Calm After The Storm [Issac][Finished]

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Watching her son sleep peacefully, Maia took a seat at the edge of Zeshin's bed. Stroking his hair softly, she looked to the floor, "I told you I'd discus my son's affliction..." Maia said reluctantly as she looked at Issac. "Take a seat and I'll tell you everything." Maia continued, her saddened face visible only by the candlelight on the dresser.

[Issac Verro]

Taking a cue from the distressed woman, Issac procured the extra chair in Zeshin's room and placed it near the bed, taking a seat. "I've traveled around and I've never seen something like that before, ma'am is the boy going to be alright after that?" Issac asked looking at Zeshin sleeping peacefully. Issac stared at the boy he had attempted to save, but brought down that turbulent evening, and felt a slight twinge of pity.

Remembering his youth, Issac worked hard to focus and master his power of Force, only to have it manifest in the saddest day of life. He felt sorrow, sympathizing with the boy, only being able to display his abilities in a fit of rage, he wondered to himself what the boy what do after tonight. "Ma'am, what exactly happened tonight?" Issac asked placing his hands and chin on his sword, which stood up from the floor.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"My son is a Dragon, he has inherited his father's bloodline, forever to be cursed..." Maia began, sobbing as she barely finishd the last sentence. "At first I didn't want to believe it true, but then one day I saw him heating something in kitchen on the stove with his hand alone, while reaching for a spice high up in a cabinent. He thinks that I haven't noticed the stove being off when he leaves the kitchen at an evening rush, but I have." Maia struggeled to say, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"My Zeshins's a good boy, I can't give him everything he wants but he tries his hardest to keep me safe and happy, even going so far as to hid his powers, when he can barely control them." Maia said, now looking into Issac's shaggy face. "He doesn't deserve to be burdened by the legacy of a father he never knew, cursed to losing control and destoying everything he holds dear. What happened tonight... It was so... so... painful." Maia continued, regaining her composure.

She gently carressed the burn wound on her neck as she looked to the floor, "Watching him change... having to see that happen again was more painful than the wound on my neck..." Maia uttered, falling silent as she looked at her soon, who despite the chaos that ensued only hours ago, had a look of serene peace upon his face.

[Issac Verro]

"A Dragon! How is that possible?" Issac stated in shock, nearly slipping of his sword rest. Scratching his chin, Issac pondered on this revelation, deciding what to say next to the distraught women, being careful not to pry into wounds too old and deep. While he thought, Issac looked at the boy, and again a kindred feeling of sorrow overcame him. The boy was without a father, and was having trouble with his burgeoning power, two things Issac could relate to the latter of his youth. "And what of the boy's father?" Issac asked, turning his attention back to Maia.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"I met Zeshin's father Roj-el when I was a young woman. I was at the market for my mother when a brigade of troops entered our small village of Laytor. Shy around men, I clumsily tripped on my own feet as I walked away from the fruit stand near where they were standing. Before I could hit the ground, one of the younger soliders caught me in his arms and helped me up. When I gained the courage to look him in his face, I fell in love instantly." Maia said, actually managing to smile this time.

"He told me his name, and hurried to get back in formation as he was reprimaned by his superior. Before the soilders left, he turned to wave goodbye, falling flat on his face, I swear it was the cutest thing I ever saw. After that I would go to the market every chance I got to see if he was there, but his company were under the command of the Regent Leto Terra, of House Terra, so he would not return to our village for sometime. I still would find excauses to go to the market, hoping to see him one day, and by Mahatub, he was there again, seemingly waiting for me." Maia continued, her voice sounding more pleasent, the happy thoughts of her you bringing a glimmer of light back into an evening stained with an ancient brooding darkness within a boy who could barely control is ferocious nature.

[Issac Verro]

Issac remained silent as Maia told the story of how she met the boy's father. The story hadn't really answered any of Issac's questions, but Issac felt it a good idea to allow the woman to do what was required to ease the pain of the evening. "Go on ma'am, you have my attention." Issac said warmly, allowing Maia to continue her tale.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"Thank you, Well as I was saying, we met again in the same spot, and from that day forward we became friends, and later lovers, as I would see him everytime he came to Laytor while serving our regent. He told me he was from a far away land, and was an avid traveler, soldiering coming natural to him, as it allowed him to see the world. Whenever I asked him about his familiy, he would either go quiet or change the subject abruptly, telling me that he had no contact with them and leaving it at that. I was a young and foolish girl, so I didn't pry or check like I should've, all I know is that he was my world, and while I was with Him, I felt so safe and secure, only saddendend when he had to leave, still in service to the Regent."
Maia said, stopping to rub her son's face.

"Soon, after many years of courtship we were betrothed, and I found myself with child. During this time I began to notice that every time Roj-el returned from his work on the frontier for the Duke of Terra, his strength began to increase, as he began to grow more cautious. I tried to ask him about his experiences, but he assured me nothing out of the normal happened, and I believed him.

"Not too long into my pregnancy Roj-el showed the ability to use Earth magic, doing little things from moving dust from clothing, to removing whole boulders from the road by force of will. It was this that provoked him to ask the Regent Duke to allow him to stay and protect the village, using that as an excuse so he could be near me and his child to be. For several months, he did various odd jobs for the villagers, gaining enough money and resources to build our home, which I turned into a tarven later." Maia said continuing her story.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"Soon my son Zeshin was born, and all seemed well. Then one day Roj-el behavior and attitude became erratic. He started to become paranoid and argumentative, and we bickered more often. Soon, he apologized for his actions and we reconciled, and then his eyes flashed red as I looked into them. He had a look of terror on his face that I'd never seen before, and he told me to grab the baby and leave, for our safety. I tried to inquire for once why, why the secrecy, why the hiding from those he loved and he assured me that everything would be alright if I ran with the baby.

"Before I could gather myself and the baby, two beings appeared in the doorway of our home, their appearance was hidden for some reason, I couldn't make out there form. Roj-el let out a fearsome roar, something I'd never heard from him in all the years I'd known him as I hid myself and our child. The three of them stood their in a standoff, and then Roj-el left with them, and I never saw him again." Maia said bursting into tears.

[Issac Verro]

Issac could only watch as Maia poured out her heart to him. It had been obvious by her desire to tell this story that she had been keeping it to her self for some time now. "When the boy wakes up, are you going to inform him on all of this." Issac asked, remaining seating as he waited patiently for Maia's tears to end to get a response.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"No, too much has happened so suddenly. I don't want to lose my son like I lost my husband in events I don't understand, when the time comes I will tell my son of his heritage." Maia said standing to her feet. "Issac, I must ask you for two things, and I am not sure if you would be willing to accommodate them both." Maia said, looking into the furrowed eyes of the Inu-jin swordsman.

[Issac Verro]

Issac's brow began to raise as the woman he'd helped earlier in the evening, unsure as to the nature of her inquiry, "Umm... I'll help in whatever way I can." Issac said, scratching his chin in wonder as to what Maia would ask of him, as well as if he would be able and willing to accommodate her request.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

Sighing in relief Maia starred intently into Issac's eyes as she began to make her wishes clear to the Inu-jin swordsman. "I know we barely know you, but if you would please remain here I would be ever so grateful. Many of those men escaped and I am sure they will not be scarred away for long. If they return my son will no doubtfully regress and I could lose him forever, so I am asking you if you would remain here with us if only for a brief while. Also, if you choose to accept I am willing to provide you with free lodging as long as you are here. If you decide to remain here, I need you to stay quiet about this, say nothing to no one, not even my son if he wishes to know." Maia said firmly, her face serious as she plead with the only person she felt could aid her in her plight.

[Issac Verro]

Looking down at the boy, Issac sighed. He knew that indeed, if the ruffians returned, the boy with his uncontrolled power would indeed do something grave, and their was high chance that he could unintentionally injure his mother again, or worse. Feeling compelled by his own haunted past, Issac decided to take Maia up on her offer, acknowledging the idea that by training the boy in handling his own power, he might be able to add some stability to his hectic life, and find that within himself, may be the ability to master his own power.

"I'll help you miss, I am Issac Verro, I will agree to train your son in the ways of the blade. but be warned, his latent power will not remain hidden from him for to long, do not wait to long to reveal to him what he is, or everything I might do for him may be undone." Issac said, grabbing his sword,as he stood.

[Zeshin Lak-el Ury]

"Thank you so much." Maia said, drying her amber eyes on a cloth from her pocket. "Come, let us leave him to rest. Today has been to much for both of us, and there is so much to do. The bar is in shambles and there are many repairs to be done, but we'll with those things tomorrow, come Issac and I will show you to your quarters." Maia said opening the door to her son's room and leading Issac out.

Before she closed the door, Maia looked back at her sleeping peacefully, and for a brief moment she could almost see his father Roj-el in his features. "I feel our time together is drawing to an end my child, goodnight." Maia said she softly closed the door to Zeshin's room, and commenced to show Issac to his before retiring for what was left of the evening.