Reign of Discord

10

The voice swirled around him once more, consuming his thoughts and his vision alike.

"You'll never forget him..."

"I'll never..." And the truth in the statement hurt him. While the person was a blurry figure in his memory, they were there, and prominently so. The one person Jayce saw as true family, he would never forget. Even in the dimness of the water, sinking ever still, he pictured those grey eyes, that crooked, genuine, smile...and he remembered how it all began.

Jayce didn't go outside very much, on account of the fearful old man. He always had hours of recourse spend delegating his innocence, and the guilty actions of the others. These so called "white folk" had it out for him, he was sure. And he assumed the same for Jayce. So when Jayce did go out, it had to be quick, and in secret. This time in particular, he walked through the streets confidently, ready to stroll the town during the day, something he never did. But he knew he had grown, he wasn't a child anymore. He had earned citizenship in this town, and he wasn't a criminal anymore. It was in his right to walk amidst the others, and so he did.

Amidst his common justification, Jayce was caught off guard when he saw a sparkling gold coin on the ground. Reaching down for this illusion of value, he was shocked when he felt another hand lay on top of his. Reacting immediately, he jumped backwards and held his hand to his chest, not allowing it to be touched anymore. But perhaps he had reacted too fast, for the person who had surprised him was only...a similarly sparkling young man.

After catching his breath, Jayce had a moment to admire this figure he never thought could exist. Misty grey eyes shone strangely bright, looking at Jayce with complete content. Jayce, taken aback, had to look again at his eyes to make sure they were real: they looked so unreal, as if painted on. Clean cut and combed hair, a soft glowing brown, framed his perfectly straight face, complete with strong looking jaws and shaped lips. His wide eyes revealed his age distinctly- he was tall and strongly built, but not in any way old. Jayce couldn't recall seeing such a strange specimen in his life, and that was before he noticed the stranger smiling childishly at him.

"Oops," He started, picking up the coin Jayce abandoned on the ground. "Looks like I misplaced my coin! Please excuse me..." He pocketed the coin but his bold eyes never looked away from Jayce. It was an intriguing look, as if Jayce was the strange specimen here.

"I don't think I've seen you at camp before..." He motioned, smile fading as he inspected Jayce's clothing. Jayce could have lashed out at the stranger, who took the liberty of looking him up and down, eyes showing approval yet shaking his handsome head in discernment. But Jayce stayed silent and still. By the looks of it, this stranger was no ordinary town-folk, and most certainly not one to pick a fight with.

Apart from his dashing looks, he wore an interestingly queer uniform: tall leather boots sprayed with dirt came up to his baggy dirt-brown pantaloons. His uniform top, stiff and buttoned up neatly, was the dress suit fit for a soldier. Of all people, Jayce had run into a town soldier. And while he was there with good intentions at the time, he had the eerie sensation that danger was imminent- that he was not safe in proximity of this town gallantry.

"You're not in conduct, young man." The stranger dared, his face still inquisitive, though he hadn't directly asked a single question. The taller man sighed, and looked near frustrated with the situation.

"This is quite the frustrating situation, I hope you know. A boy of your age, not in conduct and therefore breaking the King's laws...where do you live?" Jayce was convinced enough at his own misconduct to reveal his identity entirely, but the pretty soldier boy decided it was still his turn to speak.