[Dictated]

[lightbranded]

 It is summer again already.

[Will sounds thoughtful and a little nostalgic today.]

At home, this used to be the time of year when all of my brothers and sisters were home. We helped with the yardwork and the garden.  And I went fishing and camping with my brothers a lot.

Sometimes I went out on bike rides to visit all the old churches around.  [A thoughtful pause.] There were rather a lot of them.  I had quite the collection of brass rubbings at home.

I wonder.... It might be fun to go out on a little adventure like that.  Nothing dangerous, like these expeditions I hear about.  Just some exploration and fun.

Comments

[beastisbeauty]

You sound pretty young. I can understand wanting to have some summer fun, [though it isn't Bruce's thing, at all] but I think you should have some adult supervision, especially if you plan on being out over night.

[lightbranded]

I turned thirteen last December. [Will's comment is nothing more than a simple statement of fact, made in the mildest of voices.] I am young in some ways and old in some others, I suppose.

But I wouldn't mind having some company, if anyone wanted to come along.

[beastisbeauty]

I'm not trying to baby you. [Bruce is somewhat apologetic, but still firm.] You're still very young, though. It's best, if you have someone there who can help you, in case there's an accident.

Are you issuing a castle-wide invitation? I guess your parents aren't here?

[lightbranded]

I don't mind. [Will sounded amused.] I'm the youngest of ten. I'm rather used to this sort of thing.

Perhaps. I haven't really thought that far. Don't think its the sort of thing a lot of people would be interested in, really.

No, as far as I know I am here alone. I have never met anyone else here from my world.

[beastisbeauty]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're separated from them.

[Bruce breathes evenly, because the thought of this boy being taken from his family threatens to bring out his anger.]

There's a lot of people here. There must be a few, at least, who enjoy being outdoors for it's own sake...or even a survival exercise of some kind.

[lightbranded]

It is as it is. [Will remained placid about the topic.]

I miss my brothers and sisters, of course. But there isn't much sense in worrying about it for now. When I return home, they will be there. And to them it will be as if no time has passed.

And in the meantime there are tasks to be completed here. I do not think that any of us are here without a purpose. Even if we do not know what it is.

[And here at last Will begins to respond with something more like the enthusiasm of a child than the sage sorrow of an old man.]

Oh, I do hope so! It seems like I've just been wandering around the castle for forever. It would be wonderful to get out for a bit.

[beastisbeauty]

What tasks are you hoping to complete?

[The boy sounds very serious and Bruce hopes no one is placing too heavy burdens on him.] I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the thought that someone has a "purpose" for me.

[It's almost enough to make Bruce volunteer.]

I'm sure something can be arranged.

[lightbranded]

I don't know yet. [Will sighs.] When the time arrives, I will know. That is the way it has always been. Sometimes I just know things. Like when to act and what to say.

[Will carried many heavy burdens, and this sometimes weighed heavily on him. It was as Merriman had once told him. That his gifts were a burden, and that he would many times long to be rid of them. But in the end, this was his duty and this was why he was born and this was the law. He could not resent his purpose.]

You might not. But for me, I do not think that anything ever happens by chance.

[beastisbeauty]

Those'd be useful skills to have...knowing when to act and what to say. I don't think they I know those things often enough. You don't talk like you're an ordinary young man.

[lightbranded]

I am not much like other children, really. I suppose I never have been.

[beastisbeauty]

How are you different? Smarter? [It's something Bruce can relate to and sympathize with.]

[lightbranded]

[There is a short silence before Will answers, as he debates to himself how to answer. In his own world he would have left it at that. He'd seen for himself that he could not bear it if his brothers and sisters and close friends should look at him with fear. Stephen had not been able to bear the knowledge of what his youngest brother had become.

But here, it seemed like it was different. The people of the castle seemed to be able to accept such things more easily, perhaps because many of them had some kind of oddity themselves.]

I suppose it is because I am not quite human. I never was, of course. But once I thought I was.

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce winces in sympathy.]

I'm sorry. I know that's difficult. Just remember you're more defined by what you do, than what you are. Not being human doesn't have to be a bad thing.

[lightbranded]

[Will considers this solemnly. He'd never been much troubled by such concerns. For a few hours, when he had first begun to understand what he was, he had once feared himself. He had feared the senses he could not understand, and the way fire had obeyed his command. He had tried to deny that it could have him been him doing such things.

But Will could not deny what he was. On that first day he had fully accepted who and what he truly was, and he had taken on the duties and burdens of his gifts.]

What I do and what I am are the same, really. But really, I do not think it is a bad thing. It is my nature and it is my duty and it is the law.

[beastisbeauty]

I'm not even going to claim to understand that. What law? Scientific law or man made laws?

[lightbranded]

The laws of the high magic.

[beastisbeauty]

I know magic exists, but not much else. I'm better with science.

[lightbranded]

As for that, I am not entirely sure that is called magic in my world is the same thing that is called magic in other worlds. It simply is.

The High Magic is the force that binds the universe together and sees that the planets proceed on their courses and that the seasons turn. It is above all other forces in the Universe.

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce calls that force gravity, but he knows that's not what the boy means.]

People have called that force a lot of different things. Not to be skeptical, but this force tells you what and who you are and gives you some sort of duty? Sounds pretty intense for thirteen.

[lightbranded]

I am an Old One of the Light. [Will says this quietly.] I am not of the High Magic, but of the Light. It is one of two forces that lie directly beneath the High Magic. In one sense I was born thirteen years ago, but in an entirely different sense I have existed since the beginning of time and I will exist until time ends. But of course time has no ending, time is a circle. And I am of the Circle.

[beastisbeauty]

That doesn't sound like it'd be easy to balance with going to school.

[The words are flippant, but his tone is sympathetic.]

[lightbranded]

It isn't bad, really. I still go to the grammar school in my village.

[beastisbeauty]

What about here? Is there a school here for the children?

[Bruce is still horrified at the idea of children being at the castle's whims.]

[lightbranded]

Not that I've ever heard of. I think most children who want to learn visit the library.

[beastisbeauty]

That's...not really enough. Education is important.

[lightbranded]

It is better than nothing, I suppose. [Will himself hadn't missed school much. Though he did quite like the chance to study whatever interested him. He'd been spending quite a lot of time in the anthropology and folklore section.]

[beastisbeauty]

Anything is better than nothing. [Bruce grins wryly.] Do a lot of kids use the library?

[lightbranded]

Quite a few, I think. I've seen lots of other kids there.

[beastisbeauty]

[Bruce relaxes some. Unless he plans on starting a school, which he doesn't, there's not much he can do. It's not as if he has any authority to get kids into class.]

Well, I'm glad some of them, at least, are learning. Is there a lot of things kids like to do here?

[He's not entirely sure what it is that kids like to do, honestly.]

[lightbranded]

Depends on the kid, I suppose. I mostly read and walk in the gardens.

[beastisbeauty]

Good activities, but I don't see them appealing to most kids on a regular basis.

whoops, icon left over from MLP plot

[lightbranded]

No, I suppose they would not.

:D

[beastisbeauty]

Don't worry. Average is over-rated. I never could figure out what kids were thinking, when I was one.

[lightbranded]

Every child is different, I find.

[beastisbeauty]

Well, of course. Children are people too.

[littlesoul]

I would come.

[lightbranded]

You would? That would be brilliant! [He sounded complete sincere.]

[littlesoul]

[There's a smile in her words that the can probably hear.] It would be fun. An adventure.

[lightbranded]

Almost like a quest.

[The delight is clear in his words.]

dictacted;

[hatedbyfanboys]

That sounds like a good idea. Best to keep active and not dwell on... our current situation, right?

Re: dictacted;

[lightbranded]

I've never found much point in dwelling, really. Things will happen as they happen.

dictacted;

[hatedbyfanboys]

That's a good outlook to have.

dictacted;

[lightbranded]

Is it? Its just the way I think, really.

dictacted;

[hatedbyfanboys]

How old are you?

Re: dictacted;

[lightbranded]

I turned thirteen last December.

dictacted;

[hatedbyfanboys]

You're pretty mature for your age.

Re: dictacted;

[lightbranded]

I've been told that I am very old for my age.