"Sir Alastair," The king acknowledged the knight of roses' approach. "Is there something you need to speak with me about?"
Alastair had waited until the other captain-commanders had departed and the king was alone before approaching. If possible this was a small matter he would like to keep between them.
"I'll be direct, your majesty." Alastair stated. "Aldrich cannot be permitted to participate in this tourney."
The king sighed, shutting his eyes. "The fact that you're coming to me with this request. I assume that means you have failed to convince Aldrich himself not to participate."
He was right, but Alastair would not admit it out loud. "He has no Virtue or abilities to speak of. While his obsession with becoming a knight is commendable it is far from enough. I just want to save our family name the embarrassment. I'm sure you can understand-..."
"But that isn't the reason at all is it?" The king asked, tilting his head. "All these years you have tried to keep Aldrich away from the life of a knight, and yet he became fixated on it. So, unable to encourage it or tell him whatever secret you try to hide you instead resort to opposing his decision on the basis of he being weak and mundane to try and crush the dream slowly."
Alastair looked away, his fist clenching harder. He knew the way he had decided to deal with it was ugly and not quite as effective as he'd hoped, but he had come to Yves with Aldrich so he wouldn't have to deal with past mistakes.
"I'm sorry but I can't just ban your son from participating with no actual reason," the king told him, sympathy in his voice. "Virtue or not, the tourney is supposed to be open to anyone. On top of the fact that I still owe him and Levi for bringing Veliona back home safely from Shinkoku."
Alastair let out a sigh, unclenching his fist. He had known asking the king to bail him out was a longshot. "I understand your majesty. But thank you for your time."
Before the king could ask him anymore questions he had turned around and left. He was headed straight home. There was still some time before the event started, he could intercept Aldrich before he left home. Hopefully by the time he did he would have come up with a new plan.
x
Aldrich sat down on his own bed, tired out. He had finally gotten a break from guarding the prince to stop by his home and get ready for the tourney. He gazed absentmindedly at the armor set sitting in the corner of his room. Veliona had sent it over some time ago, apparently having had it custom made for him. It was quite fancy and not quite his style, but maybe it was just because it reminded him of his father's.
You're going to be standing on equal footing with powerful opponents, she had said to him. You have to look the part. You are my student after all.
He sighed and got up, beginning to put the armor on. As he did he heard a small knock on his door. The door creaked open slightly and a small head poked through. The little girl's eyes were wide.
"You look so cool big brother!" Aeris exclaimed excited.
Aldrich smiled, patting her on the head as she came closer. "Thank you, Aeris."
Before he left he slid his hand under his pillow, bringing out his mother's journal. He stared at it, unsure whether to take or leave it behind. In the end he slipped it under his armor to keep it close to his heart. This was it, his first big step to becoming as great a knight as his mother had been.
A few minutes later, he was outside getting his horse ready when he noticed something in the distance. It was his father. He sighed and left his horse to meet him.
Alastair had an unreadable expression on his face. his brows furrowed more as he drew closer to Aldrich.
"Aldrich." Alastair said, as they both came to a stop in front of each other.
"If you're here to try and talk me out of fighting, then don't bother." He hadn't said anything yet but Aldrich knew exactly what this was about. And didn't bother waiting for him to say it.
"Aldrich-..."
"I know you think I'm weak and pathetic but I've trained really hard for this. I can do this." Aldrich blurted out angrily, interrupting his father again.
Alastair began to reach out to him. "Aldrich, you can't..."
"Why not?!" Aldrich scoffed. "Give me one good reason."
Alastair's hand dropped back to his side. He didn't have an answer to give. "You don't understand-..."
"You're right! I don't understand." Aldrich shouted at him, surprising his father. "Why can't you just indulge me for once? Instead of judging and belittling."
Aldrich turned away from him, tired of arguing. He was going to get his horse and leave. but he stumbled as he tried to walk away, his foot had gotten caught on something.
He looked down to find a twisting vine wrapped around it. His eyes shot back to his father behind him. "What are you doing?"
Alastair had an almost sad look on his face now. "I'm sorry, I just can't let you do this. This will draw too much attention to you. To us."
"What are you even talking about?" Aldrich groaned. He reached for his relic and turned it into a small blade which he used to cut off the vine. Just as he got free and got back up to his feet another vine shot out at him. He dodged to the side as it shot past his eyes.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to go through me if you want to leave here." Alastair said, his voice emotionless. From the ground beside him a tangle of vines lifted up his dark red sword into his hand.
He was actually serious, Aldrich realized. Fine then, he thought to himself. With a shout he ran right at Alastair bringing down his sword on his.
Alastair pushed back the attack. And threw a few strikes of his own. With every crossing of their blades his usual calm demeanor chipped away. "Why? Why do you insist upon becoming a knight?!" He yelled. "I have tried everything to dissuade you, and yet."
Aldrich stumbled back as his father's swings picked up momentum. He had never seen him this worked up.
"Why can't you just accept your own glaring mundanity and live a long, normal life?!" Alastair's blade swung through the air, knocking Aldrich back even through his block. "Why are you so obsessed with becoming a knight?!"
At this point Alastair's anger had become muddled with sadness, his voice cracking a little as he yelled at Aldrich. Aldrich tried to get up but was tied down by vines. With a flick of Alastair's hand multiple vines shot out, completely encasing Aldrich within the cage like structure they created.
Inside the cage of thorns was dark. Aldrich breathed heavily as he gripped the hilt of his sword even harder. The questions his father had asked churned in his mind. Why, why, why. The word repeated itself over and over until he couldn't take it anymore.
The cage of vines burst open, slashed apart. Alastair watched, taken aback. He hadn't expected Aldrich to be able to escape that.
Aldrich got back up to his feet shakily, exhausted and breathing even heavier. He raised his sword and pointed it at Alastair. "Because... that's the road mom took, isn't it?"
Pure shock spread across Alastair's face upon hearing Aldrich's mother being brought up. His sword fell out of his limp grip and clattered to the ground. "How would you even know that..."
Aldrich reached into his armor and brought out a small book. Alastair recognized the book's intricate cover, it was hers. He remembered her writing in it any moment she had.
"Mom lacked a Virtue as well, didn't she?! But that didn't stop her." Aldrich said, waving the small book. "She was one of the greatest knights in the kingdom, it says it all right here! And you were by her side."
Alastair dropped to his knees, defeated. Memories of the past flashed before his eyes, painful ones. So that was why he had become so intent on following in her footsteps, but he didn't know the full story did he. Their mistakes... and the price that had been paid in the end. A debt they still owed, that he had tried to protect Aldrich from.
He had grown up idolizing the path she had taken. Even if he told him the real story right now he doubted he would believe him, Alastair realized. There was nothing more he could say.
Aldrich looked at his father on his knees. He was no longer looking at him. Instead he stared blankly at the ground, engrossed in his own thoughts. "So why can't you support me as well? Please."
Alastair didn't answer, he had barely heard Aldrich. Aldrich ripped his gaze away from him, angry at his silence. He gripped the book tighter.
"It doesn't matter," he finally said. Not caring if Alastair was listening or not. "I'm going now..."
This time Alastair did not try to stop him.