WHO: Gaius & Pius WHEN: In the Past WHERE: Training Grounds SUMMARY: Talking about Crystalism and making wagers. CW: N/A
Pius stood, still as a statue, his hands clasped before him, his chin lifted, and expression carefully schooled. There was a yawn growing at the back of his throat. It had become persistent in the past 15 minutes, but he resisted it. To yawn inside the chapel would be rude even if he wasn’t here in attendance to Prince Gaius. But he was here, waiting for the prince, and so decorum was a must. He must stand straight with his shoulders back, attentive and ready. He must not yawn or even shift his weight from the ball of one foot to the other.
But he felt restless. He wanted to move. He wanted to stretch and yawn. He settled for blinking instead, feeling his eyes dampen just a little, sleepy. He’d stayed up too late reading. Perhaps it was uppity for someone from a minor house, but still, he wanted to be at the top of the class. He didn’t know that it would change much for him or his family, but it might impress Prince Gaius, and he did like it when the Prince seemed impressed with him. He’d fallen asleep with his cheek plastered to the table and his book propped against his face—trying to read until he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
He breathed, still blinking sleepily, and willed the time to pass a little faster…
Gaius knelt in front of the obelisk, hands clasped together in silent prayer. His eyes were closed to tune in to the Ley Lines and hear the whispers of the Crystals. He could feel the elements humming, nourishing the land, and maintaining the balance. The prince was at peace, his body completely still and his breathing even and steady.
Several minutes later, Gaius finally finished his communion with the World, pushing himself back up to his feet. He gave Pius an apologetic smile as he approached him. “I told you that you could have taken a break, my friend; I am in no danger.”
Pius tried very hard to not look relieved at the Prince’s approach. It would be wrong to make Prince Gaius feel like he was an obligation or some unwanted task. And Pius liked looking after the princes, or really, giving Gaius a hand with all the things he might not think to do for himself while busy chasing his boisterous brother around. Prince Titus was certainly making a strong first impression, though Pius couldn’t say if that was a good thing or not. It wasn’t his place to determine anything like that anyway, so he supposed what he thought didn’t matter. He smiled and shook his head, relaxing and meeting the Prince partway.
He didn’t want to say that they did need to be a bit more careful now that there were so many new people from the other nations around, but...he didn’t think it was unwise to be cautious. Just because it seemed safe didn’t mean it was. Just because Gaius was a good and kind man who only a true villain would consider raising a hand against didn’t mean such villains did not exist. But he thought Gaius would not like that suspicious viewpoint, so he only shrugged.
“One of the new students might confuse you for Prince Titus, you know… Challenge you to a duel in the courtyard. Though that does seem to please His Royal Highness…”
Chuckling into his fist, Gaius tilted his head to look at Pius as they walked out of the building. “I think my brother’s energy and my own are hard to mix up if you spend more than a second looking at either of us.” But, honestly, it could happen, so Pius was right to be a bit wary. Titus looked almost exactly like him, sometimes with a bit more of a beard, but that was about it.
“Besides, I could handle a duel or two, do you not concur?” The prince turned around to look at Pius when they were outside, sunlight kissing his skin and the breeze brushing against his hair.
Pius nodded. It was true. Both princes—without question—could handle themselves in a skirmish. And he suspected the first time Gaius was erroneously challenged to spar, or perhaps the first time he was singled out by the fool who didn’t realize that he was nearly as good as his brother with a sword... Well, maybe it was mean-spirited to find it funny, but he was certain it would be. But he didn’t hope for it, because it still seemed like it would be a nuisance for Gaius to have to deal with.
So he nodded and smiled...and gazed at the Prince for a little too long, because with the sun running over his smooth skin and the air tickling his hair… He cleared his throat and schooled his expression once more. He really didn’t want Prince Gaius to think he was strange, or to become uncomfortable with him. All he really wanted—and had for a few years now—was to be near the Prince. But sometimes it was hard not to admire how innocently perfect he was. Pius inwardly sighed.
“If your brother hears you, he will drag you to the training grounds before you finish your sentence. His fervor does seem to be...stirred.” New opponents, Pius supposed. New opportunities to prove himself the best of the best. He had little doubt that Titus would be the top student in any and all of their martial classes. Followed by Gaius. And he was proud of that. They were, after all, the shining jewels of Serenitas, and they had yet not to live up to that (in his eyes at least). “Are you in the mood for a little exercise, yo—” He cleared his throat. “—Gaius?”
“I am sure Titus is bored of trying to spar with me by now, especially when I do not match his recklessness,” Gaius chuckled against his hand again before smiling at Pius. “Besides, he has his sights set on more interesting rivals, which honestly, is all fine and sound with me. Now, if had an ounce of that passion for more scholarly pursues…” The prince could only sigh and reach up to pinch the bridge of his nose. Pius did his best to not sigh, but...well, inside he couldn’t help it. If only Titus would apply himself to more scholarly pursuits now and again...
Pius’ query had him tipping his head in curiosity. “What are you plotting, my friend?”
“Well, I could always use more sword practice, in case any of our...” Pius paused, measuring his words, “...passionate new friends desire to practice with me. I don’t want to make Serenitas look poorly.”
He wasn’t vain enough to imagine that he would be an automatic #3 after Titus and Gaius, even if he had been studying much the same arts up to now. Seeing so many vigorous new faces among them, he didn’t feel as confident about his abilities as he had a week before. And he would be a very sorry attendant if he couldn’t hold his own. Besides, it would distract him from noticing too much the man that Gaius had grown to be. After all, even stripping away the many layers of social status and societal mores separating them, Gaius was devout. He had already dedicated himself to the path of a High Priest, and so even if they were peers, even if it were done—
He shook away the thought, turning his gaze towards the distance—to the training grounds.
“What do you think?”
“I think you have nothing to worry about,” Gaius replied with a grin, “But if it will help you wake up and unwind, I can put my sword hand to some use.” Of course, he had noticed Pius’ weariness; Gaius was incredibly observant, even if he chose to remain quiet in most social situations.
He looked off in the distance, bringing a hand up to comb his hair back into place. “Let us go before Titus catches notice or else I will never be free again.”
Pius smiled and picked up his pace. He wouldn’t mind if Titus did join in. Some of their best matches had involved the wilder prince suddenly appearing, and while Pius had never stood a chance in those impromptu “battles,” they had always been great fun. But on the other hand, he was thinking he ought to be focusing a little more on technique than fun, because he really didn’t want to make the Princes or their country look bad. Even he thought he probably should trust his prowess a little more, but now with the Chosen of Fire and the Chosen of Dragon and so many other competent fighters at the school… He would have to step up his practice as much as his studying.
He walked quietly for a moment, just enjoying Gaius’s company and the easy camaraderie that came with knowing someone for a fair amount of time, but after a moment, he wondered aloud, “What is it like? Praying to the Crystal?”
The prince was no stranger to silence, so he didn’t find it awkward or unsettling, happy to just walk next to his friend across the Academy to reach their destination. At the question, Gaius took a quick glance at Pius before continuing. “It is hard to convey with words, but… It is like feeling the ripples of the water against you. Maybe like hearing the echoes of the World…”
Gaius trailed off, and before Pius could do it, he rushed ahead to push a door open and hold it for his friend. Perhaps that would not pass with his etiquette teachers, but he didn’t care. He was going to be gentle to everyone with equality, and all his titles could be damned.
“Nothing stops you from praying, although I suppose the experience is not quite the same if you are not born with the affinity.” And sometimes, even with the affinity, some people weren’t made for the holy life.
Pius considered. Like anyone with an ounce of piety (and he might have had at least two with that name), he prayed to the Crystal, but he never really...felt anything. Of course, it was comforting. He didn’t know that the Crystal could understand him, but he liked to think it did. He liked having someone or something to confide in, secretly, privately...or to confess to, as sometimes it happened. He had not ever heard anything that made him think of the echoes of the world, nor felt anything like waves lapping him. He supposed both Gaius and Titus were uniquely positioned, though. Their relationship to the Crystal was not like normal people’s, that was for certain.
“So it’s ni—” he started and then stumbled, because he wasn’t sure why Gaius suddenly hurried ahead until the door was open, and he groaned. “Gaius.” The Prince was not supposed to be opening the door for his subjects! He looked around to see if anyone had noticed—frowning—but he thought they were okay.
Neither Titus nor Gaius ever seemed to really get their position in society. They always wanted to be friends with everyone. It made maintaining the proper levels of decorum and respect a little difficult. Pius sighed, one hand on his hip, and lingered a moment before dropping his hand and going through.
“Thank you. But you know, it’s not…”
“Do not fret so much, dear friend, or you might just age too early.” Gaius smiled, waiting until Pius was inside to fully step in and close the door. The training grounds were, well, surprisingly empty at this hour, but Gaius was glad for it. He would rather not have nosey spectators around them.
“Anyway, what were you saying much earlier, Pius?”
What could you do with a prince who didn’t want to act important? Pius just sighed and tucked away his misgivings. By now, it wasn’t as though it was a surprise. At least no one was around, but he still felt guilty to let the Prince do anything for him, even open a door.
He looked around, finally giving into the stretch he’d wanted to take before, pulling his arm over his head and cracking his shoulders, one side and then the other with a soft sound of pain and relief. It was funny that they were alone. He’d expected that half the student body would be here. Half the student body was seemingly chomping at the bit to show their mettle. But he was grateful, too. He had his pride, and well, he rarely ever bested the princes. It happened more in his dreams than on the training grounds.
(He wished each day could be a little longer, that he could study even more, practice even more...catch up and maybe even surpass them…)
“Oh, before?” He thought back as he approached the armory, thinking he really needed the most work with polearms, but… “Oh...yes, I was only saying that it sounds nice, the way the Crystal reaches out to you. I wonder if it gets lonely. So many people speak to it, but very few can hear it in return.”
“I do not think they are, as they are part of us all, even if we cannot hear their Words.” But he supposed, even his interpretation of Crystalism wasn’t as… standard, as his religious teachers and father would like it to be. “In any case, if it weren’t for their existence, the balance of the Elements would be in peril.” Now he stuck his foot in his mouth with such a somber talk.
“I have heard that said many times, though...perhaps I have never fully understood what the repercussions would be,” Pius admitted. “I have no desire to find out, of course. Only that I’ve never been entirely sure how the balance...how all of it works, I suppose. In nature, only a little fire can quickly grow wild and burn through a forest… Does that mean the Fire Crystal is more powerful than, for example, the Earth Crystal?” Did the balance require that some crystals be suppressed in some way, more so than others? Though he had studied Crystalism as much as the next devotee from Serenitas, he did not consider himself an expert. He was not even sure he would qualify himself a novice.
“It’s… well, it’s complicated as I am sure you know.” Gaius wondered if he should really go on a speech about it; he hated being preachy or presuming he was smarter than anyone else, but… “Fire is an element of change; it’s in constant flux and movement. Earth is one of stillness, of constancy-- it’s not really that it’s stronger because after the Fire is gone both Nature and Earth will return…” Gaius trailed off, swinging his sword to test it.
“And you really can hear all of them?” Pius asked. “Or is Light louder, because we are in Serenitas?” He wondered if Gaius had a favorite, but it felt sacrilegious to ask such a question. “Do they have...personalities?” he asked, wondering if that, too, might be blasphemous, but he couldn’t stem his curiosity.
“To varying levels of intensity, yes, but I cannot understand any of them. I… well, you would have to ask Titus or one of our new classmates about it.” Rubbing his neck, Gaius walked up to the armory to see his choices before he reached over to grab the lightest training sword available. “I do not think it is my place to answer such a question as I am not one of the chosen-- Anyway, I know I am no Titus, but I hope I will be a suitable partner despite the differences in our abilities.”
Pius was perhaps too serious about treating the princes properly to roll his eyes, but he did shake his head at Gaius’s self-effacing remark, lifting a sword from a rack and feeling its balance. Someone had misplaced his favorite practice sword, he thought. He glanced around, looking for the one he preferred. “The day I best you and it’s not an anomaly...that is the day you may utter such things, my prince.” He chuckled, wondering if a day like that would ever come.
“You are just too soft and kind with me, Pius,” Gaius insisted, taking one step ahead and poking Pius lightly with the tip of the sword, holding it with his left hand. “And you are possibly confused by me not fighting like my brother.”
Pius shuddered, glancing from the tip of the sword to the prince. If Gaius and Titus did fight the same… He could only imagine the carnage. He was very glad they did not. Anyway, he liked that one could tell, based on technique alone, which brother was which. They could dress exactly the same, look nearly indistinguishable from the other, but the movement of the sword in their hand would always be different. He stepped away, finally finding the sword that was not his sword, but which he liked best, picking it up and giving it a light swing. Much better.
“Am I allowed to use magic in this practice?” Gaius asked with a hint of cheekiness to his voice, the left corner of his lip curling just so.
“Only if I can, too,” Pius grinned back.
If it were Titus, he wouldn’t bother with a wager. After all, it was all but guaranteed he would lose, and Titus was all too likely to ask for another round and then another, until all Pius’s old callouses had reopened and he could hardly lift his arms (good exercise, but still brutally exhausting). He could not fathom Titus’s energy at times—how he seemed to have endless quantities of the stuff...at least when it came to fighting. His energy for reading and studying was markedly less substantial, Pius thought ruefully. But with Gaius, he felt a little safer indulging in familiarity and in lightly asking, “And what prize will the victor take away this time?”
“A week free of protests when I treat you as my equal, what would you like?” Gaius got into proper stance now, his left leg forward as well as the sword, holding it steadily and pointed at Pius with his left arm while he held his right hand open, a small ball of water floating right over the palm of his hand.
The face Pius made...
The depth of his cringe...
“Well, I see I am absolutely going to have to win today,” he muttered, shaking his head and starting towards the arena area. “And if I win…”
He considered saying that Gaius would have to act the part of a prince. It would take some stress off his days. But he felt that he wanted to surprise Gaius. He considered as he moved into position.
“If I win, then you must take a day off. Do nothing whatsoever except enjoy time with our new classmates,” he decided. “No studying and no sparring. You must take someone into the city and only be frivolous.”
“...What?” Gaius looked and felt absolutely distressed at the prospect. “I am going to fall back on my reading if I do that! Pius--” If it was possible for a grown man to pout… well, he was definitely not doing that at all. Nor whining, definitely not that either.
After a moment of contemplation, Gaius finally nodded his head. “Fine, but I have no plans to lose in the slightest.”
Pius grinned, pleased to get a reaction out of the prince. He had, he thought, chosen well, and it would do Gaius some good. He wasn’t the High Priest yet. He should at least have a taste of normal life before he fully gave himself over...
Now looking a little cocksure, Pius raised his sword. “We will see...Gaius. En garde!”