Sentry sat in the library, reading over medicinal herbs with Éloise. Sentry decided to lend her his time to help her study with the herbs, seeing how the two would be working together closely. Though it was hard with her asking what it's like being a Raven.
"You seem so bruised and hurt every time I see you."
Sentry let out a soft sigh. His fingers unconsciously lifted to the new bruise he had gained upon his left cheek.
"It's fine. She's actually very nice the more you get to know her."
Sentry's words trailed off after his training with her the previous night. He knew no one could know her the way he did. There was a mutual understanding between them, one that he never thought a Raven, someone always described as cold-blooded and dark to ever have.
Éloise could not believe he was talking about the Raven being nice. But before she could inquire as to how, Sentry reminded her of her studies. Seeing how it would be useful if he knew a little bit to make her job slightly easier.
She goes over her notes that are scattered across the table as she racks her brain in thought, still not fully understanding which herbs are for what.
"Saints preserve me... was it chamomile for fever or willow bark? No, no... god, I'll poison someone at this rate."
Sentry could see how seriously she was taking her studies, it was admirable and made him a little bit relaxed for the future. It was honestly nice spending time with her. She wasn't cold like Raven was, but her unique traits and physical appearance still offered him a sense of comfort.
He pointed to a part of the book showing images of the herbs in question.
"Willow bark for fever. Chamomile for calming. You're mixing them wrong."
She stares at the page reading over the herbs again to confirm his answer. But it was the correct use of those herbs. It honestly made her a bit jealous.
"First you're good with fighting, soon to be an expert monster hunter now you make me feel useless in my own class. How am I to be of any use to you when you seemingly don't need me?"
Éloise said with a small frown across her pale face.
"I don't mean to have that affect. I am just trying to help. My master knows a lot about herbs with her... special craft."
Her eyes light up as she remembers the rumors about Ravens using dark arts to serve their means of hunting monsters. She leans in close so as not to gain too much attention on the subject.
"Is she teaching you black magic? Have you had to use the blood of baby goats yet?"
Sentry flicks her lightly on the forehead.
"No, she does not use blood for everything she does. Different monsters have different weaknesses so she teaches me methods for each one."
Éloise holds her forehead lightly from the flick, but whispers to him with genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"What monsters exist out there? Like when we get older and go on missions, what am I to expect?"
Sentry smiles softly, showing his lightly unnaturally sharp teeth as he explains.
"Well, there are those that look like men, but actually are beasts underneath the light of a full moon. Men who turn into wolves due to the moon. Then those who use dark arts to harm and kill, those who get their magic from the devil who perform rituals of blood sacrifices in his name. Then the ones that drink blood, they are described as usually pale and ghostlike. Even having pretty features to lure in prey. They are called vampires. So far the most common beast to be encountered."
Sentry lightly looks her in the eyes as he continues.
"Vampires are the most problematic, since I heard my master say that they have given themselves into England and France's inner courts, and that is why the war has been going on for over a hundred years now. They are hard to pick out of a crowd, but not impossible. They cannot enter a place unless given entry, they burn in sunlight, and they cower before the cross. Holy items of any variety seem to be their downfall, it only makes sense. But they are masters of stealth. One simple way to kill them is a wooden stake through their heart. That is one of the best ways to send them back to hell. But master always explained in great detail that a vampire is not to be trusted under any circumstances. They are just as smart if not smarter than humans. They only see humans as livestock, not even living breathing things. They even know how to use magic of their own in some cases. So it would be hard to fight an old one."
Éloise lightly shivers during the explanation. Taking it all in as she realizes now just how small she is the way she is now. But she shakes her head to snap out of her fear, but her hands continue to shake lightly.
"T-then. I am glad I will be with you as my Raven. But I am curious, if they are so dangerous, why is there only one Raven?"
Sentry lightly looks at her as he thinks it over in his mind. Thinking if he should tell her what he is. The Raven made it clear that she was a witch, and that a Raven is always one of these monsters. If not by chance, then by God's divine fate.
Even Sentry knew after the Raven explained to him that he was one of these monsters. He wanted to tell Éloise, but he did not want to lose the only friend he had at this time. Deciding to wait and give it time before he revealed the truth.
"There's only one Raven because I think that's all that's needed. There are already a handful of Crows for the task, but a Raven, there only needs to be one for that role. Only one person to bear the cross of darkness for the rest of the Parliament."
The door to the library suddenly opened with a soft creak as the two young doves turned to see Roxane. Sentry smiles but is halted as he sees someone with Roxane. Robin.
Their eyes lock with Sentry's as they smile, lightly making their way towards him and Éloise.
Sentry feels less than thrilled and prays for a way out of this to God Almighty.
"Hello, am I bothering you two?"
Roxane asks with a smile as she stands at the end of their table.
"Not at all Lady Ashwood, greetings. How are you this fine... evening?"
Éloise said as she stood to give a curtsy.
Robin looked over what you were studying with wide eyes. Since his role doesn't require him to study herbs, he found the images of the different plants appealing to his curiosity.
"What are you guys studying?"
Sentry remained silent as he just stared at Robin with the same look others in the Parliament gave him from time to time. Éloise answered with a smile.
"We were going over herbs. Nothing too special, but it is my duty as a Nightingale."
Robin's eyes beamed with joy as he found the topic rather interesting. This oceanic blue eyes, you could get lost in them forever like being stranded out at sea. The very thing that God blessed Ashwoods with was their hypnotic blue eyes. Only adding more to the scorn Sentry had for Robin.
"That sounds so cool. Sentry, you mind if I study herbs with you as well?"
A look of disgust at just his mere presence. Like he was a simple vulture among the flock. Once Robin saw the look, his smile thinned as it made him shrink a bit.
"Sentry?"
Robin asked softly.
That name. Hearing his own name from Robin's lips sounded like a curse. It made his face wince up even more.
This made Robin awkwardly step back to his sister. Roxane lightly gazed down at Sentry as she spoke.
"Sentry, is something wrong?"
Sentry did not sever his gaze from Robin for another few seconds. Instead, he gathered Éloise's notes and books together. Lightly taking her by the hand in an almost possessive fashion, clinging to her palm as if she would vanish or be taken away if he didn't hold her tightly.
"We were just leaving to go find the herbs outside of the castle."
Roxane noticed Sentry's sudden rush to leave, and she knew the reason as to why. So before he had the chance to depart, she lightly places her hand on Sentry's chest to stop him in his tracks. She looks at Éloise, and then to Robin.
"You two. Go ahead and find some of those herbs. I need to have a word with Sentry. He will join you once we are done."
Her voice sounded a little colder than usual. More stern, this made Éloise shiver lightly as she left with Robin to wait in the halls.
Watching the two leave together made Sentry's blood boil as he tried to push past Roxane to get to her, but Roxane kneels and grabbed him lightly by his shoulders.
"Whatever animosity you hold towards Robin, it must stop now. You have no right to hate him."
Sentry avoids looking her in the eye as he just clenches his fist. Not wanting to meet her gaze. But Roxane lightly cupped his face, making him look her in the eyes.
"Sentry. He is your family. You cannot hate him because of anything he has done. What has he done to make you see him like this?"
Sentry snaps lightly, yanking his face from her gentle touch which surprised her. Sentry, a boy who was so clingy to Roxane, a boy who would never disobey her nor show any negativity towards her in any way just pulled away from her with anger in his eyes.
Not burning rage nor true hatred. Just anger.
"He is not MY family. He's YOUR family. How could he be mine? Everyone always sees him and smiles, singing his praise like he is the son of God himself. I have heard that. Yet I have done nothing, and I earn gazes of disgust and scorn daily. I hate him. I hate him more than anything else."
Sentry's declaration nearly broke Roxane's heart. She knew how others looked at him, but she always wanted the two of them to be close. For Robin to be someone who looked at Sentry differently. Which he does.
Robin holds no malice towards Sentry. He sings Sentry's praises as well, but Sentry only grew hate for him. Robin's status as an Ashwood only magnified his achievements, which seemed to have the opposite affect for Sentry. Roxane felt this, but had no idea what to do about it. She was still stunned from hearing his true feelings for Robin spill out and she had no idea what to even do. What could be done at this point?
The children were getting older, but this hatred has lasted for years. She did not want the two of them to grow up despising one another, but instead he desired the two to be close. To guide one another through life.
While Sentry did have Éloise, he did not want him to isolate her as well with how protective he acts over her.
"Is that how I am to look? Pale skin, blue eyes like the sky in spring and hair as white and clean as snow? I'm nothing like an Ashwood should be in everyone's eyes, and everyone knows it. I look nothing like you. Is that why everyone averts their gaze when they see me? Am I that incorrectly born that all Robin has to do is enter a room and is showered with love?"
Roxane pulls Sentry into her arms as she strokes his hair lightly.
"Sentry. I don't care what you look like. You are my son no matter what you appear to be. No matter what you are. I will always love you. I will always be there for you. Jennifer and Robin both love you all the same. No matter what the others say, you are an Ashwood. You are beautiful just the way you are. Your eyes are golden like the richest metal in the world, your hair is dark like the midnight sky, and is softer than any wool. Your skin holds the warmth of the earth, even your cheeks, God scattered stars across them to paint your features perfectly."
Her thumb lightly strokes over his cheeks as she stares into his eyes. Meaning every word she says. Not wanting Sentry to think he has to be anything else but himself to be accepted.
"So don't think you have to look like us to earn respect. In the eyes of God you are always beautiful. You were made in his images we all are. So no matter how one looks, you are always beautiful. So please, we love you."
She lightly presses her lips to Sentry's cheek. Showing him deep love and affection as she holds him close. Sentry lightly hugs her back in return. Burying his face in her neck as she holds him with a familiar warmth that he always loved.
Sentry held onto her words, holding them in the highest regard, but his heart still hardened to the idea of letting Robin in at all. He was just a reminder that no matter how hard he tried, he'd never be enough.
"All I ask is that you love Robin the way he loves you. He cares for you, and wants the best for you."
Sentry's heart still did bot heed the words spoken. No matter what, he had already decided how he felt towards Robin. Be it his own fault, or the fault of the Parliament. It was doomed for those two to ever get along truly.
Roxane stood from her position.
"Now, how about you, Robin, and Éloise go and gather those herbs together."
Sentry rolled his eyes softly, but reluctantly agreed.
Roxane smiled and turned to leave, only to be stopped mid step but a slightly hunched over figure. She jumps and gasps lightly, receiving a fright from the figure, but Sentry noticed them and smiled.
"Master Raven!"
Sentry ran past Roxane and hugged the Raven warmly. She did not react, instead she just spoke in her usually cold slightly raspy tone.
"You're late for training. Or did you forget?"
She says coldly.
Sentry lightly separated as the Raven knelt to his level. Roxane watching the interaction feeling like a ghost. Like the Raven hardly acknowledged her presence.
"Today we were going to go over your sword play. A short sword seems your speed, seeing how it's the best way for you to have a bit of range and still be up close. Then we can go over the lessons from my black book."
Sentry's eyes widened with a bright toothy smile.
"Really?"
The Raven pet his head lightly. Sentry unconsciously nuzzles into her hand as she moves it to caress his face.
"Only if you surpass my expectations today. Now, go and meet me in the field. Everyone should be clear by now."
Sentry nods as he rushes off. The Raven stands, watching him leave with a content sigh, Roxane also staring at him leave as he vanishes from the library.
"He runs to you so quickly... Sometimes I fear he'll forget I'm his mother at all."
Roxane says. The Raven exhales softly, seemingly trying to quell her worries, but also stating the truth.
"You raised him. Fed him. Loved him. I don't take that from you. But I will not soften him either. He clings to me because I show him the truth of what he is. And he knows he can't hide it from me."
Roxane seems a but offended from her words.
"And what is he to you? Apprentice? Shadow? Or just a weapon you want forged?"
"All of the above. But more than that."
The raven creeps her way to the door with low cold steps. Her hand in the knob as she turns to look at Roxane.
"He's mine now. Not by blood, but by bond. You gave him a chance at life. I give him the tools to prolong it."
Roxane's lips tighten, not having much to say as she looks down, her hand tightening at her side. She loves Sentry as her son, but she knows the truth of Morrigan's words. That half of him will always belong to the Raven. And that frightens her more than anything.
She watches her leave with a soft sigh before taking sitting lightly at the table holding her head in her hands. She held not hatred for anyone, nor fear. But the Raven did unsettle her. It made her regret not taking Sentry as a student or finding anyone else to do the task.
Some time later, Sentry made his way to the training field, having already grabbed his weapons and armor for training. He makes his way out into the field as he notices a couple of other doves there, training to be eagles. They were seemingly done when he arrived, but one of the boys began to whisper.
"Look, it's the demon boy."
His ears twitched when he heard that. Then another spoke.
"What is he? He looks weird."
"I hear he's a demon from hell. It's why his eyes glow in the dark. My father says people like him are a bad omen."
Sentry did his best to ignore the children as he just waited for his master. He say against the wall and waited. Paying no mind to his surroundings.
As he sat his ear twitched lightly. He didn't know what he was hearing. But as he sat and waited, he was hit in the face with a stone.
The stone wasn't too big to cause real damage, but just large enough to hurt.
"Wow, you got him!"
"Uh oh. Looks like he actually felt that one."
Another of the boys picked up another rock, throwing it. Sentry caught the stone in his hand as he growled. His eyes grew more intent on doing more than just throwing stones, and they felt it. But only for a brief moment, as a cold hand rested on the boy's shoulders. The two who threw the stones.
"Did I catch you throwing stones at my student?"
Their eyes widened in fear as they dared not turn around. But Sentry calmed down as he saw his master at work.
"You best be on your way. I'm not above putting curses on little children like you. I could fill your lungs up with your own blood and watch you drown slowly."
She trailed her cold hands up to their necks. Wrapping her cold fingers around them, applying light pressure. The chill thar only death could give ran through them like wild fire. Their skin paled from fear as her grip seemingly tightened enough to get her next point across.
"Now apologize to Sentry. And then leave."
"Y-yes ma'am."
The boys turned to Sentry and bowed lightly, saying in unison.
"Sorry Sentry."
They said it fast before rushing off to leave the training grounds with the swiftness of hawks. Leaving Sentry and the Raven alone.
She turned back to you as she spat on the ground.
"Don't think about them. The word is a lot worse than some little shits like them. Now, you ready, or did you still have other matters?"
"No, we can begin. I'm ready master."
Sentry said as he drew his wooden short sword.
"Good boy. Just know after this we will be using real steel. You've proven that wooden toys are beyond you. So, after today, we'll use metal, and I'll show you how to really kill monsters. But for now, take your stance. At least try to look like you want to kill."
Sentry nods as he takes his sword stance.
The lessons continued.