He was Almost Absorbed by the System

Chapter Sixty Three - Fire Burns, Water Flows

Within a slightly sheltered corner of the courtyard of the White Orchid Palace, two young boy's lingered away from their strict teachers and the unkind eyes of unhappy concubines.  One boy moved with agitated expression as if he was made of fire, alight with energy, unable to pause less his flame no longer burned.  He danced with random motion, brandishing a bamboo sword and fighting figment spirits only he could see.  The other boy was calm like still water, sitting legs outstretched upon the stone wall that sheltered their small haven.  In his hand he held a book of poetry, though he seemed uninterested in the words it held.

The boys were five years this past season and now as summer brought forth its lazy days and the majority of concubines hid from the rays of the sun less their fair skin colour, they claimed the courtyard as their own. Both boys shared porcelain skin, fresh and youthful, plumb as a ripe peach. Their black eyes were bright and had long black hair, the length braided and tied with silk.  Raised by one mother, though born of two wombs, they spent their days together in company of the other and were as close as brothers could be.

"Stand oh coward!" The fiery boy, spun with exaggerated flair and thrust his sword forward with all force of his small arm.

"What does my brave brother fight today?" the calm boy mocked without intent.

"The savages in the West!" The boy kicked to the height equal to his own waist, before slicing the figment in two. "Or perhaps the heathens in the heartlands.  You should join me, Yu Long."

"Perhaps later, older brother," the other said, lazily, before returning his attention to his book.

"Is the book so interesting?" The First Prince asked, he was not fond of learning script nor practicing calligraphy.  He would rather be outdoors and practice martial arts or learn the sword or bow!  They had not the teachers for the latter yet, but had snuck onto the roofs near the compound of the palace guards to watch them train.  He longed to be amongst them!

"No, the words are simple and verses ill arranged," the Second Prince sighed, but he did not put down the book, continuing to take to eye its words.  He had actually read this book once already and once was enough, his memory was exceptional having developed throughout worlds.  Indeed he was not reading, but thinking of his lost lover.  He had spent these five years not idle, learning about the new world, trying to find the man he seemed to chase endlessly.  After all, he had awoken as a babe in arms, all memories of his past lives still intact, did this not mean his lover was near?  But the only one of his age near was Jie Long and he did not believe this boy was Warren.  His heart did not beat any quicker and he did not feel that sense of wholeness as when Warren was near. And besides he had the vague feeling this boy was something else...

The First Prince paused mid-strike.  "But if it is so dull, surely then playing with me is better!"

"Shoo, shoo," Yu Long waved him away, "Teacher says that reading books need use attention, one word worth one thousand gold!"

Jie Long pouted and poked his younger brother with the tip of the bamboo sword.  "Teacher also said that reading 10,000 books is not as good as walking 10,000 steps."  Yu Long glanced down at his brother, before careful inserting a silk ribbon in between the pages he had read until.  He then placed the book upon the wall and leapt down from the wall, with a grace unknown of one his small years.  He took up the spare bamboo sword and took stance opposite his brother.  His feet were not too wide apart, one in front of the other and his spare hand held behind his back.

Jie Long grinned and poured his energies into his sword, leaping to attack his younger brother.  The other boy did not move from his spot nor made to dodge, instead his grip strong and his wrist loose, he used the bamboo sword to block the far reaching thrust.  Then as if he were holding a brush to write with rather than a sword to battle, he drew in the air before him and guided Jie Long's sword until it slipped from grasp and fell upon the courtyard grounds.  The First Prince looked in disbelief as Yu Long placed his sword next to the wall and leapt up upon it to regain the position he had left before.