“What's happening?" He asked but Master Elacce just shook his head and turned back to the open door. Kicit followed, noticing that night had descended shrouding the tavern in a pale darkness only illuminated by the dull hue of the moonlight and crackling fires through the windows, the tables and chairs standing empty. The two rushed out the door and into the crisp air of the night. “Master?" Kicit followed up.
“There's something going on here, I overheard some conversation among the townsfolk and they did not take kindly to our presence."
“Something against Beasts?" Kicit asked, rushing to keep up. Master Elacce responded with a click and Kicit glanced back to the tavern. “But what about that inn worker, the Vulpine? Shouldn't we do something for her?"
“Forget her. We have our own mission to accomplish." Master Elacce said as they pushed through the empty streets and towards the eastern road.
“And just what is it!" Kicit called back, his voice perhaps more harsh than it should have been. But Kicit was annoyed that he was rocked from the best sleep he'd had in weeks only to be pushed out into the cold. Immediately Master Elacce turned on his talons and clamped his Apprentice's beak shut. “Quiet!" The intense invasion of his space aside, Kicit pulled back, forcing his beak out of Master Elacce's talons. His eyes cocked to one side but Master Elacce did not stand down and instead returned to their swift escape.
As they went Kicit's growing sense of unease became palpable. There seemed to be eyes watching him behind closed doors, an imperceivable omnipresent whisper grew in his head. No longer was it the Esurians themselves telling him he didn't belong but his own inner voice. It whispered that he needed to escape, that they needed to flee lest they wake up with a blade through the heart. Kicit's pace quickened ahead of his Master's as they weaved through the buildings. That is, until they were stopped by exactly what he feared.
“Well 'ook at this." The snide voice carried over the small group of Esurians. They had been collected together at the edge of town around a small flame, the stench of beer and smoke wafted on the air. Tobias cocked his head back and his eye raised with a smug, sinister edge. “If I 'idn't know any better, I'd say they knew they don't belong." A few others coalesced around him and Kicit retreated back behind Master Elacce who stood like stone. Tobias wrapped his hand around the club at his waist and the other eyes bore into the two Avians. Silence stung the air and Tobias scoffed at the non-response from Master Elacce.
“Must'a been you huh? The other bird? What gives you the right to attack defenseless Esurians." He switched his glare to Kicit. “Don't matter if your pet helped free 'em. Did ya really think you'd jus' jump town after?" A sneer grew under the words. Master Elacce still did not respond, instead his narrow eyes focused on the Esurians as a whole, watching for any slight movement. Kicit kept moving between focusing on his Master or the Esurians, he felt oddly left out, like they were having a battle of wits in pure silence.
“Hey, ya hear us you animals?" Another one of them called, breaking the stillness that had descended among them. Tobias turned to the younger heckler in a show of solidarity with him and Master Elacce took this chance. He spoke a canto and swiftly drew a release in the air in front of him. At once the very air around Kicit grew heavy, like they were immediately submerged in the Ocean. For a moment his own legs struggled to hold himself up and as he worked to keep balance the Esurians across from him immediately fell to their knees, fully immobilized by Master Elacce's Release.
“Come!" Master Elacce called and tiptoed around the held in place Esurians but as they just cleared them a thwang flew right between them as a bolt from the crossbow nearly shot through Kicit. He froze, right as the bolt broke through the air and embedded itself into a building behind them followed by a terse curse from one of the Esurians. “Move!" Elacce yelled and turned just in time to push his Apprentice to the ground in order to avoid another bolt that had been let loose from another trapped Esurian.
Kicit blinked a few times before registering he had been pushed to the ground. Then around them the heavy air began to dissipate. Master Elacce's will had been distracted he had to do something! A canto! He had to start a Release. But which one? Suddenly his mind flooded with his knowledge of the different releases he knew but nothing came forward. Nothing presented itself as possible, even though any one of them would have opened the path in one way or another. “Kicit!" Master Elacce called. But as he did Tobias had maneuvered just enough to grab hold of the Masters legs and he pulled with all his might to topple the Corvid. Master Elacce wrestled with the attacker clawing at what he could as Tobias pulled and yanked at every possible opening, tearing Master Elacce's pack from him.
Seeing his Master's struggle with Tobias forced Kicit into a decision, he began a Canto. Then with a few swishes of his talons his Release was complete. All at once the thinning air that surrounded them swirled like a cyclone, pulling the Esurians into the center but leaving Kicit and Master Elacce unharmed. But the moment it did a thousand needles stabbed into Kicit's body and he threw back his head in pain. It radiated from within, forcing Kicit's legs to buckle.
Tobias tried to keep his hands latched tightly onto his prize as he smashed into two others in the center of the small whirlwind. While Master Elacce righted himself and rushed over to his Apprentice's aid and helped him up as the small torrent died down. Knowing that this was the best chance they had, Master Elacce plucked his pack from Tobias, quickly fixed it to himself and drew out his massive wings. With a single flap of his black wings the Avian shot into the air, shortly followed by Kicit and the two disappeared into the darkness while a dazed Tobias cowered behind.
***
The two raced away from Carran's Rest, flying headfirst into the inky blackness only barely illuminated by the moons. Kicit kept looking towards his Master but his gaze was fixed forward and did not waiver. It was not until the inklings of the sun started to peak over the horizon that Master Elacce dove for the land. Kicit followed and finally had a chance to catch his breath and address the pain that had been radiating within him. A burning ache built in his chest, he'd skimped on his flying recently but even a skilled Avian flyer was limited in how far they could go. But that was not the pain he was worried about, instead his head throbbed and sharp spasms hit with every beat of his heart. He still felt the imaginary needles digging into his skin when Master Elacce noticed.
“How bad is it?" Master Elacce asked and Kicit flexed his muscles to test them, clicking his beak when he was done.
“I would have liked to land earlier." He replied and Master Elacce shook his head.
“The Release Kicit, how do you feel?"
“Oh. Well…" he said trailing off.
“It wasn't contained enough, it was too much for too little. I'm surprised that you had that reaction to a simple Elemental Wind Release." The condemnation hurt more than the actual pain and for a moment Kicit felt a flourish of anger. He'd conjured a miniature windstorm and that's the only thing he could say? But it was true, his Master was right, he had not prepared correctly for the Release and in turn made its effects more intense than if he had.
“Why didn't you use what we have been working on?" Master Elacce asked. Kicit looked away. “I wasn't sure if I could pull it off in time, especially with you in trouble like you were."
“Well then, what would you have done if you could?" He asked back and Kicit pondered.
“I really don't think it was the place to do a combination, a simple Release worked and anything further would have caused more pain to the caster." Kicit answered and Master Elacce clicked his beak.
“Very good Kicit, can't even get you with trick questions anymore." He chuckled, and odd sound from his beak. “Combinations are incredibly powerful Releases but always come with a greater cost. If you use one, be prepared to experience the negative effects." Kicit nodded and looked to the ground, the image of the bolt flying past his head still stuck in his mind. Nothing else in all his training had ever come close to that point, digging into his skull. Its image was more intense than the pain that still boiled in his muscles or the condemnation from his Master. Master Elacce drew in a deep breath noticing the empty gaze.
“Lets continue on foot."
***
“Having someone take an attempt at your life, it isn't something that can be conveyed by words. I saw that bolt. I saw how close it got to you." Master Elacce's voice broke Kicit from his focus dead ahead and he looked towards the old Avian. The sun had risen and the morning was bright, but Master Elacce's eyes had fallen and his voice held a low coo, cautious but firm. He didn't respond and instead let Master Elacce continue, who seemed to select his words carefully before meeting Kicit's eyes. “You did well though, righted yourself and got a Release off before they had a chance to do anything further. That's what matters, not freezing and taking action in the face of that fear." Kicit did not respond, still watching the bolt play back in his head as silence fell over them again. “It's imperative that when someone stands against you there be no hesitation. Hesitation kills many more than weapons and can lead to much much worse."
“Like what?" Kicit asked. Elacce drew in a deep breath, moving his gaze to sky.
“Think back to our history, the history of all Avians." Kicit, now intrigued, turned his head fully to Master Elacce, one name above all in his mind.
“Master Riyew?" He asked and Master Elacce clicked his beak, searching through his head for the right words to say.
“Our Progenitor." He paused before carefully pressing forward. “Her hesitation led to the loss of many and her inaction caused more than just fractures in the earliest days of Beasts." His voice had grown soft, dimming to but a whisper. But Kicit couldn't believe it, what Master Elacce was saying was close to heresy! He loudly clicked his beak twice in protest.
“But Riyew was a Master! Her command of..of-" Kicit grappled with trying to find an adequate word to describe their heroic Progenitor- “everything, exceeds anything we know today! She led the Beast's Body after Adium, progressed our understanding of Spiritual Light releases, she set the world on its current path!" He couldn't even imagine Master Riyew failing at anything. Her status and the stories that followed her life were nothing short of legendary. Even whispers of her controlling the sun itself still passed from beak to beak. He remembered singing psalms to her and praying to her when he was young. Even still finding himself asking for her guidance and taking solace in silent prayer with her. But Master Elacce patted his Apprentice's shoulder.
“And do you think the world is a fair, just place?" He returned to which Kicit didn't have an answer. Even the idea of speaking Master Riyew's name among such bad thoughts had conjured a strong reaction in the pit of his stomach, like he were being attacked. It swirled like a fire and forced him to speak out in pure emotion instead of his regular composed self. He noticed that his feathers had ruffled and chest rose and fell like he'd just gathered for a fight. But instead Master Elacce just watched his young apprentice, waiting for an answer to his question. Kicit finally reigned in his emotional outburst and calmed his nerves.
“No. I just mean, she was just more… More wise and skilled than even you, I can't imagine her…" He trailed off trying to think of what sort of things Master Elacce knew about their Progenitor that he didn't.
“Even Masters make mistakes." He said, filling in the silence. “It's imperative that you never forget that, surround yourself with people who challenge your thoughts, who push you to grow, regardless of your knowledge or power." These words didn't feel like a normal lesson, almost personal in a way with a hint of sadness etched on their edges.
“Like you Master?" Kicit offered and Master Elacce clicked his beak.
***
“Master, why haven't you recommended me for the Order?" The words ended up coming out without Kicit screening them in his head and he surprised himself at the outburst. The question seemed to throw Master Elacce off as he didn't immediately shut it down and instead answered with a strange silence. Kicit, sensing an opportunity, pushed his luck further. “I mean, did you really mean it? Ilmari said that I was better than many instructors at Rusia and I can only assume you had told him that." Master Elacce opened his beak slightly before shutting it again, almost imperceptibly to Kicit.
“I told him of some of your accomplishments, his words were his own." He said.
“And just what did you tell him?"
Master Elacce snapped his beak twice and held out his right talons, his voice sinking. “What are you getting at Kicit?"
“Nothing, I just-" the words stopped in his throat. “I know I can cast circles around any of my friends." At that Master Elacce grew silent, so much so that Kicit worried he angered him. “Master?" He asked but the Corvid drew in a deep breath.
“Your classmates, they've entered the Order and taken new Apprentices?"
“I think. I only had a few brief discussion with them before we left but they were vague." Kicit answered, forgetting about his Release form practice. Master Elacce clicked his beak twice.
“So you don't even know? And on top of that, are you taking issue with my teaching?" Immediately Kicit wished to pull back the words. Of course he didn't think Master Elacce's training had been lacking in any way. “Entering the Order and taking on an Apprentice is a great responsibility and not one taken lightly. An Apprentice is wholly in your care and tutelage, forcing you to make decisions over yourself." His gaze turned back to Kicit. “Do you feel you can do that?"
A surge of excitement grew in Kicit, never before had his Master even entertained the idea of him finally selecting an Apprentice he hurriedly snapped his beak. “Yes of course."
Master Elacce's eye dug into him and the excitement waned before he spoke. “Because I don't think so. You're a great Caster Kicit, but there is still more for me to teach." The finality of the words were so that Kicit felt he shouldn't even broach the subject more than he had and he dropped it. But then Master Elacce glanced back towards the road and stopped his trudge forward.
“I think that's enough for a bit of a rest." He said reaching for his pack. Released, Kicit sat on a low rock and did the same, reaching into his own for the tightly wrapped package of food nestled at the very bottom. He unraveled it to reveal several thin bricks of dried wheat, oats and other kinds of cereal held together in a dense bar with honey and fat. Kicit pulled one apart from his stack, rewrapped the rest and stuffed it back in his pack. Then he broke off smaller pieces with his talons, careful not to let his breakfast crumble, and popped them back with a satisfying crunch of his beak.
'No no no!" The words felt alien coming from Master Elacce's beak and Kicit quickly looked up from his food. Master Elacce furiously dug through his pack, throwing his books and affects all over the ground in a vain effort to find something.
“Master?" Kicit carefully asked, unsure of how to approach. Rarely was his Master ever flustered and seeing him dig through his pack like a starving wild feral after morsels of meat was off putting. Then in the silence, Master Elacce's eyes snapped to Kicit and he narrowed in on his Apprentice.
“Where is it?" He demanded. His storyteller-like voice lost in a mangle of tense tones. All Kicit could do was click his own beak twice, bewildered at the question as a few moments of silence passed. “The book Kicit, what did you do with the book!" Realization dawned.
“The Esurian tome? You told me not to carry it, last time I tried at least." Master Elacce's face immediately turned cold and he tore his attention from Kicit back down the road.
“You did not pick it up? Didn't take it for safekeeping?" He questioned and Kicit clicked his beak twice in response. A few mumbles left Master Elacce's beak, too quiet for Kicit to hear and his talons tensed as he stared back at the road. “He must have pulled it from my pack during the commotion." He finally mumbled, just loud enough for Kicit to understand.
“Are you sure you didn't leave it back at the inn? I mean you have a habit of-"
“I would not leave it like that." Master Elacce interjected, cutting Kicit off. He shrunk down. This was not normal, not in the slightest. Only when Kicit had broken the very core rules had his temper flared and not even to this degree. The old Avian's voice turned grave as his thoughts raced. “How many days has it been since we landed at Rusia." He asked and Kicit counted the nights, three times just to make sure and not anger his Master more.
“Five I think?" He answered.
“You think or do you know?"
“Five nights since we landed." He reiterated and once again Master Elacce turned quiet, a tense uneasy quiet that drove Kicit to shrink more. His master turned towards him and stared much longer than he should have. Thoughts raced through the Master's brain, Kicit could see it in his eyes when suddenly he snatched up all of the effects that had been scattered on the ground.
“We're already late. We must be swift." He barked and began to walk again, still in the direction of the City of Atheson.
“If it's that important, can't we go back?" Kicit asked, maybe pressing his luck a bit but Master Elacce did not respond and quickened his pace away from Carran's Rest.
No comments yet. Be the first!