Hey guys, it's been quite a bit since I've last updated... Sorry, it's been frantic with all the tests, quizzes etc etc. So hopefully you guys will like this update :)
Yuuri gave a quizzical look at his departing group of friends, a bit surprised at their sudden farewell, and worried that they might've gotten the wrong impression.
An awkward silence settled between the two of them, or maybe it was just Yuuri himself, that was uncomfortable with the lack of conversation. He squirmed a bit, searching for something, anything to say.
"Well," the king drawled, "I guess we should go too, the sun's going to be setting soon"
They both looked towards the sky. The bright and spherical ball of fire was indeed beginning to fall down below the line of green trees, casting dark shadows onto the cold pavement. The knight gave a slight nod of the head, and the pair of them began walking. They passed a neighbourhood with archaic buildings that were sporadically scattered, unlike the methodically planned landscapes of modern day. Most of them were worn down and out of repair. The paint that might have once been fresh and bright had long since faded away, leaving it chipped and dull. Plants have begun to settle into the small cracks of rock, giving the apartments an even more deteriorated visage.
"These buildings must've seen so much in their day, too bad the city's planning on tearing them down soon." Yuuri paused, a thought suddenly popping into his head, "Conrad, since you've lived so long, has the landscape changed a lot since you were young?"
The soldier was a bit taken back by the sudden question, but gave a small chuckle. The random questions were symbolic with Yuuri; it gave way to Yuuri's curiosity, which was a quality that revealed his youth. It was a trait that had long since disappeared from Conrad, along with the spark of curiosity within his eyes. All that used to remain in those caramel eyes was weariness, but ever since Yuuri entered into his life, a twinkle has sparked within those hazel orbs, radiating out a feeling of warmth to whoever saw.
The soldier tilted his heads towards the sky, seemingly recalling something from long ago. "In human territories yes, but since the Makozu live longer than humans, change takes place more gradually."
"But," his mouth forming into a pout "don't you ever feel sad, when you go back to a place, and it resembles nothing you once remembered it to be?"
Conrad looked at Yuuri, taking in the sight of his ruler. "A bit yes, but that's the beauty of change heika. Nothing's ever stagnant, even if you want it to be."
What a curious thing it was, to be able to be affected by a silly string of words strung together. Yuuri's nonchalant mood suddenly turned a bit sour. His knight in supposedly shining armor always seemed so unapproachable. What kind of answer was that? Yuuri knew that it was a good and logical answer, a meaningful one even. But the tone, the formality, the way that he mentioned it, seemed to create a gaping distance between the two, a distance that Yuuri unremittingly tried to overcome, but for some reason Conrad would always shrink further away. He never let Yuuri in, never expressed his true feelings and thoughts; there was always an air of formality when he was with the king, a sense of distance between them that wasn't present when Conrad was with Yozak or his subordinates. That was something Yuuri greatly envied Yozak for.
Was he only a "king" to Conrad, and nothing more? Was he not good enough? Would Conrad prefer a better king, a more experienced master?
The thoughts of doubt were seemingly never ending, always haunting the teenager at the back of his head, popping and interrupting his thoughts from time to time again. Yuuri knew that his thoughts were unreasonable; tried to brush them off as simply doubts about his own self competence. After all, Conrad would never put such dedication into someone, be willing to even forsake his own life for a person, just because of obligation…. right?
