Kaidan spent his time between the ill and the healthy boys.
He was telling his friends in the infirmary about Shino's offer, to their delight.
"Wow, really? Maybe you'll meet the princess!"
"A princess, here? He'll see lady Leanne for sure!" said Pebbles with much enthusiasm.
Kaidan smiled at that, Leanne was Alec's older sister, and heir to her mother's sword. A skilled lady knight, beautiful and deadly.
After Alec was slayed in the upcoming demon war, she swore vengeance and spent the rest of her life battling demons.
She was still alive at the end he thought, and now he might meet her. . .
"I would love to see her fight," he replied.
"Me too!"
Pebbles had hero worship shining bright in their eyes, bouncing on the infirmary cot.
"So you all think I should do this?"
Enthusiastic affirmatives from everyone.
"It's a great chance, when will you get one better?" says Marco.
Kaidan gave a heavy sigh, then nodded, "good point."
"You will be leaving us then," says a deep, slow voice from the doorway, startling them all.
"Brother Gregory?"
He enters and stands before a rising Kaidan, "I did expect this, but not so soon."
"Brother Gregory. . . I-"
"No matter, come." he interrupts, turning and walking away, sure he will be followed.
Kaidan looked at his friends before rushing after the monk.
He was led through halls and up stairs, past sealed dormitories and prayer rooms, isolation cells and store rooms, past the great library floor and the hall of ceremonies*.
Finally to an attic store room, packed with shelves stacked with chests an d bags, a layer of dust in various thickness all over, cobwebs on some sections, and empty spots in others.
"The things that were with you are here, as with everyone's belongings," he pointed at a rough leather bag, "do with them what you will."
Brother Gregory then patted Kaidan's head and walked away, leaving Kaidan alone.
He looked through the bag, a small bundle of letters from his mother, another, larger stack of letters to hee, unsent.
The knife, a baby's blanket in grey, delicate, worn embroidery of spiders along the edges, he knew that among demons they found spiders quite cute, but this must have been so confusing for the original Kaidan.
A small bag of old coins, a silver broach worked in the shape of a robin, and a small book of old stories in Doushi.
He looked at it all, skimming the letters, examining the knife. . . When exactly did Kaidan learn he was half demon?
No indication in the letters, the only things special about the knife was the silver inlay on the blade, lycanthropy was a concern in all realms, and the rust colored stone in the pommel.
The stone would only awaken once Kaidan awoke his blood line, but how?
He knew how Shino found out, the betrayal, then some of the details during his captivity, but when and where did Kaidan learn?
He very much doubted five year old Kaidan had the knowledge. . .
He sighed, collecting all the items and storing them away again.
He shook the dust off the bag and clutched it close, before exiting the attic.
Brother Gregory waited at the foot of the stairs, looking out the small window into the apple orchard.
"When you leave, remember our ways and let Relos guide you," he patted Kaidan's head once more and strode off with a frown.
Kaidan looked out the window and only saw a glimpse of dark cloaks through the branches.
That night he read through each of the letters, they were sweet and romantic, containing shared memories and dreams of the future.
His father's had tales from his baby and toddler years, embarrassing even for Akira.
His friends were recovering, this was a great chance, and it was the expected thing.
And he could get to know Shino outside of th pages of a book.
But would this risk him following the path of the original?
Ah, he knew he was going to do it, why was he debating himself?
The alternative was what, taking the coins from the bag and becoming a travelling artist?
While an interesting possiblity, he really didn't want to be so far from his friends.
Tomorrow. He'll go to the keep tomorrow.
Bright and early he told everyone his plans, receiving many well wishes and pleas to "visit often! Don't forget us!"
Before he knew it he was at the gate of the keep, eyeing the guards.
One of them had been guarding last time and he sneered and snorted before shaking his head, "what Shino sees in a brat like you I don't know. . ." he grumbled before sending off the other, younger guard.
And there he was, striding with confidence toward him, a pleased smile on his handsome face.
"Kaidan! Are you. . . ?"
Kaidan nodded, "if you want me, I'll do it, I'll be a page."
"Come on! Wait until Master Hawthorne meets you."
Kaidan took a deep breath, the Master was kind, but strict, it would be fine.
And so Shino led him in, reaching around to clasp his shoulder, arm a heavy, comforting weight along his back.
Shino was pointing things out, trying to distract him as he was led to his new life.