Chapter 5: His Game

In the middle of the southern courtyard, cold metal and wood clash together in a match of ability and endurance. Here, the soldiers and guards of the crown train and sharpen their abilities, though the demand for improvement is not as high with the kingdom being at peace. Nevertheless, the king cannot resist a good match and often enjoys sword fighting with the younger recruits to test their potential first-handed. The prince and his pet are also here, watching the matches from atop the balcony and snacking on fruits imported from Arbren until the cooks finish their preparations for dinner.

"Nice swing, solider! You've got a good arm, so use it well!" The king's voice bellows out from the rest of the spectators watching him compete with the young soldiers. When he spends his time like this, with an attitude free of his royal duties, people forget that he is their king and more of a friend on equal levels. His charisma infectious, most of the new recruits are eager to get a first-hand experience at watching their king and mentor practice with such energy.

The prince grabs a red spiky fruit from his tray and tears it open, pouring out a mixture of sweet nectar and seeds into a bowl. He offers some to his pet and continues looking down at the matches from his comfortable position. "He's always like that, you know. He used to compete all the time with my brother and the castle mentors when we were children. It doesn't look like it, but my brother knows how to handle a sword, too."

His pet looks over to him. "What about you, Master?"

"I've never taken up a sword before," the prince admits. "My brother said I never needed to learn how to fight; he told me that my body wasn't properly built for such rough activities, so I've always just watched them."

The boy tilts his head. "You don't know how to defend yourself?"

The prince presses his lips together. "Again, I've never needed to learn. My brother's always been there to protect me, no matter what. He's made sure that wherever I go, no harm will come to me. For that, I'm grateful to have such a brother like him. Come to think of it, I never did ask if you have siblings. Do you have any brothers or sisters, Leon?"

Like with most things he asks about his pet's past, Leon simply shrugs and continues on with his casual observations of the match. As he speaks, however, it is clear that his Crodinian has vastly improved. His accent is still noticeable, but his ability to carry on a conversation at such an early stage in learning is remarkable. "I don't know. I suppose if I did, I've never met them."

"Why would that be?" the prince asks, curious as to why anyone would want to separate someone's siblings.

"During the war, it was just safer to scatter us around, I guess," the Altorienese boy vaguely answers. "I just remember moving around a lot."

The prince blinks. "But you were with your father?"

"Sometimes." His pet is hesitant to reply in such a way.

"Do you miss your father, Leon?"

This time, his pet answers immediately. "No."

The prince wants to ask why; he desperately wants to know, but at the same time, he feels as if he is treading into unfamiliar territory. As someone who has both of his parents and lives a comfortable, sheltered life, he cannot imagine what sorts of ordeals his pet underwent in order to be here. He is sure the stories can weave an adventure all on their own, but he believes those are for another place and another time, perhaps when his pet can trust him enough to freely tell him on his own.

"Alright! Who's next?" Mathias has since finished his last match against the knight. The prince thought the knight to be able, but he has known not to underestimate the king's abilities; he has an immense amount of energy that rarely ceases to falter even after his joints are sore and his skin and hair are soaked with sweat. When no man comes forth, a new, yet ominous voice breaks through the crowd.

"This is getting ridiculous, Mathias. Finish up here, so we can go back inside. You smell." It is the Shadow. Ever since that day when he killed three able castle guards, the entire barracks became wary of their kingdom's second-in-command. What frightens them most of all is how easily he dispatched his own men without a second's thought. It does not help that he is excellent at masking his facial expressions, lurking in the darkness as his title suggests. As much as it disturbs the prince, too, he understands his brother was only acting out of his best interests. This is not the first time he has been taken under the care of his brother's wing, relying on him so much; however, he has never minded, understanding that without his brother, he would be rather weak and helpless to the outside elements. For that matter, his brother means everything to him. Lukas will kill for him—and he has.

Even though Lukas tells him to stop, Mathias is not too inclined to listen to his husband. He insists he has the strength for at least fifteen fights, not including the ones he already won. With no other means of forcing him to stop, Lukas steps in and makes a statement.

"Very well. If you're so stubborn on your position, then I will fight you."

The entire courtyard stops in that very instance. For the Shadow to fight the Sun King will be a match to talk about for days if not weeks. It has been a long time since anyone has seen the two fighting against each other, and even then, there are few who have gotten the chance to see them. The prince is one of the only ones who has been given a privilege time and time again. He, too, is eager to see how Mathias will take this proposal.

"Lukas, ya sure yer up to it?" he nervously laughs. "I'm not gonna go easy on ya just because yer my husband."

"All the better to not hold back, myself," the Shadow calmly replies. "If I win, you'll stop with these silly fights and let the soldiers go back to their training. You have better things to do than playing around."

A soft wave of murmurs shifts around the spectators. From the edges, the prince can see some of the younger and more excitable knights running off to tell others of the match that might occur, and eventually, a larger crowd has gathered in the southern courtyard to see the action.

"Ha! I can't disappoint all these people!" The king sweeps his arms in a large, welcoming stance. "Alright, let's do this! Me an' you, Lukas!"

The men all start to cheer for the thrilling event. Both the Sun King and the Shadow are well known in different areas of combat to the point where they practically stand as polar opposites: where Mathias relies on power and speed, Lukas relies on defense and cunning. Truly this will be a match to remember. The prince is just as eager as the rest of the crowd that is still growing in size.

"My brother's stronger than he looks," he tells his pet with a hint of pride. "He's not second-in-command for nothing, you know. I've heard stories from veterans talking about how skilled he is on the battlefield. Together, he and Mathias are invincible."

His pet stares down at the two opponents as they choose their swords. Since this is still a friendly match, wooden swords are presented for safety purposes. Mathias already has his preferred prop in hand and waits for his opponent to choose. Lukas eventually chooses a light-weight sword with a slender paddle and a firm hilt. He weighs it out and decides this will be his weapon of choice.

"Hey, Lukas, if I win, I'm gonna go ahead with building that ship!"

"How very like you," the Shadow scoffs. "If you're that confident, then I'll take that as your wager."

"What ship?" Leon asks his master.

The prince rolls his eyes and sighs. "Mathias has been wanting to build a large luxury ship to sail around the world. Lukas told him again and again not to do it because it's expensive, and there are better things to do than traveling. In any case, that also means he will have to rule the kingdom in his stead, but everyone's certain Mathias only wants to travel with my brother, so he would mostly likely end up tagging along, too."

"Leaving you in charge," his pet concludes.

"Yes…" The prince's voice trails off. "But that is why I hope my brother will win." His pet falls silent and continues to watch. Sometime in between the countdown period, the prince points to his brother. "Leon, do you notice anything different about my brother?"

"Different?" the boy blinks.

"Look hard." He points to him below. "You'd be surprised at how many of his opponents miss it."

His Altorienese pet studies the Shadow until he thinks he has an idea of what his master meant. Nothing else can be defined about him except for one outstanding factor. "He's left-handed."

"Yes, that's it," the prince smiles and pets him. "My brother's always been used to fighting right-handed opponents, but it's rarely ever the other way around. Because of that, alone, he's won several fights. Even Mathias who's fought with him for so long is still unused to it."

This makes his pet completely focus on the match. As the two count down to start, the entire courtyard seems to hold its breath in anticipation.

"Three…two…one!"

Like a flash of red lightning, Mathias charges forth and aims for Lukas' shoulder. He moves so fast that the untrained eyes can barely see what is happening. As he approaches Lukas, he brings his arm back and swings forward, appearing to land a blow, but, at the very last second, the Shadow slips away with some quick footwork and arises unscathed.

From here, the match has begun. Two different styles and people shift and jab, taking little attacks at each other like poisonous barbs slowly whittling down one another. However many times Mathias attacks, he never appears to falter in strength or energy, but he can never land a clean hit on Lukas. Even when he manages to make contact with him, Lukas always brings his sword out to block his attacks. Other times, he will easily dance out of the way and strike back with quick succession, keeping the king on his feet. Neither of them makes any clear strikes at one another, but it is clear that both are closely matched, yet surprisingly different in personality and movements. Lukas is like water: smooth and adapting, yet bringing forth a torrent of unrelenting blows when given a sure window. Mathias is like fire: unpredictable and powerful. The two elements clash together in a fury of spectacular movements and skill, dancing around one another in harmonious chaos. No one can match them. In the horizon at just the right angle, day and night mix together in a fiery twilight. They are as two halves to a whole, light and darkness, the sun and the shadow.

The match continues for several minutes. Not once does it look like anyone gives way to the other. Mathias looks energized; Lukas looks calm. As they attack, every rally comes as a new lesson to the young knights. How they react to one another's attacks and respond continues to adapt and change. The courtyard is rendered speechless. Even above, the prince and his pet are completely focused on the match.

"It's wonderful, isn't it?" the prince breathes, holding his pet close to him and stroking his hair.

"Yes, Master," the boy agrees. "Who do you think will win?"

The prince holds that question until he can properly assess the status. It appears as though the battle is finally starting to slow down. Lukas does not block as often as he did, and Mathias' swings are taken into shorter succession. It will be a close win, whoever will overcome the other. "I have no idea at this point, Leon. They rarely fight against each other, and even when they do, the results are closely tied. It's been so long since they've fought, I've realized." He sighs. "I don't think they've done this since the war started. After that, they practiced alongside one another, never against each other." He pauses when he sees Mathias falter backwards from a countering blow Lukas delivers. The crowd gasps as they watch their king stumble and fall from his feet.

"Is that the best you can do?" Lukas dryly sneers, circling his sword at his husband. "I've seen you last longer in bed, Your Highness."

The courtyard explodes in laughter. From the balcony, the prince covers his face as if witnessing something unholy and shakes his head. This makes the king clamor to his feet and lunge for another attack, striking even harder than ever; however, he is also less controlled with his movements, and with some patience and skill, Lukas blocks and dodges each swing. It is in a short window of time that he sees an opening in his opponent's patterns and goes for the final delivery. Sweeping his legs underneath Mathias' arm, he brings himself around to the back and turns to face him. With his momentum rushing forth, he guides his sword around him like a spinning gear and makes direct contact with Mathias' backside.

Taken by surprise, Mathias cries out and falls back on the ground, this time face down. He coughs up a mouthful of dirt and attempts to get up when he feels a strong weight pushing on his head.

"You lost, Mathias," Lukas snorts, aiming his sword at his king. "The blow would have rendered your arms useless. Now get up." He lifts his foot and turns on his heel, returning his wooden prop to its rightful place. With the match over, the crowd lets out a deep breath and congratulates the Shadow for winning. With the excitement dying down, they resume chatting about the events they witness and how to bring that into their own swordsmanship. Meanwhile, knights assist the king to his feet and bring him water and towels. He looks appreciative, but the prince can see his disappointed and defeated expression breaking through his smile.

"Lukas, ya bested me," he weakly smiles. "Nice fight. I thought I'd pull through, but ya won fair and square." His husband only huffs and snaps at him to finish up with the knights so they may eat dinner.

"Get yourself cleaned up, Mathias," he tells the king. "You're absolutely disgusting. I don't understand why you waste your time with those new recruits when you can help the professionals."

"Understood, Lukas!" the Sun King cheerfully responds and follows him into the castle.

"I guess he's not building the ship after all," the prince sighs with relief. "I think we're done here, too, Leon. Are you ready for dinner?"

"Yes, Master," his pet nods and goes with him to the dining hall.

Though he barely broke a sweat when conducting the match, Lukas orders the servants to prepare a bath for him before dinner. He never enjoys the thought of carrying away any dirt or foul smells with him during times of relaxation. After his bath fills, and the oils and salts are added, he checks himself in the looking glass for any injuries Mathias might have inflicted on his skin. He strips in front of a body-length looking glass and examines himself for any blemishes. While never appearing to care on the surface, he knows how much his husband enjoys running his hands down his flawless body.

"Nothing," he softly murmurs and makes his way to the bath when he realizes he is not the only one in the royal bathhouse. Stopping midway, he looks ahead at the white columns and searches for the other's presence.

"Fancy you only coming here just as I've taken off my clothes, Mathias," he smirks. From behind one of the columns, his husband steps out with a crooked smile.

"It's not easy sneaking up on you," he chuckles. "I thought that'd be my revenge for defeating me earlier."

"You wish." Lukas lets out a dry laugh and walks to the water's edge. He dips his feet in the scented waters before finally immersing his entire body inside. "I know you're not here just to play games with me."

The king laughs. "You know me too well, Lukas. But that's one of the reasons I love you."

His husband submerges himself in the steaming water until only his head is above the surface. "Are you going to join me or not?"

"Coming, coming," Mathias grins and removes his clothes, glad to be free of the stuffy tunic he needed to wear when training. As soon as he gets into the bath, Lukas reaches out and taps a spot on his back, making the king wince in pain. "Hey, what's wrong with you, Lukas? That—" He grimaces when more pressure is applied. "It hurts a lot."

Lukas' expression is unmoved as he moves his hand around a patch of skin that has bruised over. The entire area is already a dark purple, ruining his husband's otherwise fair complexion. "The place where I hit you needs to have circulation. It's going to take longer to heal if you leave it like this."

Mathias clenches his teeth and leans on the side of the bath while Lukas massages his back. "I know, but it still hurts. You're not doing this on purpose, are you?"

"The pressing, no. The hurting, yes." It is meant as a joke, one that flies over the king's head as he laughs it off.

"I'm glad you care about me so much—even if you don't always look like you do."

Lukas says nothing as he presses harder, justifying that it will help open up the damaged veins beneath. When he finishes, he pinches hard on Mathias' back, making him curse and reel around.

"That hurt! You were doing that on purpose, weren't you?"

"Yes." His husband rarely moves around his answers or remarks, cutting straight to the point like a knife even if it fails to sink into Mathias' thick head. "You're supposed to be the king of Crodinia, and yet you flinch at little things. What would have happened if we hadn't been using wooden swords during our match?"

"That's easy." He turns around and faces his husband, pulls him up to him, and kisses his lips. "We wouldn't have taken up swords against one another. You wouldn't try hurting me, and I wouldn't try hurting you."

Lukas exhales a steamy breath as Mathias pulls him tighter against his skin. His husband's muscles have always been more developed than his own despite following the same training regime since they were children. Rubbing his body against his chest, he leans forward and rests his head beneath Mathias' chin.

"Mathias, killing someone is not a game," he whispers. "Neither is our relationship." He feels his husband's husky breath breathing down his exposed neck as he kisses it, causing him to shudder and press onto his sturdy chest.

"Game or not, you know how much I hate losing," Mathias purrs into his husband's ear. He nibbles at the shell of his ear and runs his hands down the length of his torso until he moves in between his legs. His husband is aroused, and knowing that excites him. He makes more advances, kissing and touching him where he knows him best, fondling his neck and chest, while occasionally running his tongue across his creamy skin.

Despite how pleasant it feels, he knows Lukas is holding back. This is not like their bedroom where he makes direct interactions. His lips do not give in to his tongue, and he muffles his cries whenever he strokes his legs. Seeing this as a way of teasing him, he tries even harder, rolling his tongue over his firm nipples and grinding against his hardening member. The game continues until Mathias prevails, earning a sharp moan from his husband after biting his neck. His face red, Lukas pushes away with whatever strength he has and moves towards the edge of the bath in an attempt to leave.

Going after him, Mathias grabs ahold of Lukas' waist and pulls him back into the bath, splashing quantities of scented water all over the stone floor. "Yer not goin' anywhere," he smirks. "Look at what you did, Lukas." From behind, he prods his stiff member in between his legs, and tightens his hold on his husband. Lukas stifles a cry as he shifts helplessly in place. His breathing accelerates, and his entire body grows hot. It does not help that the bath is still steaming, and the oils make him dizzy and light-headed.

"Mathias—" He winces when he feels his chest being rubbed. "Not here. They'll hear us in here. The sounds echo—Mm!" Before he can say anymore, Mathias covers his hand over his mouth and nuzzles his hair.

"Let them," he whispers. "The kingdom deserves to know how much we're in love, doesn't it? Besides, I'll make it quick."

Struggling, Lukas pulls his head free, leans forward, and head-butts Mathias behind him. He gags in surprise and completely frees him from his hold, painfully clutching his nose.

"Idiot." Lukas clicks his tongue. "You'll dirty the water. I came here to bathe, not to play around before dinner. And it's foolish to do it underwater. You really want to see me in pain that badly?"

"No, I'd never harm you—not on purpose, anyway," Mathias groans from holding his nose. "That really hurt…"

"Good." By now, Lukas is on the other side of the bath, washing his hair and neck without any interference. The irritable sensation between his legs burns, but he knows if he keeps Mathias away, it will fade with time. For now, he continues his bath while Mathias recovers from his injured nose and anything else he damaged in the process. He soaks himself for some time after washing his entire body and gets up to leave, seeing Mathias still trying to fully heal from the incident.

"Hurry up and finish, Your Highness," the Shadow snaps at him as he dries his body off with a towel and changes into some fresh clothes. When he addresses Mathias as a king, he always means for him to be taken seriously. Whether or not Mathias knows of this has yet to be confirmed, considering he plays out things in his own way. "I'll bet everyone's waiting to hear about our match at dinner."

"Of course," Mathias sighs and pours water over his hair. With his hair wet and flat, he appears unusually plain, even to where Lukas finds it unfamiliar. He has never admitted to preferring his choice of hairstyle, but it is a feature that has since grown on him.

Before he leaves, Lukas turns back to look at his husband. A lasting thought trails in his mind as he speaks. "Mathias, I was being serious about what I said earlier."

The king smiles, a silent exchange mediating between the two. It is amazing at how one like him can rule a kingdom, and with such a burden weighing on his shoulders, he can still somehow manage to maintain his attitude. Crutched in between his people and his husband, the Shadow is always watching over him in the darkness, ensuring that his light withholds its strength and authority.

"And I was serious about what I said, too, Lukas: I hate losing."

Come one summer morning, the prince receives news from his brother. His brother's smile is not forced or masked; it is one of genuine well-being. "Little brother, I have a surprise for you. Here." He holds out an unrolled parchment with a ribbon still attached. The prince's heart skips a beat when he recognizes the color and fabric: sapphire blue in spun wool.

"Is it from…?" He cannot even finish his sentence. His chest is swelling as he takes the parchment with a shaky hand and begins to read the contents. His smile grows the more he reads, and by the time he finishes the letter, he cannot contain his excitement.

"Mother is coming here!" he breathes.

"Yes, little brother," Lukas coos as he kisses him. "It's been so long. I think she'll be pleased to see how much we've grown—you, especially."

The prince remains smiling. "This is all so sudden. I've not heard of anything from her for months."

"The letter arrived this morning," his brother explains. "Understand that her health is fragile, little brother. We wouldn't have wanted to pressure her into making any rash decisions unless her physicians permitted."

"Of course." The prince's expression dissolves with the mention of their mother's health. For years, she has battled with her delicate conditions. She had not even been able to witness Mathias' coronation or her own son's wedding due to the cold temperatures those summers ago. The prince, himself, has not seen her in eight years when his brother thought it best to take his mind off of the war and retreat further west. His thoughts race as he thinks of the things he will tell her in person, of the people he has conversed with or of his new hobbies and stories. Then there is Leon, whom he cannot wait to show to the rest of the royals at Mathias' party. For his mother to be there makes him even more eager for the day to come.

Even with this bit of news, the prince's brother is not done. "That's not all, little brother. You've long thought of going out to see the rest of the kingdoms, have you not?"

"Y-Yes…?" the prince replies.

"Thursaunia has invited to open its borders to us to discuss matters of a business alliance within its western neighbors. We will be visiting them for a first-hand experience, you and I, to determine whether or not such a proposition will be valid."

"An official visit?" The prince's eyes grow wide. "Why did I not hear of this in the hearings?"

"It is a matter of king and king," the prince's brother says, touching his head. "As the kingdom's second-in-command, I am permitted to hear of this news. This wasn't passed over to you or the court yet, but I am sure it will be brought up later today."

"Oh. I see. And when will we be going to Thursaunia?"

"Shortly after the Red Summer," Lukas tells him, "but I can't say how long that will last. Knowing Mathias, he will try to extend his birthday celebration for a week if he can."

The prince slightly smiles. "That would be understandable with him. Either way, I'm really looking forward to everything. This is a wonderful year."

"Indeed it is, little brother," his brother chuckles and strokes his hair. "It truly is wonderful."

Shortly after the prince leaves, he races back to his chambers where his pet is just waking up from his nap. He has since gotten used to his collar though it gets in the way of his long hair every now and then. The prince has thought of cutting it off, but he never had the heart to carry out any actions, as he enjoys the flowing touch of his Altorienese pet's dark, silky hair. As he approaches his pet, he sits on his bed and takes ahold of his hand.

"Leon, I have some good news," he cheerfully whispers. "My mother is coming to the capital for Mathias' birthday."

His pet rubs his eyes and blinks a few times before his vision clears up. When he finishes, he looks to his master. "That's good," he says. "You've been hoping to see her, right?"

"Yes," he sighs with exhilaration. "I can't wait. And after that, Thursaunia has opened its borders to Crodinia. I will be going there after Mathias' birthday celebration is over." He leans forward and gingerly kisses his pet's forehead. "You're coming with me. I want you to be there when we explore the kingdom. And it's not just any part of Thursaunia; it's the west."

Curious, his pet stares blankly at him, unsure of how to react. Catching himself, the prince takes the time to explain. "The Alliance of Thursaunia was established after Roderich Edelstein and Elizabeta Héderváry married, uniting two kingdoms into one. However, one could say the alliance is technically made up of three kingdoms. The western part of Thursaunia was assimilated into the Edelsteins' kingdom long ago, but it holds a separate governing system so as long as they agree to remain under the crown. It's the richest part of Thursaunia, too. If we come to agreeable terms, I'm sure there will be an influx of wealth pouring into Crodinia's vaults."

The prince stands from the bed, walking over to his nightstand and taking his collection of fairytales to his pet. "Enough of that. Come, Leon. Sit up. There's still some time before my hearings, so let's practice your reading. You can choose the story this time." He hands his pet the book and waits for him to find a story. Already, they have finished a third of the fairytales with Leon's Crodinian improving with each reading. Today, he chooses a Crodinian tale and flips to the first page.

"The Horned Goddess," he reads the title aloud.

"Oh." The prince's face washes over in a distortion of troubled emotions. "This story…"

Leon looks to him. "Is there something wrong with this one?"

From the look on his face, it appears that the prince is reluctant to answer him right away. His eyes glaze over, and he chews on his lower lip as if anxious about giving saying anything. "This one is…How can I say it? It's my mother's least favorite story. It frightens her, that someone would go through such lengths." Right after finishing that statement, he changes his expression and stays firm. "But it's alright. This is a popular Crodinian story, and it can be interpreted differently. In any case, you need to work on your Crodinian, so you can keep going."

His permission granted, Leon continues to read the rest of the story. "The Horned Goddess" tells the tale of the goddess of all wildlife. She deeply loved the animals and the nature that surrounded them. One day, while walking through her forest, she found the dead body of a fawn, one that she had witnessed being born into the world only a few weeks prior. It had been shot with an arrow, skinned, and gutted for its meat, but the body and everything else had been left there to rot in the open earth. Saddened by this incident, she took the dead fawn's remains and sought out to find a proper burial place when she spotted some more humans continuing with their hunt.

The goddess soon came to the realization that countless animals throughout the land—wolves, elk, bears, whales, deer, rabbits, fish, and even mice—were not spared, for they were thought to be a pest on human fields. She could not stop the killings. No matter where she went, it seemed there was always violence and humans, bringing forth destruction and ruin wherever they settled. Before anyone knew it, including the goddess, herself, she had grown mad from watching her beloved creatures and friends fall victim to humans. However, she was bound by her nature to never interfere with humans directly, so, instead, she took it upon herself to protect the animals in what she thought the best way possible.

"She ate them," is what Leon reads. He pauses and stares at the words, furrowing his eyebrows at what he just said. "Master, she ate them?" The prince nods and urges him to continue, and so, he does.

Rumors told of a fearsome goddess who would tear up lands and consume entire herds with a single gulp. As she continued to consume the animals, she grew into a great size, becoming a threat to the humans even when she never directly confronted them. She had grown to believe that by consuming the very things she loved, she would protect them from certain harm, and they would live inside of her as a single entity. It came to pass that she started to take on animalistic forms, growing wings of an eagle, the sharp eyes of a wolf, and the horns of an elk. She grew so large in size that it scared the humans away, allowing her to spread to other lands so that she might consume the animals elsewhere. In time, there were so few animals left in the world that the humans were starting to die out, too.

Angered by the treatment of the animals and the humans, the goddess' brother, the watcher of humankind, came to visit her. He had grown small with the diminishing numbers of humans, but he still had his sanity. He confronted his sister, telling her to stop eating the animals and sparing his humans the pain and suffering of starvation. But his sister would not listen to reason, and, with quick work, he took a sword of man-made steel and ripped open the belly of the goddess. From all over, the animals fled, running back to their homes for safety. With the goddess reduced to her original size, her brother went to her weakened state, and swallowed her just as she had done to the animals. He then took it upon himself to ensure that there would be enough food for his people, and he granted them the knowledge of appreciation. Humans were taught to understand that what they ate was once a living being just as they are, and they must only take what they need in order to continue living.

Leon finishes the story and closes it, eager to put away the book as his master reflects on his speaking skills.

"You did well, Leon. I'm proud of you." He strokes his hair and leans against his side. After every story, he asks what his pet thinks and learned from the story, though this time, his pet is not as inclined to speak.

"I can see why your mother didn't like this story." He stares at his master, studying his eyes as if searching for some understanding or support in his words. Since his master does not say anything, he tells him. "That's not what love is supposed to be." He stares at his hands and lowers his head. His golden collar falls from his neck and dangles in front of his eyes, weighing him down and forcing his head to follow. His eyes gloss over the luster that glints in the sunlight and waver at the flashes, recalling an instance from what felt like long ago. On a faint whisper, he thinks he can hear the sound of someone's voice calling out his name, before coming here, before accepting his position.

"A mother—any parent—does not devour or harm her children. That is not protection. That is not love. If anyone could call that love, then I can only think of what hatred could be." He tightens his fist over the covers and shakes his head, tossing his collar over his neck until it begins to cut into his skin.

"Leon," the prince starts and holds him to his chest. "Please. It's alright. I'm here for you." He digs his fingers into his pet's hair and buries his nose into his locks, inhaling his exotic Altorienese scent that smells faintly of rich lacquer and sweet spices that overpower his subtle speargrass and pine aroma.

"Master…" The boy shuts his eyes and leans against his rising and falling chest. His temper relaxes, and he eases the tension in his gut and mind. "Thank you for being so kind to me."

This is different. The prince hesitates, hearing a new kind of sincerity in his pet's tone. Normally, his pet thanks him and others out of formalities, but with the tenderness in his voice melting his heart, he feels something tugging in his chest. It can almost be considered foreign to him. The sensation disturbs him as close to nauseating but not in a sickly sort of way; this is warm, like how safe he feels around his mother or how lax he feels with his brother. Both frightened and yet fascinated, the prince brings his pet's face to him and kisses his cheek. The entire time of the exchange, he never lets him go.