Ch14-2: Arfogaeth

And with all thoughts of masterful triumph focused, TsuYa squinted hard at the blue stone that sat still in the palm of his hand.

“Okay, Tsu… you take him from the back,” SoYa’s green eyes were bright, the color intensified by the green of the foliage that framed his face. “I’ll distract him from the side.”

“I think I should come in from the side and you get him from the back,” TsuYa disagreed, his hands tightening on the haft of his weapon. “I tried jumping him last time and it didn’t work, remember?”

“That’s because he could sense you coming,” the elder brother pointed out.

“Gee thanks… So why is this time going to be any different?” a sharp frown accented the younger brother’s discontent.

“Because I’m going to muddle his senses this time around,” the Athrylith murmured with a sudden hushing wave of his hand. “He’s coming…! We have to decide on something?”

“Fine, fine…” TsuYa muttered. “But if we get trashed again this time, next time we’re doing it my way!”

SoYa nodded and began to creep through the tall leaves and deep green bushes of the forest that was just a short distance away from the Compound. Though he was careful to be as quiet as possible, TsuYa couldn’t help but wince as his ears picked up the sounds of crunching leaves and heavy missteps.

His ears seemed to pick up a lot of things far more keenly than other people could as of late. He’d begun to learn that just because he could hear something, didn’t mean everyone else could. And he had always put that knowledge to good use.

A shroud of deep silence draped his motion as TsuYa slipped between the dappling shadows on the forest floor. His dark eyes searched between the motion of leaves, focusing fast on the approaching figure in the clearing just beyond the threshold of the treeline. Crouching low, he waited… measuring his opponent in deep concentration.

All senses were focused. His mind was locked and silenced – for he knew that thoughts were a dead giveaway. His fingers were sure where they gripped his weapon.

For a moment, everything was frozen, a pulse of breath between the folds of time. And then he launched forward, a blur of blue and white, teeth bared as TsuYa burst from the stillness of the forest shadows.

In unison, SoYa leapt out, knowing exactly when his brother was going to act without a cue. One sweep of his staff lit the clearing with a blinding flash of power. Though the spell wasn’t aimed at him, TsuYa could feel the condensing of air as the Athrylith released his will upon their target. A muddling spell, he had called it.

Giving the spell a moment to take hold, TsuYa darted in, his weapon raised up and ready to strike. He gave a smirk of victory, seeing that the mind muddle must have worked – their opponent still didn’t seem to sense his approach. His strike came fast and deadly, despite the size of the weapon in his hand – a blow meant to take down his target in one shot.

If I don’t get him in the first round, there won’t be another.

The air hissed and crackled, a flash of light blue suddenly lashing out at the condensing energy of SoYa’s spell. A mental snap resounded through TsuYa’s frame, breaking the arc of his leap and driving his brother back a few shaken steps.

No! He broke the spell AGAIN!

A flurry of feathers and silvery white hair whipped around as TsuYa found himself face to face with his father. The sharp green eyes of ZenToYa locked in upon him, the power of the gaze sending a shudder down the length of his practice weapon. He hardly had a moment to catch his breath before the shadow of the winged man fell upon him, followed by a flurry of strokes that would put the most boastful young warriors to absolute shame.

SOYA!

Though TsuYa was fast, once Father had caught sight of him, it was always over shortly. The best that he could do was to see how long he could hold out before he was driven into the ground by the raw power that the winged man possessed. Even without using magic and only armed with a simple wooden practice weapon, ZenToYa was very much the Champion of the Dreigiau.

SOYA! I need some back up here!!

Sometimes his brother was able to shake himself out of the mind stupor fast enough to get in another spell. Often times, he wasn’t.

Of course, Father wasn’t playing nice when it came to practicing battle simulation – everything about it was supposed to mock what real battle would be like… including the challenge of the attack. Therefore, it was nothing like the kindly one-on-one instruction that they received in the harmless practice yard. Still, the two of them had decided of their own free will to undertake the simulation arena, knowing full well that Father would push them to their limits there.

When it came, the real battle would be far less forgiving than Father.

Sweat streamed down TsuYa’s face as he darted and dodged, trying to put the trunks of trees and leafy branches between himself and Father’s practice weapon. His breath came in hoarse rasps between gleaming teeth. Only by his speed alone was he able to continue to avoid stroke after blurring stroke that flew his way.

This had been the longest he had ever lasted so far.

But it was taking its toll on him. And Father seemed to be hardly breaking a sweat.

“Tsu!!” He could hear his brother shouting his name. It was the only warning he had before the whole underside of the forest lit up in a brilliant, dazing light.

“Ah! No!!!” TsuYa staggered back, clamping his eyes shut. The world suddenly seemed to waver and melt around him. “Aim at HIM! Not ME!!”

Being able to shake himself out of the grips of the mis-cast mind magic, Father’s form rose up above him, wings spread wide.  TsuYa braced himself a moment before the blow came… a shattering strike that he caught on the haft of his weapon. But the strength behind the blow was still enough to force him to one knee.

“Tsu… oh no! I’m so sorry!” SoYa’s voice was distant in his ears. The pressure of the mind magic unraveled as he was released. But the damage was still done.

“Urhg!” TsuYa choked, fighting to regain his senses. Both of his arms were outstretched, holding Father’s practice weapon at bay. Though he was fighting it, the weight of the bigger man was driving him down to both knees.

No… we never win! How are we going to fight against the Marked if we can’t even hold our own in one simulation training?!

A flood of panic filled his senses. Followed by something strange – a deep and welling feeling, distantly familiar. It left the raw taste of fear in his mouth. His vision sharpened into painful brilliance for a split second. TsuYa didn’t know what his father saw in his face at that moment. But he could see a flicker of alarm reflecting in the depths of the winged man’s eyes.

He felt a surge of sudden energy flow through his limbs. His arms thrust forward in attempt to throw the bigger man back. A moment later, TsuYa found himself staring in surprise at where Father was fighting to regain his footing a few yards away.

SoYa was also staring, though his eyes were wide and focused on his brother. “Tsu? What… did you do?”

“I… don’t know?” he replied, dumbfounded.

Father brushed himself off, wings folding out of dishevelment. There was a shaken look on his face that sent TsuYa’s stomach churning with unease.

“Alright. The simulation training ends,” Kudako’s stern voice edged into the moment of tension. “The boys seem to be improving. Just slightly.”

Father gave a low grunt, frowning at where the Dragon appeared from further down the path. “Takes time. You don’t win the first simulations. Sometimes not even the first hundred.”

“Hmmm…” a low rumbling sound rose in the back of the warrior’s throat. Then the golden eyes fixed upon TsuYa. “That was a nice throw. You’re stronger than you look.”

“Uh… thanks..?” TsuYa frowned, looking down at his hands in confusion. He had no idea what had just happened. But compliments from Kudako were so rare that he wasn’t going to turn down his chance at winning one.

SoYa was still watching him with a puzzled look.

“Alright. You heard ‘Dako. Let’s call it for now,” Father nodded, taking a towel from one of the overhanging tree branches and wiping his face.

“Yessir,” SoYa gave a quiet nod and followed suit, leaning back with a groan. His fingers massaged his temples as if to ease away the pain of a headache.

After that flub, I should GIVE him a headache!

“I’m sorry, Tsu… I didn’t mean to..? It was a mis-cast?” the Athrylith gave a miserable look. It was always the same – SoYa had proven that he could handle very intricate magic… but never under pressure.

“I know… I know. Don’t worry about it,” TsuYa grumbled to himself and retrieved his own towel, wiping the grime from his hands.

Usually he would have really given his brother a hard time for such a slip up. But right now, an uneasy feeling hung in the back of his mind. Something had just happened, though he didn’t know what. And when uncertainties like that came up, he never knew exactly what it meant.

As much as TsuYa didn’t like to admit it… things had changed within himself ever since the battle in Nefol. Maybe even before then. Though they had managed to stop the progression of the Marked within him, he had been discovering that strange side effects were developing as time went on. Heightened senses seemed to be one… but it was not the only thing that he had suspicions about so far.

“As long as you learn, boys. That’s the most important thing,” Father’s gentle voice slipped between the darkness of his thoughts, bringing TsuYa around. “I think you’re both improving quite a bit. I know the simulation battles are a lot tougher… but the two of you make a good team when you work together.”

SoYa gave a hopeful smile.

TsuYa just scowled. “We still haven’t made a scratch in you.”

Father chuckled and rocked back on his heels. “All in time, Tsu. I’ve had a lot longer to hone my skills. Be patient. Keep working. You know it takes time and practice.”

“I do… it’s just… we don’t have a lot of time,” he frowned quietly.

“We make do with what we’re given,” Kudako muttered as he began to stalk away. “We’ve managed to turn the last few scouts off of us. And foil at least one that seemed a real attempt at attack. We’ve been fortunate to have this much time to make ready.”

The winged man sighed, watching the shadow of the Dragon slip away into the silence, down the path towards the waiting compound.

“Is it just me, or is he grouchier than normal?” TsuYa observed.

“Grouchy? You’re one to talk about being grouchy, Tsu?” SoYa’s eyebrows lifted.

“What? I’m not grouchy!”

“Then what are you?”

“I’m… just serious? There’s serious stuff going on, you know?” he folded his arms with a huff.

“Suure…” SoYa gave a slight smile.

Father cleared his throat with a hint of suggestion, a little curve tugging up at his lips as he watched the banter between his two sons. If anything, the training and simulations had given the three of them the chance to spend time together. To learn. To work side by side. And in a strange way, during this time of war, it gave them a chance to be the family that they had never had a chance to be… for a little while.
When the two didn’t respond the first time, the winged man cleared his throat again. A little louder this time.

TsuYa turned towards the prompting sound, “Father?”

SoYa also stopped and turned with a questioning look.

“Boys… I have something I want to give to you,” the winged man spoke, voice low and quiet. There was a grimness to his face that spoke volumes more than words alone. As he turned to lead them into the shaded forest, they followed without question, both brothers sending glances towards each other.

They didn’t walk too far before Father came to a stop. There was a quiet clearing, cheered by sun that streamed down through the leaves above and the babbling of a quiet little rivulet just on the other side. Some stone outcroppings stuck their heads lazily above the fringe of grass. Wildflowers were in bloom, a myriad of color and scent, soaking up the kindness of the weather.

The whole place felt like a great big blotch of irony to TsuYa. He could only wonder if they felt the same.

Why did he bring us here?

SoYa glanced over and gave a nod in response to the passing thought. Usually, TsuYa would have been annoyed at the invasion, but he held his tongue, eyes fixed to the feathers of his Father’s shimmering white wings.

One day… I’ll be like him.

Father turned slowly, his gaze falling on TsuYa first, as if having heard the wish. He gave a slow, pained smile before turning to observe his elder son. “It’s hard…”

SoYa blinked in question. “What is, Father?”

“Everything,” he gave a shake of his head, the sun reflecting from the strands of silver that marked his age. Even if everything else within the warrior seemed to fight time, the color of his hair gave it away. “You are both so young… but you’ve had to grow up so quickly. I wish war had never found its way into your lives. I think it’s a wish all fathers have for their children.”

TsuYa lowered his gaze, focusing on the swaying grass at his feet. It was always difficult for him to know what to say or do when Father spoke in such a way. Awkward. It was far easier for him to bear the brunt of a training session than to stand before words of affection.

“But since we must deal with the days that have been dealt to us, I figured it was time for you to have this,” Father reached his hands out, one towards each of them. There was a strange, round gem in both of his palms, the surface reflecting and rippling as if there were liquid inside. A deep blue one for TsuYa, a soft lavender one for SoYa.

TsuYa squinted at it, not understanding exactly what he was seeing.

Then his brother gave a quiet, breathy gasp, “Arfogaeth?”

Arfogaeth? Can it really be? The armor of will and spirit? Like the armor that Father has always had?

“Yes, that’s right,” Father nodded.

For the first time, TsuYa realized that the winged man was wearing his own armorstone in the medallion around his neck. Something about that left a twinge of worry in the back of his mind. Father rarely wore the amulet… unless he felt that battle was coming soon.

And now he’s giving us our own?

“Boys… I want you to take these,” sadness touched the light in his eyes as he held the stones out to his sons. “You’re still so young… I didn’t get my armor until far later. But Zemi thought it was best to begin to train you in using it. And I don’t see that there’s any getting around it at this point.”

Wow… This is just… too awesome!

The deep blue stone rolled from Father’s hand into TsuYa’s cupped palms. His hands trembled in excitement and anticipation – very few Apprentices or Warriors of the Dreigiau ever were given such a gift. It was said that Zemi himself had to craft such armor to the will of its user. And that only the owner of the stone could summon the spirit armor for protection.

TsuYa’s dark eyes flicked to where SoYa stood, his hands cupped in a mirror image to his brother’s. There was a look of humble surprise as he stared down at the lavender stone. A soft pulse of light answered the Athrylith’s questioning look.

Not one to be shown up, TsuYa threw all of his concentration on the stone in his hands.

Okay! Armor! You belong to me! Do what I tell you to!

And with all thoughts of masterful triumph focused, TsuYa squinted hard at the blue stone that sat still in the palm of his hand.  And sat.

And sat.

And sat.

Come on! I want armor now?

And sat.

Any day would be nice?

The stone only sat and reflected the darkening scowl that drew long over TsuYa’s face. “Great… I think mine’s busted.”

“Now… Tsu,” Father continued, pulled out of the solemn tone as he watched their reaction to the gifts, “It will take a lot of time and effort to learn how to use the armor. Maybe even years. It’s not something that can happen overnight. It didn’t even for m–  SoYa?”

The words fell off in mid-sentence, the surprise in Father’s voice causing TsuYa to pull his attention away from the stubborn blue stone in his palm. His eyes sharpened a little as he fought back the sudden welling of bitterness that jolted through his chest.

SoYa was standing, bathed in a soft purple glow. The stone in his hand seemed to be responding to silent commands, sending out tendrils of gentle light that wove together into the very faint outline of a gauntlet over his right hand. An expression of wonderment and bliss covered his face… making it even harder for TsuYa not to feel more than a little annoyed.

It’ll take years of practice, huh..? Obviously not for Uber SoYa.

The moment that Athrylith realized that he was being watched, all concentration shattered, the light from the stone scattering through the air and dying away. His bright green eyes blinked up at the two of them with a questioning look. As if he didn’t even realize what he had been doing.

“Well… there’s… always an exception to the rule, I suppose?” Father gave a tense smile.

“I’m sorry… did I miss something?” SoYa blinked at them.

“No. Nothing at all,” TsuYa muttered, closing his fist around the blue stone. Jaw clenched tight, he choked on the thick resentment that seethed from the pit of his stomach. With a grumble he began to pace away from the two, knowing full well he was being rude for not thanking his father for such a gift.

But right that moment, he didn’t feel thankful. Just shown up.

I take it all back. I liked SoYa better before he was the Athrylith.

“Tsu… wait? What’s wrong?” SoYa’s voice echoed after him, annoyingly oblivious.

He didn’t stop walking. Not even when he heard the sound of his father’s voice calling him to come back.

He suddenly just wanted to be alone.