Raif-Amethyst

Strong Bond



The moonlight glittered off the black expanse of ocean and left streams of silver to guide the ships docking and undocking from Aurora City port. The sky was cloudless and every star offered itself as a loyal guide. Though, one did not have to be a sailor to admire the beauty befalling the city tonight. The wind was gentle and warm as it blew the pleasantry of the sea into the city. Standing in one of Aurora Castle’s many balcony’s stood two men, leaning dreamily against the railing as they admired Nor’s wondrous starlight.

It was Amethyst who spoke, breaking the silence. “Do you think we’ll ever see it?”

“Hmm?” Raif mused, tilting his head slightly towards his youngest brother, but he did not let his cerulean gaze leave the glittering sky. “See what?” he mumbled quietly.

“Peace.”

Raif blinked once before turning his gaze to the other. Amethyst did not look at him, but instead his gaze stared hard off into the horizon. His violet eyes, however, did not seem to be taking in nights beauty. He seemed stiff, annoyed, bitter. For a moment, Raif found it odd that the color of Amethyst’s hair reminded him strongly of the moonlight. “Peace…?” Raif finally repeated, almost inattentively.

“Yes, Raif, peace.” Amethyst finally let his gaze meet his brothers. “Long has this world be ravaged with wars… We have a great and kind Lord sitting upon one of the most powerful thrones in Nor… and yet war still rages like a terrible beast.”

Raif smiled, and it was a sad smile, “A king may be great, Amethyst, but it is the people who decide whether there will be peace over war.”

“What do you mean?”

Raif sighed quietly, leaning his elbows against the stone balcony, his fingers locking together as he stared wordlessly up into the velvet sky for a moment. “A king may wage war, but if the people do not bring up arms to defend their kings honor then you have but tyrant king full of hateful words… But it is also true that a king may wish with all his soul to befriend his former foes, to extend a hand of peace when it could be easier to brandish a sword… but if the people may very well disagree with the kings actions… In rare occasions he may be dethroned, possibly…. killed…” There was a strained moment of silence—their grandfather, King Kitisrumi had fell under the hands of an assassin for very different reasons—he had waged an unjust war. It seemed men would very easily strike a king down for war as for peace.

“Yet, Aurora City is not as cold as it was once. Demons walk the city now…. They trade, open shops, have families here… Years before they would have been chased out of the outskirts of the city—or worse. Many things are different, Raif, and yet we still have no peace.”

Raif took a moment to consider his brothers words. It was very true—Aurora City had once been notorious for its ‘pureness’. Any demon that set foot within the city walls had readily been captured and destroyed. The Starboon lineage and been one of absolute purity—that was, at least, until their father, Yami, had been born. His birth had been the beginnings to a new view towards the demonic race… Although it had not started out kindly, Yami had done much for the country to sway many to at least stay their hand against the crimson-eyed people. His actions gave pause to their hatred… That, at least, was good.

“I will not pretend to know the hearts of men, but I will at least say that the position of power over another often corrupts them. Why have symbiotic peace when one can easily reign over the other?” Raif spoke plainly, and perhaps his matter of fact tone was why Amethyst gave him such a venomous stare.

“So it is better to chain and dehumanize another if it brings advantages?” Amethyst felt a twitch to his brow, and he reached up to rub at it annoyingly. The hearts of men were indeed corrupted if they preferred shackles over friendship.

“I did not say every ruler wishes this. Aurora has become allies with countries our ancestors would have gladly given their lives to destroy. Our gates, as well as our hearts, have opened to people we once feared and loathed. The people are changing… It may take centuries for the hatred to subside, but we are moving to peace, one city at a time.”

They both went silent; Raif gently, Amethyst in a brooding sort of way. The silver-haired man sighed harshly and shook his head, staring hard down at the sleepy gardens below. How silly it was to harbor feelings of hatred and unease to feelings of love and understanding. It seemed obvious of which one should prefer… Or perhaps it was easier to hate what your father hated then to love what they did not?

But it would be easy to love what they loved, wouldn’t it?

“Do you think we will see peace in our lifetime?” Amethyst finally asked. Raif looked to him and tilted his head slightly. His black bangs framed his face that was so peculiarly like their father. “When you are King?”

“I will certainly do my best to uphold the peace.”

“Do your best?” Amethyst almost sneered, “You would declare war?”

“It pains me to think of Aurora’s people forced to take arms, but sometimes war is unavoidable. As long as someone is in a position of power they have the ability to abuse it. It is the duty of others to stop such misuse of power… You would not wish for any to stand idly by as others suffer needlessly under a abusive Lord?”

Amethyst struggled for a moment. He wished to deny any thought of aggression towards another with brute force… but if it were to save the lives of innocents? Amethyst shook his head fiercely and dug his hand into his hair, curling his fingers painfully into it.

He held his tongue. He could not find a sturdy position of where he fell on such a thought. Would it be impossible to persuade others with reason? Evidently not, seeing as his very own grandfather had not been persuaded to peace. It had taken a knife plunged deep into his chest to cease his powerful ambitions to destroy the demons… It had taken the violent act of murder of one man to save thousands—perhaps millions—of others from the same fate.

With an annoyed sigh, and a slight glare to the crown prince of Aurora, Amethyst turned and marched purposefully towards the brightly lit balcony doors without a word. He pushed it opened and paused—barely able to see Raif in the corner of his eye. The dark-haired man was leaning lazily against the balcony still, serenely watching him almost as if he was not aware of how terribly annoyed Amethyst was.

Amethyst scoffed, “A fine king you will make, brother.” And he meant it. With a slight smirk Amethyst turned and left without another word.

When he was sure the other was gone, Raif let out a low harsh breath, turning back to the ocean and the stars. He rubbed the back of his head fiercely. It made perfect sense why his older brothers refused the throne.

Being a politician was difficult work.



[Ramirez]

A/N: Story Bond 39/81

This came to me out of no where. Not lying. Just bam, conversation there and would not shut up. I liked it since it was significantly different tone then the rest of the story bonds... and so it stays =P


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