[⯈] A Leatherbound Journal Ch. 2
The cerulean waves reflected a cloudless sky. The air currents were calm and lazy and the airship flew swiftly with no trouble. They would be back on Aldenard soon, back amongst the lush forests of the Twelveswood. A smile curved his lips as he closed his eyes and let the sun soak into his skin. He stood at the railing for a few simple, peaceful moments.
Kyrran opened his eyes and turned around to head back inside. He sat back down next to Sakamae and wrapped his arms around her. She never did like airships all that much. Something about them struck her as too dangerous and not equipped with enough contingencies in case things went awry. They would most certainly be taking a sea vessel back to Othard when it was time to return. For the moment, however she was putting on a very brave face and clinging thoroughly to Kyrran. He kissed the top of her head, squeezed her close and pulled out his journal from his travelling pack to continue writing
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Kainen was an interesting kid. He was Duskwight, which made him already stand out among the commonly Wildwood elezen of Gridania. More than that, however, his parents strove to be accepted by the largely Wildwood populace of Gridania. They had fought hard for the modicum of tolerance they had gained from their neighbors. Kainen's parents never liked that he spent time with me. I was a threat to their status that they had worked so hard to maintain and cultivate.
I was still quite young when we first met in the Acorn Orchard. I was jumping from log to log, humming to myself and saw a few of my fellow orphans picking on a Duskwight kid about my same age. He didn't cower, didn't retreat, he had composure. I remember that standing out to me even at that young age. The three boys were older than us and had a penchant for being ill-mannered. Kainen didn't respond to their taunts and it quickly escalated to shoving. I remember running over after the first shove and standing next to Kainen. He looked surprised, but grateful. The leader of the bullies sneered at me, "Come to protect this Grey? You're a filthy Grey lover aren't you Kyrran?"
I stared hard at him for a moment trying to think of a retort, and when none came readily I opened my mouth...
And sucker punched him in the gut.
Kainen and I did our best to fight them off, but they were bigger and had numbers on their side. We got a couple solid hits in before the Matron came in and broke it up, but we came out of it the worse for wear. I still remember that grateful look in Kainen's eyes. That look spoke volumes, the look of someone who hadn't had anyone on their side before.
"Thank you, you didn't have to do that." He mumbled to me afterwards.
I looked at him and smiled. I could feel a missing tooth, "Yeah I did."
He couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He was also missing a tooth of his own, "I'm Kainen."
I laughed with him, "I'm Kyrran!"
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Kainen was an interesting kid. He was Duskwight, which made him already stand out among the commonly Wildwood elezen of Gridania. More than that, however, his parents strove to be accepted by the largely Wildwood populace of Gridania. They had fought hard for the modicum of tolerance they had gained from their neighbors. Kainen's parents never liked that he spent time with me. I was a threat to their status that they had worked so hard to maintain and cultivate.
I was still quite young when we first met in the Acorn Orchard. I was jumping from log to log, humming to myself and saw a few of my fellow orphans picking on a Duskwight kid about my same age. He didn't cower, didn't retreat, he had composure. I remember that standing out to me even at that young age. The three boys were older than us and had a penchant for being ill-mannered. Kainen didn't respond to their taunts and it quickly escalated to shoving. I remember running over after the first shove and standing next to Kainen. He looked surprised, but grateful. The leader of the bullies sneered at me, "Come to protect this Grey? You're a filthy Grey lover aren't you Kyrran?"
I stared hard at him for a moment trying to think of a retort, and when none came readily I opened my mouth...
And sucker punched him in the gut.
Kainen and I did our best to fight them off, but they were bigger and had numbers on their side. We got a couple solid hits in before the Matron came in and broke it up, but we came out of it the worse for wear. I still remember that grateful look in Kainen's eyes. That look spoke volumes, the look of someone who hadn't had anyone on their side before.
"Thank you, you didn't have to do that." He mumbled to me afterwards.
I looked at him and smiled. I could feel a missing tooth, "Yeah I did."
He couldn't help but smile and let out a small chuckle. He was also missing a tooth of his own, "I'm Kainen."
I laughed with him, "I'm Kyrran!"
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