The Shadow of the Accursed Executioner

Chapter 16: The Hidden Flame

The light from the midst of clear, blue skies had beam into the hole of a decrepit temple like a cone of light, the light of the sun enveloping my body from my place upon a wide stage beside a dusty pulpit. For gradually I had unveil my eyes to see up to the sight of dark and empty pews throughout a roomy temple, and along grey pillars beside the pews, which their shafts were etched with deep cracks and concealed by heavy overgrowth, as towering weeds like small trees had protruded through the gaps within the rubble from a collapsed section of the temple. Yet as I had retain my eyes to see-to embrace to the completion of a performance, the return of silence, of winds, chirps were heard from the temple's high ceiling as mounds of crusty, old dung (and fresh dung too) were splattered upon the sections of pews by small birds with long, waggy tails, who had perched upon the edges of the revealing holes of the temple's high ceiling, as they continue to release upon those pews with white drips.
Then along for the applause of a single man had cheered before me and to praise me from his place from a back section of the pews.
"Incredible!!" He cheered from across the roomy temple in utmost delight. For Ayu's pretty face were bright and his glimmering eyes had ignite into a change like deep-blue fire, as I return through a lane between rows of pews. "I must say, Ghen, you...are truly talented." He said, complementing me with a smirk, and grand admiration filling his smile which had grew a little smug yet satisfied. "But... Oh?" He thought. "No." He answered. "No, surely you must be the finest-sounding man in the whole entire realm." He said, a certainty had etched through his smile as he folds his right leg over the other then resting his arms over the tops of the pew, as he continues to stare with brimming confidence from the aura of his innate kindness.
"It is only a knack." I said. "But father was good. Very good." I added. "He told me that he always use to sing for my mother. And if he ever did anything that would cause her to etch even a frown to him, he would then sing for her on his knees... But even then, still...I had witnessed him on his knees for her."
"Ohh!" He replied with a short moan, then glancing up at the ceiling in awe and a plucked heart, displaying false agony. "Must it really be so romantic?! You know I cannot handle such ravishing acts of beauty."
"Hehehe." Releasing a faint chuckle, I had, a solid smirk lining my cheeks as I place my hand against the edge of a pew before his lane of pews.
"From such a caring man, your father, such a...charming and talented man, he is." He continued. "Let alone he be the one with your mother..."
Then I slipped into the lane and so to sit beside Ayu.
"Charming. I suppose..." I thought. "After all...I was brought into this world by his performances. But you already know how the rest is foretold. Thrusting motions and deep thoughts of love with a part of you inside that woman." I remarked.
"Oh my."
"But talented as well, I suppose... Father does wield a better voice. He is as talented as you are with your hands over an organ or wrapped around a sword or a spear."
"..."
"...But all this...has kept me wondering. All, until this very day..."
"..."
"...Why...?" I questioned lowly, wondering, darkly and devastated for Ayu, truly. "...Are you really still leaving?"
And now pondering.
For I had lowered my head with a thoughtful gaze into the degraded flooring of the temple's blue carpet, which were dark and riddled of rubble which were like crumbs through the ageing of its years within ruin.
For deeply I were burdened by the devastation of Ayu leaving the realm for the longing it were to be. And now as he raised his arm off the pew then to sit closer with his hips beside mine, he placed his hand over my back with a rub along the shoulders, with the touch of his hand felt dearly soothing over my woolly tunic.
"I must tell you something." He said, his voice endearing and calm of sympathy. "I, myself, am quite talented, you see. Yet still, I am departing for this journey which shall be chivalrous and cold, with ordinary men. Ordinary men...who are in possession of the one thing that I am truly most willing to acquire. ...Skill."
He had answered.
For then he had rose from his seat among the pews, to then slip on out between the pews before me and myself. For Ayu stepped away and had remain to the centre of the lane between the many pews as he turns back to face me.
"Come." He insisted. "You must stand for this." He said.
Obeying, I rose off the pew by his request. I stepped forward to the centre of the lane between the many pews and to stand before he and he before me.
Yet now he kneeled before me. Yet then he tucked his opposing knee in, too. As it were no knight's kneel but like a humble beg onto his knees and his hands over his thighs, too.
"Ghen." He called to me. For his long and silver hair had concealed his blue eyes as it were draped over his refined cheeks. "I must tell you, that there is a difference between talent and skill." He said, adamant and proudly admitting to me. "Talent is only but an unguided start upon those who may or may not choose to follow its beauty."
"..."
"However skills are acquired. Which means that they are backed by reason... For I must acquire the skills to become a Knight of the Realm and to protect the people. And yes I am aware that many in my family must become great warriors, regardless. However..."
"..."
"Ghen...!" He called out to me again-and now his eyes like sapphires up at mine and along his voice turning fragile, but yet be so proud that it went be queer, too. "Ghen, I...-I truly wish to be a knight! ...-A knight, who vows to retain your wish!" He announced, his charming voice now a quiver between pain and pride. "Remember? For you had always wished for a realm of peace..." He added, confessing to me with his eyes gazing down and his luscious hair over his eyes once more.
And now eventually rising off his knees, Ayu confronted me with his seamless eyes and a stoic pose, as he brought his arms around my body. For it were a warm and tightly hug like the embracing of a soul. Pure were the touch of this man, I thought, a saint, filling my heart with comfort and a pleasant fragrance off his pale skin and with the touching of his silver hair which were as smooth as silk or silk beyond.
"Everyone wants peace." I said, prolonging our clutches as I peered vaguely into a dim section of the temple's ruin from Ayu's shoulder. "But you'll be gone for a long time." I added, expressing concern for his future, a linger of uncertainty began to cloud my thoughts.
As now Ayu had remain in my arms and did not speak. But eventually he brought away his hands from our hug and now to place them over my shoulders. Then he turned away with a moment under his hair and a stoic display, to then turn back and to see to my eyes with a flawless smile, a dashing face beyond beauty.
"Sing for me when I return." He said, keeping his smile, his eyes upon mine as he brought his hand to my face. "You have the voice. Now you must hone it." He added, deep and enchanting were his queer voice.
As now he turns away with the release of his hands and a subtle gait toward the temple doors, which had displayed the indents of a depiction, of tall, blank figures like two vague men, innate within the black surface of each half-door.
For then the brightly glowing of a midst, plain day had shut away into a dullness of returnable darkness by his departure, beyond the black doors, now as I had lean against the edge of a pew with a growing thought of concern. Which now that thought of concern had grew worse into a thought of realised sorrow.
As now he were gone for a time I cannot bear to seemingly burden throughout.
As now for I had squint my eyes in pain. For I had clenched my teeth in agony. And now dropping into the lane of the pew with a shuddering weep and a noised moan which grew deeper and deeper, I now brought my face into my arms, to weep from my place among the pews. Away from the light's shining rays of light over the stage from where I had sung.