A Tale of Two Brothers, discovering both their place in the world, to find their father.
Twin Souls: The Secrets of the South
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Prologue
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Prologue
Barristan Riley was not a very patient man. In fact, he was an irritable foul man. Much of his time he only wished to maintain his bookstore, and enjoy the twilight years of his life in peace. He did not want to dwell upon the mistakes he had made in the past.
The constant and eternal darkness from his lack of sight was enough.
But the telegram he had received from his last two students worried him greatly. They were coming south, their reasons unknown to him. Perhaps it was just a visit. That was what he hoped, but he was nervous. He knew the boys would not abandon their mother and father without reason.
He hoped that Estelle was okay. She was too good of a woman to be wrapped up in the life that he and Mars had spent years trying to get out of.
If Mars had indeed continued his research as Barry had suspected when he could no longer teach the boys…
He did not wish to think about such things. Such things should be left in the past, where they belonged, not brought back to the present because of the benefits.
'They are just visiting.' Barristian could only hope that the two students were just acting like the reckless boys they were.
How long had it been since he last saw them? Five years… six years? He wondered, with his hand on his cheek 'how tall they had grown, how strong they had gotten?'
The door's bell rang, and the door opened before Barristian could focus on his thoughts. The heavy footfalls of boots marched through his ears. "We're closed." He stated, not noticing anything different from the man who entered his home and place of business… Well besides that he was military.
"You're the only one here Barry." The man spoke. Ah… The new blood of the Retinue who has been making much ruckus since joining the Retinue. Colonel Gavin Freemen. Last time he bothered listening to one of the boys reading the newspaper, the young colonel had been a lieutenant, and he was rising through the ranks faster than any man in the Retinue's history.
This was the third time the upstart had barged into his home to speak to him, and despite the young man's obvious intelligence and wit, he was dreadfully annoying. And persistent.
It reminded him of Nero and Ares when they first demanded that he train them in the Art of Combat and Alchemy. Back when he was hoping that life would kill him already.
Perhaps it was the only reason Barristian tolerated him. He was too much like the boys to push away without feeling guilty.
"Go away," Barry ordered. Now was not the time to chat… He had to think about the boys, to find out why they were coming south. "I have no time nor want to talk to you."
"I'm not alone this time." The youthful voice replied. That made Barristian stop moving on his chair, and focus his hearing towards the door. It was still, silent, and all he could hear was the steady heart rate of Gavin Freeman.
"Who else is here?" He asked, feeling unease rising in his gut.
"Hello, Barry." The second voice stated. "It's been a long time."
'Fucking hell, it was a reunion of the decade.' "Kailvin." He turned, trying to face the door as to at least partially face the men who had entered the store. Even though he was a blind man, he wasn't going to disrespect his old commander. "I'm retired. I've been retired from the retinue for 20 years. I have no want, nor need to come back to that life. So either buy something or get out."
"It's about Mars." Kailvin replied.
Barrisitian froze, feeling his blood cool in his veins. The boys… oh by the gods, not the boys. Barry found himself standing up straight, punching his hands down onto the table. "What happened to the boys!? Estelle? Are they alright!?" He knew that Telegram was a few weeks old… but a lot of things can happen in a few weeks.
There was only one reason Mars Schwarze would ever be muttered in your home again, and that would have been your greatest fear. 'Mars, you damned fool. Why did you have to continue your research? You didn't need to. Not for my sake and certainly not for yours.'
Barry felt a calming hand on his shoulders. He didn't hear the general walk towards him. "That's why we're here. It worked. They're alright."
The realization of what just happened finally dawned on Barry, and he collapsed into his chair. "Thank the gods." He muttered. Rumors and his own imagination hardly held any good news.
Then the colonel, that Freeman boy spoke. "The report came in yesterday from one of my men. The signs were all correct to point to the ritual."
The Ritual Of Philosophers… the only ritual that could possibly create a Philosopher's stone. At least in theory.
"He used his sons as the-" Barry whimpered, trying to process what had happened. "Mars couldn't have cracked the Lille Equation. That is not possible, it's been stumping all who studied it since-"
"Since the Dawn War, we know," Kailvin stated. "Mars has disappeared, taking all of his notes with him. His wife has not seen him, nor has he tried to kill his sons since the experiment, so it seems he still has a use for them."
In his heart, Barristian Riley could only feel relief. They were alive! However, in his mind, he could feel nothing but dread. T
"So what do you need me to do?" Barry asked.
The Colonel than cleared his throat. "I think it may be best if they enter the Retinue. They are already coming south, so convince them to join."
"NO!" Barry found himself raising his voice. Flashes of fire and smoke went through his memories, in color and detail that only a dream could have, as his hands smashed into his counter in fear. "I am not going to let you turn them into your newest murderers!" Barry than felt his counter. There was a sticky liquid coming from his knuckles. Blood.
The two men were silent for a moment before the General spoke. "The civilian branch exists for a reason Barristian. They-"
Barry was not going to have it. "I know… but that will still put them under your command." His growl was primal, animalistic, fearful. "I still remember what we did at Ponsia. What civilians did at Ponsia."
Barristian could hear the General's heartbeat sped up for a moment before it slowed. His point was made.
"Would you rather you leave them to their father's mercy?" The general asked. "Especially when he has done the impossible? Aren't you afraid of what he may do?"
With the words spoken, the Colonel said. "Thank you for your time Barristan."
The door opened, the bell dinged. "Also." The general stated. "When they come in, will you ask them about what their father did, and if they remember what their father did to them?"
"I will," Barry replied, before clearing his throat. "But I will tell them the truth if they ask me. And they will receive nothing but the truth."
"Even if it hurts them?" the General asked. "And shatters everything they know about their father?"
Barry weighed his options before he hardened his resolve. "I love them too much to lie to them."
"Barristan." Kailvin took a deep breath, realizing the battle has been lost. "Fine."
The door shut behind the two men, while Barry got onto his knees and prayed to Altosk. Those boys were the closest thing to sons he had.
He hoped the Lord of Knowledge would protect them.
AN: Enjoy.
Edits may occur periodically because I might have to change some things to line up with the story.
Barristan Riley was not a very patient man. In fact, he was an irritable foul man. Much of his time he only wished to maintain his bookstore, and enjoy the twilight years of his life in peace. He did not want to dwell upon the mistakes he had made in the past.
The constant and eternal darkness from his lack of sight was enough.
But the telegram he had received from his last two students worried him greatly. They were coming south, their reasons unknown to him. Perhaps it was just a visit. That was what he hoped, but he was nervous. He knew the boys would not abandon their mother and father without reason.
He hoped that Estelle was okay. She was too good of a woman to be wrapped up in the life that he and Mars had spent years trying to get out of.
If Mars had indeed continued his research as Barry had suspected when he could no longer teach the boys…
He did not wish to think about such things. Such things should be left in the past, where they belonged, not brought back to the present because of the benefits.
'They are just visiting.' Barristian could only hope that the two students were just acting like the reckless boys they were.
How long had it been since he last saw them? Five years… six years? He wondered, with his hand on his cheek 'how tall they had grown, how strong they had gotten?'
The door's bell rang, and the door opened before Barristian could focus on his thoughts. The heavy footfalls of boots marched through his ears. "We're closed." He stated, not noticing anything different from the man who entered his home and place of business… Well besides that he was military.
"You're the only one here Barry." The man spoke. Ah… The new blood of the Retinue who has been making much ruckus since joining the Retinue. Colonel Gavin Freemen. Last time he bothered listening to one of the boys reading the newspaper, the young colonel had been a lieutenant, and he was rising through the ranks faster than any man in the Retinue's history.
This was the third time the upstart had barged into his home to speak to him, and despite the young man's obvious intelligence and wit, he was dreadfully annoying. And persistent.
It reminded him of Nero and Ares when they first demanded that he train them in the Art of Combat and Alchemy. Back when he was hoping that life would kill him already.
Perhaps it was the only reason Barristian tolerated him. He was too much like the boys to push away without feeling guilty.
"Go away," Barry ordered. Now was not the time to chat… He had to think about the boys, to find out why they were coming south. "I have no time nor want to talk to you."
"I'm not alone this time." The youthful voice replied. That made Barristian stop moving on his chair, and focus his hearing towards the door. It was still, silent, and all he could hear was the steady heart rate of Gavin Freeman.
"Who else is here?" He asked, feeling unease rising in his gut.
"Hello, Barry." The second voice stated. "It's been a long time."
'Fucking hell, it was a reunion of the decade.' "Kailvin." He turned, trying to face the door as to at least partially face the men who had entered the store. Even though he was a blind man, he wasn't going to disrespect his old commander. "I'm retired. I've been retired from the retinue for 20 years. I have no want, nor need to come back to that life. So either buy something or get out."
"It's about Mars." Kailvin replied.
Barrisitian froze, feeling his blood cool in his veins. The boys… oh by the gods, not the boys. Barry found himself standing up straight, punching his hands down onto the table. "What happened to the boys!? Estelle? Are they alright!?" He knew that Telegram was a few weeks old… but a lot of things can happen in a few weeks.
There was only one reason Mars Schwarze would ever be muttered in your home again, and that would have been your greatest fear. 'Mars, you damned fool. Why did you have to continue your research? You didn't need to. Not for my sake and certainly not for yours.'
Barry felt a calming hand on his shoulders. He didn't hear the general walk towards him. "That's why we're here. It worked. They're alright."
The realization of what just happened finally dawned on Barry, and he collapsed into his chair. "Thank the gods." He muttered. Rumors and his own imagination hardly held any good news.
Then the colonel, that Freeman boy spoke. "The report came in yesterday from one of my men. The signs were all correct to point to the ritual."
The Ritual Of Philosophers… the only ritual that could possibly create a Philosopher's stone. At least in theory.
"He used his sons as the-" Barry whimpered, trying to process what had happened. "Mars couldn't have cracked the Lille Equation. That is not possible, it's been stumping all who studied it since-"
"Since the Dawn War, we know," Kailvin stated. "Mars has disappeared, taking all of his notes with him. His wife has not seen him, nor has he tried to kill his sons since the experiment, so it seems he still has a use for them."
In his heart, Barristian Riley could only feel relief. They were alive! However, in his mind, he could feel nothing but dread. T
"So what do you need me to do?" Barry asked.
The Colonel than cleared his throat. "I think it may be best if they enter the Retinue. They are already coming south, so convince them to join."
"NO!" Barry found himself raising his voice. Flashes of fire and smoke went through his memories, in color and detail that only a dream could have, as his hands smashed into his counter in fear. "I am not going to let you turn them into your newest murderers!" Barry than felt his counter. There was a sticky liquid coming from his knuckles. Blood.
The two men were silent for a moment before the General spoke. "The civilian branch exists for a reason Barristian. They-"
Barry was not going to have it. "I know… but that will still put them under your command." His growl was primal, animalistic, fearful. "I still remember what we did at Ponsia. What civilians did at Ponsia."
Barristian could hear the General's heartbeat sped up for a moment before it slowed. His point was made.
"Would you rather you leave them to their father's mercy?" The general asked. "Especially when he has done the impossible? Aren't you afraid of what he may do?"
With the words spoken, the Colonel said. "Thank you for your time Barristan."
The door opened, the bell dinged. "Also." The general stated. "When they come in, will you ask them about what their father did, and if they remember what their father did to them?"
"I will," Barry replied, before clearing his throat. "But I will tell them the truth if they ask me. And they will receive nothing but the truth."
"Even if it hurts them?" the General asked. "And shatters everything they know about their father?"
Barry weighed his options before he hardened his resolve. "I love them too much to lie to them."
"Barristan." Kailvin took a deep breath, realizing the battle has been lost. "Fine."
The door shut behind the two men, while Barry got onto his knees and prayed to Altosk. Those boys were the closest thing to sons he had.
He hoped the Lord of Knowledge would protect them.
AN: Enjoy.
Edits may occur periodically because I might have to change some things to line up with the story.
Last edited:
Nenshou Yuuki
I will fail you in every way
- Location
- London
Okay, for a second I thought you had started another quest was like 'goddammit Magoose not again'. Then I realized that this was user fiction.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Yeah. Less of a chance to really screw things up if things are in here. Or screw everything up and have everyone here to criticize me and my storytelling choices.
- Location
- Following The Apocalypse
Hmmm, interesting. I'm drawing some parallels to FMA. Will wait for more info before speculating.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
This story began life as an FMA fanfic. So I'm pretty sure that the parallels to FMA will be there at least at the beginning.
Last edited:
- Location
- The Internet
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Thanks. and fixed.
You know, when you write so many quests, you just know that second person is going to be a thing showing up occasionally.
Chapter 1
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Chapter 1
Nero awoke on the train, the train's horn whistling on, the sunrise cracking over the horizon. His brother slept next to him, his chest rising and falling as he snored on, sleeping soundly, without a care in the world.
A Thousand Miles. One thousand miles was the distance between Nero, Ares and their home. It felt so surreal, wrapping his head around that fact. Nero remembered the books he read, about how it used to take a man months to travel from Newbury to The Southern Lands of the Romain States and the Schwarzen Heartlands.
Now it took them less than a week.
But they were living in a changing world, one of near limitless potential.
At least that was what the newspapers always said.
It did not mean that it was not true.
Nero looked out the window to Winterwilde. It was so unlike the city he had heard and read about from the weary travelers and Master Barry's stories. He had expected, for a lack of better words, a rustic city, like home, a place filled with market stalls of outsiders bringing their goods to market, horses, and carriages being drawn, with a dirt or cobblestone road that were clean, with lamp posts that were still lit by candle or gaslight.
That was not the city he saw at all as the train passed through it, towards the Platform 15 and the Train Station.
Instead, he saw a city of modernity, of clean roads of asphalt and stone, with the streetlamps glowed with the light of electricity. Stores had windows filled with fancy clothes, canned goods for any occasion, even an automobile, or was it a car… he didn't remember what they were called. People marched on the sidewalks while cars drove on the streets. Children cried as they saw something they wanted in a store window, but were pulled away.
People seemed focused on other things, moving quickly as if they could not understand the world around them.
Nero, however, was forced back into his own world, as Ares moved his head, his eyes fluttering open. His lips made a clicking noise and he sat up, looking out the window. "We're there already?" His surprise was masked by his tiredness.
Nero gave a weary smile. "Yeah, we're there." He stood up. "Come on, get up." Nero assisted his brother onto his feet, giving him a shake to rid his younger twin of the tiredness that still clung to him.
Ares was not amused. "Nero, stopppp." He said, his voice going through several volumes as he grabbed his twin's arms to stop the shaking. "I'm awake."
Nero stopped, and let go. His brother looked annoyed, his blond hair was a disgruntled mess, and his blue eyes were narrowed. Not the greatest wake-up Nero had ever given, but it would have to do. "Good, now you don't look so tired."
Ares sighed, his protests falling down as he sat down on the wooden bench. His eyes now lost the annoyance, and it was replaced by fear and dread. "I had that dream again." He stated. "Of that night."
Immediately, Nero took a seat next to his brother, his hand placed on his shoulder. "Do you think you can talk about it now?" He asked. "Do you remember what happened?"
Ares nodded. "No… I still don't remember what happened either."
The night still haunted Nero's own dreams, but for different reasons. The screams were always in the background of his mind. The screams and the red light hat engulfed them.
But they could never remember what truly happened that night. For weeks afterward, before they left their home, Nero and Ares both tried everything in their power to remember the events of that night, drawing pictures, talking about it, writing down the events in sequence.
All it did was make them more frustrated… and made them both feel like they were going mad.
They couldn't remember their father, what he did to them, or even the days before. All it did was fill them with more dread.
"Do you mom is going to be angry at us running away?" Ares asked.
Nero did not look at his brother's eyes, he turned to face the window. He couldn't bear to look at his brothers face. "Yes, but we have to find father… I just hope she understands."
The only thing they left her was a letter, both addressed to her, and Lucy. That they had to leave home and search for their father, and they hoped they understood.
Ares remained quiet as Nero looked back. "Yeah, she'll be angry… but I hope she will understand." Nero replied repeating his answer from before..
Nero's plan was stupid and insane, with almost no chance it would work in today's political climate... but it was the only one he had.
"I still think it's a bad idea." Ares stated.
"But they're the Retinue has the only people on the continent who can possibly help us find our father," Nero replied. "And we agreed that I would take one of the civilian positions, not a military one."
Ares sighed. "But you know what will happen if they need an alchemist, civilian position be damned."
Nero glared at his brother. "Then we find a way to not kill anyone."
The Train whistle blew and the boys lurched forward, as the movement beyond them stopped.
"Looks like we're here." Nero stated.
Ares rolled his eyes.
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The suitcases in their hands were heavy, but the two brothers were not bothered by it.
Nero looked at the telegram in his hand. "He should be waiting for us under the platform sign."
And then they saw the person under the platform sign,holding a small banner that said the word "Schwarze." on it.
The Old man was not happy when the boys approached him. In his left hand was a neatly folded, but slightly crumpled note, with the seal of one of the telegraph companies that went into the cities. "Boys… So wonderful to see you again." He was calm and collected, however, his tone made Nero and Ares shiver in fear.
It was too late to stammer and lie, all that would do is anger the old man further than he was letting on. All they could do was tell them their side of the story. And hope he would accept it.
Hopefully, Master Barry didn't decide to ship them both back to Greenfield in a cargo box.
He then gave a weary sigh, his face softening as he felt Nero and Ares face with his free hand. His entire demeanor softened significantly. "Boys… Your telegram did not say why you were coming down here."
Nero took a deep breath, remembering the Telegram's simple message. "We're coming down South." The simple message was all Nero could afford before they got onto their train to Winterwilde.
Nero gazed into his master's pale, misty, milky eyes to say why they were there, when his master touched his lips with his hand, a smile rising on his lips. "You've both grown since we last saw each other. How long has it been since you left my tutelage?"
"Five years, Master Barry." Ares replied, with utmost respect in his voice.
Barry than felt Nero's left arm. "I see you've still kept up on your training."
"We have, Master Barry." Nero replied.
The old master and his young students stood still for a moment before the old man turned around. "Walk with me, boys… we'll talk in a moment."
Nero and Ares followed their old master off of the platform, towards the city itself. The noise and crowd seemed to not both Barry, but the two boys could only stare in wonder at the large city they had only read about in newspapers, and seen in pictures in history books.
The large buildings that towered overhead them and the boys took the time to look around, seeing all they could see.
"Boys!" Their master shouted. But they knew their duty, and both boys knew that they still needed to tell their master the truth.
The walk through the city was foreign to the boys, the cement and cobblestone sidewalks were making their shoes echo, heavy footsteps used to gravel and dirt roads.
They then came to a small building, a three-story building with a store sign that read "The Emporium Of Knowledge"
"You own a bookstore?" Ares asked.
Barry sighed. "Yes. What did you expect me to own a butchers shop or something along that line?"
Nero shrugged and gave a stiff laugh. "You seem like a man who would hunt the boar and kill it with your own two hands, blindness be damned."
Barry's absent glare did nothing to make Nero any better. "I like it quiet." He stated. "Those kinds of shops are always loud and smelly." The door opened, and he waved the boys in. "I prefer the smells of pulp and paper and the quietness of turning pages."
The shop was quaint and small, with shelves and shelves of books resting in them, from penny novels, pulp novels for action and adventure stories, to the hardbound classics, science books and magazines for tools and appliances.
The air smelled of paper and dust. Barry took a deep breath and exhaled happily. "Ah, good to be home." He muttered to himself. He walked through the store and went behind the counter, sitting down on the chair that was there.
The twins put down their things, stretching as they slowly gravitated towards the counter.
Then Barry took another deep breath, clearing his mind for the conversation ahead. Nero understood that, and he steeled himself for it. Ares did the same.
Both boys stood at attention to their former master, waiting for him to speak.
But Barristien did not speak. In fact, he only seemed to stare vacantly in their direction, leaning forward, as if to look closer at them.
Finally, after a minute of uncomfortable silence, Barry spoke. "What happened?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Ares asked.
"I know you both… you would never come to me if something hadn't happened to your parents." He replied.
This was the part Nero had been fearing since they left the train. How could he answer him if he could not even remember.
Nero took a deep breath. "We were part of an experiment with our father. He did something to us, something we don't remember."
Barry stroked his chin. "Did the Experiment leave any marks on you?" He asked.
Ares and Nero gave a glance at each other, before Ares lifted up his right sleeve to reveal a small seal on his arm. It was a dragon circling around him, with four triangles in the center of it, with a sword stabbing through a smaller snake, the mark of the Flamel School of Alchemy.
It was branded on their skins.
Ares walked forward and helped Barry feel it with his own hands.
Barristian did not move, but he took several deep breaths, trying to compose himself, as he took his hands off of the marks. "Do you know exactly what your father did to you?"
"We don't know." Nero replied, offering a hand and helping his master to his feet. "That's why we came down south… We wanted to find out what our father did to us." Nero took a deep breath. "And there's only one place in the world where we might find out that information."
Barry bent down and picked up his chair, taking a seat again as his hands wiped his face. "You want to join the Imperial Retinue?"
"Yes," Nero stated. "We need you to sign the paperwork stating you are our guardian so that we may join."
The Imperial military did not take anyone under the age of 16, it was a law that went back to the days of the Schwarzen legions, back when they were mere city-states vying for control of the Schwarlands. They did not want their young boys to suffer through war, and it was a practice that carried on to this day.
Accept when the Guardian of the children and the children themselves were making a conscious choice on the matter.
Barristan took another breath. "I can't do that."
"Only I am asking for it, Barry." Nero stated. "Ares does not want to be the one who joins the retinue."
"Boys." Barry sighed as if it was paining him to do that. "I taught you everything that I know… but Please, for the love of Altosk, don't join the Retinue."
Nero wasn't going to take no for an answer. Nero narrowed his eyes. "I have too… We have to find out what our father did to us."
Barry looked down to the ground. "Sleep here tonight… think about what you really want. Then we'll talk tomorrow."
Nero and Ares nodded and bowed to their former master. "Yes, sir." They said.
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The Afternoon sun was far cooler than it was in Greenfield, with the smoke covered clouds blowing it out.
But the roof of the Emporium of Knowledge was the same as all the others surrounding it, flat, drab and overlooking the street and other shops.
The two brothers have been on the roof for an hour, trying their best to make sense of their particular conundrum.
"We should ask him about the symbols." Ares stated. "We'll have more luck with that than anything else."
"The old man might not even know what happened, or what the brands are? We can't just ask him 'Hey, Barry, we want to know if our father somehow cracked some sort of secret alchemist code that erased our memories and left us with brands on our arms, think you can tell us what it is? Thanks.' Cause that is the kind of stuff that might get us sent to an asylum." Nero shot back.
"And you really think that joining a government organization who's very purpose is to study our craft is just going to give us an answer that may as well be a hypothesis?" Ares crossed his arms. "Because that's what this looks like."
"What choice do we have Ares?" Nero said his brothers name in contempt, mostly for what he was suggesting. Even after we researched everything we could find in Dad's study, but nothing really changed.
"We have a choice Nero!" Ares shouted. "We can go home or stay with Master Barry to continue training!"
"Yeah, and then what, just forget about it? Write it off as some bad dream or experiment gone wrong?!" Nero shouted. "If it turns out dad did something to us and we choose not to join up, what's to stop some schmuck with a badge from kicking down the door and taking us away from mom against our will? Or someone walking into this store and killing the old man?" Nero replied. "I want to be able to protect you Ares. You and Mom and Old Man Barry."
"And who's going to protect you Nero?" Ares replied.
Nero paused and studied his brothers face. 'Dammit all, why did you have to be so… you Ares.' "The only I trust for that job is you."
Ares sighed, and frowned. "Bro…" Ares sat down against the low roof wall, his back to the street. "I just wish everything was back to normal. I just wish we were back home with mom and dad, thinking about if the Alchemical Academy was going to accept us, not missing memories, travelling halfway down the continent to have you join the Retinue, and trying to find dad."
Nero walked over to his brother and sat down next to him. "I know. But we don't have that luxury anymore."
'But I really wish we did. It would be so much simpler then this crazy mess we find ourselves in.'
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Barry did not look up from the dinner table as Nero and Ares both sat down there. He was staring absently at the small bowl of mashed potatoes in front of him. It was still steaming, warm, having just been put on his plate by Ares just a moment before. "Thank you." He whispered.
Nero took a deep breath before he said. "Water, starch, sugar, protein, trypsin inhibitor, oxalate, vitamin C, phenol, carotene, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and manganese, heated to over two hundred degrees over the gas stovetop for twenty minutes, as instructed."
Barry smiled before giving a small chuckle. "When I asked you to make dinner tonight, I expected you to actually buy food from the grocer across the street, not get into my stores and make it yourself."
Ares shook his head. "We can't spend any more of your money Master Barry. You have already given us so much. Besides, we're a little out of practice." " There was a beat. "And, we spent all of our money getting down here."
Barry frowned. "That is not an excuse. Your staying in my home, and you are my students. You do not need to burden yourselves anymore then you have to." He then took a deep breath. Even as a blind old man, Nero knew he could read them like they were one of his books. It was as if he could see them both, as if he was not blind.
"Something is on your mind boys, I know that much from Nero deciding to list all the ingredients he wasted on making dinner tonight." His face softened. "What is wrong?"
Nero did not look at his master, he instead looked to the food in front of him. The warmth that touched his face distracted him from his thoughts.
Ares spoke first, saving Nero from having to speak first. "We're scared." Barry did not show any emotion as he heard the statement from the younger twin. "Our father did something to us and we have nothing to go off of Master… What if he broke the Taboo, and our memories were stolen from us as punishment?"
Barry took a breath, his sharp inhale silenced the panicking boy. He paused and looked at Nero, and then to Ares. "I do not want to see you both eat yourself alive because of an event outside of your control."
Nero took his eyes off of his food and was now looking back at his master. Though the man was blind, Nero could feel the warmth coming from his eyes, understanding the pain both Nero and Ares were feeling. But Nero still felt something gnawing inside of him, whispering in his ear like an incessant nagging, telling him that it was all his fault.
"But-" Nero wished to speak, but Barry raised his hand.
"No more words out of your mouth boy, and listen to what I have to say." Barry ordered. The twins master looked at both of them before he said, or at least he tried to give that impression with his head moving side to side at the table. "You have goodness in your heart."
Nero felt a tang from his heart as it picked up in pace, and the nagging whisper was silenced.
"A rare trait for anyone in this day and age. It's what makes you far better than your father." Barry then turned to Ares, his blind eyes staring down onto his hands. "Ares, you follow your brother because it is the right thing for you to do. Your love for each other is something not even your father's experiments can break. Even both of you bickering like an old married couple can't stop that."
That made Ares smile, and Nero took a bite out of the food he prepared. It tasted good.
But as Nero swallowed, he saw that Ares and Barry still had not touched their food.
"I hoped that I would not have to tell you this until tomorrow, but I can't see you in any more pain," Barry stated. Ares traded a glance with his twin, but the two boys looked to their master. "The symbol on your arm. I recognized it when I felt the branding. It's the Symbol of Altosk's Chosen."
"How's that possible?" Nero asked. "Altosk's Chosen haven't been seen since the end of the Dawn War. Their just myths and stories."
"The scaring was done in such a way that you were branded, but it healed in such a way that it will remain forever stained on your skin… to always tell who you are." Barry paused. "It seems that whatever happened to you, Altosk took an interest."
Nero looked down to his food. "Then what happened to us? What did our father do to us?"
"I don't know," Barry replied, sadness in his voice. Nero felt something off about his master's voice, as if he was trying to hide something. "At least not an answer that I feel confident in telling you yet. But I know you both well enough to trust your own judgment. And if you need help, I will always be there to help you."
The words of encouragement were then replaced by Barry taking a bite out of the foot in front of him. "Hm." He mumbled. "Tastes good, though it could use more salt."
The three men ate their food, enjoying their company, before going to bed.
The Twins were not plagued by any of the nightmares that haunted their dreams. All they dreamed about was the stories they heard about in their childhood.
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The Morning came quickly, and the twins looked at their Master Barry. "I've made my choice Master… I have to join." Nero stated.
The argument had been short, but the point was made. Nero was going to join. Barry looked disappointed in his student, but he gave an approving nod. His signature was on the note he had handwritten himself. It looked a little messy, but it would serve Nero's purposes.
To the Imperial Retinue From Barristian Riley
My ward and student, Nero Schwarze of Greenfield, has requested permission from me to join the Imperial Retinue. He does so knowing full well the risks, responsibilities, and the sacrifice that his nation may call upon him to make.
He does so with sound body, and mind, having made the decision himself and of his own volition, without any prompting or encouragement from myself, or from any member of his family.
May the God's Guide him.
Barristain Riley.
"Thank You, Master Barry." Nero stated.
"Go, before I change my mind and rip up that letter." Barry replied.
The boys left their masters home, walking towards the Headquarters of the Royal Retinue.
AN: Enjoy.
Nero awoke on the train, the train's horn whistling on, the sunrise cracking over the horizon. His brother slept next to him, his chest rising and falling as he snored on, sleeping soundly, without a care in the world.
A Thousand Miles. One thousand miles was the distance between Nero, Ares and their home. It felt so surreal, wrapping his head around that fact. Nero remembered the books he read, about how it used to take a man months to travel from Newbury to The Southern Lands of the Romain States and the Schwarzen Heartlands.
Now it took them less than a week.
But they were living in a changing world, one of near limitless potential.
At least that was what the newspapers always said.
It did not mean that it was not true.
Nero looked out the window to Winterwilde. It was so unlike the city he had heard and read about from the weary travelers and Master Barry's stories. He had expected, for a lack of better words, a rustic city, like home, a place filled with market stalls of outsiders bringing their goods to market, horses, and carriages being drawn, with a dirt or cobblestone road that were clean, with lamp posts that were still lit by candle or gaslight.
That was not the city he saw at all as the train passed through it, towards the Platform 15 and the Train Station.
Instead, he saw a city of modernity, of clean roads of asphalt and stone, with the streetlamps glowed with the light of electricity. Stores had windows filled with fancy clothes, canned goods for any occasion, even an automobile, or was it a car… he didn't remember what they were called. People marched on the sidewalks while cars drove on the streets. Children cried as they saw something they wanted in a store window, but were pulled away.
People seemed focused on other things, moving quickly as if they could not understand the world around them.
Nero, however, was forced back into his own world, as Ares moved his head, his eyes fluttering open. His lips made a clicking noise and he sat up, looking out the window. "We're there already?" His surprise was masked by his tiredness.
Nero gave a weary smile. "Yeah, we're there." He stood up. "Come on, get up." Nero assisted his brother onto his feet, giving him a shake to rid his younger twin of the tiredness that still clung to him.
Ares was not amused. "Nero, stopppp." He said, his voice going through several volumes as he grabbed his twin's arms to stop the shaking. "I'm awake."
Nero stopped, and let go. His brother looked annoyed, his blond hair was a disgruntled mess, and his blue eyes were narrowed. Not the greatest wake-up Nero had ever given, but it would have to do. "Good, now you don't look so tired."
Ares sighed, his protests falling down as he sat down on the wooden bench. His eyes now lost the annoyance, and it was replaced by fear and dread. "I had that dream again." He stated. "Of that night."
Immediately, Nero took a seat next to his brother, his hand placed on his shoulder. "Do you think you can talk about it now?" He asked. "Do you remember what happened?"
Ares nodded. "No… I still don't remember what happened either."
The night still haunted Nero's own dreams, but for different reasons. The screams were always in the background of his mind. The screams and the red light hat engulfed them.
But they could never remember what truly happened that night. For weeks afterward, before they left their home, Nero and Ares both tried everything in their power to remember the events of that night, drawing pictures, talking about it, writing down the events in sequence.
All it did was make them more frustrated… and made them both feel like they were going mad.
They couldn't remember their father, what he did to them, or even the days before. All it did was fill them with more dread.
"Do you mom is going to be angry at us running away?" Ares asked.
Nero did not look at his brother's eyes, he turned to face the window. He couldn't bear to look at his brothers face. "Yes, but we have to find father… I just hope she understands."
The only thing they left her was a letter, both addressed to her, and Lucy. That they had to leave home and search for their father, and they hoped they understood.
Ares remained quiet as Nero looked back. "Yeah, she'll be angry… but I hope she will understand." Nero replied repeating his answer from before..
Nero's plan was stupid and insane, with almost no chance it would work in today's political climate... but it was the only one he had.
"I still think it's a bad idea." Ares stated.
"But they're the Retinue has the only people on the continent who can possibly help us find our father," Nero replied. "And we agreed that I would take one of the civilian positions, not a military one."
Ares sighed. "But you know what will happen if they need an alchemist, civilian position be damned."
Nero glared at his brother. "Then we find a way to not kill anyone."
The Train whistle blew and the boys lurched forward, as the movement beyond them stopped.
"Looks like we're here." Nero stated.
Ares rolled his eyes.
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The suitcases in their hands were heavy, but the two brothers were not bothered by it.
Nero looked at the telegram in his hand. "He should be waiting for us under the platform sign."
And then they saw the person under the platform sign,holding a small banner that said the word "Schwarze." on it.
The Old man was not happy when the boys approached him. In his left hand was a neatly folded, but slightly crumpled note, with the seal of one of the telegraph companies that went into the cities. "Boys… So wonderful to see you again." He was calm and collected, however, his tone made Nero and Ares shiver in fear.
It was too late to stammer and lie, all that would do is anger the old man further than he was letting on. All they could do was tell them their side of the story. And hope he would accept it.
Hopefully, Master Barry didn't decide to ship them both back to Greenfield in a cargo box.
He then gave a weary sigh, his face softening as he felt Nero and Ares face with his free hand. His entire demeanor softened significantly. "Boys… Your telegram did not say why you were coming down here."
Nero took a deep breath, remembering the Telegram's simple message. "We're coming down South." The simple message was all Nero could afford before they got onto their train to Winterwilde.
Nero gazed into his master's pale, misty, milky eyes to say why they were there, when his master touched his lips with his hand, a smile rising on his lips. "You've both grown since we last saw each other. How long has it been since you left my tutelage?"
"Five years, Master Barry." Ares replied, with utmost respect in his voice.
Barry than felt Nero's left arm. "I see you've still kept up on your training."
"We have, Master Barry." Nero replied.
The old master and his young students stood still for a moment before the old man turned around. "Walk with me, boys… we'll talk in a moment."
Nero and Ares followed their old master off of the platform, towards the city itself. The noise and crowd seemed to not both Barry, but the two boys could only stare in wonder at the large city they had only read about in newspapers, and seen in pictures in history books.
The large buildings that towered overhead them and the boys took the time to look around, seeing all they could see.
"Boys!" Their master shouted. But they knew their duty, and both boys knew that they still needed to tell their master the truth.
The walk through the city was foreign to the boys, the cement and cobblestone sidewalks were making their shoes echo, heavy footsteps used to gravel and dirt roads.
They then came to a small building, a three-story building with a store sign that read "The Emporium Of Knowledge"
"You own a bookstore?" Ares asked.
Barry sighed. "Yes. What did you expect me to own a butchers shop or something along that line?"
Nero shrugged and gave a stiff laugh. "You seem like a man who would hunt the boar and kill it with your own two hands, blindness be damned."
Barry's absent glare did nothing to make Nero any better. "I like it quiet." He stated. "Those kinds of shops are always loud and smelly." The door opened, and he waved the boys in. "I prefer the smells of pulp and paper and the quietness of turning pages."
The shop was quaint and small, with shelves and shelves of books resting in them, from penny novels, pulp novels for action and adventure stories, to the hardbound classics, science books and magazines for tools and appliances.
The air smelled of paper and dust. Barry took a deep breath and exhaled happily. "Ah, good to be home." He muttered to himself. He walked through the store and went behind the counter, sitting down on the chair that was there.
The twins put down their things, stretching as they slowly gravitated towards the counter.
Then Barry took another deep breath, clearing his mind for the conversation ahead. Nero understood that, and he steeled himself for it. Ares did the same.
Both boys stood at attention to their former master, waiting for him to speak.
But Barristien did not speak. In fact, he only seemed to stare vacantly in their direction, leaning forward, as if to look closer at them.
Finally, after a minute of uncomfortable silence, Barry spoke. "What happened?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Ares asked.
"I know you both… you would never come to me if something hadn't happened to your parents." He replied.
This was the part Nero had been fearing since they left the train. How could he answer him if he could not even remember.
Nero took a deep breath. "We were part of an experiment with our father. He did something to us, something we don't remember."
Barry stroked his chin. "Did the Experiment leave any marks on you?" He asked.
Ares and Nero gave a glance at each other, before Ares lifted up his right sleeve to reveal a small seal on his arm. It was a dragon circling around him, with four triangles in the center of it, with a sword stabbing through a smaller snake, the mark of the Flamel School of Alchemy.
It was branded on their skins.
Ares walked forward and helped Barry feel it with his own hands.
Barristian did not move, but he took several deep breaths, trying to compose himself, as he took his hands off of the marks. "Do you know exactly what your father did to you?"
"We don't know." Nero replied, offering a hand and helping his master to his feet. "That's why we came down south… We wanted to find out what our father did to us." Nero took a deep breath. "And there's only one place in the world where we might find out that information."
Barry bent down and picked up his chair, taking a seat again as his hands wiped his face. "You want to join the Imperial Retinue?"
"Yes," Nero stated. "We need you to sign the paperwork stating you are our guardian so that we may join."
The Imperial military did not take anyone under the age of 16, it was a law that went back to the days of the Schwarzen legions, back when they were mere city-states vying for control of the Schwarlands. They did not want their young boys to suffer through war, and it was a practice that carried on to this day.
Accept when the Guardian of the children and the children themselves were making a conscious choice on the matter.
Barristan took another breath. "I can't do that."
"Only I am asking for it, Barry." Nero stated. "Ares does not want to be the one who joins the retinue."
"Boys." Barry sighed as if it was paining him to do that. "I taught you everything that I know… but Please, for the love of Altosk, don't join the Retinue."
Nero wasn't going to take no for an answer. Nero narrowed his eyes. "I have too… We have to find out what our father did to us."
Barry looked down to the ground. "Sleep here tonight… think about what you really want. Then we'll talk tomorrow."
Nero and Ares nodded and bowed to their former master. "Yes, sir." They said.
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The Afternoon sun was far cooler than it was in Greenfield, with the smoke covered clouds blowing it out.
But the roof of the Emporium of Knowledge was the same as all the others surrounding it, flat, drab and overlooking the street and other shops.
The two brothers have been on the roof for an hour, trying their best to make sense of their particular conundrum.
"We should ask him about the symbols." Ares stated. "We'll have more luck with that than anything else."
"The old man might not even know what happened, or what the brands are? We can't just ask him 'Hey, Barry, we want to know if our father somehow cracked some sort of secret alchemist code that erased our memories and left us with brands on our arms, think you can tell us what it is? Thanks.' Cause that is the kind of stuff that might get us sent to an asylum." Nero shot back.
"And you really think that joining a government organization who's very purpose is to study our craft is just going to give us an answer that may as well be a hypothesis?" Ares crossed his arms. "Because that's what this looks like."
"What choice do we have Ares?" Nero said his brothers name in contempt, mostly for what he was suggesting. Even after we researched everything we could find in Dad's study, but nothing really changed.
"We have a choice Nero!" Ares shouted. "We can go home or stay with Master Barry to continue training!"
"Yeah, and then what, just forget about it? Write it off as some bad dream or experiment gone wrong?!" Nero shouted. "If it turns out dad did something to us and we choose not to join up, what's to stop some schmuck with a badge from kicking down the door and taking us away from mom against our will? Or someone walking into this store and killing the old man?" Nero replied. "I want to be able to protect you Ares. You and Mom and Old Man Barry."
"And who's going to protect you Nero?" Ares replied.
Nero paused and studied his brothers face. 'Dammit all, why did you have to be so… you Ares.' "The only I trust for that job is you."
Ares sighed, and frowned. "Bro…" Ares sat down against the low roof wall, his back to the street. "I just wish everything was back to normal. I just wish we were back home with mom and dad, thinking about if the Alchemical Academy was going to accept us, not missing memories, travelling halfway down the continent to have you join the Retinue, and trying to find dad."
Nero walked over to his brother and sat down next to him. "I know. But we don't have that luxury anymore."
'But I really wish we did. It would be so much simpler then this crazy mess we find ourselves in.'
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Barry did not look up from the dinner table as Nero and Ares both sat down there. He was staring absently at the small bowl of mashed potatoes in front of him. It was still steaming, warm, having just been put on his plate by Ares just a moment before. "Thank you." He whispered.
Nero took a deep breath before he said. "Water, starch, sugar, protein, trypsin inhibitor, oxalate, vitamin C, phenol, carotene, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, and manganese, heated to over two hundred degrees over the gas stovetop for twenty minutes, as instructed."
Barry smiled before giving a small chuckle. "When I asked you to make dinner tonight, I expected you to actually buy food from the grocer across the street, not get into my stores and make it yourself."
Ares shook his head. "We can't spend any more of your money Master Barry. You have already given us so much. Besides, we're a little out of practice." " There was a beat. "And, we spent all of our money getting down here."
Barry frowned. "That is not an excuse. Your staying in my home, and you are my students. You do not need to burden yourselves anymore then you have to." He then took a deep breath. Even as a blind old man, Nero knew he could read them like they were one of his books. It was as if he could see them both, as if he was not blind.
"Something is on your mind boys, I know that much from Nero deciding to list all the ingredients he wasted on making dinner tonight." His face softened. "What is wrong?"
Nero did not look at his master, he instead looked to the food in front of him. The warmth that touched his face distracted him from his thoughts.
Ares spoke first, saving Nero from having to speak first. "We're scared." Barry did not show any emotion as he heard the statement from the younger twin. "Our father did something to us and we have nothing to go off of Master… What if he broke the Taboo, and our memories were stolen from us as punishment?"
Barry took a breath, his sharp inhale silenced the panicking boy. He paused and looked at Nero, and then to Ares. "I do not want to see you both eat yourself alive because of an event outside of your control."
Nero took his eyes off of his food and was now looking back at his master. Though the man was blind, Nero could feel the warmth coming from his eyes, understanding the pain both Nero and Ares were feeling. But Nero still felt something gnawing inside of him, whispering in his ear like an incessant nagging, telling him that it was all his fault.
"But-" Nero wished to speak, but Barry raised his hand.
"No more words out of your mouth boy, and listen to what I have to say." Barry ordered. The twins master looked at both of them before he said, or at least he tried to give that impression with his head moving side to side at the table. "You have goodness in your heart."
Nero felt a tang from his heart as it picked up in pace, and the nagging whisper was silenced.
"A rare trait for anyone in this day and age. It's what makes you far better than your father." Barry then turned to Ares, his blind eyes staring down onto his hands. "Ares, you follow your brother because it is the right thing for you to do. Your love for each other is something not even your father's experiments can break. Even both of you bickering like an old married couple can't stop that."
That made Ares smile, and Nero took a bite out of the food he prepared. It tasted good.
But as Nero swallowed, he saw that Ares and Barry still had not touched their food.
"I hoped that I would not have to tell you this until tomorrow, but I can't see you in any more pain," Barry stated. Ares traded a glance with his twin, but the two boys looked to their master. "The symbol on your arm. I recognized it when I felt the branding. It's the Symbol of Altosk's Chosen."
"How's that possible?" Nero asked. "Altosk's Chosen haven't been seen since the end of the Dawn War. Their just myths and stories."
"The scaring was done in such a way that you were branded, but it healed in such a way that it will remain forever stained on your skin… to always tell who you are." Barry paused. "It seems that whatever happened to you, Altosk took an interest."
Nero looked down to his food. "Then what happened to us? What did our father do to us?"
"I don't know," Barry replied, sadness in his voice. Nero felt something off about his master's voice, as if he was trying to hide something. "At least not an answer that I feel confident in telling you yet. But I know you both well enough to trust your own judgment. And if you need help, I will always be there to help you."
The words of encouragement were then replaced by Barry taking a bite out of the foot in front of him. "Hm." He mumbled. "Tastes good, though it could use more salt."
The three men ate their food, enjoying their company, before going to bed.
The Twins were not plagued by any of the nightmares that haunted their dreams. All they dreamed about was the stories they heard about in their childhood.
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The Morning came quickly, and the twins looked at their Master Barry. "I've made my choice Master… I have to join." Nero stated.
The argument had been short, but the point was made. Nero was going to join. Barry looked disappointed in his student, but he gave an approving nod. His signature was on the note he had handwritten himself. It looked a little messy, but it would serve Nero's purposes.
To the Imperial Retinue From Barristian Riley
My ward and student, Nero Schwarze of Greenfield, has requested permission from me to join the Imperial Retinue. He does so knowing full well the risks, responsibilities, and the sacrifice that his nation may call upon him to make.
He does so with sound body, and mind, having made the decision himself and of his own volition, without any prompting or encouragement from myself, or from any member of his family.
May the God's Guide him.
Barristain Riley.
"Thank You, Master Barry." Nero stated.
"Go, before I change my mind and rip up that letter." Barry replied.
The boys left their masters home, walking towards the Headquarters of the Royal Retinue.
AN: Enjoy.
Chapter 2
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Chapter 2
Nero was separated from Ares after he handed the letter to the receptionist.
He was escorted into a dark room with dim lights, with two chairs and a desk. Then a woman in a blue uniform walked into the room, with a small clipboard on her hands. "Nero Schwarze, I will need you to answer a few questions for us before we can continue. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Nero replied.
"Your current guardian is Barristian Riley, is that correct?" the woman asked.
"Yes." Nero replied, trying to not sound like he was lying.
The woman paused, like she noticed Nero's answer was strained and forced. She either did not recognize it, or did and ignored it. "Are you looking for a civilian position within the Retinue or a military one?"
"Civilian." Nero replied.
There was a sound of a pencil moving. The woman then asked. "Are you religious in any way, and will those beliefs affect how you may carry out your duties?"
"I believe in Altosk The Lord of Knowladge, and I don't believe that will affect my duties. My answer may change if I learn what my duties may entail." It was an honest answer, Nero had no idea what his duties were.
Another pencil mark was made. "How many years of Alchemical Experience do you have?"
"8 Years." You replied. "5 of those Years were under the tutelage of Barristan Riley." Nero hoped that the mention of his mentor would help his case. "The other three under the guidance of my father, Mars Schwarze."
The woman's eyes widened in shock for one moment, before she wrote something down on a piece of paper. "Wait here please." She stated.
Nero saw the woman walk away, out of the door to the outside world.
The wait was agonizing, but soon someone came through the door.
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Ares was alone, sitting in the Retinue Headquarters lobby. The entire place was empty, save for the receptionist who was writing down something on her typewriter.
He wasn't about to start speaking to the receptionist, mostly because that would be rude. He was not a little child waiting for his parents to come pick him up and he had to wait all alone. He was a man… or as much of a man as he thought he was.
Sitting inside however, was not going to serve him any better. It could be hours until Nero finishes his interview,and he could get very hungry at that time.
Taking a moment to take a breath, Ares stood up and walked out of the headquarters and back onto the streets.
A dinner was across the street,The Lonely Stallion. A perfect place to wait for Nero.
Walking into the dinner, Ares saw that it was very full, the clock showing it was only 10 in the morning.
He didn't expect it to be super busy. Most cafe's back home never picked up before lunch, even during the summer festival and harvest season. However, this was the city,the capital of the Empire, it operated by different rules than back home.
There were a lot of military uniforms here too, a sea of blue, black and red, with golden stars, cloth shoulders with insignia on them. A few wore hats, others berets, while the few that were without hats were treated with respect.
Men and women alike were spending their morning together, comrades drinking to their health. It was bizarre.
Greenfield was very small, only a few thousand people, Summerhold was the nearest military base, and even then, it was only a small engineering garrison, more focused on fighting wildfires and building railroads than training for battle. They were well liked by the locals, and even in Greenfield.
It took days to get to Summerhold to send the Harvest south. Now it only took a few hours, with trains coming and going every hour of Harvest season.
It certainly made travel safer, that's for sure, and it made him and his brother arrived here safely.
Ares waited for a moment before walking up to the counter and grabbing a menu. He received a few looks from the soldiers, a few snarls and a few laughs and jabs.
Thankfully the server came before anything changed. She was an old woman dressed in a yellow uniform with a black apron over it, her skin pale and her glasses ornate and expensive. "What can I get you honey?" She asked.
Ares took a moment to look at the menu, and saw the item with the most food on it, before saying. "I want the Emperor's Breakfast."
There was a pause, and the entire cafe turned to face him. Their mouths agape, disbelief on their faces.
"What?" There was a squeak from one of the soldiers.
The server's mouth twitched. "I'm sorry dear… did you say you want the Emperor's Breakfast?"
Ares nodded. "Yes."
'What was the problem… It looked delicious.' His mind wandered.
There was a beat, a few boots stomping on the ground before someone came out from the back and opened a case. There were odds on it. "Alright everyone, place your bets."
Ares was confused. "What's going on?"
""If you can eat the Emperor's breakfast in less than ten minutes, it's on the house." The server said.
"How much does it cost?" Ares asked.
"Twenty Marks." The server replied.
Wahhh. Ares took a breath. 'No, no time for panicking. You could do it.' "Wait can I have a booth."
The server nodded. "Clear a booth!"
Abooth cleared, and Ares found himself being pushed by one of the soldiers into the seat. The soldiers were carrying tickets and were eyeing him like he was a meal ticket.
"Um… Is it too late to change my order?" Ares asked.
The server shrugged. "Sorry kid, but once the Emperor's Breakfast has been asked for, your eating it."
"Why didn't you put a warning on the menu?" Ares aked.
"Because most people aren't stupid enough to ask for that as a meal. What are you, some shireboy?" The server stated.
"Yes I am." Ares replied as he folded his arms.
There was a cough, and Ares heard a heckler say. "He's fucked. That kid looks like he can't eat an apple, much less a full course meal."
"The Emperor's breakfast is a three course meal that contains four scrambled eggs," THat isn't so bad? "four pieces of Bacon, two hashbrowns, two pieces of toast. The second course is a pancake, with butter syrup and a waffle and a glass of milk. The Third course is a blueberry muffin." The server said.
"No milk or drink in the first course?" Ares asked.
"The first drink is milk as well." The server replied, clearly trying to rack her brain for the answer. "Sorry, it's been awhile since someone ordered The Emperor's Breakfast."
"How long ago was that?" Ares asked.
"Almost a year."
The doors to the kitchen opened and out came three silver platters.
Well… At least Ares was going to...
The platter tops were removed and he saw the food being served to him.
They called that an Emperor's Breakfast?
Ares wracked his brain to try and not laugh his ass off. Lucy and mom made a larger Breakfast then 'Oh well, at least I get a free meal.'
The plates were set on the table. "Ready… Set… GO!" The crowd of soldiers shouted.
Ares grabbed a fork and dug in.
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"That was delicious." Ares stated before he burped. "Excuse me."
The entire dinner was silent, their mouths agape at what they just saw. "What kind of monster are you?" Someone in the crowd asked.
"Just a kid from the Shire." Ares replied with a smile.
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The man who came into the room was not a military man, at least as far as Nero could tell. The red uniform shirt that the man wore underneath his black military jacket was not standard issued by any of the imperial military. In fact, as far as Nero could tell, the red shirt was a business shirt, with a black tie that was made of silk. But it was the jacket that made Nero realize the mans rank of nobility.
The ornate golden, yellow rope on his shoulder was sparkling with gold dust, on the left side of his torso had a small metal with a golden crown on it, The Mark of the Legion, the Emperor's calling card for excellence, when a man of noble birth made strides and headway among the empire, making it better for his home and the Empire in general. By his hip was the Imperial Retinues symbol, and surrounding it, a small bag, with a pistol strapped to his side.
The man in front of Nero was a high noble… a very high noble. Nero found himself sitting up straighter as the man sat down. If this was the man who was interviewing him, he would need to be different than the scared boy who ran away from home.
The man gave a small smile to Nero, clearly sensing the anxiety radiating from him. "Hello Mr. Schwarze." He said with a gentle tone. But it was clear to Nero that the man was in complete control. He pulled out a small vanilla colored file. "I know Ms. Galara interviewed you earlier, but I want to have a few questions answered before you can leave."
"Do you mind if I know who you are, sir?" Nero asked, trying not to hesitate as he spoke.
The man's smile did not dip. "No. Not until you answer my questions that is."
Nero nodded. "Fair enough."
The man opened the file. "What School of Alchemy do you belong to?"
"The Flamel School." Nero replied without hesitation.
The man looked up, his eyes slightly widened in disbelief. "The Flamel School? You know nothing of the other schools of alchemy?"
"No sir." Nero replied. "The other schools are not as useful as the Flamel School. That, and my master did not view the other schools in a very good light."
That made the man look down to the file. "Barristain Riley… Mars… Schwarze…" There was a frown, and than a tightening of the man's jaw. "Yes, I shouldn't have asked that question. But why is it that you do not try to learn something from the other schools? Surely knowing more may help you, in any sort of job that may require an alchemist."
Nero took a breath, before he gave a smile, remembering his masters rants about the other 'Lesser Schools' of Alchemy, where they taught shortcuts that did not make the Alchemists think of the long term costs of their actions, on both themselves, and the environment.
"Because the Flamel School requires the Alchemist to connect to the world, to see themselves, not as using the resources around them as building blocks, but as part of that world. We rise from dust, and we will become dust again. We are part of an endless cycle… the only changes being in our actions, and our reactions." Nero quoted Ricardo Caspian's "On the Fundamentals of Alchemy, Vol. 1" The first book on Alchemy he had ever read during his masters tutelage. Considered the most definitive starting text for any beginner wanting to get into alchemy.
The noble closed the file. His face now held a genuine smile. He looked impressed, very impressed. "I see you've memorized Caspian's work?"
"Old man Barristan beat the words into me." Nero replied. "They'll never leave me till I'm dead."
The noble's demeanor was lighter now. "Indeed. Though I have to ask, how did you come under the tutelage of Barristain Riley?"
Nero chuckled, the memory of the old drunkenly stumbling in front of them while he and Ares begged him to teach them was always something he treasured. Getting that old man to Dr. Federal and Sam also helped soften him to the idea of staying in Greenfield for a little while. "Lets just say we helped him out and he helped us."
The noble smiled. "It says here you are from Greenfield, in the Angshire." The words made Nero freeze in his chair, his eyes widening. The noble's smile also dropped "What clan do you hail form?"
Nero gulped. "My mother hails…" He paused for a moment. "from the Lupin Clan."
The noble picked up a pencil from his pocket and made some scribbling sounds, a note of some sort. "Yet you don't wear the name… You chose to wear the name of your father?"
Nero nodded. "Yes."
"Why?" The noble asked.
Nero stopped, looking away to the wall. In the dark, he could for a moment make out the glass. He could see the look on his face, the fear, the anxiety…
The determination.
"Because despite everything, he's still my father… and I'm still his son." No matter how much pain he put his sons through.
"Do you have any goals that you wish to achieve? In the military or in the government?" The Noble asked.
Besides finding out what happened to him, and try to reverse it? Nothing much. But he couldn't say anything like that. He liked his secrets to remain secret. "I want to find my father and beat the shit out of him for abandoning me and my brother and my mother… but otherwise… I really don't know."
The noble nodded. "You want to find your own path. I can respect that." He put the file down and leaned forward. "I have one more question to ask you however: Why do you want to join my retinue?"
The gears finally clicked together. Nero finally recognized the man. He lept backwards from his seat and went onto his knees, not daring to look up to the man's eyes.
He should have recognized him from the newspapers, but he failed to.
The man in front of him was Prince Alexander, the heir to the throne!
Acting on pure instinct, Nero fell to his knees, recognizing his better.
That made Alexander frown and sigh. "Gods dammit, get up Mr. Schwarze." He ordered. "Your embarrassing yourself." Nero stood up and faced the man, only to start looking down as to not look at his eyes. "Would you please look at me." Nero hesitated for a moment, before he did as he was told. "I know that speaking to a member of the royal family is completely unexpected, but I sometimes want to know about the new members of my retinue."
"You're a prince, you deserve the respect your title holds." Nero replied.
"Respect… I only wish I had respect." There was silence from Alexander as he shook his head, as if catching himself from showing some forbidden emotions. "Now, please, answer my question…Why do you want to join my retinue?"
"Because I want to find my father." Nero replied. "And if I can't do that, maybe I can help people whenever I can."
That made Alexander nod. "Very well." Alexander stood up. "We will be in touch about if you will get into my retinue." The door opened and the Prince left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Hour passed before Nero was finally escorted to the front of the building, where Ares was waiting for him. He jumped up. "Nero!" He shouted. "Are you a member now?" He asked.
"I don't know. We're going to get a letter soon." He replied, not really wanting to talk about the meeting just yet to his brother. "Lets go."
AN: Enjoy.
Nero was separated from Ares after he handed the letter to the receptionist.
He was escorted into a dark room with dim lights, with two chairs and a desk. Then a woman in a blue uniform walked into the room, with a small clipboard on her hands. "Nero Schwarze, I will need you to answer a few questions for us before we can continue. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Nero replied.
"Your current guardian is Barristian Riley, is that correct?" the woman asked.
"Yes." Nero replied, trying to not sound like he was lying.
The woman paused, like she noticed Nero's answer was strained and forced. She either did not recognize it, or did and ignored it. "Are you looking for a civilian position within the Retinue or a military one?"
"Civilian." Nero replied.
There was a sound of a pencil moving. The woman then asked. "Are you religious in any way, and will those beliefs affect how you may carry out your duties?"
"I believe in Altosk The Lord of Knowladge, and I don't believe that will affect my duties. My answer may change if I learn what my duties may entail." It was an honest answer, Nero had no idea what his duties were.
Another pencil mark was made. "How many years of Alchemical Experience do you have?"
"8 Years." You replied. "5 of those Years were under the tutelage of Barristan Riley." Nero hoped that the mention of his mentor would help his case. "The other three under the guidance of my father, Mars Schwarze."
The woman's eyes widened in shock for one moment, before she wrote something down on a piece of paper. "Wait here please." She stated.
Nero saw the woman walk away, out of the door to the outside world.
The wait was agonizing, but soon someone came through the door.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ares was alone, sitting in the Retinue Headquarters lobby. The entire place was empty, save for the receptionist who was writing down something on her typewriter.
He wasn't about to start speaking to the receptionist, mostly because that would be rude. He was not a little child waiting for his parents to come pick him up and he had to wait all alone. He was a man… or as much of a man as he thought he was.
Sitting inside however, was not going to serve him any better. It could be hours until Nero finishes his interview,and he could get very hungry at that time.
Taking a moment to take a breath, Ares stood up and walked out of the headquarters and back onto the streets.
A dinner was across the street,The Lonely Stallion. A perfect place to wait for Nero.
Walking into the dinner, Ares saw that it was very full, the clock showing it was only 10 in the morning.
He didn't expect it to be super busy. Most cafe's back home never picked up before lunch, even during the summer festival and harvest season. However, this was the city,the capital of the Empire, it operated by different rules than back home.
There were a lot of military uniforms here too, a sea of blue, black and red, with golden stars, cloth shoulders with insignia on them. A few wore hats, others berets, while the few that were without hats were treated with respect.
Men and women alike were spending their morning together, comrades drinking to their health. It was bizarre.
Greenfield was very small, only a few thousand people, Summerhold was the nearest military base, and even then, it was only a small engineering garrison, more focused on fighting wildfires and building railroads than training for battle. They were well liked by the locals, and even in Greenfield.
It took days to get to Summerhold to send the Harvest south. Now it only took a few hours, with trains coming and going every hour of Harvest season.
It certainly made travel safer, that's for sure, and it made him and his brother arrived here safely.
Ares waited for a moment before walking up to the counter and grabbing a menu. He received a few looks from the soldiers, a few snarls and a few laughs and jabs.
Thankfully the server came before anything changed. She was an old woman dressed in a yellow uniform with a black apron over it, her skin pale and her glasses ornate and expensive. "What can I get you honey?" She asked.
Ares took a moment to look at the menu, and saw the item with the most food on it, before saying. "I want the Emperor's Breakfast."
There was a pause, and the entire cafe turned to face him. Their mouths agape, disbelief on their faces.
"What?" There was a squeak from one of the soldiers.
The server's mouth twitched. "I'm sorry dear… did you say you want the Emperor's Breakfast?"
Ares nodded. "Yes."
'What was the problem… It looked delicious.' His mind wandered.
There was a beat, a few boots stomping on the ground before someone came out from the back and opened a case. There were odds on it. "Alright everyone, place your bets."
Ares was confused. "What's going on?"
""If you can eat the Emperor's breakfast in less than ten minutes, it's on the house." The server said.
"How much does it cost?" Ares asked.
"Twenty Marks." The server replied.
Wahhh. Ares took a breath. 'No, no time for panicking. You could do it.' "Wait can I have a booth."
The server nodded. "Clear a booth!"
Abooth cleared, and Ares found himself being pushed by one of the soldiers into the seat. The soldiers were carrying tickets and were eyeing him like he was a meal ticket.
"Um… Is it too late to change my order?" Ares asked.
The server shrugged. "Sorry kid, but once the Emperor's Breakfast has been asked for, your eating it."
"Why didn't you put a warning on the menu?" Ares aked.
"Because most people aren't stupid enough to ask for that as a meal. What are you, some shireboy?" The server stated.
"Yes I am." Ares replied as he folded his arms.
There was a cough, and Ares heard a heckler say. "He's fucked. That kid looks like he can't eat an apple, much less a full course meal."
"The Emperor's breakfast is a three course meal that contains four scrambled eggs," THat isn't so bad? "four pieces of Bacon, two hashbrowns, two pieces of toast. The second course is a pancake, with butter syrup and a waffle and a glass of milk. The Third course is a blueberry muffin." The server said.
"No milk or drink in the first course?" Ares asked.
"The first drink is milk as well." The server replied, clearly trying to rack her brain for the answer. "Sorry, it's been awhile since someone ordered The Emperor's Breakfast."
"How long ago was that?" Ares asked.
"Almost a year."
The doors to the kitchen opened and out came three silver platters.
Well… At least Ares was going to...
The platter tops were removed and he saw the food being served to him.
They called that an Emperor's Breakfast?
Ares wracked his brain to try and not laugh his ass off. Lucy and mom made a larger Breakfast then 'Oh well, at least I get a free meal.'
The plates were set on the table. "Ready… Set… GO!" The crowd of soldiers shouted.
Ares grabbed a fork and dug in.
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"That was delicious." Ares stated before he burped. "Excuse me."
The entire dinner was silent, their mouths agape at what they just saw. "What kind of monster are you?" Someone in the crowd asked.
"Just a kid from the Shire." Ares replied with a smile.
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The man who came into the room was not a military man, at least as far as Nero could tell. The red uniform shirt that the man wore underneath his black military jacket was not standard issued by any of the imperial military. In fact, as far as Nero could tell, the red shirt was a business shirt, with a black tie that was made of silk. But it was the jacket that made Nero realize the mans rank of nobility.
The ornate golden, yellow rope on his shoulder was sparkling with gold dust, on the left side of his torso had a small metal with a golden crown on it, The Mark of the Legion, the Emperor's calling card for excellence, when a man of noble birth made strides and headway among the empire, making it better for his home and the Empire in general. By his hip was the Imperial Retinues symbol, and surrounding it, a small bag, with a pistol strapped to his side.
The man in front of Nero was a high noble… a very high noble. Nero found himself sitting up straighter as the man sat down. If this was the man who was interviewing him, he would need to be different than the scared boy who ran away from home.
The man gave a small smile to Nero, clearly sensing the anxiety radiating from him. "Hello Mr. Schwarze." He said with a gentle tone. But it was clear to Nero that the man was in complete control. He pulled out a small vanilla colored file. "I know Ms. Galara interviewed you earlier, but I want to have a few questions answered before you can leave."
"Do you mind if I know who you are, sir?" Nero asked, trying not to hesitate as he spoke.
The man's smile did not dip. "No. Not until you answer my questions that is."
Nero nodded. "Fair enough."
The man opened the file. "What School of Alchemy do you belong to?"
"The Flamel School." Nero replied without hesitation.
The man looked up, his eyes slightly widened in disbelief. "The Flamel School? You know nothing of the other schools of alchemy?"
"No sir." Nero replied. "The other schools are not as useful as the Flamel School. That, and my master did not view the other schools in a very good light."
That made the man look down to the file. "Barristain Riley… Mars… Schwarze…" There was a frown, and than a tightening of the man's jaw. "Yes, I shouldn't have asked that question. But why is it that you do not try to learn something from the other schools? Surely knowing more may help you, in any sort of job that may require an alchemist."
Nero took a breath, before he gave a smile, remembering his masters rants about the other 'Lesser Schools' of Alchemy, where they taught shortcuts that did not make the Alchemists think of the long term costs of their actions, on both themselves, and the environment.
"Because the Flamel School requires the Alchemist to connect to the world, to see themselves, not as using the resources around them as building blocks, but as part of that world. We rise from dust, and we will become dust again. We are part of an endless cycle… the only changes being in our actions, and our reactions." Nero quoted Ricardo Caspian's "On the Fundamentals of Alchemy, Vol. 1" The first book on Alchemy he had ever read during his masters tutelage. Considered the most definitive starting text for any beginner wanting to get into alchemy.
The noble closed the file. His face now held a genuine smile. He looked impressed, very impressed. "I see you've memorized Caspian's work?"
"Old man Barristan beat the words into me." Nero replied. "They'll never leave me till I'm dead."
The noble's demeanor was lighter now. "Indeed. Though I have to ask, how did you come under the tutelage of Barristain Riley?"
Nero chuckled, the memory of the old drunkenly stumbling in front of them while he and Ares begged him to teach them was always something he treasured. Getting that old man to Dr. Federal and Sam also helped soften him to the idea of staying in Greenfield for a little while. "Lets just say we helped him out and he helped us."
The noble smiled. "It says here you are from Greenfield, in the Angshire." The words made Nero freeze in his chair, his eyes widening. The noble's smile also dropped "What clan do you hail form?"
Nero gulped. "My mother hails…" He paused for a moment. "from the Lupin Clan."
The noble picked up a pencil from his pocket and made some scribbling sounds, a note of some sort. "Yet you don't wear the name… You chose to wear the name of your father?"
Nero nodded. "Yes."
"Why?" The noble asked.
Nero stopped, looking away to the wall. In the dark, he could for a moment make out the glass. He could see the look on his face, the fear, the anxiety…
The determination.
"Because despite everything, he's still my father… and I'm still his son." No matter how much pain he put his sons through.
"Do you have any goals that you wish to achieve? In the military or in the government?" The Noble asked.
Besides finding out what happened to him, and try to reverse it? Nothing much. But he couldn't say anything like that. He liked his secrets to remain secret. "I want to find my father and beat the shit out of him for abandoning me and my brother and my mother… but otherwise… I really don't know."
The noble nodded. "You want to find your own path. I can respect that." He put the file down and leaned forward. "I have one more question to ask you however: Why do you want to join my retinue?"
The gears finally clicked together. Nero finally recognized the man. He lept backwards from his seat and went onto his knees, not daring to look up to the man's eyes.
He should have recognized him from the newspapers, but he failed to.
The man in front of him was Prince Alexander, the heir to the throne!
Acting on pure instinct, Nero fell to his knees, recognizing his better.
That made Alexander frown and sigh. "Gods dammit, get up Mr. Schwarze." He ordered. "Your embarrassing yourself." Nero stood up and faced the man, only to start looking down as to not look at his eyes. "Would you please look at me." Nero hesitated for a moment, before he did as he was told. "I know that speaking to a member of the royal family is completely unexpected, but I sometimes want to know about the new members of my retinue."
"You're a prince, you deserve the respect your title holds." Nero replied.
"Respect… I only wish I had respect." There was silence from Alexander as he shook his head, as if catching himself from showing some forbidden emotions. "Now, please, answer my question…Why do you want to join my retinue?"
"Because I want to find my father." Nero replied. "And if I can't do that, maybe I can help people whenever I can."
That made Alexander nod. "Very well." Alexander stood up. "We will be in touch about if you will get into my retinue." The door opened and the Prince left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An Hour passed before Nero was finally escorted to the front of the building, where Ares was waiting for him. He jumped up. "Nero!" He shouted. "Are you a member now?" He asked.
"I don't know. We're going to get a letter soon." He replied, not really wanting to talk about the meeting just yet to his brother. "Lets go."
AN: Enjoy.
Chapter 3
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Chapter 3
Prince Alexander was very pleased with the Interview of Nero Schwarze. The boy was definitely as bright as his spies told him he would be, he had the tact to keep quiet and not ask stupid questions from him and he was socially awkward enough to manipulate if given the right information.
Nero was perfect… save for one glaring character flaw that would make him all but useless.
Nero seemed to take more from his bastard pacifist of a teacher than Alexander would have liked. Sylvia had told him that he was a follower of Altosk, one of the few pacifist gods that were among the pantheon of the gods their people worshiped. He had suspected that Nero only paid lip service to the lord of knowledge, as all but the most studious of alchemists give as a mere courtesy.
But instead, the boy was like his teacher Barristan.
A true believer, if not in practice, then in spirit. Someone so dedicated to knowledge and the preservation of it that they will never kill, not with reason. They saw life as precious, and something that must be preserved at all cost.
It was… troubling to say the least.
Nero would not do for his plans of course. Pacifism and mercy had no place in his revolution, even if it was an internal one between ideologies, rather than men with power deciding one man's ass should sit the throne instead of another.
Or to overthrow the Monarchy entirely and empower the parliament, as it should have done a century ago.
It could be worse, however… The Empire could be like the Koryo Alliance, where the only way things seem to get done is through one nations bullying of another. Forcing the nations to comply by pure military force. An untenable balance that would only lead to bloodshed and destruction, a war that would decimate an entire continent.
A war that would destroy every single advancement since the unification.The Industrialization of the heartlands, the taming of the Lawless Shire, the building of the great Rail Lines that go everyone on the continent, even the Airships that were being tested for the civilian market, true air travel being funded by the Imperial Treasury.
The Unification Wars and the subsequent peace was long past, the political inertia from the first emperors had stabilized the empire into what it is today. A safe society, a great nation, with a large standing army that cracked down on anything resembling dissidents, trying it's best to remain afloat as the world continues to get smaller with the rapidly advancing technologies.
Yet even the Empire it had its problems. The inertia brought little in the way of change, there were still feudal lord's that clung to power, even as their ways were seen as obsolete and dying. Ways that have been illegal for centuries, that could never be enforced before now. The upheaval was still being felt to this day.
The empire was a fragile thing, and Alexander knew that the worst could happen as quickly as they could get better. And he knew that he could very well be the last emperor.
While he was not a student of Alchemy, he did know and understand the fundamental principles of it. To Create Something, something of Equal Value must be given.
He was not a fool, he knew the old system of autonomy, rapid centralization, military governorships for some and total rule for other states was not going to work any more, not with the telegram, not with the train and the interconnected nature that the empire was becoming.
One man could no longer rule the empire, and bend the nation to his will through strength and brutality. He understood that. Others not so much.
Wilfred's heart was in the right place, but not his brain. He thought everything was fine, that everything could be safely ignored until the next generation.
Alexander walked past Sylvia and she followed close behind. "What do you think of the boy?" He asked.
"He's certainly not what I expected as a student of Barristain Riley." She replied with a cold monotone voice. It seems she was still maintaining the veneer of professionalism, even when they were alone. "He's Pragmatic, more so than the old man. Though he certainly has his conviction within him."
'Dammit, all.' They were alone, she could at least drop the voice and acted like she cared. "I think he's exactly what we should have expected," Alexander replied as he stopped and looked out the window. "He won't serve in the military, that much is certain, but knowing any student of Barristian, he wants to help people better their lives in any way he can. It would work marvelously if he had the right challenges to face, and if he completed them admirably, It would do wonders to the Retinues reputation, and give me more political bargaining power with my father."
That made Sylvia nod in agreement. "What about the General? You know how he feels about underages members joining the retinue."
"The general will accept the decision as the boy has made the choice on his own and has received permission from his guardian, as is within his right to do so under the law," Alexander replied. "And he has also requested a civilian post, so he won't be wandering around in a bloody battlefield."
"And what if the Chancellor wants to move him to court?" Sylvia asked.
Ah, the Chancellor. Wilfred Von Hellespont. The very mention of his title made Alexander's blood boil. The man was the personification of everything wrong with this empire. A brutal, ignorant, shameful, Luddite who wishes to try to keep the doors of the modern world closed because that much change could make him and his cronies irrelevant.
The fact he deliberately forced Alexander from the court, so he could not protect his ailing father, mother and sisters from their machinations only made feelings far worse.
"Wilfred won't, I'll make sure of that." Alexander stated. He may not be at court, but he still had plenty of friends.
At the mention of his father's long-serving Chancellor, Sylvia stiffened next to Alexander, and he felt her hand wrapped around his fingers. Oh, now she wants that… oh well. "Just be careful okay."
"I always am." Alexander replied.
Alexander than wandered away, Sylvia letting go of his hand and not following him to the Generals office.
General Tremere was reading some paperwork as Alex entered, but the man did not stand in attention, as so many officers did in his presence. One of the many perks of being a hero of the Empire. "Alexander." He said.
"General," Alexander replied taking a seat. He then slides over the folder to him. "Schwarze is the one we need."
The General's sole eyebrow raised quizzically. "How so?" He asked.
"He's exactly like Barristian." Alexander stated.
"In what way? Barristian isn't what I would call perfect." The general replied.
Alexander could see the twinkle in the General's eye, as he always seemed to have when he was lying about something. "Although he has not shown me his abilities yet, I am certain he could pass any test we throw at him." The twinkle was gone now, and the general leaned forward. "And I am very confident that we can use him for our purposes, despite his beliefs and pasificm."
"What do you propose?" The General asked.
"We make him our runner once he gets his feet wet." Some messages had to be delivered in person. The telegram offices were still not filled with his men yet to where he can safely send telegrams to his allies. "The only problem is, he would need a position directly under me or you to make that happen without causing any suspicion from the Chancellor." He replied. "And we don't have one, not one we can fill without sacking one our allies and making them go to Wilfred's camp."
"It would seem rather strange for a freshly recruited member of our retinue to be given a high ranking position? That would raise eyebrows?" The General replied.
"True… but you must remember who trained him." Alexander could see the idea's forming in the Generals head. "And I have an idea."
You told the general your idea. The general's face turned from stoic to horrified.
"Barristian won't like it." The general responded, his voice sounding aged. "I think that you should not even attempt this."
"He doesn't have to, as long as we keep him safe, and the boy does his job properly." Alexander replied. "And I'm not asking for your permission General. I'm only asking for your support."
The general leaned back into his chair. "Fine… I'll make sure the boy gets caught in the web."
Alexander nodded. "See that it gets done, General. Time may not be on our side."
And with that, Alexander stood up and began to walk out of the room.
"Alex." General Tremere's voice was quieter. "If anything were to happen to him because of this plan, I'm holding you responsible. I've seen enough children die because of your plans."
Alexander smiled. "If you didn't General, then you wouldn't be doing your job. Nor would I be doing mine." He turned to face the General. "Now start investigating the matter. After all, the princes' life is in danger."
General Tremere sighed. "Your a gods damned fool."
'A fool I may be, but I am certainly better than the alternative.' Alexander stated.
Prince Alexander was very pleased with the Interview of Nero Schwarze. The boy was definitely as bright as his spies told him he would be, he had the tact to keep quiet and not ask stupid questions from him and he was socially awkward enough to manipulate if given the right information.
Nero was perfect… save for one glaring character flaw that would make him all but useless.
Nero seemed to take more from his bastard pacifist of a teacher than Alexander would have liked. Sylvia had told him that he was a follower of Altosk, one of the few pacifist gods that were among the pantheon of the gods their people worshiped. He had suspected that Nero only paid lip service to the lord of knowledge, as all but the most studious of alchemists give as a mere courtesy.
But instead, the boy was like his teacher Barristan.
A true believer, if not in practice, then in spirit. Someone so dedicated to knowledge and the preservation of it that they will never kill, not with reason. They saw life as precious, and something that must be preserved at all cost.
It was… troubling to say the least.
Nero would not do for his plans of course. Pacifism and mercy had no place in his revolution, even if it was an internal one between ideologies, rather than men with power deciding one man's ass should sit the throne instead of another.
Or to overthrow the Monarchy entirely and empower the parliament, as it should have done a century ago.
It could be worse, however… The Empire could be like the Koryo Alliance, where the only way things seem to get done is through one nations bullying of another. Forcing the nations to comply by pure military force. An untenable balance that would only lead to bloodshed and destruction, a war that would decimate an entire continent.
A war that would destroy every single advancement since the unification.The Industrialization of the heartlands, the taming of the Lawless Shire, the building of the great Rail Lines that go everyone on the continent, even the Airships that were being tested for the civilian market, true air travel being funded by the Imperial Treasury.
The Unification Wars and the subsequent peace was long past, the political inertia from the first emperors had stabilized the empire into what it is today. A safe society, a great nation, with a large standing army that cracked down on anything resembling dissidents, trying it's best to remain afloat as the world continues to get smaller with the rapidly advancing technologies.
Yet even the Empire it had its problems. The inertia brought little in the way of change, there were still feudal lord's that clung to power, even as their ways were seen as obsolete and dying. Ways that have been illegal for centuries, that could never be enforced before now. The upheaval was still being felt to this day.
The empire was a fragile thing, and Alexander knew that the worst could happen as quickly as they could get better. And he knew that he could very well be the last emperor.
While he was not a student of Alchemy, he did know and understand the fundamental principles of it. To Create Something, something of Equal Value must be given.
He was not a fool, he knew the old system of autonomy, rapid centralization, military governorships for some and total rule for other states was not going to work any more, not with the telegram, not with the train and the interconnected nature that the empire was becoming.
One man could no longer rule the empire, and bend the nation to his will through strength and brutality. He understood that. Others not so much.
Wilfred's heart was in the right place, but not his brain. He thought everything was fine, that everything could be safely ignored until the next generation.
Alexander walked past Sylvia and she followed close behind. "What do you think of the boy?" He asked.
"He's certainly not what I expected as a student of Barristain Riley." She replied with a cold monotone voice. It seems she was still maintaining the veneer of professionalism, even when they were alone. "He's Pragmatic, more so than the old man. Though he certainly has his conviction within him."
'Dammit, all.' They were alone, she could at least drop the voice and acted like she cared. "I think he's exactly what we should have expected," Alexander replied as he stopped and looked out the window. "He won't serve in the military, that much is certain, but knowing any student of Barristian, he wants to help people better their lives in any way he can. It would work marvelously if he had the right challenges to face, and if he completed them admirably, It would do wonders to the Retinues reputation, and give me more political bargaining power with my father."
That made Sylvia nod in agreement. "What about the General? You know how he feels about underages members joining the retinue."
"The general will accept the decision as the boy has made the choice on his own and has received permission from his guardian, as is within his right to do so under the law," Alexander replied. "And he has also requested a civilian post, so he won't be wandering around in a bloody battlefield."
"And what if the Chancellor wants to move him to court?" Sylvia asked.
Ah, the Chancellor. Wilfred Von Hellespont. The very mention of his title made Alexander's blood boil. The man was the personification of everything wrong with this empire. A brutal, ignorant, shameful, Luddite who wishes to try to keep the doors of the modern world closed because that much change could make him and his cronies irrelevant.
The fact he deliberately forced Alexander from the court, so he could not protect his ailing father, mother and sisters from their machinations only made feelings far worse.
"Wilfred won't, I'll make sure of that." Alexander stated. He may not be at court, but he still had plenty of friends.
At the mention of his father's long-serving Chancellor, Sylvia stiffened next to Alexander, and he felt her hand wrapped around his fingers. Oh, now she wants that… oh well. "Just be careful okay."
"I always am." Alexander replied.
Alexander than wandered away, Sylvia letting go of his hand and not following him to the Generals office.
General Tremere was reading some paperwork as Alex entered, but the man did not stand in attention, as so many officers did in his presence. One of the many perks of being a hero of the Empire. "Alexander." He said.
"General," Alexander replied taking a seat. He then slides over the folder to him. "Schwarze is the one we need."
The General's sole eyebrow raised quizzically. "How so?" He asked.
"He's exactly like Barristian." Alexander stated.
"In what way? Barristian isn't what I would call perfect." The general replied.
Alexander could see the twinkle in the General's eye, as he always seemed to have when he was lying about something. "Although he has not shown me his abilities yet, I am certain he could pass any test we throw at him." The twinkle was gone now, and the general leaned forward. "And I am very confident that we can use him for our purposes, despite his beliefs and pasificm."
"What do you propose?" The General asked.
"We make him our runner once he gets his feet wet." Some messages had to be delivered in person. The telegram offices were still not filled with his men yet to where he can safely send telegrams to his allies. "The only problem is, he would need a position directly under me or you to make that happen without causing any suspicion from the Chancellor." He replied. "And we don't have one, not one we can fill without sacking one our allies and making them go to Wilfred's camp."
"It would seem rather strange for a freshly recruited member of our retinue to be given a high ranking position? That would raise eyebrows?" The General replied.
"True… but you must remember who trained him." Alexander could see the idea's forming in the Generals head. "And I have an idea."
You told the general your idea. The general's face turned from stoic to horrified.
"Barristian won't like it." The general responded, his voice sounding aged. "I think that you should not even attempt this."
"He doesn't have to, as long as we keep him safe, and the boy does his job properly." Alexander replied. "And I'm not asking for your permission General. I'm only asking for your support."
The general leaned back into his chair. "Fine… I'll make sure the boy gets caught in the web."
Alexander nodded. "See that it gets done, General. Time may not be on our side."
And with that, Alexander stood up and began to walk out of the room.
"Alex." General Tremere's voice was quieter. "If anything were to happen to him because of this plan, I'm holding you responsible. I've seen enough children die because of your plans."
Alexander smiled. "If you didn't General, then you wouldn't be doing your job. Nor would I be doing mine." He turned to face the General. "Now start investigating the matter. After all, the princes' life is in danger."
General Tremere sighed. "Your a gods damned fool."
'A fool I may be, but I am certainly better than the alternative.' Alexander stated.
Chapter 4
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Chapter 4
Nero and Ares found themselves wandering the Imperial Capital. The sights and sounds of the bustling city was almost too much for the two boys to take in. The machines of industry burned into the night as smoke looked over the city like a black plume of smoke. Cars drove past them, honking their horns as they wandered off the main roads and onto the stone sidewalks.
Everything looked so nice and clean. Stores were stocked not with the basic goods of survival, like so many others up north, but with toys, dresses, suits and all other matters that only high society could afford.
Nero did not know how to feel about it, but considering that every now and then, he saw a store advertising rifles and pistols for commercial or self defense use, along with restocking ammo for soldiers who wished for more training with their personal weapons.
Nero was sure that much of the city still did not forget about the honor and duty that was expected of them by the Emperor.
Some parts of the streets were cordoned off so to prevent damage. Behind the barriers was paintings on the black road.
And each painting reminded Nero of home.
Some showed a starlit night just like the one that would come tonight. Others showed a house on a hill with the sun shining brightly. And the one that Nero and Ares saw was a smiling family, sitting beneath an oak tree. But all of them captured the beauty of the countryside.
Ares stopped at one of the flower shops near the Art you were standing by, staring into the window with longing eyes.
"What's wrong?" Nero asked as he stood next to his brother.
"The Lavender is in bloom right now." He said quietly. "We should mail some to mom and tell her we are okay?"
Nero sighed, it was a weary one, one that made him think back and regret leaving without saying goodbye.
"Yeah… we should." Nero said, and both boys walked into the store, the bell ringing.
"Hello." The man behind the counter was a short stout man with plump cheeks and a long flowing black beard. He wore a green shirt, brown pants and an apron over both. "How may I help you?"
"Do you do deliveries?" Ares asked.
"Depends on where they're going?" The owner replied."Though it will cost a little extra anyway."
"Can you send a bouquet of flowers to Greenfield, Address 243 on Saltstrung street?" Ares asked.
"Greenfield…" The owner did clicked his teeth and tongue as if he was trying to remember something. "That's in Newbury right?"
"It is sir." Nero replied.
The owner gave a smile. "That will be twenty marks."
Twenty Marks! "You think you can lower the price a little more?" Ares asked.
"Listen kids, I have to keep these flowers fresh for the week long train ride for these to get there?" The man stated. "So don't try and bargain with me like I'm some country bumpkin in the middle of the sticks, I have customers to serve and money to make." The man replied.
It was than you saw the cracked and broken radio that as behind him,it looked busted, with many of the parts strewn besides it, a screwdriver risting on the shelf. "What about if we fix your radio?"
The man's eyes widened before he turned back to face it. "That old piece of crap? Hasn't worked for two weeks, I'm just going to buy a new one."
"Perhaps we could save you some money if we fixed it?" Nero replied.
The man looked absolutely shocked. "Kid, if you can fix that radio, consider that order done for free."
Nero turned to his brother. "Do you want to do it, or shall I?"
Ares shrugged. "I don't know, we should let fate decide?"
"Fine." Nero replied, holding out his hand. "Best of three?"
The man was visibly confused, when Nero glanced at him for a brief moment. "Sure." Ares replied.
The two boys hands shook up and down three times before finally Nero's hand became a fist, and his brother was a flat hand.
Nero's eyes narrowed, and the hands shook up and down again. This time, Nero's flat hand was against Ares' two fingers.
"Aww." Nero groaned. "Best out of five?"
"No." Ares replied.
The owner of the store looked perplexed at the whole affair. "What are you two, alchemists?"
Ares did not answer, only pulling out some chalk from his pocket. "Aww, I'm going to get my hands all dusty."
"I could always do it for you?" Nero started with a cheery smile.
"Bite me bro." Ares shot back.
Soon the transmutation circle was made, the symbols of iron, steel, sand, glass, tin, silver and gold were drawn within the circle. Nero picked up all the parts and pieces of the radio he could see and put them gently down onto the center of the circle.
"Is this all the parts of the radio sir?" Nero asked the owner of the store. "Because if we are missing one thing, this will fail and break down your radio into its base components."
The man nodded. "That's everything."
Ares nodded, before placing his hands over his chest in a prayer position, before placing his hands down onto the circle.
Energy released, blue lightning came from the circle and shot upward, and the circle was engulfed in light.
A moment later, the light subsided and the radio was all put together, as if it was brand new.
"There… Plug it in and see if it works?" Ares stated to the owner.
The owner did indeed plugged in the radio, and the radio sprang to light with music.
"It worked!" The man said. "You two did it."
Ares scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I did. Now, could you deliver the flowers to that address please?"
The man smiled. "Of course." he bent down and handed over a slip of paper and a pencil. "Just put the address here and I will send them as soon as I can."
"Thank you." Ares and Nero said at the same time.
"You fixed my radio, probably saved me 300 marks, the least I can do." The man replied.
The boys than quickly left the store.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The train station was still the exact same as the two brothers saw it the evening before, only without many of the people leaving the train and rushing towards their destinations.
In the night, it was quietly deserted, with only a few people waiting for the final train north.
The Telegram lines that followed the tracks showed exactly the thing that the brothers needed at the moment.
The Telegram operator took a look at the two brothers. "Ah great more kids trying to learn how to use the damn thing. Get lost you brats!" He shouted.
Nero rolled his eyes and put ten marks down on the table. "We need to send a message to Greenfield Telegraph office."
"Who's the message for?" THe operator stated.
"Estelle Schwarze… or I think of the Lupin clan. She lives at 243 Saltstrung road in Greenfield." Ares replied.
"Yeah yeah, what's the message?" The operator asked.
Nero pulled out the letter from his pocket and slide it over. "It's on this paper sir." He replied.
The operator nodded. "Alright. Now get lost."
Nero and Ares turned and walked away. "H's far friendlier than Jock." Nero stated.
"Yeah, he didn't punch us in the face, so I consider that an improvement." Ares replied.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barristian was waiting for them when the two brothers walked in, sitting in his chair, facing the doorway with his blind eyes. "Boys… your out late?" He stated.
Ares nodded. "We needed to do something old man." There was a pause. "We sent a telegram and flowers to mom."
Barry nodded. "Glad to see you guys finally have some sense." The old man sighed, before tapping the table with his hand. "So you did it?" He asked Nero.
Nero nodded. "I did sir."
Ares recognized the mood in the room and beat a hasty retreat. "I'm going to the roof. If you need me, yell for me." He stated as he ran towards the staircase and the roof to be alone, away from the brewing energy that was growing.
Barristian leaned back into his chair and sighed as he heard the distant shut of the roof door closing. "When will you get the letter?"
"In a few days sir. They will be mailing it to this address." Nero replied.
Barristian closed his eyes, the breath he exhaled sounding like a gust of wind blowing in the fields back home. "Then we will have much to do before then." Barry's tone felt off, odd, and even frightening to Nero.
It was the same tone he had when he pushed the twins to their limits.
Nero felt his blood run cold for a moment. "Wait, are you planning to-"
Barry nodded. "Yes. You both have kept up to your training, yes?"
Nero narrowed his eyes. "Uh, Barry… We have but-"
"I may be blind, but I can see where you both have been slacking." Barry replied.
Nero gave a smug smile. "Oh come on Barry, we haven't been slacking."
A smile crept up the old man's face. "Oh have you now… I'm going to enjoy tomorrow."
Nero stood up, and felt fear. "Okay. But if we impress you, can you tell us that thing about that guess you have for what happened?"
Barry frowned, and the breath he took made it quite clear he was dreading that talk. "I promised you I would. Now get some rest, dinner will be delivered in an hour."
"What's for dinner?" Nero asked.
"Koryo food. There's a restaurant down the street that is pretty good and they're delivering. Noodles dipped in garlic, with marinated meat and broccoli, among other things. It's quite a feast." Barry replied, sitting in his chair and looking like he was resting. "Now off with you." He ordered.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nero found Ares sitting on the roof, his feet dangling from side. "So, what's going on tomorrow?" He asked.
Nero sat down next to him. "Training with the old man. He wants to test us."
Ares paled, his feet stopped swaying. "Wait seriously?"
"Yep. From the old man's mouth to my ears." Nero replied.
Ares buried his face in his hands. "We're so screwed."
"No we are not. We've both been keeping up on our training, and we've practiced all of the drills he gave us." Nero replied. "We'll be fine."
"He'll be expecting that,you know what he wants?" Ares replied.
"To be clever, to be fast, to be completely unpredictable." Both brothers said in Stereo.
Ares relaxed a little bit with those words. "You think he'll bring the poking stick?"
"Most likely." Nero replied. "But we'll just avoid the poking stick."
"If he brings the poking stick out." Ares stated.
"We'll just have to survive it." Nero said as he stood up. "Now come on, we need to get the table ready."
Dinner came soon enough, and it was delicious.
Nero and Ares found themselves wandering the Imperial Capital. The sights and sounds of the bustling city was almost too much for the two boys to take in. The machines of industry burned into the night as smoke looked over the city like a black plume of smoke. Cars drove past them, honking their horns as they wandered off the main roads and onto the stone sidewalks.
Everything looked so nice and clean. Stores were stocked not with the basic goods of survival, like so many others up north, but with toys, dresses, suits and all other matters that only high society could afford.
Nero did not know how to feel about it, but considering that every now and then, he saw a store advertising rifles and pistols for commercial or self defense use, along with restocking ammo for soldiers who wished for more training with their personal weapons.
Nero was sure that much of the city still did not forget about the honor and duty that was expected of them by the Emperor.
Some parts of the streets were cordoned off so to prevent damage. Behind the barriers was paintings on the black road.
And each painting reminded Nero of home.
Some showed a starlit night just like the one that would come tonight. Others showed a house on a hill with the sun shining brightly. And the one that Nero and Ares saw was a smiling family, sitting beneath an oak tree. But all of them captured the beauty of the countryside.
Ares stopped at one of the flower shops near the Art you were standing by, staring into the window with longing eyes.
"What's wrong?" Nero asked as he stood next to his brother.
"The Lavender is in bloom right now." He said quietly. "We should mail some to mom and tell her we are okay?"
Nero sighed, it was a weary one, one that made him think back and regret leaving without saying goodbye.
"Yeah… we should." Nero said, and both boys walked into the store, the bell ringing.
"Hello." The man behind the counter was a short stout man with plump cheeks and a long flowing black beard. He wore a green shirt, brown pants and an apron over both. "How may I help you?"
"Do you do deliveries?" Ares asked.
"Depends on where they're going?" The owner replied."Though it will cost a little extra anyway."
"Can you send a bouquet of flowers to Greenfield, Address 243 on Saltstrung street?" Ares asked.
"Greenfield…" The owner did clicked his teeth and tongue as if he was trying to remember something. "That's in Newbury right?"
"It is sir." Nero replied.
The owner gave a smile. "That will be twenty marks."
Twenty Marks! "You think you can lower the price a little more?" Ares asked.
"Listen kids, I have to keep these flowers fresh for the week long train ride for these to get there?" The man stated. "So don't try and bargain with me like I'm some country bumpkin in the middle of the sticks, I have customers to serve and money to make." The man replied.
It was than you saw the cracked and broken radio that as behind him,it looked busted, with many of the parts strewn besides it, a screwdriver risting on the shelf. "What about if we fix your radio?"
The man's eyes widened before he turned back to face it. "That old piece of crap? Hasn't worked for two weeks, I'm just going to buy a new one."
"Perhaps we could save you some money if we fixed it?" Nero replied.
The man looked absolutely shocked. "Kid, if you can fix that radio, consider that order done for free."
Nero turned to his brother. "Do you want to do it, or shall I?"
Ares shrugged. "I don't know, we should let fate decide?"
"Fine." Nero replied, holding out his hand. "Best of three?"
The man was visibly confused, when Nero glanced at him for a brief moment. "Sure." Ares replied.
The two boys hands shook up and down three times before finally Nero's hand became a fist, and his brother was a flat hand.
Nero's eyes narrowed, and the hands shook up and down again. This time, Nero's flat hand was against Ares' two fingers.
"Aww." Nero groaned. "Best out of five?"
"No." Ares replied.
The owner of the store looked perplexed at the whole affair. "What are you two, alchemists?"
Ares did not answer, only pulling out some chalk from his pocket. "Aww, I'm going to get my hands all dusty."
"I could always do it for you?" Nero started with a cheery smile.
"Bite me bro." Ares shot back.
Soon the transmutation circle was made, the symbols of iron, steel, sand, glass, tin, silver and gold were drawn within the circle. Nero picked up all the parts and pieces of the radio he could see and put them gently down onto the center of the circle.
"Is this all the parts of the radio sir?" Nero asked the owner of the store. "Because if we are missing one thing, this will fail and break down your radio into its base components."
The man nodded. "That's everything."
Ares nodded, before placing his hands over his chest in a prayer position, before placing his hands down onto the circle.
Energy released, blue lightning came from the circle and shot upward, and the circle was engulfed in light.
A moment later, the light subsided and the radio was all put together, as if it was brand new.
"There… Plug it in and see if it works?" Ares stated to the owner.
The owner did indeed plugged in the radio, and the radio sprang to light with music.
"It worked!" The man said. "You two did it."
Ares scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah, I did. Now, could you deliver the flowers to that address please?"
The man smiled. "Of course." he bent down and handed over a slip of paper and a pencil. "Just put the address here and I will send them as soon as I can."
"Thank you." Ares and Nero said at the same time.
"You fixed my radio, probably saved me 300 marks, the least I can do." The man replied.
The boys than quickly left the store.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The train station was still the exact same as the two brothers saw it the evening before, only without many of the people leaving the train and rushing towards their destinations.
In the night, it was quietly deserted, with only a few people waiting for the final train north.
The Telegram lines that followed the tracks showed exactly the thing that the brothers needed at the moment.
The Telegram operator took a look at the two brothers. "Ah great more kids trying to learn how to use the damn thing. Get lost you brats!" He shouted.
Nero rolled his eyes and put ten marks down on the table. "We need to send a message to Greenfield Telegraph office."
"Who's the message for?" THe operator stated.
"Estelle Schwarze… or I think of the Lupin clan. She lives at 243 Saltstrung road in Greenfield." Ares replied.
"Yeah yeah, what's the message?" The operator asked.
Nero pulled out the letter from his pocket and slide it over. "It's on this paper sir." He replied.
The operator nodded. "Alright. Now get lost."
Nero and Ares turned and walked away. "H's far friendlier than Jock." Nero stated.
"Yeah, he didn't punch us in the face, so I consider that an improvement." Ares replied.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barristian was waiting for them when the two brothers walked in, sitting in his chair, facing the doorway with his blind eyes. "Boys… your out late?" He stated.
Ares nodded. "We needed to do something old man." There was a pause. "We sent a telegram and flowers to mom."
Barry nodded. "Glad to see you guys finally have some sense." The old man sighed, before tapping the table with his hand. "So you did it?" He asked Nero.
Nero nodded. "I did sir."
Ares recognized the mood in the room and beat a hasty retreat. "I'm going to the roof. If you need me, yell for me." He stated as he ran towards the staircase and the roof to be alone, away from the brewing energy that was growing.
Barristian leaned back into his chair and sighed as he heard the distant shut of the roof door closing. "When will you get the letter?"
"In a few days sir. They will be mailing it to this address." Nero replied.
Barristian closed his eyes, the breath he exhaled sounding like a gust of wind blowing in the fields back home. "Then we will have much to do before then." Barry's tone felt off, odd, and even frightening to Nero.
It was the same tone he had when he pushed the twins to their limits.
Nero felt his blood run cold for a moment. "Wait, are you planning to-"
Barry nodded. "Yes. You both have kept up to your training, yes?"
Nero narrowed his eyes. "Uh, Barry… We have but-"
"I may be blind, but I can see where you both have been slacking." Barry replied.
Nero gave a smug smile. "Oh come on Barry, we haven't been slacking."
A smile crept up the old man's face. "Oh have you now… I'm going to enjoy tomorrow."
Nero stood up, and felt fear. "Okay. But if we impress you, can you tell us that thing about that guess you have for what happened?"
Barry frowned, and the breath he took made it quite clear he was dreading that talk. "I promised you I would. Now get some rest, dinner will be delivered in an hour."
"What's for dinner?" Nero asked.
"Koryo food. There's a restaurant down the street that is pretty good and they're delivering. Noodles dipped in garlic, with marinated meat and broccoli, among other things. It's quite a feast." Barry replied, sitting in his chair and looking like he was resting. "Now off with you." He ordered.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nero found Ares sitting on the roof, his feet dangling from side. "So, what's going on tomorrow?" He asked.
Nero sat down next to him. "Training with the old man. He wants to test us."
Ares paled, his feet stopped swaying. "Wait seriously?"
"Yep. From the old man's mouth to my ears." Nero replied.
Ares buried his face in his hands. "We're so screwed."
"No we are not. We've both been keeping up on our training, and we've practiced all of the drills he gave us." Nero replied. "We'll be fine."
"He'll be expecting that,you know what he wants?" Ares replied.
"To be clever, to be fast, to be completely unpredictable." Both brothers said in Stereo.
Ares relaxed a little bit with those words. "You think he'll bring the poking stick?"
"Most likely." Nero replied. "But we'll just avoid the poking stick."
"If he brings the poking stick out." Ares stated.
"We'll just have to survive it." Nero said as he stood up. "Now come on, we need to get the table ready."
Dinner came soon enough, and it was delicious.
So I like Full Metal Alchemist a lot, but is this just your take on the universe? Because this is almost exactly what Edward and Alfonse do on their first mission in the show.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
This is a completely separate universe, and the Radio scene is a homage to that scene because it was one of the first anime scenes I ever watched when I was like 7.
The differences include:
A completely separate world with its own history.
Both brothers being pragmatic and wanting something, and are more classical anti-heroes then our Two shonen protagonists heroes in FMA.
The radio already being broken
The brothers are completely different characters based upon my self and my own brother.
The entire plot is different.
I have an entire map drawn for the world.
It was a great way to show alchemy in the show and manga. I can't wait to read more.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
Talking about my story or FMA itself. Cause if its FM, I implore you to read it all, and don't let my second rate writing interfere with it.
I read the whole FMA manga, I was referring to your story.
Magoose
SV's Questing Fanatic
- Location
- California USA
- Pronouns
- He
alright, hope you enjoy.