Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Spirit of the Wolf ❯ Chapter 3: The Adventure Begins ( Chapter 3 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: WolfGoddess_77 
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.21.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 129 | Status: Work In Progress
Miscellaneous: Original Stories Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Fantasy / Romance / Supernatural | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.21.2012 | Updated On: 09.26.2012 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 129 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people or places is purely coincidental.
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The feeling of someone shaking his shoulder pulled Cael out of a deep sleep. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked over to find the source of the shaking. Who could possibly be waking him up this early? There were no windows in the room, but he could tell that the sun hadn't yet risen. That was strange; he didn't recognize this room. Then, he remembered where he was.
"Wake up. Dawn is approaching." Reyith stood beside him, one hand rested on his shoulder. Upon seeing him open his eyes, she withdrew slightly, watching him. "Papa is waiting for us upstairs."
Cael noticed that she seemed to have been awake for a while. Though he usually awoke early, it took a little while before he was fully alert, and this was just too early. He groaned, but finally sat up. "All right, I'm awake."
Pulling himself out of the bed, he stretched, yawning. "You seem to be feeling better today," he noted, studying her. She wore her usual white and black outfit, and she looked more energetic now.
She nodded. "Yes; I only needed to rest. Your concern was unfounded. But…" A tiny smile flitted across her face for a moment, "…thank you for worrying."
Cael blinked, arching one eyebrow. This was strange. He hadn't expected her to actually thank him. If anything, he thought she would brush him off. Maybe she was beginning to warm up to him.
He pulled his shoes on, then straightened. "Let's go, then." Following Reyith out the door, his mind began to wander. What would the coming days be like? The thought filled him with a mix of both apprehension and excitement.
Reyith glanced back at him, arching one eyebrow. "You are looking forward to this." It wasn't a question. Her voice was slightly amused, and there was a faint smile on her face.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. It's something new. I'm surprised that you're not more excited. After all, today, you'll get to see the outside world."
"I am excited," she replied, turning her attention back to the front. "I just conceal it better than you."
At this, Cael stopped walking for a moment. She was actually joking with him. What had gotten into her? She seemed almost like a different person this morning. He had been worried that she still felt too uncomfortable around him, but it seemed that he had nothing to fear. Still, he had to wonder, what had mellowed her out?
Reyith stopped at the top of the stairs, then turned to look at him. "Are you ready?" Her voice was calm enough, but Cael could see that her violet eyes were bright with excitement.
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." For what, he didn't know. The words might have even been a lie. But as he had been told the day before, there was no going back now. All he could do was move forward, towards whatever waited for him. One thing could be said for him, though. He wasn't afraid.
The sound of the door opening drew his attention, and he saw that Reyith had already moved out into the hall. She moved quickly across the room, coming to a halt outside the double doors they had gone through the previous afternoon.
As soon as Cael joined her, she knocked on one of the doors, then opened it. Unsurprisingly, Kellan waited for them inside, sitting in the same chair as before. Two backpacks rested near the chair, and another tray of food had been placed on the table.
Kellan gestured to them. "Good morning. Please, come in. Breakfast has been prepared for you." His eyes were on Cael as he said this. It seemed Reyith had been telling the truth after all; she really didn't need to eat.
The two crossed the room, Cael sitting down in the chair that had been pulled up to the table, and Reyith standing just beside him. He started to offer her the chair, but a firm shake of her head stopped him before he could even get the words out.
"You will find everything you need in here," Kellan said finally, waving his hand at the packs. "Money, clothes, bandages, in case you are injured… I believe everything has been included." He stood up, pulling something out of his pocket. Moving over to Reyith, he reached up, brushing her hair back off of her shoulders. That done, he fastened a black metal choker around her neck. On it hung a blood red gem in the shape of a teardrop.
Reyith reached up to touch it, frowning slightly. Cael knew the reason why; even with the pendant attached, it looked too much like a collar. "This is similar to what you wear when you train," Kellan was saying, nodding to the choker. "It will relay signals back to me. Whenever you encounter a hoyu seishin, data will be collected. It will also let me know how you are progressing. You are strong, Reyith, but still untried. There is much for you to learn before you reach your full potential."
Reyith looked at him silently, and it was clear that she was unhappy. Finally, she spoke. "I will do my best," she said quietly, bowing her head.
Cael's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Something had changed in her demeanor. She acted comfortable and confident around him, but here, in front of Kellan… Suddenly, his mind provided an explanation. Cael was her equal, but Kellan was her alpha. He was dominant over her, and her instincts ordered her to be submissive. But to see the fire in her subdued like that…it made him uneasy.
By now, Cael had finished eating, and stood up. Kellan surveyed them both for a moment, then nodded. "It's time for the two of you to set out. I'll send out messengers every so often, to check on you. Good luck, and be safe." Moving to the side of his chair, he picked up the backpacks, handing one to each of them.
Reyith bowed, then silently began walking towards the door. Cael looked at Kellan for a moment longer, then followed Reyith out into the hall.
She stood just outside the door, and Cael almost collided with her.
"I despise these things," she said quietly, bringing one hand up to touch the stone suspended from the choker. "It may look attractive, and serve an important purpose, but I dislike the way they look. Anything else would suffice… Why this?"
Cael arched one eyebrow. It was the first time she had ever shown discontent. Hesitantly, he reached out, placing one hand on her shoulder. "It's all right. You're free now, remember? That thing doesn't mean anything. Don't let it get to you." It felt strange, consoling her like this, but he was still shaken up by her show of submission. He wanted to see the Reyith that he was accustomed to; the one that was full of confidence.
She gave him a tiny smile at these words, and nodded. "Yes. You are right." Turning, she headed for the door, pulling it open and stepping outside.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon, streaking the sky with a gentle wash of pink and gold. For a moment, Reyith stood perfectly still, drinking in the sight of the sunrise. But finally, she began heading down the walkway.
Trees lines either side, their branches dotted with bright green leaves. A tall gate stood at the end of the path, though it opened easily when Cael pushed on it. Outside lay a paved road, leading off through a forest in either direction. The house was located deep in the forest on the outskirts of a small city.
Cael paused for a moment, debating which way to go. If they followed the road to the left, it would take them to the city. But he wasn't sure what lay to the right. …which was the way Reyith was now heading.
"Hey, wait up!" Cael said, quickening his pace to catch up to her. "Do you know where you're going?" He didn't know how she would; if she had never been outside before, she wouldn't know the layout of the land.
But her eyes were fixed straight ahead, and her steps never faltered. "I do not. But this way seems as good as any."
That wasn't the answer he wanted to hear, but he didn't contradict her. After all, he was only here to protect her. This was really her journey.
"Once we get a fair distance away, we will stop for a while. Your transformation is complete; it is time to try and communicate with your partner."
He didn't bother asking what partner she was talking about; he already knew. He needed to find his weapon. For some reason, he was uneasy about this. So much could go wrong. What if he didn't have a weapon? What if it was one like Metsu, and wouldn't agree to materialize for him? What if…?
"Relax," Reyith told him, reaching out and brushing her hand lightly across his. "There is nothing to be afraid of. I assure you, there is a weapon waiting for you, one that you are destined to wield. All you must do is find it."
Easier said than done, he thought mutinously, still unconvinced. How exactly was he supposed to find it, anyway? When he had been introduced to Metsu, he had been pulled automatically into the spirit's world. But now… Experimentally, he closed his eyes, but all he could see was darkness. Of course. There was no way it would be that easy.
Noticing his actions, Reyith looked over at him, arching one eyebrow. "You will need to concentrate to find the spirit of your weapon," she told him. "It will be deep within your consciousness."
They walked for what felt like hours, though it was only midmorning by the time they stopped. Reyith moved off of the road and led him deep into the woods, finally coming to a stop in a small clearing. She sat down next to a tree, watching him expectantly.
Crossing the clearing, Cael sat down beside her. "I hope this works. I have no idea how to find the spirit."
"It is not as hard as you would think," Reyith told him, settling herself more comfortably in the shade. "All you must do is close your eyes. I will talk you through the rest."
Cael took a deep breath, then did as she asked, letting his eyes close. Once more, all he saw was darkness.
"Now, look deep inside yourself, and locate the well of energy that feeds your abilities."
His brow furrowed as he concentrated on doing as she said. Though he wasn't sure exactly where this energy might be, he knew that it existed somewhere. For a long time, he searched through the darkness, and finally, he stumbled upon a mass of glowing silver fire. That had to be it. He could feel power radiating from it. "I found it," he said at last, though he never opened his eyes.
"Very good. Now, immerse yourself in it. Let it flow through you, and become familiar with how it feels. Do not be afraid. Embrace it."
The energy flared up, wrapping itself around him. He felt a gentle warmth spread through his blood, and suddenly, his surroundings changed. Everything was black for a moment, and the next thing he knew, he was standing in front of a castle made of what looked like crystal. It was perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the sea. Cael could hear the waves crashing on the rocks below, and could smell the salt on the breeze.
A soft sound made him turn around, and he came face to face with the spirit of his weapon. The man was tall, with cerulean blue eyes, and shoulder-length blonde hair that was held back from his face by an intricate circlet of silver. In the center of the band was a sapphire. The man's dark eyes watched Cael calmly. You are the one that would seek to wield my powers? he asked, his voice deep and cultured. Like Metsu, his mouth moved, but the words were spoken directly into Cael's mind.
This man is royalty, Cael realized, examining the one in front of him more closely. He wore a silver tunic trimmed in black, over which light armor was fastened, as well as a pair of black pants and boots. Bringing his eyes back up to the man's face, Cael nodded. "I am."
The man arched one eyebrow. And what do you intend to do with the power that is given to you? Choose your answer carefully. If you choose wrong, I shall kill you. His voice left no doubt about the sincerity of his words.
Cael felt ice seep into his veins. He didn't know if it was possible for the spirit to carry out his threat, but it was something he didn't care to test. "I want to protect Reyith from harm. As it is, I'm not strong enough to help her if she gets into trouble. I need to be able to defend her, if she's ever in a battle that she can't win."
For a moment, the spirit stood perfectly still. But slowly, his hand moved downward, grasping the hilt of a sword that was strapped to his waist. The hilt was dark blue, and the dark grey guard was formed into a strange design that reminded Cael of bat wings. On the bottom was another set of attachments of a similar design, though these were jet black. The end of the hilt was formed into a curious fanlike shape, and was made of silver. The blade itself was also silver, save for four small black spikes at the base, and a black symbol that was etched into the blade close to the guard. Just above that was an oval-shaped sapphire.
As the blade slid smoothly out of its sheath, Cael noticed that the outside fringe was black, leaving a strip of pure silver down the center. All in all, it was one of the most complex swords he had ever seen, and also the most beautiful.
He stood frozen as the man stepped forward, the sword held loosely at his side. For some reason, Cael didn't feel fear, only a sense of detachment and curiosity. Idly, he wondered if he had given the wrong answer. It seemed like a good reason to him…
When he was only a couple of steps away, the man raised his sword…and placed the tip gently on Cael's shoulder. A knight protecting his queen. That is a noble cause indeed. However, you are young, and unfamiliar with the way of the sword. You will need to learn much, and work hard to gain my respect. I will allow you to call on my power in battle, but make no mistake. You and I are not equal yet. The man withdrew the sword and slid it back into the sheath. I am Kago (1). Remember my name, and your true purpose for wanting my power. Stray from this path, and my blade shall be turned against you. I will not suffer a selfish wielder.
With these words, his form began to shimmer, and before Cael could blink, he found himself back in the forest, with Reyith at his side. She was watching him intently, though she didn't speak for a long while.
"You were gone nearly an hour," she told him softly. "Can I assume that you found the spirit of your weapon?"
Cael nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, I found him. His name is Kago." He paused for a moment. "Where do the spirits come from? I think that he's some kind of noble."
The name startled Reyith. It was fitting for Cael's purposes, but the fact that the spirit had noble blood… "We have never discovered where the spirits derive from, or how they choose us. The weapons are formed from our energy, based on our specific needs. For me, I needed a weapon of destruction, and so Metsu chose me." A small smile appeared on her face. "For you, a weapon of protection appeared." The smile faded away, then. "But you must be careful. The spirits can sometimes be dangerous. If you do something to anger them, the consequences can be disastrous."
At this, Cael was surprised. So Kago wasn't the only temperamental one. But he had a feeling Reyith knew more than she was telling. He watched her silently, hoping she would continue.
"A few weeks ago, one of my sisters found the spirit of her weapon. But the spirit was bloodthirsty, and when my sister failed to give it the blood that it craved, it became angry. It shattered her mind, and eventually, she died."
"Kago isn't like that," Cael said quickly. "He did warn me, but I'm not going to forget the reason I asked for his power. That was what he said; he wouldn't tolerate a selfish wielder."
"Perhaps the two of you will be compatible partners," Reyith said, her voice thoughtful. "That is not always the case. Sometimes, a wielder and the spirit are at odds. This is rare, though. Like I said before, most often, a spirit will choose its wielder based on a quality they both share. For you and Kago, it is the desire to protect."
"He did tell me that I would have to earn his respect," Cael admitted, leaning back against the tree and closing his eyes for a moment.
Reyith stood up. "Shall we conduct a test?" she asked finally. "You should understand how to wield your weapon. I propose a short match, to test your capabilities."
This made Cael nervous. He remembered the way Reyith had handled Metsu, though he hadn't been able to completely follow her attack on the hoyu seishin. To have that power turned against him was frightening. But he pulled himself to his feet and nodded.
"Close your eyes, and locate the energy you discovered before. Draw it out, forcing it to assume a physical form. This form is your weapon."
Letting his eyes drift shut, Cael found the glowing ball of energy. This time, locating it was easy. Withdrawing it and forcing it into a physical form, however…that was hard. How exactly did one go about shaping something that couldn't be touched?
Finally, he pictured a thread of the energy extending outward, and gathering in his hand. For a moment, he thought he felt something solid press into his palm, but it quickly disappeared.
"Concentrate," Reyith whispered, moving closer to him. A silver mist had appeared around Cael's hand, glowing dimly. She could vaguely see the outline of a sword, but it couldn't form completely. "More energy is needed. Focus now, and materialize your weapon."
Cael's brow furrowed, and the mist surrounding his hand suddenly brightened, then condensed and lengthened. A moment later, the sword had fully formed. Opening his eyes, Cael looked down at it. "That's the same sword Kago had."
Reyith nodded. "Of course. The spirits have two forms. One is their true form, which dwells in their world. The other is their physical form, which you are now holding." Raising her hand, she allowed the ball of red energy to materialize, and it extended into the scythe that was her own weapon. "I do not think that Metsu will be necessary, but I would like to see what you are capable of." She lifted the scythe horizontally in front of her, the blade facing outward. "You need not worry. I will not push you beyond your limits. Just relax, and respond as your body tells you."
Without warning, she leapt forward, though her speed was greatly reduced. Swiftly, she brought Metsu down in a diagonal slash, starting at Cael's left shoulder.
Immediately, Cael brought up his sword, taking a step backwards to gain distance. There was a small shower of sparks as the black and silver blades collided, and Cael clenched his teeth. So much power… He could feel himself being forced backwards.
A moment later, the pressure eased as Reyith withdrew. "Impressive, for a first try," she said, nodding in approval. She didn't give him a chance to reply, however, moving forward in a second attack.
This time, when Cael brought Kago up to defend, no strike greeted him. Instead, he had a split second to see a wicked smile appear on Reyith's face, and she vanished.
A feint… But where did she go? Suddenly, Cael felt a breeze blow past him, and he spun around, catching the tip of the scythe with his blade as it descended.
Reyith blinked in surprise, but didn't pull back this time. "You knew where I would strike. Perhaps I underestimated you. But let us see if you can go a bit farther…" Lifting her left hand from the shaft of the scythe, she swiped it at his stomach, her fingers curled into claws.
Cael had needed both hands to block Reyith's attack, and he now found himself undefended against this new assault. For a moment, he considered dropping Kago and jumping back, but that thought was quickly thrown aside. If he did that, he would be hit with Metsu. Without thinking, he let go with his right hand, grabbing for Reyith's wrist.
The sword he still held in his left hand trembled, and began to lower. Reyith had the upper hand here; she was forcing him back again. But her second strike had failed; Cael now held her wrist securely.
It happened too quickly for him to see. There was a loud grinding as the blades slid across each other, another shower of sparks, and suddenly, he was on his back, gazing up at Reyith as she held herself above him on her knees. Kago lay a short distance away in the grass, and Metsu rested against Cael's throat.
"Round one, you lose," Reyith told him, watching him calmly. Though she had won, there was no trace of a victorious smile on her face, or any superiority in her tone. Letting Metsu fade away, she gave a sigh.
"I thought you said you would go easy on me?" Cael asked, flashing her a grin. He looked over at Kago, and the sword shimmered, then disappeared.
She shook her head. "I said that I would not push you past your limits. That is not the same as going easy on you." She leaned back slightly, letting her weight settle lightly against him, and seeming not to take any notice of their current positions. "I will admit, you surprised me. I did not expect you to be able to guard so well this soon after receiving your abilities. Perhaps you will not be as useless as I first feared." She wasn't smiling, but the amusement in her eyes made it clear that she was only teasing him.
"I'll make you proud of me," Cael said softly. "You'll see. I'll become stronger, and make sure nothing happens to you." He reached up, placing one hand on her waist. The other rose, and came to rest against the side of her face for the briefest moment before she suddenly pulled away, her eyes wide.
"D-do not misunderstand," she said, pulling herself to her feet and looking away. "I told you before, I do not require your help. I can look after myself. Worry more about your own safety."
Cael propped himself up on his elbows, looking closely at her. It almost looked like…she was blushing. "Why are you so against me protecting you?" he asked finally, sitting up. "It doesn't mean that you're weak." Standing, he moved over to her. Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he turned her head back towards him.
"I never said that I thought it made me weak. I just…" She sighed, then looked up at him. "I have always worked alone. Even though there are others like me, we never work together. It is what I know, what I am accustomed to."
Cael rubbed his thumb gently over Reyith's cheek. Inwardly, he was shocked. What was this feeling? He wanted to be as close to her as possible, to feel her against him. He found himself looking at her lips, wondering what they tasted like.
"That may be so, but if you don't give anyone a chance to get close to you, then how will you ever change your views?" His free hand came up to rest on her upper arm. "Don't worry. I can show you so many things, if you'll let me. You won't regret it." Where were these words coming from? It felt like someone else was saying them, and yet they wouldn't stop.
Once again, and to his dismay, Reyith pulled away. "I will consider your offer," she said. "Please wait for my answer."
He was tempted to ask how long he would have to wait, but refrained, not wanting to push his luck. Giving a soft sigh, he picked up his pack from underneath one of the trees. Shouldering it, he caught up with Reyith, and together, they headed back towards the road.
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(1)Kago- divine protection
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The feeling of someone shaking his shoulder pulled Cael out of a deep sleep. Slowly opening his eyes, he looked over to find the source of the shaking. Who could possibly be waking him up this early? There were no windows in the room, but he could tell that the sun hadn't yet risen. That was strange; he didn't recognize this room. Then, he remembered where he was.
"Wake up. Dawn is approaching." Reyith stood beside him, one hand rested on his shoulder. Upon seeing him open his eyes, she withdrew slightly, watching him. "Papa is waiting for us upstairs."
Cael noticed that she seemed to have been awake for a while. Though he usually awoke early, it took a little while before he was fully alert, and this was just too early. He groaned, but finally sat up. "All right, I'm awake."
Pulling himself out of the bed, he stretched, yawning. "You seem to be feeling better today," he noted, studying her. She wore her usual white and black outfit, and she looked more energetic now.
She nodded. "Yes; I only needed to rest. Your concern was unfounded. But…" A tiny smile flitted across her face for a moment, "…thank you for worrying."
Cael blinked, arching one eyebrow. This was strange. He hadn't expected her to actually thank him. If anything, he thought she would brush him off. Maybe she was beginning to warm up to him.
He pulled his shoes on, then straightened. "Let's go, then." Following Reyith out the door, his mind began to wander. What would the coming days be like? The thought filled him with a mix of both apprehension and excitement.
Reyith glanced back at him, arching one eyebrow. "You are looking forward to this." It wasn't a question. Her voice was slightly amused, and there was a faint smile on her face.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that. It's something new. I'm surprised that you're not more excited. After all, today, you'll get to see the outside world."
"I am excited," she replied, turning her attention back to the front. "I just conceal it better than you."
At this, Cael stopped walking for a moment. She was actually joking with him. What had gotten into her? She seemed almost like a different person this morning. He had been worried that she still felt too uncomfortable around him, but it seemed that he had nothing to fear. Still, he had to wonder, what had mellowed her out?
Reyith stopped at the top of the stairs, then turned to look at him. "Are you ready?" Her voice was calm enough, but Cael could see that her violet eyes were bright with excitement.
He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." For what, he didn't know. The words might have even been a lie. But as he had been told the day before, there was no going back now. All he could do was move forward, towards whatever waited for him. One thing could be said for him, though. He wasn't afraid.
The sound of the door opening drew his attention, and he saw that Reyith had already moved out into the hall. She moved quickly across the room, coming to a halt outside the double doors they had gone through the previous afternoon.
As soon as Cael joined her, she knocked on one of the doors, then opened it. Unsurprisingly, Kellan waited for them inside, sitting in the same chair as before. Two backpacks rested near the chair, and another tray of food had been placed on the table.
Kellan gestured to them. "Good morning. Please, come in. Breakfast has been prepared for you." His eyes were on Cael as he said this. It seemed Reyith had been telling the truth after all; she really didn't need to eat.
The two crossed the room, Cael sitting down in the chair that had been pulled up to the table, and Reyith standing just beside him. He started to offer her the chair, but a firm shake of her head stopped him before he could even get the words out.
"You will find everything you need in here," Kellan said finally, waving his hand at the packs. "Money, clothes, bandages, in case you are injured… I believe everything has been included." He stood up, pulling something out of his pocket. Moving over to Reyith, he reached up, brushing her hair back off of her shoulders. That done, he fastened a black metal choker around her neck. On it hung a blood red gem in the shape of a teardrop.
Reyith reached up to touch it, frowning slightly. Cael knew the reason why; even with the pendant attached, it looked too much like a collar. "This is similar to what you wear when you train," Kellan was saying, nodding to the choker. "It will relay signals back to me. Whenever you encounter a hoyu seishin, data will be collected. It will also let me know how you are progressing. You are strong, Reyith, but still untried. There is much for you to learn before you reach your full potential."
Reyith looked at him silently, and it was clear that she was unhappy. Finally, she spoke. "I will do my best," she said quietly, bowing her head.
Cael's eyes narrowed as he looked at her. Something had changed in her demeanor. She acted comfortable and confident around him, but here, in front of Kellan… Suddenly, his mind provided an explanation. Cael was her equal, but Kellan was her alpha. He was dominant over her, and her instincts ordered her to be submissive. But to see the fire in her subdued like that…it made him uneasy.
By now, Cael had finished eating, and stood up. Kellan surveyed them both for a moment, then nodded. "It's time for the two of you to set out. I'll send out messengers every so often, to check on you. Good luck, and be safe." Moving to the side of his chair, he picked up the backpacks, handing one to each of them.
Reyith bowed, then silently began walking towards the door. Cael looked at Kellan for a moment longer, then followed Reyith out into the hall.
She stood just outside the door, and Cael almost collided with her.
"I despise these things," she said quietly, bringing one hand up to touch the stone suspended from the choker. "It may look attractive, and serve an important purpose, but I dislike the way they look. Anything else would suffice… Why this?"
Cael arched one eyebrow. It was the first time she had ever shown discontent. Hesitantly, he reached out, placing one hand on her shoulder. "It's all right. You're free now, remember? That thing doesn't mean anything. Don't let it get to you." It felt strange, consoling her like this, but he was still shaken up by her show of submission. He wanted to see the Reyith that he was accustomed to; the one that was full of confidence.
She gave him a tiny smile at these words, and nodded. "Yes. You are right." Turning, she headed for the door, pulling it open and stepping outside.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon, streaking the sky with a gentle wash of pink and gold. For a moment, Reyith stood perfectly still, drinking in the sight of the sunrise. But finally, she began heading down the walkway.
Trees lines either side, their branches dotted with bright green leaves. A tall gate stood at the end of the path, though it opened easily when Cael pushed on it. Outside lay a paved road, leading off through a forest in either direction. The house was located deep in the forest on the outskirts of a small city.
Cael paused for a moment, debating which way to go. If they followed the road to the left, it would take them to the city. But he wasn't sure what lay to the right. …which was the way Reyith was now heading.
"Hey, wait up!" Cael said, quickening his pace to catch up to her. "Do you know where you're going?" He didn't know how she would; if she had never been outside before, she wouldn't know the layout of the land.
But her eyes were fixed straight ahead, and her steps never faltered. "I do not. But this way seems as good as any."
That wasn't the answer he wanted to hear, but he didn't contradict her. After all, he was only here to protect her. This was really her journey.
"Once we get a fair distance away, we will stop for a while. Your transformation is complete; it is time to try and communicate with your partner."
He didn't bother asking what partner she was talking about; he already knew. He needed to find his weapon. For some reason, he was uneasy about this. So much could go wrong. What if he didn't have a weapon? What if it was one like Metsu, and wouldn't agree to materialize for him? What if…?
"Relax," Reyith told him, reaching out and brushing her hand lightly across his. "There is nothing to be afraid of. I assure you, there is a weapon waiting for you, one that you are destined to wield. All you must do is find it."
Easier said than done, he thought mutinously, still unconvinced. How exactly was he supposed to find it, anyway? When he had been introduced to Metsu, he had been pulled automatically into the spirit's world. But now… Experimentally, he closed his eyes, but all he could see was darkness. Of course. There was no way it would be that easy.
Noticing his actions, Reyith looked over at him, arching one eyebrow. "You will need to concentrate to find the spirit of your weapon," she told him. "It will be deep within your consciousness."
They walked for what felt like hours, though it was only midmorning by the time they stopped. Reyith moved off of the road and led him deep into the woods, finally coming to a stop in a small clearing. She sat down next to a tree, watching him expectantly.
Crossing the clearing, Cael sat down beside her. "I hope this works. I have no idea how to find the spirit."
"It is not as hard as you would think," Reyith told him, settling herself more comfortably in the shade. "All you must do is close your eyes. I will talk you through the rest."
Cael took a deep breath, then did as she asked, letting his eyes close. Once more, all he saw was darkness.
"Now, look deep inside yourself, and locate the well of energy that feeds your abilities."
His brow furrowed as he concentrated on doing as she said. Though he wasn't sure exactly where this energy might be, he knew that it existed somewhere. For a long time, he searched through the darkness, and finally, he stumbled upon a mass of glowing silver fire. That had to be it. He could feel power radiating from it. "I found it," he said at last, though he never opened his eyes.
"Very good. Now, immerse yourself in it. Let it flow through you, and become familiar with how it feels. Do not be afraid. Embrace it."
The energy flared up, wrapping itself around him. He felt a gentle warmth spread through his blood, and suddenly, his surroundings changed. Everything was black for a moment, and the next thing he knew, he was standing in front of a castle made of what looked like crystal. It was perched on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the sea. Cael could hear the waves crashing on the rocks below, and could smell the salt on the breeze.
A soft sound made him turn around, and he came face to face with the spirit of his weapon. The man was tall, with cerulean blue eyes, and shoulder-length blonde hair that was held back from his face by an intricate circlet of silver. In the center of the band was a sapphire. The man's dark eyes watched Cael calmly. You are the one that would seek to wield my powers? he asked, his voice deep and cultured. Like Metsu, his mouth moved, but the words were spoken directly into Cael's mind.
This man is royalty, Cael realized, examining the one in front of him more closely. He wore a silver tunic trimmed in black, over which light armor was fastened, as well as a pair of black pants and boots. Bringing his eyes back up to the man's face, Cael nodded. "I am."
The man arched one eyebrow. And what do you intend to do with the power that is given to you? Choose your answer carefully. If you choose wrong, I shall kill you. His voice left no doubt about the sincerity of his words.
Cael felt ice seep into his veins. He didn't know if it was possible for the spirit to carry out his threat, but it was something he didn't care to test. "I want to protect Reyith from harm. As it is, I'm not strong enough to help her if she gets into trouble. I need to be able to defend her, if she's ever in a battle that she can't win."
For a moment, the spirit stood perfectly still. But slowly, his hand moved downward, grasping the hilt of a sword that was strapped to his waist. The hilt was dark blue, and the dark grey guard was formed into a strange design that reminded Cael of bat wings. On the bottom was another set of attachments of a similar design, though these were jet black. The end of the hilt was formed into a curious fanlike shape, and was made of silver. The blade itself was also silver, save for four small black spikes at the base, and a black symbol that was etched into the blade close to the guard. Just above that was an oval-shaped sapphire.
As the blade slid smoothly out of its sheath, Cael noticed that the outside fringe was black, leaving a strip of pure silver down the center. All in all, it was one of the most complex swords he had ever seen, and also the most beautiful.
He stood frozen as the man stepped forward, the sword held loosely at his side. For some reason, Cael didn't feel fear, only a sense of detachment and curiosity. Idly, he wondered if he had given the wrong answer. It seemed like a good reason to him…
When he was only a couple of steps away, the man raised his sword…and placed the tip gently on Cael's shoulder. A knight protecting his queen. That is a noble cause indeed. However, you are young, and unfamiliar with the way of the sword. You will need to learn much, and work hard to gain my respect. I will allow you to call on my power in battle, but make no mistake. You and I are not equal yet. The man withdrew the sword and slid it back into the sheath. I am Kago (1). Remember my name, and your true purpose for wanting my power. Stray from this path, and my blade shall be turned against you. I will not suffer a selfish wielder.
With these words, his form began to shimmer, and before Cael could blink, he found himself back in the forest, with Reyith at his side. She was watching him intently, though she didn't speak for a long while.
"You were gone nearly an hour," she told him softly. "Can I assume that you found the spirit of your weapon?"
Cael nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, I found him. His name is Kago." He paused for a moment. "Where do the spirits come from? I think that he's some kind of noble."
The name startled Reyith. It was fitting for Cael's purposes, but the fact that the spirit had noble blood… "We have never discovered where the spirits derive from, or how they choose us. The weapons are formed from our energy, based on our specific needs. For me, I needed a weapon of destruction, and so Metsu chose me." A small smile appeared on her face. "For you, a weapon of protection appeared." The smile faded away, then. "But you must be careful. The spirits can sometimes be dangerous. If you do something to anger them, the consequences can be disastrous."
At this, Cael was surprised. So Kago wasn't the only temperamental one. But he had a feeling Reyith knew more than she was telling. He watched her silently, hoping she would continue.
"A few weeks ago, one of my sisters found the spirit of her weapon. But the spirit was bloodthirsty, and when my sister failed to give it the blood that it craved, it became angry. It shattered her mind, and eventually, she died."
"Kago isn't like that," Cael said quickly. "He did warn me, but I'm not going to forget the reason I asked for his power. That was what he said; he wouldn't tolerate a selfish wielder."
"Perhaps the two of you will be compatible partners," Reyith said, her voice thoughtful. "That is not always the case. Sometimes, a wielder and the spirit are at odds. This is rare, though. Like I said before, most often, a spirit will choose its wielder based on a quality they both share. For you and Kago, it is the desire to protect."
"He did tell me that I would have to earn his respect," Cael admitted, leaning back against the tree and closing his eyes for a moment.
Reyith stood up. "Shall we conduct a test?" she asked finally. "You should understand how to wield your weapon. I propose a short match, to test your capabilities."
This made Cael nervous. He remembered the way Reyith had handled Metsu, though he hadn't been able to completely follow her attack on the hoyu seishin. To have that power turned against him was frightening. But he pulled himself to his feet and nodded.
"Close your eyes, and locate the energy you discovered before. Draw it out, forcing it to assume a physical form. This form is your weapon."
Letting his eyes drift shut, Cael found the glowing ball of energy. This time, locating it was easy. Withdrawing it and forcing it into a physical form, however…that was hard. How exactly did one go about shaping something that couldn't be touched?
Finally, he pictured a thread of the energy extending outward, and gathering in his hand. For a moment, he thought he felt something solid press into his palm, but it quickly disappeared.
"Concentrate," Reyith whispered, moving closer to him. A silver mist had appeared around Cael's hand, glowing dimly. She could vaguely see the outline of a sword, but it couldn't form completely. "More energy is needed. Focus now, and materialize your weapon."
Cael's brow furrowed, and the mist surrounding his hand suddenly brightened, then condensed and lengthened. A moment later, the sword had fully formed. Opening his eyes, Cael looked down at it. "That's the same sword Kago had."
Reyith nodded. "Of course. The spirits have two forms. One is their true form, which dwells in their world. The other is their physical form, which you are now holding." Raising her hand, she allowed the ball of red energy to materialize, and it extended into the scythe that was her own weapon. "I do not think that Metsu will be necessary, but I would like to see what you are capable of." She lifted the scythe horizontally in front of her, the blade facing outward. "You need not worry. I will not push you beyond your limits. Just relax, and respond as your body tells you."
Without warning, she leapt forward, though her speed was greatly reduced. Swiftly, she brought Metsu down in a diagonal slash, starting at Cael's left shoulder.
Immediately, Cael brought up his sword, taking a step backwards to gain distance. There was a small shower of sparks as the black and silver blades collided, and Cael clenched his teeth. So much power… He could feel himself being forced backwards.
A moment later, the pressure eased as Reyith withdrew. "Impressive, for a first try," she said, nodding in approval. She didn't give him a chance to reply, however, moving forward in a second attack.
This time, when Cael brought Kago up to defend, no strike greeted him. Instead, he had a split second to see a wicked smile appear on Reyith's face, and she vanished.
A feint… But where did she go? Suddenly, Cael felt a breeze blow past him, and he spun around, catching the tip of the scythe with his blade as it descended.
Reyith blinked in surprise, but didn't pull back this time. "You knew where I would strike. Perhaps I underestimated you. But let us see if you can go a bit farther…" Lifting her left hand from the shaft of the scythe, she swiped it at his stomach, her fingers curled into claws.
Cael had needed both hands to block Reyith's attack, and he now found himself undefended against this new assault. For a moment, he considered dropping Kago and jumping back, but that thought was quickly thrown aside. If he did that, he would be hit with Metsu. Without thinking, he let go with his right hand, grabbing for Reyith's wrist.
The sword he still held in his left hand trembled, and began to lower. Reyith had the upper hand here; she was forcing him back again. But her second strike had failed; Cael now held her wrist securely.
It happened too quickly for him to see. There was a loud grinding as the blades slid across each other, another shower of sparks, and suddenly, he was on his back, gazing up at Reyith as she held herself above him on her knees. Kago lay a short distance away in the grass, and Metsu rested against Cael's throat.
"Round one, you lose," Reyith told him, watching him calmly. Though she had won, there was no trace of a victorious smile on her face, or any superiority in her tone. Letting Metsu fade away, she gave a sigh.
"I thought you said you would go easy on me?" Cael asked, flashing her a grin. He looked over at Kago, and the sword shimmered, then disappeared.
She shook her head. "I said that I would not push you past your limits. That is not the same as going easy on you." She leaned back slightly, letting her weight settle lightly against him, and seeming not to take any notice of their current positions. "I will admit, you surprised me. I did not expect you to be able to guard so well this soon after receiving your abilities. Perhaps you will not be as useless as I first feared." She wasn't smiling, but the amusement in her eyes made it clear that she was only teasing him.
"I'll make you proud of me," Cael said softly. "You'll see. I'll become stronger, and make sure nothing happens to you." He reached up, placing one hand on her waist. The other rose, and came to rest against the side of her face for the briefest moment before she suddenly pulled away, her eyes wide.
"D-do not misunderstand," she said, pulling herself to her feet and looking away. "I told you before, I do not require your help. I can look after myself. Worry more about your own safety."
Cael propped himself up on his elbows, looking closely at her. It almost looked like…she was blushing. "Why are you so against me protecting you?" he asked finally, sitting up. "It doesn't mean that you're weak." Standing, he moved over to her. Taking her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he turned her head back towards him.
"I never said that I thought it made me weak. I just…" She sighed, then looked up at him. "I have always worked alone. Even though there are others like me, we never work together. It is what I know, what I am accustomed to."
Cael rubbed his thumb gently over Reyith's cheek. Inwardly, he was shocked. What was this feeling? He wanted to be as close to her as possible, to feel her against him. He found himself looking at her lips, wondering what they tasted like.
"That may be so, but if you don't give anyone a chance to get close to you, then how will you ever change your views?" His free hand came up to rest on her upper arm. "Don't worry. I can show you so many things, if you'll let me. You won't regret it." Where were these words coming from? It felt like someone else was saying them, and yet they wouldn't stop.
Once again, and to his dismay, Reyith pulled away. "I will consider your offer," she said. "Please wait for my answer."
He was tempted to ask how long he would have to wait, but refrained, not wanting to push his luck. Giving a soft sigh, he picked up his pack from underneath one of the trees. Shouldering it, he caught up with Reyith, and together, they headed back towards the road.
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(1)Kago- divine protection
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