drawnbythesword | 18 [Action/Accidental Voice]

18 [Action/Accidental Voice]

[Action]

[Richard had missed out on many of the simple pleasures one would enjoy in life, and so, at times, he would come to Asbel to indulge in those pleasures.

Now is one such time, as he had pleaded with Asbel to come with him to the playground in Luceti. You know, the one situated near the school? The young man had wanted to go to the playground, but one does not simply play on the playground, especially by themselves. They need a playmate!

And so these two grown men are attempting to play on the playground, on attractions not really for people of their size. Swings, a slide, jungle gym, you name it. Feel free to catch them at the playground if you like.]

[Accidental Voice]

[At one such point during their adventures on the playground, Asbel's journal falls to the ground, opening up and recording a conversation between the two.]

Richard, you need to push harder than that. You're barely getting me up!

I thought I told you that this was my first time doing this, Asbel.

I know that, but I didn’t think you’d be this bad at it!

It isn’t exactly my fault that you’re so heavy, you know.

H-hey, I don’t weigh much more than you do.

Perhaps we should change positions...

Do you really think that’ll work?

It might be worth a try.

Ahh... Alright. I guess I should get off, then. …W-wait, Richard, don’t move! I can’t hold on anymore! [A loud crash as something heavy hits the ground.]

Asbel! Are you all right?

[A little dazed, but not too bad off.] Y... Yeah, I’m fine. [He tries to get back to his feet, brushing the journal shut with his hand as he moves.

The seesaw is a cruel mistress.]

((ooc: Dualpost with Asbel and Richard! Asbel is red and Richard is green. One or both may reply to responses!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Because of the Knight Academy? It did seem like a rather strict place.

[He smiles a little, turning to Asbel.]

When I returned to Barona, I would sometimes sneak down to go see it for myself, but... I could never work up the courage to ask to see you.

Yeah... The headmaster wasn't exactly one for "fun and games".

[Asbel turns his attention to Richard once he notices Richard looking at him.]

Couldn't you have just summoned me to the castle instead? [Granted, Asbel has no idea if Richard could have done that, since he was just a cadet, or if a cadet would even be allowed in the castle on most occasions.]

[Richard is quiet, his gaze falling back down to the ground.]

I couldn't risk making you a target as well. You'd already suffered enough because of me.

[Asbel falls silent for a moment. It's hard for him to argue against it. Not because he believes that's true, but because Richard wouldn't listen to him. So instead he tries to change the subject.]

...Hey, Richard, can I ask you something?

[Richard blinks, looking back up at his friend. A part of him dreads what's coming next, even though he knows it's more than likely something completely innocent.]

Of course. What is it?

That day we met all those years ago... ...What were you really doing in Lhant that day?

[... to be honest, he's been waiting for Asbel to ask this question someday. It's a perfectly logical question: what reason would Lhant have to host just the prince and not the king, especially when Asbel was forbidden from even talking to Richard, much less playing with him? He isn't really surprised.

He takes a deep breath.]

I suppose it's time I told you the truth. My father sent me there as part of an arrangement with your father. Lord Aston... was trying to protect me from what was going on in the castle.

[After everything he'd learned about his father's relationship with the late King, not to mentioned his father's words contained in that diary, he knew exactly what Richard's was going to be. Still, he tries to look surprised, and he does a pretty good job of it. Learning about his father always hurts... To know there was a truly magnificent man behind the jerk he always was rebelling against...]

...I guess my dad was a really great man, huh?

Your father saved my life. I'm just sorry he had to lose his because of it.

[Though he may not know the exact details of what happened due to the underhanded nature of Cedric's plotting, there's little doubt that Aston's death had something to do with his uncle somehow. He wouldn't put it past the man at all.]

There's so much I never knew about him... What else do you know?

Not that much, I'm afraid. I was suspicious of him too at first, even though he was trying to help me. I couldn't help but worry that he was secretly plotting something with my uncle, like so many other people were. It wasn't until I was older that I realized the full extent of what he'd done for me.

[Okay, that line of questioning won't get him anywhere, then...]

...Did you know the significance of the ring you'd given me back then?

That ring...?

[Richard sounds a bit confused to be asked about that.]

No, I don't. It was something I stole from my father's room after he scolded me for the secret base I built in one of the castle storerooms. I never realized there was anything special about it.

[Secret base--no he needs to focus on the conversation.]

Duke Dalen explained everything to me. The fact you gave that ring to me makes me think that day we met was fated to happen, Richard.

I don't think I understand... what do you mean by that, Asbel?

Well... you know my father was a trusted friend of your father, right?

Yes, I know that the Lhants have always supported the Windor kingdom and its monarchs.

[That much is common knowledge in the castle.]

Dad was entrusted with an important heirloom of the kingdom's, a priceless sword, because of his service to Windor.

[Asbel places his hand on the scabbard of the blade, because he always has it.]

[Richard's eyes widen slightly when he gets a good look at it. He's never really paid that much attention to the sword Asbel wields before for the simple fact that he's never had a reason to before now.]

That's the sword you carried with you when you were a child. You mean that rusted old blade is actually one of the kingdom's treasures?

That's right. [He gives the handle a tug, and it doesn't seem to budge from its scabbard. He removes the ring when he's not in battle.] Specifically, it's one half of a treasure.

[Now he thinks he gets it.]

... and the ring is the other half.

[Asbel nods, and then demonstrates as he places the ring into the sword's handle, thus unlocking it, as he draws it for Richard to see its restored beauty up close.]

It's known as Excalibur, the Eleth Sword. My dad refused to take the ring, choosing to leave in the hands of the King, so that he ever had to draw this sword, he would have to go to the King first.

[Richard half-reaches out to touch the sword, but stops with his fingertips a few inches from the blade, hesitating. He's not sure that it's really his place to handle it after all of the sorrow and debt that he's caused Windor.]

Your father was sworn to protect the king and the kingdom itself. He would never need the king's permission to use it in defense of Lhant or Windor. So why...?

[Asbel nods at Richard, as if to signal to him that it's okay to touch it. After all, drawing it wouldn't have been possible without Richard.]

Duke Dalen told me Dad refused the ring, feeling it was too much power for one person. But he vowed he'd retrieve the ring if the King or his people were ever in danger.

...Having held this sword in my hands, I understand why he chose to do it.

[Gently he closes the distance between the blade and his hand, just resting his fingers lightly on the cool metal. He can feel the thrum of eleth in the blade-- no wonder it's called the Eleth sword. It resonates with the faint traces of eleth left within his body, causing a strange tingling sensation; he's not sure whether it feels pleasant or just downright strange.]

The sacred sword meant to protect the kingdom...

[And then his eyes darken.]

You used it against me in our final battle, didn't you?