Tales of a Shifter (P5) The White Mountain

Chapter 108 - Listen

The Sun was sitting midway in the blue skies above them as Brandon and Ann walked slowly side by side out of the mansion, and off into the fields. For a long time they walked along in silence. Brandon gathered his mind and emotions. Ann seemed to be doing the same.

Two people that were enemies by right. Brandon wasn't sure how to start this conversation....how to find a common place of cooperation to work from. He had never believed in all the years of his life after Nora's death that he would be near another Alchemist and not fight like hell to destroy them or escape from them.

Suddenly with small puffing pants Ann began to speak, she seemed to be struggling with the small voyage across the grass in her new clothing.

"Fine, I guess Ill start....Earlier, you spoke of needing me?" Ann turned her cool black eyes on him from the side. "You are needing to speak with me concerning Alchemy I guess, but if we are to discuss it, I think I need to tell you that I am far from an expert on the subject. I am not the strongest or most knowledgeable in the Brotherhood, but if there is one thing I can tell you for sure that Aurora you possess boy? Well it is quite astounding."

Ann suddenly called out beside him. Her light steps crunched deep into the long grasses, while her left hand was bunched in the soft material of her dress that she seemed slightly unbalanced walking in. "When speaking of Alchemy the first thing I speak on should be this fact because it is one of the most basic of basics."

Unsure of her purpose in completing him Brandon shrugged, stopped walking and crossed his arms. "I do need to know as much as you can tell me about the Brotherhood, and my father...and about Alchemy. So if you want to start with my Aurora fine." Brandon scratched at his short hair in irritation and finished. "But what are you talking about? You have an Aurora just like me...its nothing special obviously."

They had come out far into the fields and tall grasses back behind the Mansion. Green foliage and pine forests bordered the area to the back, while tan paths laced across the land stretching out towards he horizon. Far to the upper north, smoke could just be glimpsed chugging off into the blue skies above from the Northern Villages. The air had chilled over the last few weeks, alerting Brandon subconsciously to the fact that winter was soon to grace the Leopard Lands.

Ann released her dress as she stopped beside him. "No boy it is special. The magnitude at which you can extend your Will around yourself and around others, its....humongous." She smacked her lips and waved him off. "Truly I have only ever known a Will so encroaching to belong to the Grand Master himself. My own Aurora is nothing next to what I have seen you be able to create."

Brandon rolled his shoulders as they resumed moving. They walked further into the fields beyond the mansion. Soft mid-noon daylight danced over his skin, the store skin and muscles under his clothing were soothed by the heat suffusing into his body. He took in the cool clean air, letting the scents of pine plaster over his throat and lungs.

He focused on these things to keep his mind from the trepidation he felt as he and Ann became more and more secluded. He knew she had no reason to hurt him, but he was still disturbed by the ambiguous nature of their interactions at this point.

There was animosity in Brandon's heart and mind towards the Alchmists, but the rationale part of him knew he had to separate himself from those feelings. Sister Ann was no longer his enemy...but then what had she now become?

With a shake of his head Brandon pushed these thoughts aside and focused on her words. He was the one who had wanted to speak more with the Alchmist, he was the one who had elected to go off alone with her and see what could come of it....for now he was willing to speak with her. To learn exactly where they both were going from this point forwards.