Warriors of the People

Inside it was warmly lit with candles here and there, a fire burning from a little firepit in the center, surrounded by little cushions and a pot hung over it. Iekazu approach the woman kneeling over the pot, stirring what could only be supper. “Mother…” came the call from the young boy, quiet but firm.

The boy’s mother, who’s hair was almost a whitish-gold in the glow of the fire, like his own, turned her auburn eyes to him. She tilted her head as she hummed, “Yes, Iekazu-sweetie?” She responded, pausing in her attention of the soup.

The young boy shuffled where he stood and glanced towards the door that led out into the night, where rainfall had started to hit the ground. “Tsuchi isn’t back…” He muttered quietly, rubbing one of his arms, the worry evident in his mannerisms.

The older woman sighed as she turned her body to him, still kneeling as she looked to him with a smile. “I am sure she is alright. She is your sister after, a proud member of the Kaneuchi family.” She hummed, reaching over to gently pull him into her arms to hug him tightly. “However, if you are so worried, perhaps you should go look for her? I am sure she just lost track of the time.” She grinned, petting his head, careful of his nearly fully-grown horns.

Iekazu blinked at her, wonderment in his little amber eyes before he nodded, grinning widely. “Yeah, I’ll go get her, then we all can have supper.” He slipped from her grasp and sprinted out the door, leaving her there to gently chuckle at her son. She turned back to her soup to stir, awaiting both of her children’s return.

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Iekazu wiped the rain from his brow, looking through the woods as he called his sister’s name. He was not the little boy he once was. This was a full-grown man at the height of six foot, worry and a sense of panic encompassing his entire being. He ran through the trees of Doma, careful of any wildlife that may be hidden behind its massive shadows.

A flash of light erupted behind him, far beyond the cover of tree trunks. Screams filled the air, of pain, of sorrow, of fear. Fear gripped his heart as he continued his sprint, trying to keep his voice quiet but also shouting so as to find his sister. “Tsuchi!!” He cried, looking around frantically for the red tint of her hair. He opened his mouth once more, the start of a cry on his lips “Tsu-” But it was cut short, pain blossoming in his side.

The sound had been so deafening he had nearly missed it, looking down to his hip, finding blood welling through his blue yukata. He turned his head behind him, seeing the tell-tale armor of the Imperial army, feeling an even greater sense of panic. He held onto his now burning bullet wound, running, haphazardly making his through the trees and brush.

He eventually found a little hovel to hide in, a hollowed-out hole in the cliff side, nearly disguised by the shadows the fell over it. He slid inside, doing his best to fit his large, bulky frame through the tiny crevice. He held his breath as he heard the shouts of the Imperials on his tail, closing his eyes tightly, praying to the gods for his safety.

Soon, the soldiers passed, leaving his alone in his little hidey hole. After a moment or so, he finally pulled himself out, falling to his hands and knees, coating himself in the mud. He laid his forehead in it, gritting his teeth, both in pain and the sudden anguish of what was happening around him. His hands balled into fits, slamming one solidly into the muddy ground.

He wanted to scream, so bad, but he knew he couldn’t, not now, not while the Imperials could still be close by. So instead, he cried, he cried silent tears, streaming down his face into the mud, his body drenched in the cold rain. He felt like he was curled up there for an eternity, but pulled himself up, looking to the sky through the canopy.

An arm raised, wiping at his face to rid himself of his tears, coating bits of mud upon his cheeks. There was a fierce look of determination in his eyes, a set frown to his lips. No, he can’t wallow in his grief, he had to survive, for his father, his mother. All the people who sacrificed their lives to get him and his sister out. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, and his heart.

“Hey! Mister Warrior!” came a voice, causing Vaco’a to slow to a stop, letting out a small breath of aspiration. He should have expected this, considering his notoriety in the settlement. He turned his eyes behind him to see one of the Doman children, who rushed up to him with a jump to their step. He smiled sincerely, as anyone should when a child approached them.

“Ah, yes?” He asked, voice low so as to not bother Aeterna to much as she was slumped a little bit against Solstice’s neck. She had turned her head to look to him and the child, watching. That only made him more nervous, letting out a soft, almost inaudible chuckle.

“Where did you come from? Was it that snowy place? What did you see? Were you on a mission?” And there came the wellspring of questions, ever the curious ones he found the children of Doma. He grinned a bit before kneel down, as he towered just a bit over the smaller stature of the child.

“I did, Coerthas, remember the name, it might be of value to you when you too become an adventurer.” He told the young boy, who only grinned to him on the answer, eagerly awaiting the rest from the hopeful gleam in his eyes. “I was not on a mission, I am however am on one now, one I should be completely.” He reached up to tussle the young man’s hair with his gloved hand. “Perhaps when I finish, I will come back to tell you more.” He chuckled before he stood back up to his full height.

The smile upon the boy’s face looked like it would nearly split his face, how overjoyed he was at hearing that. He nearly jumped on his feet as he rushed off, waving back to him and Aeterna. “You promised! I’ll be waiting!” He called as he went back to his gaggle of friends, other children from Doma. Vaco’a frowned just a bit, he wondered just how different… and difficult it was to live here, compared to their home.

He shook his head, it was not something to think about at this moment, he had a task to complete. He had told Aeterna that she would be safe in the Scions’ care, and he would make good on that promise. He smiled to Aeterna as she smiled back to him, finally dropping her silence when the child had been there. “I hadn’t realized you were good with kids.”

Vaco’a let out a bit of nervous laughter at that, turning back towards the road to head down the paved path, towards the aetheryte. “Ah, well it is somethin you sort of learn when they approach you so often.” He muttered, a small blush of embarrassment on his cheeks. It wasn’t long before they made it to settlement’s center, finding their way before some doors which, from the sounds of the laughter and what could only be men shouts, could only be a tavern of some kind.

Vaco’a reach up his arms to help Aeterna down from Solstice’s back, the smaller girl stumbling a bit against his chest as she was still unsteady upon her feet. He held her a moment in his arms, making sure she was steady. At least, that’s what he told himself as he held her, feeling both a sense of warm from her in his arms and a chill from the sensations. It was strange, he almost felt like she was made to fit so perfectly there, right in his arms.

A small shake of his head, he let out a soft cough, moving his hands to her arms, to keep her steady before he let go. He gave her a smile, hoping the small dusting of pink went unnoticed upon his cheeks. “Apologies, I should have made sure you had your footin.” He grinned before he held his hand out to her, for her to take. She had her head turned towards the ground, one hand gently rubbing her other arm in a slow fashion. Had he made her nervous?

He sighed internally, he always managed to do that. Regardless, she took his hand after a time, allowing him to lead her into the tavern before them. He held open the door for her to enter before he took her past all the rowdy adventurers in the room. There was a door in the back, that was his target, he just hoped he could make it before –

“Oh ‘ey, all, tha Warrior!” Came the shout, one of a man with an accent, and clearly drunk from the sounds of it. Vaco’a couldn’t help but sigh, he knew he should have changed his garb before coming here. This armor of his was too recognizable. He turned to the other adventurer who approached him and Aeterna.

It was a big Roegadyn, dark in skin tone, a seawolf, as they were wont to be called. The man’s dark hair made it a bit hard to see the deep green eyes that flitted to Aeterna a moment, who held onto Vaco’a’s arm as she hid a bit behind him. Vaco’a only grinned, as he should, when approached as he was by the rowdy adventurer. “Ah, hello.” He greeted with a small wave, trying to keep the man’s attention off of Aeterna.

“Now, I didn’t think tha Warrior of Light was one to pick up dames. Ye sly dog.” He chortled, letting out a peal of laughter in his drunken state, waving an arm to his comrades at the bar. They all waved him off, obviously more content to stay seated and enjoy their drinks. Vaco’a considered it a mercy that they stayed put. This man however, only reached over to give Vaco’a’s shoulder, the one not being held by Aeterna, a powerful smack.

Thankfully, Vaco’a had steeled himself for such treatment, keeping his feet on the ground and not moving much as it jostled him a little bit. He rotated his shoulder a bit to get a bit of feeling back into it. These Roegadyns, always putting more power into their swings than they aught should. “Well, don’t let me keep ye. Enjoy ye night.” The Roegadyn grinned, tipping his head to Aeterna as he turned back to his pack of hooligans at the bar.

Vaco’a breathed out a sigh, halfway of irritation and relief. He grinned a bit nervously to Aeterna and guided her towards the door that was set in the back of the room. Safely behind its threshold, he closed it behind them, letting out a deep breath. “I… ah, apologize for the men, they can get a little much to handle when they had a few too many drinks.” He grinned.

She merely smiled to him as she shook her head. “It’s fine, though I am finding myself quite surprised by how many know who you are.”

Vaco’a gave a nervous chuckle as he led her towards the inner chambers of the Rising Stones, “Ah, yes, it is a bit hard to keep that under wraps when it is home to the base of the Scions.” He mentioned, nodding to the room around them. There were people seated, and others standing, but they all kept to themselves, talking in near hushed tones. Only one person approached him at this moment, one he expected.

Tataru let out a gasp upon seeing him, rushing over with a worried look upon her little features, “Oh, Vaco’a, I had not expected to see you. What with the, oh, who is this?” She asked, upon her eyes falling to Aeterna at his side.

“Yes, this is Aeterna Hinotori. She… has a condition that I was thinkin the Scions could help with…” His voice trailed there, having nearly forgotten about the Scions’ condition at present. “When they have the time, I mean…” he grinned, though it was slightly saddened, a look that did not go unnoticed by both parties in his company. Tataru had the grace to not pry, patting his hand a bit as she turned her gaze to Aeterna, who looked ready to ask Vaco’a what troubled him.

Thankfully Tataru had been ready to pull her attention from him, “Miss Hinotori, was it, a pleasure. I am Tataru, heh, I suppose you could call me the lady behind the scenes here in the Scions.” She gently took the auri’s hand, leading her away from Vaco’a. “Here, a room for you to rest. I am sure I will get the details about your ailments in due time.” Tataru turned her head for but a moment to look back at Vaco’a, a small knowing grin on her face.

It was home to her now, even if her true home was so far away, and yet so close. Once she had found a spot, away from prying eyes, and spun on her feet. Her eyes closed, her breath coming in timed measures. It had been so long.

Almost as if she was being guided on strings, her limbs began to move, with an untold grace to her sweeps. An arm raised there, a dip here and a twirl to finish. Rinse and repeat. For several moments, she did these same motions, letting them tug her body around the clearing. Soon, she took up new steps, once long forgotten.

It was the dance of her tribe, performed on a similar to this, the moon shining upon her silvery white hair, the stars gleaming overhead as if welcoming her performance. Her movements were slow, practiced and yet unsure. Almost as if she had feared she would miss a step, forget a position. But it was almost as if she had never stopped.

She could feel it, like it was yesterday, when her mother taught her this dance. The memories were clear, as if she could touch them now.

‘ Ya have grown so much, my lil’ Varrie, ya got an eagerness to ya, wit ya every step. ‘

She could feel the tears in her eyes, her steps growing faster, harder. She could feel the strength flowing through, her years of training with her fists. Even with the pain of remembering, the tears did not fall, did not slip from her eyes or flow down her cheeks. It was merely a stinging sensation, painful and yet a reminder. They were still with her. Even now.

‘ Love, look, her poise has not faltere’. ‘

Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears, even now.

‘ That’s my girl, always so passionate. Never lose that enthusiasm, promise me. ‘

Clear as day, her father’s words painfully reverberated with her soul. It hurt so much, and yet she couldn’t feel sadness. There was pain, yes, agonizing pain over the memory of her parents, who she knew were gone. And yet, she couldn’t feel sorrow.

Her dancing came to a graceful stop, slow and steady. She was panting, her eyes stinging, wanting to shed tears that never came. She looks up to the sky, to those beautiful stars that looked the same no matter where she went. The reminded her of home.