Between Friends 2
part 3


        Lantis sighed restlessly as he stared up at the high ceiling of his 
room, his mind caught in the past due to the sudden, amusing realization of 
the sheer number of books and scolls that filled his quarters.
        He'd learned to read when he was not even three yet, and Zagato, 
his brother, had been proud that Lantis was so smart.  He'd almost never 
been without a book in his hand until the day he turned thirteen and found 
out there were other things to learn.  His thirteenth birthday had been 
special because that was the day that Zagato had come back to the village 
from the castle and taken him away.  It was the day he had first met Guru 
Clef, Princess Emeraude, and Prince Ferio, people who were to shape his 
life.
        Their family had always had strong magic, strong Hearts, and 
neither he nor Zagato had been exception to that rule.  The Guru had taken 
it upon himself to watch the two of them from afar until their magic had 
been too strong to ignore, until they *had* to be trained or start becoming 
a danger to themselves and those around them.  But it had been so subtle 
that at the time that neither of the orphaned brothers had known about Clef.
        By the time of Lantis' thirteenth birthday, Zagato had been living 
in the castle for three years, studying magic and helping the Princess to 
guide and guard the land.  He came back to the village very often to see 
Lantis, who had withdrawn even more into his books than before upon the 
departure of his brother.  But on the day of Lantis' thirteenth birthday, 
the books had been left behind, all the wonderful stories and legends and 
reports of the other worlds that Lantis had read.  And that was the day 
that Lantis first learned he had magic.
        Under Guru Clef's guidance, along with the other students of magic 
at the castle, Lantis rapidly mastered his power with the same proficiency 
he had displayed when he taught himself to read.  And he just as rapidly 
grew bored, until he had chanced to see Prince Ferio, his junior by three 
years, practicing swordsmanship in a large empty room in the castle.
        Ferio had sensed him watching, and had turned with a grin, inviting 
him into the room to watch more closely.  They hadn't really been friends 
at that point--Lantis had still been uneasy about being around those of 
royal blood, still new enough to feel like an outsider who shouldn't have 
been in the castle in the first place--but they had known one another well 
enough that Lantis had accepted the offer without hesitation, and proceeded 
to spend the rest of the afternoon watching the younger boy wield the 
weapon that was at least as large as he was.
        Then, when Ferio was finished, and they were both leaving to go 
their separate ways, the Prince had asked Lantis if he'd like to learn to 
use a sword.  Surprised that Ferio had asked him, Lantis had asked aloud if 
there wasn't some kind of separation of sorcery and weaponry that made it 
forbidden to know both.  Ferio had just grinned back and replied that rules 
were made to be broken.
        Lantis had surprised himself by smiling back and promising to be 
back the next day for a lesson.
        The ten-year-old Prince had shown up the next day again, carrying 
his own weapon and a blunted practice sword for Lantis to learn with.  At 
first the heavy weapon had felt awkward in Lantis' hand, which was used to 
lighter things such as books and scrolls, but soon enough the sense of 
strangeness had left as Ferio patiently guided him through things like 
stance, balance, how to hold the blade, how *not* to hold it....  In fact, 
before he knew it, before either of them knew it, it had become dark 
outside.
        It had quickly become a daily routine for Lantis; the study of Yil 
magic under Guru Clef in the mornings with his brother and the other 
students, and then running to secret weapons training with Ferio.  He had 
done a little research, and had found out that it was indeed forbidden to 
know both sorcery and the use of a mundane weapon.  Apparently the last 
person to master both talents, a "Kailu," had gone insane two hundred years 
before and killed nearly a thousand people before Clef had managed to stop 
him.
        When he found that out, Lantis had been shaken at the suggestion 
that wielding that much defensive power could drive someone to do such a 
thing, and had quietly suggested to Ferio that he stop training.  But, 
though he did not admit this to Ferio, Lantis didn't *want* to stop 
learning the sword.  So he let Ferio talk him into not abandoning the 
pursuit.
        It was nearly three months before Zagato had chanced upon them in 
practice.
        Zagato, oddly enough, hadn't been angry or upset.  Just worried.  
So he'd taken the two of them to Guru Clef and had them tell the entire 
story to the powerful sorceror.  He and Ferio, friends by that point, had 
each tried to take the blame for one another, neither wanting the other to 
get punished.  Finally, Guru Clef had simply told them to take up their 
weapons and spar with one another, to see how far Lantis had gotten.
        Lantis had been determined to do the Prince proud in showing off 
his training, and though he had been defeated (three months of training was 
nothing compared to the seven years Ferio had, having been trained with the 
weapon since he was able to walk), he thought that he hadn't done too 
badly.  As Ferio helped him up, the two of them had glanced over at the 
Guru and seen a light of comprehension in his eyes.
        "Lantis," Clef had said, "I know you know why it's not allowed to 
study both weapons and magic; I saw you reading the book about the last 
Kailu.  If I were to ask you which you would prefer to study, which would 
you answer?"
        Lantis had considered for a minute, then answered "Both."
        Clef had given a soft smile at his reply.  "I thought as much," he 
said.  "I'll tell the three of you a secret that isn't in that book.  The 
last Kailu, Sentra, was not well in his mind, his Heart.  That, not the 
combined power, is why he went mad."  Clef shrugged, a little sadly.  "It 
happens sometimes.  If you want to study both, Lantis, then you may.  
Simply let caution be your watchword, and never lose your temper.  Ferio 
has no magic, and you could seriously injure him with even the little that 
you know now if you got angry and didn't control it.  Likewise, you know 
all too well that Yils, Bals, and Sanus are in no way immune to physical 
attack.  So simply be careful, both for yourself and others."  His voice 
was sad and wistful.  "I would hate to have to kill you too."
        Later that night, Zagato had stopped by Lantis' room, carrying a 
black sword hilt without a blade attached.  "This is for you," he had said, 
presenting it to Lantis.
        "What is it?" Lantis had asked, looking curiously at the object.  
It was beautiful.
        "A combination of your skills," Zagato had replied in good humor.  
"I convinced the Pharle to make it for me.  The blade is magic, the hilt 
mundane.  It seemed a fitting gift."
        "Thank you, Zagato," Lantis had replied, stunned by the weight, the 
seriousness, of the gift Zagato had given him.  "I can't make this up to 
you...."
        "You will make it up," Zagato had sternly informed him, "by 
becoming the best swordsman that you can possibly be.  You will listen to 
everything that Prince Ferio tells you, learn every attack and defense, and 
when he can no longer teach you, you will go on to another teacher, who 
still has things left for you to learn.  *And*," he stressed, "you will do 
the same with your sorcery."

        Lantis softly laughed, opening his eyes.  Zagato had known all too 
well that his commands were things that Lantis would have done anyway.  But 
that had been the happiest time of his life until now, learning his 
skills.  He hadn't even been that happy in the halls and classes of Accord 
University on Autozam... though he might have been, were it not for the 
shadow of the future that had haunted him.
        And now he was back where it had started, in his room in the castle 
of Cephiro, surrounded by books and scrolls, planning for the future.
        <Some things never change,> Lantis thought with a smile, pictures 
in the back of his mind of the center for learning that he was planning 
with Clef to set up on Cephiro after the weddings, a place for all the 
worlds to exchange their ideas and ideals....