewan had too much respect for the man. Therefore, he turned his back at Kellan's grin and mounted the wagon.
By the age of seventeen, he had sprouted to be as tall as Kael is. His body no longer resembled that gawky frame of adolescence that most boys his age would have. With all the training, Kael had been putting him through along with the added physical chores he was responsible for, Ewan's body had been defined one of a warrior. He not as burly as Kael but still he was strong and sleek.
His hair had grown longer, just passing the middle of his back. Even the little growth of facial hair was starting to show. Ewan looked into the mirror and began inspecting his face. Feeling the faint coarse stubble under his palm and fingers as he rubbed his cheeks and chin. "What are you doing, Ewan?" Kael had come up behind him. Ewan spun around when he heard Kael's deep voice. He redden from embarrassment after being caught looking at himself in the mirror.
Ewan had always been a modest person. Never once thought of himself as handsome or attractive. He felt plain in comparison to the other boys in the village. Even with those occasions where some of the girls and yes-even women from the village would try to prove him wrong by making their advances. Still he did not feel anything at all and in return, the women received nothing for their effort, just a simple smile and a nod. He was just plain Ewan in his eyes.
"I was just, uh," For once the boy was lost for words. Ewan pointed to the mirror as he tried to explain, "Just...looking." Kael grinned and began stroking his own long fiery beard. Teasing Ewan because he knew what the boy was doing. He had done it himself at his age. "Just looking, huh?" Ewan nodded his head and lowered his eyes. He could feel the blush on his face burning. Kael chuckled lightly and said, "My father once told me a beard is the symbol of a boy turning into a man. With this change he carries an infinite wisdom and strength." Ewan rubbed his face a bit disappointed with what little he had. "Your father sounded very wise, Kael." Kael roared with laughter.
"What? Didn't your father's words hold any truth?" Ewan wondered.
"Aye it did. That the men in my family were hairy. I had a full growth by the time I was your age. Eh, my father, bless his soul, was a blathering drunkard Ewan. What wisdom did he carry? How to fall gracefully in the mud after drinking so much mead?" Kael continued to laugh.
"But you're a wise man, Kael. Your father's must words hold some truth." Ewan added.
Kael shook his head and laid a hand on Ewan's shoulder. "There is more to a man then just having hair on his face. Wisdom does not come with a growth of a beard. I have experienced life, learned, lived, and in time I have become the man you know. Like all things, Ewan, you must let them come naturally. Do not force things to happen. Be patient. In the end the rewards will speak for themselves." Kael took the hand that was resting on Ewan's shoulder and gently patted his face.
Kael narrowed his eyes and stared at Ewan. He could see in the young man's eyes that there was more. "I have never seen you so aware of you appearance before, Ewan. Why the sudden interest in a beard, eh?" Ewan lowered his eyes. Kael sensed there was something deeply bothering the boy. He ushered Ewan to sit in the chair near the fire while he occupied the other. "What's really bothering you, Ewan?" Kael leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, hands clasp in front. Ewan took a deep breath and as he exhaled said, "Kellan."
Kael's brows furrowed, "Kellan?" Ewan nodded his head, sparing a glance at Kael. The older man shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh. That Kellan boy had it in for Ewan since the boy arrived six years ago. The boy had always gone out of his way to make things difficult for Ewan. In Kael's eyes, the boy was an arrogant, pompous, brat who lacked discipline. Nevertheless, with all the trouble Kellan caused, Ewan simply ignored the bully. This in return only infuriated Kellan. Kael had a feeling that the dislike for Ewan was in fact a guise for the jealousy in his heart. Kellan felt threaten because Ewan was everything he had ever wanted to be.
In the beginning, Ewan had tired in vain to make friends with Kellan and the other children in the village. He tried to fit in but they never truly accepted, they cast him aside as an outsider. Ewan soon realized he was different from most people here in the village. In addition, sometimes being different was undesirable. Ewan had soon given up trying to fit in and kept to himself. Instead, he concentrated on his training, his studies, and on the wielder.
"What has Kellan done this time?" Kael asked.
Ewan began to recall their encounter. Ewan had accompanied Kael into the village earlier that day. They gathered the needed supplies and were about to head out but someone had called Kael attention. "Ewan finish up here. I won't be long." Ewan nodded his head and continued to finish loading the wagon. He was just about done when he heard familiar voices behind him.
"Only real men have beards." Ewan snorted and shook his head at the arrogant comment. "What do you think Ewan?" Ewan sighed. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned around and stared at Kellan. Kellan was not as tall as Ewan falling by just a few feet. However, he was a bit more muscular then Ewan. His blonde hair flowed down his back, stopping just above his waist. Icy blues eyes stared back into brown ones. A smirk crossed Kellan's lips; he brought up a hand to rub against the growth of hair on his face. Kellan turned to his two companions. "I forgot Ewan here isn't a man. He's just a bared faced boy." Kellan turned his attention back to Ewan, "You should go home and stay there until you've grown something. " Kellan began to laugh along with his two friends. "It takes more then a few hairs to make a man." Ewan's witty retort abruptly stopped the fits of laughter. Kellan, flanked by his two friends, moved closer. With a smirk on his lips, Ewan stood his ground as they advanced.
"And what would you know about being a man? You don't even have a tuath." Ewan's smirk immediately faded and a flash of pain reflected in his eyes. Kellan caught the glint of pain and continued. "An orphan with nothing. The only family you ever had was the old man that brought you here. And even he abandoned you. And Kael only took you in cause he owed a favor to that old man." Kellan lowered his head, his eyes roaming over Ewan, "You may dress like us, you may act like us, but you will never be one of us. You will always be an outcast with no past and no family."
Kellan took a step back, readying himself for an attack. Ewan's eyes flashed with anger, his nostrils flared, his jaw clenched, and his hands rolled into fists. Ewan had been ready to pounce but Kael's deep voice stopped him from even taking a step. "Come along Ewan. We have much work to do back home." Ewan did not respond right away. "Ewan?!" Kael's voice grew louder. Ewan knew getting into a fight with Kellan would only insult Kael. Ewan had too much respect for the man. Therefore, he turned his back at Kellan's grin and mounted the wagon.