Xephos and Rythian had begun to speak more frequently over the next week. Xephos had learnt about Rythian's life before imprisonment; he lived with a red headed girl named Zoeya, and they had a mute dinosaur friend called Teep. They lived a simple life of magic, seeing as he had a deep hatred for science. Xephos wondered how he and Lalna would get on. However, Rythian had challenged the Mage a few weeks after Xephos' outbreak, and utterly lost. Rythian explained that the Mage had used dirty tricks, and that he would have won in normal circumstances. Ever since then he'd been here, forever worrying about Zoeya and Teep. It saddened Xephos, knowing Rythian was separated from those he cared about because of him. Rythian repeatedly told him it wasn't his fault. Sometimes Xephos would listen, other times he'd just shrug it off. Every now and again, the Knight or Mage would come and stand outside his cell. He never mentioned his talks with Rythian; it was better that they didn't know so they wouldn't attempt to stop them. Xephos took note that the King never visited him. Neither alone nor with one of his friends. This concerned Xephos, but he couldn't quite work out why. But, knowing this, when he finally did grace the raven-haired male with his appearance, Xephos couldn't help but be on edge. What reason would he have to be here, especially alone?

"Do you like your accommodations? You've had a while to get used to them." He asked. Xephos noticed how close he dared stand to the bars, within Xephos' reach. The male walked over to the bars, his glowing eyes meeting the King's piercing ones. "Do you want to know something, rebel?"

"My name is Xephos." He had gotten sick with them only calling him a rebel. He had only rebelled once, for Notch's sake! It's not like he had even tried to kill them; he was just protecting a child.

"Of course, Xephos. But..." The King blinked once, his eyes becoming less piercing and more curious. "I'm...intrigued. You just...fascinate me." He whispered. Xephos stepped back from the bars, a slight feeling of fear creeping in the back of his mind. His chains pooled at his feet, making them cold. He watched the King's fingers curl around the bars. "But...I don't know WHY. Why do you fascinate me, Xephos?" His voice was barely louder than a whisper, and that is what scared Xephos. The raven-haired male moved further away, glad when he felt the wall press against his back. The King let a small smirk appear on his face. "You know, I have the keys. I can just come closer, if I want to." Damn. Xephos had forgotten that. He didn't look at the King, instead his gaze were on his own hands. Shaking. "Why won't you just cooperate with us, Xephos?" The voice almost went straight over Xephos.

"...You're evil." He replied simply. The King sighed, shaking his head.

"No, Xephos. The world is evil. I am just trying to balance it out." He watched the rebel with curiosity. "...I...saw the real world, once. Outside of my fancy castle." The King smiled sadly. "10 years ago. I was attacked and insulted, as were my two friends. Nobody helped us." A sharp pain sparked through Xephos' mind, causing him to wince. It was like a thousand knives being stabbed into that one point. He curled up, groaning. "W-What's wrong?" The King's tone suddenly changed from his normal tone to one of caring. He sounded more like what he was; a boy. Not a King, an 18 year old. A teenager. Xephos didn't hear anything else as he cradled himself, rocking back and forth as the pain refused to cease. Soon the chains were dropped from his arms and he was being dragged out of the cell. Xephos couldn't tell what was happening, the pain searing in his head. Soon he was out cold, his breathing shallow.

"What happened to him?" Ross stood over Xephos' unmoving body. He glanced to his left, where Smith stood next to him. The green man had come when he heard what had happened; Trott was busy doing...something else. "You said he suddenly curled up, and then he started rocking himself? He didn't react to you, or anything, at all?" Ross just nodded. The green man sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know why you're so attached to this rebel. He's just going to fuel the other's rage and revenge. He's going to cause a revolution." He pointed out.

"..." Ross said nothing, his ice blue eyes less piercing as he watched the boy. No, not boy. They were the same age. Yet they both acted much older. But, watching him like this, it showed that he was still just a boy. His dark hair, his pale skin, his young eyes. It made him weaker than what everyone made him to be. Why was he so attached to him? ...They were the same, in many ways, and Ross saw that. "...Maybe it's fate." He glanced at Smith, who looked back with confusion before shrugging it off. "Don't you feel like...something is wrong?" He asked, not unlike how a child would ask their parents for answers. "Like...this isn't how things were meant to be?" Smith just shrugged, turning back to the unconscious man.

"I think you're just making stuff up, mate. Better go see Trott about it. First you're attached to a rebel, now you're thinking everything's wrong. Go on. Trott should be around." He nudged his friend. "I'll watch over this one. Go on." He pushed Ross gently, who eventually started walking. Smith glanced back at Xephos, his hand pressed against his head. "Jeez...Why did he have to choose you?" He muttered, taking a seat and making himself comfortable. He had a feeling he'd be there for a while.

Ross walked down the hallways of the castle, which seemed empty. He didn't even remember the journey he took to Trott's room, but he ended up there. He knocked on the door, and Trott's voice came from inside. Ross opened the door, closing it behind him once he had walked inside. The room was a mixture of red, orange, yellow and brown. From the red and yellow curtains, to the brown and orange bed. It was much more complex than just the royal blue around the rest of the castle, save the room of forest greens. He walked across the room, sitting down on a chair. He glanced to his right, where a mirror sat across the room. When he gazed into it, he didn't recognise the person in it. Just some asshole in fancy clothes. Honestly, Ross felt like he wanted to punch the guy.

"You alright, mate? You look awful." Trott asked caringly; almost like how a mother would care for their child. Ross shook his head, explaining the conversation he had with Smith. The hybrid listened intently, nodding. "I see. What exactly do you think is wrong?" He asked. Ross shrugged, his eyes not moving from the reflection. His reflection.

"The past."

"The past?"

"I was talking about it to Xephos, the rebel, and that's when he started acting weird. It was about when we were attacked outside the castle. Remember that, 10 years ago?" Trott nodded, shivering slightly at the memory. It had been horrible; ridiculed and rejected by everyone. "It was...when I said about no one helping us. Is that what's wrong?" Ross murmured. "Did someone help us? Do we not remember?"

"Look, we'd remember something pretty important like that, wouldn't we?" The hybrid pointed out, sitting opposite his lost friend. "I think Smith may be right. Something's messed your head up; probably that rebel or the one who challenged Smith, or some other magic user. I think we just need to clear your head, and then you'll be back to normal. Can't let the townsfolk get the upper hand now, can we?" A smirk crawled onto his face. Ross leaned back, closing his eyes.

"If you say so. You're the expert." He murmured absently. Before he knew it, something was pressed against his lips. His eyes slid open, and he saw the glass of a potion bottle. Ross tipped it back more, feeling the liquid slip down his throat. He swallowed, sighing quietly. "Better...get back..." His words begin to slur slightly; a slight side-effect of the potion. He went to stand, but almost immediately fell back down. Trott guided him, cursing at himself for forgetting to dilute the raw potion. At least it would do what it needed to – it would take his mind off of his fantasies that he made up. Or, at least, that's what Trott thought.

Everything seemed extremely loud to Xephos when he woke up. After his eyes adjusted, he noticed the green figure of the Mage standing over him. He glanced around, realising he wasn't in his cell anymore. He slowly lifted his hand to his head, groaning quietly. The Mage said nothing, but he knew he was awake. Xephos slowly sat, and he heard the clink of metal around the room. Guards were placed around, and every one of them had just begun to draw their swords.

"Relax. Can't you see how harmless he is?" The Mage sighed, waving his hand to calm the guards down. "Really, you guys are on edge." He turned to Xephos. "You still got that headache of yours?" Xephos realised that he hadn't, so he shook his head. "Good. Sooner we can get you away from Ross the better." Xephos blinked. What did that mean? Did he do something while he was out? The Mage grabbed Xephos by his arm, pulling him off the table he lay upon. Soon he was being dragged back to the cell, he presumed, where he would stay for who knows how long. The two walked in silence, before a question formed in Xephos' mind.

"Why...are you green?" He noticed the Mage visibly flinch at the question, wincing for some kind of punishment. But, surprisingly, none came.

"...A curse." Xephos was shocked at how fragile he sounded. He dared look at the Mage and, with the King, he saw the 18 year old in him. "Many of my ancestors have bared the same curse. It's just an inheritance now." The Mage explained. Xephos said nothing, nodding to show he had heard. The green man then growled. "Damn...I'm getting soft like Ross." His grip tightened around Xephos, causing him to gasp. "You're just fooling me with tricks and lies." He growled, standing outside Xephos' cell. The Mage opened it with magic, before he shoved Xephos inside. The chains magically clamped around his wrists again as the door slammed shut and the Mage left.

Hey. Are you alright?

Rythian's voice comforted Xephos, causing him to smile a little.

"Yeah. I was just taken 'cause of some weird turn I had. How long have I been gone?"

Now? Hm...An hour, at least.

"Really?" Xephos tilted his head, which he soon regretted as his headache began to form again. "It didn't feel like that long."

Never does when you're out cold.

"Ah, I'm back. That's all that matters, right?" He heard Rythian's chuckle in his mind.

I guess so. You're a fighter, Xeph. That's for sure.

A/N: Why I feel the need to have to read each chapter at least twice (not including actually writing it), I have no idea. I guess so I can add stuff or not mistakes etc. Oh well, it's fine ^_^