Series: On Dragon's Wings||Title: Proper Behavior||Chapter: Questions
Characters: Mizael, Alit, & Leonius
Chapters: 2-8||Words: 1,597||Total: 3,176
Genre: Friendship||Rated: PG-13
Challenge: Diversity Writing, YGO Zexal Aus, section I10, multichap with exactly 8 chapters
Notes: This takes place in the same world as Ring The Dinner Bell, Face of Death, and Diamond of the North, and occurs after Mizael left Vector's kingdom.
Summary: Mizael's evening rest is interrupted by two strangers who think they've seen a dragon. Really. A dragon. How silly.

Leonius didn't want to say what he was thinking to Alit. Alit had a habit of simply punching anything that got in his way and not thinking too much about the consequences of it. In the arena that made no difference at all, since what got in his way was his opponent, and punching the opponent until the opponent fell down and stayed that way was just what Alit did.

But out here, with a strange knight who somehow gave off the impression that he didn't fit inside of his own skin? The Emperor chose to watch his words and their new companion both.

Alit, on the other hand, chattered merrily to this Mizael, as if the two of them had known each other their entire lives. Suspicion just wasn't in his nature, as Leonius knew quite well.

Which was why it was in his nature. There were few people that he trusted completely, which simply came with being the leader of a large nation. Alit was one of those few and while he did trust Alit's instincts, he trusted his own eyes as well.

What did Alit see out here? He didn't doubt it had been something, and Alit had guided them right here to where this knight had been setting up a camp. A strange camp, with nothing more than a circle of stones presumably for a fire. No shelter of any kind and nothing around that could be used for one. The closest caves were too far away to think of sleeping in and none of the bushes or trees were large enough to rest underneath.

Leonius wasn't ready to accuse the stranger of lying, and even if he had been, what had he lied about? Where he planned to rest that night? His name? Those things were hardly crimes for which one should be punished. There were plenty of plausible reasons for him not to speak of the truth to two people who had come out of all but nowhere.

I think we can spare a night's lodging for him, and a meal or two. This Mizael didn't look especially well fed, though he wasn't on the verge of starvation, either. Simply leaner and perhaps hungrier than the average wandering knight.

Leonius cast an eye over to where the stranger walked, Alit chatting him merrily. Mizael kept at least part of his attention on the gladiator, though he didn't look completely absorbed in everything Alit had to say. He glanced at Leonius now and then, as well as keeping an eye on the trail in front of them as they made their way back to the city.

"You said that we're going to the palace?" Mizael asked at last, breaking through Alit's conversation. "Why there?"

Alit grinned widely, arms resting behind his head, eyes dancing with glee. "Where else would the Emperor live?"

Leonius let out a long, deep breath. He didn't get so many chances to get away from his role, and they could've come up with some other reason to be going there. But if he were to be absolutely fair about it, lying wasn't Alit's strong point, much less holding back the truth.

Mizael gave them both a measuring look. "Emperor?" He sounded almost as if he tasted the word and wasn't certain if it agreed with him or not. Alit, however, nodded.

"This guy here is Leonius, Emperor of Spartan City and all the land around for … a really long way." Alit shrugged. "I never was good at measuring how big a kingdom was."

Mizael gave Leonius another long and careful look. "I've met a ruler before." Leonius had the impression now that he chose his words with utmost care.

"Oh? Who?" Leonius had more or less good relations going with most of the rulers of the local kingdoms, and decent enough ones with ones farther away. If he knew who this young knight knew, then perhaps he could make delicate inquiries as to his trustworthiness and character.

The knight didn't answer right away, still very clearly considering how to answer. "Vector," he said at last. "You may not know of him. His land is several days f- travel from here."

Leonius caught the slight stumbling over the word and from the way Alit looked at him, he had as well. "The name is a little familiar," the Emperor said at last. "But I don't think I've met him personally."

He was almost certain he had heard it before, but he couldn't put a mental finger on just where. It didn't bring up any feelings of fear or wariness, so he put it to the back of his mind for the moment.

The city gates stood before them, guards on each side at the ready. As soon as they caught sight of Alit and the Emperor, both drew themselves up in perfect stance.

"Majesty!" Both saluted at once. "We weren't aware you'd left the city." The one to the left spoke. "Our apologies for our negligence!"

Leonius waved one hand, a hint of amusement rippling through his voice when he answered. "I didn't make a production out of it." In point of fact, he and Alit had slipped out through one of the lesser known entrances and not told anyone they were leaving. It had all been Alit's idea, and Leonius agreed only because he knew the two of them together were as safe, if not safer, than if they had a troupe of guards with them. Anyone who could get through Alit's defense of him would likely not get through his own defense of himself.

Getting from the edge of the city to the palace itself didn't take a great deal of time. He knew all the best shortcuts to take, thanks to having roamed around with Alit a few times. His favorite gladiator spent most of his spare time wandering around in the city, talking to people and getting to know them, doing the things that Leonius himself couldn't do.

Soon enough they'd entered the palace grounds, with the guards there not even batting an eye at his return. So long as Alit was by his side, they all knew that their Emperor remained safe. Which was part of why Leonius made certain neither he nor Alit came to any harm. He didn't want them blaming Alit for any accidental harm that might turn up. Purposeful harm was different, and probably something that they both agreed to thanks to their endless sparring matches.

Mizael's gaze darted this way and that as they made their way through the corridors. Leonius couldn't watch him as much as he wanted, but he trusted Alit to tell him anything out of the ordinary once they were alone together.

"You can stay here," the Emperor said, stopping outside one door. There were always quarters set up for guests, and these were set aside for those of a certain rank, above merchant or peasant, but not with a noble's title. Suitable for a wandering knight, who probably wasn't much more than a younger son of someone with a low-ranking title, if that much. "I'll have someone come by with dinner. Are there any special requirements?" There were some knightly orders that did not permit the eating of meat or certain other restraints. Leonius found it always best to ask.

One of Mizael's eyebrows lifted up for a heartbeat. "As much meat as you can manage. I have a taste for it. Cooked as rare as possible."

Well, I don't think I've heard of an order with that as a requirement. Leonius only nodded; while such a thing was unusual, it still wasn't entirely unheard of. He detoured a passing servant to send the request down to the kitchens, then bid the knight good evening and headed on with Alit to his own personal quarters.

Neither of them said anything until the door closed behind them. Alit broke the silence.

"He's strange." Some of his cheerfulness slid away, replaced by a deep seriousness that few aside from Leonius ever saw. "I'm pretty sure he's not lying to us, but something's off anyway."

"I had the same feeling," Leonius agreed, moving over to strip off his cloak and settle onto the nearest couch. "Not lying, but not completely honest, either."

Alit stretched, tossing his cloak away and curling up within his Emperor's arms. "So he's keeping things from us."

"It could be with good reason," Leonius pointed out. "He could be under a curse of some kind, or a geas." He could easily think of a dozen different ones that would answer Mizael's unusual behavior. "I don't think he's an evil person, though."

"Neither do I," Alit agreed without hesitation. "He could also just be very careful." He wriggled his way closer to Leonius in a very delightful way. "Should we send a message to that guy he mentioned? See if we can find out anything else about him?"

With the way Alit was moving against him, it took a few moments for Leonius to put together a good answer for that. "I'll see if anyone around here knows anything of that kingdom and what they can tell us first." He reached up one hand to brush at Alit's muscled shoulders. "He may not even stay long enough for it to become something to concern ourselves with."

"You could be right." Alit trailed his fingers down Leonius's leg. "I can think of some other things I'd like to concern myself with right now anyway."

As always, the emperor remained at his favorite gladiator's command.

To Be Continued

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