chainless DISCONTINUED

10 - Allegiance

Techno and Ra walk along the dirt path between the farmer's wheat fields, the golden colors of the grain radiating with the sun directed onto them. Ra could hear the cicadas buzzing on the ground by the stalks of the large growing corn.

Ra walks in front of Techno, carrying a mapped-out map, lines drawn onto it to show where they needed to go. Techno allowed him to be in control of which path to take, giving him practice reading maps.

It was midday, getting closer to the capital city of Merri. Techno's usual tense shoulders were eased, knowing that the more humans they saw, the closer they got to their goal. Dirt and small pebbles crunch under the weight of their boots. It made Ra want to stomp and jump on them just to feel and hear the tiny rocks crunch under his weight.

To think a week ago he would be in indoor activities at the institution, watching the other hybrid children speak and enjoy their free time, but now, a week later, he was walking into a lion's den of insecurities and gut-wrenching anxiety-filled days. It was hard to put his finger on, that this all was real and was happening; not just a dream created by his own mind. He digs the front of his shoe into the dirt, keeping himself grounded. Yeah, this was real alright. He didn't know if that was comforting or scary.

He was really about to walk into the capital, Merri's capital. He never thought that he would one day see it unless it was on a battlefield of blood. Farmers on the fields wave at Techno and him, Techno waving back to be not be rude towards the hard workers. Ra looks up, staring at the back of Techno's wrinkled head. And here he was walking with a Royal Knight.

Ra probably should have run back then, ran into the trees of the forest, and escaped. He shouldn't have been so hesitant about it. If Ra hadn't overthought it, he wouldn't have to deal with this crushing weight on his shoulders.

He tips his head back, staring up at the sky and letting his hood fall off of his head. He stops walking, his boots making a noise against the man-made road, crunch.

Techno doesn't notice at first that Ra stopped walking with him until he could no longer hear Ra's humming. He turns and looks back, seeing Ra stare up at the sky, the sun pouring down on him with its rays. Eyes of red and green glinting in the light before closing, it was like watching him taste his last bit of freedom, of being just a kid. It was both a freeing sight to see- and a seldom one. He was there basking in the sun like a cat with no worries about their future.

An inkling of guilt scratches the back of his throat, swallowing a forming lump. He participated in this, he had to remind himself. Ra could have just stayed at the institution, blissfully unaware of how important he was. Lived out the rest of his life, his fate and destiny already made out for him on a stone road of blood and corpses.

The knight wondered to himself what his role would have been in the army of hybrid children, watching his friends die at the hands of men who have no qualms with murdering children... Because a soldier is a soldier, an enemy is an enemy. It didn't matter once you were on the battlefield. You are blinded by the thirst to come out on top, to be praised to be the last one standing. He knows that feeling too well.

They all interfered with Ra's life, no matter how you looked at it from whatever angle. His life is changing drastically... Techno hasn't decided yet if it was for the better; or for the worst.

A fanged smile brings him out of his perplexing thoughts, the prince smiling towards the clouds that drifted across the blue skies. A thought crosses Techno, maybe it wouldn't be so bad to put off retirement for a few more years if it meant helping protect and guide this innocent soul.

-

Colored blue and gold ribbons are strung across the streets above their heads, fairy lights and shimmering wind spinners distracting Ra greatly as he walked beside Techno, his hood pulled over his horns and ears. His stomach gnaws at him, rumbling with nerves. They got a few stares from others, but none with malicious intent or curiousness about Ra. Techno being the Head Knight of Royal Guard helped the people within the capital to be used to his presence. He frequented this area during his patrols and spoke with the people regularly when he was in the capital.