Family Secrets II

Family Secrets II
██████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████

Moonlight poured down through the clouds and filled the garden outside of Boyt with a soft illumination. Trees danced back and forth to a gentle zephyr; their leaves rustling in a chorus.

Firo continued his journey through the bush, admiring the many flowers that seemed to spring to life now that the sun had faded behind the horizon. It was the only thing he could do to remove the negative thoughts that now clouded his head. Piers seemed like a good person, he even helped him learn how to fish. So, why would he discourage Cotton from becoming a cleric? He didn't understand or rather he just didn't want to.

The young man tapped at the side of his head. It was a very confusing conundrum that was too much for him. Maybe a kiss would heal their differences and bring peace? He thought about it for a moment before breaking out into a low giggle. "That just might work." He juggled the idea in his head. If he could heal wounds and sicknesses then maybe he could do the same with emotions that too. Just the sheer thought of couples running up to him demanding repairs in their relationships and then the money…-wait! He was in the bush for a reason.

Firo shook his head and dusted away the daydream with his hands fluttering about. Cotton was still somewhere in the garden and he had promised Wardell that he would catch up to him before he got too far. "C~OTTON" He yelled to the top of his lungs, those red eyes bounced from bush to tree to bush again. He was almost certain that the garden had not been so dense there earlier when he arrived or maybe it was and he just didn't pay attention. Was that why the squire always seemed irritated?

A few more steps led Firo over to yet another tree. He stood in front of it, arms folded while he released a whimper. "Did I pass this tree already? There is no way that little boy ran that fast." He glanced around again, lost within the sounds of rustling leaves. "This is getting a little creepy." He continued to listen, trying to distinguish a strange sound that did not fit to well in the rest. Was it crying? He leaned closer to the tree and placed his ear against it. "Cotton?" Sure enough, there was a faint sound of sobbing.

The young man panicked. How in the world had the boy turned into a tree? He tapped on it softly, his voice completely uncertain. "Cotton is that… is that you in there?"

Cotton continued to cry, but tried to pull himself together so that he would come off as a big boy once he realized someone was near. "Wha? Yea it's me…"

"How did you do that? How did you become a tree?" Firo was fascinated. His hand moved up and down the bark. He had seen very interesting spells and incantations in his time, but never anything like that—especially from someone so young. "Wow, Wardell wasn't lying. You are very talented for your age."

Cotton's crying slowly died down and was replaced by sniffling noises. Once he felt slightly better, he cleared his throat and spoke. "What are you talking about?"

"This… tree form you took on. Is it because you are sad?"

"Sad? I am not sad. I am a big boy!" Cotton tried to raise his voice, but found it difficult due to all of his crying. "What do you mean? I am not a tree?" Although he was still saddened by his older brother's remarks, he managed to still giggle at the oddity of Firo's claim. If Firo was trying to make him feel better, then it was slightly working. He jump out from behind the tree and gave a slight wave. "You are very strange."

Firo stood before the boy, analyzing his appearance while he tried to not voice is opinion on his attire. He cocked his head to the side when it dawned on him that they were never really properly introduced. So, with a big grin on his face and an arm extended, he moved closer to his new friend. "My name is Firo Vita and one day, I will become a great cleric just like you." He was good at changing the subject.

Cotton eagerly shook Firo's hand even though a frown was back on his face. "I'm Cotton, nice to meet you Firo." His tone was weary and his eyes continued to scan the ground for nothing in particular.

Firo shook his head and laughed. "If you want to come with us then, come with us!" He shrugged, "I don't see how your brother would get mad. I'm sure it's because of Wardell. He isn't a bad person… just a tad bit… scary looking."

Cotton sniffled again, but did not raise his head to meet the young man's red eyes. He wanted to jump at the chance to start an adventure, but did not want to succeed knowing that it would go against his brother. He pouted, crossing his arms while he kicked up dirt with his shoe. "It's not fair! I wish he wasn't my brother." He paused while he thought about Firo's offer but soon shook his head. "I can't leave him behind. He is all the family I have left." He smiled, "Even if he is a total jerk."

At that moment, it was like a light bulb had turned on in Firo's head. He moved closer to cotton and placed a hand on his shoulder. With a smile, he stooped a little so that he could see Cotton's face. "I see. Piers is so hard on you because he wants you to grow stronger. You smile because you appreciate the effort he puts into noticing you." He was now happy, happy that he had managed to decipher the 'hidden messages' that Cotton's older brother used. He felt like he had just climbed a mountain and he wanted to celebrate. He turned his back to the boy and continued his hypotheses. "Indirectly your brother wants you to continue to become a cleric. Your brother is counting on you."

"Um… I don't think that's…"

It was too late; Firo had already gone back into his elusive world of greatness by the time Cotton decided to talk to him. He mumbled under his breath about becoming a psychiatrist and making large sums of money just to give his assumption.

"Firo, are you okay?" The child waited for the young man to break out of his trance, but dismissed the attempt once he realized that he was crazy in the head. Cotton giggled to himself, "You are very odd." He continued to stare, questioning just how old Firo could have been, fourteen or fifteen maybe.

They both stood there; Firo drooling at the mouth at a chance for something to use his entrepreneur skills on and Cotton, laughing at his new "sibling." Everything seemed to fall back into place. Even though an unspoken truth lingered around them both—he knew he would not be joining them in their journey to Whitemure.

After a couple of minutes went by and Firo willed himself out of the world of make-believe, the two of them decided to talk a bit about Cotton's abilities.

Raring to go, Cotton wasted no time in showing the young man how he could restore broken tree limbs back to their original state as well as hasten their growing ability how he saw fit.

The boy's powers rendered Firo wordless. He watched him perform little tricks that involved him commanding the plant life around him as if it was an extension of the child. Like Wardell, something was odd about the healing magic and it left Firo more concerned than anything else.

"So, you decided to give up becoming a cleric?" A soft and seductive female voice bounced off the trees in the garden, startling both Cotton and Firo while they glanced around trying to find the source. There was a moment of silence before the voice turned into laughter; it sliced through the trees and somehow put an end to the orchestra of leaves. "You've become a babysitter instead?"

Cotton's knees buckled. "Who is that? Is someone out there?" There was panic in his voice. He inched his way over to Firo until he was practically standing on the young man's heels.

Firo chuckled as he turned his attention to the cowering child. "Why are you scared? That's probably Wardell playing a joke on us."

Cotton shifted a brow. Was Firo being serious or was he just not good at distinguishing between male and female tones? "That sounded like a woman… I don't think Wardell is a woman." He squinted his eyes, making out the silhouette of a figure not that far from them.

The woman approached them, body wrapped in a purple cloak. She took off her hood, exposing her image to the moonlight— it was Natasha. Her two bodyguards followed after her like pets on a leash. She hugged the book she had received from her mistress while a grin remained fixed on her face. "I see you-"

"Oh! I guess it wasn't Wardell." Firo cut the woman off with a loud guffaw. He then pointed to Natasha while he looked back at Cotton. "She is no threat. She was trying to help me get demon's blood. It's needed for becoming a cleric."

"Demon's blood?" Cotton looked on at the woman slightly confused. Though he had never left Boyt, he did know a thing or two about becoming a cleric and not once did he hear anything about blood being used. Maybe there was a new method that just didn't make it to his town yet. He always hated the fact that books from the upscale cities took forever to make it to the port. Everything was so outdated. He cleared his throat and grabbed hold of Firo's arm. "I-I don't think she is happy to see you. She looks pretty mad."

"Hmm, you think so?" Firo was not convinced.

Natasha turned her face up to the little boy, her eyes immobilizing him with a cold stare. "Indeed I am you little brats." She tightened her grip on the book. "Because of you, my mistress…" She trailed off, her eyes now focused on her two bodyguards that she cared so much for. She ran her fingers down one of their arms while she thought about her encounter with her mistress. She knew that if she were to fail again, both of them would be lost to her. "My mistress almost took them away from me. I won't let that happen. I'll get rid of you before that happens!"

"W-What does that have to do with Firo?" Cotton was now in front of his new sibling, somewhat defending him even though it was obvious that he was terrified of the woman. He kept telling himself over and over to be a big boy and show his brother that he could do things on his own—even though he was not a hundred percent sure that Firo's accusation on his brother's feelings were truthful.

Natasha broke out into laughter, her fingers playing with the cloth that surrounded the book. "Isn't it past your bedtime? Shouldn't you run home to your mommy?" Her laughing stopped, "The adults are talking."

Cotton held out his arms to show the woman he was not going to leave Firo's side. "Firo is my big brother too! If you are going to hurt him then I won't let you! Y-you old hag!" His voiced squeaked while he insulted the woman. He could feel his body acting on it's own as it wanted to protect the person who was now dearest to him— Firo. His body continued to tremble while he stood strong. If the woman did charge at him then, he would probably go down fast. That didn't stop him from trying to be a big boy.

Firo remained silent while he stared at the back of Cotton's skullcap. Other than Wardell, he had never seen anyone willingly protect him unless they knew that he could heal people. He didn't want the boy to get hurt and if he died… the thought alone almost sent him into shock. He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke in a soft tone, "Um… Cotton, are you sure your powers will work?"

"Old hag?! You dare insult someone as beautiful as me?" Natasha was now in a frenzy, shaking her first at the boy while she contemplated unleashing the powers within the grimoire. She looked down at the book, her fingers moving across the covered surface while she continued ranting, "I can't stand children; always disrespecting their superiors." Though the book would probably remove Cotton from her presence instantly, she still hadn't taken the time to fully read it yet. With her eyes now on one of her bodyguards, she laughed. "Darling, be a dear and dispose of that little brat. He is going to give me stress wrinkles." She placed a hand on her forehead.

One of Natasha's warriors stepped forward and drew his large sword from its sheath. He nodded to his mistress and started to charge towards Cotton and Firo.

Firo couldn't figure out why Natasha was now trying to kill them both. He could have sworn she was a good woman— somewhat cranky—but still a good woman. Did he do something to upset her? Now was not the time to try to reason with her, it was obvious that she was seeking revenge. If only he could read minds. Firo frantically shook Cotton's shoulder, "Your powers aren't strong enough for something like that. His sword would cut right through these plants." There was concern in his voice.

Cotton no longer cared about his safety; his means for wanting to protect Firo slowly helped him get over how burly and intimidating the man charging before him looked. He took a deep breath, "Don't worry Firo. I've practiced using my powers for fighting too. I'm a big boy, remember?" He quickly glanced back at the young man, noticing his troubled expression. The boy shook his head, Firo was indeed a weird one— not to mention he was probably weak and had no powers which mean he was nowhere close to becoming a cleric. So, it was up to Cotton to become a hero.

The warrior advanced closer, his blade now hovering over his head.

Time was running out and Firo still didn't know what he could do to protect the boy. If something did happen to him then he could never face Piers again. Thoughts of previous people who died in his presence flashed before him— his head was starting to hurt. Humans were just too complex for him to understand. Cotton was scared and showed all the signs of a coward yet he still stood before Natasha and her minions without a care in the world. Was this the child's way of being a 'big boy'? Was this one of the traits needed to become a cleric?

In a blink of an eye the warrior was upon them both, delivering a piercing battle cry that forced Cotton to close his eyes and flinch. The sword moved through the air swiftly, cutting down the wind with a high pitched sound.

Time had run out.

Firo hugged Cotton from behind and quickly moved their bodies around. He closed his eyes and waited in anticipation as the sword rushed towards his back. He was not used to being a hero and was already trying to visualize what the squire would say if he saw him shielding the boy with his squishy weak body. "Cotton, I'm sorry. I just can't let you die here." He whispered into the boy's ear.

The sword came down hard, leaving behind drops of crimson once it connected with the target.

Cotton started to cry hysterically.