Chapter 65 - The Wings of a Prayer

Eventually, they drew away from the crowds and arrived at a more secluded spot. It was a round garden with trees planted all around its outer ring. Fluffy rose-colored flowers fluttered in the wind as willowy branches gently swayed back and forth.

The trio took shelter under one particularly large tree. It was similar to all the other trees in the garden, only all its blossoms were a pristine white. Its slender leaves provided poor refuge from the rain, but for some reason Kass seemed very fond of this tree. Her smooth stride clearly indicated she was familiar with the place. Her cheeks puffed up as she blew upon an old chunk of drywood that lay by the tree. She wiped a hand across the drywood’s surface before sitting down with a satisfied expression on her face. Skyle wanted to indulge her, so he said nothing as he leaned against the tree.

The rain continued to fall, though it looked as though the worst of the storm was over. Skyle smiled as he reflected that it resembled Kass’ temper. They would both erupt without warning, create a great commotion, then vanish just as quickly as they had come.

After a long moment of silence, during which Kass pointedly ignored Skyle and avoided his gaze, he judged that enough time had finally trickled by. It was time for the storm to pass.

“Reik, this is a beautiful little garden. What’s it called?” Skyle called out, though he was eyeing Kass.

Reik smiled as he looked around. “It’s called the Garden of Prayers.”

“Oh? That’s a meaningful name.” Skyle said with interest. “Sounds like there’s a story behind it.”

“Yeah, it’s a great tale about the first dean of this branch of the Aegis Academy. He was a powerful, yet honorable man.” Reik said excitedly, his eyes aglow. His little brother loved this kind of story.

Kass suddenly looked up as though she wanted to stop Reik. Then she caught Skyle looking at her. Huffing through her nose, she immediately turned her head away.

“They say he was not from the Empire, but rather a fierce warrior from a distant land.” Reik rubbed the palms of his hands as he began in a low voice. A flush covered his cheeks.

“He arrived at the Empire with grave wounds from a great battle. After he recovered, he asked the help of the Emperor to bring his wife and children to safety. The Emperor agreed, under the condition that the man promise to fight three battles under the Imperial Crest. The man quickly agreed, and the Emperor sent his armies to rescue the family. The warrior was overjoyed, and swore never to lift his sword again except for when the Emperor called, so that he could cherish the family he had almost lost. So he took up the position of dean in this academy.”

“A warrior? Not a mage?” Skyle interrupted briefly, surprised.

Reik nodded, his voice full of fervor. “He was still a great warrior, and it is said no mage could withstand his fierce sword.”

“Impressive,” Skyle commended.

“Right? Right?” Reik looked even more excited.

“So, what happened then? I assume that’s not the end?” Skyle prompted.

Shaking his head, Reik returned to his tale. “After one year, the Emperor sent his crest, and the man honored his promise. Next year, another summons arrived, and the man faithfully answered the call. Then ten long years passed. One day, a message bearing the Imperial Crest finally arrived. By now the man was older, slower and weaker because he had kept his vow and hadn’t touched his sword in all these years. Though his wife and children wept and begged him not to go, the dean was a man of his word and would not break his oath.”

Reik’s eyes glowed from within, and he seemed particularly moved by this last part.

Skyle smiled indulgently as he waited for Reik to continue.

“The dean promised that he would return, and brought his wife to this garden. Here, he pointed to this tree, which was just a sapling back then. ‘I planted this tree just last month, because something told me I would soon be going away. Don’t worry, before the first bloom of this tree clothes it in your favorite crimson color, I will be back by your side. We will watch it together then.’”

“Leaving those final words, he went away, and every night his wife would come before this tree to pray for his safe return. One year passed, then another. Soon it had been seven years without word. It was finally the night that the tree would finally bloom, and the man’s wife cried disconsolately. Her children had long left their home to live their own lives, but the faithful wife had remained behind, waiting. Her husband had never broken his word, and so she had always believed he would one day return. Until tonight, when she knew the tree would finally bloom and her husband would never return.”

“Just as the tree was about to bloom, she heard footsteps coming from outside. She turned around and saw it was her husband, for whose return she had prayed every night. She ran and hugged him, and was overjoyed. Her husband didn’t say a single word, and only hugged her back. It was then that the tree finally bloomed. Its petals were not red like the man had promised, but white instead. The wife looked up at the tree in confusion, but when she turned to ask her husband about it, he was no longer there.”

“The truth is he had fallen in a distant battle and had been dead all these years. Still, his ghost remained behind just so he could fulfill his promise to his wife who still waited for him after all these years. This tree saw the couple’s faithfulness to each other, and asked God to allow them to meet for this single night. In exchange, it offered the prettiest color from its first bloom. God accepted and ever since then this tree has always borne white blossoms instead of red. That’s why it is said than when this tree blooms white, you can pray for your loved ones and they will return to you safely.”

“It is Kass’ favorite garden, as of four days ago,” Reik added with a wide grin.

“Reik!” An indignant protest came from Kass’ direction, and Skyle couldn’t help but smile.

“Really? Is that true, baby sister?” Skyle said softly.

“This place just has really strong elemental resonance with my elements,” Kass mumbled, flustered. “And how many times have I told you not to call me baby sister at the academy?”

“Many times, and I imagine many more in the days to come,” Skyle chuckled.

“Hmmph! And to think I wasted all those prayers on you,” Kass sniffed.

“That’s why you’re my favorite little sister, Kass,” Skyle confessed, his face serious.

“I’m your only sister, you big buffoon!” she cried.

“Which only proves how truthful my words are,” Skyle laughed and pulled Kass into his arms.

She resisted, of course. She pushed and squirmed and struggled until she finally made a face of helplessness when she finally surrendered. Still, Skyle didn’t miss the upward twitch of the corners of her little button mouth when she finally lay buried within his embrace.

“You know, you have a beautiful smile sis. You should let yourself do it more often,” Skyle observed, his chin resting upon the top of her head.

“Bully,” Kass murmured, her blushing face buried against his chest. “Big, bad bully.”

Skyle said nothing to that, and instead enjoyed the warmth of her breath snuggled next to his neck.

After a long moment, Kass whispered something Skyle couldn’t quite catch.

“Hmm?” He murmured.

“Corn..” Kass said before quickly burying her face in his chest once again.

“Oh, of course! How could I forget? It’s right here,” Skyle patted the bulge under his arm. “Ah, probably a little bit crushed. I have a little dragoness perched upon my- Owww!”

Skyle rubbed at the red welt on his side. “Fiercest claws you ever saw, too.”

“You better remember it next time you try to bully me,” Kass mumbled, using her hand to rub at her eyes. “Now give me my candied corn. I haven’t had any for the last three days!”

The way she said it, it was as if she were talking about life-giving air or water.

“I heard Fatty swung by to give you some, but you didn’t even go out to see him,” Skyle pointed out.

Kass coughed a couple times, then cleared her throat. “I- I have no recollection of that.”

It was Skyle’s turn to roll his eyes at his baby sister for a change.

“What?” she said defensively. “Besides, his squinty eyes and greasy hands make me feel like I need to to take a bath every time I see him.”

Skyle felt her shudder involuntary in his arms. He gave her a warning squeeze.

“Hey now, Fatty’s my good friend. Be nice.” He scolded.

“It’s the only reason I’m civil to him. Be thankful for what you get,” Kass said primly.

“Uh, big bro, she’s right. Sometimes, when he thinks no one is watching, Gordon looks at Kass like he’s staring at a side of beef.”

Kass lifted her face away from Skyle’s chest for just long enough to glare at her twin brother at that.

“Eh, I meant, a very juicy, succulent piece of prime Northlander steak.” Reik quickly corrected himself, holding his hands up in front of himself.

Skyle was a little surprised. He himself hadn’t noticed anything like that. It seemed Fatty had ambitions for more than just being his friend. He smirked as he thought that for once Fatty would be in for far more than he had bargained if he ever got his wish.

A slight, threatening pressure at his side wiped that grin clean off his face. The little kitten was getting ready to strike again.

“What?”

Kass glared at him from under disapproving eyebrows. “You know what. You were thinking mischief again.”

“No, I wasn’t.” Skyle protested, thinking that there was no way that his baby sister, even as mind-bogglingly talented as she was, could possibly read his mind.

“Yes, I can. And yes, you were.”

Reik chuckled from nearby. “That’s true big bro, you definitely were.”

“Whose side are you on, anyway?” Skyle scowled at Reik.

“100% on team Farrow, like always!” Reik grinned cheekily.

“Hush, you big lump,” Kass murmured throatily, almost sounding sleepy. “And don’t start again. Don’t you dare, not now.”

Like a sleepy cat, she once again laid her head against Skyle’s chest and sighed contentedly. He half expected her to start purring.

Perhaps that was what all this pinching and scratching was all about.

Kass had spent too long at a snowblade tiger farm and had inadvertently picked up a few bad habits.

Right now, she was just marking her territory.

For once, Skyle’s smile perfectly mirrored his baby sister’s.

This wasn’t so bad, after all.

Not bad at all.

The rain finally showed signs of letting up. Meanwhile, the little minx had actually fallen asleep in his arms. Skyle meant to gently shake her awake, but at that moment Reik grasped his shoulder.

When Skyle looked askance, Reik had whispered, “Big bro, poor Kass didn’t get a single good night’s sleep while you were gone. I was worried for you, but deep down I also believed that my big bro could take care of himself. Kass though, she had me worried sick. She would hardly eat a bite before pushing away her plate and she never smiled.”

“That bad?” Skyle was surprised.

Reik nodded glumly. “It wasn’t just you disappearing, though that was the biggest reason. This whole place is just no good. We hate it here.”

Skyle stared mutely in surprise. He had no idea the idyllic life he had always envisioned was only in his own imagination.

“Kass asked me not to tell you. She always worries about you, you know? We never have any time by ourselves. Especially Kass. These spoiled brats follow her everywhere, trying to get her to tutor them on new spells, spell matrices, join research assignments, or even academy missions. They offer wealth and think they can buy anything with their influence, but no one stops to realize that she’s only nine years old and she never asked for any of this.”

Reik sounded bitter and frustrated, and Skyle could understand now.

“That’s not even mentioning her enemies. They don’t dare do anything out in the open, but it doesn’t stop them from hatefully harassing her whenever they can. Lately there’s even been a sick bastard who’s been leaving mangled carcasses of dead cats inside of Kass’ spell matrix lab.”

“What? Why haven’t you told me about this? And what’s the academy doing about it?”

Instantly, Skyle was incensed. How dare they? His fists shook with impotent rage as fire flooded his veins.

“You should know that the last thing Kass wants is to add even more stress on top of you, big bro.” Reik let out a frustrated sigh. “The academy promised a full investigation, but it’s all internal politics and any student who dares to act like that has confidence in their own backing. What’s worse is that the academy itself is the worst offender of all. They’re putting so much pressure on Kass, sometimes it is a wonder that she doesn’t shatter like a porcelain doll.”

Skyle’s brow twisted even further at that. “What, they’re not happy with her progress? She’s already at the 9th level of the Initiate rank. That’s gotta be some sort of record!”

“No, it’s not that.” Reik shook his head. “They’re real happy about her elemental power. But they’re constantly urging her to awaken her elemental spirit.”

Skyle narrowed his eyes as he stole a glance back toward the towering elemental altars in the distance.

“I thought no one can control when or how they will awaken as a summoner and call upon their first elemental spirit,” Skyle forced out between clenched teeth.

“You’re right about that, big bro.” Reik quickly agreed. “But when a summoner of great talent is on the verge of breaking through and awakening her power, there’s a strange thing that happens - I think they called it the eye of the storm.”

“It’s really tough to describe.” Reik scratched his head in frustration. “It’s like this empty air that trails behind you everywhere you go, except it’s not air, it’s like..”

Reik scrunched up his face as he grasped for the right analogy. “Oh yeah, it’s like those tapestries ma would have us weave. It’s like there’s suddenly a gaping hole in the fabric and it pulls at all the threads in the tapestry. When you look there, it’s just a hole, but it causes a disturbance in the whole thing.”

Skyle blinked at that. “You mean to say little Kass here has a vortex of some dark sort of void that is constantly hounding her steps?”

Reik nodded. “Something like that, but not quite. I wish I could explain it better, but it’s the best way I can put it to you. I think the only way you could really understand is if you had-”

Suddenly, Reik clamped his mouth shut and a look of remorse filled his face.

“Don’t worry about it, Reik,” Skyle waved it off. “So, shouldn’t the fact that Kass is about to become a summoner be a good thing? Especially at such a young age? She’s gonna be an Empress for real at this pace!”

Reik hung his head down in silence and didn’t meet his eyes.

“Reik?” Skyle frowned.

After another moment of silence, things clicked into place as the solid bone he used for a brain finally began to work again. When he arrived at the answer he was searching for, it took his breath away.

“It’s me, isn’t it?” Skyle whispered bitterly.

Reik looked up in panic. “N-No big bro, I didn’t say that!”

Skyle shook his head. “You didn’t have to.”

A painful silence ensued, during which Reik’s head hung down even lower and Skyle inevitably began to hate his damn stupid crippled veins again.

“Look, big bro. We both know that you’re happier than anybody about our talent and you’re the most supportive out of everyone.. It’s just that..” Reik stopped then, at a loss for words.

“Kass feels guilty because everyone looks down upon me and calls me a freak and worthless cripple, doesn’t she? That’s why she doesn’t like to wield the power of the elements when I’m around, right? Now she feels like she’ll be hurting me even more by becoming an even greater talent.” Skyle shook his head sadly.

“No, big bro. You’ve got it wrong,” Reik whispered back. “It’s true that Kass doesn’t like using her powers in front of you, and neither do I. But we both love you and respect your strength. You’re a hundred times better than any of these so-called talented guys.”

Skyle couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart at his brother’s words.

“Do I truly deserve such a place in their heart after the terrible things I have done? The innocent blood I have spilled?”

Reik didn’t seem to notice any of the pain in Skyle’s eyes as he continued in a gravely voice.

“Big bro, you know you’re one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. You’re my hero! Even more so than any of the tales I’ve read in all the books about knights and kings in my room. I know how hard you've worked to become who you are. I love you for it but.. But to Kass, you’re something even more special.” Reik wrung his hands as he struggled for the words to express himself.

“She, she’s closer to you than anyone else. Anyone!” Reik’s downcast eyes took on a reddish tinge. “Even.. even me. I’ve felt connected to Kass ever since I could remember. The instant I knew there was such a thing as me, I knew there was also my other half, Kass. The bond I feel with her is something I can’t put into words. So it is really hard to admit what I’m about to tell you, but in my heart of hearts I know it is true. It hurts, but it is true.”

Reik looked up with tears spilling from his eyes. “She loves you. She loves you even more than she loves me. Do you realize what that means? I feel like we’re two halves of a whole, and I know she feels the same. But she still loves you more!”

For the first time ever, Skyle saw accusation in Reik’s turbid brown eyes. It shocked him, but what really took his breath away was his brother’s revelation about how Kass felt about him.

Deep inside, he had a suspicion, but had dismissed such. He knew just how close the twins were. They were inseparable! At home, they often finished each others’ sentences, and it was rare when one would go or do anything without the other.

For the first time ever, Skyle didn’t know what to say to his baby brother. Reik had always been the calm, cheerful one of the family. He never complained, never got into trouble, and never made anyone worry about him. If disaster were suddenly to strike and the whole world were to burn down in flames, little Reik would be the last bastion of sanity and peace remaining.

Rubbing his hands over his eyes, Reik swiftly composed himself. “I’m not going to say sorry, big bro. I still love you, and I felt bad for keeping this to myself. I wanted to tell you because I think it is important that you know.. Know how much you mean to us. To both Kass and me.”

Skyle could only nod numbly, feeling - not for the first time - like it was Reik who was acting like the older brother comforting a younger sibling instead of the other way around.

“That’s the reason. Do you understand now?” Reik asked slowly.

Skyle’s brain was still rattling around with the revelations from his baby brother. Overwhelmed as he was, he could only shake his head dumbly.

“She’s scared, big bro. Kass is afraid that once she awakens as a summoner, she’s going to lose you forever,” Reik explained slowly, with more patience than any nine year old should ever have.

“No, our parents would never let that happen, no matter what the academy or even the Emperor himself says. Hell, I won’t let it happen. I would never let them take Kass away.” Skyle growled.

Reik shook his head again, this time sighing deeply.

“No, big bro. It’s not them she’s afraid of. It’s you she’s worried about,” Reik whispered.

“What? Why?” Skyle cried out in spite of himself, nearly jumping to his feet.

Reik smiled wryly. “We both know how badly you want to open your elemental veins. If effort was all it took, you’d be the number one summoner in all of history.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Skyle muttered, not bothering to deny it.

“You never say anything, and you always try to hide it and put up a cheerful front, especially when we’re in here. We’re young but we’re not stupid, big bro. Maybe a stranger couldn’t tell, but how could we not see the look of pain in your eyes every time you walked through these stupid, fancy buildings? Or the way you flinch whenever someone of your own age casts a spell in front of you? Kass didn’t react like that against poor Sean Mallory just out of a temper tantrum, you know? She deliberately crushes anyone of your age who casts spells in front of you. By now, the smarter ones have already caught on and that’s why hardly anyone dares to wield the elements when you’re around.”

Skyle let out a small ‘O’ as his eyes went wide. All this time, he had been a fool and he had never realized. He thought it was him making the sacrifices for his baby brother and sister, and now it turned out it was the other way around.

“Now that Kass is about to break through and become a summoner, she’s about to become a living legend. Do you know how many children our age have successfully summoned their first spirit? It is said the summoning rite is one of primal power. It strips you of all reason and drives some summoners undergoing their awakening into terrible massacres as they satisfy their most primal instincts. Did you know that the Empire has decreed an unconditional amnesty for any summoner who’s undergoing their awakening? No matter how horrible the crime, they get a free pass just because of who they are.”

Reik shook his head slowly. “Those are regular summoners, too. Old people who are thirty or forty, even. They could raze down an entire town like Sunny Meadow and the Imperial Army wouldn’t even blink. What do you think they would be willing to do for someone like Kass?”

Now Reik turned to look straight into his brother’s eyes. “With all that power and status, how could she not be afraid of losing you, the most precious person in her life? Already, you act differently around us ever since we started coming to this stupid school. We’ve already tried to withdraw but they refused. They will let us get away with anything but that.”

“It’s your fault, big bro,” Reik smiled at Skyle with tears pooling in his sad, unblinking eyes. “Kass is eventually going to become a summoner. It can’t be stopped now. Then you’re gonna break our little Kass’ heart.”

Skyle felt the blood drain from his face, and he wanted to say no. He wanted so badly to deny everything, but he couldn’t find the breath to do so. His chest felt like there was a blistering fire in his lungs, and his heart only sputtered weakly when he beat his fist against his chest.

“Reik, I-” Skyle began when he could finally draw a breath, desperate to say anything he could to reassure his baby brother.

But Reik had already stopped looking at him.

Instead, his little brother closed his eyes, laid his head against Skyle’s shoulder and smiled.

It was only a simple smile with not a single word spoken. Yet the weight of this smile felt like a thousand fetters of implacable steel snaking around his heart with startling tenderness.

Because it was a smile full of the blind trust a little brother had for his one and only big bro.

Skyle’s throat burned and his sight grew cloudy, but at least he had the sense to say the right words.

“I will protect her. I promise you, Reik. I will protect you both. I will never let them take you away from me. Kass, I will watch over you - always!”

Reik’s expression didn’t change at all, as though everything had gone exactly as he had expected.

It was a beautiful moment of silent understanding where siblings spoke heart to heart.

The only misconception here was that it wasn’t a conversation between two souls, but rather three.

For neither Reik nor Skyle noticed that as soon as the latter had spoken his fervent promise, little Kass’ delicate hand had trembled briefly as her index finger met her thumb.

They would not have recognized the gesture, for no one in the Farrow family was particularly religious.

Only a devout believer of the Holy Church would know - It was the handsign that represented a fervent plea to the Goddess watching from above.

Thus did Kassandra whisper the prayer within her heart, and let it fly on the wings of a deep, abiding love.

“Please, let him stay by my side.. always.”