When Rain Rises

Chapter 12

"Hey, is Peter home?" Rain asked. He was at Peter's apartment and talking to his mother. Over two weeks had passed since he had started training at the field. His routine consisted of showing up almost every day in the morning, being taught some fighting move or technique, and then practicing it for hours on end. They would then do calisthenics for another hour, and finish things off with a brief class on a mental or observation technique Aiden said Vincent agents used.

Rain was pretty good at understanding the mental things, like the different methods used to persuade someone to disclose information, or how to use mental projection to get into your adversary's head and predict their movements. Then there were things he wasn't so good at, like being aware of his surroundings, or paying attention to small details. Regardless, everything Aiden was teaching him proved interesting and made Rain even more excited to get through all this training and actually do a mission as a Vincent agent.

Today was Thursday and he had the first part of the day off, though only because there was some sort of new training scheduled for later on in the evening. Having spent most of the day resting and tending the sore muscles all over his body, he figured he might as well force himself up out of bed and try to reconcile with Peter while he had free time.

"No," Peter's mother shook her head. "He's at a class with the merchants." She looked somewhat aged with pale skin, crow's feet, and several gray strands in her hair.

"Oh," Rain said, disappointed.

"He'll be back in an hour or so," she offered sweetly. "You can come inside and wait, if you want."

"No, that's okay I've got somewhere to be. Just tell him I came by, okay?"

"I will, have a good day, Rain." And with that she closed the door.

"You, too," Rain muttered as he turned away and walked through the apartment's narrow, moldy hallway before exiting into the outside world. The sun was starting to set. Rain wasn't expecting to talk to Peter for long, but now he wouldn't get any chance at all. With a sigh, he headed down the street towards the field.

It was somewhat chilly as he walked. Rain was wearing a dark gray cotton jacket in addition to his usual t-shirt and jeans. He had been wearing the same outfit every day, seeing no reason to change into something else just so it could get dirty as well. He also wasn't exactly sure how he'd wash his clothes once they got too dirty. It wasn't like they had running water.

He would have to talk with Aunt Leith about moving soon. They deserved a better house.

It had only taken Rain ten minutes or so to reach the field. He saw Aiden sitting cross-legged in the middle of the field with his eyes closed. He was in his standard Vincent outfit today, unlike last week when he was in sporty attire. Alyse was nowhere to be seen. Rain must be early. Unsure of how to proceed, Rain cautiously walked over to his mentor while he meditated.

"You're early, Rain," Aiden called out once Rain was within a dozen yards of him.

"How'd you know it was me?" Rain asked.

"I wouldn't have been able to hear Alyse."

"And if it was neither of us?"

"You would have said something sooner, or have already shot me."

"Gotcha."

Aiden opened an eye as Rain stood in front of him and sat down.

"How have you been feeling about your training thus far, Rain?" Aiden asked after a moment of silence had passed.