"Augustine, do you remember the epics and the songs that we used to sing and read to you and your siblings before I tuck you all into bed?" the older man in a priestly outfit asked as he fixed his glasses when he turned to the younger blonde boy.
"Yes, Father Barlley I still wish to be a hero of light for the people to this day! but the people are starting to dislike my presence for some reason..." he rubbed the back of his head as he gave a disappointed sighed while walking by the taller figure beside him.
"Listen here young one... if people never liked you for who you are they will wish only downfall on who you wish to be... never ask for permission when you dream of something... especially something as ambitious as yours, it should be considered noble in its essence... kiddish but noble..." the imposing figure left out a chuckle as he walked past by the boy down the long winding corridors of the cathedral.
Augustine let out a sigh before heading out of the cathedral for his apprenticeship with the local smithy, the warm sun hitting his skin felt refreshing after being inside the dark isolated cathedral of theirs, the bustling noise of the kingdom was nice to hear, he told himself as he walked down the paved path whilst waving at the people he knew or not...
it was a medieval kingdom with beige walls and plants growing on the side of the buildings, vines growing on its walls and has been collectively improving through the use of magic with mirrors able to let transport people through far distances in an instant, so the wizards, mages, witches, and diviners are held here in really high regard letting them live in the floating island of the city giving them a high status like the king who lives in the highest island within the city.
yet the foolish Augustine still yearns to be a "Hero of light!" he stood proudly in front of a small crowd of four people in a secluded area of the kingdom, the brown haired boy with wolf ears groaned as he rubbed his eyes "Austine you are not gonna be a hero like that... nor ever cause there is not catastrophe..."
"Shut it, Luke!" Augustine said with a chuckle before unsheathing his sword from his waist "Oh what does the great Aus-" "I'm gonna be continuing my routine of helping the people!" Augustine said with a proud face.
"Stop talking over me, you idiot! Ugh AS I WAS SAYING maybe reconsider your passions elsewhere? WHO KNOWS maybe I don't know?! Magic!?" Luke laid his back against a wall while staring at Augustine with an eyebrow raised "I could but why would I do that? I don't have the blessing of mana to begin with?" Augustine was fidgeting with the hilt of his sword averting his gaze from the other.
"it CAN be cultivated but it will be much harder as opposed to the ones who were blessed by the moon goddess of course..." the blonde girl in their circle spoke up.
"Alice you have no say in this you were blessed with mana since birth! but you're procrastinating it away so what's the point of having it..." Luke's ears wiggles while crossing his arms as he turned his back to Alice.
"shut it dog boy I have no time to meddle with your feeble canine thoughts... regardless of what I do with MY MAGIC, is up to me... not you! Mutt."
Augustine just rolled his eyes as he walked away feeling overwhelmed by the two's bickering
a timid older girl from the group with black hair caught up with Augustine and nudged onto his side "Hey."
"Oh, Tasha did you need something from me?" Augustine asked his movements halting whilst the humid air of the alleyways hit their skin, a sweat dripped from the boy's forehead
Tasha nodded "I invite you to Alice's meeting later tonight... you left... abruptly she was not able to hand it out to you herself..." Tasha grabbed the little card from her messenger bag,
Augustine grabbed it with a little sparkle in his eyes "I'll be there!" "You better be blondie..." She disappeared the moment the smoke from the pipes shot out filling the alley with a hot gust of air.
"Well, I'll be there after my shift in the smithy..." he whispered to himself as he walked down the damp and tight turns of the alley he's in, he sang to himself as he walked with the wet sound of foot steps followed his path, he let out a sigh whilst staring at the invite "Do we really need a card for everything?"
not a while later while he was deep in thought a yelp from a woman could be heard from nearby, the boy ran instinctively into danger head-on with little regard to his health and having no idea what is happening to begin with but he knows he have someone to protect.
He unsheathed his poorly made sword and the moment he got out of the fog, he saw a guard about to slice the woman down who was on the floor with her arms raised bracing herself, Augustine's crude sword clashed with the guard's, and the metallic clashing can be heard yet no one came to aid him...
Nor are there any other guards ready to arrest the boy, one heavy swing from the guard threw Augustine into the ground, and as the guard prepared to swing once more he tossed his sword on the guard's helmed face and grabbed the woman in pure white clothes with blue oceanic gradient accents on her robe over her head with little frills resembling a jellyfish of some sort.
"human you've saved me? for what purpose?" Augustine continued running not paying much attention to the woman's words the guard's pursuit getting hotter on their tails, like a prey being hunted down, Augustine turned to every corner he felt like he can squeeze through, the woman a bit startled and confused just followed Augustine's lead with her wrist being dragged by the boy.
the turns getting narrower and narrower as the pipes blow hot steam in their path stopping them from their track, Augustine was left with a choice whether to wait it out or to turn back in the narrow path they are in.
his heart pounding in his chest as sweat drips from the back of his head, the woman looked at him with a worried look, she wanted to say something, but he shoved the woman behind him the moment he heard the clanking of the metallic boots against the puddles on the brick floor.
"You're the little runt from the cathedral aren't you? little goody two shoes should stop playing with my prey if you know what's coming for ya!" the guard had a glint in his eyes, his metallic boots clanking as he rushed towards Augustine and the lady "F-FUCK OFF!" He held his sword tightly as cold air blow against the back of his head.
he closed his eyes with the sword gripped in his hands but the woman pulled him back and raised her hand elegantly like a noble stopping a fight, a pulse of a dark blue light shone on the alley the moment she opened her palm, "you shan't touch my benefactor..." her voice cold and firm, Augustine opened his eyes to see the guard was stopped in his path.
the sword in between the woman's fingertips, "your audacity against the greater will shall never be forgiven by the depths... I will have to punish you myself..." The guard confused, trying to yank his sword from the woman, "LET MY SWORD GO YOU BITCH!" The woman opened her mouth noises that nobody can distinguish made everyone in the area's ears start ringing as she placed her hand on the man's breastplate, "wha-?"
the man crumbled into a pile of skeleton right in front of Augustine's eyes, his ears ringing as his heart thumps in his chest, cold sweat drips from his entire body as the fear of death sinks into his skin, 'this woman is dangerous' the woman stared at him with a warm smile as her robe fell onto her back.
her features was simply out of this world, her pupils black that seems to eat the light from around it, she had a warm smile as her soft white almost transparent hair resembling water blows against a wind, she bowed her head gently before walking away "We shall see... each other not long in the future... young one..."
she gave Augustine a peck on the forehead that seemed to rot the area around it but healing as well in an instant leaving an X shaped scar she gave the the boy a warm smile an almost hypnotizing smile before turning her back walking away
Augustine was breathless almost enchanted by the lady's surreal and ethereal beauty as the silhouette disappeared in the sea of smoke, rain began pouring down on Augustine's stunned body, his eyes drifted back to the pile of armor in front of him the skeleton inside slowly turned black and into a puddle of black water that got swept away by the pour of rain, he breathed heavily as he began walking back into the cathedral shakily.
the boy passed out on his way ending with the priest and his followers looking for the young Augustine.
a day has passed, Augustine stared at himself in the mirror making low growling noises while lifting his hair up a bit, he sighed as he sat on his bed tapping his leg whilst staring at a bandana Alice gave him to cover up his scar since in her words "Your scar makes you look more of a dumbass wear this or something..."
"Augustine?" Father Barlley walked into the room with his hands behind his back, though his face expressed worry for the boy he was confused how he got caught up in that side of town "I expressed my dissatisfactions with you befriending those hooligans in the slums... now look at where this got you... as my student and the apprentice of the smithy you should be more responsible... I expect this won't happen again Augustine Schrike..."
Augustine hung his head low as he nodded from the priest's words "Yes father... I'm sorry father... it won't happen again father..."
the priest heaved for air before leaving with a seemingly frustrated air on his shoulders.
Augustine continued tapping his legs on the floor whilst holding his head real low, upset of not heeding the priest's words he felt a pang of guilt form on his chest, but the images of what happened the day before plastered into his mind...
the boy was left alone in his room yet he heard someone calling out to him out the door "psst Austine! come here!" a familiar voice was heard by the boy, he walked out of the room and saw a black haired boy with a cocky smirk over his face.
"how did you get in here?! this place is heavily guarded by the nuns and whatnot..."
"oh y'know the good 'ol fashioned sneaking in... plus don't flatter yourself this place is guarded but it ain't heavy e'nuf got that?" the black haired boy said with a smirk "anyways come with me Alice and the gang are waiting in the forest out..."
"Arthur wait!" he yelled but the black haired boy jumped out of the window not listening the blonde boy's words, Augustine groaned before grabbing his utility belt and jumped out of the window as well.
"well the gang is all here." Luke smiled with his hand over his waist as his tail swayed from left to right, Augustine and Arthur are chuckling after outrunning the people from the cathedral, Alice was sitting on a tree stump with her legs crossed with Tasha behind her.
"so what is this little meeting for?" Augustine raised an eyebrow towards Alice and Luke
"Luke said since you weren't able to make it to yesterday... maybe we should just move it to today... hmph... it's exhausting moving my agendas you know, people be thankful I made time!" Alice flipped her hair before rolling her eyes.
"I assure you all Lady Alice means well... anyways for the Itinerary of our expedition today shall include cave diving, Labyrinth search, and monster extermination... does anyone have any say in the matter?"
"Fine by me..." he shrugged as his ears wiggled
"Y'got me goin with the monsters!" he said with a smirk placing his hand over his hip
"Ah god I hope Father wouldn't kill me later..." he let out a low growl as he bit onto his finger nails
"then it's settled... you guys pack your things we'll be leaving by night..." she smirked before flipping her hair.
"wouldn't it be dangerous for us though? we're not even registered adventurers yet..." he rubbed the back of his as his amber eyes met the gaze of everyone.
"if you're too much of a coward to come with then don't even call yourself a man... a lowly blacksmith lik-" Alice stopped herself from midway covering her mouth.
The blonde boy's face grimaced, as it turned into confusion, and then a face of hurt "is that how you actually see me?"
Alice remained quiet "then what about the invite?" He raised the card to show Alice "I didn't gave you that? I didn't even plan on giving you one..."
"I'm sorry Lady Alice I assumed wrongly since I gave him the invite thinking you forgot to hand it out to him..." Alice gave the other a penetrating glare before calming herself again.
"lets have a word at the back Tasha." the rustling of grass followed their steps as it slowly molded away with the ambience of the forest.
the rustling of the trees and smell of grass became abundant as the silence between the three became apparent, the rays of the sun seeping in between the leaves hitting their skin with a gentle warmness to it.
"PHEW WHADA HOT DAY TODAY AIN'T IT?!" Arthur patted Augustine on the head before giving a low sigh "you know what's ought to cheer ya up?? a good 'ol walk down the forest? by the sea yeh?" he gave the other a worried smile, But Augustine just rolled his eyes.
He brushed it off before letting out a sigh, he walked away by himself, Luke looked at Arthur not knowing what to do since this has never happened before in their group, Augustine left his shoes by the forest's clearing as he walked down the beach feeling the warmth of the sun and the sand between his toes.
he gripped his hand before tossing a stone on the water making it bounce on top of it far enough, he sighed as he sat whilst hugging his legs as the waves softly touched his feet... "Even my friends thinks I'm a burden..."
"Tasha I told you not to give one to him! do you understand how dangerous it is for a blacksmith with no proper training to go in our expedition?!" Alice rubbed her temple while pacing back and forth, Tasha on the other hand stood tall with her hands in front of her like proper maid "It was in my best intention Lady Alice I was going to assure you that this trip will be fine..."
"If it didn't go well he will die Tasha! I don't want anyone to die because I wish to have an exciting trip before I go abroad!" she leaned her face to a tree and began screeching like a banshee.
"yes yes, Lady Alice they are also my dearest friend but if you stop them from these experiences then how will they grow as a person?" Tasha held a smile but her body remained in the same regal pose
"but-"
"I understand." she held Alice's hands in consolation "you're worrying too much Lady Alice... I trust you know better than to hold him back from this..."
"you know what... maybe you're right..." Alice smiled before she walked back to where everybody was grouped.
"everyone! I have an announceme-" She looked around cutting herself mid sentence "where is Augustine?" Alice placed her hand over her hip with an eyebrow raised "I need to find him now! you two go find him!"
"man I's gettin tired of y'er bossy attitude... why don't you look for him yourself?!" Arthur slowly walked forwards to Alice as if to intimidate her but Tasha's hand blocked the other's advance
"Wouldn't be a wise choice Arthur... now go find Augustine since you two are the last ones with him..." Arthur rolled his eyes before heeding Tasha's words.
"No need to find me... I'm not coming..." he walked towards as a trail of sand follows his path
"wise choice smi-" "AUSTINE! Think bout this first this could be a great experience for us!
besides I thought you said we have each other's back always?!" Luke glared at Alice, but Alice stood firm on her words.
"I thought we did..." Augustine just gave Alice a look before leaving the group, silence filled the group and tensions amongst each other grew, the birds chirped and wind blows gently against them.
"I'll try and convince him again..." Luke followed Augustine's path, Alice was less than pleased but just remained quiet.
"ah well who need him 'nyways a good ol goody two shoes and a dog boy ain't gonna hold us back if they ain't comin~" Arthur just said a cocky smirk.
"he's right... Tasha prepare the carriages... we'll depart without the two..." Tasha nodded before walking out of the forest.
"what's the deal Arthur I thought you won't go without those two..."
Arthur just gave the other a smile, Alice just gave him a look before rolling her eyes not knowing what the other's intentions were.
"I'm feelin sponty today..." he said with a sly grin
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"Father, Augustine has escaped his quarters again... shall we inform the sheriff?" Father Barlley just waved it off whilst holding paperwork in his hands, he fixed his glasses before scratching his salt and pepper hair, his huge and imposing build stood firm as he walked past by the nun to shelf the papers "Do you think if you contained a fish in a simple aquarium it will ever wonder what's beyond its enclosure?"
the nun shook her head "I... Don't think so?" Father held his religious charm in hand tracing his thumbs over its beads "It's been 32 years since my wife and child died and it has been 20 years since I became a priest... I think I have seen everything but still... I feel like that boy is still something more than what meets the eye..."
"why did we even took him in Father I thought you said we aren't running an orphanage 20 years ago..." The nun walked around the priest's office observing the trophies and paraphernalia scattered across the shelves "Lucy I am growing old... I had hoped to maybe able to live... with having a son at some point... but I never felt close enough with the boy... and he refused to accept my teachings..."
he let in a deep breath and stared at his hand "I just think maybe its for the best that I didn't forced him into theology... maybe he will do better as a swordsman or a mage..." the father just held the picture frame with his image and Augustine in it in front of the cathedral
"maybe it's time to let him do whatever he wants don't you think so?"
the nun turned her head as she paces around the office slowly "Father I MAY not know what you are thinking about but I do believe you know better for what to do with your student."
Father Barlley nodded as he grabbed a folder from his cabinet, the heavy footsteps from his boots paced towards his chair, the screeching of the wooden chair scraping against the wooden floors hurts the ear of the nun, she sighed before taking a seat in front of the priest "I want you to tell the Flouraia's branch of our church that you will be going there to seek an audience with the Grand Arcana..."
The nun's eyes widened "for what purpose if I may ask?" Father Barlley gave the nun a quick glance.
the priest remained quiet as he stood turning his back to the nun, whilst peering out of his window, dim streaks of light entered the dim office as Father Barlley just stood there with his broad shoulders blocking the light "just do it for now... and have faith sister Lucy... the paperwork I'm gonna give you later before your departure will answer most of your questions"
the nun nodded "I shall be back in half a year if things go smoothly... I will send letters here father... I will just pack my items and depart shortly after bidding my brother goodbye..." Father Barlley just stood in front of the window giving the other a quick nod, the sound of the heavy door shutting echoed in the room.
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the rustling of grass was following Augustine he turned around to see Luke following him with his ears drooping over his ears "Austine I know she may have a sharp tongue but... please reconsider... I would really like it if yo-"
"What part of this do you not get Luke?"
"Huh?"
silence kept the distance between the two, Augustine's back still turned to the other
"If you want to go then go with them... I am not needed so I'm heading to my job Luke..."
Luke rubbed the back of his head as he stared at Augustine helplessly "well if you're not going... then I'm not going as well..."
The blonde looked back at Luke with an eyebrow raised an almost seemingly ridiculing smile "why?" Luke chuckled "Cause... why not? if you're doing it then I might as well~"
Luke gave the other a smile as he walked beside Augustine "I-... alright man whatever..." Augustine gave the other a bright smile as they both walked out of the forest.