ONE OF TWO. - razor

Chapter Three

The boy's pupils locked with hers, the bonfire red surrounding them appearing to glow just marginally brighter with a rekindled will.

"Please. Together, we go to Lupus Boreas."

Humming, satisfied, Lisa stood, bent over to place a kiss on Razor's forehead, and then made to leave after a final stroke to his hair.

"I'll go prepare everything. I'll be sending a nun to stay with you until we leave," She informed, tugging her silk cloak around her shoulders, "Make sure to tell her if you feel anything has changed, alright?"

Razor grunted as a sign of compliance and she gave a quick wave prior to slipping the door shut after herself.

Silence lapped at his ears but did not ease the nervous tweaking of the muscle within his chest. He could only hope that Lupus Boreas would know what to do to resolve the state he was inexplicably in. He fidgeted with the tassels of his poncho for many minutes before sleep took him back into its unyielding embrace.

***

He was eventually stirred awake by his body being positioned onto the saddle of a horse, the weight of his torso being made to lean back into a soft chest and the scent of dandelions clouding his mind.

"You're awake, dear?"

A groan fell from between his lips, his consciousness making him aware of the subtle aching in all his body, travelling along every fibre of tendon and ligament. Fingers pulled something closer around him – a simple, black, hooded cloak he noted, eventually – and he forced his eyes open to see two arms bracing his sides, holding the reins to the well-groomed brown horse they were seated on. If the scent wasn't enough of a giveaway, Jean's clean gloves bunching the sleeves of her uniform at their rim were further confirmation of her identity.

"Are you feeling alright?"

It was the Acting Grandmaster who spoke this time, her cautious voice drifting to him from overhead, and he gave a stiff nod.

"Same," He replied, uneasy.

Razor shifted minutely in his place. His trembling hands drew his cloak tighter, both to shield himself from the brisk morning breeze and from having direct contact with the woman. It wasn't that he didn't like Jean, really, she smelled kind and Teacher loved her a lot, but Razor himself didn't have a strong bond with her and being so physically close to someone he hadn't considered to be emotionally equally so, unsettled him deeply. He briefly wished it was with Teacher that he would be riding but he dismissed the thought, knowing it would be rude to even ask.

He peered down from the horse to see that Lisa had an intent stare strained on him, studious and sharp. He blinked, and then she was smiling up at him.

"Let's head off."

The trimmed hooves of their steed clicked with a seemingly calculated elegance as they passed through the city gates, the stationed knights saluting them as their small group went. Sunlight had just begun to seep through the overhead clouds, grey and laden with water, threatening to soak the day in rain, and the wind quickly grew humid and dense.

No words were shared as they travelled, minutes languidly going by whilst they approached the territory of Wolvendom. Something tickled at Razor's skin upon being home again, seeing familiar trees and clearings, hearing the skittering of small animals nestled in their branches. Birds called and sang all around them, and he had to restrain himself from howling to his Lupical the announcement of his return.

Jean led them through winding paths and around hilichurl camps with practised ease, gaze attentive and alert, even if her muscles were lax. By the time they could see the circular arena in which Lupus Boreas dwelled, they had successfully evaded any possible encounters with enemies and Razor was quivering with a mixture of nerves and longing.