Hi! Sorry it's been a while between chapters, I've been really busy... I'll try to put up another chapter tonight though^^ Remember to review!
Fai sat in a plush armchair lined with fur in King Ashura's study. It was intimidating to say the least; all white with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows and a set of glass double doors that led out to a balcony overlooking the Étoile Sea. The walls were lined with shelves of books and chests of draws, all surrounding a large, empty desk in the middle of the back wall. A single Pouvoir Clair (Pouvoir Clair/ Luer Clair: An orb of concentrated power, taken from ones aura, which throws off light. It can be generated by level two magic makers and up. The higher your level, the more power you can safely separate from your aura and the more light you can generate. A Pouvoir Claire's light is always the same as the base color of its' makers aura.)
For once Fai felt like he knew what it was like to be Mangetsu. He was so bored and he didn't know what to do with himself. He desperately wanted to look out the window or read one of the books that lined the walls. Unlike Mangetsu though, he had the self-control to keep himself in his chair. However, he was beginning to wonder if it was really self-control or if it was coming from an outside source. He felt glued to his chair and he was afraid to try standing up because he was worried about whether or not he'd be able to. This, he decided, was ridiculous because if there was a confinement spell he'd have sensed before he sat down. He was just nervous, which he also tried to tell himself was ridiculous, with little success. Every time he thought of King Ashura, he thought of all the things Mangetsu had told him. It was becoming difficult to pretend nothing was going on.
Just as he was beginning to slide into the anxious, desperate despair he found himself in whenever Mangetsu wasn't around to distract him, King Ashura strode in.
Without thinking, Fai bounced up from his chair, plastered a fake smile on his face and gave a quick bow.
"Your Highness."
Ashura smiled.
"It's alright Fai, have a seat."
Fai sat gingerly and watched as King Ashura went through some of the draws that dotted the wall, periodically looking over his shoulder and making brief eye-contact with Fai.
"Are you feeling okay after your… ordeal?"
Fai burned, red with shame. He still couldn't get his head around what could have happened. But he smiled brightly and nodded.
"Of course, Your Highness. Everything was fine after all. Mang-m- Mangetsu helped me."
King Ashura smiled. Fai saw happiness and kindness but also… satisfaction? He wondered what he would see if he could read auras like Mangetsu. He could sense magical auras but that was it. He wasn't sure what he could be satisfied with.
"Yes, I suppose she did. You two are getting along?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"That's good. Ah!" He pulled something out of a draw and set it on the table. Closer inspection revealed hat it was a violin. Light colored wood with silver pegs and bow loaded with silvery-white strands, it was absolutely beautiful.
"Now," King Ashura sat down across from him, "You've been studying magic for quite some time now. I assume you've moved into sound magic (Sound Magic: Using audible tones, such as vocal or instrumental notes, to focus ones powers. It can always be substituted for Lettering or spoken Incantation, but it is a more physical form of magic and requires a greater feel for magic and a lot of educated guessing.) yes?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Good," He smiled and nudged the violin closer, "Then you'll need this."
Fai stared for a moment before carefully picking it up. It was really beautiful.
"Th-Thank you!"
King Ashura chuckled.
"You're very welcome, Fai."
"Will I have another tutor?"
"No. You've already learned everything else on your own, why stop now? Besides, you're having your lessons with Maitresse Seether, correct? You couldn't possibly cover a subject regarding magic in front of her, could you?"
"N-No." He laughed nervously.
"Well," To his relief, Ashura moved on. "I do however, have this for you,"
He rifled through a draw in the desk and produced a thick leather-bound book complete with rough edged-paper and an intricate pentacle embossed on the front. He flipped through the pages quickly, revealing sheets of music and brief paragraphs of instruction.
"The violin itself is made of Plum Wood that's been infused with enchanted water from the falls at La Sanctuaire de la Luna up on the Tundra* so it never needs to be tuned. Everything else you need to know is in here," He tapped the book and Fai took it, carefully balancing it on his arm, afraid to drop the violin.
"Do you need a servant to help you back?"
Fai looked up, trying to smile through the disappointment. This was the second time he'd been dismissed. King Ashura used to sit and talk to him for hours. Now he hinted for him to leave after a minute or two. Not that he minded. It was hard to pretend that Ashura was good and kind when he saw just how forced some of his smiles were. They weren't hiding sadness like his were, but … he couldn't quite tell. It seemed like boredom though.
"No, I'm fine."
Somewhat dismayed but still all smiles, Fai stood to leave.
Aww... poor Fai! Mang needs to knock some sense into him... Now, about "La Sanctuaire de la Luna" It's some place in Seresu that I made up. It's important though, so here's the explanation: It's basically the epicenter of all magical energy in Seresu. The name is loose French for "The Sanctuary of the Moon".
The Tundra is... a tundra? It's exactly what it sounds like, but it's what I'm going to call the sheets of ice that Fai and the others land on when they go to Seresu in the Manga.
Please review!
ありがとう
ShingetsuXMasngetsu