#a-rdere

there he was. bruised, marred, left to dream if simply for a moment. clive wasted no time on mannerisms, he dashed with reckless abandon. weary knees crashed at joshua's side, whilst loving arms cradled his head protectively, instinctively — desperately fearing the worst.

❝ are you alright, joshua?! ❞ his voice called out in anguish, each word warned to crack. if fate were to be so kind, clive would swear 'pon its benevolence that no harm would ever dare to befall his beloved brother ever again.

15 : sunshine or rain?

hidden deep within its tapestry dressed walls , rosalith castle kept many rooms concealed out of sight ; forgotten by each passing generation , some even brought to ruin due to time's unforgiving touch . when storms brewed & the skies darkened with fervent ardour , clive & joshua escaped together to the confines of a concealed ceiling . they were not deterred by webs nor its critters for the first shield of rosaria kept its firebird well protected . the vast expanse allowed them to lay down & stare skywards into beautiful sights . high above , nestled into the towering ceiling's stretching space , a glass window peered into the outside world . cascading rain gently tapped into its clear form & under its reckless abandon they shared tales , laughed together & watched as the stormy sky unravelled in its own fury . rain holds a special meaning to clive , it is a time where he can reflect to happier days & hope for a better tomorrow in where he , joshua , & many others can too enjoy the rain like they used to .

17 : cake or pie?

certainly pie . cake was highly unlikely to be distributed to those originating from nobility. although belonging to nobility himself , due to anabella's disdain towards his failure on attaining the phoenix's blessing , clive was often fed alongside other militia . foot soldiers often received rations due to their ease of transportation & logistics , hence why pie became an all time favourite because it was pie he delighted on having during celebration time . of course he did not show his delight , but deep inside it made his teenage years all the better . clive still order pie once in awhile from the tub & crown over at the hideaway.

❛ well , i hardly serve as a fitting example . ❜ he expressed himself quietly in light of joshua's praise . people often perceived perfection in others through their feats , their acts of heroism even , when they themselves served as the very foundation allowing such divine miracles to transpire ; clive approached his loved one & leaned 'pon one of many wood railings in the hideaway , reminiscing on their past together & joshua's constant turmoil on feeling as if his value were lesser.

they have always been on equal terms he'd have liked to believe but . . . not anymore , such a verdict had certainly been buried in the past . joshua had grown into a fine man , one whose lofty ideals carried hope & burdens perhaps far too heavy for his benevolent shoulders at times. ❛ listen to me , joshua , ❜ our outlaw's sharp yet weary gaze burrowed into the phoenix's image , never growing tired of his mesmerizing countenance.

@a-rdere

Oh, how far Joshua had come from being that frail, uncertain child that fate had foisted such a heavy burden onto. Elwin wasn't sure which he was more proud over: how his youngest son had found his inner strength to persevere, or that his heart still retained its kindness and compassion despite the hardships he had endured.

Either way, it was indisputable that the father's own heart did indeed swell with pride to see him.

One thing Elwin had never had the opportunity to witness, however, was the full extent of Joshua's fighting prowess -- for the boy had been frail back then, powerful as his magic was. His mother had refused to allow him to train in combat beyond that which was necessary for defending himself, and the former Archduke had not, at that time, been able to make a compelling enough appeal to her for why her protectiveness was more hindrance than boon.

That and maybe, in some small way, he too had wanted to protect Joshua from the flames of war, at least for as long as he was able to.

But that was in the past. Now the boy was a grown man, able to freely make his own decisions, and he was ready to show his father what he was capable of.

Elwin raised his weapon in preparation. It was merely a training sword, but it would work just fine for their little spar. "Good," he laughed, and it was probably the closest he'd come to his old lighthearted laugh in such a painfully long time. In turn, the corners of his mouth upturned into a small smile, while a glint of excitement -- and that same pride for Joshua -- could be glimpsed within steel blue eyes.