Rin the Rat: Tale of a Beloved MonsterCh29 - To Fight Like a Rat

CW: Explicit language, physical violence, blood.


As Spring blooms into full maturity, the Hwan Estate enters a steady lull. Though the Rat is regarded with distrust by the servants and guards alike, he has firm allies to buffer the scorn. He generally stays by Jun’s side, acting as his companion through all his lessons and duties. Even the Governor has become accustomed to the small raven haired youth ambling along at his son’s side like a faithful puppy. BPQ4YU

White Lotus Lake seemed to have done wonders for Rin’s wounds. They are still tender and rankled but are generally healed. Healer Wu advised him on care for his scars and gifted him a glazed ebony wood eye to fill his empty socket. Though it could never substitute a real eye, it does sit comfortably behind the silken patch. It makes him feel a little more grounded. A little more whole.

Rin touches it now, feeling the hard orb though his eyepatch. One thing he would never become accustomed to is how different everything feels. It took him weeks to learn how to reach for things on the first try. And though he’s well balanced on his feet, he still has trouble with his aim. He definitely wouldn’t be attempting to fight anyone in his current condition.

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Sighing through his nose, he gathers up his long, unruly locks and pulls them into a ponytail. The burning rays of Solaris beats upon his exposed nape, drawing sweat to the surface. Stray curls frame his flushed face as he squints against the blazing firmament, trying to keep his focus on the little lord and his Swordsmaster sparring outside the guard’s barracks.

The fifth lord stands poised and strong, the lines of his form near parallel. Mira stands opposite, unrecognisable with her lazy posture. The usual stony-faced woman has a crooked grin plastered across her face as she swings her sword around haphazardly. She pushes back her cropped hair, revealing a pair of dazzling black eyes. 1HBztN

“Perfect stance as always, young master,” she says, pointing her sword at Jun. “The earth style suits you well. But you must learn to break the rules. Expand beyond the expected. Your opponents will know every move you make, so you must ensure that they are not predictable.”

Jun tosses his shoulders but otherwise maintains his graceful posture. He holds his sword at his waist, blade horizontal, still and readied. Knees are slightly bent to center his balance. Pure focus narrows his features. “You speak on predictability, Mira. But you have been unable to predict my moves for many months now.” Teeth flash in the sunlight, mirroring the woman’s grin.

“Careful, young master. What have I told you about arrogance?” Mira dawdles towards the lord and, with a snap of her wrist, slams the flat of her blade into her student’s side.

A blur of motion as Jun sweeps his blade to meet the other’s. A metallic ring echoes across the courtyard.

cltsMH

“Stating a fact is hardly arrogance,” Jun retaliates, shoving the woman back with his blade before thrusting at her unguarded belly.

She skips away, narrowly avoiding the point. “Your confidence is outstanding, yet your memory seems to fail you.” Mira chuckles, swaying and stumbling as if drunk. Every sloppy movement is in fact calculated to the nth degree and she easily avoids three consecutive attacks with languid motions.

Admiration lights up Rin’s face as he watches the two spar. His own feet tap against the dirt restlessly. Jun moves with strength and grace, every muscle pulsing and straining against his training wear. His boots kick up the dust, sending a titian haze into the air. Along with the flashing swords and perpetual flow of movement, it makes for a stunning display.

What draws Rin’s attention the most however, is how liberated Jun appears. Unfiltered enjoyment blazes upon the lord’s flushed face, sweat glistening and eyes burning with exhilaration. It’s clear even to an inexperienced eye that this man was born to be a swordsman. His talent and passion is salient. To be a Healer would be a waste, Rin thinks, digging his thumbnail into the soft wooden bench. If the Dragon General had a man like Jun by her side, she would win the war against the rebels in a single day. RbWHZ9

As Mira returns with a flurry of attacks, Rin’s thoughts wander to his previous conversation with the little lord. Things had been noticeably awkward between them since the status of their relationship was brought up. Though they both act as naturally as they can, there are moments of uncertainty and hesitancy. Especially when they hanker for each other.

No, neither of them have touched the other since the White Lotus Lake. Jun may be able to endure being the virgin he is, but Rin is going stir crazy. He’s not used to going without any fun for more than a week. And yet here he is. Two weeks without touching or being touched. And more than a month since he last fucked anyone.

His hand has definitely been seeing more action these days. And the libidinous youth finds himself nearing the very end of his tether.

What does it matter if we’re just friends, anyway? Rin frowns, kicking up a fat dust cloud of his own. How could he just expect us to be anything else? Does he expect me to marry him? He pauses, cheeks filling with blood. G1l9gd

“Can’t be…” he mutters, squinting at the lord as the latter parries Mira’s attack. Defined muscles bulge when Jun lands a hard blow, almost catching her off guard.

Rin swallows, his mouth suddenly dry. I’d rather die than marry a dipshit lord, anyway. Though he hardly seems at all convinced.

The spar ends with Mira pinning her student to the ground at swordpoint. She slaps the flat of her blade against his cheek, chuckling at his flinch. “What was that about predictability, young master?”

“Yes, yes, Mira. You have won this round. I concede.” He grabs her hand and hauls himself to his feet, chuckling along with her good naturedly. “Evidently, I need to work on my rule breaking.” RZiX5

“Evidently,” the ex-soldier agrees, sheathing her sword in one sharp motion.

“Rinnie!” Jun waves his friend over with a heart-fluttering smile. “Come and join us!”

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The raven stiffens, eye widening before he quickly shakes his head. Just one look at the stony faced woman beside Jun is enough of a deterrent. “I…I don’t know anything about swords,” he says, holding his palms out in protest. “And I wouldn’t be of much use anyway with just the one eye…”

Surprisingly, it’s the Swordsmaster who approaches him, her stern expression bearing down on him like a half-tonne boulder. “The best swordsman in Eastern history only had one eye. Not only that but she also had one leg. What excuse do you have?” She comes to stand before him, feet apart and arms folded assertively. “The young master wishes for you to join the lesson. In your current condition, you are a liability. If something should happen to the young master, do you expect him to protect you?” 0BxeOt

Rin twists his lips in irritation. “I can fight just fine, pet,” he sneers, hopping off the bench to mirror her aggressive stance. “I don’t need anyone’s protection. Least of all Jun’s.”

Mira’s stern eyes, as hard as stone, glare at him with little give. “Prove it,” she barks, pulling the scabbard from her belt and setting it upon the bench. Without breaking motion, she kicks out her left leg and sweeps the raven off his feet. He slams into the bench and tumbles over the other side, landing in the dirt with a muffled curse.

You asshole!” Rin growls, scrambling to his feet. The length of his cherry pink robes flutter as he leaps over the bench and launches himself at the woman.

She swings her leg forward and catches him mid-air, driving her foot into his stomach, and he’s brutally kicked into the dirt. Crippling pain seizes his insides as he gasps for air, vision briefly turned pitch. GExBvF

“What was your plan there?” she chuckles, pushing rogue locks from her face. “Were you going to hug me to death?”

Jun sighs and squats down, leaning his weight against his sword. When Mira gets like this, it’s difficult to escape her grasp. It’s either win or lose, and it seems like Rin is already halfway lost. “Rinnie, are you alright?” he calls over, worriedly.

“You like it when the young master dotes on you.” Mira raises a brow, eyeing the raven as he slowly rolls onto his knees. “You should know that he’s like this with everyone. I wouldn’t get any ideas if I were you.”

Rin grits his teeth, clutching his throbbing stomach as he glares at the Swordsmaster. “Do you always talk out of your ass?” he wheezes, struggling to his feet. The sudden motion seems to bring a bout of dizziness and he staggers in Mira’s direction with a pathetic groan. His eye rolls up into the back of his skull and his knees buckle. Just before he collapses, the woman instinctively rushes forward, catching him under the arms. eUXaAz

Before she can truly feel a glimmer of alarm, the youth’s eye snaps open. A triumphant grin flashes and a fist follows, driving deep into her stomach.

“!!” She drops to her knees, hands sliding down to grasp fruitlessly at the front of his robes. Not a second goes by when he slams his knee into her jaw, snapping her head back. She drops onto her forearm, momentarily stunned.

“Hah! Is that all you got?” Rin gloats, skipping back a few steps in case of retaliation.

Mira pushes herself off the ground, jaw aching and copper filling her mouth. “Very good,” she mutters, spitting out a mouthful of blood. “Now show me you can do it again or I’ll count that one as a fluke.” 5xKLhi

She jumps to her feet in one fluid motion and disappears to the right, just past the limits of his vision. He scowls and chases her, but she is able to remain a step ahead. When she’s not playing with his lack of depth perception with neat footwork, she’s playing with his limited periphery, exploiting his weakness with expert ease.

Every attack he tries to land meets air or merely clips her agile form. Very quickly does he wear himself out. Due to the lack of exercise over the past month –  in addition to the good food that’s helped him put on a good deal of weight – Rin finds himself with scarce stamina.

Frustration mounting, he pauses to catch his breath, crouching low. Sweat drips steadily from his jaw to the ground, evaporating upon contact. Furtively, he grabs a handful of dirt, teeth bared in a vicious grin.

“How could a young man like yourself be this tired already? Do you give up?” Mira taunts him, arms akimbo as he waits for him to recover. “So far, I’ve seen nothing that’s proven your–ackk!!” The woman stumbles back when Rin throws dirt in her face. She slaps her hands over her stinging eyes with a snarl. L wNUK

The Rat laughs triumphantly as he cannons into her disoriented form, knocking her onto her back. Thick plumes of dirt erupt around their squirming and flailing bodies. He shoves his forearm into her throat and pins one of her hands beside her head.

“See? I can fight just fine!” He laughs loudly when he sees her bloodshot eyes water from irritants. “Go on. Tell me you concede. That’s what you have to say when you lose, right?”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

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Qlatlc rfmbcvr, atflg qbrlalbcr jgf gfnfgrfv, jcv Elc lr ralii gffilcu ogbw atf yibk. C glculcu lc tlr fjg jiwbra vgbkcr bea tfg nblmf, tfg tba ygfjat teoolcu ys tlr ojmf jr rtf tecmtfr bnfg tlw. “Tbe rtbeiv xcbk, jc jclwji klii cfnfg klc jujlcra j tewjc. Zs jvnlmf ab sbe lr ab vlrmjgv atf gja yfobgf la’r abb ijaf.” 3u6kHa

She draws back to lock eyes with the dazed boy, a mirthless smile pulling at her lips. “Not bad. But you’re still a liability.” With a chuckle, she slides off the stunned lad and rises to her feet, wiping the dirt from her face.

Rin’s chest heaves with ragged pants. The sky is loud and blaring overhead, painful to his eye. He sits upright, wincing at the fresh bruises littering his recently healed wounds. That old Healer’s gonna kill me, he thinks glumly, picking himself up off the ground. Mira’s words ring in his head along with his bruised ear, causing a bout of dizziness. How could he discard the rat, when it’s all he’s ever been?

“Rinnie!” Jun jogs over to his friend’s side. “How are your wounds? Mira didn’t go too hard on you, did she?”

“What?” Rin growls, gingerly touching his swollen cheek. “No. I let her win. It’s too fucking hot to fight today.” WBxeiG

“Ah. Yes, it is quite warm.” The lord whips out his handkerchief and begins dabbing at Rin’s clammy brow. “You did so very well. For my first time doing hand-to-hand combat with Mira, I only lasted a few seconds.”

The Rat perks up at that, irritation dissipating at Jun’s admittance. “Really? So I did pretty amazing, then. See? I’m a genius at fighting. Anything you wanna know, just come to me.” He grins up at the lord, sending the latter’s stomach aflutter.

Jun huffs a laugh and wipes a smudge of dirt from Rin’s cheek. “I shall keep that in mind, thank you. Perhaps you will let me win if we ever spar?”

“Of course. You’re gonna need the confidence boost after being beaten to a pulp.” VwPbyh

Laughter echoes across the courtyard, reaching the Governor and Mira as they silently watch the two boys chatter happily.

“How do you judge his abilities, Mira?” the first lord says, slowly fanning himself under the temperate spring sun.

He’s dressed Eastern style robes today that are cinched just under his chest, the sleeves a darker shade to the rich blue hues of the robe itself. His usually slicked back hair is let loose, locks falling gently around his temples. He appears far more relaxed than his usual self.

Needless to say, Zev had been rather distracted today, so Sun had ordered him away with an arbitrary task and come outside for a walk. What he had not expected to see however, was his Swordsmaster and the Rat rolling around in the dirt. sDa6Tn

“Would he prove a useful soldier?” Sun continues, sweeping the fan across his face.

Mira pats the dirt from her pants and glances at the youths. Rin’s got Jun’s sword in his hands and the young master is showing him basic stances. She’s never seen Jun like this before, so relaxed and glowing with a profound happiness. “He does have potential,” she says, stiffly. All traces of the roguish woman have long disappeared. “With his injuries and ingrained habits, it would take longer than the usual soldier to train him to a satisfactory standard. However, considering the fact that he is injured, he has also displayed superior agility.”

“What are those habits you speak of?” Sun tilts his head when he sees Jun laughing. Rin turns bright red and yells something crass, which only makes the fifth lord laugh harder. When has Sun heard his son’s laughter? How many years has it been?

“He thinks nothing of defense,” Mira says, narrowing her red rimmed eyes. “A man only fixated on offence is useless as a soldier. He is careless and doesn’t think of his opponent at all, which may work in the short term, but will ultimately bring great loss to himself and his side. In other words, he is a very self-indulgent fighter.” FTsOod

“He has no restraint.”

“If he has, I am yet to see it.”

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“How long would it take to train someone like him?”

Mira glances at the lord, subtly arching a brow. “My lord?” R1rU3Q

“I want you to train him, Mira,” Sun says, giving the Swordsmaster a thin smile. “I know that you had a brief stint serving in the Immaculate during your military days. Train him as you would one entering your division.”

Mira stares at the Governor for a long moment, frozen in shock. And then she remembers who she’s speaking with, and the shock sluices from her body like melting ice. There’s a steely look in her eyes, lethal and spiny like barbed wire. “The Mother shares much with you, my lord,” she says, impassively.

“Need I the Mother to know my own people?” Sun’s goldens shimmer with faux warmth, like cold metal catching the sunlight. “It was not difficult information to come by.”

“…and you wish for me to train the boy as if he were to join the Immaculate?” Doubt ladens her words. O1uvAa

“Please.”

“You plan to use him, my lord?”

“Would I ask this of you otherwise?”

“Pardon my question, my lord, but could you not use actual Nixes? Or even me, for that matter? Must you rely on a mere child? A rather impetuous and undisciplined one at that.” Yu0Z6l

“You were there that day, were you not? When he said a rat could get into places others could not. I believe this to be quite true, Mira. How could one such as you or I ever enter the rats’ nest without causing a stir? No, this boy is perfect. You will train him to a satisfactory standard over the next month. You may have even less time than this.” Sun’s tone hardens, as does his demeanor. Goldens turns penetrating, piercing her like twin blades. “Can you do this, Mira?”

The Swordsmaster grimaces. She doesn’t like this. Not only is the lord planning to use a child for whatever scheme he’s concocted, but he’s asking her to train him as if he were to be a Nix. What does this mean for Rin’s future? Will he be made to kill people? And if so, who exactly could the Governor want dead in the Slums?

Despite her apprehension, Mira knows that she doesn’t have a choice in the matter. This is an order, not a request.

She bows to the lord, chilled to the bones despite the heat. “Yes, my lord.” H5IbaW

***

A raven haired youth stands on the empty grounds. The night is oppressive with pregnant storm clouds hanging low in the sky. Darkness enshrouds with suffocating abandon, near tangible like inky sludge.

Above his head, the clouds churn and twist like water funneling down a whirlpool. Sleepy thunder rumbles, the sluggish prologue to what promises to be a powerful tempest.

The swirling clouds part, letting in a thin stream of moonlight that douses his form. A small circle of clear night can be seen, the spread of stars peering down at the one who calls upon them. Silvery light casts stark upon the lines of his body, lending him an eerie ethereality. VegsLw

He’s drenched in sweat, white robes sheer and clinging to his shivering form. His eye is hooded and stares blindly up at the tiny glimpse of the heavens.

In the absence of his right eye, he sees.

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An exceedingly handsome man whipped by unnatural gusts stands before him, facing unknown foes. His hands are outstretched to either side, eyes blazing red. Around him, tens of shadowed figures rise from the ground, blackness dripping from their forms like gluggy oil.

There are voices, distorted through the thick veil of time, as if the soundwaves were travelling underwater. 9rgOzY

Stay down, Hwan Sun. Stay down and accept your death like a man.

The shadows surge forth, leaving trails of oil globs to hang in the air behind as they shed their spectral flesh. A woman’s voice bursts through the stifled veil, slamming into Rin with head reeling intensity.

He is my husband. The father of my children. How could you possibly compare? If you kill him, I will kill you myself!

Crimson glare pierces the gloom at figures unseen. The man, who stands as tall and sturdy as a mountain but has the bearings of a lord, sweeps his hand through the air, urging his spectral hounds on. lbqRx9

I know your true heart. You loathe this man. I have heard you scorn his name and wish for his death as keenly as I! Stand aside, Jina, and let me destroy this scourge of a man. Let me do this for us!

There’s an ear-splitting scream, joined by a thousand others drawn through boundless eternal, a thousand threads entwined into one. It blasts through the spectral army, dispersing them like rapids churning through black oil. The man too is washed away, the vestiges of his form embraced then swallowed by a hulking shade.

All else falls away until this entity remains. Though the youth cannot see her physical form, he knows at once what she was like in life.

She was a Western woman with a rich mahogany complexion, slight and slender. There was an enduring warmth to her person, drawing others near as if she were a homely fire. Her tender smile, those kind black eyes, they were painfully familiar to the youth. He had seen it many times prior and seared it into his soul. LtWoDY

And there it is, the same benevolent face, as the little lord silently walks towards the Rat. Arms outstretched, generous mouth curved in a simple smile. Goldens gleaming with rending affection.

Rinnie…

The youth reaches out to grasp the lord’s hands, yearning rising with a myriad of emotion. Their fingertips brush. Heat transfers. The youth calls out for him, urging him to come closer, but his voice is drowned out by a thousand screams, rising above in a discordant chorus.

The entity thrives. The screams amplify. She opens her shapeless maw and consumes the little lord until he too dissolves to the esoterica of time. iCqWMS

***

“They’ve started talking,” Guildmaster Iris says, the demure pinch of her pursed lips kissing the rim of her teacup. She looks out over the gardens, the blossoms hanging low on groaning branches like ripe fruit.

Bucky sighs and kneels down with a tray of snacks, her expression grim. “Only a few and even then they seem to have trouble recalling exact events.”

“Even if they do talk, there’s no point to it,” Rin scoffs, grabbing a sliced apple to crunch on. “The Governor’s not interested in investigating this properly. Blossom’s probably started up a new Church somewhere and Kahin…” He falters, dropping his gaze to the fibrous fruit. His fingers turn white and juices rise to the surface. “She’s untouchable.” drj IT

“An unsurprising response,” Iris says, coldly. “The Governor has always been slow to move on matters outside of the High District.”

Jun frowns, his tongue heavy and useless as if it were made of lead. A quick jab to the arm shocks him from his stupor. “I know he’s your old man,” Rin says, “but there’s no need to feel guilty for him. You’re irrelevant in this conversation, got it?”

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A hint of a smile touches Jun’s face and he gives a short nod. Though he keeps his mouth clamped, as if afraid to speak.

“So what do you suggest we do?” Rin asks the Guildmaster. “If the Governor’s not gonna do anything, then we have to, right?” 4q2azd

“Must we?” Iris raises a brow as she calmly gazes at the irascible youth. “We are but simple Hunters. Any assistance we have provided is due to the fact that this happened in our territory. However, anything more would be to make a move against the Mother herself.”

“So far it’s pure speculation,” Bucky raises, setting the unladen tray to the side. Today, she’s dressed in the Hunter’s garb – simple earthen tone bottoms and shirt with soft leather boots. Her hair is pulled up in a neat ponytail and her round face is bare, exposing her cool, silvery beauty. It’s jarring seeing the ex-Rose without the trademark mask, but also very befitting. “Rin, how certain are you that the Mother is behind Blossom?”

“He pretty much confirmed it,” Rin grumbles, wiping his sticky fingers clean on the front of his pale blue robes.

“He explicitly told you this?” ipeS7f

“…not explicitly. But it was damn obvious, alright?”

Bucky sighs sharply, giving Rin a narrow look. “If there is no certainty, then we cannot possibly make our request to the Guildmaster. It would not be fair of us, especially since the Hunters have long been a neutral party.”

“You’re not neutral,” Rin sneers, turning his glare to the impassive Guildmaster. “You’re kissing the Mother’s feet, just like everyone else in this city.”

“And you?” Iris raises her eyes and meets the youth’s glare evenly. “You are rather derisive of the ones who feed and shelter you. Are you not receiving the Governor’s hospitality? He, who has the Mother’s ear above all Ministers in the High District.” yTBNA7

I don’t give a shit about the Governor!” the raven snaps, slamming his fist down on the low table. Cups and plates rattle. Tea spills and makes small interconnected lakes upon the ebony wood. “I’m a Slummer. Think I’d cosy myself up to those High District assholes?”

“Then why are you there, Rat? Why does the Governor’s youngest son sit beside you?”

Rin hesitates. He glances at Jun, the latter who gazes back at him with dark eyes. There’s trepidation there. Uncertainty. An underlying guilt that the lord can’t seem to shake.

“Jun’s not them,” he growls, whipping his glare back to Iris. “He’s a clueless idiot, sure. But he’s not the Governor. He…he cares.” His cheeks burn, but the soft touch at his back makes it all worth the while. szY4CS

The Guildmaster stares at the two boys silently, almond eyes flitting between them. Realisation makes them gape and she quickly raises the cup to her lips to sip. Eventually, she says, “I understand your reasons. However, my position remains the same. I will not risk my people on simple hearsay and speculation. I will continue my support as is – putting eyes on Kahin and sniffers out for Blossom. Nothing more than that.”

“What about the other Roses? The ones still trapped in the Palace?” Rin scowls, turning his ire to Bucky. “Or did you forget about them already?”

“I have been a Rose for ten years, Rin,” Bucky says, curtly. Her stormy eyes flash like lightning. The subsequent thunder – her own stirring ire. “I have been trying to expose Kahin and Blossom’s operation for years. I could have walked away any time I wanted and yet I did not. Does it make any sense for me to stop caring now?”

“So all those years of spying and taking notes in that tiny notebook of yours – what do you have to show for it? In the end, I was the one who had to make the first move. I was the one who freed those Roses. I acted when you hadn’t and now…now…” Unable to finish his sentence, he instead releases a barrage of loud curses and shoots to his feet. He paces to the edge of the numaru to glare out over the quad. “I’m the one who had to pay for your inaction,” he finally says, voice low and quiet. d7xKrd

“No, Rin.” Bucky balls her hands in her lap, nails piercing her palms. “I admit, I was weak. I was weak and much too lenient with the Madame, but I made my decision that night. You were there, were you not? I made my choice and I still stand by it. What we must now focus on is how to stop her once and for all. Like you said, the Roses we left behind should be our priority.”

Rin falls into a glum silence then, his shoulders tense as he darkly ruminates. The other three also fall into an uneasy silence until Jun finally speaks.

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“Where have your ‘sniffers’ placed Father Blossom, Guildmaster?” He leans forward to politely refill Iris’ cup. “I believe he is key to solving this issue. If we can get his official testimony, it would be enough to arrest and interrogate Madame Kahin. Even if we were forced to release her, we could have due cause to bring her Roses into custody, thereby freeing them.”

Iris gives the noble an interested look, the corner of her painted lips subtly rising. “The last report states that Blossom is in Taecho, a trading city with the biggest port in the East. This is a very good place for a fugitive to be.” VGludv

“Do we currently know his exact whereabouts?”

“Unfortunately no. My Hunters spent a week searching for him to no avail. It has been a few days since the last report, so the situation may have changed since then.”

“Remember Jun, there are other witnesses who could provide us with a testimony,” Bucky interjects, brows furrowing.

Rin scoffs. “You think the Silverswords would take their testimonies seriously?” CZsyHm

“Why not?”

“Because they’re whores and junkies, Bucky, why else?” he says loudly, turning to throw a wry smile at the woman. “Father Blossom is a famous scientist from the North who works for the Mother. His word has more value to those assholes.”

Jun rubs his nape, frowning deeply. “But Rinnie…the justice system entitles all voices to be heard, not just those with influence or power–”

“Do you really believe that?” Rin retorts, folding his arms. bqE9Zj

Jun visibly hesitates, uncertainty flickering.

Bucky concedes with a heavy sigh. “Then Father Blossom is key.”

“There is one other option. We could storm the Rose Palace.”

“If you have a death wish, go ahead,” Iris says, dryly. K3hYaf

Rin sucks his teeth, all prickle and edge. “It was just an idea. I don’t see you offering any proper solutions, Neutral Party.

“And how do you propose to storm the Rose Palace?”

“We gather as many people as we can, anyone who can fight, and we force our way in. If there’s more of us than them, it’ll be easy. We can break the Roses out and bring them here within the hour.”

“Who will fight for you, Rat?” Iris challenges sharply. “Who will risk their life and limb to raise arms on your behalf?” kPD2oW

Rin narrows his eyes, anger flaring. “Plenty of people. I got half the Slums wrapped around my finger. They’d do anything for me, especially if I promise them a night. I tell them to fight for me, they will. And more.”

“Are you certain of your abilities? Even now? You will need a veritable army to achieve what you are proposing. Would you be able to raise an entire army in your current state?” Those incredulous almond eyes flit to the raven’s wounds, lingering on the eyepatch and ruined skin.

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Something violent yanks at his guts and his vision flashes white with pure, unfettered rage. A fist slams into the wooden post, red pine juddering under the force of his fist. Crushing pain lancing up his arm tells him of bruised knuckles, perhaps even fractures.

Jun leaps to his feet and paces towards the heaving raven, hands outstretched. “Guildmaster Iris,” he says in a barbed tone, “while I do understand your concerns, I believe you may have gone too far.” He grips Rin’s shoulder, squeezing tightly to ground the youth. 0wlqEy

Stern goldens lock onto cool almonds, both stares as intense and penetrating as the other.

“Rin, the Guildmaster has a point,” Bucky sighs, wearily. “Even if you were able to rally enough people to break into the Palace, do you think that we’ll be let go unscathed? What happens afterwards? We’re just giving the Silverswords more of a reason to imprison and kill us. We have to do this the proper way.”

“We mustn’t be too rash, Rinnie,” Jun adds in a hushed voice, turning his gaze to the seething Rat.

The Guildmaster straightens out her skirt, smoothing out the creases as she contemplates their words. “Sit down, Rat. Learn to better your defenses. Your scars will be with you for a lifetime and your hand can only sustain so much injury.” naRdkC

Rin shrugs off the lord’s hand and stalks up to the Guildmaster. He stands mere inches away from her, rudely encroaching on her space. Hellebore burns a hole in the woman’s skull as he glares down his nose at her, scorn turning his words caustic. “I don’t need a good face to get what I want. I can get an army as easily as you get those gods-awful outfits. How about it, hm? When I have my own army, we can judge my abilities then.”

Iris gazes straight ahead, not bothering to look up at the irascible youth. She continues drinking tea, as calm as ever. “Whether or not you can create an army is irrelevant to the current plan.”

She made me her Perfect Rose!” Rin snarls, glaring at all three individuals with a wild eye. Soft crimson glows in the murky depth. “She made me do things I can never take back. She burned my house down and…and she killed my mother.” He fists his hands so tightly, he draws blood. His gaze narrows, turns hazy. His voice becomes a mere rasp. Broken with emotion. “This is my decision. Mine! I earned this!

A heavy silence falls over the numaru. VZG5dC

Bucky stares down at her hands, impassive and pale. “And what of the Roses we rescued from Blossom?” she says, quietly. “What of them? Do they get a say in this? Their lives are destroyed. Their minds are permanently broken. Half of them will never be able to live and work independently ever again. Have they not earned this?” She raises her tired eyes to Rin, a hint of a rueful smile.

The Guildmaster frowns at the raven. “Fear not, Rat. You will get your justice. But you are acting like a child. Calm down. Sit down. And rethink what you want. We have a solid plan. A clear path ahead. All you have to do is to keep in line and ensure that you do not bring more attention to yourself than you already have. You jeopardise this plan and neither you, nor those Roses, will ever get your justice. Do you understand?”

Rin wants to bite back. The suppressed rage and grief strains against the shoddy dam he’s built for himself, cracks and holes already threatening stability. And he also hears the truth in their words. No matter how much he wants Kahin in his hands, it won’t happen through brute force. He’ll have to do the one thing he’s always hated the most – be patient.

He gives Jun a suffering look. The lord stands taut when he sees that wretched expression, his throat rolling as he swallows the painful lump in his throat. “I think…this has been enough for today,” he says, softly. Though to whom, it’s unclear. “Guildmaster. Bucky. My sincere apologies, however I think we must take our leave.” sNS6It

***

On their journey back to the High District, Rin is unusually quiet, even as Jun takes his hand and chats to him about arbitrary topics he thinks his friend might enjoy. Anything to keep his mind away from painful memories.

“Ah…and I decided that perhaps I do enjoy a good fisticuffs! Just the other day, Mira and I engaged in hand-to-hand and I was rather exhilarated. Usually, I dread the training as I enjoy the sword far more – however I think I understand why you might be so willing to engage in it. It is the sheer brutality, the calling to our primal urges. Though wrestling is still beyond me, I’m afraid.”

“Jun.” sRnqME

The lord stops mindlessly yammering and glances at Rin. The raven’s staring ahead with trepidation. His pace slowing. Faltering.

“I feel crazy,” Rin monotones, “whenever I think about how she’s still at the Rose Palace, acting like nothing’s happened. I get so mad, I can’t think of anything else. And then…I start to think. Maybe she deserves to be burned to nothing as well. Have you ever been that mad?”

Chrysanthemum Garden.

Jun swivels his gaze to the river, lazily drifting by. Though they are streets away, the incline affords them the view of those glittering waters.

“…I have,” the lord says, quietly. After a thought, he elaborates. “In the alley. I thought you were dead. Though you were but a stranger to me, the fact that an innocent person could have been killed due to my negligence…I have rarely been that angry.” Ibp8xD

Rin pauses mid-step. “I would have liked to see that,” he murmurs, mostly to himself. Then, louder, “You know, I almost had her too. At Lady Nam’s, I had a knife to her throat. I keep thinking that I should have killed her. If only I had done it then, maybe none of this would have happened.”

“We cannot be judge and executioner, Rinnie. It is for my father to decide on her fate.”

“You say that so easily, but I know you don’t believe your old man to be a fair judge. Executioner? Sure.”

Jun encases Rin’s hand in both of his. The man’s palms are hot and dry. “Regardless, I do not think vigilante justice is the way forward. That is not the path we have chosen to take. Furthermore, if you had killed her back then, you would not be here today, walking along the promenade with me.” He gives the raven a furtive smile, but his gaze is a tad detached. vk7I5m

“Mn. I suppose so.” Rin’s countenance weakens. His heart flutters. Why does this clueless lord have such a hold over him? Just one smile drains him of his anger. For a brief moment, he’s almost convinced that everything is as it once was. Boring, simple, and free.

They continue on through the People’s District, winding past the Central Trading Quarter which teems with colourful stalls. And there’s Scholar’s Avenue, with students rushing along to their classes.

When they pass the Sweet Brier Inn, Rin can see the main street of the Slums stretching beyond. Familiar faces here and there. The scowling butcher. That old drunk he likes to rob every once in a while. And there’s an exceptionally tall woman, speaking with the vegetable stall owner–

Rin starts and hurries his pace, yanking Jun along. He lowers his head, letting his hair fall into his face. RsQfu3

The lord follows obediently, knowingly, as he glances over his shoulder at the Slums disappearing around the bend. “Rinnie,” he pants lightly, falling into step beside his friend. “Do you…wish to see her?”

“No. She’s probably gonna beat my ass for what happened. Have you ever been punched by a giant? It’s not as fun as you think–”

“I meant your mother, Rinnie.”

Breathing deeply, Rin slows his steps until he’s back at his original pace, if not slower. “…I can’t.” Two words come in a croak. Barely coherent. TvKly6

Jun squeezes his hand. “When you are ready, I will go with you.”

There’s a weak smile in response, but true appreciation shines through his gaze. He grips the lord’s bicep with his free hand, clinging onto him tightly. “I can’t think about it right now,” he mumbles, pressing his forehead into Jun’s arm. The fabric of his shirt is cool and soft. He smells of floral soap and a hint of spice. “I can keep my head above the water, Jun. But if I think about it, even for a second, I feel like…I might actually lose control. And I can’t do that. Not right now.”

Jun releases a soft breath. “I understand, Rinnie. I will refrain from speaking on it.”

Solaris engulfs the two boys, their bodies febrile, intertwined. For a fleeting moment, they feel as if they are truly alone, with only their indulgent sentinel at zenith. zrcTiE

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4 comments

  1. Omg this is all so confusing with the dreaaaams 😭😭

    And I can totally see the bastard(?) father wanting to train Rinnie only for him to go against him and Mother later 🥺

  2. Rinnie is gonna be a soldier??? And- those dreams- what do they mean QAQ

    Thank you for the chapter!! ❤️❤️