Commentary (1)

It has been too long since I last posted. College and all that is a pain, combine that with having to look out for relatives making blog posts and writing in general slipped my mind. But I decided that posting just chapters of the book is stupid, especially since I am frequently updating them, changing wording, or adding new ideas to it, in fact just the other day I undertook a rewriting of the first chapter itself around a simpler concept while also correcting grammar. So instead I think I will just give commentary about chapters, ideas that it will go in, chapter progress I find writing my thoughts like that to be more natural, something I learned from all the papers I have to write.

So what do I intend to do with this story? What is the idea backing it?

I intend to write a story that alters history in many ways, yet at the same time much of the world remains the same. Did the Confederacy win the American Civil War? No. Did both the World Wars happen? Yes. Did both of them end in the exact same way and time? Yes. Did the British Empire conquer India? Yes. Did the Russian Revolution occur and did the Bolsheviks win? Yes. Did Communism fall in eastern Europe? Yes. So on and so forth, greater history itself was not changed but rather moved to accommodate the anomaly and continue on with the alteration of history riding along with it.

As for what is backing it I would say ideals, nostalgia, and dreams of a different time. I have a fondness for old things and for history itself so it drives it.

So what is Hiketes?

Hiketes is three things. It is an island positioned in the North Atlantic that does not exist in our own world and thus is part of this world similar to our own yet unique in many of its own ideas. If one had to compare size it would be relatively close to Jamaica but less populated by quite a margin and is not a popular tourist destination.

The second thing it is the last territory of the Roman Empire, the last refuge if you will. It is there that the Roman people fled to when Constantinople fell in 1453. "Ah,but that is not the Roman Empire, that is the Byzantine Empire" one might say. That is both correct yet incorrect, while many people call it the Byzantine Empire, for Constantinople was once called Byzantium, it had never really gone by that name and instead they called themselves Romans. So it is the Roman Empire to them, the Eastern Roman Empire. Therefore while everything is obviously is written in English would be said in Greek, even the name of Hiketes is a Greek word. Thus occasionally Greek words will be mixed in with what they said with certain contexts, such as titles.

The third thing I prefer to keep to myself to be revealed later.

How many chapters do you intend for there to be?

Simply put I intend for this to be a multi-book thing. I honestly don't expect it to be profitable but I want to write it since I do have a series of ideas in my head. Consider it an attempt at writing something I enjoy. So I can say for the first book and the next few it will be capped at ten chapters. I don't know how many pages there will be and I have a strong suspicion that they will vary.

Progress Report

I intend for most posts to include a progress report about how the chapters are going. Note these are just my estimates and even if they say "100%" they are still open to alteration and change.
Prologue: 100% Complete
Chapter 1: 100% Complete
Chapter 2: 85% Complete
Chapter 3: 50% Complete

Notable quote:  “The inside can hide many things. Only God, in all His wisdom, knows what we truly hide. And I think it is better that way.”-Valerius

Chapter Discussion 1

Evening all, now the writing on chapter two has been unfortunately delayed due to sheer size and details I wanted to write in it. So I decided to make a post over something else. Simple talk about some concepts, basic facts, or maybe some questions that may pop up is all I mostly aim to talk about in this post. Actually now that I think about it I may make one after every complete chapter post.

So to start off with, and I know some people are or may think of this but most would assume that fraternal twins wouldn't look nearly identical especially if they are opposite sex so that raises a couple eyebrows about Valerius and his sister Adina and their description. Well it is not exactly that surprising in some cases if they look nearly identical if they both take after one of their parents heavily in the looks department. Some children take very much after one parent while very little from the other after all. Of course since they have developed since then the similarity is still there but you can clearly tell who is who.

So how does magic work in this then? I am sure that is a question that will come up given how there must be a logic to it Well good question in this case I can say that it is genetic but it is something a bit more than that, literally magic is part of their genetic makeup and they tap into their own genes to power it. Literally a Magi is both a human and at the same time it is not that of a human, truly outside of it.

Does their use of magic cost them anything? No not really just their power is determined by how strong their magic genes are, of course simple genetics are not just enough it must be refined through skill and training.

So about Adina and her illness some questions would be raised. Such as can Adina use magic if her brother can? Well she shouldn't be able to I can say that much, she has been sheltered from that world by her brother after all. What is her illness anyway? Well lets just say it is genetic and is an illness some magi can come down with if certain things do not happen.

Grey hair on people so young? Well it is uncommon but there are some conditions that does make someone's hair turn grey young so it is not unheard of.

So since the word Romans is used one would assume these people are from the Roman Empire. Yes indeed but at the same time not exactly as you picture it. That will be elaborated more next chapter, including some basic aspects of them.

So what time period is this? Modern.

Other basic facts

• The drinking age is 16 but really what goes along in your house stays in your house
• Everyone is conscripted at the age of 17 unless they are exempt from it, such as Adina and those people are identified by wearing white uniforms, after the period ends they follow a reservist system but most people still openly wear their uniforms. 
• the age of marriage is 16 if both parents approve of the union or 17 otherwise.
• Their school is a military one.
• The national religion is the Eastern Orthodox Church more specifically the Greek branch.

That is all for this Chapter's discussion. I hope this has made things more interesting for all of you. If you have any questions not answered please post them below, though forgive me if I say "It will be elaborated on in another chapter."

The Magi of Hiketes Chapter 1 (Part 2/End of Chapter)

Author's Note: Part 1

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  The hours fly by and business is fairly decent. Since the shop doubles as a cafe, as well as being part of my home, I normally get a good crowd but it can be boring so I tend to read the paper often while waiting. After a while the door opens and Constantine walks in holding the hand of a young child who can't be any more than five. “Well I couldn't get all of them Valerius but I brought Cyril.”

  I immediately brighten up placing my paper on the counter. “Ah Constantine. Let me get you two to a table.” I lead them over to a table and ask. “Now what do you two want?”

  “Coffee. As strong as you can.” Constantine replies.

  “Can I have some rock candy please?” Cyril asks.

  “Ask your grandfather.” I reply smiling.

  “Can I grandfather?” Cyril asks him.

  “Anything you want my boy.” Constantine says smiling.

  “Very well. One rock candy and some coffee. I'll be right back.” I step into the back room. "Now if I remember right Cyril likes cherry the best." I mutter to myself as I prepare the coffee. After that's done I take out a stick and concentrate on it until the stick is almost completely covered with rock candy. “Ah the benefits of magic.” I remark taking the coffee and the rock candy out. “One coffee and one rock candy.” I tell them.

  “Yay!” Cyril cheers bringing a smile to the face of everyone here.

I pull up a chair and tell my customers. “If anyone needs anything I will be sitting here.” I get a few nods so I ask Cyril. “So why aren't you in school Cyril?”

  Cyril licking his rock candy nods at his grandfather who tells me. “He was just released from the hospital today, a few days back he came down with the flu but now he is better.”

  “Right. Apologies I had completely forgotten about that. You feeling alright Cyril?” He nods again. “Good. Living a healthy life is a gift you should never take for granted.” I can tell my face has grown sadder since my thoughts turned to Adina.

  “Anyway.” Constantine says changing the subject. “You seem to be getting good business as usual.”

  “Let me tell you Constantine with the amount of uniforms I get in here on a regular basis I wouldn't be surprised if my shop was considered a military target in the event of an invasion.”

  That gets a hearty laugh from everyone present, no one can deny that it is true since well over half the people in the room are in uniform. “‘The Battle of the Solomon Family Candy Store and Cafe’ I can just see it now!” Constantine remarks laughing even more along with my customers.

  I laugh more and pat Cyril on the head. “And this one would be my second in command! That is if his grandfather approves.”

  “Take him.” Constantine laughs. “I am sure he would do our refuge proud.”

  “As all of our children would!” A customer exclaims earning a hearty amen from everyone present.

  “Indeed.” I say quietly. "Remember Cyril: your duty to Hiketes, to our refuge, is something you must never forsake. No matter what you are Roman first with all that implies. We scarcely avoided the mindless destruction by heathens that took the Old Empire and it is only by God's Grace that we were able to not only survive but thrive.”

  A grim mood descends upon us and everyone just resumes drinking their coffee or alcohol, or eating. Constantine then claps his hands. “Cheer up everyone. Our people are alive another day and the Empire's memory still lives on thanks to that.” There are some sober nods.

  I sigh. “Constantine you are one of the nicest men I know but you are terrible at brightening up the mood.” I then pat Cyril on the head. “Don’t worry though everyone. Brave young men like Cyril here will protect us.”

  There is some laughs and one customer, Michael Ulik, chimes in "Well if he can't protect this place I'm certain all of your customers will be able to keep this place nice and safe. Your store has been around for generations and I think you will see that such a thing pays off in customer loyalty.”

  “Quite so.” Constantine says with a glimmer in his eye amid all the amens from all of the customers, man and woman alike. “I remember old Aharon Solomon. If I had to describe him it would be he looks a lot like Valerius but much older and with a long beard. Now that man was probably the most honest man you could ever meet, also like Valerius. Kind to all of us children and gave us sweets for free whenever he met us on the street. I always found it strange though that he had just what we wanted handy."

 I don't give the reason why, that he was an Olderen Magi, but then a customer chimes in. "If you are calling him old Constantine the man must be ancient."

 “Oh he was old when I was little.” Constantine says. “How is he related to you again Valerius?”

  “He was my great-great-grandfather.” I reply immediately.

  Constantine groans slightly at hearing that. “I must be ancient if I remember Sarah's grandfather.”

  “Well you and grandmother would be about the same age if she was still alive.” I reply dryly.

  “True.” Constantine nods seeming to be a bit sorry he brought the topic up.

  “Though I must ask.” Michael inquires. “Why is he Sarah's grandfather when his last name is Solomon?”

  “Grandmother married her cousin, my grandfather Theodosius. Therefore they have the same grandfather and same last name.” I answer. “Arranged marriages often work like that after all.”

  “Regardless. Your family has made friends with most children who have lived here for generations. It is the main reason why we come here.” Constantine says and everyone nods to that.

  “And I am thankful for that. If it wasn't for everyone's continued patronage me and Adina wouldn't be able to keep living here.”

  For the next couple hours I mostly make small talk with Constantine and then I look at the clock and tell my customers. “Well I need to go and pick up Adina in a few minutes. If anyone has anything can they take it to go?” The customers nod and leave but I stop Constantine and Cyril. “Wait here one moment.” I walk to the back room and take out an empty large ice cream tub and fill it with vanilla ice cream that I conjure. “Ah magic. The source of life for us.” I walk back out and hand the tub to Constantine. “A get well gift for Cyril.”

  “Tsk, Valerius, at this rate you and your sister will spoil my grandchildren more than I do.” Constantine says clearly amused after he sees the glint in Cyril’s eyes.

  I shrug my shoulders. “Ah well, then they will be spoiled rotten. Now I need to get going. See you soon.” When they leave I slip back into my uniform and grab my umbrella and head to the school to find Adina sitting on a bench under a canopy. “You ready?” I ask her extending my hand to her.

  She looks at me. “So you actually did come instead of wandering off.” She says taking my hand.

  “Of course I did. Do you honestly expect any different from me?” I ask as I extend my arm to her for her to hold after I pull her to her feet.

  “Not really no.” She replies wrapping her arm around mine as we walk together.

  We keep walking through the crowd and of course I keep getting looks either because I went missing again or because I am walking arm and arm with my sister, though everyone will admit that both are fairly common occurrences, with the arm and arm one being every weekday. “So how was class?” I ask her.

  “Well since I actually went to school arm in arm with you everyone noticed you were awake and walking so I was bombarded with questions." She says sourly.

  “Sorry about that Sis.”

  “Well Kristina and Iria were particularly probing. They wouldn't leave me alone about it.”

  “I suppose I should be touched Kristina was concerned about me. Although that is very out of character for her.”

  “Why is that? You two are friends right?"

  “Partners is a better term. Amicable co workers might be the best term for our relationship. Or perhaps master and servant could work best. Though legally it is advisor and advised.”

  “I see. Regardless there are plenty of rumors about you two since you being made her advisor back when we were sixteen was such a surprise.”

  “And I am content with ignoring those rumors. As should you.” I remark in a slightly annoyed tone. “She was legally obligated to appoint an advisor soon and she decided to settle on me.”

  “Very well. And needless to say since you were away the male students decided to try asking me out again.”

  “Why would me being there stop them from asking you out?” I ask curiously.

  “Oh I don't know.” She rolls her eyes. “Maybe because how protective you are of me is well known. And the fact that since you are the Deputy Head Disciplinarian of Disciplinary Committee means you are always carrying a pistol.”

  “There is that.” I admit nodding my head. “But, if I may speak as your older brother by a couple minutes, you are still a good girl to have someone who truly wanted to date you to ignore me.”

  “There was one who tried that. Due to me being on the Disciplinary Committee as well I simply threatened to shoot him because he tried to force things.” She says nonchalantly.

  I chuckle. “Father would be proud. Needless to say don't tell me who tried to force you into things otherwise they will wind up dead by the next day."

  She smiles and laughs a little. “You really are Mother's son.”

  “Good, one of us had to take after that force of nature that Mother was. I only wish they could have seen us grow up more.”

  “Yeah. But needless to say I turned everyone down.”

  “Why? If you wanted to you could get a boyfriend easily. You are a good woman, devout in your faith, good at housework and you are 17 and now an adult after all. Plus since our parents never arranged a marriage for you that means you are free to date whoever you please.”

  “Well why haven't you ever had a girlfriend?” She counters. “I know several girls who have asked me to introduce them to you after they heard that you were not in an arranged marriage. That you and Kristina is easily your best friend despite what you say.”

  “I am just not interested. Besides.” I pause in thought on how I should word it. “I am far too busy looking out for you, and attending to my other duties, to have a relationship. “Plus with Kristina’s position she will have a husband chosen for her in time so I have little desire to become a source of an affair for her. She is destined for it.” That is what I tell her but in my head I add. Because a relationship, if it proceeds far enough, means my kids will probably have magic which means this farce will have to continue. The Olderen is a lost cause without wanting to repopulate it anyway. God, the one who gave us magic, has forsaken us and thus our death is only the right thing, it is the judgement of God and His divine justice.

  “But you shouldn't…”

  “Weight myself down with you? Weigh myself down with my duty?” I ask cutting her off. “I do this by choice and I take the choice gladly. Trust me Sis. It isn't a burden in any way.”

  “I disagree but regardless. I turn everyone down because they just are not interesting. Or they are just interested in my appearance, though I don't look impressive or anything if you ask me. Such relationships of the flesh are pointless because it withers and lacks the dedication to God one should seek in one. But there are a couple other problems.” She says in thought.

  “Your life expectancy.” I reply knowing her thoughts better than some.

  “There is that, it’s hard to maintain a relationship when you can wind up in the hospital next week.” She admits. “There are a couple other reasons but suffice to say no one interesting or someone who looks beyond appearances is available.”

  “Well it saves me from having to commit murder, though I admit I could probably get away with it.” I joke. “So beyond the harassment that is obviously my fault is there anything else that happened today?”

  “Kristina will be wanting an explanation, Instructor Nikolaos sends his regards, and I have your make up work in our locker. Also I had to break up several fist fights together with Kristina and Flavia. Something about one being suspected of stealing from the other.”

  “Very well. I trust you weren't injured breaking them up?”

  “No I wasn't. They gave up as soon as Flavia hit them with the butt of her rifle and calmly threatened to stab them if they didn’t knock it off or threatened Disciplinary Committee members again.”

  “Good. Flavia is that sort of dependable girl after all. And yes she would have done it if Kristina or myself allowed it.” I unlock the door to the shop and escort her in. “Now I will keep the shop open for a while. You should go and rest.”

  “But I want to help.” She complains as per usual.

  “Listen Sis, as I have always said I want you to leave everything to me. My job is to take care of you after all.”

  “Some days I want to help you.” She mutters as she heads in. “I am of age too.”

  “True you are seventeen just like me but let me tend to things. Mother, Father, Grandmother, and Grandfather would never forgive me if something happened if I let you push yourself. In fact I could never face them on the other side if it did.” I tell her as I head in.

  “Fine.” She grumbles and heads upstairs.

  “Please just let me take care of you.” I mutter to myself. “I want you to live a life where you do not need to struggle. Let this become my purpose”

  After the a few hours I close up the shop and have dinner with Adina. As always it is a quiet affair. The table is an old, long, wooden one and large enough to hold ten people, if you count at both heads of the table where me and Adina sit across from each other, much like our parents did. The dinner is candlelit and we mostly eat it quietly. It is a good meal of cooked salmon and we wash it down with a couple glasses of phouska. “It is strange to suddenly be able to drink.” Adina remarks to me after lifting a piece of food to her mouth.

  “Indeed. Things do change in strange ways when one becomes an adult." I reply. “But be sure not to drink too much. A lot of alcohol is bad for your health after all.”

  “I know.” She tells me taking a sip from her glass and makes a face. “Still far too sour for me unless I am eating something.”

  “It is sour yes.” I freely admit. “But I have developed a taste for it. It isn't that bad when you get used to it. Though if you don’t I suppose we can get another brand for our meals.” After I finish eating my meal I read the bible on the table and wait for Adina to finish. “Excellent meal as always.” I tell her as I do every night and we wash our own dishes.

  “You let me cook the meals for the family but nothing else. How does that make sense?” She grumbles.

  “It doesn't. But I know I can’t convince you to not cook or do anything else. I want you to relax while I handle everything, I am the oldest after all.” She starts to make a face so I add to it to cheer her up. “But I must say Sis, you have become as nearly good of a cook as Mother was.”

  She smiles at the praise I give her. “Thanks and so are you.”

“Anytime and thanks. I am sure Mother would be proud given the amount of time she took to teach us how to cook.” We put our dishes in the sink to wash later and I give Adina her nightly medicine, and go up up to my room where I light a candle and clasp my hands together in silent prayer as I do every night, it is a simple prayer for the safety of our refuge and the health of my sister but it is one I can’t sleep without doing. After I finish I change onto my night clothes and climb into bed. I stare at the ceiling and ask myself. “Dreams are the window to a Magi’s soul. So why cannot I dream?” It is a question I know to be in vain. I haven't dreamed in years and no answer has been forthcoming so I slip into oblivion.

The Magi of Hiketes Chapter 1 (Part 1)

Author's note: I had decided to split this one up into two parts due to sheer length. Enjoy and give your thoughts if interested. Part 2

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Thus I, the Patriarch of the Olderens, call upon you...

“Valerius.” I wake up to a familiar voice saying my name.

  “What?” I mumble and open my eyes taking in the sight of my bedroom and the girl sitting on a chair next to my bed wearing a pure white dress to her ankles with long, straight, grey hair down to her waist. “What?”

  “Don't you 'what' me.” She says in an upset tone. “You had me worried sick.”

  “You already are sick Adina.” I grumble pulling the blanket over my head.

  “You know what I mean!” She yells at me for my disinterest. “You were missing for two days!”

  “It has been so long?” I ask not exactly surprised. "Not exactly my record but okay. Work is work after all.”

  “Except Kristina or the others had no clue where you were and we found you unconscious out in the hills!” She yells at me again.

  “Okay that is a problem.” I admit coming awake.

  “Exactly and what if you stayed missing?” She asks me lowering her voice.

  “Don't worry, Sis. I will take care of you for the rest of my life, even if I am dead I still will.” I smile cheerfully trying to make light of her concerns.

  “Doesn't matter.” She tells me. “If something happened to you...”

  “Yes I do know that.” I then think. I don't want her in a hospital after all. Giving her a normal life away from magic and enduring of sickness is important to me and part of my promise to father.

  “Valerius are you listening to me?” Adina asks cutting off my thoughts.

  “Huh? Yeah I am.” I reply absentmindedly.

  “Well don't go disappearing on me again. I don't know if my body can take it.” She grumbles.

  “No promises. You know I have so much on my plate.” I say while getting up.  “Now then for my first and foremost duty. Stay seated.”

  “At least you bounce back quickly.” She grumbles.

  “I have to in order to maintain the four or so jobs I have.” I remark and I stoop down.  “Now sit still.” I place my hand against her forehead and leave it there and look into a set of eyes that are just like mine. Really we are so very similar. I think to myself. Our features are nearly exactly the same, minus Adina's long hair and the fact that she has a bust, even our heights are the same. In fact when we were younger the differences were so minimal the difference between fraternal and identical twins had to be explained, and we had to explain that fraternal twins who look so similar is an extreme rarity, though maybe it is just due to our family. Even our hair is still the same grey color though, due to our isolation, it is not uncommon that our hair turns grey while we’re young we both wound up being completely grey by two years ago.

  “Are you done yet?” Adina asks interrupting my thoughts.

  “Hm? Oh.” I take my hand off her forehead.  “No fever thank God.” I then go to a cabinet in my room and take out various medicines.  “Now for your medicine. Take out the pills you need while I get some water.” I head down stairs and return with a glass of water.  “Hmmm... Very good” I say examining the pills she has taken out.  “Here's your water.”

  “I have taken this medicine for long enough to know the dosages I need.” She grumbles as she starts swallowing her pills.

  “Perhaps.” I take out a syringe and some medicine to put in it. “But I like to be sure.” I say filling the syringe up and, after she rolls up one of the sleeves on her dress, wipe her arm with disinfectant.

  “Ow.” She winces after I put the needle in.

  “Sorry, Sis.” I apologize. "At least that is the last time you need to get an injection.”

  “Until my condition gets worse.” She grumbles.

  “It is rude to grumble, Sis.” I say cheerfully as I dispose of the syringe.  “Please just stay positive.”

  “My condition hasn't gotten any better no matter how much medicine I take and you know it.”

  “Doesn't matter as long as there is life there is hope.” I say to her as I put up her medicine.

  “You don't believe a word you just said.” She mumbles.

  “As long as your heart still beats you can still fight.” I tell her ignoring what she just mumbled.  “So fight.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do say it and I do mean it. So fight. Fight your hardest and fight until there is no breath left in your body.”

  “Is that what you yell at the others during drills?” She asks rolling her eyes.

  “Of course not. Probably should though but I think Instructor Nikolaos has that one covered. But I mean it. Your illness is the enemy, and you must fight your enemy with all you have, it is natural.”

  “I understand.” She says but I have a feeling she is just saying that to drop the topic.

  “Good now you had best be getting ready for school. I am taking today off to make up for business lost due to all that has happened.”

  “Fine.” She leaves to get ready.

  “Two days…” I whisper.  “What happened two days ago?” I try to remember but I can't, but instinct tells me that magic was involved and that unsettles me, it is extremely hard for magic to cause a trained Magi to forget something.  “Ah well. All secrets reveal themselves with time.” I get dressed in my school uniform, a military uniform in all actuality, pull on my boots, put my cap on, and head down to the shop below our home to wait for Adina and conjure up some apples for the both of us into a bowl on the table. I then conjure up a bag that is commonly used to hold apples and lay it on the table “Never let it be said that one can be too cautious with a facade.” I mutter to myself as I grab my  greatcoat from the wall

  Adina comes down stairs in her pure white military uniform, but otherwise in the same style since the white only denotes her status, and takes an apple from the bowl and I look out the window.  “Looks like it will rain a lot today.” She remarks.

  “Seems so.” I remark grabbing an umbrella and a cane, the latter of which I hand to Adina  “Come on, Adina.”

  “One sec.” She says as she slips on her own greatcoat and grabs the cane  “Okay let’s go.” We walk outside and I hold out my arm and she looks around a little apparently embarrassed  “Really? Do I have to?”

  “Yes.” I sternly reply "I am walking you to school after all.”

  “I have my cane.” She grumbles as she locks arms with me.

  “Don't care.” I open the umbrella and hold it over us.  “My most important job is to take care of you so I will do all I can. Even if it embarrasses you.” I then mutter  “Even if it kills me.”

  “What was that last part?” She asks

  “Nothing.” I lie. “Just talking to myself.”

  She raises an eyebrow  “Okay then. Can I ask you another question?”

  “Shoot. We have plenty of time after all.”

  “Why are you holding the umbrella like that?” She asks

  “Like what?” I ask tilting my head

  “Please brother, I am sick not blind. Anyone can tell that part of you is sticking out in the rain.”

  “Oh that. And?”

  “Why are you doing that? I am wearing a greatcoat after all.”

  “Don't worry, greatcoats work great in the rain. Though even if I wasn't wearing one they make our uniforms very thick, they were designed after the Russian uniforms of what foreigners call the First World War after all. If they worked in Russian winters they will work here.”

  “That completely avoided my problem, you are still letting yourself get wet.” She complains to me.

  “I don't care too much if I get wet. I just want to keep you healthy and I know every little bit helps”

  We walk in silence for a few minutes, moving through a crowd of other students most of them carrying umbrellas and some even walking in the streets, but when we get to the school's entrance she tells me before parting. “The way you behave at times makes me wonder if you are even alive. You haven't been the same since grandfather died when we were little and even more so after father died. What happened to make things change?”

  I don't answer and I tell her “See you when school is over.” I then turn around to walk away.

  She frowns a little and a few more students come up to her and a girl says “Morning Adina, your brother not attending today?” It is hard to hear over the crowd but actually I think that may be Flavia, but I need to return to my shop so I don't pay attention and keep walking away.

  Even as I do I feel Adina staring at my back  “No not today.” She answers  “He will tomorrow.”

  “He doesn't attend school extremely often yet he walks you too and from every day. He really does care a lot about you.” Another girl tells her says.

  I sadly smile as I keep walking and I hear Adina's last remarks  “Yeah but I wish he would take care of himself more.”

  I sigh as I keep walking  “Who cares anymore? When I die it will mark the end of the Tribe of Olderen that is a fact and one I have grown to live with. For now I must do everything I can to take care of her to uphold my promise. That is all I have left to give to this world.. Adina... there is no need to worry about me. I just want you to live a life I can never have, a life of peace. Rather than the life of battle, of fear, of hiding that I have had to endure for so long. I can give you a normal life. That is all I can give you as both a Magi and a brother.”

  I keep walking down the street and move into a crowd of people. Some are students heading for the school, a few among them I recognize but I ignore them when they call out to me, and I move towards home. Due to the rain most people are walking instead of riding their horses, a simple fact that comes from me observing almost no horses on the streets and plenty of people on the sidewalk.  “Morning Valerius.” I hear a familiar voice from behind me.

  I stop in my tracks and turn around to an old man in the same uniform as mine, wearing a fedora hat and with a neatly trimmed grey beard, and he is holding an umbrella.  “Ah, Constantine.” I say in a familiar tone with a smile. “Good morning.”

  “If it wasn't for this rain it would be.” He grumbles as he falls in step with me.

  “It isn't that bad.” I reply smiling faintly at my frequent companion.

  “Well I will admit it is better than a full scale storm but rain normally doesn't sit well with me.”

  “Well you have said that the cold that comes with it is a bit hard on your bones.”

  “Quite so. Yet I love my walks so rain or shine I need to take one.”

  “Well it is good because on some days it allows us to walk together and have a chat.”

  “Agreed. You are one of the few who are actually willing to sit down and talk with an old man so I rather enjoy it.”

  “You did do a lot for me when I was younger.”

  “You're a good kid Valerius and Sarah was an old friend so I couldn't help it. Besides you and your sister were some of this old man's best students.”

  “Oh come on Constantine, you are an excellent violin teacher but you aren't that old.” I say kindly.

  He chuckles “Excuse me? I would like to remind you that I have a granddaughter your age. And eighteen other grandchildren younger than her.”

  “Well maybe most people would call that old. I don't though.” I comment in a kind tone. Though I wish his oldest granddaughter would stop hitting on me in front of other people. I think in my head. It gets to be annoying since I am working most of the time when I see her.

  “You are often too kind Valerius. Yet at the same time you try to detach yourself from anything not concerning your sister.” He sighs and takes out a pipe. “Hold my umbrella real quick.”

  “Not everything.” I reply holding his umbrella while he lights his pipe.

  “Of course there is your shop and you other duties to the government, and to Lady Kristina, but your sister takes up a great deal of your focus.” He says taking his umbrella back.

  “Of course she does. You know her condition.”

  “Yes I do. She seems perfectly healthy on the outside but she is a perfect example of the fact that you never truly know what is hidden on the inside.”

  “The inside can hide many things. Only God, in all His wisdom, knows what we truly hide. And I think it is better that way.” I answer and we just walk in silence musing over those words.

  We reach an intersection and Constantine says to me. “Well I need to get going. See you around.”

  “See you Constantine. Be sure to bring your grandchildren around when you can. We always enjoy having them.”

  “I will." He promises and he tips his hat to me and walks away in a different direction. “Take care, Valerius.”

  “You too.” I stare at his back for a few seconds and walk away smiling a little “It is good to see he is doing well in his age. A pity he will have to die one day.” My smile turns sad “Death and life are everyone’s companions after all.”

  Someone walks past me on the street and I hear a female voice, nearly a whisper on the air, something that could easily be mistaken as the wind. “Such a pity Valerius.” I turn around but she keeps walking away her umbrella blocking her head with the only thing I can see is her grey hair.

  “Probably just one of my customers, can't tell who she is due to the grey hair for young people being fairly common.” I mutter “I need to be more careful.” I continue to walk home. “After all maintaining an illusion requires as few slip ups as possible.” I unlock the door to my store, I put up my umbrella, change into my work clothes, and grab my apron. “Now to today's work.”