Unbeknownst to most, Edge is actually a very fast reader. He's read the Seven Sacred Tomes of Eblan, he's read the Three Histories Of Middle Earth, and he's actually stolen and read a lot more naughty magazines from the soldiers' barracks than anyone knows just due to stealth and speed and the fact that he's fucking awesome. Because of this, sometimes his knowledge catches his compatriots off-guard. They don't seem to expect a prince with a bad temper and little patience to be well-read; well, more the fools they.
So when his men are talking about the Legend of Mount Ordeals once again, Edge feels compelled to correct them.
"I know the books say that it's a holy light of redemption and purity, but in reality, it was just some dude's dad," he says.
To his chagrin he ends up leading an investigatory squad three weeks later.
- - -
"I still think it's going to be a dragon," Nishino says.
"I told you," Saji corrects her, "the Archive of Ozawa says that, but in reality it was corrected three different times. It's a fountain of vigor that will restore youthful energy."
Edge sighs. "It's King Cecil's freaking dad," he mutters yet again, because they haven't listened to him the last forty times he said so.
"Dragon's-breath was known to restore youthful vigor," Nishino counters, and Edge prays for the strongest zombie in the world, to stop this argument.
- - -
To Edge's surprise, the summit is cloaked in mist.
"You stay here," he says boldly to his companions, because he's pretty sure Cecil's old man won't kill him on sight. "I'll go check it out."
Edge walks forward slowly through the mist. He's silent, because ninja are always silent, but the mist around his is humming somewhat: protection, maybe, or a sad vigil hanging in the air about him, as light but tangible as silk.
"Hello?" calls a voice.
"Holy balls," Edge says, and he will always regret that he greeted an epic mysterious power as such, "it's you."
- - -
The mist is a blanket, warm and comforting. Edge is full and relaxed; Kain appears almost equally so, or as relaxed as Kain ever gets.
"I can't let them get any closer," Kain says ruefully. "This place survives on the power of its mystery as much as anything."
"I get that," says Edge. "But I was really hoping I could see the shrine myself. Just once."
"Well," says Kain. Slowly. Carefully. "I... you could. For a price."
"Okay." Edge leaps to his feet. "Bring it on. I have to be able to tell them something, you know?"
Kain takes a step forward, then another one, then his mouth is on Edge's. The force of it burns through the mist: Kain's mouth is fire, absolute, harsh and unforgiving. Edge responds in kind, though, because nobody ups Eblan's ninja, and when they part, they're both panting.
"There," Kain says, a bit breathless -- and behind him, Edge sees a shrine.
- - -
"Fireworks," Nishino repeats, musing.
"Stars," says Saji. "And you are sure you saw nothing else?"
"Not this time," Edge replies, "but I'm pretty sure if I go back alone, I'll get a different answer."
Mythology (Kain/Edge, PG13)
Unbeknownst to most, Edge is actually a very fast reader. He's read the Seven Sacred Tomes of Eblan, he's read the Three Histories Of Middle Earth, and he's actually stolen and read a lot more naughty magazines from the soldiers' barracks than anyone knows just due to stealth and speed and the fact that he's fucking awesome. Because of this, sometimes his knowledge catches his compatriots off-guard. They don't seem to expect a prince with a bad temper and little patience to be well-read; well, more the fools they.
So when his men are talking about the Legend of Mount Ordeals once again, Edge feels compelled to correct them.
"I know the books say that it's a holy light of redemption and purity, but in reality, it was just some dude's dad," he says.
To his chagrin he ends up leading an investigatory squad three weeks later.
- - -
"I still think it's going to be a dragon," Nishino says.
"I told you," Saji corrects her, "the Archive of Ozawa says that, but in reality it was corrected three different times. It's a fountain of vigor that will restore youthful energy."
Edge sighs. "It's King Cecil's freaking dad," he mutters yet again, because they haven't listened to him the last forty times he said so.
"Dragon's-breath was known to restore youthful vigor," Nishino counters, and Edge prays for the strongest zombie in the world, to stop this argument.
- - -
To Edge's surprise, the summit is cloaked in mist.
"You stay here," he says boldly to his companions, because he's pretty sure Cecil's old man won't kill him on sight. "I'll go check it out."
"Spirits protect you," says Saji; Nishino simply bows.
Edge walks forward slowly through the mist. He's silent, because ninja are always silent, but the mist around his is humming somewhat: protection, maybe, or a sad vigil hanging in the air about him, as light but tangible as silk.
"Hello?" calls a voice.
"Holy balls," Edge says, and he will always regret that he greeted an epic mysterious power as such, "it's you."
- - -
The mist is a blanket, warm and comforting. Edge is full and relaxed; Kain appears almost equally so, or as relaxed as Kain ever gets.
"I can't let them get any closer," Kain says ruefully. "This place survives on the power of its mystery as much as anything."
"I get that," says Edge. "But I was really hoping I could see the shrine myself. Just once."
"Well," says Kain. Slowly. Carefully. "I... you could. For a price."
"Okay." Edge leaps to his feet. "Bring it on. I have to be able to tell them something, you know?"
Kain takes a step forward, then another one, then his mouth is on Edge's. The force of it burns through the mist: Kain's mouth is fire, absolute, harsh and unforgiving. Edge responds in kind, though, because nobody ups Eblan's ninja, and when they part, they're both panting.
"There," Kain says, a bit breathless -- and behind him, Edge sees a shrine.
- - -
"Fireworks," Nishino repeats, musing.
"Stars," says Saji. "And you are sure you saw nothing else?"
"Not this time," Edge replies, "but I'm pretty sure if I go back alone, I'll get a different answer."