Gensosuikoden: Paths of Idleness
By: Chii Motosuwa
Disclaimer: Suikoden and its characters belong to their respected companies (Konami and such) and no money was made in the production of this Fanfiction.
"I was hoping you'd have finished the job the first time you came, boy." Windy paced around the room irritably. "He's caused us nothing but trouble. If you weren't going to finish the job, at least keep an arm or two broken."
"Tch..." The corner of Luc's eye twitched as he continued to listen quietly to his Ladyship's sister barrage him with complaints. "I already apologized. I wasn't feeling well, so it couldn't be helped."
Blue eyes glared at him intensely.
"Not feeling well?" the blonde woman asked with a certain tone that easily annoyed Luc, "Could it be... that you feel sorry for him, little boy?".
She was mocking him...
Luc clenched a hand tightly at his side which did not go unnoticed.
"I'll just finish the job now and that'll be that, right?!" he snapped before turning around and walking out the room without forgetting to slam the door behind him.
As Windy watched him leave, she tapped the end of the fan she carried against her chin.
"My, my... It seems you have some trouble brewing at your side as well, little sister..."
Luc wrapped his hands around him tightly yet again. His body shook as the pieces fell on to the black surface beneath him. It was always like this... the pain from the fire... as if he was burning within those flames himself. Each time... he would shake from the agony of it all.
It hurt. It hurt him so much.
"Are you still afraid? You still close your eyes..."
And each time... This man would still appear. Whispering words of malice... provoking him... enticing him.
"Shut up..." Luc hissed in an unsteady tone. "It's enough isn't it...? Just stop it... I've had enough of this... Just leave me alone already..."
"It's too bad, but I can't do that." The man replied calmly.
"WHY?!" the brunette shouted before the glass wall. "Why do I have to see this? I've seen enough! What have I done to deserve any of this?!"
The man was silent for a moment. He only looked at him... again... calmly... then finally, he spoke.
"Nothing."
Once the prison door opened, Ted had already known what was to come. For the passed week Luc had come by on a regular basis to bring him information concerning the Liberation Army's movements, the army his close friend had apparently gotten himself involved with. Last he heard, Tir was in Lenankamp... and an attack happened, but he had gotten away along with the people the Empire had labelled as "rebels".
It was clear to Ted that this was a form of equivalent exchange from the recent developments between him and Luc. At each day that passed, he learned more and more about the child, including the details of the dreams that haunt him. It was a little funny... Who would have thought he would become the boy's confidant after experiencing that lovely six feet drop in the air back in Magician's Isle.
But he was not the only source of information in the dungeons. He had heard voices speak at night, fellow prisoners speaking of the child. Apparently... the boy was gifted. The use of magic beyond normal runes... appearing and disappearing as he wishes... even a rumour that the boy was more than just intelligent. In other words, shorty was a prodigy.
Go figure.
Though, another rumour came within those walls. Something about "black runes". And as Ted heard more and more about it, things finally started to make sense. The witch had the whole castle under her palm. Then that would mean that she was using Luc as one of her pawns...
He smirked, leaning against the wall behind him once he saw what Luc carried in his hands.
"So that's how it is." Ted sighed. "You're the one who's been attaching them. That's why no one suspects the old hag."
"..."
"It's fine. I think I understand." The red-head slid down against the wall and sat on the stone floor beneath him. "It's clever, using someone to indirectly attach them. And refusing to do that job would make you look like a traitor to the witch. If your ladyship didn't comply to her sister's request, they'll know your little secret."
Luc turned his gaze on the floor, his face falling behind the shadows.
"Hey, hey, I said it's fine. You have no choice, right?"
"Could it be..."
"... I have to..." the young brunette muttered reluctantly.
"...that you feel sorry for him, little boy?"
"I don't." He forcefully thought to himself. "It's an order from Windy."
He raised the rune crystal baring a black insignia within. "This..."
"So... that really is for me then." Ted said calmly with a weary smile on his face.
"It's an order..." Luc repeated in the same stoic tone.
"I understand already." He looked at him kindly, just as how his voice was; It was kind. "It's an order, so go ahead. I'll behave."
"Why...?" the younger boy wanted to say it to him. "Why would you..."
"Luc..." Ted smiled at him a little. "It'll be okay."
"Nothing." The man responded. "You've done nothing at all."
Luc flinched, his anger flaring even more that he could felt his face burn. His skin prickled from the sensation, an obvious sign that he hadn't recovered yet from the last experience in the flames.
"Then why!?"
"Because no one else will understand."
Again... a vague answer.
"Only you can understand... because you and I are very much alike." The man knelt on one knee while he placed one hand against the glass wall acting as the only seperation between them. " It's just a little more...We'll meet soon... It will make sense then... Be patient."
The eyes behind the glass were like his... though at the same time they were different. In his eyes Luc could see his confidence, sense the wisdom they have seen. But there was also something empty... something desolate... A deep sadness that scared Luc. He was afraid... It felt as if he looked further... looked longer... that sadness would consume him. He did not wish to drown in those eyes.
"So until then, keep your eyes open... I will show you the truth about this dirty... hateful world..." the man continued as a weary yet sympathetic smile dawned upon his face. "...Luc."
"Hey... promise me something though, before that thing takes over." Ted whispered to Luc quietly as he watched the crystal containing the makeshift rune glow eerily against his skin.
"No."
"Come on, I'm doing this willingly right?" the red-head frowned. "You owe me."
"Tch... you're going to resort to that?" Luc snapped at him.
"Just listen, okay?"
"...Whatever."
Ted chuckled as he watched the boy's brows furrow. He was pretty adorable when he at least was a bit more honest with his feelings. Even if he was 'unpleasant' with them.
"Promise me... that they'll be okay." He said to Luc. "That no matter what, you'd do what you can to protect them..."
"...huh?" Luc stared at him in surprise, not quite understanding what the older man meant.
"If not, at least... Tir... Protect Tir in my place."
The wind mage fell silent, his eyes falling directly to Ted's hand.
"At least, keep him safe..." he insisted. "He's a dear friend... He accepted me without question, just as his father had welcomed me with open arms. He and the others were all I had..."
"..." Luc let out a quiet breath, his grasp around the older man's wrist loosening a little. "... I understand."
"I will show you the truth about this dirty... hateful world..."
"I'll do what I can."
After heaing those words from the younger boy, Ted closed his eyes as a sense of resolve took over over his senses, as well as the spell being casted upon his hand... as if slowly falling into a slumber.
"Thank you..." he said.
As my vision blurred, I finally realized why I wished to know so much about him... This boy whose eyes once hit me of nothing but pride, selfishness... arrogance... his cold demeanor to anyone who tries to speak to him. The way he refuses to touch... or to break the perfect mask he has made for himself. The way he acts so unpleasan to others... They way he tries to be a man within this placet for such a little boy.
Everything.
Lazlo... everyone... are you listening...?
This boy... is too similar. When he falters, I see a glimpse of the secret he's been keeping from the world... The way his eyes give away his feelings... His wishes... The way his hand shakes when he's lost... when he's afraid.
But, even though I sympathize... I cannot understand his fears.
The man behind the glass wall he speaks of. The fear this image brings to his heart. The source of his doubts... Where is it coming from? How can anyone stop it?
I... I want to save him... No matter what.
I had thought I would have all the time in the world. I not once thought it would run out... I'm happy that finally, I can close my eyes and rest, even just for awhile. I'm also sad that I had given my curse to someone else who doesn't deserve this.
But that matters not. Not now. So... please...
Someone... notice it. Time is not something that can be spared. It never is...Not even for us...
Even though we will never age... that we may live for hundreds of years... The heart will always hurt. The soul will always suffer. So please... someone notice it.
Tir... Someone... Anyone... At least this boy...
Stop him. Save him.
Please save him from himself.