[Legend of Sun Knight] fic: Fifteen Going on Sixty (Going on Fifteen) Part 2
Title: Fifteen Going on Sixty (Going on Fifteen) Part 2
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1130
Summary: The secret behind the Pope's youth is no small secret. Even the Pope himself has tried to forget, but when Grisia comes too close, the Pope is forced to confront his past.
Notes: Completely veering into wild theory territory. This will definitely not be true of FW canon whenever that ends up being released. (But like many people have already figured out, Female Warrior is involved in this! So, I suppose you could consider this a crossover. Then again, they are of the same universe...) Spoilers for LSK up to V5C6 for this part.
Previous part
Part 2: Siren Call
I hadn't always been a cynic.
There was a time when I believed that everyone had goodness in their hearts. It was what he believed too, and together we were always considered the naivest pair of the group, though my brother did give us a run for our money. Even when my belief began to waver, his presence always made me want to believe all over again.
Time was what made me into a cynic. Time, and the fact that I would forever have to live with the aftermath. Time, and how it took away my companions one-by-one until I nearly ended up alone.
Time was what I could never win against.
Although people claimed that Grisia was the Sun Knight most like the Sun Knight of legends, the very epitome of perfection, possibly the incarnation of the God of Light Himself, hearing so always amused me. Thankfully, my veil concealed my twitching lips whenever it happened. Otherwise, no one would be able to take me seriously.
It was already difficult for most to take me seriously. If not for my command of holy magic, most would dismiss me as nothing more than a boy despite my years. Having the appearance of a fifteen-year-old boy was truly very inconvenient. It never stopped being so.
No one around me knew the true reason behind my appearance. They thought I was like Neo, that I chased after everlasting youth.
No one was ever around long enough and had the right clues to figure out the truth.
Until Grisia.
Unfortunately, those clues came from personal experience that I would never wish upon anyone, not even Grisia.
I should say... especially not Grisia.
He reminded me too much of myself.
The day Grisia revealed that he'd learned Resurrection, I rolled my eyes at him. "You're putting all the clerics in the world to shame!"
Inwardly, I was alarmed. I thought he would be like all the other Sun Knights before him and be on the receiving end of getting injured and healed. It was an inconvenience, but I was confident that no Sun Knight would die under my watch. I would never let it happen again.
I didn't think I'd have to look out for this too, that I would have to watch him walk down a path of no return.
It wasn't like Grisia was a cleric no matter how much we joked about it!
Resurrection was a double-edged sword. I hoped he would never have to use it, but like a siren's call, once you're exposed to it, it becomes nearly impossible to resist. He was bound to become careless, to think that he could conquer death.
I knew all too well the allure of Resurrection. I also knew all too well the dangers of Resurrection.
I'd personally experienced both.
Sun, you can't die!
If you die, what path would we follow?
We would be lost!
When sunlight streamed in from my windows, I rolled over and planted my face into my pillow. The pillow grew moist. I breathed in and out, trying to reorient myself. It had been years since I last dreamed of his death, but even now, I remembered it vividly.
I could never forget.
Not his pale countenance. Not the stricken looks on everyone's faces. Not the rough gravel below my knees. Not the taste of blood on my lips.
I'd bitten on my lips so hard that I'd drawn blood.
How could I ever forget?
It didn't help that golden-haired, blue-eyed men reminded me of him at every turn, and each time they got hurt, I would remember. Though they might all be loved by the God of Light, none were as loved as he had been, and even then, he had gotten hurt beyond our control.
This time, the memory was triggered because of a different reason.
Grisia had learned Resurrection.
Do you mock me, God?
Do you?
The first time Grisia returned from using Resurrection, I actually dared to hope that he hadn't been affected. He was just as cheeky as ever, and his physical appearance was still the same. I paid particular attention to his hair, but it looked untouched. Then again, I could not tell that Ceo's hair was dyed, so perhaps God had struck willfully again, and it was just that Grisia had covered it up. After all, Grisia would never let himself appear in public without looking perfect.
When I found out that what Grisia had paid was his sight, I was actually relieved.
It was a small price compared to what I...
It was a small price.
Perhaps even God had learned what true benevolence was among mortals.
When that child Lesus fell, I knew without a doubt that Grisia would never abandon him, and he would never leave Lesus's revival to chance.
I had once been that way too, but even if I wanted to risk myself, I no longer could.
I had nothing more to give that God wanted.
I would not be able to convince Grisia not to use Resurrection. His mind was set. Not even his holy knights would be able to convince him otherwise, so who was I to speak?
I had not been able to prevent Lesus's death. I had not been able to protect Grisia. Once again, I had failed. Once again, I realized how powerless I was despite all my years as the Pope.
Even after all these years, wasn't I still that same naive fifteen-year-old boy who thought he could protect his comrades from the world?
How laughingly naive of me. Though I may be the Pope, that didn't mean I had become all powerful. I never did learn, did I?
I busied myself with taking out boxes of powdered gemstones from my bookcase.
When Grisia said that he would not lose anything too serious, not if the God of Light wanted him to continue being the Sun Knight, I could not help but retort that it was just his guess.
God had never said so.
God had never cared about the position of the Sun Knight.
God had only ever cared about...
I knew this even though Grisia thought my words to be conjecture.
But all I could do was continue drawing the magic circle and hope that bringing out all of my most expensive ingredients to assist in drawing the circle would aid Grisia enough that God might change His mind.
Although I was not loved by God, I hoped that our comradeship would at least sway His mind.
As I drew the circle, I could not help but wonder if I was secretly wishing...
No.
Even I was not that cruel, right?
I would not wish that upon anyone else.
But when Lesus opened his eyes and Grisia's hair turned white, I could not understand the emotion coursing through me.
I gulped.
No...
While the Twelve Holy Knights looked relieved that Grisia's hair turned white...
While Grisia himself thought nothing of it and merely covered it up with magic...
I reached up to my own white hair.
No one knew that my white hair had not resulted because of my age.
It was the result of Resurrection.
to be continued
:'D;;
Next part
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1130
Summary: The secret behind the Pope's youth is no small secret. Even the Pope himself has tried to forget, but when Grisia comes too close, the Pope is forced to confront his past.
Notes: Completely veering into wild theory territory. This will definitely not be true of FW canon whenever that ends up being released. (But like many people have already figured out, Female Warrior is involved in this! So, I suppose you could consider this a crossover. Then again, they are of the same universe...) Spoilers for LSK up to V5C6 for this part.
Previous part
Part 2: Siren Call
I hadn't always been a cynic.
There was a time when I believed that everyone had goodness in their hearts. It was what he believed too, and together we were always considered the naivest pair of the group, though my brother did give us a run for our money. Even when my belief began to waver, his presence always made me want to believe all over again.
Time was what made me into a cynic. Time, and the fact that I would forever have to live with the aftermath. Time, and how it took away my companions one-by-one until I nearly ended up alone.
Time was what I could never win against.
Although people claimed that Grisia was the Sun Knight most like the Sun Knight of legends, the very epitome of perfection, possibly the incarnation of the God of Light Himself, hearing so always amused me. Thankfully, my veil concealed my twitching lips whenever it happened. Otherwise, no one would be able to take me seriously.
It was already difficult for most to take me seriously. If not for my command of holy magic, most would dismiss me as nothing more than a boy despite my years. Having the appearance of a fifteen-year-old boy was truly very inconvenient. It never stopped being so.
No one around me knew the true reason behind my appearance. They thought I was like Neo, that I chased after everlasting youth.
No one was ever around long enough and had the right clues to figure out the truth.
Until Grisia.
Unfortunately, those clues came from personal experience that I would never wish upon anyone, not even Grisia.
I should say... especially not Grisia.
He reminded me too much of myself.
The day Grisia revealed that he'd learned Resurrection, I rolled my eyes at him. "You're putting all the clerics in the world to shame!"
Inwardly, I was alarmed. I thought he would be like all the other Sun Knights before him and be on the receiving end of getting injured and healed. It was an inconvenience, but I was confident that no Sun Knight would die under my watch. I would never let it happen again.
I didn't think I'd have to look out for this too, that I would have to watch him walk down a path of no return.
It wasn't like Grisia was a cleric no matter how much we joked about it!
Resurrection was a double-edged sword. I hoped he would never have to use it, but like a siren's call, once you're exposed to it, it becomes nearly impossible to resist. He was bound to become careless, to think that he could conquer death.
I knew all too well the allure of Resurrection. I also knew all too well the dangers of Resurrection.
I'd personally experienced both.
Sun, you can't die!
If you die, what path would we follow?
We would be lost!
When sunlight streamed in from my windows, I rolled over and planted my face into my pillow. The pillow grew moist. I breathed in and out, trying to reorient myself. It had been years since I last dreamed of his death, but even now, I remembered it vividly.
I could never forget.
Not his pale countenance. Not the stricken looks on everyone's faces. Not the rough gravel below my knees. Not the taste of blood on my lips.
I'd bitten on my lips so hard that I'd drawn blood.
How could I ever forget?
It didn't help that golden-haired, blue-eyed men reminded me of him at every turn, and each time they got hurt, I would remember. Though they might all be loved by the God of Light, none were as loved as he had been, and even then, he had gotten hurt beyond our control.
This time, the memory was triggered because of a different reason.
Grisia had learned Resurrection.
Do you mock me, God?
Do you?
The first time Grisia returned from using Resurrection, I actually dared to hope that he hadn't been affected. He was just as cheeky as ever, and his physical appearance was still the same. I paid particular attention to his hair, but it looked untouched. Then again, I could not tell that Ceo's hair was dyed, so perhaps God had struck willfully again, and it was just that Grisia had covered it up. After all, Grisia would never let himself appear in public without looking perfect.
When I found out that what Grisia had paid was his sight, I was actually relieved.
It was a small price compared to what I...
It was a small price.
Perhaps even God had learned what true benevolence was among mortals.
When that child Lesus fell, I knew without a doubt that Grisia would never abandon him, and he would never leave Lesus's revival to chance.
I had once been that way too, but even if I wanted to risk myself, I no longer could.
I had nothing more to give that God wanted.
I would not be able to convince Grisia not to use Resurrection. His mind was set. Not even his holy knights would be able to convince him otherwise, so who was I to speak?
I had not been able to prevent Lesus's death. I had not been able to protect Grisia. Once again, I had failed. Once again, I realized how powerless I was despite all my years as the Pope.
Even after all these years, wasn't I still that same naive fifteen-year-old boy who thought he could protect his comrades from the world?
How laughingly naive of me. Though I may be the Pope, that didn't mean I had become all powerful. I never did learn, did I?
I busied myself with taking out boxes of powdered gemstones from my bookcase.
When Grisia said that he would not lose anything too serious, not if the God of Light wanted him to continue being the Sun Knight, I could not help but retort that it was just his guess.
God had never said so.
God had never cared about the position of the Sun Knight.
God had only ever cared about...
I knew this even though Grisia thought my words to be conjecture.
But all I could do was continue drawing the magic circle and hope that bringing out all of my most expensive ingredients to assist in drawing the circle would aid Grisia enough that God might change His mind.
Although I was not loved by God, I hoped that our comradeship would at least sway His mind.
As I drew the circle, I could not help but wonder if I was secretly wishing...
No.
Even I was not that cruel, right?
I would not wish that upon anyone else.
But when Lesus opened his eyes and Grisia's hair turned white, I could not understand the emotion coursing through me.
I gulped.
No...
While the Twelve Holy Knights looked relieved that Grisia's hair turned white...
While Grisia himself thought nothing of it and merely covered it up with magic...
I reached up to my own white hair.
No one knew that my white hair had not resulted because of my age.
It was the result of Resurrection.
to be continued
:'D;;
Next part