"Just because I wear the mask, doesn't mean I use it on the inside."
Rajak and Karias were close, even though they were a few centuries apart, they seemed like the gap didn't matter at all. Almost as if it weren't there. Most people found it shocking when they heard that Karias is older than Rajak, just because the Kertia Noble looked and acted so mature.. while the Blerster Noble was rather… carefree.
Not that it was a problem. Rajak seemed to like Karias' carefree side. It balanced them both.
Rajak watched the sun rise with Karias, both boys having their feet dangling off the cliff. While the younger Noble's eyes were glued to the beautiful scenery, Karias' were rather, staring down at himself, almost as if he had an ashamed or regretful look in his eyes.
The blonde Noble's eyes drifted over to the the older Noble, his crimson eyes full of curiosity. "Karias," he started, catching the Blerster boy's attention. "You seem… sorrowful."
Karias snorted. "You don't need to worry about me, Rajak," he insisted with a small laugh, trying to fix his eyes on the sun.
Rajak stayed quiet, his red orbs drifting towards the ground that was far beneath them, his pale face shown of concern, but he wouldn't press any further. He then looked at Karias once more and let out an annoyed sigh.
Forget respecting people's wishes.
"Karias. Just because I wear the mask," Rajak started, pulling out his Kertia Clan mask, gazing at it thoughtfully and then turning to his friend with the same look. "doesn't mean I use it on the inside."
The older Noble blinked at what his friend said, trying to cope about what Rajak was trying to say to him. "... Come again?" He figured his friend would talk in 'code', but there came to a point where it seemed like a foreign language that nobody knew about.
"You're trying to hide who you are, Karias," Rajak finally said, his crimson eyes slightly narrowing.
Karias let out a sigh as he turned his head to the Kertia Noble. "... How'd you know?" he asked slowly, staring into the other Noble's eyes.
Rajak shrugged as he gave him a small smile. "Why.." he started. "Why are you wearing the mask?"
"I'm worried I'm not good enough to be a Clan Leader," Karias answered, his tone changing. It ate him up inside, voices taunting him that he would wind up disgracing his Clan, ruining his father's name, and wind up hurting everyone he cares about in the process.
"I became friends with you because of who you are; not who you want to be," Rajak replied, looking at the beautifully colored sky; his expression softening. "You don't have to wear the mask, Karias."
"What am I supposed to do with it, then?"
"Let it go," came the soft response. "It's only a matter of time before you start becoming someone you're not," Rajak stated.
Karias' eyes widened as he turned to Rajak, his eyes still wide and he would've sworn he saw the other Noble's eyes light up. "You really are something," the Blerster Noble stated with a smile.
"Yes I am," Rajak said with a calm tone. "And.. you are too, Karias."
And then the two watched the sun rise, and made a deal: nobody would ever hide who they are, and wear a mask on the inside.
A/N: Short and sweet… just came to my mind. And, it's not a pairing; just friendship.