Post by Atraerus on Mar 15, 2017 22:18:40 GMT -5
"Every deed has a seed that remains, you see?" Atraerus patted the young boy on his head, examining his bloody nose with a smile. The two boys had been hitting one another all morning and were finally stopped by his intervention. Atraerus opened his hand to reveal a seed in his right palm. "This here is the seed I speak of, a seed that, with proper nurturing, will become a mighty oak. Let this seed become a symbol of your friendship, son. Go out into the field and plant it, both of you. Every two days I want you to collect water and nurture this seed and watch it grow into a great tree. As long as the two of you remain friends, this tree will continue to grow until is is great and mighty, as unbreakable as the bond you two share." The two boys looked at one another with a smile spanning across their dirty faces. Atraerus had the voice and mannerisms of a sage, and spoke with the wisdom of one as well. A soft smile stretched between his scruffy cheeks as the boy took the seed from Atraerus's scarred hand. They nodded to him without speaking, appalled at his kindness and mercy, despite being such a tall and imposing figure to them. "Now run along, you two. Remember to stick together, and listen to your elders. Do your chores and keep working hard."
"Will we grow up to be big and strong, like you, Atra?" Asked the young boy to the left with a twinkle in his young eyes. Atraerus snickered, placing his hand on the young boy's head and ruffling his hair playfully with his fingers.
"So long as you respect your friends, protect your dreams, and work hard. You can one day be even bigger and stronger than me, young man. You're both growing up, and you should remember to keep working at whatever it is that you want to become."
"I want to become a shinigami and fight hollows like you do, Atraerus! I promise one day I'll be the best shinigami in the whole world!" Chimed the boy with the seed cupped in both his hands. His smile was wide now, and Atraerus smiled too. His head drooped with a bit of sadness in his eyes at the boy's words, however he swallowed his sorrow and knelt onto one knee, placing his hand on the shoulders of both the boys before reaching into his small satchel, and grabbing out two kunai. He gave the boys one kunai for them to keep.
"I want the two of you to have these kunai. Think of them as a symbol of promise, to always chase your dreams. Become shinigami, and become as mighty as the oak that the two of you plant together today. I have faith that one day the two of you will be the greatest shinigami in all of Soul Society." Atraerus then rose, placing his hands on his waist. The people of the village had gathered to witness Atraerus's teaching of the boys the value of friendship and dreams. They all wore smiles on their faces; Atraerus was like a hero to these people, stranded in the poorest regions of Rukongai, he seemed the only glimmer of hope in their impoverished lives. The women admired how dreamy he was, and the men admired his strength and wisdom; but all of them admired his mercy and kindness to such adolescent quarrels. It was a shame that Soul Society wanted this pure soul executed.
"Thank you, Atraerus!"
"Thank you, Atraerus!" The two boys exclaimed in unison before running along with their kunai to plant the seed Atraerus had given them. Atraerus smiled and waved them off, and the villagers clapped as they all gathered around. Atraerus then sat down with his legs crossed as the people curled around him. Each of them asking different questions about what they should do in the crisis of their respected situations. Atraerus always responded with short phrases, but never directly answering the questions. They left the town square with his words resonating with them on personal levels, words of wisdom and experience. Atra had undoubtedly become a beloved figure in the impoverished regions of Rukongai, and people feared a day where he would leave and never return.
"You could have scolded the boys, and gotten the same reaction, you know~" Mokumokuren's voice chimed in Atraerus's ears, and he smiled.
"A good scolding never hurts once in a while, but I'm not their parent. The least I can do is mend the wounds of their conflict."
"You sensed the reiatsu of their parents disappearing three days ago, I remember you telling me about it..."
Atraerus lowered his head, and remained quiet for a few moments.
"There needs to be some solace in this life of suffering they live, giving them a modicum of hope isn't wrong, is it?"
"The Sereitei doesn't seem to give them the time of day, I suppose I can't wrong you for it." Atra nodded, before rising up, and beginning his walk down the beaten path of the village toward the setting sun that dipped over the horizon. Long swaths of pink and orange cascaded over the evening sky as his long shadow lead his incessant march toward the next village, and the next, and the next...
893
"Will we grow up to be big and strong, like you, Atra?" Asked the young boy to the left with a twinkle in his young eyes. Atraerus snickered, placing his hand on the young boy's head and ruffling his hair playfully with his fingers.
"So long as you respect your friends, protect your dreams, and work hard. You can one day be even bigger and stronger than me, young man. You're both growing up, and you should remember to keep working at whatever it is that you want to become."
"I want to become a shinigami and fight hollows like you do, Atraerus! I promise one day I'll be the best shinigami in the whole world!" Chimed the boy with the seed cupped in both his hands. His smile was wide now, and Atraerus smiled too. His head drooped with a bit of sadness in his eyes at the boy's words, however he swallowed his sorrow and knelt onto one knee, placing his hand on the shoulders of both the boys before reaching into his small satchel, and grabbing out two kunai. He gave the boys one kunai for them to keep.
"I want the two of you to have these kunai. Think of them as a symbol of promise, to always chase your dreams. Become shinigami, and become as mighty as the oak that the two of you plant together today. I have faith that one day the two of you will be the greatest shinigami in all of Soul Society." Atraerus then rose, placing his hands on his waist. The people of the village had gathered to witness Atraerus's teaching of the boys the value of friendship and dreams. They all wore smiles on their faces; Atraerus was like a hero to these people, stranded in the poorest regions of Rukongai, he seemed the only glimmer of hope in their impoverished lives. The women admired how dreamy he was, and the men admired his strength and wisdom; but all of them admired his mercy and kindness to such adolescent quarrels. It was a shame that Soul Society wanted this pure soul executed.
"Thank you, Atraerus!"
"Thank you, Atraerus!" The two boys exclaimed in unison before running along with their kunai to plant the seed Atraerus had given them. Atraerus smiled and waved them off, and the villagers clapped as they all gathered around. Atraerus then sat down with his legs crossed as the people curled around him. Each of them asking different questions about what they should do in the crisis of their respected situations. Atraerus always responded with short phrases, but never directly answering the questions. They left the town square with his words resonating with them on personal levels, words of wisdom and experience. Atra had undoubtedly become a beloved figure in the impoverished regions of Rukongai, and people feared a day where he would leave and never return.
"You could have scolded the boys, and gotten the same reaction, you know~" Mokumokuren's voice chimed in Atraerus's ears, and he smiled.
"A good scolding never hurts once in a while, but I'm not their parent. The least I can do is mend the wounds of their conflict."
"You sensed the reiatsu of their parents disappearing three days ago, I remember you telling me about it..."
Atraerus lowered his head, and remained quiet for a few moments.
"There needs to be some solace in this life of suffering they live, giving them a modicum of hope isn't wrong, is it?"
"The Sereitei doesn't seem to give them the time of day, I suppose I can't wrong you for it." Atra nodded, before rising up, and beginning his walk down the beaten path of the village toward the setting sun that dipped over the horizon. Long swaths of pink and orange cascaded over the evening sky as his long shadow lead his incessant march toward the next village, and the next, and the next...
893