Raif - Scout

_{Good Bond (possibly may develop to a Strong Bond)}



/Steady, smooth. Inhale, exhale… Don’t think about it. Just do it… Don’t give into the temptation to open your eyes… Steady…/

“Raif!”

Raif gnashed his teeth in annoyance, feeling his balance suddenly shift terribly to his left and try as hard as he could he couldn’t right himself. His hands flew out to steady himself, his eyes snapping open. He tried to adjust himself, he could feel the tiny rope under his bare foot but something was refusing to give. His arms moved about gracefully, deliberately, but finally he gave in and jumped from the tight rope and onto the dusty red soil.

The young man straightened fully—he was not very tall, but he still had a regal look to him. His black hair was pulled back into a tight pony tail and his bangs shifted annoyingly into his cerulean orbs. He brushed it away, then rested his hands on his hips.

The one to disturb his concentration was one of the few of his siblings that he actually got along with. Raif was not a social man and his quietness was often mistaken for disinterest. However, Scout, one of the ever persistent had managed to work himself into Raif’s life. The future King of Aurora strolled over to his little brother, “Scout, how many times must I tell you—when I am meditating leave me alone.”

Scout blushed a little, looking away shyly as he itched the back of his dark blue hair. Despite the fact that he was still young, the nymph really didn’t have any excuse to blatantly disobey a direct order from the crown prince. Then again, the crown prince was his big brother, so didn’t that count as something?

“Yeah, I’m sorry, Raif… I was just so excited since today you said you were going to teach me how to use Ocean’s Wrath.”

Raif laughed quietly, nodding as he remembered. Scout showed much potential as a Mage—even though he was quick to anger, he was also a fast learner. His ability to concentrate, however, was an entirely different matter.

His hands still on his hips, Raif made his way in a wide circle around his little brother, studying the ground as he walked. His feet were dusted with red chalky soil, but Raif rather enjoyed the warmth of mother earth under his bare feet. He was a magnificent Sage—probably second best to only his father, Yami. Surely he was skilled in other manners, it was expected of him as future King. However, Raif always had a soft spot in his heart for magic. It was something that he honestly enjoyed.

Scout, however, though eager, often lacked the discipline. Raif wasn’t entirely sure that his little brother would be able to pull himself together to eventually become a well-respected Sage himself, but the fact that he was so persistent with his studies was good enough for Raif. He secretly enjoyed having an apprentice.

“Well, Scout.” The black-haired man licked his lips, raising his eyes to meet the blue gaze of the other, “Do you think you’re ready? It’s not a Novice spell… Are you sure you’re ready for the Intermediate?”

Scout snorted, rolling his eyes, “Of course I am. I’ve read all about how you’re suppose to use it, and how you channel it.”

“Well… reading and doing are two different things.”

“I know that. Come on, please?”

Raif nodded quietly, stepping beside his brother so they stood side by side. The crown prince brought his hands up, fingers lacing together expect for the pointer fingers, which rested against each other as they pointed up towards the sky. “Watch closely,

“O strength of sea, maelstrom of ice, bring forth your violent gales and grant mine enemies merciful death.” A blue glyph appeared about the young mans feet, almost as if etching itself into the dry ground. There was a concentration of cold air that appeared several feet away before it grew suddenly in a flashing, pulsating orb of wind and water. Raif slashed his right hand suddenly while his left lifted above his head.

The area was suddenly jerked with a powerful echo of wind that jerked Scout backwards, but his eyes never left the magnificent display. Water came crashing down about the earth, heaving chunks of it into the air where it tumbled down in a shower of wet clumps of dirt. The spell slowly dissolved itself, leaving nothing but a tiny crater among the desolate earth.

“That…was…” Scout trembled, the smile on his face nearly taking it over, “that was so cool, Raif! I-I can’t wait until… Where do I start? How do my hands go? Like this?”

“Settle down, listen.” Raif adjusted the others hands to the proper position and then very firmly grabbed the others chin and stared up into the excited face. Even though Scout was taller, the little nymph knew that his brother could beat him senselessly without even trying—it was obvious in his ease for magic. “Scout, this is not a game. These spells can some day be the difference of life and death for you. This is why I teach you. I want you to be able to protect yourself. Protect yourself only. You will not seek to display your talents to anyone. You will be humble. Do you understand me?”

Scout hesitated for a moment, “Yeah, of course, Raif.”

“…Good.” Raif stepped aside, nodding his consent for the boy to try the spell.

And try Scout did. He chanted the words, nearly perfect, a few stumbles here, but for his first time using an Intermediate spell he did well. The air began to turn cold, but the spell snuffed itself out—unable to build on the young boys chi. There were few Sages in the world for a reason.

“What? What happened, what did I do wrong?” Scout whined, his hands reaching up to tear at his hair, “Damn it, I swear…”

Raif shook his head, sighing. “Don’t be upset, you did well. No one ever is successful with a new spells the first time.”

“Except for you and Dad.” Scout grumbled.

Raif laughed, “Well, there’s always an exceptions to the rule. You, however, are not standing properly.” Raif stepped around his brother and leaned own to pull his feet a few more inches apart. As he straightened he jabbed his palm against Scouts lower back, forcing his body into a more prone position. With expert hands he pushed back Scouts shoulders and lifted his chin. “Hands.” Obediently Scouts hands took the formation that he had been taught. “Now listen. Take in some deep breaths, calm your nerves and your breathing. If you don’t learn to control your breathing your chi will never be able to flow properly and you’ll only be able to handle novice spells. Take your time. Concentrate.”

Raif was pleased that Scout lasted a full five minutes with his deep breathing before he began his chanting again. His second attempt was better, but not nearly as magnificent as Raif’s display. A few flashes of water appeared before the spell collapsed on itself once more and rained down on the ground like a gentle shower.

Raif watched as Scouts face contorted into an angry scowl, his eye twitched and he chewed savagely at his lip. A flush was appearing on his face and Raif was suspecting that the young man was starting to lose it. He rested his hand reassuringly on the others shoulder and Scout seemed to slowly relax. “You’ll do better.”

“…Can you teach me how to do what you were doing earlier? That meditating stuff? Perhaps that will help…”

Raif blinked, surprised, and then he smiled. “Yes, that would be extremely helpful. However, you’re going to start with your feet firmly on the ground just like everyone else.”

“You too?” Scout questioned, surprised as he followed his elder brother towards the training area. It was hard to think of Raif as a novice…

Raif, meanwhile, grinned, his eyes twinkling, “Well, mostly everyone.”

Scout rolled his eyes. There was always an exception to the norm. Raif was living breathing proof of that.

[Ramirez]

<sub>A/N:This is 5/81 of my bonds for my story. Scout and Raif have a "good bond", but I'm seeing it developing into a "strong bond". I may change that. We'll see.

Raif is sort of a developed character for me. He's been around for a long time, but the only times I've ever written with him he's been extremely young and almost never an adult. So it's interesting to write with him as a... older brother/teacher figure.

Scout, I like to write with since he's kind of mischievous and rather stubborn, like his "twin" Vyse. I've never written Scout without Vyse since they're practically attached at the hip, so it was kind of strange detaching his personality from Vyse and letting him explore his own.

Spells, spells, spells... I've never been one to really think too hard about them so I have no idea if that spell sounded really lame or not. Those who are not of red-eyes and black hair cannot use innate spells. And those who aren't of 'demon' blood have to use chants or read scrolls to use spells--like these two. The spells are completely different, you won't find a demon using an innate ability called "Ocean's Wrath", but they can still chant and use these spells. Demons are feared because they do have the ability do use the chi in their blood to react and create magic without chants... yeah, 'nuff explaining.</sub>



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