Viewing Single Post From: Fortunate happenings

Viewing Single Post From: Fortunate happenings
Anastasia	Jun 14 2011, 02:52 AM
Posts: 84 Group: BattleWriters Member #6 Joined: Apr 24, 2011	Malek looked down at Len’s outstretch hand and quickly met it with his own in a friendly handshake. He smiled once again at the teen, spoke the name “Len” and nodded, signifying that he had committed the name to memory. Malek then flashed his right index finger and quietly spoke the words “one moment” to Len. He then turned around and called for his brother. “Ethan! The young newcomer has awoken!” Then in a softer more thoughtful voice, “Where have you wandered off to? I could have sworn you were just conversing with Aleksiol in the corner …” he said, more to himself than anyone else. An identical copy of Malek, but in different clothes, ran out from behind one of the houses to stand before Malek. “Heya, bro? What’s up?” the twin, Ethan, asked. “The newcomer has been roused from his slumber. I will look to have a meal prepared for him as he seems quite starved.” As Malek spoke, Ethan turned his head to look at Len. Malek continued to talk. “He goes by the name of ‘Len’.” “Ah,” Ethan said. He took a few steps towards Len, offered him a beaming smile with much more emotion than Malek had shown before, and repeated the exact same motions Malek had used earlier to introduce himself before mouthing out his own name. Malek coughed and before Len could respond Ethan had turned his attention back to his brother. “I called you here because I wanted you to summon Eknara. She has agreed to take on the responsibility of acclimating Len.” Ethan eyed Malek cautiously. “You know, Malek. You have been giving Eknara a lot of responsibilities lately. I think you’re over-working her. She won’t turn you down because she feels she owes you, and well us and everybody. But today was the first day she even stepped outside after her last failed attempt to go back to Aerillia. And already you’re laying weight on those poor shoulders that crumbled after her latest failure?” Ethan’s eyes had moved from his brother and was now seemingly eyeing something off in the distance. Malek’s eyes grew listless as he let his brother finish speaking. “It was by her insistence, only, that I appointed this task to her.” Ethan turned back to look at Malek with a hint of surprise. “Oh?” Malek nodded. “Well, she’s taking a bath … over at the ---” “I sure do hope you did not try to steal a peek like when ---” “Don’t even, Malek! I would never!” “You used to enjoy it a lot just a few years ago,” Malek said with a mischievous smile. “You know, Malek. I know you’re trying to say something, so just stop beating around the bush and come out and say it already!” Malek eyed Len, hoping he wasn’t frightened by Ethan having raised his voice. “You know, young Len here has the eyes of a Tragnix: Intelligent but wary of the first signs of trouble. It would be best if we did not scare him off by raising our voices.” Ethan set his jaw tight, sighed and offered Len a comforting smile then quickly turned back to his brother. “Please,” Malek asked. “Go summon Eknara. I can not stay with Len for long as I must meet with Fenix soon. And also,” he gave Ethan a concerned look. “I really do think that you need to ‘stop beating around the bush.’ Enough time has passed. I believe the fallen leaves of fate are finally being accepted. And with acceptance comes the inclination to make the best of what fate has dealt out. Do not think you are not good enough.” Malek then turned around to lead Len back into the house. Ethan’s feet remained firmly planted where they were as he tried to make sense of Malek’s cryptic message. A part of him knew what his twin brother meant. But the other part, forever cautious, doubtful and unwilling to yield, constantly fought for supremacy of Ethan’s convictions. The young man somberly shook his head before walking off to the small hot spring Eknara was at. Ethan heard the voice of Eknara as he neared her location. Although the ground was covered more by rocks than soil, still long-leafed deciduous trees flourished. Ethan found himself stopping and leaning languidly by a tree as soon as he could catch a few words. Just a few metres away from him, and out of view, Eknara was bathing in a little opening amongst the trees where warm water ran down from a nearby hill and pooled into a small basin just a few metres wide: It was perfect for one or a few people to bathe in. And Ethan knew she had come to the spot as much to relax as she did to cleanse. He meant it when he said he had no intention of peeking. He respected Eknara far too much for that. But even such a firm resolution, for some reason, did not prevent him from listening into her words. Eknara had her eyes closed and her body leaning by a huge boulder. She hummed inwardly at the relaxed state the water put her in. Aicatul was right to her side, laying down on that same boulder. “This is really, really nice. I almost don’t want to get up even though I should be heading back soon.” “Hmm,” Aicatul replied. “I really needed this. I love this spot. I ...” she opened her eyes to look up at the sky. A lone bird soared overhead. “Really hope I haven’t worried Ethan and Malek too much these last few days. I can’t ever repay them for all they’ve done for me. Especially Ethan.” Aicatul gently nudged Eknara. “I think we’ll be okay: Here.” Eknara’s eyes watered. “Yeah.” She clenched her eyes shut at an attempt to stifle an onslaught of tears once again getting the best of her. A single tear trickled down her right cheek instead. She was really stuck on Thracs. It had been about a year and she had tried everything she could and more to get back to Aerillia. Everything had failed. No matter who helped her. No matter what magics she studied and tried. Everything. “Although we miss Aerillia so much, it’s not too bad here with Ethan and the others. The Khaotics aren’t always easy to be around, but it’s home now. And it’s not a bad one at that.” A few seconds of silence passed as Eknara tried to stop dwelling on what she had lost and to continue in her new effort to settle with and accept what she had gained. “Hmm, Aicatul. I kinda wish you settled in a form that was a tad bit more aquatic right now. You’d love this water. I can’t imagine a more soothing activity.” “I can still feel what you feel though.” “Yes, but seriously. This will feel so much better. Let me just hold you up in it.” Aicatul climbed down her shoulder and let his human support his weight on both arms. His falcon body below his neck lay submerged in the soothing warm water. Having her body and the body of her daemon take relish in the hot spring waters helped relax and rejuvenate Eknara even more. Ethan, by this time, had found himself sitting down by the tree, with his legs stretched out before him. He smiled to himself faintly. He was relieved Eknara was finally really accepting Thracs. And this time it wasn’t mere words meant to put him and Malek at ease, but her actual feelings. No more would she stay up late nights trying one spell after another to cross back to Aerillia, thus exhausting herself in spirit, body and mind. No more would she disappear for long periods of time with no notice to try and conduct her attempts in secrecy. And no more would everyone try to help her out in broad daylight merely because of pity, or pretend to not notice just what lengths she was going to behind their backs. ’It’s about time, Eknara. I’ve never seen someone more determined than you or try as hard as you for so long. But I really think you’ll be happier now here. Now that you’re genuinely giving us a chance. I’ll make sure of it.’ He couldn’t help but feel relieved at this new realization. A few minutes later, he heard Eknara getting up from her bath. Ethan slowly got to his feet and pretended he was just walking towards them when she showed up right before his eyes. “Ah, there you are.” Eknara seemed at first surprised to see him but then embarrassed about something. Her eyes soon moved the floor between them. “Are you done and feeling all better now?” He asked. Eknara contemplated his question for a moment before offering him a sad smile. She finally looked him in the eyes. “Yeah. You really don’t have to worry so much about me, you know.” “Nonsense.” He walked up to her and offered her a warm pat on the back. “You’re family. Of course we worry.” Then he offered her that tender and encouraging smile of his that was just too powerful not to convince her the future can and will be bright. “How’s that boy, I found? Is he doing okay?” “Actually, that’s why I’m here. He’s up and seems to be doing well. Malek’s eating with him right now, but he asked me to come get you to look after him.” Eknara nodded. “Good.” “He says his name is Len, by the way.” “Hmm... Len, huh? I’ll remember that.” They were now walking back to town. Ethan eyed her closely, before deciding to broach the subject that had been bothering him for some time. “Did you really ask Malek to be put in charge of taking care of him?” Ethan eyed her, trying to read her reaction and tell if was being sincere in her response. She always had a few tell-tale signs if she was lying or hiding something. She nodded and sincerely responded. “Yeah. He seemed hurt really badly and confused. I thought I could help him more than whoever Malek or Fenix would put in charge of taking care of him. I’m much closer to his age, that’s for sure.” “Well, just checking. I know you tend to push yourself too far and accept more responsibilities than you should. And Malek doesn’t always see that as he keeps you quite busy. You have this crazy sense of obligation and keep acting like you owe us.” Eknara turned to look at him, but still kept up her pace. “How could I not?!” She was surprised by what he was saying. Of course she owes them. Ethan shook his head in disbelief and sighed, especially at the enthusiasm of her retort. She almost seemed mad to be told she was wrong. “Listen to me carefully when I say this. You don’t owe Malek, Fenix, me or anyone else anything. We have taken you in and helped you because we wanted to. Not because we expected you to pay us back. Malek sees that you are always willing. He knows you push yourself, but he figures it’s healthy and good for you. I don’t think he actually notices just how much you do push yourself in your services to the Khaotics and how unhealthy it might be. If you insist on being really active and following a similar path to Malek, so be it. But you better be doing it for yourself and because you actually want to. Not out of some naive and childish sense of obligation to us. If you insist on trying to repay us back in any way, it better be by making sure you take good care of yourself and not let all our efforts go to waste. You got me?” Eknara stopped in her tracks and stared at Ethan wide-eyed but repay all their goodwill. It was just how she was. “But I --” “I’m not asking you, young lady. I am telling you this. Why don’t you pretend I’m Malek for one instance and that I’m giving you an order as next in line to Khaotics leadership.” He said the last bit with a wry smile, but he was very serious about everything else he was saying, and Eknara knew this. “I’m not that much younger than you, you know. Please don’t call me ‘young lady.’ It feels weird coming from you.” Ethan smiled, offering no words in response. “But okay. I understand. I’ll try and not --” “No, not try.” He shook his head. Eknara was feeling the full brunt of Ethan’s order on her shoulders. She closed her eyes as going against her nature wasn’t easy. But if she was going to try and appease Ethan, she had no intention of being dishonest with him this time. She would make good on her word, but it would take a lot of conscious effort on her part to do so. “I’ll make sure to take better care of myself. I’ll ... say no sometimes if I have to. I promise.” “I’ll make sure you keep to that promise.” They continued walking again. “Personally though,” Ethan added. “I think you should join me in lazing around half the day. Stay away from all the politics and just enjoy the good life.” Eknara chuckled to herself. “You two are so different sometimes, it’s hard to believe you’re related.” “I got the good looks in the family, at least. Malek got the seriousness from our mother.” Ethan winked. “... you’re identical twins for goodness sakes!” “It doesn’t mean you can’t tell us apart though, does it?” “Well,” she thought to herself. She really didn’t have a hard time telling the them apart anymore at all. “I … I guess so.” They walked slowly back to Ethan and Malek’s house. Malek, initially irritated at how late Ethan was in getting back with Eknara, couldn’t help but smile at the sight of the two walking so close to each other as they casually chatted. “You sure took your time, Ethan.” Malek had been waiting by his front porch and had seen the two walk back from a distance. He did not miss their slow pace. “Yeah. Well …” Ethan shrugged. “Eknara, Len has eaten. I have him laying down, as he is still quite tired and his wounds need time to heal. He is wide awake, however, so he could use some company. I have a meeting with Fenix now. So I will leave you to it.” He turned to walk off but after taking two steps turned back around. “One more thing. Ethan, Aleksiol has been searching for you. He said something about you not wanting to miss what he wanted to show you. I have no clue as to what he could be referring to.” “You don’t say? Well, it’s about time. I’ll be off too then, Eknara.” Ethan offered a casual wave. Eknara offered a more stiff wave back. Both brothers sprinted off in two different directions, as Eknara walked into the house. She found Len inside and sitting up in bed as he played with a large globe. He was obviously intrigued by its magical properties.


Fortunate happenings · ROLEPLAYING