should have let me do it,” James whispered, and Bastion sighed once more.
“You weren’t going to do it,” he said, and James had no retort to that. It was true.
“We could have both walked away.”
“And you would have been killed,” Bastion said, turning to his teacher. “I didn’t want that.”
“Is that the only reason you did it?” There was a lull in the conversation.
“No,” Bastion said, “but it was a big part. The other reason is because…I wanted to show them that I mean business. I mean, we had to kill Hakin anyways. I might as well gain both respect and the completed mission at the same time.”
“What does it matter to you if you gain their respect?”
“Because I know that I’ll have to deal with them someday. Either as an enemy or a fellow soldier on the field. You heard Hakin. You have to earn it when it comes to the Quietus.”
“It’s the wrong kind of respect. It’s based on fear. We shouldn’t have to force them in to submission. They are just as important to this world as we are.”
“Catherine’s way didn’t work,” Bastion replied, and James scowled at him. “I believed in C atherine’s way. I did. It sounded amazing, but it didn’t work in reality. I’m not saying that Lakrymos is the answer, but I think there’s more than having complete love and trust for everyone you meet. You might be right about the Yama, James. We talk with them and do a little diplomacy and all is well. No need for war. Or, they play along until they gain an edge and then they enslave us all.”
“You can’t default to violence,” James said.
“But that’s what you do,” Bastion said, bowing his head. He felt ashamed saying it. “All I’ve seen from you is violence. Catherine was the one who spoke of harmony. You’re doing a good job of trying to teach me her ways, but that’s not who you are, so it’s not coming off right…I don’t know. I…I am glad you’re here with me Master James. That much I do know.”
James didn’t respond. They kept walking in silence as James tried not to throw up. What am I doing? He thought. Why am I here? Bastion was right. All they’ve talked about was how to overthrow Lakrymos, or how they were going to complete whatever mission they were sent on. Either way, violence was always the answer, and that’s exactly what Lakyrmos wanted.
He was the wrong man for the job. It should have been Catherine by Bastion’s side, explaining to him how she made the world so magnificent, and how even when she was fighting for her life, her innocence was never lost. She could teach him how to bloom, while James was still grasping for answers.
He wanted to become the Sage that Bastion needed. The wise man that would guide the young Sage to the proper path, but he didn’t know what that was. He was ill-equipped, and he was no closer to making Bastion into a true Sage than he had been a couple months ago. Perhaps he would have to figure out his own journey before he was able to pass on wisdom to his young student. He only ho ped it wouldn’t take long to discover what that was.
Chapter 3 – Childhood
The benches within the plaza center were her favorite because it was the easiest place to blend in. Crowds walked behind and in front of her , but they rarely glanced her way. She was like a fixture, and treated as if she had always been there. It was the lack of attention she had longed for, but she still wasn’t at ease.
While the slapping sou nd of bare feet hitting cold wet stone permeated the air, and the laughter of children playing nearby fought to capture her attention, Catherine sat, and thought. Whatever plan she decided on, it had to be immaculate, and executed perfectly. Lakrymos could have spies everywhere, and when she did act, she would only have one chance to strike…if striking was even the answer. She wasn’t sure of much lately.
Catherine’s thoughts shut down as a loud clanging noise from behind opened her eyes. She didn’t