Axel was exhausted,
and he hadint even rested an hour before there was bustling in the hall outside. obviously the princes traveling detail was up early preparing things like breakfasts and loading up the vehicles.
he rolled over in hopes of a few moments more sleep but eventually got up. knowing that if they were planning to pick up and leave for the kingdom of Lampelnum. the bodyguards would like nothing better than to have lost him before the prince could notice.
he finished getting ready there at the full length mirror between the door and cherrywood wardrobe. despite the opinion of the richer sections of the world, most mages were quite well off due to contracted work and secret practices. As such they posessed refined tastes and luxurious goods of their own. the only reason they didint walk around so well dressed or dine in the finest restaurants was because they were openly discriminated against by the public at large. living amongst the poor wasn't half as important as blending in with them.
Axel had gambled his life by keeping that shop open. as small as it was. the wrong persons finding and exploiting his vulnerability was a constant threat since the authorities would be all but willing to help him. sure he could have charmed the door so that entering meant seeing a mirage of some front business. But he felt that took away too many potential buyers in the process, so in an effort that saved his hide many times before Axel had become a very convincing salesman.
"lets see if i can be of assistance..." he groaned. the man looking back at him in the mirror was quite sharp. silk shirt, silver cuff links, emerald tie, terra cotta waistcoat, chestnut loafers and deep tan trousers with a matching suitjacket on his bed. there was a matching tweed overcoat and grey scarf on a chair at the desk past the bed near the back of the room.
he peered out into the hall only to barely keep the tip of his nose as a maid carrying silver breakfast trays barely dodged his face.
"watch it!" she warned in her thick cockney accent. he leaned back amd watched three more maids march by him toward the rooms of the bodygaurds.
"hey, what about my breakfast?"
the last maid turned and squinted at him. "well, if we had known we'd have a new High Mage ta feed on the morn' we woulda properly planned for ye!"
Axel rolled his eyes in disgust. he couldint tell if they'd truly not been told in time or if they were in the number that saw magic and its flamebearers as as worthless soilspots.
he let out a grunt and closed his door. making sure to trace the knob with a charm that would slightly punish intruders. "ill just find my own breakfast..." he murmured.
he opened the double doors at the top of the hall to find a large round room with a rail and a large gap with a beautiful crystal chandelier hanging down in the center. all against the walls of the room were doors and windows and a bit further to his left was a stairwell to the level below. he let out a sigh, remembering that there would probably be no one willing to help him locate the kitchen. so he signed the word kitchen and waited for the timely help of the spirits he worked with.
The main part of magic there often got people confused as court jesters or magicians was that they often feinted clairvoyance or the power of divination. but, with anything they didn't know magicians would simply ask the spirits around them or use sign language if they needed to be discreet. usually with a whisper or even sometimes physical apparitions they could work out some bit of knowledge to entertain their audience. mages only reverted to this kind of petty work when driven by poverty or estranged from their branch of the magic community.
"down those stairs child."
a womans voice sounded sweetly. most spirits, no matter how gruff or mean were more than willing to help, as the majority of people ignored or could not see them. making the afterlife quite boring.
"thanks" shoving the hand in his pocket he headed for the landing at the bottom.
at the base the room was brilliantly white, even to the granite floors and table. the only accents were black and in the flowers in each direction was an ornate walkway which led into four separate areas, none of which Axel could follow the scent of cooking and he paused, waiting for more assistance.
"its to your left and down the elevator dummy." another voice snickered.
Axel rolled his eyes and followed the instructions untill he met a beautiful glass and brass fixtured elevator. he manually closed himself into it and looked at the menu of numbers.
" give level 4 a go o'l chap." and try it he did.
most mages could pretend to be normal in the face of public scrutiny, acting like wolves in sheep's clothing. but with Axels unusual height, striking features, bright green eyes and maine of unruly blood red hair. blending in was just about impossible. he read for all the key signs of magic and was all too easily picked out for it wherever he went.
Axel quickly tied his unruly hair back in a single low ponytail as the doors opened to a bustling cooking level. steam and all manner of delicious smells flooded the elevator. onlookers stopped and stared at the out of place gentleman. some were half sure he had to be the red haired master Mage everyone was talking about but were sure this man was too well dressed to fit the description.
it didn't take long for Axel to scrounge up some grub from a passing maid who wore a slightly more ornate uniform than the others. she blushed as she took his request, returning moments later with a platter and a lid. she insisted on escorting him back to his room profusely apologizing for the manners of the girls he had met beforebefore. she assured him they would be reformed come tomorrow. after arranging his meal set on the coffee table near the window she spoke again before leaving.
" I know you don't need me to tell you, but inside the Kingdom magic is looked down upon. you're doing a good job for yourself already being so well kept but you'll need more than magic in order to make it in the royal court...let me know if you need any help."
Axel nodded uncaringly and began to eat. when food was on his mind everthing else escaped him like water through a sieve.
crisp croissants and cured ham. poached eggs and fresh berry jam. i could go on but the items were eaten faster than they were seen there on the plate.
after eating he enjoyed his second cup of coffee while scanning the paper and looking breifly out the window. from this vantage and following the clues given by the architecture Axel knew he was in one of the buildings towers. just below the stronghold sprawled out to the ground and into the cold sunrise mist. his heart fluttered at the idea of actually living this type of luxury daily, instead of being a modest guest.
A loud rap sounded at the door.
"come on in."Axel turned to look at the doorway as Xaldin peered in. is melancholy look melted into one that seemed shocked to see him awake and so well dressed.
"his higness sent for the rest of your items in that dive alittle bit ago...he wanted me to ask if there was any other place you own that needs moving as well."
Axels eyebrows knitted together and he traced a rune with his fingers for hide. "tell them to leave it," he said dryly. he closed his paper and uncrossed his leg.
"ill 'pick it up' myself when i see my lodgings."
"yes master..." Xaldin squinted suspiciously as he backed out the door. "we shall be leaving shortly. so please finish all preparations before we make for the capital." he withheld his normal advice of not bringing in any magic parifinelia along, since that should be his job. just thinking about crossing the border made his stomach churn.
the road to the capital was a day's drive and as a newly appointed political figure Axel had to ride separately in his own armoured coach. he would be able to hand pick his security detail in the kingdom but for now he was left with a few chattery extras. one who drove and two who sat with him in the cab.
his mind sloshed with their incessant banter. prying at him for answers to their most prejudiced magic questions.
after answering some of the most enraging inquiries he warned them he'd like to sleep.
their murmering persisted as he slept up until they stopped with a sudden jolt. he jumped in shock frightening the bodygaurds who mustive thought he would cast some henous spell in the suprise.
he turned his head still rubbing his eyes as one soldier cowered against the door.
" why'd we stop" he yawned. "w-were at the first checkpoint." one stuttered.
"An how many are left...?"
"at least three"
"and how long will it take. " he said stretching his long frame. his back gave a loud crack. " ahhh." axel sighed as he settled back down in his seat.
" w-w were bringing magic into the kingdom for the first time in at least a century...id wager weeks."
Axel groaned and laid on the button for the sunroof, once open he lifted himself through. far ahead Axel saw the royal caravan and realized he was being carted to the back like some dirty secret. he rolled his eyes and came back in furiously putting on his tweed overcoat.
"im gonna go see what the holdup is." he said stepping out the cab. "dont work yourself too hard. ill go alone."
before any of them could speak up in retaliation he snapped his fingers and vanished into the mist appearing again through the mist at the head of the procession. Roxas and his retainers were speaking to a gruff looking gentleman in green and tan. by the looks of his pins and ribbons on his chest. he was obviously military. The prince waved as he noticed him materializing through the fog.
his was the only friendly face seen upon his approach so Axel instinctively pulled him over to the side.
"you did discuss bringing magic into Lampelnum before bringing me along...right?"Roxas looked up at the slightly peturbed fellow. he was obviously looking down at him due to the height difference and his eyebrows were knitted in confusion. not to mention his new hairstyle was very fetching as well and sprung all kinds of naughty thoughts in the prince like an overflowing well.
"of course i have" he chuckled nervously. " its just tradition rising to the top. they all realize thar one way or another my curse will need to be broken or ill pass it on...members of the court just have diffrent ways of coming to terms with it...including yelling. "
Roxas returned to the large fellow who promptly began to argue again. he raised his hand softly causing the man to pause.
" i know that magic has fallen out of vogue in the kingdom and its damage is still felt within the minds of those left after the great war...but, we both know medicine fails to find answers for this affliction so magic will heal it. so says the thrones heir"
After a short apology the man turned and left allowing the procession to continue. Axel was pleased to see the boys backbone on display and gave a chuckle as he returned to his coach.
"Maaaybe this brat has some hope of being king after all..."