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More from rioluxxxandromeda
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Next: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41519309/
Previous: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41422352/
First: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41342787/
==Taken from the Journal of Aphea Heroth==
====
It has been about a week since the incident. I've had to pass teaching Rook onto Laram while my arm recovers, but the boy doesn't seem to mind his new mentor. Laram on the other hand, isn't so impressed. She said herself, she'd rather be training real soldiers than babysitting an 'overgrown chicken'. She stopped arguing when I shot her an angry glare. I don't take kindly to my pupils being insulted.
Rook has been doubling his efforts since then, he's desperate to progress, I can tell. He's been begging Laram to let him spar with her and today she finally caved in. Let me put this on record. I am damn glad I'm not Laram's enemy. I think she was hoping to whip some patience into the boy by demonstrating how far he still had to go; almost as soon as they had drawn their weapons, Laram had disarmed Rook and laid him out flat on his back. I admit. I was just as surprised as she was, when he got back onto his feet and tried again. And again. And again. Just as I was about to intervene, I noticed a flash in his eyes. This time, he caught Laram's waster with his own, spun deftly, and gave Laram's thigh a good whack.
That stubborn little bastard used my technique! I could see Laram wanted nothing more than to punch the boy when he gave her the Rito equivalent of a shit-eating grin. It did earn Rook her grudging respect, however, and from that point on she was a lot less dismissive of his potential.
====
Hobbs came in today to deliver some grim news. There's a fairly high chance my sword arm will never recover, or at least, not fully. That swiving whoreson has been taking every opportunity to scold me for my 'recklessness' when I took that blow from the Lizalfos. Frankly? I don't regret my choice. An arm for the lives of two children? A good trade if you ask me. I make sure to remind him that while my sword arm is busted. My shield arm is still healthy enough to break his nose. That tends to shut him up for a while.
I do have to wonder. What good to the squadron is a Captain who can't raise a sword? If things don't improve, then being recalled and discharged is inevitable. A year ago, I would have leapt at the opportunity to leave this outpost for good. But now? This place has become a home away from home. I've gotten to know the villagers pretty well, and the scenery has been growing on me. And, of course. There's Rook. That stubborn little bundle of feathers that brought some much-needed life to this place. I wouldn't want to just.. Leave. He has so much to learn, so much potential. And I know deep down, that if I did leave, it would break his heart. He might put on the facade of being tough, and as he grows he certainly developed an ego to match his stamina. But he's still a timid crybaby at heart. Even now, a year later. He still struggles to cross the bridge leading to and from the village, granted. I don't have to carry him across anymore, but I don't think his fear of heights is going away any time soon.
There's not much use dwelling on this. If it happens, it happens. I just have to sit back and pray that Hobbs and Terial can work their mending wizardry and somehow glue my arm back together.
====
Even now. A whole two years after living among them, I keep learning new things about the Rito. I always found it strange how fast Rook was maturing, today I found out that they reach adulthood in their mid-teens. They aren't long-lived people, it's rare for any of them to reach the age of seventy. It would explain why they value their freedoms so much; They burn twice as bright for half as long. A stark contrast to the Zora, who live for centuries.
When Rook came by the outpost today I had to stifle a laugh. He was wearing a comically oversized scarf that he kept tripping over. Though, I felt an odd twinge of sadness looking at him. It felt strange, that assuming I lived my full life, I would outlive him. That I would see him burn bright, and die out. I tried my best to put those thoughts out of my head, as Laram was busy running morning drills leaving me to keep the boy in check. It's impressive how different he is when I'm alone with him. I think he knew something was bothering me, he looked up at me with a face of concern and asked me if I was okay. I decided it best to change the subject, so I ruffled the feathers on his head, and asked him about the scarf.
He smiled wide, and told me his friend Koko made it for him. I later learned he meant his caretaker's son, Komogo, whose leg had been broken during the lizalfos attack. As Rook said that Komogo wanted to thank him for saving his life, his eyes trailed off to the floor and his smile faded. He looked back up at me, saying he didn't deserve the gift. He took off the scarf and presented it to me instead.
I took it in my hand. It was beautifully made, and wonderfully soft. I knelt down in front of him and wrapped it back around his neck. I tried hard not to laugh, the look of pure confusion on his face was priceless, but also... Sad. He had so little confidence in his own abilities, so focused on his shortcomings. I placed my hand on his head and told him firmly. While it's true that I saved them both from being killed, it was Rook that bought me the precious time to do so. He looked confused still, so I told him what Komogo had told me. That his willingness to risk his own life to distract the monster away from his friend, when he could have simply ran away and saved himself, was what brought the time for me to arrive. I told him that one way or the other, we would have killed that Lizalfos. But the only thing that stopped it from killing Komogo was Rook's willingness to act.
I wasn't able to watch his training today. When Laram returned, I was taken away into the medical tent by Hobbs. I would learn by the end of the day that Rook had been quiet and reserved the whole time. I suppose he was trying to process what I told him. Either way. I took it upon myself to escort him home to the village, with how things are looking with my arm, I might not have much more time with him. He seemed grateful for the company, even if he was silent most of the way.
When we arrived back at the village, we were both greeted by Komogo, who was limping around on a crutch. Poor kid. He hobbled over to Rook and asked him if he liked the scarf, Rook was still silent, but I saw tears welling up in his eyes. He lunged at Komogo and hugged him, at one point I thought he was about to break Komogo's spine, he was squeezing him so hard. I decided not to intervene. Watching that whole scene was starting to make me tear up, and that wouldn't be a good look for me. So I turned away quietly, and left them to it.
====
Previous: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41422352/
First: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/41342787/
==Taken from the Journal of Aphea Heroth==
====
It has been about a week since the incident. I've had to pass teaching Rook onto Laram while my arm recovers, but the boy doesn't seem to mind his new mentor. Laram on the other hand, isn't so impressed. She said herself, she'd rather be training real soldiers than babysitting an 'overgrown chicken'. She stopped arguing when I shot her an angry glare. I don't take kindly to my pupils being insulted.
Rook has been doubling his efforts since then, he's desperate to progress, I can tell. He's been begging Laram to let him spar with her and today she finally caved in. Let me put this on record. I am damn glad I'm not Laram's enemy. I think she was hoping to whip some patience into the boy by demonstrating how far he still had to go; almost as soon as they had drawn their weapons, Laram had disarmed Rook and laid him out flat on his back. I admit. I was just as surprised as she was, when he got back onto his feet and tried again. And again. And again. Just as I was about to intervene, I noticed a flash in his eyes. This time, he caught Laram's waster with his own, spun deftly, and gave Laram's thigh a good whack.
That stubborn little bastard used my technique! I could see Laram wanted nothing more than to punch the boy when he gave her the Rito equivalent of a shit-eating grin. It did earn Rook her grudging respect, however, and from that point on she was a lot less dismissive of his potential.
====
Hobbs came in today to deliver some grim news. There's a fairly high chance my sword arm will never recover, or at least, not fully. That swiving whoreson has been taking every opportunity to scold me for my 'recklessness' when I took that blow from the Lizalfos. Frankly? I don't regret my choice. An arm for the lives of two children? A good trade if you ask me. I make sure to remind him that while my sword arm is busted. My shield arm is still healthy enough to break his nose. That tends to shut him up for a while.
I do have to wonder. What good to the squadron is a Captain who can't raise a sword? If things don't improve, then being recalled and discharged is inevitable. A year ago, I would have leapt at the opportunity to leave this outpost for good. But now? This place has become a home away from home. I've gotten to know the villagers pretty well, and the scenery has been growing on me. And, of course. There's Rook. That stubborn little bundle of feathers that brought some much-needed life to this place. I wouldn't want to just.. Leave. He has so much to learn, so much potential. And I know deep down, that if I did leave, it would break his heart. He might put on the facade of being tough, and as he grows he certainly developed an ego to match his stamina. But he's still a timid crybaby at heart. Even now, a year later. He still struggles to cross the bridge leading to and from the village, granted. I don't have to carry him across anymore, but I don't think his fear of heights is going away any time soon.
There's not much use dwelling on this. If it happens, it happens. I just have to sit back and pray that Hobbs and Terial can work their mending wizardry and somehow glue my arm back together.
====
Even now. A whole two years after living among them, I keep learning new things about the Rito. I always found it strange how fast Rook was maturing, today I found out that they reach adulthood in their mid-teens. They aren't long-lived people, it's rare for any of them to reach the age of seventy. It would explain why they value their freedoms so much; They burn twice as bright for half as long. A stark contrast to the Zora, who live for centuries.
When Rook came by the outpost today I had to stifle a laugh. He was wearing a comically oversized scarf that he kept tripping over. Though, I felt an odd twinge of sadness looking at him. It felt strange, that assuming I lived my full life, I would outlive him. That I would see him burn bright, and die out. I tried my best to put those thoughts out of my head, as Laram was busy running morning drills leaving me to keep the boy in check. It's impressive how different he is when I'm alone with him. I think he knew something was bothering me, he looked up at me with a face of concern and asked me if I was okay. I decided it best to change the subject, so I ruffled the feathers on his head, and asked him about the scarf.
He smiled wide, and told me his friend Koko made it for him. I later learned he meant his caretaker's son, Komogo, whose leg had been broken during the lizalfos attack. As Rook said that Komogo wanted to thank him for saving his life, his eyes trailed off to the floor and his smile faded. He looked back up at me, saying he didn't deserve the gift. He took off the scarf and presented it to me instead.
I took it in my hand. It was beautifully made, and wonderfully soft. I knelt down in front of him and wrapped it back around his neck. I tried hard not to laugh, the look of pure confusion on his face was priceless, but also... Sad. He had so little confidence in his own abilities, so focused on his shortcomings. I placed my hand on his head and told him firmly. While it's true that I saved them both from being killed, it was Rook that bought me the precious time to do so. He looked confused still, so I told him what Komogo had told me. That his willingness to risk his own life to distract the monster away from his friend, when he could have simply ran away and saved himself, was what brought the time for me to arrive. I told him that one way or the other, we would have killed that Lizalfos. But the only thing that stopped it from killing Komogo was Rook's willingness to act.
I wasn't able to watch his training today. When Laram returned, I was taken away into the medical tent by Hobbs. I would learn by the end of the day that Rook had been quiet and reserved the whole time. I suppose he was trying to process what I told him. Either way. I took it upon myself to escort him home to the village, with how things are looking with my arm, I might not have much more time with him. He seemed grateful for the company, even if he was silent most of the way.
When we arrived back at the village, we were both greeted by Komogo, who was limping around on a crutch. Poor kid. He hobbled over to Rook and asked him if he liked the scarf, Rook was still silent, but I saw tears welling up in his eyes. He lunged at Komogo and hugged him, at one point I thought he was about to break Komogo's spine, he was squeezing him so hard. I decided not to intervene. Watching that whole scene was starting to make me tear up, and that wouldn't be a good look for me. So I turned away quietly, and left them to it.
====
Category All / All
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File Size 301.3 kB
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