BrigandRansom/StoriesRetold
Going to put the story of Amun Lear, a Solar Exalt, and his Biological Brother who Exalted as a Lunar and became his Second ~ BrigandRansom
But until then, here's a bit of "WTF???" for everyone
The old man stood and looked across the compound. It had taken him years to create it, but the time spent had been worth it. No one in this day and age knew, but it was a perfect replica of a First-age martial arts school. It didn't have the training aids that were available to him in millenia past, but that was a necessity. Machines of such a design would attract far too much attention, and did nothing that he himself could not do, given enough time.
"Time" he chuckled to himself. He would say something about time being a cruel mistress, but in his mind it was more of an heartless bastard. No matter how many years, centuries, millenia he saw pass by him, he always saw the same events repeating with only minor edits to detail. He had watched the events of his own life unfold for his students over the years, usually about once every century. Earlier in his life, he tried to change the outcome. After about 400 years he realized that anything he tried to change things just made them worse. Such is the burden of those outside of fate.
"Not quite outside... just misplaced is all." said the Man in Blue Robes. The old man turned, and for the first timne in a thousand years, he was surprised. He chuckled and shook his head. "You and your quibbling over semantics." He walked across the empty courtyard, which only a few hours before had been filled with young Dynasts training in the ways of an Ancient sword style. "But then again, you were the one who did this to me." The old man had ire in his voice, but anyone looking at his face would know that it was all in jest. There was a very good reason that this old man's fate had been "Misplaced", and he wouldn't have it any other way. After all, it had allowed him to remain unnoticed by not only the Sidereals, but the Wyld Hunt as well. And it allowed him to do what he loved most, teaching.
The old man walked up to the Man in Blue Robes, and for a moment tears welled in his ancient eyes. They embraced like two old friends that hadn't seen each other in centuries, which is exactly what they were. Neither one of them tried to remember the other's name, that was part of the magics that had been worked on the, Their original names were long gone, woven out of the loom of fate so they might keep their activities a secret. The old man looked upon the Man in Blue Robes. "So... do you still insist on being called 'Man in Blue Robes'?"
The Man in Blue Robes grinned. He didn't look as old as the old man, in fact he looked not a day over nineteen. He had medium length, sandy-blonde hair that always looked unkempt. His face was kind, and a person with the right kind of eyes would see the age in his face. Most others who looked upon him simply noticed nothing at all. "In the circles I travel in, names are more of a hindrance than a help. Yes, I still go by that title. How about you? Have you taken a name so your students have something to call you besides "Cranky Old Coot?"
The old man belly-laughed at this. "In fact I have. I have my students refer to me as 'Gleaming Edge'." Now it was the Man in Blue Robes turn to laugh. "Gleaming Edge, eh? You always were a bit theatric, even for a Solar." The pair of them chuckled, catching up and talking about nothing in particular. After a time that could have been minutes or hours, the Man in Blue Robes face became serious. Before Man in Blue Robes could speak, Gleaming Edge began the conversation that both of them had been avoiding.
"You've found Lear?"
"His essence, yes."
"How did it Exalt this time?"
"A Young Slave girl, a housepet to a Tepet Pervert."
Gleaming Edge nodded gravely.
"Has she tried to take her revenge?"
"She will try, but you know this story. She will change her mind."
"After meeting Quen."
"That's how it went last time."
"Has Quen remembered his part of the plan yet?"
The Man in Blue Robes shook his head. "I don't think so... but I could be wrong. It's been a while since I've read the stars of the Underworld."
The old man scratched his beard thoughtfully. "So... you're saying that it's time to carry this out, and it may yet fail? This may all be for naught?" his voice began to rise.
The Man in Blue Robes rested his hand on Gleaming Edge's shoulder. "You knew from the start that this may not work. But what other choice do we have? We set these wheels in motion millenia ago. We have no choice but to see how it plays out."
Gleaming Edge pushed Man in Blue Robes' hand off of his shoulder. "No, YOU have no choice but to see how it plays out. -= I =- die tonight!" Gleaming Edge turned away from Man in Blue Robes. He took a deep breath, and the Man in Blue Robes waited for him to calm down.
"I'm Sorry for my outburst." Gleaming Edge whispered.
"No trouble at all. You're justified in your reaction, to be honest. I mean, knowing the moment of your own death is painful... especially knowing that there's no way to stop it. We were just lucky enough to not only find a way to put it off, but to use it as our advantage."
The Man in Blue Robes walked past Gleaming Edge, looking out the front gate of the small Martial Arts school that Gleaming Edge was the master of. "You've Chosen a Successor?"
"Of Course. I've chosen one every 75 years or so, then watched them play out my life and the death that I was supposed to have." The tone of anger in Gleaming Edge's voice was now one of deep sadness. "You've spoken with Lytek?"
The Man in Blue Robes nodded. "In fact I have. He's ready to make the Exaltation. In fact, I suspect he's watching us right now. I told him that I was coming here to meet with you."
The pair of old friends stood in silence for a while.
"The Students will be returning soon. I should probably go..."
The Man in Blue Robes turned and saw something completely unexpected: Gleaming Edge was crying. He stepped forward and again embraced his old friend. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Gleaming Edge sobbed.
"As I said old friend, your reactions are justified..."
"No!" Shouted Gleaming Edge. "I'm not talking about that! I'm talking about..."
The Man in Blue Robes stepped away and looked at Gleaming Edge. Gleaming Edge continued speaking and sobbing.
"I've betrayed us all! I've been in contact with Quen, he's completely lost to his power! I'm HELPING him! Helping him foil the plan we've worked so hard for! I've told him of Reinhardt Sol!"
The Man in Blue Robes chuckled. "Ahh, that was part of the plan as well. You really didn't think that I wouldn't have every base covered, did you?" He smiled with love at his old friend, this poor old man who was afraid to die. Afraid to let his fate be thrust upon some young man with a bright future ahead of him.
"To be honest, I would have been more concerned if you hadn't tried to dodge your fate. We are after all, outside of it. We were, at least. I've already unmade the magic that kept us hidden and safe."
Gleaming Edge composed himself and wiped the tears from his craggy face. "So... the plan still stands?"
"The plan still stands."
Gleaming Edge stood proud and resigned to his fate. He would die this evening, but without regret. And it would only be a temporary condition, his essence would be immediately re-exalted.
Gleaming Edge turned his head toward a sound he heard. Voices off in the distance. The students would be here in a matter of moments. He turned to the Man in Blue Robes to tell him that he must leave, but he was already gone.
YOU WILL COMMENT!! DO IT!!
Can't... help... myself... Must...Comment!. Quite interesting so far, though I'd like to see the rest - following the names involved is already getting complicated, but I'm guessing it'll all simmer down in a few more scenes. - GregLink
Yeah, I really just wanted to establish a few things. Number One, Man in Blue Robes is fekking old. Number 2, there's some sort of conspiracy going on here. And in case you didn't notice, this ties in to the second story on BrigandRansom/StoriesOfExaltation . This chunk of the story also ties in with the BrigandRansom/ScintillantBladeTechnique MA style I'm nearly done with (which will be posted later this evening) ~ BrigandRansom, who will be heavily editing all of his fiction soon
