Chapter 11 – Correspondence

Capital Town, Melromarc, Raphtalia's World

21 Zinat, Springtime

When Eiku opened his eyes he knew immediately that this was going to be a difficult day. His body felt like one big bruise and his back was incredibly sore. He groaned and began to shift into a sitting position. 'They really worked me over,' he thought as he raised his arms above his head and attempted to stretch out his back. The first couple of weeks after getting his new training schedule had not been difficult. The extra workload was exhausting but he was pleased that he had a chance to improve his skills to better support Naofumi should the man ever need Eiku's aid.

It had not taken long, however, for Eiku's extra lessons to gain the unwelcome attention of some of Captain Ishida's men. Eiku had guessed that the other knights would not take kindly to Eiku receiving additional supplemental training. He never guessed that their dislike of the idea would lead to physical violence, however. Eiku was not sure which he would have preferred. Being outcasted and shunned, or beaten.

'It's just not fair when it's five against one,' he thought as he leaned forward to stand up. The room was shrouded in grey shadows as the sky outside began to edge towards sunrise. Around him, others in his unit were beginning to stir and wake. It would not be long before the room rang with the sounds of young men and women getting ready for the day.

Eiku turned to his armoire and quietly began to dress in his gambeson, chain, and armour. As he pulled the various pieces on, he could not help but wince at the protest of sore muscles. Eiku had fought back as well as he could the previous evening. However, while he could fight off several monsters from the Waves at once, the knights he had faced were better fighters than decaying zombies. They were also older, bigger, and more experienced than Eiku. There also had been five of them. Eiku had lasted for a while due to his extra training, but it was almost inevitable that he would fall to overwhelming forces.

"At least I am getting lots of practice with my healing magic," he softly muttered as he pulled on a vambrace. "Maybe one day soon my healing magic will level up enough to take care of more than just cuts and bruises." Being able to wake up in the morning and get through a day without the memory of a beating making itself known in every movement would be a fine change.

Fully dressed in his armour, Eiku grabbed his sword and attached it to his belt. He had supplemental archery training at sunrise with Master Enomoto. After that were drills with Commander Sazama and then weapons training with Master Hikaru. Then after lunch, was magic training with Master Ozaki before more drills with Commander Sazama. Somewhere amidstall of that, he had to find time to tell Sazama what was going on.

'It has been three days of getting beaten up in the evening and three days of not being able to get Commander Sazama alone to talk to him about it. Three days of the man either not being in his office or not being there to overlook his unit's training. He may not be there for drills today either. It's like a conspiracy,' Eiku thought darkly as he grabbed a roll and some cheese to eat on the way to his morning lesson. In the meantime, the corrupt knights were getting bolder as the days passed with no repercussion. "To think such cowardly scum like them existed," he muttered with a scowl as he headed out into the early dawn. "I became a knight to protect others. I guess not everyone had the same honourable intentions," he said aloud as he headed down the street, towards the archery courts.

Commander Sazama had said Eiku's resilience and courage would be tested in the weeks to come. 'This is not the adversity I was expecting,' he thought with a forlorn sigh as he walked. His bond sent out a warm pulse of warmth, joy, and protectiveness. Eiku smiled at the gentle reminder of why he was putting up with this current hardship. He was getting training to help his soulmate. No matter the challenges he faced, he knew Naofumi was worth facing and overcoming all of them.

With his soulbond warming him gently from inside, Eiku found the resilience to push through his dark thoughts to face the day. His soulmate was out there facing worse every day. Eiku could put up with some bullying and he could do it with courage and with his chin held high!

'Just take one day at a time,' he told himself. 'Think of the hostile encounters as more supplemental training. Only with overly ruthless instructors.' Surprisingly, that thought made him feel better and his spirits lifted as he entered the archery courts and crossed the distance to Master Enomoto who was already waiting for him despite the early hour.

Eiku waved to Enomoto as he drew closer. When he reached Enomoto, she nodded to him and handed him the short bow he had been training with. "Good morning, Knight Takara," she greeted. "Today will be more of the same. We will be working on your upper body strength, endurance, and concentration."

"Understood," Eiku replied as he took the offered bow and proceeded to string it. The muscles in his shoulders and forearms screamed in protest. He gritted his teeth and firmly told his aching body that at least he was not practicing with a longbow. In his current state, he was not sure he would even be able to draw the bowstring, let alone string it.

For the next two hours, Eiku worked on his stance to improve his balance and discipline. He constantly drew the bowstring and held it for several seconds before slowly releasing it and doing it again to improve his strength. He worked at firing arrows to improve his concentration and focus. As the hour dragged on, the muscles in his back, shoulders, and arms stopped protesting and eventually loosened enough to feel warm and fluid instead. They still ached, but the constant exercise helped. As if his muscles had simply been too tight and had cramped up overnight.

By the time the two hours were up, Eiku felt a lot better. He handed over his bow to Enomoto with a smile. "Thank you, Master Enomoto."

She took the bow and smiled back at him in turn. She was young, possibly in her thirties, with red hair and blue eyes. Eiku did not know many archers, but he guessed she was one of the youngest masters of the bow he had encountered. Her frame and arms were toned from years of handling a bow almost as long as she was tall and her hands contained calluses, further revealing all the hard work she did to keep in shape and skilled with the bow.

"My pleasure, Knight Takara. Try to get in two more hours of practise today," she said.

"I cannot promise I will be able to," Eiku responded, thinking of the many hours he had of martial and magic training after this lesson.

She nodded in understanding. "Do your best. I shall see you tomorrow morning at the same time."

Eiku gave her a shallow bow. "Good day. Until tomorrow then," he said and then turned and made his way out of the archery courts.

When he arrived at the training grounds for morning drills, he was disappointed to discover Commander Sazama was once more not in attendance. Instead, Lieutenant Koda was overseeing the training drills, just as he had done for the past three days. A man of few words, Lieutenant Koda was older than Eiku by a couple of years and had short, spiky, brown hair. The right side of his face had a vertical scar that started from his forehead, bisected his eyebrow, and continued down to his cheek. His right eye was covered in a black eyepatch and his left eye was dark purple.

Eiku did not mind Lieutenant Koda. The man was disciplined and stern, but also fair. He was obviously one of Commander Sazama's protégées, as his visible eye was intense but not cruel. Unlike the eyes of some of the knights under Captain Ishida's command. Still, Eiku did not know Koda well enough and thus could not trust him. Once again, he was unable to report his current problem and so he would be forced to go through morning drills as if nothing was wrong.

Eiku decided to start off simple and joined some of the others on a run around the training grounds. Meanwhile, the rest of his unit participated in various exercises and mock duels with each other. Koda watched them all intently as they moved through their physical training.

Eiku was on his third lap when he was joined by Obito. He had noticeably been exercising for some time already as his sweaty, coal-black bangs were sticking to his forehead. Eiku looked over at his friend and gave him a bright, welcoming smile. "Morning, Obito."

"Ugh. How do you have so much energy in the mornings, Eiku?" Obito asked in between even breaths.

"I've always been a morning person," Eiku answered cheerfully, feeling his spirits lift for the second time that morning as he spoke with his friend.

"I know," Obito answered with a dramatic groan. "Good thing too as you have to wake before anyone else. I wouldn't have the energy to keep your training schedule."

Eiku did not know what to say to that so neither spoke for several seconds as they kept pace with each other while they ran.

"How is training going?" Obito asked.

"I'm making steady progress. Master Hikaru says my footwork is getting better. I still cannot hope to best him in a fight but my form has improved. Likely due to my archery training. It focuses a lot on balance and concentration." He grinned as they curved around the track. "All this exercise is helping too. I remember when holding a conversation while running was a feat of endurance."

Obito chuckled. "I remember that too. What about your magic lessons?"

"Progressing quickly. Especially my healing due to recent events."

"Have you managed to tell the commander what is happening?"

"No. I have not seen him in two days and on the first day there was never a good opportunity," Eiku answered.

"Have you told anyone? The attacks are getting worse, Eiku," Obito said with concern in his voice.

Eiku shook his head. "No. I don't know Lieutenant Koda well enough to trust him with something like this."

Obito grasped Eiku's hand and steered them both off the track so he could face Eiku. They both panted a bit to catch their breaths. "You need to tell him anyway, Eiku," Obito said after a couple of minutes. "He's a superior officer. If you are not able to find Commander Sazama then perhaps Lieutenant Koda can. Doing nothing until Sazama turns back up is foolhardy. I don't want to find you in an ally again. Especially not with wounds that are not curable next time."

Eiku winced at the memory of last night. His five assailants had cornered him on his way home from the market and pressed him into a darkened alley. In the end, they had left him there for Obito to find half a candle mark later. Obito had gotten him up and back to the barracks where they had both worked on his injuries. Obito's worried face had been ashen grey the entire time.

"I was lucky I even found you. I still have no idea what made me want to look down that alley. You're my friend, Eiku, and I was worried sick about you. How would Sir Iwatani feel if he had found you like that? What would he do if you died?"

Eiku sighed and his chest tightened with guilt. Using his soulmate against him was a low blow but Obito was right. Even though they did not know one another well yet, Naofumi would still likely be distraught. Still. He frowned at Obito. "That's not fair."

"No. Not saying anything because you are hesitant to involve others is not fair. To yourself or the ones that care about you. What I said is being realistic," Obito countered while punctuating his words with a finger against Eiku's chest plate. "If Koda turns out to not be trustworthy, then we will cross that bridge when we get to it. We can't go through life being unwilling to trust others we don't know well. Sometimes all we need is a little faith."

Eiku let that sink in and smiled apologetically. "You're right. Thanks, Obito."

Obito reached out and flicked Eiku's forehead and laughed at Eiku's protest of, "Hey! What was that for?"

"Glad you came around. Now, go talk to Lieutenant Koda and then meet me on the field. I want to test my skills against your blade."

Eiku rubbed his forehead and glared at his friend. "All right."

"Want me to walk with you?" Obito asked.

Eiku shrugged. "Sure. We can talk about something other than training or bullies while we walk."

They chatted about minor things as they headed across the training field and around groups and pairs of knights, towards Lieutenant Koda who was still standing to the side, intently watching all of them. As they drew close, Obito peeled off to wait on the sidelines while Eiku approached Koda on his own.

"Knight Takara," Lieutenant Koda greeted. "Do you need something?"

Eiku saluted his superior officer. "Yes, sir. I would like to report something to you in private."

Koda took a look around the unit of knights engaged in training and then nodded at Eiku. "Very well." He walked roughly a hundred meters away from the training field with Eiku following closely behind. When they came to a stop, Koda turned and faced Eiku, his expression open but serious. "What is it you need to discuss?"

Eiku fought not to fidget with nerves. He had faced down actual enemies and had stood up to Knight-Captain Ishida. Lieutenant Koda was an ally until proven otherwise. Eiku could do this! He tightened his resolve and looked up into Koda's face. As he did so, he could not help but wonder, as he had done a few times in the past three days, what had caused the lieutenant's scar. "Sir, there are five knights under Knight-Captain Ishida's command that have been ganging up on me each evening. If it was just one or two of them, I would likely be fine. However, against all five, I soon find myself overwhelmed. I have been waiting to bring this to Commander Sazama's attention, but have not been able to. Meanwhile, my assailants are getting bolder and the wounds they inflict are getting direr and harder to heal. Come morning, I am sore for several hours."

While Eiku spoke, Koda's face grew grim. "Are you positive they are under Captain Ishida's command?"

"Yes, sir. They aren't trying to hide whose unit they come from."

"Strange," Lieutenant Koda said. "Either they are under orders to mess with you, or they are not concerned with the repercussions of being caught." He looked off into the middle distance for several seconds in thought and then refocused back on Eiku. "Do you know their names?"

Eiku shook his head and his honey-blond hair fluttered softly with the motion. "I am not familiar with any of the knights under Captain Sazama's command."

Lieutenant Koda reached out and clasped Eiku's left shoulder. "This is enough to go on for now, Knight Takara. Thank you for trusting me enough to confide in me regarding this issue."

Eiku saluted him once more by tapping his closed fist to the left side of his chest twice. "Thank you for listening, sir."

Lieutenant Koda released Eiku's shoulder and nodded. "I'll get started on this matter this afternoon. Return to your training."

"Yes, sir!" Eiku said. He did a smart about-face and headed back to the training grounds. As he walked his eyes sought out Obito so he could meet back up with his friend. He eventually spotted him near a three-person group, training with Ryuu. Eiku headed for them while watching as they circled each other and traded strikes with their swords. He stopped nearby and watched them for a few minutes before deciding to use the time he had to be productive.

He was in the middle of a set of pushups when Obito proclaimed, "I yield!"

Eiku heard Ryuu and Obito chuckle and a minute later, his field of vision was taken up by two pairs of sabatons. "Don't think exercise will get you out of sparing with me, Eiku." Eiku looked up as Obito squatted down to ruffle Eiku's hair when he returned to the plank position. "I have to regain my honour after being thoroughly thrashed by Ryuu."

"If you can't beat me, what makes you think you can take Sunshine there?" Ryuu goaded Obito. "He's been getting extra training for almost two weeks now."

Eiku hiked to his feet by bringing his knees to his chest and shooting up from the ground. A maneuver that was significantly more difficult while wearing heavy armour. He faced his friends. "'Sunshine'?"

"That's your nickname from now on," Ryuu explained, his dark blue eyes glinting with humour.

"Let me guess," Eiku said while looking directly at Obito. "The name was your idea."

"Ha! I thought you knew me," Obito said with a large grin. "The name was Ryuu's idea. It'll catch on. Before tomorrow all our friends will be calling you that."

"Well, it could be worse," Eiku said optimistically.

"If you have time to stand around, you have time to run!" Lieutenant Koda's voice rang out across the field.

"Come on," Eiku said, drawing his sword and grinning at his friends. "You two against me."

"Feeling cocky?" Obito asked as he drew his sword and moved into a ready stance.

Eiku smirked. "Giving me a handicap."

"Oh, it is on!" Obito said with a laugh and swung.

Eiku laughed as he nimbly dodged Obito's sword and brought his sword up to parry a strike from Ryuu. He grinned at them both and felt his chest heat with a warmth that did not come from the ever-present bond. Instead, it was caused by affection for his friends.

BREAK

In the end, Eiku won and he had a lot of fun doing so. Obito and Ryuu may have been worn out from their duel right before, but they had still put up a tough fight. Shortly after, he left his unit to meet Master Hikaru for weapons training in a training field nearby. The noonday sun shone high overhead and his stomach rumbled as he walked. While the rest of his unit was eating lunch, Eiku was going to get his butt handed to him by his very nimble, elderly weapons instructor.

'Not to self: Remember to bring something extra for lunch,' he told himself, just as he had almost daily for the past week. He could eat as he walked and it would be better than waiting to eat anything for another two hours. 'I keep forgetting.'

He could see from a distance that Master Hikaru was already waiting for him. The man's white hair and attire stood out clearly against the field of green grass, and brown and grey rocks that made up the section of dirt field he was standing on. Master Hikaru watched Eiku's approach with a calm expression and he looked to be just as untouchable as ever. Not for the first time, Eiku wondered what deal Commander Sazama had made to secure the elder weapons master's services. Having such a skilled personal trainer was an honour but also overwhelming and carried the heavyweight of expectation with it.

After their standard greeting of bowing to each other, they both moved into their stances. Eiku drew his sword and held it at the ready. Hikaru had yet to draw his weapon in any of their practices. Perhaps that would change the day Eiku became more of a challenge to beat.

Today was not that day.

Eiku lifted his meat and vegetable skewer and took a bite of roasted tuber as he looked across the park he had stopped in to enjoy his lunch after weapon training. The day was lovely with a blue sky and wisps of clouds above. Yet, there were hardly any people in the park with him. Likely the gardens had been busier two candle marks before at mid-day, during the time most people took their lunch break.

The bench he was sitting on gave him a great view of vibrant green and teal-coloured bushes and grasses. Across from him, ivy climbed up the trunks of trees whose buds were just beginning to bloom. In two months, all the pink and blue blossoms on the trees would be gone, signalling the start of summer.

'This is a lovely scene for a painting,' he thought as he closed his eyes and let himself bask in the quiet. He could hear birds call to each other in the trees and a light breeze caressed his face. Inside his chest, the warmth and joy from his soulbond was a comforting presence. For the first time that day, he could allow himself to enjoy it as he ate his lunch. Soon he would have to leave the idyllic place and head first back to the barracks to grab his magic tomes and then make his way to the magic school for his lesson with Master Ozaki.

'I wonder;' he thought as he opened his eyes and watched the light breeze carry petals through the air, 'in another time and place, would I have been an artist?' It was a little hard to imagine himself as anything other than a farmer turned knight, but he liked the idea. 'Maybe when the Waves are over, and I am not training all the time, I will have time to learn.'

Eiku finished his lunch and packed the wooden skewer away to properly dispose of later. As he walked down the flagstone path towards the entrance to the park, his thoughts drifted away from the relaxing area and inevitably back to the problem he was having with the thugs in Captain Ishida's unit. From there, his thoughts drifted on to Naofumi.

He had not forgotten the promise he made to Naofumi to call on him should he ever have need. It was not until last night, however, that he thought the situation was dire enough to involve Naofumi in the problem. However, he still hesitated to do so. The man was off getting stronger to effectively combat the Waves and save the world. He would not be able to level effectively if he was getting called back to Capital Town to help Eiku with bullies.

He knew what his mother would say about Eiku's decision not to involve Naofumi. Not only would she tell Eiku to stop valuing himself so little by determining that his needs weren't important enough to ask for help, but she would also order him to stop being selfish. She would be correct too. By not writing to Naofumi about the problem, Eiku was deciding for Naofumi whether to involve him or not. Naofumi had told Eiku to call on him should there ever be a need. In the end, it should be Naofumi's choice to get involved or not after learning of the situation.

'What can he realistically do, though?' Eiku silently questioned as he made his way through the busy streets. 'This country hates him. The Crown and Three Heroes Church made sure of that. There is no way Ishida or his corrupt knights will listen to anything he says.' As the barracks came into view, he arrived at a decision. Naofumi may not be able to do anything directly, but he should still be made aware of the issue. In a partnership, both parties should be willing to share each other's burdens. Such an act facilitates trust in each other and reduces stress by providing each other with someone to confide in and lean on. Just being able to share his frustrations regarding the situation with Nafumi would be emotionally helpful.

Therefore, 'I'll write him a letter after magic lessons today and send it out tomorrow. Is he still heading east? Where should I send it?' he wondered as he reached out to open the door. The last letter Eiku had received from Naofumi had been ten days ago when the man had passed through Lafan Village. It had been a very brief letter that Eiku had read over and over in the days since until he had it memorized and the paper was thinning in places due to being handled so often.

Eiku, 11 Zinat

I met your mother. She is delightful. The resources she lent us have proven invaluable in learning this world's language. I am making steady progress.

We stopped in Lafan Village on our way east. The night I left Capital Town, the filolial egg hatched. I have named her Filo. Her appetite is insatiable but she is proving to be a reliable ally. Perhaps you will meet her when we next see each other.

We are all doing well and have encountered no problems thus far.

Sincerely yours, (crossed out)

Cordially, (crossed out)

With great humility, (crossed out)

Fond regards, (crossed out)

Thinking of you,

Naofumi

Penned by Scribe Kibe Eito, Lafan Village

The crossed-out valedictions had made him chuckle and he still smiled and felt his cheeks warm slightly when he recalled the crossed-out 'Sincerely yours'. The phrase had likely been the first one Naofumi had thought of before he decided to change it repeatedly. The settled upon 'Thinking of you', still made Eiku feel giddy with happiness as he opened the door and stepped into the barrack's interior. Knowing Naofumi thought of him and wanted to see him again made his stomach swoop slightly. He did wonder why the person who had penned the letter had not rewritten it and had instead sent it with all the crossed-out words. Whatever the reason, Eiku was glad to see them all. It gave him yet another glimpse of Naofumi's personality.

Eiku closed the door behind him and looked to the table by the door where the mail was placed should any arrive. He constantly hoped for another letter but knew better than to expect one as the man was busy and most small villages did not have regular mail delivery services. He checked every day just in case and today was pleasantly surprised to see a letter addressed to him in elegant, black writing.

Knight Takara Eiku, Under Commander Sazama, Knight Barracks, Capital Town, Melromarc.

Eiku reached out and picked it up, his smile wide on his face and felt joy thrum through him as he turned it over to inspect the wax seal that would indicate where it had been sent from. He blinked. The seal showed the large star of the capital of Melromarc. The letter had been written in Capital Town and been delivered earlier today. Naofumi had been in town briefly.

Eiku's smile dimmed a little. He knew Naofumi was a very busy man with a destiny that had little time for Eiku as Naofumi needed to level as quickly as he could to save the world. Still, he could not help but feel disappointed that they did not have time to see each other in person. He ruthlessly stamped the feeling down. It wasn't as if Eiku had a lot of time these days either. Likely, they would not have been able to see each other anyway. He forced himself to cheer up. Despite how busy Naofumi was, he was still thinking of Eiku and sending letters when he could.

'You're thinking too much,' he told himself. 'Just go read the letter!' The thought jolted him into action and he fled upstairs to his bunk with the letter. He sat and very carefully separated the wax seal from the paper to preserve it and unfolded the letter. It was just as short as the last letter had been and written in elegant script.

Eiku, 21 Zinat

I find myself in Capital Town with no time to visit you. I have acquired a client that is paying me to transport him safely north to Ivyred. As I have never been there before, we will have to travel slowly. Likely, the journey will take us eight days. As he desires to leave within the hour candle mark, I regret that that leaves me with little time but to gather information and prepare for the journey.

I had hoped to see you sooner than 12 Vaisis. Fate, it seems, is working against me. I hope to return quickly. However, my new companion keeps destroying her clothing and thus I need to seek out a solution before I do much else. From there, who knows where I shall be sent?

Stay safe and well for me.

Until we meet again,

Naofumi

Penned by Scribe Tone Aiyuki, Capital Town

Eiku smiled as he read the letter and gently traced the words as he finished reading. His soulmate was so thoughtful and a burst of affection for the man flared brightly in his chest. Naofumi was rushed and incredibly busy, yet he had still gone to the Scribing House to get a letter written and sent out to Eiku before he had left. This was exactly what Eiku needed too. Now he had a location to send his letter.

Eiku carefully folded the letter back up and placed it into the wooden box he had gotten long ago to hold the letters he got from his mother and now was used to hold the ones from Naofumi as well. He then reached into the large chest at the foot of his bunk and pulled out the small bundle of handmade paper he had made with Kazane's help. He would send all fifteen sheets to Naofumi along with his reply after magic class.

As he retrieved his spell tomes and gathered up the other supplies he would need, as well as the wrapped bundle of paper, he thought of Naofumi's latest letter. Had his soulmate acquired a third companion in the last ten days? Who was she and why were her clothes constantly getting destroyed? Eiku chuckled as he headed down the stairs. When was Naofumi going to get a male companion?

Eiku walked quickly through the streets, mindful of the time he had spent reading the letter and the time he had until his lesson started. He would still be on time if he hurried. Before long, the House of Magic came into view and Eiku bounded up the steps and through the front doors. On the way through the halls, he passed several males and females in mage robes as they traversed the halls to their classes.

Eiku reached his dedicated classroom and entered to see Master Ozaki already waiting for him. She looked over at the large candle as the flame reached the next mark engraved in the wax and sparked the time.

"Just in time, Knight Takara. Please, take your seat and we shall get started."

Eiku bowed quickly to her and retreated to his seat at one of the long desks in the room. He gently set his magic tomes and wrapped bundle down before he took his seat.

Master Ozaki approached, her long robes brushing the floor as she walked. The colour was not her choice. Eiku doubted she would choose a colour that would clash so distinctly with her burgundy-coloured hair. Robes of grey or turquoise would look better on her. Grey would also complement her grey eyes. As a master instructor at the school, however, she had to wear purple.

"Knight Takara, we will be going over three more water spells today. One of them is used by another to create an advanced protection spell. I will also give you a copy of Fantastic Blossoms and Fungi at the end of today's lesson. You are to read it cover to back in preparation for next week. We shall be starting alchemy and brewing at that time." She reached out and opened Eiku's copy of Advanced Fundamentals of Aquatic and Gale Projection to a spell halfway through. "As you know from your homework, the element of water can also heal. 'Cleanse Wounds' is our first spell of the day. It heals the target and provides other benefits. It cannot cure curses, decay, petrification, or disease. However, it can stop bleeding and cure burns, frostbite, poison, and acid damage."

She flicked to another page. "Next, we will work on 'Icicle Storm'. It is a damaging spell that uses shards of ice to impale enemies. It will also freeze the ground." Again she flicked through the book. "Frozen ground is needed for our last spell of the day, 'Cryotherapy Frost Armour'. It absorbs ice to create a strong defensive barrier around the target that has the added benefit of curing burns and regenerating health."

"How strong is the barrier?" Eiku asked – the impenetrable 'Divine Shield' Naofumi had cast coming to mind.

"It will break if it takes a significant amount of damage," Master Ozaki answered. "The amount of damage it can withstand depends on the water proficiency of the caster. Just as all spells rely on the ability of the caster in any of the elements." She closed the book and took a couple of steps back. "We shall be using an area outside for our practice today. Bring your book and follow me."

She headed for the door and Eiku quickly grabbed Advanced Fundamentals of Aquatic and Gale Projection as he stood and followed after her. They weaved through the halls and out a door that opened up into a walled, small park. It contained little more than thick, green grass and two trees, with a stone bench between the two trunks. Upon the bench sat a young man, his face pinched with pain and beside him stood an older man in white robes.

Ozaki led Eiku to the two men and gestured to the man sitting on the bench and favouring his arm. "Knight Takara, this young man has volunteered to be your patient for today."

Eiku looked at the man who nodded in return, indicating that yes, he was there willingly.

"The other man is one of the healers in the Healing Hall. He is here to make sure your patient makes a smooth recovery and makes it back to the Healing Hall afterwards. You have healed before using light magic. Water magic may not inherently be as potent as light when it comes to healing, but in time, it can be just as powerful. Unless you suffer from grave incompetence, or you didn't study the spell ahead of time – as you should have – you should be able to heal your patent without Healer Uyeno's help."

Eiku silently sighed. Ozaki was a brilliant teacher but her backhanded compliments and veiled insults were truly tiring to listen to.

"After you heal your patient, I shall judge the result and we shall move on with the other two spells planned for the day. Any questions?"

Eiku shook his head.

"Very good. You may start. Try not to blow his arm off."

The patient's eyes widened in alarm and Eiku did audibly sigh this time as he stepped forward and laid a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder and smiled kindly at him. "I will not harm you. May I see the damage?"

The man looked to Healer Uyeno and then back to Eiku and nodded. He extended his arm and Eiku gently took it and quickly saw what the damage was. The skin on the forearm was blackened, red, and oozing pus from a large burn. It was no doubt causing the man significant pain. Yet, not as much pain as it would cause had the damage not been as extensive, oddly enough.

Eiku looked back up into the brown eyes of his patient and smiled again in reassurance. "I'll have you out of here in no time. Thank you for trusting me to tend to you."

The man tentatively returned the smile and Eiku looked down at the wound and began to cast.

BREAK

Back in the classroom, as soon as Master Ozaki handed Eiku Fantastic Blossoms and Fungi, he quickly bowed, thanked her, and escaped out the door. As he was heading down the steps in front of the magic school, a voice called out his name and he turned to see Reki descending the steps behind him. His dark purple hair swayed with the motion and brushed the collar of his dark cloak. Eiku stopped to allow his friend to catch up.

Reki smiled shyly at him and the two of them walked down the steps together. "Good afternoon, Eiku," Reki said in his usual quiet voice. "Just get out of your lesson? How did it go?"

Eiku nodded. "I practiced three water spells today and acquired a lot of homework." He looked to his shorter friend. "Master Ozaki was her usual charming self." Both Kazane and Reki had listened to Eiku complain about his magic instructor before. Neither of his friends had ever had the privilege of being one of her students but both of them had heard of the woman from others. Everyone who had ever had her could agree that she was a great mage but difficult to like.

"Which spells?" Reki asked curiously as they weaved around people in the streets.

Eiku grinned excitedly. "I learned a spell to create ice and another to absorb the ice to generate a proactive barrier. I also learned another healing spell! It can heal poisons."

Reki smiled in turn, Eiku's excitement infectious. "Let's hope you don't need to use it anytime soon. How effective is it?"

Eiku shrugged. "Against poisons, frostbite, and acid, I have no idea. It handles burns very well though. Clears them right up in seconds, leaving only flawless skin behind."

"That sounds useful," Reki commented as he looked around. "Where are we going?"

"The Scribing House. I left the barracks without grabbing paper and quill or first penning my letter. I'll write it there and have someone send it off for me," Eiku replied as he stopped to let a cart pass.

"Who are you writing?" Reki asked. Then, "Did Sir Iwatani write you?"

Eiku grinned widely and excitedly hopped in place twice. "Yes! I got the letter right before class." The cart passed and the two of them crossed the street. "He stated where he was headed, so I know where to send a reply," he said as they both quickly reached the Scribing House. Eiku pulled the door open and the two of them stepped inside.

"Are you going to write to him about the hostiles currently harassing you?" Reki asked, his voice whisper soft as they maneuvered around studious scribes, clients, and desks.

Obito had not been the only one concerned for Eiku's safety. All of his friends were worried for him. None of them had pressed him to alert Naofumi to the problem, however, because they knew he had no means of properly contacting the man. Now that he had a location, it was no surprise Reki was asking Eiku what he intended to do.

Eiku nodded as he joined a line to purchase paper and rent a quill and ink. "He deserves to know as this may end up affecting him in some way. Also, I need to tell him for my own peace of mind. Even if he cannot help, I'll feel better having shared the emotional burden of the situation with him."

Reki nodded. "I think that's wise. A burden shared is a burden halved, as they say."

They were waved forward and Eiku approached the counter and paid for some simple paper and the use of a communal inkpot and quill, and drying sand. Reki helped by carrying them to a nearby desk where Eiku set down his magic tome and wrapped bundle.

"Thank you, Reki," Eiku said as he sat and opened the inkpot and dipped the quill in.

Reki nodded to indicate he had heard and uttered a soft, "You're welcome," as he sat down.

Eiku tapped a finger to his lips as he considered what to say and when he was ready began to write.

Naofumi, 21 Zinat

Thank you for my last two letters. I am overjoyed to know that you are doing well. How are Raphtalia and Filo doing? Are they getting along with your new, clothing-destroying companion?

This past fortnight has been incredibly busy for me. As I told you upon our parting, Commander Sazama has arranged additional weapons training for me. He has also set me up with a master for both archery and magic. My days now consist of not only my knight drills and training but also supplemental training with all three masters. Daily. It is as exhausting as it is rewarding. I am making unmistakable steady progress and am thankful for the additional instruction.

Unfortunately, this has caused me to attract unwelcome attention from five other knights that have made it their mission to seek me out the past three evenings. My healing skills are improving rapidly as a result but I would prefer not to need the practice at all. I told my superior officer this morning about the situation. I hope it gets resolved soon. I am tired of being sore each morning.

I have been working on handcrafts with my friends. Regarding one particular craft, I am sending you all of what I have managed to make so far. I hope you find them useful.

Stay safe for me as well.

Fondly yours,

Eiku

He had to pause several times to contemplate his next word or sentence. When he had finished penning both pages of the letter, Eiku sprinkled the wet ink with the drying sand and once they were dry, folded both sheets together and addressed the outside to Sir Iwatani Naofumi, Ivyred Territory, Melromarc. He looked up to Reki once he was done and asked, "Do you mind helping me again?"

Reki silently stood and helped Eiku gather up the materials and walked with him back to the counter where they were promptly called forth.

The lady behind the counter, a blonde with pale blue eyes, smiled at them as she accepted the return of the borrowed supplies and moved them aside to put away later. "Will you be needing our services to send the letter off for you?" she asked.

"Yes, please," Eiku replied as he placed the letter down on the counter, folded side up. "I need it sealed as well."

"Of course," the lady replied. She deftly wrapped green cotton string around the letter and tied it in a bow along the paper fold. Next, she dribbled some hot wax over the center of the bow and along the fold of the paper. Then, she pressed the seal of Capital Town into the wet wax and blew on the wax to dry it. Only afterwards did she turn the letter over to see whom it was addressed to.

She quickly read the addressee and destination and looked back up at Eiku with an assessing look. "This name is familiar. You would not happen to be the one known as Eiku, would you?"

Eiku jolted with surprise. "Yes," he answered before he could stop himself from giving his first name away to a stranger. "I'm sorry, but have we met?"

The blonde cocked her head slightly and her smile was slightly coy and secretive. "No. You may have heard of me, however. My name is Tone Aiyuki. I am a scribe. Just this morning, I penned a letter addressed to you."

"Ah!" Eiku replied in instant recognition. "I got the letter already and remember seeing your name there. I thought you would be a man. Isn't Aiyuki a boy's name?"

"It is indeed," Tone replied, cheerfully. "Is this all?"

Eiku mentally shrugged and dropped the matter. Someone's parents giving their baby an opposite sex name was not at all weird when compared to demons falling out of rips in the sky. He pushed the small wrapped bundle of handmade paper over to her. "I need to send this with the letter. Do you think he will get it? I don't know if Sir Iwatani will check with the post when he gets to town. Should I address the letter to someone else, do you think? The lord of the village, perhaps?"

"Do not worry," Tone said as she took the small package and used brown twine to combine it with the letter. "We shall ensure the Holy Shield receives it with no issues." She reached down under the counter and retrieved a sheet of paper which she placed on the counter and pushed closer to him. She then pushed the inkpot and sand jar over to him and handed him the quill he had just returned. "Please put down your details and your payment will be twenty copper."

Eiku looked down at the page and saw it contained a shortlist of sender and receiver names. He did not see Naofumi's name on there. His must have been on another sheet or a new page had been started sometime during the day. He dipped the provided quill into the inkpot and wrote down Knight Takara Eiku under the sender column and Sir Iwatani Naofumi under the receiver column. He hoped the day would soon come when he could also address Naofumi's letters with the man's hero title without worrying something may befall the letter on the way to its destination. He then wrote down 20cp under the payment column.

After he had sprinkled the drying sand on the three lines, he counted out twenty copper and passed the money over to Tone. She used a stamp dipped in ink to place a tiny star next to the payment amount to, he guessed, indicate proof of payment. After sprinkling it with sand, Tone once again put aside the writing supplies and then looked back up and him.

"Thank you for your patronage," she said with another mysterious smile. "Will that be all for you today?"

Eiku nodded. "Thank you, Miss Tone."

She bowed her head slightly to him. "Please visit us again for your correspondence needs." She picked up the small letter package and took it with her as she moved away from the counter and headed to a door in the back of the Scribing House.

"All right, that was weird," Reki softly said.

Eiku looked over at his friend who was still looking at the door Tone had disappeared through. "Oh good. I'm not the only one that thought so," he said as he made sure he had all of his things before heading towards the front door and stepping outside.

It was four and a half candle marks after noonday and the sun was drifting closer to the horizon, turning the sky a paler blue. Together, they stepped off to the side and Eiku turned to his shorter friend. "I have to rush now to evening drills. What are your plans?"

"Going with you. Kazane and I decided today that you are not to be left alone at any point."

Eiku frowned. "Surely you two have other things to do than watch out for me?"

Reki looked up at him, his black eyes serious. "There is nothing more important currently going on than making sure our friend is safe."

Eiku suddenly felt his throat tighten. He truly had amazing friends. How did he get so lucky? "Thank you, Reki. I would be honoured to have your company on the walk there."

Reki nodded and the two of them set off towards the training grounds while the sun slowly continued its journey towards the horizon.

BREAK

When they arrived at the training grounds, Eiku could see that everyone else in his unit was already engaged in drills. Unfortunately, it seemed that once again Commander Sazama was not in attendance. Lieutenant Koda was once more overseeing the unit's training. This time, however, he was accompanied by the tall, imposing form of Knight-Captain Ishida.

Eiku felt himself pale as Ishida looked over from across the field and noticed him. "Takara!" he roared, his voice easily crossing the distance separating them. "You are late! One hundred pushups and then take ten laps around the field!"

Snickers erupted from the unit of knights and Eiku noticed that some of Ishida's knights were mixed in with the younger, familiar facies of Eiku's unit. The foreign knights were the ones mocking his fate while Ishida stood off to the side, his brown eyes cold and malicious to match the cruel smirk on his face.

Reki reached out to briefly touch Eiku's hand. "I'll stay until you are done," he softly said.

"Thanks," Eiku replied just as Ishida shouted, "Twenty laps!"

Eiku gritted his teeth and saluted his superior officer before dropping to the ground to do one hundred pushups in his full suit of armour. He had reached twenty-five when he heard the sound of booted feet approach and someone joined him on the ground. Eiku looked over to see Ryuu begin to do his own pushups alongside Eiku. He, like Eiku and the rest of the knights, was also wearing his full armour.

"Obito will join us after his spar," Ryuu told him.

Eiku smiled at the show of support as he continued to do his pushups. He didn't waste energy on replying and when he had hit forty-seven, another form dropped down to join them. Eiku looked over to see that Obito had indeed come to join in.

The three of them continued to knock their push-ups out. Eiku's armour weighed him down and his arms were screaming in agony by the time he hit eighty. He could feel himself slowing and it was torture to continue. Then, the sound of booted feet approached yet again and instead of whomever it was joining them, Eiku felt one foot press against his back, between his shoulder blades and had to lock his arms to keep them from collapsing under the sudden, added weight.

"Someone," Knight-Captain Ishida's voice said from above Eiku's prone form, "is spreading slander about the knights under my command. This defamation of character cannot be ignored. Tell me, Knight Takara, why is it Lieutenant Koda sought me out earlier this afternoon to report a serious transgression had taken place against one of the knights under his command? What is it you hope to gain by seeking attention in such a manner?"

Eiku took a deep breath to reply. "I am not lying," he managed to get out before the foot added more weight to his back and he had to grit his teeth.

"Did I say you could pause? What number are you on?" Ishida asked, his tone of voice both nonchalant and deadly.

Eiku painstakingly proceeded to work through another pushup but the effort required too much effort exertion to reply at the same time.

"He isn't lying," Ryuu spoke up on Eiku's right. His breath was winded from his own pushups but his voice was strong. "For three nights now, five of your knights have attacked him in an alley.

"They aren't hiding who they are," Obito spoke up next from Eiku's left. "They left him in a bloody mess last night with a dislocated arm."

"As their commander, it is your responsibility to follow up on any allegation placed against those under your command," Ryuu insisted.

Ishida chuckled darkly. "If there were any truth to these allegations, then yes, I would be obligated to look into them. If there were any truth to them then you need to ask yourself, Takara: is it not your fault you find yourself currently being targeted? After all, you were the one seen consorting with the Shield Hero in an inn."

Eiku felt anger course through him at the implication. He paused in the plank position so he could have the energy to speak. "We were simply eating dinner. Also, blaming me for the actions of others is called 'victim blaming'."

The pressure on his back increased until he could not hold himself up anymore and his arms collapsed. The weight on his back pressed his torso against the ground. "The investigation is closed," Ishida stated firmly. "Your lies against your fellow knights are going into your permanent file, Knight Takara. Do not press your luck."

The weight from Ishida's foot upon his back increased until it felt as if the man were standing on him before the weight lifted. "For arguing back against a superior officer, and for not addressing me as 'Sir', the three of you are to do fifty laps. Join the others after you are done with that."

Eiku listened to Ishida's heavy tread recede as he pushed himself off the ground and continued with his pushups. He gritted his teeth and his mind swam with disbelief. Knight-Captain Ishida had always unsettled Eiku but he never would have guessed that the man was so corrupt. The injustice of it all made angry tears well in his eyes but he refused to let them fall. Crying would take too much energy and he needed all he had to get through the rest of the evening.

When he reached one hundred, he forced himself to slowly stand to keep the lightheadedness at bay and turned to his two friends. They both looked just as tired as Eiku felt and Obito was glaring hate-filled daggers at Ishida's back.

"That man isn't just vile," Obito said. "He is a horrific monster."

"Come on," Ryuu urged them. "We can complain about him later. Let's start running before he adds another ten laps."

The three of them needed no further prompting and broke into a jog towards the track encircling the training yard.

"Fifty laps," Obito muttered halfway through their first one. "Next time you get targeted by Ishida you are on your own, Sunshine."

Somehow Eiku found the breath and energy to laugh.

~*~End of Chapter 11~*~

"A burden shared is a burden halved." – T.A. Webb