Sibling Rivalry

Winding my way up a particularly vertical trail, I found myself amidst a natural flowerbed atop a slight hill that oversaw the western section of our small settlement. Far be it from being the highest point in close proximity to the territory, nevertheless it had become a frequented spot of mine due to its solitude from the noise & bustle of the populace below that ever invaded my senses. Never wanting to turn the magical sensory enhancements off in case of ambush or early detection advantages; I chose spots like this to train in or contemplate things I deemed of importance without having to sacrifice my own safety.

The breach of the small hill was fenced around with crude metal bars and stoned foundations in a circular pattern, reminiscent of a courtyard a rich family might own in their front garden. At it's core there was a gnarled stump where once a mighty tree had extended, I had asked father about this tree before but was left with an unsatisfactory 'no idea' as a response. The bark was an ashy mix of black and white leading me to believe it had been dead for some time, the light and dark circles that swirled around the heartwood of the trees core numbered 532 each, leading me again to assume the tree to be just over half a millennium in age before it was culled.

See; my fathers family had only been ruling these lands for a few generations - before that the territory had belonged to another family of petty lords. The Hardent family; a highly influential dynasty dating back all the way to the advent of recorded history - only to have said dynasty crumble due to supposedly disgraced actions during wartime. Their crimes were so foul, it is said that their names and deeds would be wiped from any written recountings; so that they may be forgotten by the passages of time. My family can trace its ancestry back to the founding lord, Gerant the 'Iron Gate', a commoner who having finished first of his class at BrightWood academy with a slew of feats in combat & heroism; was granted titles and lands by the ancestral baron of old - and the rest as they say, is history.

Clutching the iron bars that circled the summit of this forgotten courtyard, I couldn't help but notice the funeral pyre that blazed off facing towards the western sheet of lands stretching out into the setting sun. The pyre was stacked tall and a gathering of people stood nearby to observe the ceremony of relinquishing the dead to whatever awaited them after. Cathy and the unborn baby still nestled within her cold and rigid corpse were inside that pyre I knew, but as to where they would go after the pyres turned to ashes I still had no inkling whatsoever; despite being resurrected myself I couldn't say with any degree of certainty that this was the norm for everyone else's case; maybe I was special, maybe none of this was real. Thoughts I'd treaded and retreaded more times than I'd care to admit to, less times than would give me an answer.

Sounds of lightly treaded footsteps came from behind and down the trail some, the person whose feet doth the noise originate was attempting to conceal their presence - under normal circumstances I would be alert and preparatory to such an individual, however I knew those footfalls anywhere. Without turning back to look, I merely carried on observing the funeral service and said;

"I hope you've wrapped up warmly Elise, it's going to be a cold one tonight." I couldn't help but smirk as she sighed loudly in frustration for having been caught yet again, it had become a little game of hers to see if she could sneak up on me without having noticing her approach. As a future prospect for the hunters guild, it was important for her to move deftly through whatever environments were to be her hunting grounds in order to not alert the prey she sought. She was good, but she wasn't so good that she could conceal herself to my ears.

"Omnipresent as always." She grumbled to herself, taking a pole in either hand to the side of me. Dressed in her hooded cadet robes, green and light grey cloths that were form fitting yet flexible to better aid in her duties as an archer - I couldn't help but take a quick peek at her ample chest that lay partly exposed through a crack in her robes. She had matured well since I'd first met her all those years ago in cadets, she was a couple years older than me now, her 18th would soon be arriving if memory served me well. As the eldest child of the River family; she would likely be sent off to some academy or institution or another to better her families standing. She wasn't exactly born to a lords lot; but her father was an influential merchant who had connections all across the country; thus her options in life were vastly more prosperous than most other commoners.

"It's a blessing as well as a curse, I assure you." I quipped back, staring into the fires as they danced and soared through the increasingly darkening twilight. Even from this distance I could hear as the embers crackled and popped, the woods consumption was as ravenous as the nights air bore deep chills into ones core. Accompanied with the pyre were the enjoining symphony of the onlookers as they wept for or reminisced about the departed, Cathy had many friends here after all and she would be greatly missed by them. Myself however, I didn't know her much. I was; more or less still am - preoccupied with my studies to pay too much attention to the inhabitants of this small hamlet. Save for Elise, out of everyone here she has been the most interesting to engage with.

"Shouldn't you be down there? You're the one who brought that animal to justice after all, I'm sure your presence would be more than a comforting sight for those grieving." Elise Suggested, letting down her hood to better take in the nights air. Her hair was a mahogany brown that rolled and roiled down to the small of her back, her eyes were a vivid green that had really caught my attention the first time our gazes met, her cheeks dotted ever so slightly with freckles and with a kind and gentle smile betwixt.

"I've never been too fond of all the attention, besides it's nice and peaceful up here - and at any rate, I wanted to waste a little time before returning home, family meals aren't particularly familial in the Gate household." Which was an understatement to say the least.

"Is your half brother still giving you trouble?" Elise asked gently, it was an open secret that we two didn't exactly see eye to eye on practically anything.

"Yeah, Sidius has it in his mind that I've been sabotaging his training time out in the yard, saying that I deliberately notched his training blade so that it would shatter when he used it, or that I damaged his training dummies beyond repair, or that I misplaced his spell books, on and on the accusations go. It's exhausting, and what's more is that father won't resolve it for us, he says it should be up to us two to set aside these disputes with words - I'm more than willing to come to an understanding but Sidius won't hear a word of it unless I admit to the things I categorically did not do." Whilst I had all the level headedness of a man far older than my meager 16 years of age might indicate; my half brother, born to a woman that was not my own mother - was perhaps more immature than his own 18 years of age might suggest.

Older than me by 2 years, he was born to my fathers first wife; Sandra, and thus is expected to take over the family after the old man passes away. However; due to my proficiencies and talents that I have honed over the years, there are many in the hamlet who refer to me as the true heir to the manor; much to my older brothers chagrin. Though the commoners would never say it to his face; behind closed doors I've heard tell that his nickname has become Sidius 'Half Hawk', a cruel play on words utilizing our houses sigil and the concept that he's half the man I am - thus; half of a hawk.

"I'm sure if you approach him the right way, he will have to see your side of the story some day, you just have to keep trying. You've always been far too measured for a boy so young; I'm sure with enough patience you can reach him. Honestly sometimes it's hard to remember how young you truly are, even for me. And I've known you since you were a scrawny little boy!" She offered thoughtfully at first, but ever the joker she seemingly couldn't help herself add in a little quip at the end there.

"Hey, you're only a couple years older than me you know?" I smiled wryly in return.

"Women mature sooner than men, or so mother tells me. And if you had to choose who is more mature between me and your half brother; who would you pick?" She asked with a smug, knowing look.

"Alright, you've got me there." I conceded with a laugh, her own laughter mixed with mine as we enjoyed the moment together. Being with her here as the remnants of day soon turned to night, I felt a sort of tension in the air that I hadn't ever felt before. Looking over to her she quickly averted her gaze and found the contents of the fields below extremely interesting all of a sudden. Her cheeks pinked by the cold in spite of my warnings for her to bundle up; I lifted her hood back up for her to try and keep her warm.

"Hey!" She exclaimed in mock protest.

"Your cheeks are flushed, I told you it was gonna be a cold one tonight." I offered a cocky smile, however her face only seemed to redden further. "Oh! It's getting worse, maybe you need to go inside and warm up?" I offered with genuine concern - however Elise merely hit my arm in response.

"Idiot!" She turned to leave but then stopped right before the edge of the stump. "You promised to train me to use wind aspect, remember? Be here tomorrow morning or I'm going to be very cross with you!" And with that final huff she departed into the night. Was it me, or had her heart rate increased? Strange girl... But yes, I do remember. She had been pestering me for weeks to finally train her to utilize the same weapon enchantment I had used to imbue my sword with. The aspect of wind wasn't just a melee focused enhancement, its uses could easily be applied to ranged forms of combat - and in fact could prove even more useful with arrows. In theory, the wind element could both be utilized in amplifying the penetration of the arrows head; as well as increasing the projectiles velocity traveling through the air. A potent combination, if my musings were possible that is.

Well, perhaps it was about time to retire home for the night. Food should be about ready to serve, and I wouldn't want to make any of them wait up on me. Except for maybe Sidius, but I shook such silly thoughts from my head. I may have a 16 year olds body, but I really ought to act my mental age when dealing with him. Sighing I began my journey down the dirt paved path back into civilization and back towards the white manor in the distance atop a gentle hill, illuminated by torchlight. The place where I lay my head to rest every night and the seat of my families ancestral home; Varden manor - nexus point to my families provincial Varden hamlet.

Opening the large oak doors I breached the interior of my families house, revealing the stately hall that stretched out and upwards into a grand staircase that led to the upper floors, below and beyond the stairs were various doors leading to separate parts of the ground floor; such as the dining room, kitchen, banquet hall and so on. On the first floor were where our bedrooms, entertainment room & fathers study resided - as well as several unused rooms and another much smaller set of stairs that lead to the attic / balcony section of the house that held my favorite room; the library. I say library, it was more of storage depot for all of the boxes that had been left there by the previous tenants that I had modeled into a library when first discovering the room as a child - inside of those boxes rested many items of interest; but the ones that always piqued my fancy the most were those bounded by leather.

Fore inside those blessed books were the very foundations required for an individual to learn magic, before that day I had just assumed this new world was but a simple technologically regressed timeline of earth; how wrong I was. Each book was legible to me in a way that I could only describe as innate; the same way a baby knows how to breath without needing to be taught - I knew how to decipher books and translate them into functioning magic spells. I remember being caught by the maids at first, and then by the midwife; they had been shocked beyond words seeing a year old child cast what I later learned to be mid level clairvoyance - a spell that allowed me to perceive things from an ethereal set of eyes that I had conjured from reading the tome.

My parents doubted them at first, because of course they would; I hear tell that most mages are only capable of casting spells around the time when they hit puberty; but that conviction soon changed when I flooded the basement when testing out a water spell. If it weren't for my daily exercises and coordination control enough to clamber out of that makeshift bathroom tub of a basement in time; I dare say that mishap could have taken a nasty turn. It was then that I started to be a little more cautious with magic and be a bit more thoughtful to the consequences of my actions. At any rate; it's difficult to argue that you don't have a magic baby when your cellar floods in the middle of a particularly dry summer; with the aforementioned magic baby being the only individual close to the crime scene.

From then onwards I was treated with a little bit of reverence by the hamlets inhabitants as the word soon spread of my proficiencies in the arcane arts - father, who had been ecstatic with the revelation had taken to fashioning the attic into a library for me; or at least provided me with the bookshelves and cabinets required to organize the room itself. Capable of speech as young as 2, I would order the butlers and even the household guards into organizing the books into their respective categories - needing my help to know which books were which due to my apparently unique ability to decipher them by their covers. I down played my linguistic abilities at first; because I knew it would be strange to hear a baby speaking in such refined and specific language at so young an age; finding it lesser in arousing suspicion to simply point and grunt, or speak in one word responses and rely on body language to get the message across.

Closing the doors behind me, the man I would refer to as 'father' in this world strut through the dining room door to greet me, a smile growing on his face the moment he saw me. He was a stout and tall man with neat and trimmed white hair with a wild and unruly bush of a mustache, which I always thought was a funny sight to see. He wore a grey suit with a red shirt and looked like a mafioso boss; with his golden pocket watch and blackened neck chain - the latter item being of a match to my own. I heard it referred to as Titan Steel; due to its high durability and supposed unique magical properties - of which I was still clueless to despite my endless studies in search of the answer.

"And here he is; man of the hour!" My dad practically beamed with pride. "Gate clan; assemble!!" My dads voice almost bellowed out as he called up towards the first floor. Following his call I soon heard the sounds of the opening and closing of doors, my mother and my second mother were the first to descend side by side with one another. My mother wore a simple floral dress with a fine straw hat that had a snow white feather enjoined into the headpiece, her smile was glued to her face as she all but ran down the stairs to hug me, smiling I embraced her too. My mother had passed away at a young age in my previous life, so this was therapeutic to me in some odd sense.

"And my how brave you must have been!" My second mother, dressed in a black and red sundress & what I could only describe as a French barrette, began kissing my face in a flurry of blows the second my own mother released her grip on me - planting wet and slopping kisses that marked me with her lipstick outlines all across my face. Grimacing as an embarrassed child might do all the while, causing my family to laugh at the silliness of it all. My second mother had always been a little quirky, and she had never been shy of expressing herself.

"And how is my little hero fairing? Oh I suppose you must know that you're the talk of the town by now!" My mother practically soared with pride. "The town is glad to be rid of a low life such as him, I'm only saddened that it didn't happen sooner, elsewise Cathy might still be with us." To which I couldn't have agreed more, we knew he was a bad egg but didn't throw him from the coop until he had festered and fouled the otherwise healthy innocents that could have been saved.

"Lady Anne" My second mother addressed my biological mother. "The poor boy has only just set foot through the door, shall we wait for after tea to discuss such... Escapades, shall we say?" My second mother spoke diplomatically, never the one to discuss such 'manly topics' as she put it. The **** and nature of conflict were the domains of man in her eyes and would always curdle her stomach, inevitably leading to a swift changing of topics whenever things got too graphic.

"As you say, Lady Veronica." My mother ceded to her, as was expected of a second wife. Veronica was my fathers first wife after all; but despite all of that she was considerate towards my mother and never abused her authority over her or me. Back on Earth a first wife might grow jealous of subsequent wives joining the fold; but for Veronica she followed her duties principally and fairly, for these reasons she held my respect.

"And Arthur, how many times must I remind you to comb through that unsightly bush you call a mustache? What example are you setting for the children?" Veronica turned on my father next, although with much less kindness inflected in her tone. The topic of fathers unkemptness was, like my feuds with Sidius, an age old topic with seemingly no end in sight.

"A damn fine one, I should hope! What other man leads two buxom women to bed every night? I'm a god damn role model for men and boys across the land!" My father burst out laughing at his own stupid joke

"Any more of that talk and the only bitches you'll be sleeping with are the ones that stand on four legs!" My Mother joined in and I had to allow her a small chuckle at her antics. Father joined in but bellowed even louder than he had at his own joke, so loud in fact that it could practically be heard throughout the entire house and probably some distance outside as well.

Then, as if to signal the end of the fun times, the bang of a door closing particularly forcefully rang out across the halls. Down the stairs slinked my adversarial half brother; Sidius Gate in all his doom and gloom. Like his own mother he had a penchant for the darker colors, especially black which was his current favorite attire, and that which he wore presently. Obsessed with the Titan Steel chains that father had us wear; he wore his around his neck, as buttons keeping his suit shirt patched together, as a belt, as cufflinks and at one particularly exacerbating event; even as shoe laces. Father had told him to give it a rest after that point; sometimes less is more.

Like myself and father; Sidius bore the white hair of our families signature look, but unlike myself he wielded the red eyes of his mother; making him sometimes look like a rabbit in the right light, although I would never say that aloud - he had troubles enough with the 'half hawk' nickname as it is already without adding that particular observation to the derogation.

"Dearest brother, back from maiming the populace are we? How would they ever do without you." Sidius offered in a condescending tone intent on downplaying my accomplishments; which was par for the course with him I found.

"If you think you could do better; I would love to see you try your hand at actually doing something of benefit for his household for a change, oh brother of mine." I quipped back, Sidius merely rolled his eyes as he passed me and made way for the dining room.

"You don't send the king to toil the peasants fields, now come and eat, unless of course you mean to make us wait even longer to enjoy this meal than you already have." Laughing at his deflective cadence I nevertheless came to join him and the rest of my family who had also followed him into the room, evidently eager for the feast. The dining room table had been lined from end to end with the kitchen staffs platings - a bountiful serving of various home grown dishes; served from ingredients sourced from the local farmers fields, animal pens and forest hunts.

Venison, beef, pork, lamb, parsnips, carrots, potatoes, leeks and other various onions. The table was as lordly as could be expected for the age we lived in; the food was a little unrefined but certainly a great deal up from what I expect the commoners were sitting down to right about now.

Father took his seat at the head of the table as was his custom as our families patriarch, my mother sitting on the one side and my second mother to the other, then there was my brother who had taken to the other end of the table for his self declared seat - no doubt choosing such a position because it mimics fathers view as head of the household; never mind that if the head is called the head, then the polar end of the table would be called the bottom. Such unfavorable double meanings had evaded my brother it seems, as he appeared to be more than content with his seating.

Taking my usual spot besides mother we sat down as a family, as we had done for most nights before, the atmosphere had always remained the same which was usually silence save for our younger twos endless bickering - a sound I'd of thought would grow tiresome before long, but father had made no move to intermediate between us; and our respective mothers were also told not to intervene. I figured father wants us to talk it out like men, learn how to negotiate on our own without others stepping in to do it for us. I agree with the sentiment; but when your verbal sparring partner is Sidius - forget about it, it's like convincing a mouse not to eat cheese.

"So Sidius, I hear you've been making leaps and bounds over at the final year of cadets." My father broached with a smile, a fork in each hand as he all but shoveled morsels of food into his mouth. He'd always had uncouth tableside manners, I'd almost mentioned it the one time but chose perhaps the better advised option of ignoring it instead. I'd only seen the old man angry once before, and even as an adult myself I had pause for concern for that poor emissary who had delivered the ill received message.

"Yes well, it was only par for the course father - I must say that the lessons have been getting more and more rudimentary as the years have gone on. I'm yearning for a bit more excitement I must admit, something a little more challenging to overcome. Beating a ramshackle bundled of splinters with an equally dulled sword is growing tearfully droll, wouldn't you agree Ed?" Sidius asked me, fork and knife thrusted into a particularly grisly piece of beef.

"I'm in no hurry to run off into some battlefield, I'm plenty content with the books left unread upstairs to be itching for too much excitement." I took a sip of my water.

"Ahh dearest kin, you won't find the answers to life written down on some dusty old parchment - no no no, you'll only learn for yourself at the end of a sword amidst the passions of battle." My brother waxed on poetically, as a soon to be 18 year old he was to be sent off to BrightWood himself in a few weeks - he just had to await the instructors visit to be tested, if he passed the test then he would be sent off post haste to the countries Capital, the instructor couldn't arrive fast enough if my own opinion was asked.

"I'll take your word for it big brother, after all I have never known combat." I quipped back sarcastically, Sidius frowned at the comment as the uncomfortable silence resumed.

"I have friends over at BrightWood, men that I have served with in our kings ranks; be sure to impress the Gate spirit onto them plentifully - as my first son it is of utmost importance that you set the standard for young Edward here!" My father tried his best at brightening Sidius' demeanor - probably because days like these were about to come to an end. I almost felt sorry for the old man, he was just trying to amend things and get us to act brotherly towards each other for a change - but I don't know if that will ever happen. Having his ego stroked, Sidius smirked and looked over to me as he spoke.

"Not to worry father, by the time he arrives, all of BrightWood will have heard of the Gate name. Edward can feel free to ride my coattails if things get too tough for him on his own, that is if he doesn't continue to disrupt my training time." Sidius shot back, giving me a sideways look as he ate.

"Now now Sidius, we've been over this, Edward didn't-" Veronica tried to correct her own son, however father hushed her before she could finish her sentence. Like the dutiful housewife that she is, she listened to her husband despite her reservations.

"I actually find it quite funny, I wonder who you'll blame at BrightWood whilst I'm not around to scapegoat?" I laughed earnestly picturing a scenario in my head. "When your sword breaks again, will you blame it on your little brother who is across the country from you? What do you think your class mates will think of you, using pathetic excuses to explain away your own mistakes?" I should have left it at that, but like an idiot I kept on going. "Is that the kind of impression you want to depart on the academy? That the Gate family are full of faultless whiners?" Finishing I could see Sidius had reddened noticeably from my scathing tirade of his character.

Standing up from his seat abruptly, Sidius sent his seat crashing back behind him close to the fireplace that burned gently; for a while our eyes were locked into a staring match, with the old sounds that could be heard was the crackling of the flames behind him that cast ominous shadows across his face. I'd rarely seen him this angry before, and now I was starting to regret my choice of words. I should be the one trying to find common ground and connect with him; not cause yet more conflict...

"You and me, outside on the yard. Blunted swords, no magic." And with that he marched out of the dining room, slamming the door loudly as he did so. Turning to my parents as if for permission I was greeted with faces even more surprised than mine. Anne and Veronica were looking to each other and then my dad; however Arthur held his look on mine, it was a dark look that was there for a moment but quickly disappeared. Had I even noticed it? Could it have been a trick of the light? What was the old man so worried about?

"He has issued a non lethal duel, as a lords son it would be of great personal disgrace to refuse it; even against your own brother... In ordinary circumstances I would be ecstatic with the two of you sparring together - but a duel issued under anger is no thing to get excited for, especially as a father." He pinched the bridge of his nose as he seemingly fought off a migraine from this whole upset. "If you refuse his offer I will be disappointed in you, but I would also understand not wanting to strike a relative. It's up to you son and I can't make this decision for you, speak to him beforehand and perhaps you can get him to rescind the duel, otherwise I think it would be in your best interests to uphold your honor as a warrior, and as a lords son - even if your opponent is your own brother." My mothers attempted to argue him out of his position but I could tell by the look in the old mans eye that he was serious, and he wasn't going to budge on this issue. Sighing I nodded.

"Very well, I didn't ask for this; but if he leaves me **** then I will have to abide to his terms. I will try to convince him to drop the duel first, although I cannot promise anything." Turning to leave I stopped for a moment as my mothers began to call for my name, tears now flowing from both of their eyes as they made to follow me outside, urging me to stop all of this. "Sorry Veronica, Anne. It'll all be better once it's over, just trust in me." I don't know if I was lying for their sake or mine at this point. Solemnly I left towards the courtyard where my brother was pacing through the yard in his blackened visage, a sword in either hand. Both of my mothers and father had followed me out into the yard, to stand as observers to our duel and in fathers case; to step in if things got too out of control. Anne and Veronica had calmed down a little now, although I could still feel their hopeful gazes boring a hole through the back of my head.

"There you are, I was beginning to think you'd chicken out." Sidius seethed, throwing one of his blunted swords to me which I grabbed gracefully out of the air. Running a finger down the length of its edge, I was satisfied that I couldn't maim him with this on accident, I looked back up to face him.

"We needn't come to blows Sidius, it was my mistake to overstep our verbal bouts. What say we return to the dining room and move past this transgression of mine?" I asked with both hands rested on my swords pommel, the blade stuck through the earth in a non aggressive stance, Anne and Veronica looked up hopefully, betting on my apologetic demeanor to do the trick in making Sidius finally see sense. Fathers look was much more grim and tortured however, like he was being haunted by some fleeting memory from his youth.

"Would that I could, Ed, but how many more of your oversteps must I endure? It seems to me that if my words cannot reach you - my blows just might. Now ready yourself, the time for talk is beyond us." With that he got in a low stance that the cadets had taught us - his sword close to the ground Sidius made towards me. Sighing I turned off all of my enhancements and assumed the counter stance, circling around one another we tested the waters first - neither one of us wanting to jump in and make the first move.

Every time he switched his stance, I would find a more advantageous counter, every time he made to switch up his footing I would space him into a position that was more favorable to me. Finally growing frustrated from my distancing maneuvers - Sidius swung out his sword in a short arch towards my midsection; which I blocked deftly with the body of the blade. Back to the dance we were, however without the reliance of my sense enhancements I didn't timely enough to the block of discarded wood that nearly tripped me up - sensing an opening, Sidius went toswing in a downwards facing arc just above my head, whilst unusually sluggish for me on account for the loss of my enhancement; still I managed to fend off the blow with a parry that only lead Sidius into a counter riposte.

Whilst still reeling from the last attack and hardly back on my feet, Sidius never ceased his relentless blows - sensing his opponent was made **** by a misstep on terrain; he went in for the kill so to speak; every blow however I managed to deflect despite the growing difficulty. The bloodlust was flowing through my half brother by now, and his eagerness to land a blow combined with my seemingly helpless position crouched below him; he didn't notice the vulnerability of his exposed midsection when he went for a particularly over extended swipe of his sword. Taking the initiative I shoved him backwards with my free arm and created enough space for me to stand back on my feet.

Both of us were starting to breath a little heavier now after that onslaught, however I knew that neither of us were ready to call it quits just yet. Charging at me now I could see the fury in Sidius' eyes, he was growing ever more frustrated at only ever hitting steel. Ducking I dodged a particularly nasty right handed slash, followed up by rolling out of the way of a followed up downwards thrust that I managed to redirect mid-roll. Then in his anger he jumped to me and pinned me into a duel of sword strikes; he on the giving end and myself on the receiving. Every slash of our blades drew sparks in the air, our eyes locked onto the other as time began to slow down - the noise of battle and of everything being gradually drowned out until all I could hear was a deafening silence that rang through my ears.

Emotions and feelings filled me from seemingly out of nowhere, as our blades struck against the others in silent roars that vibrated through the air - it was as if our thoughts were as one. I could feel the jealousy, the resentment, the hatred, the inadequacies, the pain, the humiliation, the suffering. With every swipe and every block, his blade communicated to me everything he was feeling. Sidius' eyes welled with tears as he slashed and swiped into me, I could feel the frustration and the anger pouring off of him like a burst vessel soaking me with his contempt.

Soon the world around us turned to white, and all that was left was our twos joining of blows, his mouth was open and I knew that he must be screaming in rage; but I couldn't hear a sound - nothing other than the silence that had turned into a relentless ringing in my ear. Block after block I sent his blade scurrying off to the side, his stance and his footing had both grown tired by now and I knew that I could easily land hard blows onto him if I wanted to. However I had promised myself before this fight had even began that I wouldn't hurt him, I would only fend him off and tire him out so that I didn't knock his sense of self worth - however now having experienced his true feelings, I couldn't help but also feel pity for him. It was involuntary, but now added on; I didn't want to hurt him more than he already felt.

That thought was proceeded by a heavy slash that sent me reeling backwards slightly, and with the sensation of reeling backwards I found that the world had turned back to color - however we were no longer in the family courtyard; but instead at the summit of favorite spot, amidst the iron bars that circled us with a stumped tree at its nexus. Turning around I could hardly believe what had just happened; we had been teleported? And looking around it wasn't just me; but our parents as well who seemed just as shocked. They seemed to be trying to get to us, but a magical barrier circled the stump and wouldn't let them pass through.

Hearing the scuffing of feet I turned back narrowly in time to dodge several slashes of my brothers sword - feeling the weight of his blows now I could sense the magic enhancements swell through his blade, and although blunted I knew that with the right **** and the right angle - Sidius' blows could kill me. Eyes widening I tried to activate my own enhancements but found I was unable to; as if my magic was being negated by some alien **** above my knowing.

Feeling in mortal danger now, a parried his blow to the side and then riposted my blade towards his grip - blunting the edge of his fingertips and causing him to drop his sword instinctually - however the response did nothing to slow down his aggression, as I ducked a haymaker of a swing that sent Sidius himself rolling to the floor. Trying to pick himself up I followed up on the opportunity by sending a stomped foot to his face that, despite his enhanced strength, sent him tumbling to the ground yet again.

Just as I was about to pounce on him yet again, he held up his arms to protect his face; and through the narrowest gap in his arms our eyes met once again. But instead of hatred, anger or aggression - all I saw this time was fear. And that look was all it took to stay my hand. Instead of punching him or swinging at him, I dropped my sword to the floor with hot tears that I hadn't even felt streaming down my face, and extender my hand towards him. I knew it, that in this instant Sidius could see reason. I could feel it from the look in his eyes, he had changed from the berserk beast from moments ago. I knew it.

Looking away from me, Sidius with his own tear streaked cheeks raised his forearm to his face so that I couldn't see him cry, and in that instant the barrier dropped and my parents came tumbling into the inner circle. Relief washed over me as I watched the dome dissipate into thin air, it was like a weight had been lifted from my chest seeing my parents picking themselves to come over and join us. I felt in that moment that everything was going to get better, that we had finally reached one another.

Taking my hand Sidius reluctantly picked himself up off of the floor with his eyes cast towards the floor - he made a motion to hug me, however just distracted by his free hand I hadn't noticed the upwards slash of his obscured hand until it was too late. I felt a cold sharpness to my face, followed by a trickling warmth. Reeling backwards I fell onto my backside and clutched at the source of agony I felt screaming from my left eye.

"Sidius!! What have you done?!" I felt my father bellow out in rage, followed by the sound of his fist connecting with my brothers face, and then the sound of a body hitting the floor. I could only see a little out of my right eye, but found the left to be completely useless. My mother rushed to my side as she fluttered over the wound.

"We need cloth, bandages! He's going to bleed out Arthur! What do we do?!" My mother screamed frantically.

"We need to get him back to the manor, the surgeon will see to his wounds there." No sooner than father had said that, I heard the sounds of footsteps breach the summit of the hill, I couldn't see them but I could hear their gasps as they must have laid eyes on me.

"Lord Gate! What has happened here?!" One of the guards I assumed asked, however my father wasn't interested in answering questions at this moment.

"Carry Edward indoors, hurry! We have little time to spare!" Himself lifting the **** Sidius onto his shoulder, I made due by being supported down the dirt trail by one of the guards, lifting a coarse cloth to my face that had been thrust into my hands at some point during the journey and pressing it into my open wound. The slash had sunk deep I knew, but it was the feralness to which it was struck however that was the most concerning to me at this moment. That bastard really meant to blind me in that moment, and from the feel of things he just might have done. I was surprised at how held together I was, I felt light headed from the blood loss and besides myself in pain from the wound; but still I stood barely assisted by the guards and was managing to walk myself back to the manor despite my injuries.

I wasn't sure when it had happened, but suddenly I found myself being seated in the dining room where voices were shouting about around me; mainly my father who was issuing commands like an over caffeinated drill Sargent. My head was throbbing at this point and the sharp pain was soon replaced with a dull ache. From my one good eye I focused around the room, oddly settling in on my brothers plate; all vegetables and no meat. Why had he only eaten his meat? I asked myself, although I was unsure why the answer was at all concerning given the circumstance. Why had he not touched his vegetables? Had he been allergic, was he saving them for last, did he just not like them? I had no answer. It was then that I asked myself perhaps the most important question of the night; had I known Sidius at all? I thought I did, especially when our blades collided into one another's; I thought I understood him then... How could I have misstepped this critically?

"...He'll have to lose his left eye." Zoning back into the conversation, I looked over to the physician who had been talking to my father while I had been off staring into space. Hearing the words for the first time, I couldn't help but feel an odd smile crawl to my lips, and then a weak laugh. Those in the room looked over at me, it must have been the first time I'd made a sound since the incident itself. Me? Lose an eye? I was only a kid god damn it!.. No, I wasn't. I corrected myself; I am a man in a teenagers body. What is this self pity I feel right now? Is that how a man handles his buisness? No.

"My son isn't losing his fucking eye!" My father scruffed the physician by the neck of his shirt and trembled with anger, lifting him slightly off of the ground.

"W-with all due respect lord Gate, eye wounds are notorious for their inability to heal - and at any rate; the eye has been severed from the optical nerve. There's n-nothing that can be done at this stage except for amputation - if left to sit, the severed eye will grow rancid and cause infections. Needless t-to say, an infection so close to the brain would be catastrophic for his long term chances of survival. The eye MUST come out, my lord." The physician quivered as my father held him suspended in the air, his teeth gritted tightly together, and just as my father was about to respond; I cut him off.

"Let him operate on me dad, it's only one eye. I can make due." I tried my best at sounding in charge of the situation, my father looked at me and appeared to be struggling with some inner tug of war, until eventually he gave in and sighed.

"Very well son, if it is your decision then I will honor it." Releasing his grip he allowed the surgeon to take me away into a separate room. Looking around I saw my distraught mother being hugged close by Veronica who looked equally as crestfallen. Smiling at her I mouthed to her that it was going to be alright, despite all the while feeling like this was happening to somebody else. Leading me out of the dining room and into one of the spare bedrooms; the guards rushed around me to get the surgeons equipment into place.

"You're awfully brave for your age, I commend you and your parents for the strong will and constitution they have gifted you with." The surgeon sat me down onto a metal platform and raised to the height of my bed that lay parallel. "I'm going to cast an anesthetic curse onto you now, it will be painless for you while I extract the eye, and don't worry; you're in more than capable hands." The surgeon assured. Breathing to calm my nerves I nodded gently my consent. Laying back onto the platform I felt the surgeons hands hovering slightly above my chest, followed by a soft chanting out of his incantations for his curse - and then nothing. The world came tumbling under and the vision around the corners of my eyes turned to black as I all but ceased to exist.