Andante- Chapter 2: Seeds of Beginnings

            Lilium Academy had been built in the early 20^th century, undergoing several additions of new buildings and renovations of the older ones. The oldest of the original buildings were abandoned as new construction shifted eastward, left for nature to reclaim them. The oldest of the buildings were dorm rooms and the old gymnasium. Once filled with sounds of vibrant life, only lonely echoes of the past remained now. Hardly anyone dared to roam Old Campus, as students began to call it, for it was slowly being consumed by the forest.

            Remiel continued to run, skipping over the upturned cobble stone pathways, careful not to trip on the overgrown tree roots. He soon reached what was the original Central Plaza, before it had be left to ruin. Where once a magnificent fountain stood, a large cherry blossom tree had overgrown it. Remiel did not pause to sightsee; however, but rather he veered a sharp left at the giant tree, ending right at the entrance of the old gymnasium. Remiel glanced at his cell phone. 3:28pm. He made it with only minutes to spare. For some reason, Remiel felt himself breathing a sigh of relief, although he could not understand why.

            Whatever, he thought, I should just get this over with already…Voices echoed from behind the old gym.

            Is she already here? He thought. But something wasn’t right. He could hear voices coming from three different people, and two were masculine voices. Remiel quickly headed towards the rear of the building, sticking to the shadows. Something didn’t feel right, and he wasn’t planning on taking any chances. Soon enough, Remiel found out who the voices belonged to. There were two guys and a girl behind the building. From the looks of things, the two guys were trying to seduce her, but the girl wasn’t interested. Just then, the blonde male grabbed onto the girl’s arm. It was then Remiel began to move.

            “Come on, you know you want to.” the guy holding her arm said cockily.

“Let go of me!” the girl yelled, the panic evident in her facial features. Her eyes were wide with fear. She tried pulling away, but it only caused the blonde to tighten his grip on her. She winced in pain, his grip evidently hurting her. “I love it when a girl plays hard to get.” He said in a way that made it painfully obvious that he wasn’t going to just let her go. The girl continued to struggle and try to pull away, but to no avail. His friend laughed, commenting “hey now, don’t be too rough with her. You know I don’t like my women roughed up.” The way he said it wasn’t one of compassion, but of someone merely looking out for his own interests. “Don’t worry, I won’t get rough with her…much.” he replied, and with his other hand, started to reach out for the hem of the girl’s skirt. He got no further than that.

            “Guh-!”

            The blonde coughed out, unable to speak. For him to make any audible sound at all was amazing, considering that his windpipe had just been chopped horizontally by an attack that appeared to come out of the shadows. His grip began to loosen on the poor girl’s arm, as his breathing grew weak. His windpipe had begun to swell, making breathing more laborious than need be. The lack of proper amounts of oxygen to his lungs made him collapse moments later, unconscious, but alive.
            “What in the f-!” the blonde’s friend called out, but was cut off when a strong blow to his abdomen brought him to his knees. Remiel pulled back his leg, removing his foot from the unfortunate youth’s stomach. A small amount of blood began to roll out of the corner of the stricken boy’s mouth.
            “Tch…just who the hell do you think you are!?” He cried out, angry and unaware that he was severely outmatched in fighting strength. Remiel didn’t respond. His body was shaking severely, his rage overflowing from the depths of his heart. The girl, who had been released from the biting grip that held her, looked strangely at Remiel, not sure if she should feel grateful, fearful, or both.
            “It’s scum like you…” he muttered darkly.

“What did you call me!?” the boy responded angrily. “Just who the hell do you think you are messing with!” He reached into his pocket as he began to stand back up again, his other arm grasping his injured stomach. When Remiel didn’t respond, the boy only became even more outraged.

“I’ll teach you how to respect those that are better than you!!” His hand came out of his pocket, holding a pocket knife. The serrated blade was folded out. Screaming wildly, he rushed Remiel head on.

            He didn’t stand a chance.

Remiel stood his ground, waiting for his chance. Just as the boy reached out to stab him, he moved to the side, grabbing hold of his arm, twisting it until the pain made the boy drop the knife. Once he disarmed him, Remiel swung around his left leg, his foot coming into contact with the side of the boy’s face and sending him plummeting to the ground, his head making contact with the solid concrete.

            “Wh….what are you….!?” the boy uttered fearfully, blood streaming from the open wound on the side of his head where it had come into contact with the ground. Within moments, he lost consciousness from the sheer amount of pain. His blonde friend lay only inches away from him.

            “People like you…” Remiel spat, his voice dripping with anger and hatred as he towered over their unconscious forms. He dusted himself off, and picked up the knife, folding it neatly and tossing it as hard as he could into the forest beyond.

            Remiel then turned to the girl, who unconsciously took a small step back from Remiel as he looked at her. Remiel realized that she was obviously still frightened by what just happened, and took a few steps back, to put some distance between them. Eventually the girl nodded. Remiel looked at her more closely. Her glasses were slightly askew, her brown eyes looking down at the ground, rather than into his eyes. Her light brown hair ended at her shoulders. Her bust was rather large for someone of her medium stature. Judging by her appearance, she kept her body in shape, as well as kept herself in good health. It made Remiel grow angry just at the thought of someone trying to take advantage of the girl. Although Remiel himself had little contact with girls, he would not condone someone trying to bring one harm.

            Remiel reached into his pocket for his cell phone, and began to dial a number. Soon enough, the call connected. “It is me.” he said into the phone. Someone on the other end began to speak for a while. Every now and then Remiel would reply.
            “Yes, behind the old gymnasium.  Only two this time.” More noise on the other end. “Yes, bye.”
            He hung up, and looked at the time on his phone. The display read 3:45pm. Remiel cursed under his breath, he was surely to be late now. He looked at the girl again, who was looking at his phone.

            “I just put in a call to the campus police,” he explained. “My father is friends with their chief.” He looked at the two unconscious youths, bloodied and bruised, but very much alive. “I asked them to dispatch someone to come pick up these two…would be criminals.”

            Remiel then looked at his watch again. It was time he got about going. He didn’t have time to answer any more questions. The girl appeared to be fine, and the security would deal with the thugs. He turned to leave, stating as he left “I will take my leave now, or else I will be late for practice.” Pausing in case she replied, and finding none, he started to walk off. As he began to grow further away, he called back “you should be more careful next time!” With that, he was gone.

            As if that last parting remark had broken the girl of her silence and made her realize that he was genuinely leaving, she cried out “Wait!”, but it was far too late for Remiel to be able to hear her. Realizing this, the girl looked down, twiddling her fingers. “Thank you…Remiel…” she whispered, barely audible. She looked around once more, grabbing her things. She then started off, careful to avoid stepping near the unconscious boys. Then, she set off at a brisk pace, heading in the same direction that Remiel had run off in.

            “Cutting it a little late there, hey Captain? A few more minutes and the Vice-Captain would have had another one of her fits again.” Remiel stumbled into the archery club’s practice field a few minute before the appointed time. He quickly dropped his bag and entered the changing room and started to don his gear.
            “I was held up by something urgent that had come up.” Remiel snapped back. “At least I made it on time, Marcus.” The boy who had helped Remiel sort his gear, Marcus, laughed. “Right you are, Captain.” He stood up. “I better go get lined up with everyone else, or the Vice-Captain will chew me out.” With that, he walked out of the room, closing the velvet blue curtain that served as a door behind him. Remiel sighed as he pulled a thick glove over his left hand. He pulled a white jacket on over his gray shirt, matching his white with gray striped pants, and his white shoes. As he continued to change, his thoughts wandered to the girl from before. He unconsciously clenched his right fist as he remembered the two guys who had been harassing her. It was then that it hit him. He hadn’t even done what he had gone there to do in the first place. He had run off before she could even speak. Assuming that that girl had been the one who had sent him the letter through Andrew in the first place. But then, who else could it have been? No one bothered hanging around the Old Campus, except delinquents and trouble makers up to no good.

            Well, whatever, he thought, I will probably never see her again, so what do I care? With that, he reached for his longbow, and headed out through the velvet curtain.

            Everyone was already lined up. Marie, the Vice-Captain, was walking up and down the rows, taking attendance to see if anyone was missing. Marie Tressell wore her long dark hair in a braided ponytail that barely missed the floor by a few inches. Her light gray eyes were sharp, and hardly anyone dared to cross her, due to her fiery temper. her somewhat tall stature-she was as tall as Remiel- only served to help her maintain an air of one not to be taken lightly, especially when it came to shooting her bow. Her skill was second only to Remiel’s, and only slightly at that, thus her Vice-Captain position. Often enough, Marie was more likely than not to back up her bark with her bite, not hesitating to put Remiel in his place when she felt he was incorrect or out of line. Yet despite her somewhat off-putting- if not overbearing- temperament, Marie was one of the few girls in Remiel’s life with whom he actually got along well with.

            Marie walked up to Remiel as he exited the changing room. The look in her eyes made it obvious she wasn’t in a pleasant mood.

“Remiel, where have you been?” Marie said irritably. “You’re the Captain! What kind of example are you trying to set for the other members!? If you, the Captain, are late, then not only does it make you look bad, it makes us all look bad!” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you even listening to me?”
            Remiel had been staring at his bow quite intently, seemingly ignoring everything Marie had just said. “Why, of course I am,” he said in a slightly mocking and very polite voice. “It would be rude of me, otherwise.”

“Then what did I just say?” Marie shot back, quite aware Remiel had indeed been listening, a small smile on her face. For some reason, even when he acted like a little smart ass, Marie could never stay mad at him for very long. Not that she would ever let him know that, however.

“As you wish, Milady,” he said, bowing at the waist, his left hand folded flat behind his back, his right hand grasping his bow firmly at his side. It was a personal joke between the two, where Remiel would always act exceedingly more gracious, the more it appeared that Marie was losing her temper, as if giving in to her flaring anger. Marie, not at all amused at this time, punched Remiel in the back of his lowered head.

            “Quit fooling around, you idiot.” she said tersely, but without really feeling it, ignoring Remiel’s outburst of pain. Although she would never outright admit it, she did find Remiel’s little acts of submission amusing at times. “While you were in the dressing room, our newest member arrived. On time, I might add. Perhaps you should introduce yourself and show her the basics.”

            Remiel winced as he stood up, rubbing the back of his head. Several people had been watching Remiel and Marie’s exchange, and had burst out in laughter the moment Remiel had been hit. Remiel heard them of course, and turned to look at them. But of course, as soon as he did, they all pretended to be occupied with stringing their bows or some other attempts at hiding their laughter. It was an almost daily routine in the archery club, so Remiel wasn’t at all offended, and no one held malice or hatred in their laughter. Only cheerful playfulness, enjoying the normally serious and stalwart Remiel knocked down a peg on occasion. Marie often overlooked the laughter as well, feeling that it was part of keeping Remiel from the possibility of his position as Captain from going to his head.

            Remiel turned back to Marie, asking “so where is this “new member” you have been telling me about?”

            “Hold on,” said Marie, “I’ll call her over.” Turning to the others, she called out “Meryl! Could you come over here please?” Her tone was soft, a surprising contrast to her normally sharp tongue. A girl soon separated herself from the rest of the group. Her face was a bit red as she walked, and her eyes diverted through her glasses towards the ground. Recognition began to dawn upon Remiel’s face.

            “Remiel, this is Meryl. While she’s nowhere near the level of you or myself, she isn’t what you would call a beginner.”
            “Nice to meet you, Meryl.” he said, but his mind was elsewhere. His grip on his bow tightened unconsciously. How…why? he thought. What in the world is she doing here!?
            “Umm…nice to meet you too, R-Remiel.” she was nervous, that much was obvious by her speech, as well as her face and the fact that her eyes continually darted left and right, never looking directly at Remiel’s face. Remiel, at the same time, wasn’t exactly looking in one direction either. Of course, Marie missed none of this.

            “In any case,” Marie continued, bringing Remiel and Meryl back to focus “Meryl has told me that while this isn’t the first time she’s ever held a bow, she hasn’t been at it very long. Therefore, I felt that you, as the Captain, should take Meryl over to the practice range and see just exactly what she is and isn’t capable of.”

            “That’s fine by me,” he responded indifferently.

“Good. Then please do.” Marie lowered her voice, and looked at Remiel out of the corner of her eyes, while still glancing towards Meryl to make sure she couldn’t hear. “And…I don’t know how you two know each other or what has or has not happened between you two, but knowing you…” she paused and glanced towards Meryl again, and reassured that she still could not hear, she sighed for a moment, sounding tired as she continued “…look, my point is, don’t end blaming her for what happened in the past, like you have done with so many others.”

            Instantly, it was as if everything had gone silent in the world. Remiel’s eyes grew wide, and his breath came in sharply. His heartbeat was the only sound he could hear as it echoed inside his skull, beating its monotonous tattoo upon his mind. As his mind flashed old memories before him, it was all he could do to keep himself from tearing at his hair and screaming in terror. Summoned by Marie’s words of warning, an intense and overwhelming state of chaos and despair washed over it. It was an intense, unforgettable feeling Remiel tried to bury deep within the confines of his mind.

To Remiel, it felt like an eternity before he opened his mouth to respond. In reality, his reaction lasted less than a second. No one could tell that Marie’s warning had destroyed his air of calm…except for Marie and Remiel himself.
            “I won’t.” was all that he said in reply, before turning down the pathway leading to the practice range. Meryl, with a slight bow to Marie, went tagging along after him, only a few paces behind him.

Marie watched the both of them go, a feeling of weariness overcoming her. “Meryl,” she sighed to herself, “you definitely picked the wrong guy to fall in love with…but I wish you the best of luck. Perhaps you’d be good for Remiel.” Marie then turned back to everyone else, her stern personality at the ready. “What are you all standing around for!? Quit fooling around and get to the shooting range!”
           

Remiel’s thoughts were racing as he continued down the path to the practice range. Just who is this girl, anyways? He thought. And why was she out there in the first place, being harassed by those two guys?

“Umm…Re- er, Captain?” Meryl asked hesitantly, interrupting his thoughts. Remiel turned around to face her, walking backwards as he did so. When he did so, she seemed to freeze up, her facing turning red. Christ, he thought. This girl is a nervous wreck. “Please, call me Remiel,” he said, trying to make his voice sound as pleasant as possible in order to avoid making her even more nervous. “Well, er…Cap- I mean Remiel,” she paused, at which point Remiel could have sworn Meryl’s face grew an even brighter shade of red. “I just wanted to thank you for before…” her voice trailed off into a whisper towards the end, but Remiel could still hear every word. Remiel faced forward as she finished speaking, avoiding her eyes. “Well…” he said slowly “it was not like I could stand by and watch those two…do as they pleased.” Remiel paused, and looked to his left. “Oh, here we are, the practice range.” he said, gesturing to his left.
            The entryway on his left opened into a large area without a roof. Several targets and dummies lay scattered across the field at various distances from the walkway from which arrows would be fired from. Lining the walkway was a wall that came to Remiel’s waist. Gaps every three feet where archers were to stand lined the wall.
            “So then…” Remiel said, and gestured to the bow Meryl held limp at her side. “Let us see just what it is you are capable of.”

An arrow whistled through the air and across the grassy field, missing one of the target board by a few inches.
            “Not bad, Meryl,” he said. “It is obvious you have some natural talent, but you lack the discipline to use it properly.” Remiel’s gazed out towards the range, surveying where Meryl’s arrow struck the ground. “Try again” he said, and raised his arm and pointed towards the missed target. “This time, take into account the speed and direction of the wind as you take aim.”

            Meryl nodded in response, her face a composition of concentration. Meryl took her stance and began to pull back the string-

“You are too tense,” Remiel instructed “relax your shoulders a bit. If you had let go of your arrow just now, your bow would have splintered in half, or the arrow would have gone erratically off-course.” Meryl obeyed, loosening the tension in her shoulders. She then began to take aim once more, careful to take into account the wind.

“Fire.” Remiel commanded.

            Instantly the arrow flew from Meryl’s bow across the field, straight and true. The arrow embedded itself into the target board, narrowly missing the bulls eye by less than 2 centimeters.

            Meryl smiled, her eyes glittering with excitement at her achievement, for only a few moments before, her bow was held in her trembling hands. Even Remiel had to suppress a smile, both surprised and unmistakably proud of her extremely quick progress.

            “That was really good, Meryl. At the pace you are progressing, you might even surpass me.” Remiel said. Meryl blushed and looked down, embarrassed.

            “Thank you…Remiel…” she managed to utter at last.

This girl…he thought is definitely a strange one. When Marie first introduced us, she would hardly speak without stuttering. But once she grabbed her bow and took to stance…it was like she was a completely different person. She had an air of both confidence and calm about her, and her movements were quick and fierce, albeit a little unstable. She has obviously been taught by someone before…but by whom? What’s more, once she was no longer concentrating on her archery, she immediately returned to her nervous self. Just what is exactly with this girl!?

            Just then, Remiel felt a bit of moisture strike his face…and then another, quickly followed by a third. Remiel looked up, as did Meryl. Large, dark clouds covered the sky, blocking the sun. When did those clouds roll in!? He thought.

            Almost instantly the light sprinkle transformed into a heavy  rain, soaking both Meryl and Remiel before they had time to react.

            “The wind must have pushed these clouds here early!” he yelled over the roaring rain. “It was not supposed to rain until tomorrow!” Without thinking, Remiel grabbed Meryl’s hand, and began to pull her towards cover from the downpour. Remiel ran past the open hallway, and ducked under an overhanging roof, where the water could not reach. There was an ornamentally carved wooden bench. The side rails were made to represent the elegant leaves of a blossoming lily, the bench seat itself made to represent the flowering lily.

            “We can wait out the rain here,” Remiel panted, slightly winded. When Meryl did not respond, he turned around to face her. Her face was a deep shade of crimson, and her eyes were trained on one spot. Remiel, confused,  followed her line of sight, directly to their still interlocked hands. Remiel withdrew his hand hastily, and started to apologize, but stopped as he watched Meryl’s reaction. She drew her hand slowly to her chest, her eyes closed softly, her cheeks a warm rosy tint. her fingers were clenched lightly, as if she were still holding onto Remiel’s hand. Unsure of what to do or say, Remiel stood in silence and waited. A few moments passed before Meryl opened her eyes and looked at Remiel. Once she realized what had just happened, she blushed deeply, acting very flustered. Soon enough Remiel calmed her down.

            “Perhaps we should sit down while we wait.” Remiel suggested, exasperated, and gestured towards the bench. “It doesn’t look like the rain is going to let up any time soon.”
            “Y-yes, you’re right.” agreed Meryl, timid as ever. Remiel sat upon the bench, and Meryl soon joined him. Both Remiel and Meryl sate in relative silence, gazing out at the unending rain. As the time slowly trickled past, Meryl’s eyes stole quick glances every now and then at the oblivious Remiel. Even so, only the sound of the heavy rain penetrated the silence. Suddenly, a streak of lightning crashed through the sky, followed by the deafening roar of thunder. A high pitched screamed rent the air, shaking Remiel out of his silence. Meryl was clinging heavily to Remiel’s arm, shaking with fear. Her eyes were clenched tightly shut.
            “No…no…” she sobbed. Tears were rolling down her pale cheeks.

Remiel looked at her softly, and asked her in a tenderly tone, “You are…afraid of lightning…are you not?”
            Lightning and thunder roared across the sky once more, and Meryl let out another frightened shriek.
            Poor thing…he thought. It does not look like the rain or the lightning is going to let up anytime soon…

            Remiel put his arm around Meryl, holding her softly to his chest. At first, she opened her eyes and started to pull away, but she stopped when she realized that it was a gesture of comfort than harm. She laid her head upon his shoulder, and closed her eyes…as Remiel began to sing.

           

                                                Go to sleep my angel child,

                                                Rest your weary wings awhile.

                                                Time for little angels to dream,

                                                Of tomorrow’s brand new day.

It was a soothing melody, soft and light. Meryl felt her shoulders relax as he sang, as his arm lay comfortably and protectively over her, his hand lightly stroking her hair. With Remiel by her side, she felt warm and safe…

                                   

                                                Worry not my angel child,

                                                Your beautiful wings are a gift.
                                                Given even to the smallest child,

                                                A gift to show how cherished you are.

                       

                                                Close your eyes my angel child,

                                                Dream of peace and happiness awhile.

                                                When you awake I will sing to you,

                                                A song of welcome back to me.

            Meryl slipped into Remiel’s lap, sleeping gently. Remiel continued to sing for a little while longer, repeating the first verse. “It is called ‘Loriel: Song of Slumber’,” he whispered at last, as the final note faded into the pouring rain, fully aware that Meryl had fallen asleep. He leaned forward, his hair falling limp over his eyes. “My mother used to sing it to me when I was young, to calm me down whenever I cried..” He bit his lip, in order to stop from crying then. “Meryl…” he said softly, a faint whisper. The image of a small boy crying in the rain huddled in a ball alone flashed through his mind.

 “I will not be going anywhere, so please…don’t cry anymore…”

Remiel stroked the hair from her face. He then began to sing Loriel once more. All the while Meryl slept contentedly, a small smile upon her face. Down and down the rain continued to pour, and Remiel continued to sing as long as the rain would fall.

The heavens eventually began to part, and the rain slowing down to a light sprinkle. Remiel, lost in his memories, continued to sing Loriel.

“Remiel!” a female voice shouted out. “Meryl! Can either of you hear me!?” Remiel, however, did not hear the voice calling out to him. “Remiel, Meryl, where are you!?” the voice sounded frantic now, worried. As the voice continued to ring out, its cries became louder…the figure was coming closer to their location. Sure enough, a frightened looking Marie appeared in the entryway to the practice range. “Remi-” she started to call out, but stopped when she laid eyes upon them both. it was then Remiel’s voice floated to Marie’s ears. The melody felt familiar to her, as if she had heard it before, in the distant past. But Marie was far more concerned with the sight that lay before her. Remiel, a usually cold shouldered and stubborn person when it came to strangers-especially girls- was serenading a girl whom he had just met that very afternoon, who lay asleep upon his lap!

            Marie paused for a second. To her, it had seemed that earlier when she had introduced Meryl to Remiel, they had met before, even if Remiel had tried to hide it. Just what is the relationship between those two…? she thought to herself.

           

            Remiel stopped singing, and looked up to see a rather mixed expression upon Marie’s face. As if not at all surprised at the fact that Marie had been standing there without him noticing, he peered calmly at Marie. his arm was still laying across Meryl protectively, his hand stroking her hair, almost absentmindedly.

            “Hello, Marie.” was all that he said.

            Speechless at Remiel’s nonchalance, she waved weakly at him. When she recovered her power of speech, all she could manage to ask was: “w-what…is going on here?” Remiel paused for a second before responding. “You said not to blame her for the past, did you not? Your wish is my command, Milady.” His tone had reverted back to its usual harsh and sarcastic manner as he finished speaking, no longer holding the soft and warm light that it had only moments before. “Besides…” he continued, his tone softening just a little bit. “She is afraid of lightning.” He looked at Meryl, a slight smile upon his face.

            Marie said nothing, and only stared at Remiel with her piercing eyes…and then, she smiled. Remiel…you truly are a soft hearted person still, after all this time. she thought. It is almost as if he’s the same boy that I met all those years ago…

            “Come on Remiel, lets get out of here, its getting late.” she said. It was indeed, the sun had already begin to set. Remiel nodded, and shifted his arms, reaching beneath Meryl’s upper back and lower legs. Standing slowly, as not to wake her, Remiel lifted Meryl into his arms. She shifted slightly.

            “Remiel…”she mumbled. Still asleep, she buried her face in his shirt, her hands grasping tightly onto his jacket. Her face was a rosy pink, a large smile etched across it.

            “My, my, she seems to be quite fond of you, Remiel.” Marie said teasingly.

“Shut it,” Remiel said uncharacteristically, razzled by her words…and embarrassed, too. “Let us just get out of here, shall we?”

            “Whatever you say, Mi’lord.” With that parting remark, Marie started back to the entrance of the practice compound. As Remiel followed after Marie, and as he looked at Meryl’s peaceful and dreaming face, he couldn’t but help but smile to himself.