They were as white as snow, both of them, growing from his back like some sick weeds. The mirror reflected both of them, and they were so perfect, so sick and perfect that he felt nauseous just looking at them.
He slammed his hands into the wood of his dresser, his fingers digging into the thick mahogany. He felt so… hopeless. He hated them. Hated that damn man who had come to rip his life asunder.
“I am not going with him father, I’m staying here,” he growled, feeling his shoulders shake ,but he was unable to stop them.
Tethro reached out a hand and placed it on his son’s shoulder “, Kratos…”
“I can’t go. I have a life here. I have a home. I have a family,” he spat, attempting to go back down into the parlor and drag the man out by his collar to throw him out of the mansion and into the street, but Tethro caught him.
He found himself being spun into his father’s chest where he let go of the tight hold on his emotions to sob into the fabric of Tethro’s shirt.
“You should go with him. You’re a Valkyrie, son. Aren’t you at all curious about your people, your culture?” Tethro questioned reassuringly, rubbing circles on his son’s back.
“No. I don’t give a damn… I just want to stay and be a knight, like you,” he whimpered, feeling his wings tremble in sorrow and agony. “I want to make that man go away. I want to make these things go away.”
Tethro led his son to the bed where he sat the boy, kneeling in front of him. “You must be confused. That man said things about you that you know to not be true. He told you that, as a Valkyrie, you are incapable of outwardly expressing emotion of any sort.”
Kratos glanced away, hating to admit it to himself, but some of those things had been true. He did find it more difficult to express emotion than most, and sometimes found that a particular feeling would not come to him at all, even when his siblings felt it so strongly they sobbed or screamed in rage. Still, he did feel emotion, and in this particular instance he was both irate and doleful.
There was a knock on the door, and Tethro stood up, calling out a greeting to the person, who responded in a soft voice.
“It’s me, father, Rhuei.. I came to see if Kratos was okay…?” her voice was high, concerned, and Kratos imagined her fair brow creased with worry.
“I don’t care if they see, father… they’re my siblings, after all,” he informed Tethro, running a hand through his hair.
Tethro nodded, standing up and cracking open the heavy, wooden door “, Rhuei, dear, please go get your siblings. There’s something Kratos wants to show them.”
What seemed an eternity later his siblings stood in the room. To his great relief, none of them looked appalled at his condition. Rather, there was a mix of awe and concern etched onto each of their faces. They were probably confused, unsure what would happen now that their older brother had feathery appendages jutting from his back.
“ What happened?!” Spirutua asked him, moving forward to embrace him, her slender frame dwarfed by his broad shouldered stature.
“ I’m a Valkyrie,” he murmured, refusing to meet her eyes.
“ Did that guy do this to you?!” Aayrin spat, his impulsiveness getting the better of him once again.
Aayrin was a Terathian, a Child of the Tree. They were a rare race, one born only once in a century, so they were considered very precious by their people. Aayrin’s parents had died in the war, defending their country, and so Tethro had taken the young boy in.The Terathians were part plant, part Human, and so Aayrin had an appearance quite unlike anything else. He was fair of skin, with pitch black hair, and gently slopped ears, which long, green vines hung from. His bangs were the color of orchids, parted so that his hypnotic crimson eyes were in clear view of everyone in the room. He was tall and thin, his frame slight and delicate.
“I was already like this,” Kratos explained to him. “I just… didn’t know.”
Yuan didn’t say anything, but wore a look of intense concentration.
Rhuei exchanged a look with her father, brushing her fingers through he blonde locks of long hair, as she often did when she was nervous.
People often said that she looked like her mother had, and Kratos agreed, but she acted just like their father, whose hair she shared. Her gentle grey eyes met Kratos a moment later, and she smiled reassuringly.
“What are we going to do, Father?” Aayrin asked. “ What will Her Highness Tethe’alla think? And what about Lord Cleo of Bala and His Majesty Sylvarant? What are we going to do?”
“There has to be a way for him to hide his wings,” Yuan stated informatively. “After all, in the Faerie Tales, the Valkyrie often disguise themselves as Humans to try and interfere in Mortal Affairs.”
“But those are…” Aayrin began.
Spirutua, who still clung to Kratos, cut him off, her voice short “, Bedtime stories? Don’t be ridiculous, Aayrin. Can’t you see his wings?”
“We must assume them all to be, at the very least, based in fact,” Yuan elaborated.
“But,” Kratos muttered “, I wouldn’t even begin to know how to do something like that.”
Silence fell over the room, until the deep voice of Liam invaded his mind.
Of course you wouldn’t. You haven’t been raised according to our traditions.
It was so clear as it cut through his mind that it was almost painful, and he gasped, loosing his balance. The man had been listening in on their conversation?! Just who did he think he was?!
“Kratos?” Spirutua asked him, concern causing her voice to waver. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ll be fine… just let me sit down, please,” he told her in a gentle tone. “I think I’m just a bit overwhelmed, is all.”
Yes, I’ve been listening in. It’s my job as The Captain of The Guard back home to protect the Royal Family. I won’t stop now just because you don’t know the full privileges and responsibilities of your title. I will perform my duty, Kharlan willing.
Get our of my head!!!he gasped, his voice livid, even in thought.
I’m afraid I can’t do that. As I told you already, I’m your Guardian. It’s my job.
I don’t care! I just don’t care! Leave me alone!!!!
Silence ensued, and Kratos assumed the man was thinking. He took the opportunity to examine his family, who looked upset for him. Aayrin was going on about forcing the man, who was still down stairs in the drawing room, to leave. Spirutua agreed with him, while Yuan disagreed, stating calmly that they should try to pry information on Kratos condition from him.
They were talking about him like he was sick.
Of course they are. They don’t understand what it means to wear the proud wings of a Valkyrie upon your back. I do.
… What do you want?
I want you to come back home with me. I’m sure you don’t have to stay for the rest of your life, if you don’t want to, just until you understand what the word “Valkyrie” means. Your father still has many more thousands of years left to rule before you must take his place, and…
Thousands…?! he gasped, scarcely able to wrap his mind around those words, Just how long does a Valkyrie live?
Up to ten thousand years, though I wouldn’t expect you to know that. As I was saying, before you interrupted me… a flash of impatience flashed through his mind, I can tell you are fond of these people. Your surrogate father told me you are a quick learner. If this is really as he says, you should be able to return home by the time your brother Yuan is 22.
Really? I mean… Is that true?
Something like laughter flashed through his mind. I think that you are beginning to understand that this is something you must do, aren’t you?
Yes… but, one thing.
It was if a silent question mark had appeared in his head, and the tone of voice the man spoke to him in next was inquisitive. Yes?
When you said a Valkyrie was incapable of expressing emotion outwardly it was because they can send their emotions into the mind of other Valkyries, wasn’t it?
Yes. You jumped to conclusions. Your impulsiveness is… less than desirable in our society. Though you do have other qualities that would be appreciated. For example, your ability to relate to many other kinds of people besides yourself… and, in any case, your impulsiveness can be improved upon.
“Kratos?” Aayrin asked him, and he glanced up, having not realized that he was staring at his hands.
“Yes?”
“What do you think about this guy? What are you going to do?” Aayrin asked him, obviously hoping his rage would get the better of him.
“I…,” he trailed off, meeting Tethro’s eyes.
His father smiled encouragingly, warmly, at him. He knew that, no matter what he chose, his father would support him. He stood, allowing his wings to fan out so that their full wingspan was revealed. He looked at himself in the mirror, examining them again. Somehow, they didn’t look quite as menacing this time, instead, they looked almost… noble.
“I’ve been doing some thinking… and I think I’m going to accept the offer that Liam made me. I’m going to go with him.”
His family, with the exception of his father and Yuan, looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. At the same time, a jolt of unexpected joy, mixed with a little relief, passed through him, and he knew that was Liam’s way of saying he approved.
“Are you serious?” Aayrin asked, dumbfounded. “Where did this come from? I thought you hated that guy.”
" Like I said, I did some thinking,” he shrugged, not willing to let them know he was hearing voices in his head, even if there was a perfectly logical explanation for why they were there.
Rhuei suddenly smiled sadly “, how long will you be gone, big brother?”
He paused, thinking of an appropriate answer.
Tell them that it will only be until Yuan is in his early twenties. Liam interjected.
“Probably only until Yuan is in his twenties. I learn fast, remember? This is me we’re talking about, remember?”
Aayrin suddenly laughed “, okay, then, go learn how to be a Valkyrie, and then come back and tell us everything!”
Am I even allowed to do that? he inquired.
I don’t see why not. They are your family, after all. Liam assured, feelings of happiness still ebbing into his mind. When do you want to leave?
I get to choose.
Naturally. I won’t force you to leave your family sooner than you are prepared too. I’m not willing to hurt you, sir.
Give me a week. He decided after a pause, which he used to think.
Very well.
“ I won’t leave until next week, so we’ll have time together, okay?” Kratos told them, and they all nodded, except Yuan, who looked very sad.
“What’s wrong?” Kratos asked him, and the boy looked up, amber eyes shimmering brilliantly.
“I will become stronger for you, Kratos. I’ll prove myself, I promise,” his fist clenched in determination, even as his eyes filled with tears. “When you come back I’ll be strong, and I’ll have protected everyone, so you don’t have to worry.”
Kratos stood, ruffling his brother’s hair affectionately “, Okay, and I promise you I’ll come back stronger to.”
Yuan smiled through his tears as the brothers clasped hands.