5. Memories

  Chapter 5: Memories

Kingdom of Zuland, Owlen Forest, Two Years Earlier

A cool gust of wind blew through the forest. The clearing in front of the cabin was well illuminated by sunlight as cicadas sang in the distance.

Xeto swung his wooden sword horizontally.

His opponent parried the incoming attack with a wood sword of his own before riposting.

Xeto flinched as the stinging pain at his waist spread to his ribs. “Hey! Roxas, that one actually hurt.”

His elder brother’s blank expression remained unchanged. “Again.” His low voice was nearly a growl. He brought down his sword.

Xeto raised his own, successfully blocking the wood inches away from his face. His arms strained as Roxas pushed harder. He took a step back and quickly lost his footing. Before he could react, he met with the hard ground for the twelfth time in this session. Or was it the thirteenth? It didn’t matter now. His frustrations grew as the sun’s blinding rays fell on him. “Damn it.” He threw his sword aside as his ears grew warm. His nape itched from the combination of sweat and dew of the morning grass. “Ridiculous,” he mumbled, grasping a handful of grass and ripping it from the ground.

“Sloppy stance. It was easy making you lose your balance. Now, get up.”

Xeto put his arm over his face, shielding himself from the sun. “No.” His chest heaved. “I’m tired, let me rest if just for a moment.”

“Rest? You can rest after we’re done.”

Xeto sat up as he rolled his eyes and threw the clump of grass aside. “Why are you being so aggressive today? We never spar this long.”

Roxas knelt beside him.

Xeto scowled. Looking at his brother felt like taking a glance into a mirror. They shared the same eye and hair color, though Roxas’ face was rugged and his hair was naturally untamed. The thought of how anyone who saw them together would point out their resemblance irked him further. Roxas was a prodigy with a blade, and naturally with their being siblings, people often expected the same of him. And many times, he’d fail to meet those expectations.

“See those trees?” said Roxas, as he pointed to one of the many thick oaks that surrounded them. “If a hurricane were to pass tomorrow, that tree would remain rooted. Why? Because that’s the way life built them. To endure. Though unfortunately unlike the forest, we have to hone our abilities and learn how to root ourselves, both physically and emotionally.”

Xeto scoffed. “I can root myself. I’m better than most swordfighters my age.”

Roxas grinned but for second. “That’s amusing coming from the one who spent most of the morning on his rear.” He stood. “Now, to better answer your question as to why I was harder than usual. I was hired for a job to the far east. Some rich noble needs someone to deliver something across the Nyre Valley. And I would sleep more comfortably knowing that my brother is capable of defending himself while I’m away.” He walked towards their home, a small cabin which they shared with woodrats and termites.

Xeto jumped to his feet and dusted himself before following behind him. “I thought you were a mercenary, not a courier. What’s so important about the package?”

Roxas responded without turning. “I’m not being compensated for knowing what it is, just to deliver. Besides, a mercenary can be anything from a guard to a thief. This occupation is one with many shapes.”

Xeto wiped the sweat from his brow. “Can I come with you?”

Roxas took a seat on the worn porch stairs. “Not a chance, little brother.”

Xeto chuckled. “Why? Because I’m not as good as the tree?”

“That’s exactly why,” he answered with a thin smile.

Xeto shrugged. “Fine, fine. I have a job of my own anyhow.” He sat in the shade of the home and leaned against the old wood.

“You do?” Roxas raised an eyebrow. “Where would that be?”

“As a hunter for the butcher in Hansel—that nearby village,” he answered proudly. “Another hunter there offered to teach me some archery.”

Roxas sighed, his discomfort far from hidden. “I thought I was clear when I told you not to mix with others. We don’t know how long we’ll remain here.”

Xeto frowned. “You’ve told me that every time we reach somewhere new. But we’ve been here for almost two years…much longer than anywhere else. This way I can learn my way with a bow and earn some coin—for both of us.” He remembered all of the times they remained without food in the past. Either from the lack of silver or the misfortune of running out while traveling. “Besides Roy…uh the other hunter…he’s around my age. What could possibly happen?”

“Fine,” answered Roxas as he rubbed his temples. “Just make sure you don’t get attached.” He waved him off. “Now go to the river and bathe, you smell like an oahork.”

Xeto jumped to his feet with a smile. “Thank you, Roxas. I won’t let you down.” He circled around the cabin and continued through the forest. Finally, he would get the chance to spend time with others. For as long as he could remember, it was always just himself and Roxas from town to town. But this time it was different, he could feel it. This place could be a start of a new life for them, despite his brother’s distrusting nature. He would prove to Roxas that he could root himself better than some damned tree and become a renowned swordsman like he’d wished.

~~~

The first signs of a new day presented themselves. The chirping of birds, the darkness of the past night broken by the warm sunlight, and a slow wind that snaked through the trees.

Xeto took a seat on the steps of his porch as we wiped away trickles of sweat from his forehead. “Phew.” He inhaled as he grinned widely. There was a sense of pleasure that came with waking before the sun and finishing most of the daily chores just as daybreak arrived. And in addition, today was the day Roxas would come home from his two-week long job. He’d often bring him something from his travels, be it a book from another kingdom’s archives or maybe even something as simple as a seashell from a coast town. The thought urged a smile.

“Where’s the girl?” said a voice.

Xeto blinked rapidly as he raised his head and saw a figure walking towards him from the forest. “Roy?”

“The one and only, lad,” responded the elven with a smirk. His shaggy brown hair hid his elongated ears at times. He’d appear human if not for his violet eyes, a trait shared between the elven race. “Don’t leave me in suspense now.” His usual light blue tunic was darkened by the shadows of the forest. “So, where’s the girl?” he echoed with his usual charm.

Xeto arched his head. “Girl? What girl?”

Roy took a seat beside him. “I come to find you alone with that grin plastered on your face, I can only assume a real beauty crossed your path.” He leaned in closer. “And any woman that could make you smile like that is one I’d like to meet.” He chuckled as he bumped him lightly with his elbow.

Xeto’s cheeks grew warm. “Oh. I uh…I wasn’t thinking about that—wait why aren’t you out hunting? You’re usually on your way back to the butcher with your game around this time.”

“Ah, well…” Roy leaned back on one arm. “Ol’ Butcher Praxis didn’t open up his shop today. He had his hands full trying to find the boy who had a secret rendezvous with his daughter last night.” He licked his lips before they curved into an even wider smile. “See, unlike you, I was thinking about a girl. Or rather, I did a lot more than ‘think’ last night, catch my reel?” He shot him a wink.

Xeto’s mouth went dry as he leaned in. “You didn’t.” A wave of surprise came over him, as well as a respect for his friend.

Roy pushed his hair back. “Oh yes I did, and more,” he teased. He put out his hands and made the outline of a woman, as if groping an invisible maiden. “Ah that girl is a regalia of beauty with more curves than a candelabra. I have to see her again tonight.”

Xeto could felt the redness in his cheeks heighten. “Are you insane? You’re going to—with the daughter of a butcher, can you imagine what he’d do if he caught you?”

“Oh, I know the risks, lad…and they’re severely outweighed by the reward,” answered Roy before bursting into a fit of laughter.

Xeto shook his head in disbelief before joining him in mirth. “You’re insane.”

“Perhaps I am. But enough about me. Tell me, what were you waiting on out here?” Roy retained focus on him.

Xeto shrugged. “Well…Roxas is supposed come home today, so I thought I’d wait for him here.”

“Ah, your brother, right? How stale,” he replied, as he rolled his eyes. “What kind of job did your brother take this time? Carriage escort? Bounty hunting?”

Xeto fidgeted with nearby grass. “I’ve no idea, lately he has kept the details of his jobs to himself.” He rubbed his chin at the thought. How long had it been since Roxas had shared a story from his travels? The only one that came to mind was the delivery from a month prior. It almost felt as if something had happened then, something that changed him. He began spending more time alone and answering coldly anytime Xeto asked him about his jobs.

“Oi. I have an idea,” said Roy suddenly. “We should go to the river just up the path.” He jumped to his feet. “There’s this old bridge-tower there, I say we take some fishing poles and gather ourselves a feast.”

Xeto sighed. “But I don’t know how to fish.” As the words escaped his lips, as did a wave of embarrassment for not knowing how to perform such a simple task.

“Ah, don’t worry about that. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.” Roy pumped his chest. “Trust me,” he said as he extended his arm.

Xeto took hold and pulled himself up. “You? I think you’ll scare any potential game away with your babbling.”

Roy let out a sardonic chuckle before taking the lead.

These types of trips were a common occurrence for the past month or so. Ever since he had begun spending more time with his new friend, the coming days were occupied with activities that would have otherwise eluded him. Events that he denied had occurred to Roxas, les he anger him.