This legend that will appear in this chapter is not canon to the manga, it's merely made as a world-building for the Ishvalan people.
Many thanks to WargishBoromirFan, who has been so kind in beta reading my earlier chapters.
Miles decides to invite Scar and his family to his home for dinner, thinking a more relaxing scenario might reveal a new side of Scar he won't be able to see when on the clock. Miles must admit that having the warrior monk in his home is somewhat weird and from how sheepish Scar seems to be, the scarred man probably feels weird about this as well. His brother, on the other hand, is thriving and already gotten in good talk with him and his wife. It is clear Shade likes to be around people, when he's not busy having his nose down in a book.
This dinner did help Miles to get a better understanding on who Shade is as a person, he never really got the chance before as he has been too busy with his military duties and only knew Shade from what Scar told him and the few interactions he withness between these two brothers.
But talking with Shade without having to worry about his duties, Miles can now see what Scar meant that his older brother is well-read in a lot of things other than just alchemy.
"And here I thought you only was a scholar when it comes to alchemy." Miles remarks after he and Shade finally reached the end of this very wide-range discussion about the different cultures between Amestris, Ishval, and even Xing. Must admit that he did have trouble keeping up a few times, but that didn't make the conversation less interesting. "Have you ever considered in becoming a teacher?"
"I have in fact, but I think my lessons are better suited for adults." Shade replies and is quite excited about the thought of teaching people in what he knows, but alas, there aren't any places where he can do such lessons. Maybe in time. "I do hope a university is part of the rebuilding plans. Think it will do everyone well that teaching won't stop when reaching adulthood."
That Miles can agree on, being a soldier of Brigs, he knows how important it is to learn new skills or hone those ones already has continuously. "When some of the other projects have been completed," he promises the scholar and glancing over to Scar, who is quietly sitting on the couch, watching the two girls play with his son Jessie. Miles quirks a smile in how awkward the once killer looks in these peaceful surroundings. "He looks like a lost puppy."
Shade follows the Major's gaze and chuckles of the sight as well. "He has always been like this when it comes to family gatherings." The smile fades of the realization of what he has just said, it caught Shade off guard that just like that, he suddenly remembers that his family had in the past been so much bigger. It leaves him with a bittersweet feeling; He is starting to remember the family but to know he, his brother and the two girls are all that remains...
Miles didn't notice the change in Shade's face, he's busier thinking about that although Scar does not thrive being a mediator or talking politics, the man is great at getting things done. "Your brother has been a great help in restoring Ishval. I wouldn't have been able to do half the tasks without his aid and I know, in time, you will do the same." Shade already has in some manners. The mulberry crops are starting to take shape and Miles has heard chatter here, and there from the Ishvalan people, they are beginning to get aware that Scar's older brother is still alive.
Shade laughs lightly at this expectation of the soldier has about him, he is, of course, flattered but doubts he can be of much help. "As it stands now, I don't have the slightest idea on what the Ishvalans want. All I know about our culture and lifestyle is what I read or what my brother tells me." Which reminds him of the legend his brother told him and the girls not long ago. "Oh, have you heard about the legend of Ishvala's bed? It's a good one."
"No," Miles shakes his head. "I only know it's the story about the underground river that flows through this region."
Well, in that case. Shade turns to where the kids are playing. "Hey, children; would you like to hear a story?" Harika and Selena both get very excited, they love to hear him tell them stories. They swiftly abandon Jessie's toys and run over to join Scar at the couth.
Miles son followed them in a slower and bit more hesitant manner, he takes a seat beside his mother, who wraps an arm around him. Miles chuckles at the girls' reaction but takes a seat as well.
Shade does too and lets Harika sit on his lap, however, he cannot tell this legend since he has (as he recalls) only heard it once. "Unfortunately I cannot tell this legend, so my dear brother has to tell you all about Ishvala's bed."
His brother lets out a small sigh of defeat. "Very well, "Long time ago, when our people were young…"
Shade listens along with the others, then suddenly his focus goes someone else inside his mind.
,,,,,,,,
Instead of sitting inside a living room, he finds himself standing on top of a small hill, watching large fields of cotton and wheat. He turns around when a squeaky voice asks very impatient. "Brother, why are we here?" Behind him stands a very young boy, around Harika's age. He's scowling but it looks so silly on a child's face, and he has trouble in taking his little brother serious.
He smiles down to him, not really bothered by the inpatients coming from his little brother. "We're here for a small story about Ishval's history," he explains and starts walking down the hill, heading towards the fields.
His much younger brother follows with an annoyed pout. "It's always about history lessons…" His brother grumbles, it is quite amusing but also a reminder that his little brother isn't really interested in the same things as him. "Can't we do something fun instead? Like playing like the rest of the kids?"
He stops right where the fields start, figures a compromise between them will be in order. "What about this; after I have told you this story, we both will go out and play? Your choice where."
His brother frowns eases somewhat up. "Promise?"
"With the duty giving to me of being your older brother, I promise to go out and play with you." He answers, trying to act solum but he's a kid too and did have trouble keeping a straight face, did not mean he was going to break his promise though.
His brother did seem to take this as a good enough answer. "Fine, so what's the story?" He asks in a voice that he just want this over with so they can go out and play.
He smiles victories and begins to walk again, his little brother follows. "A long time ago, our god Ishvala saw how one of his creations; the humans struggled in the lands giving to them. Ishvala's daughter; the sky, rarely gave up her precious water, the very thing that kept life going. So Ishvala decided to speak with her. "Audra, please let the humans get some of your water. I cannot bear watching them struggle like this." Audra looked down to the lands and saw how hard life was for everyone and she felt pity, so she agreed but under one condition: "I will give your creation my water, father, but only if you make a place for it to flow." So Ishvala did by carving a canyon into his own flesh and Audra created a river, giving the Ishvalan's all the water they could ever need. Everyone loved this river of Audra, Ishval blossomed into fertile lands, and everything was great.
But Ishvala's oldest son; Cyrus the sun, he loved the river too much, adored how he could see his own reflection but forgot his rays of light evaporated the water and robbed everyone the precious water of Audra. But ever the arrogant sun did not care; all he wanted was look at himself in the river. He was so busy adoring himself that he forgot to leave the sky and the lands got hotter and hotter until the plants started to die, the eyes of the humans got a permanent burn, never again turning into different colors other than the fiery red of the sun, a gift Cyrus unknowingly gave the creations of his father.
Ishvala was enraged by how his oldest son's arrogance and laziness in not doing the duty giving to him. Ishvala knew that although his creations were durable, they wouldn't be able to handle the heat of Cyrus for much longer, and thus he told the sun: "Cyrus, stop staring at yourself! Your rays are not only is burning my creations but taking the water your sister gave them. Forget your arrogance and focus on the duty I gave you!"
But the Cyrus refused. "Your words mean little to me now, father. I want to look at myself, and you can create plants and creatures that can handle my beautiful rays better if those you have dies. I will not let my twin sister take the sky and turn the sky cold and dull."
"Your foolishness knows no bounds, Cyrus," Ishvala called out and knew that he has to be smart in punishing his arrogant son. His creations still needed Cyrus's warm rays but like any good thing, too much makes it bad. So Ishvala took the very thing Cyrus had his entire focus on; the river and pulled it into his own flesh, where the sun could not see or reach it.
Cyrus was annoyed at his father and left the sky now there was nothing worth his attention anymore, thanks to his intense rays has burned away the plants. Ishvala's people were horrified of their creator's action and cried out. "Oh great Ishvala, how can we survive without Audra's water? Do you want us to perish?"
"Fear not my children," Ishvala replied to them. "I will teach you how to reach the river inside my body. But you have to work hard and be careful about how you use the water from now on. Cyrus wants to see his reflection again and will always be looking after the river."
His people understood, they were happy that the sun's arrogance hadn't led to their demise. And thus Ishvala told his people that he hid the river at the place he once slept; the bed of creation and showed how they could find it inside the earth that made out his body."
He gestures out to the fields where they could see a sort of carving into the ground and unlike the fields, this carving into the ground wasn't made by Ishvalans but of natural causes. "You can see Ishvala's bed clearly here, it was here he carved the river into his own flesh." He walks over to one of the many wells located right above the underground river and pulls up the bucket filled with water. He hands this bucket to his younger brother. "And that's the story about Ishvala's bed and why we can only find the water of Auda deep below ground." He reaches into the bucket and makes himself a handful of nice cold water. "So, what do you think?"
His brother frowns deepen. "So… we are drinking the water of Ishvala's bed?" His young brother asks in such a serious and confused tone that does not fit a young boy such as him.
He coughs up the handful of water he was trying to drink, it's like his brother hadn't heard the story at all! But he cannot be angry for that question is just too golden hilarious. "Oh no, the area the river got pulled into was once god's bed, not the river itself." He tries to explain while coughing the water that almost got down into his lungs from laughing at his brother's mistake.
His brother gaze turns back to the bucket of water. "Oh, okay. For that would've been gross."
He can't keep it together anymore, he breaks down laughing in how his little brother thought the river to be Ishvala's sweat.
His younger brother didn't understand the major blunder he did, only that his big brother has collapsed onto the ground in hysterical laughter. "What's so funny?! Brother, stop laughing!"
,,,,,,,,
Shade snaps back into the present and even with a headache, has to cover his mouth so he won't burst out laughing from this sudden trip through memory lane. Now he sees why he found the story so amusing back when he first heard it. That memory is hilarious!
"—and why we can only find water deep below ground." Shade hears his brother finish up. Fortunately, no one has noticed him being on the edge of breaking down in laughter— scratch that, Selena has noticed, but she's not making the rest aware. Instead, she is watching him curiously of what he found so funny. And he will tell her, for this is too golden of an opportunity to mess with his tough-guy brother.
"That's some story." Miles must admit and knows there is something to this legend as Ishval gets its water from underground, but only certain places as the people from the desert keep telling him. "You have to show me how to spot the underground river."
Scar simply nods, his eyes do wide slightly in a strange horror when Shade suddenly speaks in a sly voice to him. "You wasn't much older than Harika when I told you this story, and god the thing you took from it!" Shade laughs much to Miles confusion, more so when the younger brother of the two turns to him with an angry, yet horrified glare.
"Don't you dare…!" Scar growls, but it's not like his brother will stop embarrassing him every chance he gets.
Shade ignores his brother and with the biggest grin Miles has ever seen him wear, the older brother asks the children. "You know what brother thinks makes out the river of Ishval?" and suddenly, Shade lies on the floor with a very pissed Scar over him, Miles jumps onto his feet, worried the nameless Ishvalen might hurt his brother. He stops when Shade jag his fingers hard into both of Scar's legs, making the scarred man drops to the floor like a ragdoll. It startles both him and Miles, the latter did recover quickly, though. "Brother!" Scar cries annoyed.
He probably will get a beaten for this, but it will be worth it: Shade gets up and tells the dumbstruck crowd. "He thought the river was the sweat of Ishvala when he was sleeping!"
Several things happen at the same time, the children all cried: "Ewwww~!" to then laugh and cringe at the same time, and Scar has his head buried under his hands in sheer embarrassment. His brother is sitting up beside him with a grin of victory, truly enjoying tormenting his younger brother.
Miles can't help himself, he laughs. Not at what Shade said, it was a young and dumb kid mistake but that Scar- one who barely show any emotions when on duty, is cringing in embarrassment like a teenager would've done when a parent share silly stories about them to others. Miles wanted to see a new side of Scar and he got it, now to hear what the tormenter did to his co-worker. "What did you do to him? Is he alright?"
Shade waves his left hand at the Major. "He's fine, I didn't disrupt his flow that much," he claps his brother over the head with the right. "He should be able to move in a minute or—"
That's it, he's going down! Scar jumps at his brother but whatever Shade did to his legs hasn't entirely faded and instead of grabbing his brother as intended, Scar tumbles into Shade in such a manner that it looks like he hasn't learned how to walk. Embarrassing for a warrior monk such as him, but it didn't matter for Scar caught his brother.
Miles jumps a bit surprised by the sudden move from Scar and how ungraceful that whole move was, like watching a drunk trying to walk. He would've laughed but ignores the comical sight when he realized that Scar is holding his brother in a manner that did strain Shade's still fragile right arm. "Careful Scar, your brother hasn't fully recovered." He warns the scarred man.
"Don't care," Scar growls, he's too embarrassed and annoyed that his brother AGAIN told that part of the story. Of all the things he could've remembered; it just had to be that!
His embarrassment anger grows when his brother has the audacity of saying. "Oh, there is the temper tantrum I remember. I was wondering where it went."
He smacks his brother's head with a hard: "Don't be a smartass! You won't be able to sit for a week when I'm done with you!"
"Only a week? Have you forgotten the week's practice again, little brother?" Shade laughs, even if his brother is holding his automail arm in a manner that hurts, getting such a reaction out from him is too much fun. "Been too busy tending the local cats, I wager," that tease did earn him a small beating from his pissed brother, but he did not care. In fact, Shade tries to put up a fight and thanks to Scar's legs still not fully functional, he got a proper footing and toppled over his brother. Holding both hands on Scar's shoulderblades, Shade points out. "Behind that angry frown, you're nothing but a big softie."
Scar easily pushes him off and now with his legs fully function again, catches his brother in a headlock, Shade tries but won't be able to get free. "You're one to talk brother," Scar smirks and gives his brother a nuggy, something he knows Shade hates. He ignores his brother's outcry and instead uses the chance to return the favor by tormenting his older brother. "You study too much, it's a wonder you can still move." and flick off Shade's glasses. "You have already ruined your eyes by it."
"I needed them long before I knew how to read! Now let go off me!"
Miles rolls his eyes of the two adult men roughhousing as if they were teenagers, but he must say it's endearing to watch. It feels like seeing the person this nameless Ishvalan was before he became Scar. Watching Scar now, roughhousing with his brother and showing genuine joy when Selena joins in tormenting the still trapped in a headlock Shade.
Miles thinks he likes this person better than the harden, remorseful, and somewhat tired of life man he has been working with these past three years. But watching this new side of Scar, it does make him wonder; "Scar, how old are you?" Miles asks the scarred man when he finally leaves his brother alone. Scar frowns slightly at this question, but this is the first time Miles has been wondering if the man he has been working with is not as old as he seemed.
Miles has for all this time believing Scar to be in the late forties, but now he's not so sure for Shade does not look that old and Miles knows Shade is three years older than Scar. "Seriously, how old are you?" He asks again as this question wasn't meant to make him stop playing around with his family.
Scar, of course, did not answer, and Shade is not of much help either as the man merely says; "Don't look at me, I don't even know when it's my birthday." and reclaims his glasses.
Miles sights and do wonder if he should ask some of the Ishvalans, who knew his co-worker before he became Scar, if they could tell him that Scar is actually younger than he at first appeared- that and perhaps ask when it's both those two brothers birthday.
Before any of you get on my throat about Scar's age, let me just say that we really don't know how old he is. As far as I am aware, the manga never mentions Scar's age and the wiki page is unreliable since it can be edited by anyone, so appearance is really all we can take.
This is just me, but I sort of like the idea that Scar might be younger than he appears, that he looks older from how worn out he has become from not only have lost everything he held dear but also has continuously been fighting ever since the war started.
also, what date do you think is Scar and Shade's birthday?
comments and such will be a great, as it will tell me if you guys like this story or I should simply keep it to myself.