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The rain pelted against the window of his room, and Yanqing sighed looking over his homework. For some reason the last question just didn’t make any sense to him. Why was a question about the meaning of a short story multiple choice? None of the choices even seemed to match what the story had been about! It wasn’t an analysis of tradition or the importance of asking questions to reach an understanding. He’d hardly even call it an amusing anecdote. He wanted to fall asleep two paragraphs into reading it!
Why did they always choose the most boring stories for these kind of assignments?!
With a groan, he circled B. Sure. It was about a meaningful encounter. Why not? Nothing else seemed to make sense.
Shaking his head, he stood from his desk and stretched. He needed a break. He’d been working since… he glanced at his clock, 13:06… really? Only three hours? It felt like it was so much longer.
Glancing back at his desk, he bit his lip. Had he even earned a break? His math homework was done. So was history. Really, all he had left was literature and science, and he wanted to save science for last since they were learning about the planets. The way they formed, how they varied in size and shape and density. The way their atmospheres differed and how their nearby stars affected them. It was fascinating and it felt like a good way to sort of balance out how bad the literature homework always was.
They weren’t due until monday… it was only saturday. So it wasn’t like he didn’t have the time…
That decided it.
Break time.
Without letting himself think or second guess what he was doing, Yanqing quickly put his school work away. Moving it off to the side in half-hazard stacks with the literature homework sitting on top. The math and history homework set to the opposite side so he’d remember they were done and the remaining papers and pencils and erasers were left where they sat.
Nodding he turned from the desk and left his room. Maybe he could get something to eat? He was sure the staff wouldn’t mind if he asked nicely enough. Or maybe he could find Mimi and they could play for a bit? Or… maybe… he could try unlocking that one door nearest to the courtyard again. The General had never explained why he had locked it, and if there were something dangerous in there he was sure the General would have just told him. It was one of the only obvious rooms in the house that Yanqing had never been allowed inside of.
So of course he was going to try and open it again.
He had to work on lockpicking skills anyway. It had even been the General’s suggestion! Just in case someone ever broke into the house and took him away. That way he could try to get out as soon as possible. What better way to practice than to use one of the doors in the house?
With a newfound skip in his step he quickly went back into his room, grabbing the lockpicks out of his drawer and tucking them into his pocket. There. That made three sets, not including the one that the General had told him to hide in a small pocket in his clothes. He had four chances, maybe even more if they didn’t fly out of his hands the way they usually did when he messed up or the couple times they snapped and bent out of shape. Now he was definitely going to be able to get in.
The walk was quiet. No maids passed him, and he didn’t see Mimi at all. But that was okay, the lion was probably just sleeping somewhere anyway and the maids all had other things to do. Besides if they saw what he was about to try they would definitely tell the General about it and he didn’t want that.
He grinned as he approached the door, taking out one set of lockpicks. The lock was just about eye level, which was perfect because that meant he wouldn’t have to stand on his tiptoes in order to get a good look. All that was left was getting inside without being caught.
Easy.
It took a few tries. Seven to be exact, some of the picks laid on the floor, the hook broken off or bent. Every time he would look over his shoulder, worried that someone would see him and tell him to stop. Relaxing only when nothing but silence greeted him for minutes on end. But finally he heard the telltale click of the lock coming undone.
Taking a step back with a cheshire like grin he opened the door, took one last look around to see if there was anyone there, and walked in. Making sure to close it behind him, just in case someone walks by. Once it’s shut, he feels for the light switch blinking at the sudden light that floods the room when he finds it.
The room is… smaller than Yanqing thought it would be. Smaller than the main bathroom just down the hall from his room. It’s also very… boring. Some closets and boxes and coats are hanging on the wall. Really, this was what the General had been keeping locked away? Why bother?
So he looked into the closest box and paused.
That was… that was a sword… just sitting at the bottom of a box. What was that doing here? The General had told him that swords weren’t meant to be put away carelessly and he didn’t want Yanqing touching them. Something about how he would end up hurting himself? Yanqing personally thought it was just because the General had gotten tired of having to deal with him threatening strangers with his pens and sticks. He couldn't help it though! He was just acting in self-defense. They scared him first! Either way, the only sword he’d ever seen was the one the General would have with him.
And yet here, lying in a box in a closet, was a sword.
He blinks, picking it up carefully. Feeling the weight of it in his hands, he found that it felt… right? Like it had been something that had always meant to be there. Not too heavy. Not too large. Maybe only half his height? It’s wooden, he realizes, scored with marks along what was meant to be its blade. The handle is worn and the leather around it is old and faded. Strips coming off it in his hold. How old was this?
And why was it just lying in a box?
Yanqing holds it close. If this was in one of the boxes then… he looks over to the others and then at the closed closet door. He was already here. He might as well see what they have, right?
Weapons.
The answer was more weapons.
Spears. Bows. Claymores. Swords of varying lengths and types. Why did the General have so many weapons just stashed away in a random room? What was this? And none of them looked like they’d been cared for in a long time. There was a whole layer of dust one of the bows that made him sneeze when he touched it!
That was unacceptable!
The General had always insisted that a blade or weapon be kept proper care of. Cleaned and sharpened regularly. Why would he ever let so many weapons fall into such a sad state?! One of them even had rust on the blade!
But there was no way he was going to be able to clean all of them. He didn’t know how, for one. Besides, what if the General or one of the maids caught him first? He was already going to be in so much trouble for doing this. He bit his lip, looking at the wooden sword in his hand. He should return this to the box he found it in. Put it all away, turn out the light and leave. No one needed to know he was ever here. But…
No.
No, this was his now. The General clearly didn’t want it. If he did it wouldn’t have been sitting in a random box behind a locked door. So who would notice if he took it? Besides, it wasn’t even a real sword. It was made of wood. That meant it was safe for him to have.
With a nod, he held it closer to his chest. His new treasure in hand, Yanqing left the small room, hitting the light switch on the way out and closing the door behind him. Bouncing on the balls of his feet he couldn’t wait to start trying to use it.
Yanqing glanced at a nearby clock in the hall. 13:40, okay so he had a few hours before the General came home from work. He looked at the courtyard door, at the rain still falling down in sheets. Well… maybe he couldn’t use it outside, but that was probably better anyway. If he was outside with this then one of the staffers would definitely see him.
Without thinking he walked to the training room, another place that the General didn’t like him being in alone. He wasn’t sure why, it wasn’t like there was anything dangerous there. And it was fun to tumble on the mats or just to lay on them while the General was practicing. They were always nice and cool and soft and if he had a blanket it balanced the slight chill perfectly. Then Mimi would show up and curl up next to him, letting him bury his hands into her fur. He’d fallen asleep like that a few times watching the General train.
The room was, unsurprisingly, empty except for the equipment there. Tall windows letting in whatever natural light could make its way in through the storm clouds. He considered turning on the lights but shook his head. Someone would definitely notice if he did that, and he was already breaking enough rules today. He didn’t need to make it even more obvious.
So instead he walked out into the center of the room, and breathed. Closing his eyes he tried to remember how the General looked when he was practicing. The stances he would take. Feet shoulders width apart. One facing forward, the other at an angle. Back straight. Yanqing was surprised at how easy it was. How natural it felt. Like greeting an old friend.
He swung. The wooden blade cutting through the air. He stumbled, and righted himself quickly. Too fast. Try again. Slower this time. Use less force.
Step.
Swing.
Step.
Suddenly nothing else mattered. It was just him and the blade and a dance of movements. Clumsy and unpolished. But it didn’t matter. It was as if he was gliding above the floor. Any misstep easily accounted for and redirected, as if they were intended all along.
Yes.
Yes, this felt right!
This was familiar! Familiar in a way nothing else had since the General had found him two years ago. Maybe that didn’t make sense. But Yanqing didn’t care. He almost felt complete. How? How could he have possibly missed this? How could he have not realized that this was something he needed? How had the thought of trying this never crossed his mind? Not even once? Not even when he had been playing with sticks in the garden two days ago.
Yanqing was laughing. A large smile on his face as he danced with that wooden blade. The motions and stances all falling into place. An art understood by no one but him, and he was okay with that. Even if they were all wrong it was still his.
And then the lights turned on.
“Yanqing.” The voice knocked him out of his trance immediately, and he turned to face the General. A sheepish look crossed Yanqing's face as the man who had taken him in stared from the door. “What are you doing?”
Yanqing blushed stammering “N-nothing, General.” And he flinched back when all his caretaker did was cross his arms. “I just…” There was no getting out of this. Was there? Sighing, he held the wooden blade to his chest “I found this in one of the closets and wanted to try practicing like you do…” Not the entire truth, but maybe if he was lucky-
“The closet I locked.” Nope. Not lucky.
He looked to the ground, shoulders slumping. “Yes, sir…”
The General sighed, and Yanqing felt himself shrink. Wishing the floor would swallow him and the sword whole. Sadly, the mat underfoot stayed firmly solid. “Yanqing” this was it, he was going to be in so much trouble “would you like me to teach you?”
Wait what?
Yanqing blinked, “General?” Was he? Was he actually asking if Yanqing wanted to “Do you… do you mean it?”
A smile appeared on the man’s face, and his posture relaxed. “Well you seem quite attached to that blade already, and it can’t hurt for you to learn how to properly defend yourself. So I see no reason why you couldn’t learn.”
“Really?!” The General nodded and Yanqing cried out in delight, running towards the man and hugging him. “Thank you, General!”
He laughed, hand running through the boy’s blonde hair “Of course, Yanqing.” Then the General pushed him away, his eyes taking on a darker shade of gold tone stern “But I ask that you take this very seriously. What I teach you is to be for self-defense only. Understand?” The hand moved to his shoulder, and stayed firm.
Yanqing looked at the blade. Then to the General. He stepped back, the wooden sword in hand, standing in mock attention. “Yes, General!” Yanqing answered in the most serious voice he could muster with the large smile on his face.
“Very well then.” The General said before taking a step into the room, patting the boy’s shoulder as he passed. “Come let me show you the basics.”
“Yes, General!” Yanqing cheered and followed after.