Shielded in Broken Armours
Early Years 2
Tanis Seer-Nis intended to take advantage of the chance he was being offered, and strolled down the rock-made hallways of the Monastery of Dreak toward the library. It was the seventh day of the week, and not many were around even at ten in the morning. No matter the place, most of the people of Demonis seemed to take their resting day very seriously.
Tanis had only arrived two days previously, and was given a brief introduction into the rules he was to follow during his stay there. Apparently, being the first foreigner to step into that place in over five centuries had not made him too popular with the instructors and teachers - who were all Dreak, even the scholars -, but nobody was about to disobey a direct order from Prince Sagni-Dor. They might have been adverse to the idea, but they were loyal to their liege and would never turn against him. And Meris Keefer, Master of the Monastery and First Councillor of the Dreak, had proven the most tolerant man, reassuring Tanis that he would harshly punish any offence that might be brought to the Angelian during his four year-long stay.
Tanis' heart cringed at his lost freedom, the country he had left behind him when he had been taken prisoner. Why were his feelings of loyalty toward Angelia and King Teh-Kai growing weaker? Sure, Demonis had proved a most tolerant country after he had been released from prison, but still he should not feel this break from his own land. Even with all the wonders of Demonis laid before him...
Sighing, the Angelian realized he had just passed the library door. He had been given a quick tour of the perimeter the other day as well, but the young cadets had been away on some field trip and thus he had not yet met the Prince Heir of Demonis just yet. Just as well, for he didn't know if he was ready to face the young man. From what he had been told, as a boy his tutors had not lasted more than one year each. And although Master Keefer had said Ignis had 'grown up and calmed down a little', Tanis was not quite sure what to expect.
Well, the least he could do was find some interesting topics for his first lessons. He did not want to bore his student from the first lesson. And that was one of the reasons why he had come to the library, beside his scholarly desire to discover new things about Demonis and its inhabitants.
He had expected to find the large hall empty, but there were actually people there, one woman and two men that stared at Tanis a little before they returned to their own studies, as well as a group of cadets that gawked at him as he strode towards an empty table by the window, equipped with paper and writing instruments. First year cadets, he thought, seeing none could have been older than fifteen. And by the looks on their faces and the stares he was receiving, he doubted they had ever seen an Angelian this close before. They were all wearing some light blue tunics, safe for one that looked older and had a darker blue tunic. In fact, the older girl snapped at the others and hurried them away soon after Tanis had arrived, leaving him with only the three Dreak for company.
Doubting they would be very helpful, the Angelian settled his own worn notebook on the table he had chosen and began to roam the various rows of bookcases in the room, perusing the labelled shelves for something that might prove of interest to an energetic young man. Natural History, Statistics, Arithmetic, Astronomy... several dozen labels swarmed in front of his eyes until he found what he was looking for - The Art of War.
Grinning to himself and scanning the two packed bookcases, he noticed there were plenty of familiar Angelian authors he could choose from, along with the Demon ones he knew less about. He caught a familiar Demon name, one General Tyren Derien-Sey who had been a military genius in his days and was known to have won several wars against Angelia. Wondering at the irony of having to teach someone how to make war against Tanis' own country, he picked up the book and leafed through it, asking himself if the Prince Heir would be interested. He wished the older cadet had stayed behind - no doubt she would have known something about Ignis Sagni-Dor's tastes.
Returning to his desk, he spotted someone he had not noticed before; not because he had not looked properly, but because the person was practically buried behind two piles of books, and had no doubt been writing thus far. Now, the sound of pages being leafed through furiously made him take a step closer and look over the books curiously, only to find a beautiful young man dressed in one of the dark blue tunics who was browsing through a large volume that claimed to be an anthology of Natural Sciences if one was to judge by the illustrations. Fiery red hair complimented the youth's pale complexion, caught in a tight braid that fell halfway down his back. Slim fingers had stopped the leafing and were now following the script of one page, undoubtedly searching the important information the young man was looking for.
Tanis was just debating whether to risk and ask the youth about his royal colleague's interests or not, when the red head shot up and the cadet asked, "May I help you?"
The Angelian found himself captivated by the soft tenor and the large eyes now fixing him, of a strange deep burgundy colour. Aware of having been caught staring, he decided he would have to get out of this elegantly. He did not wish to be accused of having molested any of the cadets with his 'improper behaviour'.
"Yes. I was wondering... what topic would appeal to a young man for his first lesson with a new teacher?"
Two equally red brows shot up, and a little smile twitched at the corners of a previously serious mouth. "That depends on the person, and the subject. Are you here to teach us politics?"
Tanis blinked at the young man's words. Had the cadets already been informed he had been sent by the Prince? His class was considered optional, because it was not supposed to be known which of the second level cadets was Prince Sagni-Dor's son and all were to be treated equally. However, it was not optional for the young Prince Heir; but he had not counted on having more than one student present. As it was, word of the subject of his lessons had gotten out faster than one would have thought.
A gentle cough reminded him he had not answered the question. "Well yes, actually I am."
This seemed to make the youth study him a little more carefully, although Tanis doubted he had missed the fact that this new teacher was Angelian, and certainly not Dreak. The cadet's eyes stopped on the book Tanis was still holding, and his face lit up. "Not a bad choice," he told the older man, pointing at the leather-covered volume, "however I doubt it has anything to do with politics."
Surprised at the easiness with which he was addressed, as well as the lack of any fear from the youth, Tanis decided he could at least get an honest opinion. "I was told a certain student of mine would grow bored rather easily," he confessed. "I thought that if I start with something he might find appealing, it would work a little miracle for our teacher-student relationship."
The red-haired youth closed the volume he had been studying and gathered a pile of papers covered in a neat and flowing handwriting with long ink-stained fingers. Rising up from his working table and coming around to stand next to Tanis, he leaned over confidently and offered the Angelian an honest smile. "Why don't you start with some compared politics between Demonis and Angelia, then? I am sure you would find it easier, and it would make the classes much more interesting for that certain someone." He chuckled to himself, and winked at Tanis. Holding his papers in his left hand, he extended his right for Tanis to clasp. "By the way, I am Ignis. And don't worry; I am sure I am not as much a nuisance as my father has made you believe I am."
The last part had been a whisper between the two of them, perhaps meant to erase the Angelian's astonishment and put him somewhat at ease. The youth - Ignis Sagni-Dor, Prince Heir of Demonis - waited patiently for Tanis to take his hand and shake it, still a little hesitantly, and then made his way towards the exit, saluting the Dreak in the room as he passed by each of them.
He was clever, Tanis realized, much more clever than he had initially expected, and not as reluctant as the Angelian had been told. Perhaps he had changed in the four years he had spent at the Monastery; or perhaps none of his previous teachers had ever bothered to ask him about his own interests. Whatever the case, Tanis was aware he had been given a chance to prove himself. He wanted to become the young man's friend, if possible, and secure for himself the position of a true teacher, not just another tutor. And perhaps, in time, he would also gain the young man's trust.