Echoes (I)

Golden light unraveled before Sayo’s eyes. It shimmered through every raindrop he dared to see, connecting each droplet to the power of the moon-shaped rune. An emotion all connected them. A quiet sense of longing. In a few moments, the rain that had every intention of dampening the wood beneath Sayo’s feet began to slow. Sayo watched carefully, keeping his attention fixed on the rune to see if its shape would change or if this was the right combination.

It worked!

A mischievous grin changed into one of pure wonder and joy. Nothing else mattered if Lakia had the ability to create a sight that was so beautiful. Lanterns burned with honey-dipped light that filled each droplet. Sayo couldn’t believe it⸺it wasn’t what the spell was supposed to do but this was even better. The sight captured Sayo; so much so that he didn’t hear the cold creak of a door opening right next to him.

The rain was frozen in time, and the light made them look like stars in the sky.

Sayo silently hoped he had this sight all to himself but, within the trees a villager saw everything.

♢☽♢

“It’s better to not use Lakia at night.”

That was the one stern thing Lucien could muster in his conversation with Sayo. The young noble’s hands trembled with the reminders of what he saw and Sayo’s face. That boy’s happiness had a lot of unintended consequences⸺consequences that might leave Lucien with a lot of fires to put out if he wasn’t careful about who could’ve seen anything this late into the day let alone if word got around the village about some “miracle boy” that could stop the rain. For the past few centuries the people of this village never experienced life without rain.

It was rumored the only way you’d see a clear sky here was if you were to die.

The range of the storms were vast and journeying through them was only possible for a trained sorcerer. It was a miracle that Sayo somehow made it through the storms just to get here let alone the fact that he stopped the downpour around Lucien’s house even if it was only for a moment.

Two miracles in one night.

Maybe it’s time for tea⸺yeah that might calm the nerves.

“Do you drink, Sayo?” Lucien asked abruptly.

“I—”

Before Sayo could answer, the young noble moved to the kitchen of his small hut. It was a nice hut—well lit and higher up on the giant tree at the center of the village compared to any other home Sayo noticed on his way in, though it was a bit hard to see much at the time. The lulling scent of chamomile mingled with the damp, earthy smell of the storm outside, creating a strange sense of calm in Lucien’s hut, only for the fresh scent of peppermint to slice through the air. For once Sayo was surprised. Somehow, Lucien had enough intuition to know Sayo’s favorite flavor without even a word from him.

Maybe they were just similar.

Maybe Lucien had every flavor.

Lucien put two cups down and took a quick seat awkwardly across from Sayo, taking a moment to observe the boy. It was only a week ago when Lucien received a message from him claiming to be the brother of Asahi Kusanagi. A former sorcerer and a general who was rumored to have gone missing⸺or what was preferable to nobles⸺dead. Sayo didn’t seem like Asahi based on the stories Lucien heard and even then, they barely looked alike. The only similar thing about the two were their golden eyes.

A rare trait⸺a blood trait.

“Still I’m surprised,” Lucien remarked, “When I got your message I didn’t even realize that Lord Asahi had any siblings—”

Sayo grabbed the scorching hot cup with what appeared to be his bare hands.

“!”

The simplest things made Lucien flinch. Sayo stifled a giggle. Out of all the noble’s that Sayo met at his brother’s side it was only when he left that they all seemed to become funnier; Lucien was the funniest by far.

“Don’t worry! No bones, remember?” Sayo said with a coy smirk.

What Sayo said almost made no sense to Lucien until he remembered one bit of the message he almost glossed over.

“R…right.”

It’s better not to press things for now. Lucien thought, but something else ensnared him.

Most people hoping to enroll at Axia would have avoided this village for safer travels, not only was it one of the smaller colonies under noble control, but because of the weather all forms of air travel were less than ideal. Despite how he seemed, Sayo came to this village with a distinct purpose in mind.

“Well, the entrance exam for Axia is a few months away. Even then, most people avoid this place because of everything that seems to be going on around here nowadays,” Lucien tried to make his point clear, but Sayo finished his tea and Lucien completely lost his attention. The boy laid on his back, staring at the web of lanterns lining the roof of Lucien’s home.

“Pretty,” Sayo muttered.

Unlike the lanterns outside, various colored flames swirled within each lantern. It was a familiar scent that radiated from each one but Sayo couldn’t place it and the gentle, but stilted: “Master Sayo!” pulled him back into reality. Sayo shot up, smacking his head on the bottom of the table.

“Wha! I’m listening.”

Lucien appeared unconvinced.

“I was wondering… There are so many ways to Axia that completely avoid this village on the way, your message made it sound like you were in a rush.”

Lucien narrowed his gaze.

“Why are you here Mas⸺”

“The sky.”

Sayo pointed up—and then out the window across the room.

“I never knew Lakia was capable of something like this. Rumors say that a sorcerer did this. I want to meet ‘em. I want to know why anyone would have such a sad looking wish.”

“The rain has been here for centuries, what would make you think that the sorcerer that did this is even still⸺around.”

Avoiding the topic of death felt fitting, but not for Sayo.

“Asahi told me that no matter the wish, the effects of sorcery will only remain as long as the sorcerer is still alive. Plus, it wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world,” Sayo’s demeanor changed as his mind swirled with the possibilities, “Just think about it⸺for years, with foreign sorcery, a legendary sorcerer prolonged his life, living in a quiet village in the middle of nowhere, far from the influence of the nobility, practicing the art of his Storm Sorcery. Isn’t that so cool!”

Lucien rested his gaze on the rain outside and then beneath the wooden floorboards. Sayo had said a lot, but that had to be the cutest notion of all. It was so funny, yet he didn’t laugh.

A sorcerer that’s been alive for centuries⸺as if.

Lucien continued. “Perhaps, though I think if there was a sorcerer here either me or the few men the capital gave me would have sensed him by now⸺”

“YOU’RE RIGHT! But isn’t that what makes it even cooler? A sorcerer who somehow gained access to three different forms of sorcery?!”

“I doubt any villager has that potential,” Lucien rebutted, “I would be the first to know.”

“And if you don’t?”

“I will.”

Sayo paused, his face curling into an expression that Lucien couldn’t quite recognize. The boy’s eyes pierced directly through him—at least a lot more than Lucien was used to. It was like Sayo was carefully studying him. Lucien’s funny behaviors seemed to have stopped.

He’s one of those nobles…

Sayo rested on the thought and in that moment his gaze dipped toward the table. The sweet aroma from the tea disappeared and with it the need for the conversation to continue.

“Master Sayo, if there’s anything I can do to assist you during your stay, I will do what I can to make it happen.”

“I’ve got a sorcerer to find.”

Lucien sighed, moving to pick up the twin cups of tea and put them away. It was almost time for nightfall. The last thing Lucien needed was for Sayo to get involved with anything that went on in this place at night.

“I won’t stop you, but it’s not worth the effort, and it’ll cause a lot more trouble than it's worth,” Lucien muttered.

“Maybe? But part of the fun of being a sorcerer is causing trouble where it isn’t needed. Who knows, maybe it’ll cancel out. My trouble vs whatever trouble caused this storm in the first place.”

The young noble didn’t even spare a glance Sayo’s way.

“I prepared a room for you upstairs. If you’re going to keep looking then you’ll need some rest right? The rain is lighter in the morning, so if you don’t want to get caught that would be the best chance.”

Sayo nodded like that was the only reasonable thing to leave Lucien’s mouth since he arrived⸺on top of that he needed to get rid of the heavy feeling enveloping his arms and eyes. Though slow, Sayo made his way up the stairs only to stop.

“Night.”

Lucien didn’t respond. His mind still remained on the look in Sayo’s eyes, specifically when he described his idea of the sorcerer that created the storms plaguing the village.

The sheer excitement was frightening, yet Lucien’s hands didn’t shake. Cold water splashed away whatever thoughts battled in his mind.

“Night,” Sayo said, much louder, expecting a response.

He really is still a child, so odd.

“Goodnight Sayo,” Lucien muttered reluctantly.

It was loud enough for Sayo to hear and in turn it was satisfying to hear. He took a step upstairs.

Everything was fine⸺

“Also Sayo.”

Sayo was almost up the stairs but Lucien’s words stopped him.

“Even if you don’t think so, I’ll do everything in my power to help you. This is the only piece of advice I can give you.”

Sayo hung off the edge of the railing, keeping his eyes fixed on Lucien, taking in whatever he had to say next.

“Don’t use Lakia at night.”