Chapter Twenty One - I meet Leo's childhood friend
The person calling out to him was a young man, mostly likely the same age as Leon, which would be nineteen. His mahogany coloured hair, that was tied at the nape of his neck by a thin cord, was long enough to reach his shoulder blades, not the usual length that most people favoured. His skin was ruddy, peachy tones with the red of someone flustered staining his cheeks. His eyes were narrow and thin, sheltered with deep coloured lashes causing them to seem as if they were smiling, crescent moons. He was not very tall, possibly a couple of inches more of height than Leon and his body robust and dressed in slightly frayed hemp clothing, the coat of which was held together by grass rope.
"I almost didn' recognise ye! Wot happened to ye hair an' wots with ye glasses?" The boy was saying.
Leon felt a wave of familiarity before vague images flashed before his eyes, firstly of a tiny, round faced boy with gaps in his teeth and of a slightly older boy dragging him through a field. However, the details of those memories did not etch deeply onto his mind once a name came unbidden to his lips. "You are R-Russ," Leon blurted out and the other boy grinned brightly.
"Aye!" The boy confirmed. "I see that fancy school ain't fixed ye stutter!"
Leon was startled, but quickly covered his surprise with an "En." He hadn't known for sure just how many of his traits existed before his spiritual deviation, at the same point Leo lost his memories and Leon awakened his. Now it could be confirmed that Leo had always had the speech impediment. Leon wondered now how bad it had been in the past since he so long as he was not nervous or tired, his stutter notably had improved this past half year.
Jin Li's eyes narrowed and he glanced down at his small alchemist. "You know this person?"
"En. This is Russ. I r-r-remember him." Leon had no secrets from Jin Li, so the young man knew just exactly what Leon meant by these words. Leon had regained lost memories of his former self.
"Phew! Ye granda' was all a-worry, thinkin' summin' had happened to ye," Russ began as if no words had passed between Leon and the other. "Why did ye not send word to us fer so long?"
"M-my g-g-grandfather?" Leon whispered, his eyes suddenly filling with watery emotion. He cleared his throat and looked pleadingly to the boy before him. "Is he w-well?"
Russ scratched his head, uncaring that his dark hair was pulled out of its tie by his broken figure nails and said; "He were fine wen I came here lookin' fer work. I go' a job on the river docks las' moon. I go' me first pay check so I'm buyin' stuff fer me mam and me sisters fer new year." The boy looked very proud of himself with his chest puffed outward slightly and Leon felt his lips curve upward in response. "Are ye gonna come back to the village soon, mebbe visit ye granda' fer new year?"
Leon's expression crumbled slightly and his head bowed low as a longing filled his chest. Jin Li still held his hand, though this was hidden from view due to the draping of their long coats, and he squeezed it reassuringly before answering for him; "Naturally, it's ones duty and honour to greet one's ancestors and be with ones elders to usher in a new year. However, Leo met with a mishap and his memories became hazy, no longer could he pinpoint his ancestral home. This is also why he could not send word." Hearing Jin Li say his old name felt awkward, but he was grateful to his lover for speaking up for him.
It took a moment for Russ to understand what exactly the tall man standing with his old friend meant, but when he did, his mouth formed a circle and his narrow eyes widened a tad that the earthy colour of them could be seen. "Ye can' remember where the village is?" Leon shook his head with a sad smile. "I didn' expect tha'! Well, why don' I take ye? It be only two days travel by wagon from here. I'll be goin' back in five days me-self."
"I want to go!" The forgotten Sun suddenly piped up behind them and seeing a youth of noble dress, the village boy couldn't help but bow awkwardly a couple of times. The others amicably turned a blind eye to his panicked greeting of respect towards a person of higher status. "We can take a carriage! My brother will arrange it for us!" Sun was getting on quite well, he felt, with his older brother, although Mond did not say much and his face was still quite stoic, his eyes were welcoming whenever they met either in passing or with intent. This and his grandfather was more approving of him since hearing all about his days in the Institute and learning of his betterment of body and spirit. In addition, due to the cold weather, his cousins were not specifically visiting to make trouble every day, so he was feeling that it was not so bad to return home after all.
The boy's eyes grew wide again not knowing how to respond to the over-enthusiastic noble youth. Seeing him, it had made him take a renewed look over Leo and his other friend. Both were wearing warm coats made of animal fur and skin, which had also been embroidered with ornate designs and looked very different to the stuffed, layered hemp one that he wore in an attempt to keep him warm. All three wore the crown and hairpin's favoured by wealthy young men to restrain their wealth of silken hair upon their heads, Leo's hairpin even seemed to be of snowy white jade! Leo's glasses were also much different and no longer obscured his large, midnight eyes. All in all, if Russ did not know better, he would have thought Leo was a noble or rich boy rather than a commoner like himself hailing from a small village.
But even as he thought this and began to become uncertain, his old friend turned to him and offered the familiar, warm and slightly shy smile he recalled. "Then w-would you g-g-guide us b-back, Russ?" Russ inwardly sighed, this was still Leo, same quiet manner, same little stutter and same pleasing aura. No matter how fancy he was dressed up. He reckoned that the school had just been generous and helped him fit in. It did not occur to him that all what he saw was a combination of his own hard work and gifts from his lover and friends.
"O'course I will!" He grinned, brightly, feeling warm and happy from top to toe. His old friend was back, how could he not be happy! Plus, it would be good if Leo recalled the promise they made when he went away. Then things would be even more perfect.