((A little follow up to the above! Thanks to Evangeline for the idea and RocketPaladin/Mikalaos for her help on this ))
“Martiallais?â€
“Hm?â€
“Why do you want to be like Alfonse and myself?â€
He grinned a bit, staring up at his sister. “Well you’re both strong! Alfonse is a dragoon, he fights dragons. Halone smiles on her heroes.†Despite his wounds, he made a stabbing motion with his practice lance, earning a chuckle from Olivie. “And you’re going to be one too!â€
“That he does. And that I am. But remember, there’s more to being a hero than just being strong.†Reaching out she gave him a playful poke on the side of his head. “One has to use that as well. A hero who knows when and how to fight will survive, Mar Mar.â€
“But father says-“
“I know what father says.†She cut him off, knowing well he was about to repeat one of the many mantras drilled into their heads during training at home. “Just promise you will remember that for me?â€
He stared up at her for a few moments, continuing to walk in silence. There was a five year bridge between the two of them but after another moment, he nodded.
“Alright.â€
“Much better.†She gave him a hard swat on the shoulder and grinned. “So then, tell me little brother, how many of them were there?â€
Stumbling a few steps forward, he huffed to blow some his unruly, dark hair from his face.
“There were four. They were really good, too.†Flashing a conspiratorial smile, he added a bit softer. “I knocked one of them out.â€
“Did you now?†Olivie feigned a gasp and chuckled. “I am quite sure if there is a next time, you’ll do better. And the person you saved, did they thank you?â€
“Ah...no.†He made a face, scoffing. “She seemed mad at me. It was...really confusing.â€
“Oh-ho!And fighting for a lady’s hand. Mar Mar, you lady killer, you. I always told mother reading those stories would put ideas in your head but Twelve I didn’t think . . . did you get her name at least?â€
“I...what! It wasn't like that!" He made a face up at her, as if she'd grown scales before confusion crossed his features. "Olivie, I thought we were supposed to kill dragons, not ladies.â€
Momentum was both ally and enemy alike as the youth shuffled along, balancing himself heavily against his practice lance. Too much and he would surely do more than stumble, instead falling to the cool, smooth stones beneath his feet. Too little and he would come to a halt and in his state, he wasn’t entirely sure he had the strength to begin anew.
Stiffening as he heard the sound of a bell tolling in the distance, Martiallais winced, already imagining the sort of punishment his father would dole out for his disobedience. He was supposed to accompany his brother, to get something of a glimpse of what it was like to walk in the elder’s shoes, those of the elite, the very ones whom kept their home safe no matter the cost. But Alfonse had moved too swiftly, and far too soon the youngest Heuloix had found himself lost. Then he was rather distracted by a familiar sight, the training grounds, and heard a commotion within.
In retrospect he could have left well enough alone, should have, but his hero's spirit wouldn't let him. There was conflict, and he had to do something about it. It would have been nice to be appreciated for it, though, and not scorned.
Feeling even more sullen at his thoughts, the boy stiffened, bright eyes going wide as he saw an armored figure running right at him. Pressing himself against a nearby wall, he tried to make himself disappear. Unfortunately it did not work.
“There you are!†The tone was muffled but the dread in his stomach began to evaporate as the figure removed their helmet to reveal a face both welcome and familiar. “Martiallais, where in the Fury’s name have you-,“
Feeling even more sullen at his thoughts, the boy stiffened, bright eyes going wide as he saw an armored figure running right at him. Pressing himself against a nearby wall, he tried to make himself disappear. Unfortunately it did not work.
“There you are!†The tone was muffled but the dread in his stomach began to evaporate as the figure removed their helmet to reveal a face both welcome and familiar. “Martiallais, where in the Fury’s name have you-,“
While Olivie had mastered her own brand of the motherly chiding tone through years of practice, it quickly vanished as she took note of her youngest brother’s condition. “Mar Mar what happened to you?†Giving a glance around herself, she helped her brother towards a nearby barrel, bright eyes already making note of his wounds. “Well, out with it already.â€
Though he remained silent for a few moments more, Olivie halted that by gingerly applying pressure to one of the cuts on his forehead. “Ow! Okay...†Sighing softly, he turned his gaze elsewhere, the sting of shame darkening his cheeks. “It was a fight. They...there were people beating up someone else so...I helped.†His eyes dropped to the ground as he continued on. “I lost. I just wanted to help, to be like you and Alfonse.â€
Staring at him in silence, Olivie leaned forward and wrapped her brother in a loving embrace. “Oh Twelve, Mar you could’ve been hurt badly.†Taking a step back to look him over, there wasn’t any way to hide the smile she wore. “Yet and still, I’m proud of you, truly. Buuuut mayhaps a bit more practice before you try saving the world, hmm?â€
Offering him her shoulder, she guided him back to his feet,draping her cloak around him. Nodding once, she gave him a pat on the back and they began the walk back home before Olivie chose to break the silence. She’d helped to raise him in more ways than one, after all. And as much as she loved their father, he was not one for life lessons that didn’t include driving lances into the bellies of flying beasts.
Though he remained silent for a few moments more, Olivie halted that by gingerly applying pressure to one of the cuts on his forehead. “Ow! Okay...†Sighing softly, he turned his gaze elsewhere, the sting of shame darkening his cheeks. “It was a fight. They...there were people beating up someone else so...I helped.†His eyes dropped to the ground as he continued on. “I lost. I just wanted to help, to be like you and Alfonse.â€
Staring at him in silence, Olivie leaned forward and wrapped her brother in a loving embrace. “Oh Twelve, Mar you could’ve been hurt badly.†Taking a step back to look him over, there wasn’t any way to hide the smile she wore. “Yet and still, I’m proud of you, truly. Buuuut mayhaps a bit more practice before you try saving the world, hmm?â€
Offering him her shoulder, she guided him back to his feet,draping her cloak around him. Nodding once, she gave him a pat on the back and they began the walk back home before Olivie chose to break the silence. She’d helped to raise him in more ways than one, after all. And as much as she loved their father, he was not one for life lessons that didn’t include driving lances into the bellies of flying beasts.
“Martiallais?â€
“Hm?â€
“Why do you want to be like Alfonse and myself?â€
He grinned a bit, staring up at his sister. “Well you’re both strong! Alfonse is a dragoon, he fights dragons. Halone smiles on her heroes.†Despite his wounds, he made a stabbing motion with his practice lance, earning a chuckle from Olivie. “And you’re going to be one too!â€
“That he does. And that I am. But remember, there’s more to being a hero than just being strong.†Reaching out she gave him a playful poke on the side of his head. “One has to use that as well. A hero who knows when and how to fight will survive, Mar Mar.â€
“But father says-“
“I know what father says.†She cut him off, knowing well he was about to repeat one of the many mantras drilled into their heads during training at home. “Just promise you will remember that for me?â€
He stared up at her for a few moments, continuing to walk in silence. There was a five year bridge between the two of them but after another moment, he nodded.
“Alright.â€
“Much better.†She gave him a hard swat on the shoulder and grinned. “So then, tell me little brother, how many of them were there?â€
Stumbling a few steps forward, he huffed to blow some his unruly, dark hair from his face.
“There were four. They were really good, too.†Flashing a conspiratorial smile, he added a bit softer. “I knocked one of them out.â€
“Did you now?†Olivie feigned a gasp and chuckled. “I am quite sure if there is a next time, you’ll do better. And the person you saved, did they thank you?â€
“Ah...no.†He made a face, scoffing. “She seemed mad at me. It was...really confusing.â€
“Oh-ho!And fighting for a lady’s hand. Mar Mar, you lady killer, you. I always told mother reading those stories would put ideas in your head but Twelve I didn’t think . . . did you get her name at least?â€
“I...what! It wasn't like that!" He made a face up at her, as if she'd grown scales before confusion crossed his features. "Olivie, I thought we were supposed to kill dragons, not ladies.â€
Martiallais Heuloix - Duty. Honor. Faith.
Armand Tremaux - Justice, like lightning.
"We're all snowflakes in a great blizzard." - Virara 2017
Armand Tremaux - Justice, like lightning.
"We're all snowflakes in a great blizzard." - Virara 2017