Common thoughts

Raviel stopped by the front door. Without wasting much time, he knocked at the door. No need to wait or waste any more time. Considering Oykai, Sol would probably already have been notified.

He waited there, staring at the door. He knew Oykai was never the easiest to deal with, but to think he sided with someone affiliated with the traitor. Well, that was somewhat of a sour spot for the young prince. He could strip him his rank and play around all he wanted though, if there was one thing he would not give up would be his pride and his indipendence.

He did admit he had acted like a brat to someone that was more or less just thrust in there. Still, he could not understand. Oykai would not accept the guy in the family, but then when HE was of similar ideals it was wrong? Perhaps this was simply one of Oykai's games, then again Raviel knew that the leader of the Reapers was weird in his own right. He pretty much despised anyone anyway. So perhaps he misunderstood his stance on the matter.

Sure, he was being forced into playing the little slave game now...with someone that, after their first scuffle, wanted nothing but humiliate him again most probably. What better validation than ordering him around. Nothing like that to affirm his superiority.

Then again, he did not really care about that. For all he cared, he could be put cleaning mud and other things the entire time he was supposed to amend for his behaviour. No, what he really cared about was excellence. He had been easily bested in combat. Something, up until now, he excelled at. He had been unable to even make the other guy break a sweat.

Never in his life, had he been so outmatched. Now that, was something he really took to heart.

It was probably due to his lack in magic use, now that he thought back at their fight. He ought to correct that. Another loss was not going to be tolerated. He would make sure about it. So he played along. In the end, being stuck as a servant for the would be Delthousin was kind of a blessing. Not only he could poke around his stuff to see if the guy was actually doing things under the table with Demi or not, but he could also find out more about his "master's" weaknesses. He really only meddled around in the World of the Living because of his curiousity around Lord Mizune and his relation to his siblings. It looked like he would need to make a detour and study Sol first. Kinda of a stepping stone.

In the end, if he would end up making Sol's training obsolete, then he could resume his own agenda. Right now, if there ever was one thing the void prince craved more than anything was just that. Perhaps his current fighting style was wrong. Attacking the conventional way did not seem to work at all. Though it would be a waste to throw away everything he had cultured up to now just because he failed. There would surely be something he could use it for. Perhaps...he could keep investing in conventional fighting styles only as a way to better defend himself. If he were to get a deeper understanding of the various patterns and attacks, it would be no biggie anticipating what was coming and counter accordingly.

Yeah, working on his defence that way would certainly be very useful while he worked out a new way to attack. Sadly, since Oykai decided to currently strip him of his royal rank and have him stuck with Sol, he would not be able to go snoop in the royal library for some ancient scrolls.

Oh well. One thing at the time. First, get this farce out of the way. Then, focus on the actual stuff.

WC653

@Sol

As the door opened a pretty girl in a kimono opened the door and bowed.”Sol Sama has been expecting you follow me please” she said as she parted and let the young man enter. She would then escort him to where Sol was at. After a few moment she would stop at a room and speak.”Sol Sama the young man is here as you were told” she said politely as a voice on the other side spoke.”Very good Yuzu Chan send him in and please bring me some tea after which you may rest you have been working diligently” he said as the girl opened the door and escorted Raviel inside, she would then go to Sol and bow before passing him a scroll.”Your report from the elders of the province Sol Sama.” She said as Sol smiled at her and took it.”Very good go rest and have a snack and some tea you earned it” he said as he took a drink of his own tea. Turning his attention to Raviel his eyes went from kind to serious in an instant.’Sit’ he mentally told him, the elder reaper was garbed in his normal apperal for his province being dressed in a black haori and hakame with a white under kimono top under it. The hakama had purple swirls olong the edges and cuffs and on his right breast was his marking in light blue. It was an intricate sword and it adorned many of Sols articles of clothing.

Glancing at the boys apparel the reaper simply snapped his fingers and the shadows would cloak the young man before receding showing him in a simple kimono which was made of low grade material.’If your going to be a servant in my castle and province then you will dress that part no ifs ands or buts about it’ he explained before he took another sip of tea.’Also be aware there are two deathless Servents here as well they are to be treated with respect and kindness and anything less then that will earn you a worse punishment’ he warned as he heard a sound outside the door and he glanced at it 'Come in” he mental said to the two outside the doors as it opened to reveal the two deathless in question. Both were dressed in very high quality clothing and looked very proper as the brother and sister bowed low to Sol before speaking. ‘Master Sol you Sent for us” the sister said before Sol nodded. “yes this is my apprenteice and he is here to learn some humility since his behavior has been rather shameful as of late I trust you can make sure he learns’ he questioned as the sister nodded. 'yes master Sol we will make sure he is taught’ she assured him before the brother spoke.”Master your flowers are ready for your visit today and are waiting for you outside’ he said softly while the elder reaper gained a soft smile.’Excellent I am grateful and I look forward to company later tonight’ he said before the brother and sister both bowed their heads.’Will it be me or my sister tonight Master Sol?’ the brother asked before Sol thought.’Hmm I will decide that and inform you later for now put the newcomer to work would you' he said before the two motioned for Raviel to follow them.

Once they were out the brother pulled out a rag and a bucket with some soap.’Your task will be to clean the floors and we will be checking your work thoroughly to make sure you have not slacked off Master Sol will not be happy otherwise’he said before the the sister went off to do a few other tasks while the brother watched over him.

wc- 635

Raviel remained stoic towards any of Sol's shenanigans. He sat down as ordered, settling down a packaged bundle he had been carrying. It was his personal way to forward formal excuses. Inside, if opened, the recipient would find a custom tailored copy of Raviel's beloved leather outfit. In Sol's case, the whole thing would be made in dark blacks and purples, compared to Raviel's more lively blues and reds.

"As you wish, oh Master mine." was all he said, only once. He would give him that victory as well. It was going to be the last concession he would give him. Oh yeah. Sol would better savor those moments, because there was not going to be a second time of them happening.

The young prince simply glared once at the boy of the two deathless siblings. "There's no need for that, oh acquaintance mine. When I do something, I make sure to do such to perfection."

And so, ingoring the slight itching of the clothes, Raviel set out to clean floor as he was ordered. Still, that would not stop him from turning something simple as cleaning something into training. After the general scrubbing, the prince would make sure to work on his leg muscles. Sponge on the floor, he began from the center and would push against it with his legs all the way to the outside.

After that, and an occasional pause to clean his forehead from sweat, he would to the opposite pattern with a towel to get everything dried up. Once everything was done, a quick jog to change water and then on to the next room. Then the stairs, then the corridors.

At this point, Raviel thought that only training legs would be bad. He would need to keep a nice balance otherwise he could forget beating Sol. Time to clean windows or anything of the like. That would work nice to stretch up and work on arms and chest. By the time he was almost finished, the clothes did not bother him at all. He still did not like them much and would rather wear his armor but what can you do.

---

WC 358, Total WC>1000, Exam Conditions met, continuing as a Freeform Job.

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Settling the tools down, he turned to check if the other guy supposed to be his guard dog was still there. "Well? Anything else? Book rearranging?" He threw out there. Not because he wanted extra work, but because doing something like that would benefit him way more that would benefit Sol.

Aside from the possibility of doing some reps with heavy books, it would let him snoop around and see what kind of knowledge Sol was into and was hiding in his room. If there was nothing else, then he pretty much was done with his stuff.

WC97

Sol Blinked as he saw the packaged bundle and he decided he would ask about it later for now the young mans punishment was a more pressing matter, it seemed that he would take it rather well and went with the twins to start his chores and the Reaper sighed before he took a sip of his tea and look thru the report by the elders of the province and started to work on the finances and issues in the region. Meanwhile the brother looked at Raviel unphased by the glade.’ I do as I am ordered so I will be checking up regardless’ he stated as he watched Raviel start working. It didn’t seem to take the young man too long to finish his task before asking about more work suggesting rearranging books which caused the brother to shake his head. ‘Master Sol has his books in his library the way he wants it theres no need to mess with them” he explained before he checked his work over. ‘its satisfactory come theres work to be done in the gardens’ he told the young man before moving with him out into the gardens.

Once they were out there they would stop in the vegetable garden and start working on picking ripe vegetables and making sure the plants were healthy. After a bit Sol would emerge in his normal clothes and Geta before grabbing two sets of flowers there were at the entrance and move down a trail to a secluded place. if one was to follow him they would see him move thru the woods a bit before emerging in a small grove with two graves. The area held a sense of calm and purity as if it wouldn’t let just anyone into the area. Sol reached the graves and he gently laid the sets of flowers before the graves before he pulled out some incense from the shadows and lit them before putting them in a holder and he kneeled and closed his eyes in remembrance. The two graves were for his birth mother who he had never gotten a chance to truly meet and his former queen who had died due to human fear and foolishness. Since both had no body to morn over Sol had made graves for them here so he could feel closer to them. “Mother and my Queen its been a while Im sorry I didn’t visit sooner life has become so hectic and twisted since I became a full member of my cast” he said softly his red eyes sorrowful as he remembered the fact he had very little time with both of them.

wc- 447

total wc- 1,082

He had to admit, he did not like his current situation at all. While he did not mind the clothes he had been given, he would rather have his original outfit right then and there. Aside from soundless walking and running, his tabi boots would be much more well suited to go through the woods instead of whatever these things were.

Beside, what the hell would Sol be doing in the middle of the woods at a time like that?

Raviel walked at a steady pace. Not slow, but not overly fast either. He did have some urgency, but he wouldn't want to trip and fall in mud with the stuff Sol forced him to wear. For all he knew that was going to be the only copy of it he would recieve. The guy might have fun leaving him dirty if he so happened to accidentally get dirt on himself.

It would take the young prince in training a good ten minutes before finally finding Sol by two graves. Perhaps he was performing some kind of rite he did not know yet due to it being further ahead in his training or something. Either way,  he probably knew already he had come there, so waiting for the...whatever that thing was...to end he would just interrupt real quick, get the thing in his hand delivered and go back to finish up the garden stuff.

"You have urgent mail from...Tyson Rhodes of Sabertooth, oh teacher mine." He stated, approaching from behind with the envelope in his right hand. "The courier said something about necormancy blood rituals involving dragon blood, or at the very least relics of draconic origin."

Raising his hand with the letter up, he waited for Sol to take it. He himself had a few theories on the matter, even before he had given the letter a small peek. From his studies, there was one that united dragon and necromancy together. Usually the two things come together in an attempt to summon creatures known as Abishai. He did not know much about the creature itself or all the necessary requirements to pull one all the way in the World of the Living from the Abyssal Plane. What he did know, were the content's of the letter. Well, some of it:

Sol Delthousin,
Rhodes here. I contacted Ruvel, but I was told to forward this to you specifically. A necromancer we were trying to apprehend has escaped to Myazhe. Since your province is outside of Sabertooth juristiction, or Rune Knight juristiction to be precise, I do not feel like it would be a good idea for my guild to send battle mages over there.

As far as we've been able to gather [...] planned some weird summoning ritual involving dragon blood or a similar surrogate. [...] uknkown reasons, this mage is to be considered a threat for the wellbeing of common people. I trust you will have no problem in dealing with this, as of this letter's writing the mage seems to be slightly below my own strength. Our my last scuffle with the guy and a few dents in Ivory Fang told me that much. Still though, be on your guard.

Here are the last know locations [...] should you need any help for whatever reason, burn this letter out in the open and allow the ashes to disperse in the wind. I'll come and help just...please avoid talking about feet to my guildmates should they tag along too.

Send Ruvel my best regards,
T.Rhodes, Sabertooth Mage.


Part of him was curious to know how Sol would deal with those kind of threats within his province, but the other side of things he still had his "training" to do. Could not do anything else before that was over. Urgent mail delivery was an exception, anything else was not.

"Now if you'll excuse me, oh teacher mine, I have gardening duties to attend to." Raviel bowed slightly, before turning around and beginning his walk back towards the manor and its gardens. If he knew the other Deathless boy well, the guy would probably get mad if he did not make haste back.

WC 685

Sol blinked as he  was approached by Raviel with a letter in hand but he stood before he  would glance back at the two graves before he took the letter from him and would begin to read it. While it was informative Sol however knew that despite how desperate the letter sounded it was a fake. If Tyson had really contacted Ruvel there would be no need to send the reaper a letter. Sol knew that Ruvel would deal with the issue himself or should he be unable to he would have let Sol  know thru a link so he could deal with it since this was his province. As he finished reading sol head the letter up before his poison flared around the letter before it disintegrated into nothing not even ash.”Well an interesting way to try and get my attention but the person who did write this needs to do better research I know a fake letter rather easily” he said before he turned to face the graves again, he spoke but his tone was sharp and had anger in it" Also Child if you dare enter this space again without asking permission first I will end your existence without a moments hesitation is that clear". Raviel then said he was going to go back before Sol sighed.

“Raviel, stay there for a moment. You have been hear less than an hour and you have already broken several rules such taking a letter meant for me, this should have been done by brother or sister not you also as they are only people permitted here as they are head servants that is a second infraction, the third infraction is that you came into my personal garden without permission even they have the common decency not to pass the threshold to somewhere classed as sacred ground of the master of the household without permission. I thought you being a former prince and soon to be ex trainee reaper if you don't watch yourself would be able to understand what is classed as basic code of etiquette of our kind in regards to when land is personally set aside by a loved one, who has had those they cared for taken from the cycle of life given two of the servant cast can follow it.” he said his back still turned to  him. “im unsure if you were told how my life was before I became a reaper and a deathless but it wasent pretty.” He explained before he continued. “ I never knew my birth parents until far later in my life my mother infact was someone I cherish but never got to make many memorys of this stone is hers there wasent even a body to bury when she passed” he said pointing to the grave on the left . "the only thing I was ever told was that no matter my path she would love me no matter what and it was a comfort I had in my dark times. When I was still in the darkness and a dark mage” he added.

“my life was not the best even before being a dark mage  but it took two people to pull me out of the shadows and landed me here on tolgalen and it was here that Rui and the others gave me a chance and I now work to redeem myself” he said before he glanced at the other  grave. “Now I want to let you know a few things so I can finally get that stupid notion out your head that I am Demi's lapdog and do as she orders. She was and still is in some regard my teacher and before you decide to get uppity about my connection with her let me get a few damn things straight. One. you personally have absolutely no connection to her or Rui so you can't have a personal vendetta or hold resentment towards her, she's done nothing to the family and hasn't betrayed the cast so get off your high horse you supped up prissy little bitch. Two. She is very religion and state, by this I mean she compartmentalizes, while dealing with her duties as one of the Spiritual Calling that is all there is to her, her life outside that doesn't matter; while outside of the cast I have absolutely nothing to do with her. She betrayed the one who she classed as a little brother to the point to save his life she gave up her own immortality for the one who she loves without a second thought. Now, have I made that clear enough for you thick head to process or should I make a sock puppet and explain it like I would a three year old?” he said conviction in his voice. Sol sighed.”Im sick of being treated like an enemy when I have done  nothing but show my loyalty time and time again” he explained glancing back at Raviel trying to get him to listen and understand that he was different then his teacher

wc-883

total wc 1,894

"Apparently everything I do is wrong for this or that or this again. At this point I am beginning to believe this is something beyond my control." Was all that Raviel remarked. "I did as I was told. Deliver the letter and so I did. Perhaps you could have instructed your mentee that the soil I am currently standing on is sacred ground before sending me off to attend house duties. I am not like brother Shindara nor Brother Amuul. I do not possess their prowess in Clairvoyance. This is not the Void. I do not know the World of the Living as well as any of you do."

He was annoyed, but only just. It really felt like anything he did was either wrong or misjudged. While some of it might be, it really seemed like no matter what he did, he was making mistakes. Oh well, one more thing to swallow.

"That said, I am grateful for your mercy and benevolence...oh Master mine." He added.

From that point on, the older reaper began disclosing some events of his past life. Raviel kept quiet and listened out of respect. He did not really have much to say. He did not agree on a few things, but at that point it was better to just keep his thoughts for himself. Speaking his mouth would just make his situation worse. So he limited himself to silent thinking as more and more stuff was spit out of Sol's past.

He was capable of understanding things. What he was unable to comprehed was Sol's attitude towards him right then and there. One moment it seemed like the older reaper was trying to extablish some sort of empathy between him and Raviel. But then, just second laters he was back to berating/accusing. It was like Sol was trying to make a step forward, but then immediately stepping back as soon as his foot touched the ground.

The prince had no clue how to respond to that. He had no clue if he was supposed to respond at all. Was this another talk up to another punishment? No clue.

"...As far as my own current situation has taught me, it is not for me to decide what someone does or is. I may not agree on things, but from this point onwards I shall not speak my mind out loud on such matters. In my eyes, the act of betrayal itself seemed something to be extremely ashamed of. I would rather my crystal be destroyed than betray my brethen. I admit my ten years of experience within the Void and the World of the Living are not enough to fully understand complex subjects such as these, but I can at the very least draw my own conclusions. As right as wrong as they may be."

A pause. Right in time for Raviel to catch the last phrase. He could taste the frustration there.

"...Our existance is often not as we envision it...oh Cousin mine. Then again, it's up to us to try and accomplish our goals. A dream is only as strong as the willpower to realize it is." Was his reply to that. He really did not really know what else to say. Was that advice he gave the right thing to say? Who knew. "It is up to you if you wish to continue my training or not. With or without help, I will find a way to keep honing my abilities, because if there is one thing no one take away from me, it's my dreams and aspirations. I wish to improve my skills. I wish to understand more about the Living and the Deathless. Prince, or not Prince. Reaper or not."

Raviel gave his back to Sol. One last sentence before heading back.

"I have other duties to attend to now, Master Sol, so please excuse me and the interruption. I shall leave you to mourn your loved ones. If you wish to see me, I will be in the field where we first met during my free time tomorrow, unless you wish to give me more things to work on. For now I suggest you rest assured I will not step in this place any more.

Be sure you won't forget to stash away the package I gave you, too. It'd be best if the armor contained within it would get displayed on one of the many mannequins around the mansion, to avoid the leather from deforming. Just in case you'll ever wish to use such garments in the future. It would be a shame to waste the artisan's time by not taking care of its craft. Or so I think anyway."

WC 780

Sol as resisting the urge to have his eyebrow twitch and he had to fight the ensuing headache that was building from this issue.”You should have went to one of the head servents with the letter and before you say that your not like either of the crown princes that doesn’t matter even in the void this is taught so you should know this already. Even the crown princes would ask permission before stepping onto this ground” he explained. While it may seem like he was picking on the younger deathless Sol was not trying to be cruel or overbearing but it seemed that the young former prince seemed to forget even basic rules that the void had, he himself knew them but then again they were beaten into him and he has 600 years of knowledge and training knocked into him which did have some side effects but Raviel would see that unless he pushed the elder Reaper to far.

“ I can understand that loyalty is something I prize and hold in high regard I only ever turned my back to an Ally one time and that was because they had betrayed my trust on a very deep level to the point I could not stay it was that even however that lead me to tolgalen and to the company leading me to where I am now.” He explained as he understood the young boys emphasis on loyalty but at the same time he was taking it to far. “you do realize that should your entire fate is in my hands right now not only in terms of being one of the Spiritual Calling but also where you will fall in the cast your royalty has been revoked and without it your fate could be rather grim its not bad to want to hone your skills but you need humility and the ability to take direction and criticism" he explained knowing that the boy had a tough time with both of those then again it was also due to the fact that he had issue with him being trained by Demi.

It seemed that despite trying to be polite and humble Sol could still hear the proud speech the former prince had and he narrowed his eyes before he sighed and the moment the boys feet left the sacred ground Sol was right behind him and grabbed him by the back of his clothes before dragging him towards a bare patch of ground at the castle used for training. “while I appreciate your gift and that you wont step foot on that ground there is a matter that still must be addressed you seem to think you get to decide what you will be doing after today but that isn’t the case, your of the servant class which means that the final say in anything is not yours but mine and it seems you still haven’t relized the severity of your situation since your speech is still that of a pampered prince” he explained before he pull out something from a shadow portal and tossed it to Raviel. It was a Black Bokken with no guard while Sol looked at him.”im being considerate and letting you have something to fight with as for myself” he stated as he manifested his weapon before him. It had changed since last Raviel had seen it but it was now a weapon set with Sol using what appeared to be a Wakizashi, the weapon was beautifully crafted with flowers and gems adorning it and it had a sense of perfect balance. However compared to the bokken Raviel was given the weapon was shorter giving Sol less reach then his mentee.

“your welcome to take the first strike if you wish you do have range on your side” he said his eyes seemed bored but at the same time there was a glint in them that was rather unsettling to anyone who glanced at them.” Also with this there will be no passing out your going to be going until I say stop is that clear” he stated simply.


wc- 687

total wc- 2,581

"I have understood my position a long time ago, Master Sol." Raviel replied, catching the thing thrown at him. "My question is, what else could you possibly take from me aside from my existance? As you said, I have nothing left to lose, oh Master mine."

So this was supposed to be his punishment for trespassing? Well, he certainly would not say no to a rematch. He could keep on pressing on on his own, but considering how everything he did turned out wrong...perhaps this time he would do what Sol himself wanted.

"Either way, I must do as you order, so I'll have to do the things your way. Now, I would probably argue against reach being an advantage when you pit a wooden sword against a Soul Blade, but something tells me there's more meaning hiding behind it." He twirled the blade in his hand before gripping it tightly. For some reason, he was really eager to get a repeat. "Very well, oh Master mine. My Mark is located on the inner wrist of my sword-hand..." He stated.

Sol's last words only fired him up even more. He was not wearing his usual armor, so he would have to fight against those stupid clothes of his, since he was not used to fight dressed up in that kind of itchy apparel.

"Oh I do not plan on fainting this time, oh Master mine. If I'm allowed one last moment of insubordinance, then allow me to state this..." His energy began flowing freely within him as he called upon his strenght. "I can't wait for the moment I get to kick your ass, oh Master mine."

And off he went. Not from the front, but he would immediatedly slide to the side and swipe his blade to initiate...well...whatever this was supposed to be.

WC 305

As Raviel questioned what else he could take from him besides his existence Sol suddenly grinned at him which would most likely appear unsettling.”Ah now that would be telling Mentee but I will say that as far as this fight goes I wont be drawing my blade but that doesn’t mean its going to be any easier against me” he explained to him. At current the deathless didn’t see his mentee as worthy enough to use his katana and even less to draw his blade against, if Sol drew his blade it wouldn’t be sheathed until he drew blood and with how sharp his blades were the Lord of the province was sure that he would inflect grievous wounds on the younger man with little effort. As he locked his blade into his sheath he heard Raviel then say that with the little defiance he had left that he looked forward to kicking his ass which made the Reapers Grin suddenly widen.

“oh its funny you seem to think that since you wont get the chance now lets begin” he stated. As he saw his student suddenly lunge at him from the side the elder reaper never lost his smirk as he quickly moved to parry the blow before he would suddenly slam his sheath into the younger boys stomach with more then enough force to bruise him heavily and make him keel over before then driving his fist into the boys head with the strength to make him bounce across the earth like a stone skipping across water. All the while in Sols eyes there was malicious and sadistic glee. The lord of Myazhe had decided to cut loose and would be more then willing to inflect as much pain as he could and would relish every bit of it as he would move to approach.” Come now don’t tell me a poke to the stomach and a punch to the face is enough to lay you out” he jabbed as he lunged forward and aimed to slam the sheath into the boys spine.”I hope you enjoyed the last bit of defiance you had because it’s the last bit you will ever get but don’t worry Pain is a wonderful teacher of obedience” he said with a bit of enjoyment in his tone since he was venting the darker part of himself and knew that his current target could handle his vicious and potentially cruel fighting style