ext_158887 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
31_days2006-08-14 08:53 am
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2006-08-14 08:53 am
[Aug. 14, 2006][original] Parting Knowledge
Title: "Parting Knowledge"
Day/Theme: Aug. 14, 2006 "And my grief at parting from you is like that of the turtle-dove, which brings pleasure to the hot listener, retired in a thickly-leaved tree from the heat of summer, like a singer behind a curtain."
Series: original
Character/Pairing: Seif, Alywin
Rating: PG
"Seif, Seif, my son, I am so pleased to have this last chance to speak with you," Alywin murmured melodically. He sighed in a way both happy and breathless.
Seif shuddered. A chill ran down his back. The wound was obviously proving fatal. He was about to lose the man who had been like a father to him. "U-uncle Alywin," he gasped, using the form of address from his childhood. His hands shook as he knelt beside the cot where the priest-general lay.
"I remember when I first met you. You couldn't have been more than two-years-old. You were thin and dirt-smudged, with big saucer-wide eyes. I'm sorry, Seif. I'm so sorry for all the things I've done to you."
"No, don't feel bad," the younger man was quick to reply. He took Alywin's old, rough hands in his and squeezed them tenderly, "You've never done anything wrong to me, Uncle! I've been happy to run you missions and do your work! You gave me a profession that means everything to me and a family that loves me! You're a good man!"
Alywin took a deep breath. His frown deepened and the creases under his eyes became more distinct. "No, I'm just an old knight. All I know is death and all I can impart is knowledge of death, and on top of that I'm a liar."
"No!" Seif insisted firmly, tears beginning to run down the curves of his cheeks.
"Listen to me, Seif," General Father Alywin said in a voice that allowed for no disagreement. "I'm going to tell you the whole truth. When I brought you back to the capital with me I already knew what you were going to become. You never had a choice in the matter- I stole your innocence and taught you how to kill. And one of the worst thing about it is that you're from Ligaia."
"I'm what?" Seif gawked in confusion.
"Your parents were basket-weavers from Ligaia," Alywin explained. He sounded a little relieved to have the burden of all this secret knowledge off his shoulders. "I saved a girl that day as well. Her family, and yours, had run into trouble while trying to cross the badlands into Messina. You two were the only survivors. ...And I'm from Sunland, Seif. Ran and Li are also from the principalities. No Holy Knights since Katyos, Yaidan, and Taka have been Messinan. It is our shameful secret."
Day/Theme: Aug. 14, 2006 "And my grief at parting from you is like that of the turtle-dove, which brings pleasure to the hot listener, retired in a thickly-leaved tree from the heat of summer, like a singer behind a curtain."
Series: original
Character/Pairing: Seif, Alywin
Rating: PG
"Seif, Seif, my son, I am so pleased to have this last chance to speak with you," Alywin murmured melodically. He sighed in a way both happy and breathless.
Seif shuddered. A chill ran down his back. The wound was obviously proving fatal. He was about to lose the man who had been like a father to him. "U-uncle Alywin," he gasped, using the form of address from his childhood. His hands shook as he knelt beside the cot where the priest-general lay.
"I remember when I first met you. You couldn't have been more than two-years-old. You were thin and dirt-smudged, with big saucer-wide eyes. I'm sorry, Seif. I'm so sorry for all the things I've done to you."
"No, don't feel bad," the younger man was quick to reply. He took Alywin's old, rough hands in his and squeezed them tenderly, "You've never done anything wrong to me, Uncle! I've been happy to run you missions and do your work! You gave me a profession that means everything to me and a family that loves me! You're a good man!"
Alywin took a deep breath. His frown deepened and the creases under his eyes became more distinct. "No, I'm just an old knight. All I know is death and all I can impart is knowledge of death, and on top of that I'm a liar."
"No!" Seif insisted firmly, tears beginning to run down the curves of his cheeks.
"Listen to me, Seif," General Father Alywin said in a voice that allowed for no disagreement. "I'm going to tell you the whole truth. When I brought you back to the capital with me I already knew what you were going to become. You never had a choice in the matter- I stole your innocence and taught you how to kill. And one of the worst thing about it is that you're from Ligaia."
"I'm what?" Seif gawked in confusion.
"Your parents were basket-weavers from Ligaia," Alywin explained. He sounded a little relieved to have the burden of all this secret knowledge off his shoulders. "I saved a girl that day as well. Her family, and yours, had run into trouble while trying to cross the badlands into Messina. You two were the only survivors. ...And I'm from Sunland, Seif. Ran and Li are also from the principalities. No Holy Knights since Katyos, Yaidan, and Taka have been Messinan. It is our shameful secret."