Chapter 40: Chapter 36 – Memories of Happy Times

"The annexation of the half of Junora grandpa Aarin kindly offered us, was viewed as a great triumph by the people of Vitalica, a sign that the nation would rise to greater heights. Those of the older generation knew that we only received so much because Grandpa Aarin wished to see whether we would rise into heights anew, or whether the gift he gave turned out to be the rope we hang ourselves on instead.

 

As wise people have said, hindsight is to see things as they really were. While we basked in the good life and peace we enjoyed, we failed to notice the rot and gangrene that had begun to take hold of many of our younger generations, of the opinions some newer councillors held to themselves in public, yet exhorted in private.

 

Even as I now recognize those happy, peaceful days as the beginning of our own downfall, I often reminisce about them, of happier days when my family was still together, long before time and violence had claimed them. Even when I realize that it was a sweet period with bitterness lurking deep within, I still miss those days dearly…" - Diary of Aideen Fiachna, the First Unliving, circa 80 VA

In the end, Aideen's words to Diarmuid didn't exactly come true. Well, partially at least. She did give Faerghus his share of beatings, but it was with Akeshia watching.

 

The girl had ended up staying the night - in Faerghus's room no less - in the end, which prompted Ciarran and Aoife to pay a visit to her parents that same night to talk about their children's future. Aideen had not been privy to what they talked about as she had spent the night giving Diarmuid some extra lessons during their spar, but from what she heard from her mother this morning, Akeshia's parents were just as flustered as their daughter was, and had needed a lot of assurances that yes, the Fiachnas were the ones proposing the union.

 

So for giving their parents extra work so late in the night, Aideen had dragged Faerghus to the backyard when she saw him early in the morning, before most people in the house had even woken up from their slumber.

 

The noise their spar had made attracted a few others who had woken up as well, and soon Diarmuid and Kestera - both with sleepy eyes that indicated a mostly sleepless night - had come over to watch, with a bleary Akeshia in tow. Ciarran came over as well shortly after, wondering what the noise was.

 

"Is it safe for them to be using real weapons to spar?" Ciarran asked his younger son after he saw Faerghus's axe clash against Aideen's metal staff, with neither of them holding back.

 

"We do it all the time in Ptolodecca, father. There is nothing to worry about," answered Diarmuid as he stifled a yawn and ruffled his already messy bed hair. "Nothing Faerghus can do, would do lasting damage to Aideen, and everything she does to him, she can fix in moments."

 

"You make it sound like Aideen is to win for sure?" Akeshia asked with some doubt while she sipped her mug of hot tea. Faerghus was known to be one of the best among the templars, and since she had been close to Aideen before, she had seen Faerghus and Diarmuid spar, most of which Faerghus won handily. She also knew all too well how lazy Aideen was with self defense classes back then.

 

"I've been her sparring partner for a good five years in Ptolodecca… I don't think I've won a single bout in the past three years," stated Diarmuid in a very matter of fact way, which also earned a quirked eyebrow from her father. "She's still taking it easy on Faerghus for now, probably just warming up- ouch, that's gotta hurt."

 

Diarmuid's words were interrupted by a sudden crack of metal on bone, and a surprised, pained gasp from Faerghus as he clutched his right elbow with his left hand. One of Aideen's strikes had landed there and straight up broke the joint.

 

Aideen wordlessly shifted her staff to her left hand as she walked to her brother and grasped the injured area before she worked her magic on it. In moments Faerghus felt the pain vanish, and it was soon replaced by a gentle, soothing warmth.

 

"So when are you going to take responsibility for Akeshia, huh? We all could hear what's going on last night upstairs, brother mine," Aideen jested while she healed her brother. Faerghus and Akeshia's cheeks both blushed red at her words, while Diarmuid and Kestera shared a chuckle. Diarmuid's room was also upstairs.

 

"I would need to trouble father and mother to discuss it with her parents first," replied Faerghus nervously. "We still don't know if they would-"

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"Been there, done that, boy. While you and the girl were having fun last night your mother and I already talked it over with her parents. They agreed, and left the date to us to decide," said Ciarran as he cut off Faerghus' words mid sentence. "I see you're serious about this, so… how does the first of spring sound?"

 

"First of spring?" Echoed Faerghus as he picked up his fallen weapon from the ground. He pondered for a moment, and looked to Akeshia, who returned a shy nod to his look, and finally replied. "If it's not too much trouble for grandfather, I would be happy to choose that date, father."

 

"Son, when your grandpa says he wants to do something on a day, nobody gets to gainsay that. His word is as good as law, and even if it wasn't you can bet he would make it so if it had his grandson's wedding involved," replied Ciarran in turn with a slight smirk. He was quite surprised at how skilled Aideem had grown in the past five years she had been gone. During the Junoran expedition he had barely seen her fight, as they were usually at different places. "So just continue with your spar and let us old folks handle the arrangements. Aideen, dear? Don't break him too badly please. We do need him standing and conscious for his wedding after all."

 

"I think I can still handle my own little sister, father," Faerghus said as he held his weapon and shield in a ready stance and looked at Aideen more seriously. He had taken his sister lightly and was flustered early on, but now he thought he had a better idea of her mettle, and a way to beat her. "Ready, sister? I believe I know the way to defeat you now."

 

"Come, then," Aideen said with her staff pointed at her elder brother.

 

This time, Faerghus charged head on at his little sister, his shield blocked a blow - still far heavier than he thought his sister being capable of - on the approach, and he parried another with his axe as he smashed his shield towards his sister's chest. Aideen blocked the blow with the middle portion of her staff, and Faerghus took the chance to close in.

 

"Your weakness, sister, is that your weapon isn't the best for close quarters like these!" He said as his right arm reared back for a strike with his axe. Despite the assurances she gave, he still planned to hit her with the shaft instead.

 

"Says who?" Replied Aideen as she gave him a mocking smirk and quickly twisted her staff where she held them.

 

The next thing Faerghus knew, his little sister was holding three shorter staves, linked with chains to one another, and blocked his axe with the left one while the middle still held his shield in place. The right one, he soon found slamming against his left shoulder, which made him wince in pain and loosen the pressure on his shield.

 

Then he saw his little sister twirl her odd three-sectioned staff as if it was a living serpent and pain bloomed all over his body, as Aideen struck him all over with her weapon until he crumpled down in defeat and some shame.

 

Shame at being beaten up by his own little sister in front of his fiancee that is.

 

That shame only intensified, when after she healed him again, Aideen hollered at Akeshia to let her know if Faerghus ever made her cry, and that she's help her beat him up if needed.

 

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