5 Arcane

It was synonymous to the dome hall, but secondary in size with clear glass for a ceiling. You could see the visible sky through the canopy. A day same as the one during the founds fest.

Vivid, blue and brilliant.

Nothing seem to have varied much, except that- everything else did.

We took stairs to get here, countless turns and inspections later I arrived to his intended destination, in a space so white that I had to squint at the pale bronze man that had his head dunked, rummaging through a wooden crate with a suspended military posture somewhere. He looked every bit a normal man could. He even took off his over-suit and left the cotton shirt he wore within on him.

But that was far from my gripping concern.

When I followed him, the route we took was that of where I was intended in. The East Annexe. And if I wasn't mistaken, I had surpassed into a towering that's two-story above the underground base we had been bundled into. With General Slantis on lead- none had questioned me or asked of security protocols. From here I could see the arena I had lost my consciousness in.

It's a small circle of grey and brown in middle from up here.

I know the way from there. I can escape.

I can leave.

I may also die doing so. It's a better shot than constructing a bigger and better disaster in future. Only that I can't. I don't want to.

The bizarre decision of mine should inject a fright into my bones. But it doesn't. Not even a semblance of it elopes me because I know I would fail. I would fail to change a future. I would never be able to flee from those dreams and prophecy.

I know I will be found.

What I don't is if I might be punished for it.

He will know my name. He would address me by it. His voice, his lips, him- it's bound by a destiny to happen. So I wait- until I go mad with this strange abilities of mine that are unexplainable in their form.

When I had challenged Slantis I knew I wasn't in essence to hold back now.

My leverages, seem to be a curse that I can't run from. Because I always know where I end up even before I embark on it. It had been a promise when I fled from Ivyaki. It has become a bane after I met the man behind the voice that haunted me.

So I make the best of what I do, I pretend.

Pretend that I am swayed and anticipated to know where in the mob I belong. So when a copper sword gets tossed at me, I catch it. It's heavy on my palm, and cold too.

Lack of stumble and trip by my part impressed both of us. The General smiled and positioned his own sword in motion, coming to stand in front of me.

"A duel?" He rolls his shoulder at my query, i frown deeply."I thought the match was supposed to be a board play" I mumble, a hint of irritation in my tone seeps in. My gaze widens at the slip, but he merely chuckled and attacked first. He looked beautiful when he smiled, moved or made our swords clink.

"I am an insecure person Mister Kasper. I have to win at something to make it even" we gamble and switch our places, I defend his easy warmup with counter ones and fients, The basics I had learned. But they were hesitant ones, my efforts were stifling. While he did it with ease of breathing, I was diminishing in just three moves

"So unfair isn't it? I know. But can't help it" With that, he plunged in a parry, with a jump I let it cut through the air. I land on my feet. A smug smile forms at the little success of mine, only for him to sneak through the side. I never knew I was trained for such combat- it had always been for hunting and defending. But my reflex yanks me to new stages. It was almost as if something else had taken over my body.

Someone else maybe, a better version of myself who wasn't a prisoner yet. Not of ice, not of a realm.

I am a traitor, and I morally felt like one.

The idea bubbles a laugh in my chest.

"Celebrating too soon are we?" Slantis estimates as I religiously ruminate on the actual thing that has been humbling me.

I am participating in a playful duel with a person who is most likely to kill me if he ever were to know where I come from. Yet I can't seem to resist the spark of thrill at what's commencing.

At one juncture he had a hold on my shoulder as I ducked beneath his arm, right before he could knock me out of the symmetry.

"That's a good one. Where did you learn Kasper?" He exhales, retreating two steps for a break of communication.

"I watch" a lie.

"An armature will believe what you say"

"Call me Timo, sir"

He smirks, scrunching his nose.

"May go with Kasper. Don't like the sound of it" I could take offence, but there wasn't a morsel of dishonesty in this man. And i- needed that from someone. "Call me Hann then" I feel a jab in my hip and then we are resuming. My breathing is harder and he appeared as if he just had his morning tea. Alert and guarded.

"That is not appropriate. You are a General sir" I swallow, my arms slogging off as his final hits threw me a guard off. He is fast, even though I suspect it's half of what he is capable of- he corners me to a wall. The rains of our swords clashing subside as I drop mine in defeat when his blade vaults by my neck. My knees buckle as the Armin held onto my shoulder to stop me from collapsing.

Not as charmingly comforting as he was- he looked down at me with a pinch of tension building in.

"All I am is an oath," he says, backing up and inspecting the shape of his ordnance. I don't look away from him, it was impossible to not study him when he was giving me an option to "I am an example of favouritism because of my father. Chief Atlas Slantis" he lets out a breathy, short and tired laugh "I am practically a nanny to aspirants such as you"

When he places the sword back into the crater I was beside him, my nose in whole of his adjacent topics that I shouldn't bother my wits with. But I do.

"Is there something else you need to ask?" He questions crossing his arms, reading me well.

"I didn't ask anything- you simply said it all" I spill, like the darkest of ink on the whitest of sheet "Why? Is it not frowned upon for an Armin to demonstrate doubts about themselves?"

The ridiculously enigmatic smile plasters on him again, he flipped my collars and fastened another button of my shirt, sophisticating my appearance more than it already was.

"I said so because you are on a path similar to mine. Except- it would be much worse for you" inconspicuously I curl my fingers into fists. This wasn't advice, it was the nature of reality he was smearing up on and over me. "Fame and friends here don't go hand in hand. I doubt you'll share any of this today with anyone- because I wouldn't if I was you"

He paused.

I saturate for him.

"You want me to believe that I shouldn't trust anyone"

My statement buys me another warming smile. It blinds me to know and witness a man like him was capable of such diligence.

"I see my younger self in you" he shifts to the side, equipping to leave as he picked his coat threw it over his arm "Pity that Lian can't seem to see anything else other than a boy to run errands for him in you"

After fixing at his watch, he looked at me for a moment, and then proceeded to leave,- duly Heeding him to the corridor, uninvited and provoked I follow. Our footsteps echo and my voice bounces when I speak. This place was empty of people- no wonder he was utterly different than he usually seem to be here.

After all, ones true mirror is when they are alone.

"Why choose me to if I am useless?" My tone raised with exasperation. We still walked, but he doesn't stop to answer me. But neither was I left to fend.

"You took command of Aliferous, he probably just wants to gain his control by-

He suspends the theory for me to choose from.

But I did have more queries that he was willing to respond to.

"Aliferous?"

"Your instigator"

"So his giant, snarky bird has a name"

We come to a halt in a lane that separates, Slantis gestures me to right-

"That would be your stop, Kasper, you are fifteen minutes late and that might not be a good start" he entertains himself off my misery and took to the direction opposite to mine, he walks a few steps before shifting to look through.

"Giant bird?Knew that you and I aren't that different" His eyes luminates with a satisfaction "The Ezdan will finally regret his judgment for once. I can see it"

***

Prayers might not be answered, it seldom has. But I do it anyway. I prayed that I got lost in this maze of a Castle? Mansion? Palace? I don't know what to call it. Most would. Almost everyone could. With how magnificent the place seems to be, it's impossible to not be considered a monument of public interest. And that's how I kept deviating from my motive.

I don't want to see him. Meet him.

Pressing on to my head of hair with other hand to my chest I exercise my breathing before a random, huge door.

I wished and implored that I got lost.

But it was impossible.

The corridor has fine turns, none that lead to a dead end. My gut wrenched when I realised that my excuses won't work here. So I knock.

Though the door is thick, it's light on my knuckles. It tears a little when I touched it.

"It's open" came his call, disinterested but firm. I press on it - peeling it further when I hear a woman before I even see her.

"We are occupied, come later"

When I gawked I leisurely let my lips part. A girl sat there by the edge of a large bed, her legs crossed by the ankle and a smug annoyance on her expression. Her face is a sculpt of every girl's envy and every man's dreams. She had her heated gaze glued to the only man in the room, he stood by the window staring into the- mystery that was out.

"He is not going anywhere"

And before I know what he meant, I was the subject of his glare. And it was an element of everything hostile in a person.

What was even my mistake?

"Neither am I going away" the girl smirks cunningly, her silver gown glistening like a molten moon at her sly gestures, her hair is red - adorned with jewels and pearls. He however didn't look at her. Even though he was welcome to look anywhere else- other than me.

"That's not my concern, I plan on leaving now" he adjusts the sleeve to his usual dark attire and produced a smile for her. A smile is so genuinely counterfeited and false that I ceased to breathe at the moment. Because no dishonest feature should justify such sinister beauty out in a person. When she got up trembling, with her shoulder raised and lips thin.

He pressed his lip to her cheek.

Silencing an argue in her.

"I will be on my way Miss Marmoris" a tress of his dark hair falls to his forehead, there is a bitterness in his gaze, smile and voice that's not hidden. "Suit yourself-" he looks on sides and even at his satin spread bed "-right about anywhere you like. Because I am not returning tonight"

Then he left her fumbling with her unspoken words, I flinch back when he walks past the door and me- only to stop a meter away and turn to patiently stare at me.

"Does Tommy requires an invite to join me for an outing?"

A detroiting dumb fusion of my mind later I realised how he was humanly capable of sarcasm. Rude, but a form of polite rudeness. I accept that. I convince my hurt ego.

"No sir. I mean, yes - what I am saying is I am Timo. Timo Kasper, your grace" my palms are cold and sweaty, so I discreetly pat them by my trouser and rushed to him as he resumed his stride. Not far into the walk, we were out in open. Descending the marble stairs and I realise that shadow of a con man who smiled a while ago was a myth with him. Alteast with me it's never to be a reality. So when he speaks to me again- I also acknowledge that I am miles away from understanding this man.

For once, he wasn't ignoring me like yesterday.

And second, his reception is no better than an ignorance. It has a contrary affliction and misery to it.

"Tommy suits you better," he says as I glower at his built but lean and strong back. The wet grass churns against the sole of my boots.

Tommy a name usually appointed to a pet. A cub of wolf or bear in Antar.

"Anything's that you like Your Grace"

He stops.

I don't.

My nose slams flatly against his back and I recoil by inhaling a whiff of his enchanting fragrance. With a quick apology, I switch to stand by his side to avoid future accidents as such. But he barely moves.

"Do I look graceful to you?" He crossed his arms and with a lazy turn of his head inspected my cowardice. He was twisting my guts and testing my sating nerves. So I answer with honesty-

"How would you like me to answer that?" I ask inclining low, why can't he look elsewhere? It made things easier last wise- why can't it be the same?

"Stop addressing me as Grace or hence ruling titles"

I look at him, perplexed at his demand.

"What shall I call you then?"

He is fast with it- there's even a hint of gleam in his eyes. And nothing ever comes straight out of it.

"Lord, master- my beloved prince"

I don't receive time to contemplate the absurdity as his aura disappeared.

"I have a name. Address me by it"

One moment I was in steps with him, but next, he was ahead. I blame my short legs and the overruns of my mind swirling and sinking with the information it has been soaking in. Call him by his name?

What is it with men of Antar and there desire to be addressed by their name?

I eloquently condoned to be honored as Tommy not minutes ago. Why make this difficult for us?

It was a tiring journey, to walk the grounds of the royal residence with an Ezdan. Though the yard we wandered in wasn't one with patrolling guards. It was vacant, not one soul in sight exclude us for acres. Trees and glass sculptures are grown and mounted on the raised grounds- separating us from other part of this green house.

Captivating were the flowers, the scent, the serenity of it. Suffocating was the company of this man who was restricting my perceptions from enjoying any. Like a leech, he sucks and drains the blood out of my heart and brain until I watch each of my actions and cursors.

So much for letting fate thrive on my trust and instinct.

Eventually, we reach a wall, whose length surpassed both of our proportions. It was a compound. Cracked, aged and stronger with time. I stood behind him in obedience as he scaled the structure- I wondered if it's a rich bloods hobby to admire their domiciles wall. It could be- these people are born strange. And in a hierarchy where no one would dare question their interests.

"Climb this wall, Tommy"

He says it so low, so subtle that I leaned with confusion.

"Pardon?"

His response is a brittle stare, not hard neither delicate.

"I want you to get to the other side, you will find a rope- toss it over to me" he steals a quick glimpse of the area, I do too. I found none prying on us. It only meant one thing- the Ezdan wasn't keen on squandering time before anyone found us.

He was trying to-

"Are you aiming to leave your highn-"

A look of indecipherable challenge gets directed at me- so I settle for a titleless conversation. Though my words and his expressed calmness indicated an onset of faint confrontation.

So I give up.

"I won't be able to, the walls are way too high-what are you doing?" He was on his knees, his boots scrapes against the concrete as he pats his right shoulder, twice.

"Climb"

I should be acting in accordance, maybe with a surprise or vital shock. But there's no niche for hesitation with the order his voice held. I did as told, my feet on his shoulder as he woke to his full stature- I feel a grip of his leather-clad fingers fasten by my ankle- cementing my staggering balance. I am stretching and breathing, my fingers spearding to hook and claw at the edge of the barrier. When I succeed, a hand on my behind pushes me forward until I hang there like a rag left to dry.

My cheeks heat up with the sensation of his hand touching me, even though his sole motive was to throw me to the other side.

Literally.

"Hurry"

I hear his deep whisper, I flung my leg and kick into motion, I have done this countless times in ivyaki- so I am careful with my bones and skin until I am save on the surface.

I find the ropes in no time, buried but peaking beneath a rubbish of chopped firewood.

I Rush to the wall, fasten it by a well buckle and flung it with my might. Half a minute into the hustle and I saw his head peak, his hair dishevelled a little and coat gone. His movements are steady, practised- assured and natural.

He has done this before.

Many many times.

There's a civil slam from where his feet lands, he dusts his palms and starts to move towards a barren cot house. I- as predicted follow him, this wise in a zone of strict worry.

"Am I in trouble?" I ask- he ignored. In a gesture so precise that it irked me. More than the fear, I was thawed with the need of accepting the anger that came with his company. He opened a door to the half whithered hut, it was an abandoned storage house with numerous boxes and rusted weapons. He went straight for a knapsack- and tugged out a coat and scarf. He pulled over the rugged, used and most common looking attire and checked his reflection in a small stained mirror.

I attempt again.

"Am I to come with you?"

Nothing.

"Did I do something wrong?"

I sigh- giving up again. But- he turns. Facing me- a first of exchange where he wasn't speaking to air while I catch his terms.

"You did- you were late today"

My gaze sinks with a show of guilt.

"My apologies, it won't happen again"

With unspoken rules, my gaze stilled at him when I noticed his eyes. They were the most chaotic shade of grey that I had ever seen in a human- it was black and it was silver. It was a marriage of contrast. Like both, the throne of angel and devil resided in them.

And I am back in the midst of night in poisonous pond. Intrigued and in awe of him.

"So you commit-" he stalks to where I stood, his eyes haunting mine "-that you will not be distracted by Slantis again?"

My tongue is useless, my throat is tight. How he knew wasn't a worry- but the sour reaction to this wasn't something I anticipated.

"You don't have to lie Tommy- I know my oath, he can be persuasive" there's this slice of smile thats smacks me like a brick, it was dangerous- to have him smile at you, it's worse than his silence and oblivion. Because it meant what I tried to avoid, I meant he was taking me into a part of his world.

Into his life.

A life of his that I should have nothing to do with as a Helian.

"But let's not forget this-" his smile fades into a warning "- I am your mentor, I chose you because I wasn't willing to trust you with my friend"

Friend?

Hann slantis and him were friends?

"What do you mean by trust me with a friend?" I pitch, contorting as he plays with a loose thread of his peasant sleeve, looking nothing like one. He was every angle a prince could be. And every darkness an heir should be who would claim the throne.

"We shall find that after we reach Esseth" he affirms, his mood light. His hair is still out of place, yet so pleasantly perfect as he ticks to get some out of his eyes.

Capital Of Esseth- the heart of Antar. We are scheduled to start with the journey in two days- everyone who came and got through the trials will be transported into the land of the ruling. Into where the highborns are skies and earth and everything in between.

Where we will be trained to serve the kingdom and the crown.

I wasn't being spared. Slantis had been wrong. The Ezdan, has plans. He seeks the right place and time.

Esseth.

"A growing young boy with unique abilities, I can't let him train you we don't know what you are"

I blink- I stare at the mention of a boy. And I am hit with the logicality of the pattern.

Of course, it's the boy that's too young.

I am too much of a boy to be taken seriously, they probably are using me as a seafarer . Attempting to refrain from flaring me in a wrong way.

They are discovering me. And like any wild pet- the Ezdan is waiting for me to acquaint and tame before he trains.

Tommy.

He is treating me in the means of a kid. A pet.

So I act like one.

Timidly I scratch my neck and wince.

"I just told the instigator to not hurt me, I don't know what I did- she just listened"

He is brisk with his game.

"How do I believe that?"

He is elsewhere, generously reckoning my lie already so I lie more.

"I have always been too poor, been working since my childhood. Never had a proper education-

A big fib, the old man was the sufficient teacher that I doubt even the prestigious Antarian universities could hold a match to-and he left me with enough materials to devour through my years of evolution.

"-I seldom had a chance to discover myself, not to forget that I don't know who my parents were"

And then, my statement hasn't been truer in a said part. So when there's a motion of nod and later a search of his bag in - I didn't know what I was waiting for.

But he walks over and hands me a brown cloak, when I see him again, it's with genuine consideration and a tinge of colour.

"What will you like to have for breakfast?"

And he departs, with me on toe.

Only that none of us should be exiting the borders of base and manor-

Not me with him and not him without his oath.

Ps unedited. :)

Hope you enjoy