|
Prophet Destiny:
Final Advice from a Young Sage
It was another peaceful day in the secluded forest village of Sithro, yet it was not a typical one. A faint, yet unmistaken able feeling filled the air; a few members of their humble community were prepared to leave.
Out by the grassy fields were two children sitting down and sharing a final discussion before the inevitable departure.
One is fairly tall young man with short, dirty-blonde blonde hair and relaxed amethyst eyes. He had a very carefree smile that only added to his aura of composure and whimsy. Clothing his body was a collared robe colored in deep indigo.
The other was a girl of comparably humble stature. She had long, wavy light-blonde hair and bright, prism-like eyes. She had on a loose, white short-sleeved dress, and a pair of common sandals.
“As you know, my family’s time here is all but done here. We’ve enjoyed what the life of a traditional Mitalin has had to offer, but I’m afraid we’ll have to move on to newer things. Make no mistake, though. It was a pleasure being with everyone here, especially you and your good friend.” The amethyst-eyed boy spoke.
“Have you already spoken to him, Ioni?” asked the girl.
The young man nodded.
“I felt it wouldn’t be right to keep someone who’s tried his hardest to catch up to me waiting, so I sought him out first. You, Yula, on the other hand, I could count on to be patient. You and Young Gades make interesting opposites, I suppose.” He explained.
“Opposites…” the girl named Yula repeated curiously, “You really think so?”
Ioni chuckled.
“You two are probably too close to realize the differences, being so close now. Well, at least you alone. He probably recognizes them all too well despite everything. He was the quiet one in the beginning, after all, and he still sort of is.”
“No, I think I’m a bit of a “quiet one”, too. I’m just really lucky I can talk to people as I am…” Yula confessed.
“I’d say it’s more of a gift of heart. You may not be the most talkative of us--- no, I’d say that better fits Little Arienne--- but you have a knack for saying the right thing to draw others in. You just happen to have a stronger affect with Young Gades. Maybe it’s a natural bond of sorts. It certainly sounds like the “Yin and Yang” Eastern Philosophy my parents have been going over.” Ioni shared.
“So, do you happen to be so easy-going because your parents are philosophy buffs?”
“I don’t know. I would assume going into that would actually bring more stress. There’s so many ways of thought and so many possible answers, it’s hard to arrive at any certainties, and it can get really frustrating. My only guess is that I just happen to be this way. And I like it.” Ioni said with a nod.
“I see. Well it’s a good thing you can stay so calm. It’s like a big sign of relief for the rest of us” Yula smiled.
“Having this good home… and such good friends to remember help with that.” Ioni replied.
Yula bowed her head in sudden gratitude.
“Thank you.”
The amethyst-eyed boy then took a deep breath, and sighed.
“You know, no matter how many times I’ve tried to tell him, I don’t think he’ll believe me. “You’re going to know way more than me one day”, I try to tell him, “You will be smarter than me. I can feel it.” And every time he’ll turn his head and say to me, “No. No matter how hard I try, I still see that you’re way smarter and wiser than. It’s because you’re the wisest guy alive.” It’s only my age and experience that keep me better than him and most anybody else here, but I can tell he can much greater in the future. He has big… “Potential”, you could say. And he’s way more curious. I can be content rather easily, you know, but he won’t rest only he can find the best possible answer out there. Both of you do.”
“Yeah, I notice that about him.” Yula replied. “Wait, both of us?”
“It was you that brought it out of him, you know. You pretty much taught him not to be afraid of being curious. I can only see that happening if you were just as curious yourself.” Ioni added.
Yula turned her head as her cheeks turned pink.
“Come to think of it, that’s why I wanted to meet him in the first place. He made me very curious, like I was drawn to him…” she thought.
“Yes, the two of you… in good time, will be smarter and wiser than me, all because you two happen to be really curious. It was the both of you that want to see what the outside world is like more than anybody else here, right? They’re all fine here because they’re sure it’s the safest place they’ve come to know. It’s home, after all”
“That’s why I felt so different from the others. That’s why I feel so strange here. It’s because I want something different from everyone else. I guess that’s why I feel the most comfortable around him. He wants to go exploring, too.” Yula said aloud. “There’s just so many places out there that I’d hate not being able to see everything. I… maybe that’s how I’m envious of you, Ioni.”
“It was only three years, Yula.” Ioni sighed. “There really isn’t much to see or remember, especially when you’re born on the road. Sure I have a greater memory then most, but my fondest ones remain here. And I’m a little disappointed that my parents couldn’t wait just a little longer so we could leave with at least one other family.”
This time, Yula turned her whole body to the side and started to shake.
“That’s right… because that’s when it will be my turn…” she said uneasily.
“You’ll miss him badly, won’t you?”
Yula nodded slowly.
“Y-yes, of course. But I don’t want it to be sad. It’s not supposed to be forever, anyway…”
“It’s because one of you will finally be able to make your shared dream come true?”
“That’s what we said. So it should be a happy thing, really! I promised it would be a good thing!”
“You really like him, don’t you?”
The girl froze. She heard that question far too clearly.
“What?”
“You’re getting all pink and flustered.” Ioni answered flatly.
Yula’s body knelt down ever so slowly, and started to bend forward with little conscious thought. Her face turned pinker as well.
“W-Well, yes! Of course I like him! W-w-we’re best friends! Of course I like him! So it’s natural I feel good around him…. Ah….”
Her head spun and her heart pounded wildly as she tried to understand the sudden rush of thoughts and feelings that plagued.
“Why am I feel this way? What’s wrong with me?”
“I can see something in you. Something interesting. You act and feel more grown-up around him because of it. You just can’t help being that way, and he responds to it.” Ioni argued.
The awkward girl had a dazed, yet wispy look on her face.
“But… I’m just having fun with him. That’s what friends do, right?”
“Yula.” Ioni began solemnly, “Even I don’t get when and how this sort of thing works, but from what I can tell, you feel something special towards him. I’ll admit this: What’s clear is that there is a bond between you and Young Gades. A very strong bond. And obviously you’re feeling strong emotions because of it..”
“But… it still isn’t very clear to me…” Yula said disheartened.
“And it shouldn’t.” Ioni agreed, “Just be glad to know you’re growing up pretty fast.”
The dazed maiden brought her knees to her chest and rested her arms on them.
“…Then, is it that bad to not want to grow up a little longer? To just stay a girl?” she asked in a quiet voice.
“Not really.” Ioni answered without hesitation. “Young Gades asked me a similar question, actually.”
Yula’s eyes suddenly perked up, and her head thrust upward in a flash.
“Really?”
“You’d think he’d want to grow up to be man as soon as he could, huh? No, had a few qualms about growing up as well.”
“Another strange wish we have in common, then.” Yula thought happily.
“However, what really makes me curious is how you keeping having him meet with the girls of the village despite having feelings for him. It feels like to me you’re trying to make him more like his father…” Ioni noted.
The poor girl grew even more flustered by the minute.
“What?! I… you don’t understand. Gades always looked more shy around girls in general, and I was trying to help him with that! Make him feel more comfortable around us!” Yula explained.
“I guess it’s working. He’s slowly acting more like polite and gentlemanly towards ladies… like his father.” Ioni commented, “This is an interesting path towards adulthood you’ve lead him to. Have him keep this up, and he’ll become a regular ladies’ man… like his father.”
For reasons unknown, the anxious girl’s face started turning beat red.
“M-must you keep bringing that up? That wasn’t what I was trying at all!” she defended in embarrassment.
“Really now? If you ask me, it wouldn’t hurt at all. His father has a rather likable reputation I hear. It wouldn’t hurt if he grew up to be more like that man. Perhaps you’d like it.” Ioni answered rather teasingly.
The sudden image of a more sociable, relaxed boy took her by surprise and nearly clammed her up completely. She felt that she couldn’t dwell on such thoughts any longer.
“W-W-What about you, Ioni? How do you feel about growing up?” Yula stammered.
For a brief moment, the amethyst-eyed boy pondered to himself on the question.
“Being the oldest boy in this village, I actually had a lot of growing up to do looking out for you all. It’d say it’s not too bad at all being grown-up, really. Sure, it doesn’t make you perfect or free from the rules, but it has perks.” Ioni replied.
“You’ve been a great brother to us.”
“And you and Emerald were wonderful sisters. It’s a shame she’s been keeping herself away from you all this time. I have a feeling you could have learned much from her. She’s practically Sithro’s shining star…”
Yula again dug her head into her knees and shook ever so slightly. She seemed deep in thought, and even more confused by a different set of emotions.
“You really look up to her, don’t you?” Ioni asked casually.
Yula managed a noticeable nod behind her knees.
“I don’t understand why….” She uttered in an anxious tone.
“Or maybe the reasoning you see doesn’t make sense?”
“I… I can’t believe that’s how she is. Miss Emerald is a good person. She wouldn’t be that way.” Yula argued.
“It does seem strange. Emerald has been nothing but good to the rest of us, even you at a time. But I can’t help but notice she barely says a thing about her little brother, or is even interested in talking about him. I doubt she and Gades have even done anything together. It gives me good enough reason to believe she’s been avoiding him all this time, and, as harsh as this sounds, she’s been doing the same with you as soon as you made friends with him…”
Yula’s legs immediately shout out, revealing a very hopeful look in her eyes.
“Might you know why she’s acting that way, Ioni?” she asked.
Ioni shook his head in disappointment.
“I’m afraid not. She’s far too good at keeping her thoughts and troubled feelings to herself. It’s part of her excellent abilities, I’m afraid. But… if you want an honest word from me as to why I think she might be avoiding you, I’m afraid that she just really may not like you…at best.” Ioni confessed.
Yula bowed her head, trying to hide the troubled expression on her face.
“Really? But what could I have done to offend her? I--- no, it can’t be. Could she really hate Gades? Could she really hate her little brother that much? But I don’t see how she can’t. She’s such a kind and strong person, and he’s her little brother; her gentle little brother. They’re family. How can Miss Emerald not love her family?”
“It really is a shame. I just can’t help but think if something was different, just one thing, Emerald would actually be fond of you, and we wouldn’t be so confused. I just can’t quite put my finger on it.” Ioni stated in a rare tone of frustration.
For a moment, Yula looked at the one she considered an elder brother with deep sympathy.
“Ioni…”
The prism-eyed girl’s eyes remained glued on Ioni, lost in thought trying to see what thoughts and questions he may have been keeping to himself that may be able to clarify her own curiosities. However, she was not wholly conscious as she did not notice Ioni’s body in motion. The patient young man picked his body off the grassy floor, then placed a hand on her head, bringing her back to reality in confusion.
“Don’t let it get to you, Yula. I’m sure you’ll find out everything you wanted to know on your own time. It all might not be as bad as you think. Ah, forgive me for even bringing this all up in the first place. I’d rather we spend this last time talking about something more useful.” Ioni suggested.
Yula looked relieved, yet somewhat doubtful at the same time.
“And what would that be?” she asked.
“Well, since you happen to be leaving next, how about I share a little advice I learned during my time in the outside world? I’m sure it should be useful to you.” Ioni said with a confident now.
“Okay…”
“You see, one time, in one of the bigger cities I stayed at, I remembered a long-winded man who would always tell a few stories to a couple of people. Now, I never really paid attention to the stories themselves, or the sort of moral they were meant to teach in the end, but I always noticed that the other people listening were always getting drowsy. Most of them even passed out midway throughout his story! It must be the way in which he was telling his stories that made them all so sleepy. It reminds me of all those times I see mothers sing babies to sleep, except I don’t think that was the man’s intention at all. Especially when he looks quite upset with his sleeping audience---“
“Excuse me, Ioni, but what is your point?” Yula interrupted rather impatiently.
“Ah, right! The point is, I notice you have a naturally soothing voice, Yula. You have an easy time getting others to relax around you when you try, and you could use that to your advantage should you find yourself in trouble.” Ioni explained.
“By…um… making friends with people that could be helpful?” Yula asked dubiously.
“No, I doubt an army that would be as low to skewer an innocent girl would ever heed your words of sympathy! What I’m saying is, if you ever find yourself in trouble like that, do as the old man does and tell a story! Use that calming air of yours to lull your foes into slumber that much easier! It’s the perfect strategy to keep from having to use violence.” he recommended.
The prism-eyed girl looked at her friend as if he had gone insane.
“Um… Ioni? Are you trying to suggest something?” she questioned uneasily.
“As I said, you have a special way of calming others when you feel you need to. It’s one of your special gifts, and I was giving you a really good way to use it.”
“By… putting people to sleep?”
“Why not? If they say that “music soothes the savage beast”, then perhaps a little soothing could be good for anyone.”
“That doesn’t make much sense.” Yula stated with a light laugh.
“Perhaps not, but that doesn’t deny how convenient a sleeping foe can be!” Ioni argued. “So just try and remember every sleep-inducing tale and hope they can be useful! If not to get yourself out of trouble, then maybe to comfort a younger child that needs the rest.”
“You always think of plenty of uses for anything, don’t you?” Yula replied cheerfully.
“That’s because anything has more than one use. It’s common sense.” Ioni simply stated.
“True.” Yula agreed with a hearty laugh.
Ioni then gazed at the environment around him: the long, grassy fields, the tall, protective trees, and the humble, yet comfortable homes. He took in another breath of fresh air, and released it slowly back out.
“To think a place as small and raw as this could bring greater relief and pleasure than the realm of a king. There really was something to our traditional ways after all. It’s a shame I’ll have to leave it all behind…” he thought to himself.
“I’m really going to miss you too, Ioni. You shared a lot with me that I’m very thankful for.” Yula spoke aloud.
“Truly? Even that last advice of mine?” Ioni asked.
“We’ll see…” Yula smirked.
“Fine, then. If you may, though, I have one last request for you.”
“What is it?”
Ioni then helped Yula off the ground, and pat her head once again.
“I like this policy you shared with Young Gades. So if you please, I’d rather not have sad faces when I leave as well. I know that may not be entirely possibly, so keep the number low if you can. A depressing departure would leave a bad taste in my mouth, you see.” Ioni requested.
“Okay, we’ll try to make it a festival for you, then.” Yula assured him.
“Ah, good! It would be wonderful to see this place lively before I leave.” Ioni replied in anticipation.
“Just, there’s one more thing I’d like to give before that…”
Without any further notice, Yula threw herself forward and caught her friend in a hug.
“Thank you…” she said gently.
Soon enough, Ioni allowed her to get in closer just to hug her back. A small, yet gentle smile formed from his mouth.
“You’re welcome.” He answered softly. “Please look after everyone in my place, okay? Make your last year with them worthwhile.”
“I will.” Yula promised.
“Good.”
As the elder boy continued to hold the gentle girl and softly stroke her hair, he could not help but think of all his precious memories with the people he considered his family.
“You were all such very kind people, and I am glad to meet you all here. Emerald, you were always so kind yet daring, but you always kept to yourself something that troubled me. I don’t know what your qualms with Gades and Yula, or why you have them, but I hope you don’t see them through to grave consequences. I can feel they’re important in some way. Their curiosities… it will be thanks their curious minds that they’ll learn of some great power. Yes, those two will be better than me, but I want to see the results. Gades, Yula, I hope to see what you gain in the future. And for everyone else, I hope you may find the peace you seek. Thank you… every one of you… for accepting an outsider like me as your brother.”
It was only a few hours left until Ioni’s family planned to leave. Though the only thing he received at that time was the gratitude and affections of one he considered a sister, to him, it was one of the best going away presents he could ever receive.
 Chicken Yuki · Fri Aug 01, 2008 @ 10:08pm · 0 Comments |
