http://clampfix.fanworks.net/re-fix/bftwo-3.txt </head><body><pre> Between Friends 2 part 3 Lantis sighed restlessly as he stared up at the high ceiling of his room, his mind caught in the past due to the sudden, amusing realization of the sheer number of books and scolls that filled his quarters. He'd learned to read when he was not even three yet, and Zagato, his brother, had been proud that Lantis was so smart. He'd almost never been without a book in his hand until the day he turned thirteen and found out there were other things to learn. His thirteenth birthday had been special because that was the day that Zagato had come back to the village from the castle and taken him away. It was the day he had first met Guru Clef, Princess Emeraude, and Prince Ferio, people who were to shape his life. Their family had always had strong magic, strong Hearts, and neither he nor Zagato had been exception to that rule. The Guru had taken it upon himself to watch the two of them from afar until their magic had been too strong to ignore, until they *had* to be trained or start becoming a danger to themselves and those around them. But it had been so subtle that at the time that neither of the orphaned brothers had known about Clef. By the time of Lantis' thirteenth birthday, Zagato had been living in the castle for three years, studying magic and helping the Princess to guide and guard the land. He came back to the village very often to see Lantis, who had withdrawn even more into his books than before upon the departure of his brother. But on the day of Lantis' thirteenth birthday, the books had been left behind, all the wonderful stories and legends and reports of the other worlds that Lantis had read. And that was the day that Lantis first learned he had magic. Under Guru Clef's guidance, along with the other students of magic at the castle, Lantis rapidly mastered his power with the same proficiency he had displayed when he taught himself to read. And he just as rapidly grew bored, until he had chanced to see Prince Ferio, his junior by three years, practicing swordsmanship in a large empty room in the castle. Ferio had sensed him watching, and had turned with a grin, inviting him into the room to watch more closely. They hadn't really been friends at that point--Lantis had still been uneasy about being around those of royal blood, still new enough to feel like an outsider who shouldn't have been in the castle in the first place--but they had known one another well enough that Lantis had accepted the offer without hesitation, and proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon watching the younger boy wield the weapon that was at least as large as he was. Then, when Ferio was finished, and they were both leaving to go their separate ways, the Prince had asked Lantis if he'd like to learn to use a sword. Surprised that Ferio had asked him, Lantis had asked aloud if there wasn't some kind of separation of sorcery and weaponry that made it forbidden to know both. Ferio had just grinned back and replied that rules were made to be broken. Lantis had surprised himself by smiling back and promising to be back the next day for a lesson. The ten-year-old Prince had shown up the next day again, carrying his own weapon and a blunted practice sword for Lantis to learn with. At first the heavy weapon had felt awkward in Lantis' hand, which was used to lighter things such as books and scrolls, but soon enough the sense of strangeness had left as Ferio patiently guided him through things like stance, balance, how to hold the blade, how *not* to hold it.... In fact, before he knew it, before either of them knew it, it had become dark outside. It had quickly become a daily routine for Lantis; the study of Yil magic under Guru Clef in the mornings with his brother and the other students, and then running to secret weapons training with Ferio. He had done a little research, and had found out that it was indeed forbidden to know both sorcery and the use of a mundane weapon. Apparently the last person to master both talents, a "Kailu," had gone insane two hundred years before and killed nearly a thousand people before Clef had managed to stop him. When he found that out, Lantis had been shaken at the suggestion that wielding that much defensive power could drive someone to do such a thing, and had quietly suggested to Ferio that he stop training. But, though he did not admit this to Ferio, Lantis didn't *want* to stop learning the sword. So he let Ferio talk him into not abandoning the pursuit. It was nearly three months before Zagato had chanced upon them in practice. Zagato, oddly enough, hadn't been angry or upset. Just worried. So he'd taken the two of them to Guru Clef and had them tell the entire story to the powerful sorceror. He and Ferio, friends by that point, had each tried to take the blame for one another, neither wanting the other to get punished. Finally, Guru Clef had simply told them to take up their weapons and spar with one another, to see how far Lantis had gotten. Lantis had been determined to do the Prince proud in showing off his training, and though he had been defeated (three months of training was nothing compared to the seven years Ferio had, having been trained with the weapon since he was able to walk), he thought that he hadn't done too badly. As Ferio helped him up, the two of them had glanced over at the Guru and seen a light of comprehension in his eyes. "Lantis," Clef had said, "I know you know why it's not allowed to study both weapons and magic; I saw you reading the book about the last Kailu. If I were to ask you which you would prefer to study, which would you answer?" Lantis had considered for a minute, then answered "Both." Clef had given a soft smile at his reply. "I thought as much," he said. "I'll tell the three of you a secret that isn't in that book. The last Kailu, Sentra, was not well in his mind, his Heart. That, not the combined power, is why he went mad." Clef shrugged, a little sadly. "It happens sometimes. If you want to study both, Lantis, then you may. Simply let caution be your watchword, and never lose your temper. Ferio has no magic, and you could seriously injure him with even the little that you know now if you got angry and didn't control it. Likewise, you know all too well that Yils, Bals, and Sanus are in no way immune to physical attack. So simply be careful, both for yourself and others." His voice was sad and wistful. "I would hate to have to kill you too." Later that night, Zagato had stopped by Lantis' room, carrying a black sword hilt without a blade attached. "This is for you," he had said, presenting it to Lantis. "What is it?" Lantis had asked, looking curiously at the object. It was beautiful. "A combination of your skills," Zagato had replied in good humor. "I convinced the Pharle to make it for me. The blade is magic, the hilt mundane. It seemed a fitting gift." "Thank you, Zagato," Lantis had replied, stunned by the weight, the seriousness, of the gift Zagato had given him. "I can't make this up to you...." "You will make it up," Zagato had sternly informed him, "by becoming the best swordsman that you can possibly be. You will listen to everything that Prince Ferio tells you, learn every attack and defense, and when he can no longer teach you, you will go on to another teacher, who still has things left for you to learn. *And*," he stressed, "you will do the same with your sorcery." Lantis softly laughed, opening his eyes. Zagato had known all too well that his commands were things that Lantis would have done anyway. But that had been the happiest time of his life until now, learning his skills. He hadn't even been that happy in the halls and classes of Accord University on Autozam... though he might have been, were it not for the shadow of the future that had haunted him. And now he was back where it had started, in his room in the castle of Cephiro, surrounded by books and scrolls, planning for the future. <Some things never change,> Lantis thought with a smile, pictures in the back of his mind of the center for learning that he was planning with Clef to set up on Cephiro after the weddings, a place for all the worlds to exchange their ideas and ideals.... </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>