Two Old Men

It is an accepted fact that magic could be one of the six elements. Fire, water, earth, air, light, and darkness. Some bearers of the Proud Lion's Zeal could use the element of light, but they are as rare as a moonflower. And the element opposite of it bears the stigma of being the same as magic born from chaos.

This stigma for the element of darkness was also intensified due to it only appearing to those who bear the Zeal of a forgotten God which was now widely referred to as demons. 

Another month passed. Aeneas's control of his Zeal was getting better every day. There would be times when his master would leave him alone for combat training. The boy was tasked to imagine Silas being his opponent and simulate a way for him to hit the old man.

Though Silas has told Aeneas that he could visit the city for a day to fulfill his promise of allowing him once he could control his Zeal, the boy decides to do it later when he has full command of his Zeal and can turn it on and off like a switch similar to other Zeal-bearers.

Fifteenth of the month of Taurus (May). A sunny afternoon with no hint of it being changed to a downpour. Outside the hut, Aeneas was doing his daily training of swinging his sword against an imagined version of his master, and inside was the said master safe from the sun as he read with great comfort. The boy was focused on his training but changed his demeanor when he detected something different in the flow of mana. It came from the direction towards the entrance of the small forest.

Aeneas rushed to the front of the hut to inform his master that someone was approaching them.

"It's fine. Continue with your training."

Although worried, Aeneas realized that it must've been someone his master was expecting so he did as instructed.

An old man around the same age as Silas emerged from the distance. Aeneas could've sworn that he knew him. The visitor has long and straight gray hair and a groomed full beard. He walked with calculated strides with his hands on his back.

When the old man was closer, Aeneas remembered that he was the principal of the world academy. A boman who studied magic all his life and attained heights no one ever did. The only person perfectly described as a mage. He was Vandrad Karlsson.

Aeneas dropped his sword and walked closer to Vandrad. The boy greeted him with the Panteran bow and asked the reason for his visit.

Vandrad stared at Aeneas while stroking his beard.

"You must be the student he was talking about," Vandrad smiled, "Hmm. Now that I think of it, your master has not told me your name yet," the old man muttered, "Child, what is your name?" He continued.

"Ah. I am Aeneas Caspius."

Vandrad chuckled, "I am Vandrad. But I'm guessing you already know."

Aeneas responded with a nod and told Vandrad that he knew of him and his role in Laochyro.

Silas went out of the hut, "Don't you have a lot of things to do to wander around in the middle of the day, old man?" He said with a smile.

Vandrad laughed, "That was the reason why I am wandering around," he replied. Then, he pulled out a bottle of wine he was holding on his back.

Principal Vandrad raised the bottle towards Silas, "It's been a while, how about a glass?"

"You have come at the right time my friend. I was just thinking of drinking myself," Silas responded.

"Then it's fate."

The two old men sat at the chair and stump of wood near the wooden table with the bottle of wine resting atop it. Silas also brought out two cups made of wood.

"How about you Aeneas, you want some?" Vandrad asked.

Although Aeneas seemed to be intrigued about the taste of wine since he hadn't drunk one even after he turned thirteen, he refused the offer since he wanted to be in full shape while he was training.

"Oh. What a diligent child," Vandrad said. He then turned to Silas and continued, "You've met a great student."

Silas responded with a chuckle. Then, he told Aeneas to continue his training and let the two of them talk in privacy.

Vandrad filled both cups with wine and handed one to Silas.

"Your assistant would be furious," Silas said with a chuckle.

"I'll buy her a gift. Besides, I needed a change of scenery and fresh air. It's been so long since I have visited this nice place of yours," Vandrad replied with a smile.

After gulping the wine in the cup, Vandrad filled it once again.

"I thought you'd never take another student after what happened with the last one."

Silas drank from his cup, "We share the same thought."

"A small group of merchants heading to Decatris was slaughtered. Their eyes were plucked, limbs torn, and all of them were pierced in the heart with a single hit. This happened four months ago. Have you heard of it?"

"Yes, I've heard. I wanted to investigate but I could not leave the kid. Not until he is enrolled in the academy," Silas drank again from his cup, "Forgive me, Van, all those deaths wouldn't have happened had I finished him off."

Vandrad lifted his cup and took a sip, "It is not your fault. He was consumed by hatred. And somehow I could understand him. When one has submerged in the pits of hatred all his life, it is a miracle if it didn't devour him."

Silas clicked his tongue, "He was weak. My life was a greater disaster than his, yet I do not go around murdering everyone. I was a fool for not ending him."

"You turned out to be a miracle," Vandrad paused, "Although I understand him, he must still be stopped."

The air around Silas turned grim, "Soon as the boy's trained, I will hunt the bastard myself," he said.

 "You don't need to. I have an elite squad after him. Focus on teaching Aeneas and living a peaceful life here. I merely wanted to inform you."

Vandrad took a glance at Aeneas who was in the distance still swinging his wooden sword, "I guess I do not have to worry about him being similar."

"The brat was fortunate. His parents protected him. He also learned manners and was quite chivalrous," Silas chugged his cup once again then looked at Vandrad with a proud smile, "The boy's smart. I bet he was far smarter than both of us when we were a child."

"He must be a genius to receive your praise," Vandrad said while laughing.

"Had I taught him when he was still young, he could easily beat your academy's graduates at his age."

Vandrad's eyes widened as he tilted his head a little bit to the left, "You know the obstacles for one to graduate right? Aren't those words too far-fetched?"

"Oh Van, have you ever heard me lie? Well, I guess you'll see once he enters the academy."

Vandrad smiled, "I can't wait."

After a brief silence, Vandrad started another serious discussion.

"The murder of King Ision's son, was it Thalia's doing?"

Silas stared at Vandrad as he chugged another cup of wine. Then, he nodded in his reply.

Vandrad slowly brushed his beard with his hand, "King Ision is still asking the council to give him the perpetrator. He wouldn't support the council of Decatris and not answer our call for a meeting until then. Can I hear your thoughts, wise friend?"

"Let him. There's nothing to discuss. Although I wasn't proud of how Thalia handled things, what she did was right. Ision's son is a criminal bastard who toys with other people's lives. He is a great fool for not seeing it."

Vandrad sighed, "That's one way to approach this. But I'm afraid the other rulers might follow suit and make reasons for not attending the call for a meeting."

"Since I am partly responsible for anything that group does, should I wreak enough havoc in Caprines for King Ision to know his place?"

"I don't think killing would help solve the problem."

"Who said anything about killing? I will just talk to the fool and scare him a bit."

Knowing that Silas was more capable of doing what he said, Vandrad found his words much funnier. But, he refused his suggestion since it would only cause more turmoil.

"Then, I guess you have no choice but to convince him that his son deserved his fate. Everyone else could see it but the fool."

Vandrad took a sip of his wine, "Had it been your son, would you have accepted it?"

"If it was the truth, surely I would. My regret was not killing my previous student for his crimes, but I know that he deserves death and I'll give it to him the next time I see him."

"Have you thought of him as a son?"

"Does it matter? It's the same anyway."

Vandrad showed a wistful smile, "Is it? I guess both of us could never understand."

Silas smiled back, "I guess."

"We're just two lonely old men trying to keep the peace as brittle as thin glass from breaking."

Silas chuckled, "It's all you. If it hadn't been for you, Ision would've learned why he should not glare at me."

Vandrad laughed as he stood up from his seat, "As always, it was a great conversation, my friend," he said before leaving.