Convergence #4
So here's the next chapter installment of Convergence. hopefully I'm not skipping chapters. I am an idiot though, so you never know...
Chapter Four-
Haruo wandered the street, mindful not to get in anyone’s way. That would cause far more problems than necessary, given that Haruo was currently invisible to anyone who was not one of Master Itazura’s current or former clients.
It was a neat little trick Master Itazura had implemented not long after the boy had become his apprentice. After all, with such a shady reputation, it wouldn’t do for Haruo to be stigmatized before he was even able to start practicing magic on his own. And since clients were always grateful of Master Itazura’s work, sketchy though it may be, they were the only ones who could now see Haruo.
Which was both good and bad, as well as extremely inconvenient at times.
Since the goal was to keep Haruo from being labeled as ‘just like his Master’, even when not actively on a job the spell held. Being seen at Master Itazura’s side or just running his errands for him was enough to cast a blanket of shame on the poor young apprentice.
But after three years of being under such a spell, Haruo couldn’t say it really bothered him anymore. At first it was a bit difficult, getting use to the fact that most people couldn’t actually see him but could still run into (or over) him. They couldn’t hear him either, and so added to the challenge. But at the same time, it was fun.
He could do something naughty and not get caught.
He smiled to himself and skipped along the street, walking past groups of people as they lingered in the road, mulling over recent events and whatnot. None of it bothered Haruo. He was on his way to the chandler, and the world’s business mattered little to a child of eleven.
Sometimes it was hard to believe he had been at Master Itazura’s side for three whole years. The older man could be thoroughly infuriating, being lazy and… a bit lacking in propriety. But those things mattered little to his master, and so all the scolding in the world did little good.
Haruo sighed deeply and continued on to his destination. The store was within view when he caught sight of a flash of a deep green cloak and heard the faint laugh.
He ducked around a corner instinctively, forgetting for a moment that he wouldn’t be seen anyway and peered around the corner. A young boy, about a year or two older than the apprentice mage had come into view, another boy and a young girl trailing just behind him. The girl was giggling profusely, a hand held delicately over her mouth, her cheeks a rosy red. She was Jushnan Falyn, the young daughter of a prominent merchant of the town. She was beautiful and delicate and enchanting, and all the young boys of the town were enthralled with her. The other young man beside her was her brother, Jushnan Maigo, and he was already developing into the ideal man to take over his father’s prosperous merchant trade.
The two of them were thoroughly famous in the small but prosperous town, and were greatly admired. Even little invisible Haruo couldn’t help but admire them. But the girl…
Jushnan Falyn caused a strange reaction in him. He had never considered himself a spiteful type of person, but he couldn’t help but be filled with a great dislike whenever he saw her. Yes, she was rich and beautiful and graceful and all those other things that were greatly desired in girls. But she was also selfish and pompous and …
And too close to the Headman’s son.
The Headman’s son, Kaisin Sain, was the one who led the small ground. He was a cheerful, handsome boy, dashing and smart and kind, and Haruo… was smitten.
He bit his lip as he watched the small group pass by, Sain stopping intermittently and chatting amiably with the people manning the carts which lined the busy street.
Haruo had always admired Sain the most, had always seen him as a sort of special existence. He knew the general convention, boys weren’t supposed to get crushes on other boys, but Haruo was young, and it wasn’t like anyone could see him stop and admire the older boy. And besides, his master had taught him conventions were thoroughly overrated.
Not that Master Itazura knew about Haruo’s little obsession. The young apprentice had done his best to keep that hidden. It was a challenge. For all his master’s faults, the man was observant.
Haruo watched a bit longer, his heart clenching when Falyn clutched Sain’s hand and pulled him along, smiling widely and blinking her big, pretty dark eyes at the Headman’s son. Haruo bit his lip.
Everyone in the village knew those two were going to marry someday. Maigo was Sain’s best friend, and the Jushnan’s were a prosperous family. It only made sense.
Haruo sighed and turned away. He still had a task to do, after all.
He started back up the street the way the three had come and to the doorway of the Chandler’s and let himself in.
The store was crowded, as always. It was a chandlery and a bar, and there were always several people meandering in. Even though it was still early in the day didn’t exclude men from drinking. Haruo was used to it. His master dank whenever he felt like it, though the man, for all his copious faults, was not a heavy, frequent drinker. And Haruo had been to the Chandlery enough times to be used to the sight.
The young apprentice made his way to the counter where an older man with a graying beard and stained apron stood cleaning off a mug with a rag. A woman passed too close behind Haruo and he nearly jumped. She was saying something to someone, but Haruo paid her no mind.
She was the wife of the Chandler, and Haruo already knew from experience she thought her husband was insane. Haruo had more than once had to be careful about speaking to the former client of his master. Master Daisen had been Master Itazura’s client long before he had met his wife, which made the Chandler able to see the young apprentice while his wife could not.
Haruo moved up the counter and made a sound of clearing his throat. “I’ve come for Master Itazura’s order.”
Daisen looked over across the counter and spotted Haruo. He too knew the drill. It was too wearisome to speak to someone no one else could see in front of other people. With a quick movement Daisen indicated to the back room. Haruo moved toward the door, the older man following behind soon after.
“Young Apprentice Mage, how be’s your Master these days?” the man asked as he entered the quiet back room.
“He’s doing well. Did another shady job the other day. The Mother of the client called for the police. We had to get out in a hurry.”
Daisen laughed heartily and shook his head. “Sounds just like the Master Mage. Always causing unnecessary trouble.”
Haruo nodded and smiled.
“Well, your order is all here.” The chandler turned to a corner and pulled out a bundle. “Have the money on you?”
Haruo nodded and pulled the pouch from under his cloak. He pulled out the money and handed it over, taking the bundle from the older man.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be attending the festival?” Daisen inquired as Haruo maneuvered the items.
Haruo looked up and smiled sadly. “Too many people. Just because I can’t be seen doesn’t mean I can’t be felt.”
“A shame,” Daisen murmured. “They’re always such fun. And the Headman’s got everything set up to be really something this year. I hear even Young Sain had a hand in the plans.”
Haruo’s clear eyes widened. He stifled his reaction and smiled. “Isn’t that something? I can always watch from the sidelines, I just have to be really careful.”
Daisen nodded. “Just let me know if I can be any help.”
Haruo nodded. “Thank you,” he replied.
Daisen turned back to the front. “Better get back to my customers. And you had best get back to your lazy master.”
Haruo sighed. “Yes, I’d better. Who knows what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into in my absence. I honestly have no idea how he managed so long without me.”
Daisen laughed. “As do I, young one! It is quite the mystery.”
Haruo laughed too and made his way out, back toward the small attic apartment he shared with his Master atop a tavern at the edge of town. The path again led him past Sain, and again, his eyes lingered on the Headman’s son much longer than was necessary.
My nieces are adorable.
(Just thought I'd share ^_^)
Chapter Four-
Haruo wandered the street, mindful not to get in anyone’s way. That would cause far more problems than necessary, given that Haruo was currently invisible to anyone who was not one of Master Itazura’s current or former clients.
It was a neat little trick Master Itazura had implemented not long after the boy had become his apprentice. After all, with such a shady reputation, it wouldn’t do for Haruo to be stigmatized before he was even able to start practicing magic on his own. And since clients were always grateful of Master Itazura’s work, sketchy though it may be, they were the only ones who could now see Haruo.
Which was both good and bad, as well as extremely inconvenient at times.
Since the goal was to keep Haruo from being labeled as ‘just like his Master’, even when not actively on a job the spell held. Being seen at Master Itazura’s side or just running his errands for him was enough to cast a blanket of shame on the poor young apprentice.
But after three years of being under such a spell, Haruo couldn’t say it really bothered him anymore. At first it was a bit difficult, getting use to the fact that most people couldn’t actually see him but could still run into (or over) him. They couldn’t hear him either, and so added to the challenge. But at the same time, it was fun.
He could do something naughty and not get caught.
He smiled to himself and skipped along the street, walking past groups of people as they lingered in the road, mulling over recent events and whatnot. None of it bothered Haruo. He was on his way to the chandler, and the world’s business mattered little to a child of eleven.
Sometimes it was hard to believe he had been at Master Itazura’s side for three whole years. The older man could be thoroughly infuriating, being lazy and… a bit lacking in propriety. But those things mattered little to his master, and so all the scolding in the world did little good.
Haruo sighed deeply and continued on to his destination. The store was within view when he caught sight of a flash of a deep green cloak and heard the faint laugh.
He ducked around a corner instinctively, forgetting for a moment that he wouldn’t be seen anyway and peered around the corner. A young boy, about a year or two older than the apprentice mage had come into view, another boy and a young girl trailing just behind him. The girl was giggling profusely, a hand held delicately over her mouth, her cheeks a rosy red. She was Jushnan Falyn, the young daughter of a prominent merchant of the town. She was beautiful and delicate and enchanting, and all the young boys of the town were enthralled with her. The other young man beside her was her brother, Jushnan Maigo, and he was already developing into the ideal man to take over his father’s prosperous merchant trade.
The two of them were thoroughly famous in the small but prosperous town, and were greatly admired. Even little invisible Haruo couldn’t help but admire them. But the girl…
Jushnan Falyn caused a strange reaction in him. He had never considered himself a spiteful type of person, but he couldn’t help but be filled with a great dislike whenever he saw her. Yes, she was rich and beautiful and graceful and all those other things that were greatly desired in girls. But she was also selfish and pompous and …
And too close to the Headman’s son.
The Headman’s son, Kaisin Sain, was the one who led the small ground. He was a cheerful, handsome boy, dashing and smart and kind, and Haruo… was smitten.
He bit his lip as he watched the small group pass by, Sain stopping intermittently and chatting amiably with the people manning the carts which lined the busy street.
Haruo had always admired Sain the most, had always seen him as a sort of special existence. He knew the general convention, boys weren’t supposed to get crushes on other boys, but Haruo was young, and it wasn’t like anyone could see him stop and admire the older boy. And besides, his master had taught him conventions were thoroughly overrated.
Not that Master Itazura knew about Haruo’s little obsession. The young apprentice had done his best to keep that hidden. It was a challenge. For all his master’s faults, the man was observant.
Haruo watched a bit longer, his heart clenching when Falyn clutched Sain’s hand and pulled him along, smiling widely and blinking her big, pretty dark eyes at the Headman’s son. Haruo bit his lip.
Everyone in the village knew those two were going to marry someday. Maigo was Sain’s best friend, and the Jushnan’s were a prosperous family. It only made sense.
Haruo sighed and turned away. He still had a task to do, after all.
He started back up the street the way the three had come and to the doorway of the Chandler’s and let himself in.
The store was crowded, as always. It was a chandlery and a bar, and there were always several people meandering in. Even though it was still early in the day didn’t exclude men from drinking. Haruo was used to it. His master dank whenever he felt like it, though the man, for all his copious faults, was not a heavy, frequent drinker. And Haruo had been to the Chandlery enough times to be used to the sight.
The young apprentice made his way to the counter where an older man with a graying beard and stained apron stood cleaning off a mug with a rag. A woman passed too close behind Haruo and he nearly jumped. She was saying something to someone, but Haruo paid her no mind.
She was the wife of the Chandler, and Haruo already knew from experience she thought her husband was insane. Haruo had more than once had to be careful about speaking to the former client of his master. Master Daisen had been Master Itazura’s client long before he had met his wife, which made the Chandler able to see the young apprentice while his wife could not.
Haruo moved up the counter and made a sound of clearing his throat. “I’ve come for Master Itazura’s order.”
Daisen looked over across the counter and spotted Haruo. He too knew the drill. It was too wearisome to speak to someone no one else could see in front of other people. With a quick movement Daisen indicated to the back room. Haruo moved toward the door, the older man following behind soon after.
“Young Apprentice Mage, how be’s your Master these days?” the man asked as he entered the quiet back room.
“He’s doing well. Did another shady job the other day. The Mother of the client called for the police. We had to get out in a hurry.”
Daisen laughed heartily and shook his head. “Sounds just like the Master Mage. Always causing unnecessary trouble.”
Haruo nodded and smiled.
“Well, your order is all here.” The chandler turned to a corner and pulled out a bundle. “Have the money on you?”
Haruo nodded and pulled the pouch from under his cloak. He pulled out the money and handed it over, taking the bundle from the older man.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be attending the festival?” Daisen inquired as Haruo maneuvered the items.
Haruo looked up and smiled sadly. “Too many people. Just because I can’t be seen doesn’t mean I can’t be felt.”
“A shame,” Daisen murmured. “They’re always such fun. And the Headman’s got everything set up to be really something this year. I hear even Young Sain had a hand in the plans.”
Haruo’s clear eyes widened. He stifled his reaction and smiled. “Isn’t that something? I can always watch from the sidelines, I just have to be really careful.”
Daisen nodded. “Just let me know if I can be any help.”
Haruo nodded. “Thank you,” he replied.
Daisen turned back to the front. “Better get back to my customers. And you had best get back to your lazy master.”
Haruo sighed. “Yes, I’d better. Who knows what kind of trouble he’s gotten himself into in my absence. I honestly have no idea how he managed so long without me.”
Daisen laughed. “As do I, young one! It is quite the mystery.”
Haruo laughed too and made his way out, back toward the small attic apartment he shared with his Master atop a tavern at the edge of town. The path again led him past Sain, and again, his eyes lingered on the Headman’s son much longer than was necessary.
My nieces are adorable.
(Just thought I'd share ^_^)