Fable - Ask No Child Left Behind

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair listened to all of this with a faraway look in his eyes, seeming deep in thought as he tried to piece together a plan with this new information. If anything, the more he spoke with Bassel, the more comfortable he became. Bassel was more like him than Mariana. At least he had that soldier's training over the top of his personality. Mariana was more...emotional.

"Oh, I meant nothing to say about you. Simply facts that I have long been considering since I learn of my...extended family."

By this point, the guards might begin to wonder how long their conversation outside would take, but Alistair had no intentions of cutting this discussion short unless they stopped them.

"How exactly are you expected to serve this Emporer? Is it overly formulaic, or does he simply want the best, well-rounded warriors?"

It was a valid question. For the Dreadlords, each one had to have specialized training because of their magics, but they were all taught the basics. For some of the greatest armies in the world, the basics being mastered by each soldier prioritizing the unit over the individual was what made them great.

Bassel

 

[Bassel]

Bassel had never seen Emperor Gerra, or even Empress-Regent Medja (who seemed a lot easier to see on the streets of Ragash.) He had never spoken to either, or received any sort of correspondence. When the students left, they left. Bassel had never seen anyone return.

He wasn’t sure if that was because they were dead or busy. He always hoped it was the latter. He had hoped, before ever sending that letter to the head of House Krixus, that he would join his older brothers and sisters and serve the Emperor well.

“Well-rounded,” Bassel answered, feeling a bit guilty for divulging this information to his brother. Even if Alistair was his brother, and even if right now he didn’t seem threatening or malicious, was it okay to spill secrets of the Madrassa to an Anirian? “Although, if you use magic, you get extra classes and training. But all of us are expected to perform at a certain level with everything.” He shrugged. “Even if you’re the best in your year with a sword, if you suck at throwing a spear, you’ll be considered a failure.” His lips dipped low in a frown, as if he had personal experience with such a thing.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

As Alistair suspected, given what little he knew of the Empire, the Emporer did not seem like the type to discard good cards just because they were not normalized. This meant that the soldiers were trained in a similar fashion to the Dreadlords, although with less psychological trauma.

"Good, then that will make things easier. I can invite you to visit under the guise of you coming to learn about a foreign culture. While I can not give you Dreadlord training, learning about a neighboring culture and maybe a few fighting styles you are not accustomed to would seem like a valid learning experience."

This way, visiting your family came to be shaped to look more like a training program. However, this does not really give Bassel a valid reason to stay if he chose to do so. However, he would leave that to Bassel. He wanted to look after new siblings, but it wasn't fair to convince them to abandon responsibilities that they were already committed to.

"Well, are you good with a sword? I specialize primarily with the sword, but I am proficient in all forms of weaponry."

Bassel

 

[Bassel]

Bassel brightened. Alistair had a good idea. Surely, something along the lines of cultural exchange, while unique, would be a good way to get him to Vel Anir. And if he did want to return home, he could. If he decided he wanted to stay? Well, that was a question for a later time. A problem that Bassel was quick to push away.

“I am good with the sword. At least, it came quicker than everything else.” Looking off to the side, Bassel held out his hand, as if he were holding a sword right now. The way his arm moved was fluid, clearly using his shoulders and upper body even if there was no weight to hold onto. “I think mace-axes are too heavy, too blunt. Lots of boys like them and sure, they break through shields, but I don’t feel… safe with them. Like with spears. I feel vulnerable.” He admitted. “Or like something bad will happen when I use them.”

His teachers couldn’t understand why, but Bassel always seemed to freeze up and be uncertain with the other weapons. It didn’t matter how much he trained, he didn’t like them. They felt wrong in his hands.

“Bow and arrow isn’t too bad.” He added. “And in a bad situation, I know to just use anything to fight. But if I could only use a sword, I’d be happy with it.” Bassel smiled then. “Maybe it’s in our shared blood. Did our father like to use swords, too? Was he a warrior like us?”

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair smiled at seeing the boys half-form. It was clear from just that simple look that he was no novice. Good posture with fluid movements. It was unclear how his balance held up, and his style would certainly be different from his own.

The last question almost made Alistair snort, but he held himself back given the negative news he had only just given Bassel about his father.

"No, he never had the chance to learn the arts of war. He may have had talent, but it was never discovered or practiced. I was chosen to learn martial arts because of my talent for magic."

Yes, the magical talents that had been forced on him. Through painful child experimentation, where his father had carved several runes onto his very skin.

"He was more of a merchant and a craftsman."

Father was smart. He had to be to keep the floundering Krixus family a float. Like Alistair, he had a knack for learning an accumulating knowledge. He knew just where to hit Alistair to cause the most pain, but no leave a mark. If anything, he had a better talent for torture than swordsmanship.

"House Krixus is rather small. Our history of military service is...lacking." Well, besides his own.

Bassel

 

[Bassel]

“What magic can you do?” This piqued Basel’s interest far more than if Alistair had said their father was good with a sword. It was a bit disappointing to know it wasn’t the case, but Bassel still saw their swordskill as something that bonded the two of them together. Besides, it made sense that their father was a merchant. Or how else could Bassel be here, right now, speaking to an Anirian despite living his whole life in the Empire? “Fire balls? Controlling the earth? Summoning monsters to fight for you?”

Some at the Madrassa did have magic. Bassel did, yet didn’t. It was hard to say he had magic when he failed his arcane tests. But there was something he felt within him, whenever he looked at animals. He felt connected to them, and he swore, if he tried really hard, he could see through their eyes. But was that magic or just a gift?

If he had any sort of arcane ability, couldn’t he at least make a fireball or a snap his fingers so a flame could appear?

But then Alistair shared some information that Bassel didn’t know, or quite understand.

“Small? I thought all Houses in Vel Anir were great?”

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"I am more of a generalist. My specialty in magic means I can perform various spells. The spells become stronger the more time I have to prepare."

That was the vaguest way that Alistair could think to describe rune magic without saying rune magic. He had just met this brother and he wasn't sure if there were others listening. However, he could show some of the basic college magic that he had learned over the years.

A quick snap of his finger brought a light to his fingertips, and with a swift wave of his hand, it was gone again.

"There are better mages out there, but there are also many that are worse"

The second question left Alistair far more stumped. He did not like explaining that House Krixus was at the bottom of the barrel as far as noble prestige went. Some of the more recent business deals he had made, meant the family was doing better financially, but it wasn't anything impressive compared to the Great Houses.

"House Krixus is a noble house...However, some houses have better luck than others. My- Our family had a rough few decades, but we are getting better."

It sounded pathetic to his own ears, but that was the best he could do for the moment. He did not want to like to the boy.

Bassel

 

[Bassel]

Bassel’s dark eyes grew wide as Alistair made a light appear with just a snap, and with only a wave of his hand it was gone. He was able to hold back a gasp of awe as if he were some child seeing magic for the first time, but he couldn’t help the way his eyes followed after Alistair’s hand as if he could learn the secrets of the magic.

All too soon, Alistair reminded Bassel a fact that he never really liked hearing. The idea of being a mage was in his mind, not that it was clear or Bassel knew which steps to take to become a mage. Rather, it was the worry that Bassel would try exercising his arcane ability only to realize that when it came to sorcery he was one of the many “worse” ones.

He didn’t share this fear and self-doubt with his brother, although that had little to do with Alistair and moreso with Bassel’s self confidence. He wouldn’t share such things with anybody. Instead he listened to his brother speak and nodded his head. He was old enough to understand that what Alistair was saying meant that House Krixus was broke. He was also mature enough to understand that Alistair was taking a risk in bringing Bassel to Vel Anir as a bastard son.

“I grew up poor.” Bassel said with a smile. “I still am poor. I care little for wealth. But I was taught that family was more important than coin. Blood is thicker than water as they say.”

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"True, a lesson I have only begun learning, which is why I came out here to find you...Also, I would not call us poor by average standards, but when faced with the obnoxious wealth of some of the other houses of Vel Anir then...yes, we might be seen as poor."

Alistair quickly spat out the last part with annoyance, not wanting to admit such a fact. He had many business dealings in the works that may pay off, but there was no reason to speak of those until they came to fruition.

"As a family, I will do everything in my ability to assist your growth. It is the least you deserve for being linked with my family."

By this point, Alistair could see some of the guards looking at them from inside. It seemed their time was running short.

"I will speak with Raziya about helping me see if my suggestion would be acceptable."

Bassel

 

[Bassel]

“I’m growing just fine,” Bassel assured Alistair. His brother’s words felt like a jab but Bassel was sure that there were good intentions behind it. “Although my trade tongue is rather poor.” That being said, there was always room for improvement. The Madrassa had taught all of it’s students that they could always do better, even if they thought they were good enough, it wasn’t enough to serve Emperor Gerra.

And as if she were waiting for Alistair to say her name, Raziya made herself be known as she strode out and over to the tree that the two young men were sitting under.

 

[Raziya]

“Alistair.” Raziya said, her voice calm but firm. “We need to get going. Bassel has missed enough of his lessons and at this rate he won’t have time for dinner.” She looked up to the sky, looking at the sun. Dinner was still an hour or so away, but it seemed Bassel was needed for things, especially things that didn’t have him speaking to an Anirian. “Make your good byes quick and then follow me. Quickly.” Raziya added.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair nodded to Raziya's insistence. He turned back to the boy and held out his hand, taking a good long look at Bassel, searching for all the facial features that told him they were related.

"Bassel, I will be leaving for now. I'll get back to you as soon as I can about our idea. Until then, good luck with your studies."

The Madrassa and Academy were likely different but at the end of the day they were both military schools with a likely, tough work ethic.

He waited to shake his hand and, once that was done, Alistair swiftly moved to join Raziya,

"I have some ideas I want to speak with you about."

Raziya