=============...

From a short distance away a young man in full uniform as a peacekeeper watched as children beat up a younger boy on the ground. He paused in his step, not approaching, nor interrupting. The child on the ground of was easily recognizable as a Llewellyn, even before one of the children shouted his name. Akagi. The Royal Family had little influence in the world, but were known for being the face of Arynn Frey, as well as exceedingly privileged. 

The young man, Cyrus Beckett, watched with bright eyes from the shadows as Akagi was struck down. Children were cruel, that was the nature of the world, but Cyrus was much more curious not in the ones doing the beating, but the boy getting beat. His eyes narrowed as he studied the movement of the young man, always on the defense and even when left alone with his humiliation and pain, never showed anger. That was... remarkable.

Once the other kids left, Cyrus stepped from the shadows and approached the boy, offering his hand. If he took it, he'd pull him up and begin to help him dust off, "Why are you crying?" The words weren't cold, but warmly inquisitive. There was a lot that just happened and the boy held it in until that moment, he wanted to know what pushed him over the edge.

=============...

Cyrus Blackwood was working his office, reviewing some reports from his agents in Lorendale. It would seem that not all the gifted allied with what the Eldouirs had done, some known were allying with the royalty. While the general sentiments of the citizens was caustic toward their magic in general. How delightfully useful.

As the slave entered his quarters and explained the Crown Prince's request, offering him a ring. Cyrus nodded and immediately made his way to Akagi's office. Carrying the ring in his grip, Cyrus passed through the field of enchantment and into the young prince's office. Upon entering he paused for a moment, the unsettling feeling of something being out of place set over him. As he shut the door, he instinctively slipped a hand behind his cloak and gripped onto one of his Chakram, his bracelets shimmering and at the ready to kill.

Dark eyes glanced around the room, there were no signs of anything out of place except for the satchel in the middle of the room. Still gripping his chakram tightly, he skimmed the note. A wry smile finally teased at the corner of his lips as he placed the note back and ran a thumb down the emblem of the satchel before standing up, "Aren't we a little old to be playing hide and seek, your majesty." He said as his eyes traced around the room, his grip finally relaxing on his weapon.

Akagi had heard his office door open and from his hiding spot he held a glowing stone in one hand and with his other hand he held it over his mouth to stifle his laughter. The Prince and @cyrus had a small ever going game of tag where they would toss a small enchanted pebble that once it made contact it would shock it's victim and then that person was it. It was honestly a child's game but they had turned it into a on going always on their toes game of master and apprentice....

....mostly for the greater part of their mentoring/mentorship Akagi had been the 'it'....

But not today!

"It is never to late to be a child!" from inside of his satchel Akagi would launch from his hiding spot casting three shock rocks in his propulsion upward, the prince twisted his body in the air to land in a squatted three point stance where he had released two more shock rocks!

Today was his day!

======....

Akagi took the man's offered hand and quickly dried up as he stood in attention, he looked like he had in fact received a decent beating: a pop knot in the corner of his left eye, drying blood under his nose, dirty shuffled clothing, and a few foot prints. But he stood with his head high as he answered, "I...I..just want friends and I want to be a Peacekeeper, why can't I be of service to my kingdom? Everytime I show up to drills I am laughed at by these other children, but I come back and I do more. I train harder," the young Prince kept his composure and no longer wept but he looked at the man, "Don't tell my Mother or Father..if you saw anything. I'm Akagi...not that you didn't know."

=============...

Cyrus didn't answer or interrupt as the boy spoke. He simply stood with his hands placed behind his back and assessed the young prince. To have such a desire for friendship from a group of children that were... well... so far beneath him was interesting to say the least. What really piqued his interest was his request to not inform his parents, the king and queen. Arbitrary as their titles were, Cyrus was far more curious as to why what should be a spoiled child was choosing to hold this beating personal rather than have the other boys get punished.

As he finished speaking, Cyrus examined him for a moment longer before he began walking in a circle around him as the boy stood at attention, "I know who you are, young prince." Cyrus said, choosing his next words carefully, "I will not tell you how to live, but what you are doing now is trying to live two lives and enjoy the benefits of both. You are either a peacekeeper, or you're a prince that has friends. Not both. Dedicate yourself to one and you will succeed and find the friends you need in it." He said as he examined the wounds on the boy, a bit impressed, at the beating he was able to handle and he saw... potential.

"People respect you either from fear or love, young prince. And it is better to feared than loved, if one cannot have both. So, which would you rather be right now. A peacekeeper... or prince?" They were bold words to say to a royal, but Cyrus was a bold man and if this boy was willing, he would train him.

=============...

Cyrus heard the voice behind him and his eyes traced it to the source, which was... the satchel. He cocked his head slightly in confusion, but the same moment he realized what was happening was the same moment Akagi sprang from the bag. Cyrus barely had time to avoid the first of the three shock stones, turning on his left heel to allow it to pass in front of him. He moved quickly, ripping one of the chakram from it's sheath on his back and blocked the second of the three stones before lunging backward to avoid the last.

That was when a sudden jolt of pain shot through his left arm and leg, causing the muscles to tense and tighten, but Cyrus remained frozen despite the brief pain. Akagi had thrown two more stones. Slowly his blue eyes turned to Akagi and the faintest smile spread to his lips, pinching his cheeks slightly. Akagi would recognize it as a smile of pride, even if the loss was Cyrus'. "Impressive. Your speed and movement his improved, or perhaps mine has diminished." Cyrus said playfully, "But next time, perhaps don't announce you have the upper hand while you have it. Remember, the unknown and the fear it brings with it are more powerful than any weapon you can wield." Ever the teacher, as much as Cyrus was impressed, he saw room for improvement.

"So, was this why I was summoned, so you could finally gain the upper hand... for a time?"

============.....

Akagi broke his stance of attention it was evident the man had made the boy think, even at such a young age the boy was a typical Arynnite as he began to compartmentalize both the ideas of a peacekeeper and a prince. First he thought, like a prince figuring why not have both? Why couldn't he be BOTH loved as a Prince and feared as a Peacekeeper? Brows furrowed. However he believed personally his Mother didn't want her son involved with the Arynn Frey military.

But the little boy was a dreamer, everyone said he believed in silliness. Curious eyes turned up to the man, "I want to be both. But right now, I want to be a Peacekeeper."

===========...

The prince was always finding himself in awe when he watched Cyrus dance with his stylish exotic choice of weapons, his grace was like a dancer on water! The smile that graced his face was one of inspiration and awe. As Cyrus gave his critique a enchanted quill on the prince's white stone desk began to write and draw a rather child like memo of the advice, labeled wisdom from the Blackwood, then a picture of a stick figure ninja leaping from a satchel peppering a picture of Cyrus with shock stones. A thought bubble wrote out the word silence in the dojo!

"It was part of the request but I wanted to let you know I was back, ready to see to more of my duties," it wasn't code but Akagi had been a kind of secret pupil of Cyrus's since he was a boy with the dream of being a Peacekeeper. The man brought Akagi under his wing like a second Father or that's how the prince felt about it.

============...


As Cyrus circled the boy, studying every dilation and move of his eyes, his change of stance, and his movements. He let the unspoken words tell him all he needed about the child, before he even spoke. There was definite potential here, as a peacekeeper, but perhaps as something more. Despite his young age, Cyrus was always watching for opportunities. Even if the opportunities would take a century to develop, perhaps it was the nature of his family. 

Akagi seemed impressionable, and lacked focus on what he really wanted. Perhaps he could use that. Give the boy focus, and mold him into something useful. Not just for Arynn Frey...

"Well I will not deny you the freedom of choice, but if you truly wish to be a peacekeeper then for the time being, you must make that your ultimate priority. You must forget everything else. You'll also need a good trainer. I have room under my command, if you are interested. My name is Cyrus Beckett, of the Blackwood family."

===========...

Cyrus traced over the prince with his dark blue eyes, studying him. His youthful nature was charming, and useful. A small smirk teased his lips as he watched the quill dance on the paper, taking notes from Cyrus suggestion as if it were doctrine. Which, to an extent, he knew it was for Akagi.

Slowly he slid his chakram into their sheathes on his back and moved toward a chair, pulling it to face Akagi, "Your duties? Well that's wonderful. I'm sure your mother will be quite pleased to have the crown prince back to his training in court etiquette." Cyrus tone was coy, he knew what Akagi meant, but this was no different than the question he had posed to him years earlier, even though the phrasing was different. Was Akagi just a prince, or was he Cyrus' soldier?