Vestige

v. 02 – Cave quid dicis. (Beware what you say.)

The rising sun reflected off of the marble walls of the Draco shine bathing the town at the bottom of the hill in light. Villagers were already out taming their fields and looked up at the shrine whispering a prayer. Things were not quite as calm within the walls of the shrine where screaming voices echoed in a usually unoccupied room.

“Nothing happened!” Mallory was starting to cry as Carcer would not believe him, “We argued that was it. Kilian is different when he’s drunk it was nothing.”

“He raped you!” Mallory looked like the sky had just fallen down, “I saw what happened. I saw what he did to you and I’m going to make him pay for it.”

“Tell no one what you saw,” Mallory pushed Carcer onto the wall keeping a hand on his chest, “Tell no one and do nothing to Kilian, promise me.” Carcer didn’t want to keep silent or let Kilian get away with it but looking into Mallory’s eyes was his undoing and he nodded his head.

“I promise not to tell,” he put his arms around Mallory and the wind element melted into his embrace. Carcer sighed and looked around, his eyes fell on a statue in the center of the room of two lovers tightly embracing with long flowing hair whirling into one another. One of the lovers was pure alabaster while the other was onyx reminding Carcer of the principal of balance. He moved towards the statue making Mallory look up at him and turn his gaze to follow Carcer’s.

“Genius loci,” Carcer read the inscription at the base of the statue, “What does it mean Mallory? The guardian spirit of the place? Are these them?” Mallory nodded his head and Carcer came closer to the statues touching the face of the onyx lover surprised to find it warm. He caressed the soft cheek while Mallory watched him tears still in his eyes.

“They are the forbidden lovers that brought us forth.”

“Brought us forth?”

“Carcer your hair is two different colors,” Mallory touched Carcer’s hair as the earth element frowned, Mallory was very easily distracted, “It’s two browns. It’s so pretty.”

“Mallory answer my…” Mallory’s lips descended on Carcer’s making him forget what they were talking about completely. Carcer’s hand buried itself in the snow white mane of Mallory as he tilted his head to the side a bit to deepen the kiss. Mallory’s eyes were open as he stared at Carcer trying to analyze the earth element. Carcer took his breaths through his nose so he wouldn’t have to break the kiss. Mallory was looking impatient but didn’t push Carcer away instead put his hands on the bare shoulders of the earth element. His eyes went a bit wide when he felt Carcer’s tongue probing his mouth but he moved his tongue to caress Carcer’s. He was starting to actually enjoy the kiss and his knees buckling gave that away. Carcer held him up and pulled Mallory’s body closer to his as the wind element closed his eyes. Mallory’s hands came to the back of Carcer’s neck as he began to hungrily kiss the earth element. Something about Carcer being so close was soothing his mind, he couldn’t hear the voices that usually plagued him. Finally they pulled apart both panting heavily and Carcer staring down at Mallory with a slight blush while Mallory hide his face in the crook of Carcer’s neck.

“I thought you were going to eat me,” Mallory whispered and Carcer began to laugh at hearing that making Mallory look at him, “Don’t laugh at me.”

“I’m sorry,” Carcer was still chuckling and trying to stop laughing, “You’re just so silly and I feel even sillier for falling in love with you.”

“You.. love me?” Mallory looked taken aback by the news and stepped away from Carcer, “Promise never to say that again.”

“Why?”

“Just don’t ok?” Mallory gave a quivering smile and Carcer just nodded his head then watched Mallory scamper off. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair staring at the black marble walls of the shrine’s inner chamber that extended so high it looked like it went past the clouds. With his new current dilemma Carcer exited the room keeping his gaze off of Kilian for just his name made him want to kill the water element.

Kilian was busy helping Kisho with his training and not paying any mind to anything else. He fired arrow after arrow at the wind child who easily ducked each and every one of them while his younger sister cheered him on. Julius wasn’t so elated for Kisho instead he was walking across the roof throwing down pebbles at Augustus who made them dance around with his own wind powers.

“Carcer!” Aiko chased after the earth element who seemed to be heading into town, “Are you going down to introduce yourself to the villagers?”

“Ah… yes,” Carcer smiled politely and wondered why the woman had stopped him.

“I’ll go with you it’s best if two go and since I’m the oldest guardian they’ll believe me when I tell them you’re the new earth guardian.”

“Oh all right,” Carcer walked down the dirt path with Aiko hooking her arm to his, “That brings me to my musing, what happened to the last earth guardian?” Aiko paled at the query and gulped.

“Well that’s a matter you should bring up when you meet the soul guardian,” Aiko knew it was something stupid to say but she didn’t want to be the one to answer him, “She knows everything concerning all elements.”

“I’ve never heard of this soul guardian.”

“You should ask Mallory about that.”

“Can you answer anything for me?” Carcer stopped walking making Aiko stop as well and she laughed nervously.

“Anything you want to know about the village.”

“You are aware I was born in Floreat?” Aiko laughed nervously, Floreat was the main village in the Prima Orbus walls and the city to go to when needing to do some shopping. The head of the village there was the informant for the other small villages.

“I’m sorry but I wasn’t. You’re the only other person besides the children that I know was born in Prima Orbus, even I wasn’t born here.”

“Who is the other?” they began walking again as they fell into conversation, “If not you that leaves on Kilian and Mallory.”

“Mallory,” Aiko looked back at the shrine getting farther in the distance, “Mallory was born in the shrine itself, he knows a lot about it but he’s never apt to tell it. Kilian and I have noticed though that he bares a resemblance to one of the guardian spirits as well as the guardian of soul, Solus Star.”

“But he introduced himself to me as Mallory Herring not Mallory Star?”

“His full name is Mallory Alvin Star Herring but it was his mother that gave him the name Alvin Star,” Aiko heaved a sigh, “They don’t have a very stable relationship and the fact that his father died protecting her makes him even more dislike her so he calls himself only Mallory Herring, it was his father’s name. His mother still calls him Alvin, she refuses to acknowledge that he’s named after his father.”

“I don’t think it’s right for you to tell me about other’s lives so please speak to me about yourself instead. I will one day sit down to speak with Mallory myself about the things that plague him as I wish he would listen to me speak the same.” Aiko nodded her head and blushed feeling like a gossip for having said so much.

“I have not had quite so interesting a life and no such distresses with my family…”

“But you’re the first element guardian and if you weren’t born here you must’ve been brought through from another dimension.”

“Yes I was,” Aiko looked sullen, “I was born in a place called Kyoto, Japan where I lived as a shrine priestess studying the principals of the Shinto belief system. It was on my fifteenth birthday that a beautiful man with flowing white hair dressed in all white appeared before me. I knew there was something odd about him for never have I seen one who looked as young as he did with hair so pure white. He smiled so kindly and sweetly as he kneeled before me and gently kissed my hand. I remember I blushed so red it made him laugh this sweet little giggle like the jingle of silver bells, which he wore around his wrists and ankles. He told me that he needed me and my spiritual power to maintain the fragile balance that kept chaos at bay. I thought he was just an apparition my lack of sleep that day had conjured up so I humored him and told him I’d help him. The next morning when I awoke I was no longer in Kyoto instead I was in the Draco shrine being watched over by a woman who called herself Solus Star.

“The boy I did not see again till I entered the Chamber of Elements for my trials to prove I was worthy of being an element guardian. He was there in the center of the room one half of the stone statue that is said to be the actual ones who made us what we are, in essence our parents. It angered me so, the simple sight of him that I released massive powers of fire but the room suppressed them. Solus was proud and she named me the first guardian and I spent my days all alone in the shrine till she gave birth to Mallory fifty years later.”

“You saw Mallory when he was an infant?” Aiko shook her head no, “But you said…”

“Mallory was six the first time I saw him. He was a feeble child and I feared touching him for it but Solus had left him under my care. She was too busy to take care of him since his father had died and she was left alone to protect the village as I wasn’t allowed to leave the shrine uncared for. It was terrible when I found him for she hadn’t even bothered to contact me of his arrival. I had just been sweeping the shrine when I heard a child crying and there he was in the Chamber of Elements with bloody bandages around his upper half, his eyes blood shot from crying and his back hunched over slightly as if he couldn’t hold himself upright. He wouldn’t speak to me and would scream if I tried to touch him. To this day Mallory hasn’t told me why he was standing in that room crying and staring up at the guardian spirits.”

“You’ve gone back to talking about others.”

“Oh why I have but why is it Carcer that you stop me after I finish speaking about said others? Could it be because said other is one Mallory Herring?”

“I’m sorry Aiko but I don’t think I like what you’re insinuating.”

“It’s obvious Carcer Terra that at that first moment you saw Mallory your heart skipped a beat and the Fates began to sing the tune of soul mates found.”

“The Fates don’t sing for that.”

“Don’t avoid the subject,” Aiko stepped in front of him blocking his way as they reached the gate of Floreat, “Carcer you love Mallory.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“I only want to know if we share a same pain.”

“You’re in love with Mallory?!”

“No, he’s more feminine than I am,” Aiko frowned and crossed her arms over her chest before letting out a sigh, “I’m in love with Kilian, an opposite element. We are told not to fall for an element especially your opposite.” Carcer’s thoughts went back to the promise Mallory made him say after they had kissed. He also remembered what had happened to Mallory the previous night at the hands of Kilian. His hands became tight fists at his sides and he had to hold back from telling Aiko she was in love with a dead man walking.

“Love doesn’t really follow rules so you can’t expect it to listen when you are told not to love a certain someone. Just remember this whenever you think you’re love is wrong, Amor est vitae essentia.”

“Love is the essence of life,” Aiko repeated the words to herself and smiled, “If love is wrong than life itself would be wrong as well?”

“Precisely.” Aiko smiled wide and grabbed hold of Carcer’s hand dragging him with her, “I know this woman who sells many sweets that Mallory adores and since you love him I’ll help you snag him. Tip number one I’ll give you Mallory has a major sweet tooth, he’ll drop anything he’s doing for some sweets and do anything to have them.”

“I think this might be cheating but all is far in love and war.”

“Precisely,” Aiko giggled and Carcer chuckled feeling like he had just earned himself a sister without the whole mess of needing to protect her.

When they returned to the shrine they found it completely quite so silently crept around to look into the rooms. In Kilian’s bedroom they found Julia and Kisho fast asleep snuggled up into one another with only their own hair as a blanket. Aiko smiled down at them and reached for a blanket tucking the two in while Carcer watched her. He could see she was soft for the two children and it was understandable with how innocent both were. They looked into Mallory’s room next finding the wind guardian slightly hovering over the floor with his legs crossed and eyes wide open as Augustus clipped his hair. Aiko tried not to laugh seeing how Augustus tensed up at the sound of her clapping her hands and dropped the scissors causing Mallory to break out of the trance he was in. Mallory grinned when he looked up at them and made a hushing sound while pointing over to Julius who slept peacefully on Mallory’s bed.

“Mallory, dear, are you aware that your son has just clipped your hair so more than half of it is above your shoulders yet some falls down to your waist?” Mallory looked at his hair and took hold of the longer strands bringing them up to his eyes. He ran a hand through the rest of his hair and looked at Aiko still grinning.

“Augustus is a good hair stylist, I like it!” this made Augustus jump with joy and throw his small arms around his father.

“They’re both so strange,” Aiko shook her head, “I’m going to bed, Oyasumi.”

“Yeah Oha sue me to you too Aiko,” she shook her head again and gave a kiss on the cheek to each of the older males then pulled Augustus into a big hug that made him groan in annoyance. She only laughed and walked away leaving Carcer and Mallory alone with Augustus who was dancing around the room.

“Don’t you think Augustus should be in bed by now?” the small boy stopped his bouncing at hearing that waiting for his father’s response.

“Are you sleepy Augustus?” he turned his head to his father’s direction at hearing his voice. The sound of Julius soft snoring made him direct his eyes back at the bed and he nodded his head making his white hair bounce around his small face. “Then we go night night.” Mallory scooped up Augustus and twirled him around a bit then hugged him tight.

“Good night to the two of you then,” Carcer made to leave but Mallory grabbed his hand as Augustus raised his head a bit knowing something was going on.

“You stay with us too,” Mallory smiled and leaned in to place a fleeting kiss on Carcer’s lips, “There’s enough room.” Carcer was hesitant but agreed and allowed Mallory to lead him to the bed. Augustus was placed down beside Julius who gave a whimper in his sleep when he was pulled more to the left of the bed. Augustus put Julius’ arms around him so he was like a teddy bear for the older boy who rubbed his face in Augustus’ white hair. Mallory lay down with his head on Carcer’s chest listening to the much younger male’s heart beat.

“Ad hominem,” Mallory whispered the words softly and Carcer made a sound of curiosity, “You appeal to the urges of my heart and body but my mind tells me that this is not wise. My attraction to you, ad hominem.”

“I guess trying to buy you with sweets is meaningless now.”

“You have candy?” Mallory seemed excited and moved away pushing Carcer to fetch the sweets while staring at him impatiently. Carcer laughed and pulled a small bag out of his pocket holding it in front of Mallory. “Gimme gimme.” Carcer purposely opened the bag slowly and Mallory started whimpering.

“You’ll have to take it from me,” Carcer popped one of the candies into his mouth and Mallory took the bait faster than he had expected. The wind element sat over him licking the candy in Carcer’s mouth trying to take it into his own. Carcer kept pulling the candy back so Mallory couldn’t take it away but the wind element was persistent. He deepened the kiss trying to reach further for it with his tongue catching the candy and pulling back with it. Carcer licked his lips as he stared up at Mallory sucking on the strawberry flavored treat.

“It’s yummy,” Mallory sat back so his behind was on the bed between Carcer’s open legs, “Can I have more?”

“If you can take it from me.”

“You’re going to try and play this game all night aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Carcer grinned wickedly and Mallory leaned down giving Carcer a peck on the lips while dragging one hand up Carcer’s bare side. He gave him another kiss this time longer and continued moving his hand up. Carcer wasn’t paying much attention to Mallory’s hand as he was enjoying the strawberry taste of Mallory’s mouth. Mallory snatched the bag of sweets and ran to a side of the room looking into it as Carcer came after him.

“That’s not fair.”

“Candy good, candy mine,” Mallory shoved the bag into his robes and though Carcer was tempted to fish inside them to get the candy back he didn’t do it.

“I did buy it for you.”

“Mallory thanks the Carcer,” it made Carcer laugh to hear how childish Mallory was but as the wind element placed his lips on his once again Carcer was reminded Mallory was no child, “Mallory wants to sleep now does Carcer promise he won’t leave for the entire night?”

“You want me to stay here?”

“Every night.”

“What? Why?”

“Please just say you will,” Mallory placed his hands flat on Carcer’s chest while looking at him with hopeful gray eyes, “Just don’t leave this one alone with his visions.”

“All right I’ll stay.”

“Promise Mallory you will stay all night, every night and maybe sometimes in the day so that I may finally sleep.”

“I promise,” Mallory seemed satisfied with the answer and kissed the tip of Carcer’s nose.

“You will not leave while Mallory sleeps?”

“No I won’t leave your side at all for the entire time you sleep.”

“Mallory could be in love with you,” Carcer smiled and moved back to the bed with Mallory in his arms. He ran his fingers through Mallory’s newly cut white hair while listening to Mallory hum to himself. It was only a few minutes before the wind element fell asleep for the first time in two hundred forty years. Carcer stared at his face seeing it actually at peace made him smile and drift off into dreamless slumber.