Verion Kayn & the Menacing SNow

And so the days passed, and fall turned to winter. Soon the sprawling green grounds of the crimson keep were tucked under soft white snow. Grey’s days were filled with training and reading. Toran pushed him to his physical limit. He did things he had never done with the nightshades. Long and heavy chords of rope were tied around his waist attaching him to large cylindrical balls of marble, and he pulled them behind him. He ran several miles a day wearing a thick metal vest. But Grey enjoyed it. Initially the pain of forcing his body to the extreme reminded him of the brutal nature of the village by the rhine, but Toran was kind and forgiving. He was patient with each and every mistake or struggle Grey had. 

The training Grey underwent not only developed his body into a chiseled rock, but it also sculpted his mind. It helped him to cope and compartmentalize the trauma sitting on his heart. Slowly he was able to regain his composure and smile. With each passing day it became easier and easier to live again. Verion was no stranger to the tragedy Grey faced either. He was open and pressing for Grey to be vocal about what he had gone through. The times Grey and Verion spent sharing tales of past lives were some of the two’s most enjoyable moments together. 

The crimson library hadn’t been rigorously ventured in years. But the moment Grey saw the rugged bindings of novelty dusting away on the shelves, he ventured into the endless rows of knowledge. Everyday after training he would head to the library, and pull a book from one of the many shelves. Of course, he couldn’t understand the language the books were written in, but in time he began to understand commonalities between stories, and began to gain a grasp on how to speak the common tongue. 

One day, Verion was watching Grey train with Toran. On this day in particular, they were sparring with the sword. Typically, when Grey was sparring, he had an audience. The other soldiers of the castle had seen the boy's innate talent at hand to hand combat, and were inspired by his skill. On top of this, they watched him train each day, tirelessly giving all he had to get stronger. This earned him the respect of the other soldiers and in turn, filled Verion with a peculiar sense of pride. 

Grey planted his foot and twisted his body, letting Toran’s blade glide in front of his chest. Spinning around, he danced behind Toran’s defenses to his exposed back. Pointing his blade forward, he thrust outward attempting to spear him through. Toran swung his sword around his back, knocking Grey’s blade off its course. Grey smiled. Using the momentum of the sword being knocked away, he picked up his back leg and threw a spinning side kick into Toran’s broadside, knocking him to the ground. Quickly spinning his blade back into his grip, he pointed the end of the blade towards his trainer’s nape. The soldier’s encircling them began to clap, chanting Grey’s name. 

“Hahah! Mighty fine kiddo!” Grey’s face flushed red. Extending his hand he helped Toran up. Toran brushed his dirt clotted clothes off. “You’re quite the fighter.” He ruffled Grey’s hair. “I didn’t think you’d be this good so quick! You’re a fast learner.” He winked and nudged him on the shoulder. “They say all the greatest fighters are fast learners.”

Grey laughed, surprising Toran with his response. “If they aren't fast learners, they die.”

Verion raised an eyebrow as he looked out of the portcullis. Toran walked up to the boy and clasped him by the shoulders. “When did you learn to speak?”

Grey rubbed the back of his head.  “Haha- I uhh. I’ve been teaching myself.”

Toran looked up at Verion and threw his hands up. “He’s a savant! A literal genius!” Looking back at Grey he continued showering him with praises. “Kid! You’re incredible. Absolutely incredible!”

Grey blushed. “I’m still learning…” Toran slapped him on the back laughing heartily. 

Verion walked up, a slick smile spread across his face. “It seems you’ve learned a new trick.”

Grey smiled at his uncle. “Indeed I have.”

Verion reached his hand out and stuck it into the pocket of Grey’s pants. Pulling the small pearl colored orb that translated what people were saying for him. “Looks like you won’t be needing this anymore.”

“Wait! I’m still learning.”

Verion smiled. “Better learn fast.”

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Mary eyed Grey suspiciously. The boy was always up to peculiar things. This time he was gathering different shades of petals from the garden. She silently stalked him, being ever so careful to tread behind a row of yellow lilies, just out Grey’s line of sight. He was an odd character. One Mary couldn’t put her finger on. It had been several months since the boy came to the castle. She had been told that he was Verion’s nephew, but that seemed illogical considering he had no living family. Grey was kind enough. He was always pleasant to be around, and never caused anyone trouble, not intentionally at least. But he was odd. He walked with a confident gait, but his silver eye’s echoed sadness. She wondered who he was, and where he had come from. But having been given strict order’s not to peer into the boy’s identity, she grew to become satisfied with the Grey she knew. 

“Mary.” Grey said, examining a patch of purple petals. Mary froze. She was positive she hadn’t been spotted. “Mary, I know you’re behind the lilies. What are you doing?” He turned around laughing, his smile stretching from ear to ear. He walked over, flowers still in hand.

“I umm-” She bowed. “I’m sorry young sir! I simply was examining your habits.”

“Haha! Examining my habits? What does that even mean?” He tapped her shoulder with the back of his hand. “You don’t have to be so formal with me. I’m younger than you.”

“Lord Verion said I should treat you with respect and -”

“As you should treat all people with respect. There’s no one here to hang out with.” He looked up at the winter sky, and felt small specks of snow, melt on his cheeks. “Let's go do something fun.” 

Mary cocked her head to the side. “I’m sorry sir?” Grey grabbed her hand and started walking through the garden, dragging Mary behind him. “Sir! Please, this isn’t very-” The two tripped, tumbling down to the ground, covering themselves in snow. 

“Hahaha!” Grey rolled around in the snow, covering his decorated jacket in white. Reaching down into the snow, he pulled up a pile and formed a ball. “Alright Mary. Are you ready?”

Mary, confused as could be stood. “Young sir! I will not engage in these activi-” Before she could finish a snowball hit her right in the face. Angrily, Mary reached into the snow and grabbed a handful, throwing it at Grey.

Running playfully Grey threw snow back. “Hahahah! That’s more like it! Too bad you can’t hit me!” 

Mary stopped and laughed, putting her hands on her knees. “I got suckered into your antics.” 

Grey ran up and jumped over her back, doing a flip into the snow. “It was fun though wasn’t it?”

“What am I watching?” Verion’s voice boomed from across the garden. Grey and Mary turned around in shock. Verion pursed his lips together. “Are you two having a snowball fight? In my garden?”

Grey helped Mary up and whispered in her ear. “Look. On three we attack him.”

Mary looked at him like he was crazy. “What?”

Grey smiled, reaching down into the snow. “Three!” He charged forward, throwing snowballs as he ran. Mary sighed, grabbing a handful of snow, following suit. Verion smirked, unable to hold back his enjoyment. As Grey approached his uncle, a horde of floating snowballs appeared from behind Verion. “That is cheating!” Grey shouted, quickly turning around to run the other way. “Take cover!”

Verion held his hands high. Using his magic he formed hundreds of snowballs. Laughing maniacally, he sent them hurtling towards Grey and Mary. Mary shrieked with joy as the snow pelted her. Grey laughed as he tried to retaliate. After the barrage was over, all three of them laughed. Looking at Mary, Grey smiled. “See Mary? Wasn’t that fun?”

Mary giggled, her brown hair falling infront of her eyes. “Yes Grey. That was fun.”

Verion coughed, interrupting the moment. “Grey. Mary. I ugh-” A huge pile of snow fell on top of his head from one of the overhanging trees. The two tried to hold in their laughter. “We have a guest coming tonight. She’s very important.” He eyed both of them smiling. “Be on your best behavior.”