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31_days2006-08-05 07:03 pm
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2006-08-05 07:03 pm
[Aug. 5, 2006][Original] An Unhappy Early Retirement
Title: An Unhappy Early Retirement
Day/Theme: Aug. 5, 2006 "Make up for that one: a courageous heart, a bare blade, and a long and yellow bow."
Series: Original
Character/Pairing: Seif and Tetsu
Rating: PG
The Holy Mother made an unusual exception for Sir Seif upon the beginning of the ceasefire. She let him rerite, and allowed the general public to think he was dead. So the nation mourned brave hearts, strong steel, and quick bows. Bandaged and cloaked, Seif left the capital with Tetsu at his side. As he passed through the streets in disguise, he saw many images of himself and his late companions, Ran and Li. Wreathes and bouquets could be seen with these grainy photographs and blockprints clipped from the newspapers. Candles were lit in alcoves and some woman were sobbing openly in the streets wearing the black shawls of mourning. Seif had the urge to toss back his hood and reveal himself, to take the women's hands and comfort them, but he resisted the feeling, clenching his fists and pushing onward.
Who knew he still lived? The Holy Mother, General de Portola and his most-trusted staff, Tetsu, Kiralesca, Ginjo, Leila, Sir Rowan, and the three boys fated to become the next Holy Knights.
It was the fate of the Holy Knights to fight and die for their country. It was just rare for the nation to lose an entire trio at once. The knights in training were still fairly young boys, if Ligaia knew of this they might easily make a more successful attack against Messina, yet the did not know, and as long as the treaty held...
There it was. They were beloved, but replaceable. ...And, as he had learned not so long ago, not even Messinan in the first place. He was the child of Ligaian basket-weavers who had died trying to cross the badlands into Messina. General Father Alywin had found him, as well as a young girl not related to him, starving and sick, while on a reconnaissance mission up and down the border. Alywin himself was from Sunland, as was the future knight Michaelis. The other boys, Duncan and Favio were from Ligaia and Cambria. It was a dark secret of the Messinan religion and knighthood- Messina did not sacrifice its own. To train specifically to kill was a sin too great to be placed on any native-born Messinan.
Tetsu gazed at the knight sympathetically, although he had no way of knowing what thoughts were passing through his mind. Seif caught the mute's glance out of the corner of his eye and smiled weakly at the dark-haired young man, trying to reassure Tetsu that he would be fine.
Tetsu smiled widely in return and ran allow to catch up to the knight's quicker pace, his short, borrowed cape blowing. He grasped Seif's arm happily as they passed out of the city gates, gone but not forgotten.
Day/Theme: Aug. 5, 2006 "Make up for that one: a courageous heart, a bare blade, and a long and yellow bow."
Series: Original
Character/Pairing: Seif and Tetsu
Rating: PG
The Holy Mother made an unusual exception for Sir Seif upon the beginning of the ceasefire. She let him rerite, and allowed the general public to think he was dead. So the nation mourned brave hearts, strong steel, and quick bows. Bandaged and cloaked, Seif left the capital with Tetsu at his side. As he passed through the streets in disguise, he saw many images of himself and his late companions, Ran and Li. Wreathes and bouquets could be seen with these grainy photographs and blockprints clipped from the newspapers. Candles were lit in alcoves and some woman were sobbing openly in the streets wearing the black shawls of mourning. Seif had the urge to toss back his hood and reveal himself, to take the women's hands and comfort them, but he resisted the feeling, clenching his fists and pushing onward.
Who knew he still lived? The Holy Mother, General de Portola and his most-trusted staff, Tetsu, Kiralesca, Ginjo, Leila, Sir Rowan, and the three boys fated to become the next Holy Knights.
It was the fate of the Holy Knights to fight and die for their country. It was just rare for the nation to lose an entire trio at once. The knights in training were still fairly young boys, if Ligaia knew of this they might easily make a more successful attack against Messina, yet the did not know, and as long as the treaty held...
There it was. They were beloved, but replaceable. ...And, as he had learned not so long ago, not even Messinan in the first place. He was the child of Ligaian basket-weavers who had died trying to cross the badlands into Messina. General Father Alywin had found him, as well as a young girl not related to him, starving and sick, while on a reconnaissance mission up and down the border. Alywin himself was from Sunland, as was the future knight Michaelis. The other boys, Duncan and Favio were from Ligaia and Cambria. It was a dark secret of the Messinan religion and knighthood- Messina did not sacrifice its own. To train specifically to kill was a sin too great to be placed on any native-born Messinan.
Tetsu gazed at the knight sympathetically, although he had no way of knowing what thoughts were passing through his mind. Seif caught the mute's glance out of the corner of his eye and smiled weakly at the dark-haired young man, trying to reassure Tetsu that he would be fine.
Tetsu smiled widely in return and ran allow to catch up to the knight's quicker pace, his short, borrowed cape blowing. He grasped Seif's arm happily as they passed out of the city gates, gone but not forgotten.