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Anywhere could be a battlefield. Sometimes it was flat land, a vast open space where soldiers marched to their deaths. Sometimes it was a dense forest where no sound was to be trusted and no shadow spotted for a fleeting moment in the corners of one’s vision to be doubted.
This was just an ordinary meadow. The grass had grown tall, just enough to annoy Rui as he trudged through it. The sun was low in the sky, ready to turn in for the night and pass the baton to the moon. The horizon glowed a soft orangish-pink, the occasional cloud catching its hue as it drifted past.
He could barely recall the last time he was here. Memories covered in dust and brittle as old, yellowed paper lay at his fingertips. His gaze fell on a familiar yet decrepit structure, a vast mess of fallen brick that resembled a schoolhouse. Perhaps he wasn’t the first sorcerer to be sent here to battle.
—
"Hey! You! You look lost! Allow me to help you," a young voice boomed, startling Rui. He jumped back from the kindly extended hand on instinct, eyes widened in panic. "Your uniform looks different. Aha! You must be on the magic track! That's so cool!"
Gathering his composure, Rui sighed in relief, returning the other boy's smile. Perhaps this wouldn't be all bad.
—
Today was his first real duel, a show of honor. Nobody else in his kingdom could rival the strength of the Light Kingdom's most decorated knight. It was now or never.
—
"I'm the one who'll show you around today, since you've never been here before. I'll even show you my favorite places to eat lunch!"
—
The local flora of the poorly-named "dead zone" between their kingdoms was breathtaking as always. Bright flowers peeked above soft, lush grasses of many varieties. Around small heaps of disturbed brick, the purple buds of coneflowers and yellow spots of buttercups speckled the landscape. The war had moved on to other places, inching closer to the city walls with each battle. But here, in this moment, it was peaceful.
—
"The gardens here are really pretty, but they're crawling with bugs! You know magic, so I shall appoint you as my guard, slayer of insects!"
"But bugs are just as pretty as plants..." Rui had argued, reaching down to pick up a caterpillar. "See, they're colorful too! They eat leaves, so you don’t have to be scared. And look at how slowly it moves, it wouldn't even- oh."
Rui chuckled to himself as Tsukasa took off towards the school doors, leaving nothing but a trail of kicked-up dust and the echoing sound of him screaming at the top of his lungs.
—
The light breeze and his own soft breathing were the only sounds that accompanied Rui. That, and the voices resounding in his head—the memory of the orders he received.
Truly, it was a pointless fight. Their lives were being tossed for an egotistical publicity stunt, a display of strength. It enraged him.
—
"You do illusion magic, so you can help me put on a show, right?" Tsukasa had asked, framing a request as a demand. Probably unintentionally—the urgency of his tone made Rui focus.
"Of course. But... you're interested in shows?"
"Well, it's a long story, but my sister's fallen ill again. I want to make her smile, and I want the stage to be more detailed. I want to perform something that'll make her inspired, not just laugh.”
His eyes sparkled with his true intention, something beautifully noble and fiercely determined.
—
In a sense, this was just another show. He'd draw his sword and use some flashy spells, maybe confuse his opponent in some entertaining way, and then he'd take a bow and walk home.
Of course, that wasn't how it would go. The monarchy was furious about how the war was going—they whined endlessly about the stagnation and the ceaseless flow of resources into nothingness. Morale was at an all-time low. "Come back with Tsukasa's blood on your sword or nothing at all," they had ordered. He could do that, follow the instructions to the letter and return with a few drops and a dumb grin. But rebellion quickly lost its place as the guards cracked down on those who opposed the war.
It was almost funny how Rui couldn't recall why that declaration was sent out what seemed to be a lifetime ago. Without any control, the kingdom he had taken shelter in to escape from being nothing more than a weapon had transformed him into one. Just when did he lose all agency in his life?
—
"Wait, you can't be serious, Rui! This- come on, it's a military academy. We both know who we'll end up fighting some day. I understand your worries, but defecting? That's... you just can't."
"Tsukasa, I'm serious. And I want you to come with me. I can't stand the thought of them turning you into a weapon. If you leave with me, then we can safely put on shows together. You’re a wonderfully talented actor. We could reach new heights without the fear of battle."
"That may be your dream, Rui, but it isn't mine. I will become a knight, no matter what it takes. If you defect, they'll find you, and I… I'll have to turn you in. Don't make me do this, Rui."
"That's how it goes, then. I apologize for bringing you this ending, Tsukasa. Our friendship means everything to me, and the fact it's being torn apart by such absurd forces is nothing short of a tragedy."
“You can’t go. I… Rui, come on. You’re leaving so much behind. This is your home, isn’t it? We can still be friends. You just have to stay.”
“I wish our dreams didn’t conflict like this, Tsukasa. But I can’t stay here any longer. Maybe, if things get better, we can see each other again someday.”
“Don’t talk about things like they’re so final! Like you’ve already accepted it! There’s no way you’re leaving, right? You can’t just do that.”
“I'll miss you terribly. Goodbye, Tsukasa.”
“You- Rui! This isn’t goodbye.” Tsukasa paused for a moment, drawing in a sharp breath, and sighed. He shook his head. “I'll see you in the morning, Rui. Goodnight.”
—
Tsukasa Tenma, his only friend turned target. It had been a while, hadn't it? He wondered if he still held that same resolve, that constant burning befitting of a star.
He had heard of him in the news. It didn't take any sort of clever espionage to discover his success, not when it was printed in every headline and tacked onto every bulletin. His name was whispered reverently among his people. He was the Light Kingdom's beloved hero, a decorated knight heralded as a model citizen for his bravery and hard work. He was the youngest recipient of nearly every medal he was given, to the point where it was barely worth covering.
At least one of them had achieved their dreams.
Well, Rui's dream didn't rely fully on Tsukasa. But even with his enchanted puppets and illusions of life, the shows he staged always lacked something real. They were brilliant, beautiful performances, sure, but they all hinged on the story itself. The presentation, while novel and outstanding, was always a little lacking without the pure joy and energy Tsukasa brought to the table. And when the time for bows would roll around, he had nobody to share the warmth from the audience’s smiles with.
But what did all those shows get him? The monarchy held his crimes of petty theft, trespassing, and disturbing the peace over his head to get him to accept a position in the military branch. With nowhere else to go, he took it. He couldn’t put on shows in a cabin in an isolated forest, after all.
God, he missed that old life, missed that Tsukasa. That version of him was without a doubt dead, obviously—with the amount of blood on the legendary, famous knight's hands, Rui doubted he was anywhere near the same.
But he still found himself running towards that faint light in his heart. He lived that same show he had helped put on for Saki over and over again. His subconscious refused to stop the playbacks.
What would his life be like if Tsukasa had agreed? It was an absurd notion, given the knight's admirably unwavering loyalty, but Rui was a dreamer, through and through. Though hard for him to envision, with Tsukasa's impressive talent for acting and Rui’s equally impressive illusion work, there was no doubt they would have led a better life.
But to say that would be to disrespect Tsukasa's dream. Rui could never do that, not when he had seen the young knight put his full heart on display for him. Snuffing out that passion would be murder. If only their ideals could coexist peacefully, then maybe…
Rui wasn't given a chance to imagine such an idyllic thing, though. The star of his dreams stood before him, lying on the ruined path towards the derelict building, boots clicking against the worn stone.
"Tsukasa-kun," Rui greeted warmly, "it's been a while."
Tsukasa looks up. His gaze is cold, hardened. Rui winces.
"Kamishiro."
“You don’t seem all that glad to see me,” Rui noted with a chuckle, trying to brush off the fear accumulating in his accelerating heart. “What a shame.”
“Why would I greet a traitor with a smile?” Tsukasa snapped. “You turned your back on our kingdom.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Rui said, shrugging, “though, personally, I wouldn’t’ve worded it so harshly.”
“Quit wasting my time. You know why we’re here. Let’s just get it over with.”
Rui’s hands only trembled for a moment before they anchored themselves on the hilt of his sword. He got into a defensive stance, taking a deep breath. Tsukasa had done the same, poised ready to strike. Despite himself, Rui smiled.
“I’d hoped our reunion would be a happier one. Still, I'll enjoy one last sparring match with you.”
“Just stop talking!” Tsukasa shouted, charging at Rui.
—
Tsukasa stood both nervously and eagerly at the other side of the ‘arena’—a square marked in the dirt of the courtyard’s training ground that students would occasionally spar in. Sometimes there’d be spectators, but today wasn’t one of those days.
“I’ve been practicing ways to counter magic,” Tsukasa said with a confident grin. “I guess you’re helping me study.”
“I'm glad to be of service,” Rui replied.
Tsukasa carefully drew his weapon, a wooden sword standard for practice matches. If he wanted to go all out, he’d rather not risk injuring his best training partner.
Rui was an interesting fighter. He’d quickly learned and adopted the hybrid sword-magic form the school began offering, and in no time at all he was adjusting it to suit his own strengths. Tsukasa was certain nobody else fought quite like he did, which made him a particularly difficult opponent to anyone unfamiliar with him.
But Tsukasa knew him well, better than anyone else. He’d been the one dragging him back to the dorms when Rui had stayed out late practicing after observing him for a bit in awe. It was fascinating how he worked.
The fight went on for a while, far longer than Tsukasa had expected. His breaths came heavily and rapidly, sweat dripping down his forehead. Knowing Rui wasn’t enough to win, but neither had enough of an advantage to prevail—a quick lift of his head revealed Rui standing opposite him, similarly exhausted.
“I think… I think we can call it a draw,” Tsukasa said, tossing his sword aside. “That was really good. Thank you for helping me practice, Rui.”
He walked over to the other, who had perked up. The two shook hands, both smiling proudly. “Anytime, Tsukasa.”
—
Perhaps Rui had fallen into old habits. Perhaps he had let his gaze linger on the way Tsukasa’s elegant handling of his blade had become infused with frustration at Rui’s continued taunts. Perhaps he had studied the other’s movements too intently, without paying enough attention to how the hits would land on him. Or perhaps Tsukasa had trained far more, and Rui had been long since surpassed in skill.
Either way, he was flat on his back with Tsukasa standing over him.
“Ah,” Rui said, sounding more disappointed than anything. “You’ve certainly exceeded my expectations. It was a joy watching you fight. It always is. You’re absolutely stunning, Tsukasa-kun.”
"Shut up! I'll kill you! I'll run my sword through you and bring your skull home as proof of my victory. The entire kingdom will cheer my name, I'll be written into history books! I won't let them down. I haven't failed yet, and I refuse to now! I'll kill you, I'll kill you and they'll all praise my strength!"
—
"Why do you want to be a knight so badly, Tsukasa? Not that I don't admire your determination, of course. I'm just curious as to why you seem to harbor so much passion."
"I... I want to make sure that nobody has to look at their loved ones and worry about when they'll be able to see them next. I want everyone to be safe so they can smile without a single fear weighing them down. I want to protect the joy of the people. That's why I do it."
—
The tip of Tsukasa's sword prodded Rui's throat, threatening to puncture. He stared straight down at the other, determination’s light wavering in his eyes as he met Rui's unmoving gaze.
"Is that really what you want, Tsukasa?"
Just for a moment, Rui witnessed him falter. Yet, his question was no more than a penny on the tracks of a moving train.
"Of course that's what I want! I refuse to sully my loyalty with doubt. Rui, I... I'll kill you! I'll shut you up before you get in my head!" he declared, loud enough to drown out any doubts.
Oh, what Rui wouldn't give for a few minutes in Tsukasa's mind. He could tidy it up, straighten things out, and make him remember. His words would never reach whatever abandoned cabinet the days of his youth lied in. They were filed and locked away, deemed irrelevant and shunned. He wished he could just shake him awake.
But such turnabouts are no more than simple fantasy, the last wishes of a deluded madman. Something in his gut told him he had only a few moments left, even if he didn’t want to believe it.
"Have you truly forgotten it all, Tsukasa?"
He stared up at him one last time, eyes devoid of malice. Tsukasa met them for a mere second before squeezing his own eyes shut in defiance.
"Just shut up!"
—
Rui lay on his back, head throbbing in pain. Just what had happened? The cold tile floor beneath him jostled his memory, but the eerie sound of cruel laughter reached him first.
Hands on his shoulders that seemed far too strong had toppled him in an instant— perhaps those with a cruel nature shouldn't be allowed strength potions.
The sound of laughter had flooded his ears, followed by scampering footsteps as the perpetrators had fled. Damn.
Well, it wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, he was the kid who tried to reanimate frogs during a dissection, the kid who was tinkering with something mildly explosive in the back of the class without regard for anyone. Of course they thought he was some sort of sick-in-the-head monster.
With a sigh, he went to pick himself back up, gritting his teeth as injured limbs screamed in protest.
"Woah, what happened? Don't worry, I'll help you!"
Like a true knight in shining armor, with dazzling blond hair that swayed in the wind, Tsukasa was there. A kind hand reached out to Rui, accompanied by a reassuring smile.
—
Rui braced for something. He wasn’t sure how to respond to his impending death. He shut his eyes, taking a shaky breath. What could he do? Maybe he could go out peacefully. That was a good way to go, right? He tried to think of some warm, soft memory to hold onto.
Before he could find the right one, though, he heard the sound of a deep sigh, and the faint thud of something heavy landing not too far from him in the grass.
That same hand was extended before him. The expression that accompanied was far from the one of his memories—it was far angrier, teeth gritted and eyes averted. “Get up. I'll… I'll tell them you ran off like a coward before I could fight you properly. Don’t let me see your face again,” Tsukasa ordered, voice low and angry.
“Thank you, Tsukasa,” Rui said softly, gratefully getting to his feet with the other’s help. “Farewell.”
“...goodbye, Rui."