Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-24736819-20141008025115/@comment-5583506-20141016203539

Ran'Jinro was getting more and more distracted for each passing day. Kyrie had been observing him for some time. Sometimes she found him writing in some sort of secret book he kept hidden high up on a shelf, but he always slammed it shut whenever someone wanted to see him in his chambers. Somehow, just by looking at his actions, she could tell that he knew that something bad was about to happen. He was a Master after all, and a good one at that. They saw more than lesser men.

Not only was he acting strange, but he also seemed to cough more often than before. Maybe he was just getting old, but if she knew him correct, he wouldn't let age cloud his judgement or actions. There was something else...

"Master?" she asked as she approached him where he stood on the balcony in his chambers. "Is something amiss?"

He sighed. "There are many things amiss in the world, young Kyrie. Nothing you should have to worry about though. As for me, I guess things are just fine..."

"It doesn't sound like they are."

He smiled at her. "Nothing escapes you, does it? It's a wonder that Kavari hasn't already made you a Knight yet. Maybe you should take your head out of those books for a while and he would notice your skills?"

She blushed at the praise. "Can't you tell me what's wrong? Maybe I could help..."

He shook his head. "It's nothing really. It's just me. An old man reminiscing over times gone by. You just focus on what's ahead of you, Kyrie."

He started to cough violently.

"M-Master?!" she exclaimed in fear.

He dismissed her help with a wave of his hand. "It's... nothing..." He slurred and wiped himself around the mouth with a rag he kept in his pocket. "It's just me getting on the years."

Kyrie couldn't help but feel that he was hiding something from her. "If you say so, Master..."

He nodded and regained his warm smile. "Now, if you please would leave. I've got much work to be done and it would probably bore you."

"Of... of course, Master."

She was reluctant to leave him after his outburst, but she trusted his opinion and walked towards the door. She stopped only to turn around and see how he began to write in his book again.

He noticed her gaze. "Run along now", he said. "I am sure you have some studies you would want to examine thoroughly?"

"Y-yes..." She bowed slightly and left, but was still vexed by his strange behaviour.

Ran'Jinro looked after her as she left and sighed. There wasn't much time left. He could feel that something dark was approaching, but he wished to set things straight. As he started writing again he couldn't help but feel that he had been lucky that Kyrie hadn't noticed the blood stains on his rag...