The castle was beautiful. The halls were wide with floors of wood, or carpeted with plush material when of stone. Rooms were large, just as the castle itself was, and the ceiling towered high with stunning murals and beams criss-crossing up. Only some places weren't grand but, even those were furnished well even if not with splendour. Ventilation could be spied through walls, somehow not ruining the look, and somehow keeping the places warm, or cold if that was needed. With that warmth came the scent of the wild flowers neatly placed into vases everywhere. It was obvious the place was well cared for, and that it cared for others itself, yet... It was empty. So very empty. Only one man, strange in his robes of black and silver webs, was present.
Raizel walked through the halls of the castle, he'd only just begun exploring, but he'd managed to get himself lost already. Perhaps, if he continued walking through the castle, he'd run into the Monster, he'd been told so much about.
In a room furnished with furs, furs, and more furs, a man awakened. He glared up at the ceiling from his bed, a pile of blankets and pillows, then stood up to neaten out his clothes. Something was off, strange. Abnormal. So, he placed one of Astra's night festival masks on his face and strode out.
Raizel came to the end of the hallway, another dead end. Interesting. He'd have to head back the way he came.
The man stood at the beginning of the hallway where Raizel was, simply watching him.
Raizel stopped, looking at the man standing before him. Was he the monster?
Ugh. Right. It was around that time wasn't it? Every ten years someone would be sent as a sacrifice or whatever. His gaze turned annoyed though it probably didn't show.
Raizel started at the man in complete silence, he wondered if he should say something, or introduce himself maybe, but he wasn't sure how to address this stranger.
"Who the fuck are you and why are you here?"
Oh, so he was supposed to introduce himself. "I'm Cadis Etrama Di Raizel, I've been sent here to break the curse."
"Tough luck, no curse here," the man said, "and what's with the entrance? You break into everyone's home or what?"
Raizel just stared at him, "Arakei, told me about the curse, and said to come here."
"Ugh. The village elder? Girl's senile, and she doesn't know the difference between pale with an e and pail with an i." He ran a hand through his hair, annoyed. "You seriously believed her?"
Raizel wasn't sure if he knew the difference either, "I have no reason not to."
"So you came here to do what? Harass me?"
Raizel shook his head, "No, I came here to break the curse."
"What damn curse?"
He thought for a moment, he knew there was a curse, but he wasn't sure of the exact nature of it, no-one had told him what the curse was about. "I'm not sure. I was told there was one, and I should break it." He answered honestly.
The man huffed. "So, you decide to barge into my home?"
He sighed, he wasn't explaining himself very well was he, "The doors were open."
"Oh yes, I'm not wearing armour either. Is that permission for you to go ahead and stab me?" The doors were open. For fuck's sake, that was true but also up there in terms of stupidity. Why did Arakei keep on directing people here? Couldn't she just listen to him and tell them there was no curse?
Raizel tilted his head to the side, "Why would I want to stab you?" The man really wasn't making any sense.
"By the stars of the northern skies-" he hated this man already. Of all those who had come before in nine hundred and ninety-six years, this was higher up on the list of annoying ones. "Whatever. I'll tell you what I always tell everyone who comes here. You can listen right?"
He nodded, "Yes." He was good at listening.
"This is the main area. Go right and you'll find the western wing. There are rooms there and you can take any that you want. You can go anywhere except the eastern wing, got that?"
This was worrying, he turned looking around, he wasn't sure which way west was. "I'm not sure I can find my way without an escort." He hoped the stranger would be kind enough to take him to where he needed to be.
"Excuse me?" An escort? What the fuck?
"I am lost." He answered honestly, he'd been wandering around aimlessly for several hours, before he ran into the stranger before him.
"..." Fuck. He hated him so much. With a sigh, he waved his hand and a bird made of paper came flying to them, glowing inscriptions on its body. Raizel, the son of Suldala's marchioness if he remembered right, was a magician so he should be able to sense the enchantment on the paper and utilize it easily. "Here. She'll show you around. Just tell her where you want to go or what you need and she'll take you there."
"Thank you." Raizel replied, bowing slightly. "When do I find out about the curse? If I am to break it, I need to know as much about it as possible." However he looked at it, he was here for a reason, and he would carry out his duty.
"Ugh there's no curse." How many times did he have to repeat that? "But we have a library. Knock yourself out or something."
"Okay." He thanked his host once again, before asking the paper bird to lead him to the library. He wasn't tired just yet, so he might as well read about the curse, if it were possible to do so.
The library was just as grand as the rest castle. Leather-bound book, tomes with covers like bone, scrolls; there were countless books.
Raizel stood looking at the library in wonder and amazement for a few moments before walking over to a bookshelf, and picking up a book on the history of the castle. He sat down in a comfortable armchair and began reading. He'd be here for a while, it seemed.
Time passed. Though in a way strange for it wasn't the same flow for everything. For some it was slower, for some faster, but regardless the windows showed the sky as it darkened, and the candles lit up with red and yellow flowers as the night bloomed.
Raizel continued studying the books for another couple of hours before finally deciding to turn in for the night, he'd come and read the books again in the morning. He looked to the small paper bird, "Can you show me the way to my room?"
It simply fluttered up from where it had been resting, and with the rustling of paper, flew in circles in front of the doors of the library. It wasn't capable of opening them on its own, and couldn't use the little windows made for them if it wanted to lead someone.
He stared curiously at it for a few moments, before waving his hand to open the door, letting the bird through, in order to guide him to where he wanted to be.
The moment they opened, it quickly swooped through, and returned to fly in circles around Raizel's head whenever he was slow. Which was always. Though it took a while, and though there seemed to be a bit of a distance, they eventually reached the western wings. Each of the doors had a large metal key inserted into the locks, an obvious indicator that nobody used them. The bird settled down onto his head, nestling into his hair for it made a better nest than its own.
Standing in front of a large set of doors, Raizel turned the key, and made his way inside, the room was larger than he'd expected, and as opulently decorated as the rest of the castle. He entered the room, closing the doors behind him, and began to get ready for bed. It had been a long eventful day, and he was looking forward to finally getting some rest. He wondered how his family was doing without him, and whether they would've found out he was here by now.
Though it was clear he was readying for bed, and the paper bird too as it let out chirps while continuing to nest, two clear knocks came to his door.
The knocks startled him; he wasn't expecting anyone. Was it the owner of the castle, or had his family come to take him back? He wasn't sure. Raizel got up and walked towards the door, opening it to welcome his guest.
The door swung outwards and the guest, not having expected the action, let out an upset grunt as it hit its body. The statue (immaculately carved and of a gorgon; a famous one) didn't make any motion to indicate its feelings on the matter though, and simply held out a piece of paper.
Raizel apologised to the statue, before looking at the note. He'd have to rest later, for now it seemed his company was requested for dinner.
Now that it had his attention, the statue moved. The only reason the rock didn't grind against the floor was due to the plush carpet.
He followed the statue to the dining room; he didn't want to keep his host waiting.
The dining room was a simple one. For when there were less people rather than the grand one reserved for more, or when there were social gatherings. It was dimly lit too, and hard to see in for humans. The statue slowly crept behind the masked man's seat as the aforementioned man watched Raizel enter. The table was laid out with two dishes.
Raizel wondered whether he should sit opposite his host, or take a seat next to him, maybe it would be better for him to wait until he was told where to sit. He didn't want to upset the man again; he was sure he had earlier.
"Are you going to sit or not?" By Mother Astra, this asshole had to be a damn joke. "And why did you go back to your room after the library? Nobody skips meals in this place and you're not going to be starting that habit."
"I apologise," he bowed his head. He wasn't expecting to be summoned to dinner. He may have to talk more, if he didn't want to upset his host. "Where would you like me to sit? Opposite you, or next to you?"
"Wherever." At least he wasn't creating a mess. Yet. "There's a meat dish and a vegetable dish. Eat both."
Raizel nodded, taking a seat next to his host, it'd be easier for them to talk that way.
"Just ask your guide to take you to the kitchen when you need to eat. She can show you the different ingredients that you can cook with."
"Okay, thank you," he replied. Then he realised he didn't know his host's name, "Excuse me, if you don't mind me asking, what is your name?"
Finally. The people of Sol really were extremely rude. "Urokai."
"It's nice to meet you." Raizel smiled, he had given his name earlier, although he wondered if he should introduce himself again, "I'm Raizel."
"I know." Urokai stood, the statue following him. He made to leave now that he was done with what he had intended.
"Are you not going to eat anything?" Raizel asked.
"It's midnight. I ate ages ago." Plus, he had no intention of eating in front of a human. They never took it well.
"We could talk more, if you want, at least until I've finished eating." He wasn't sure how Urokai would feel about that, still it didn't hurt to ask.
"No." He was already tired with this body. And staying with this man? Ha! He left without another word, and before anything else could be said.
Oh well, he tried. He started eating. Wondering if the paper bird would like some too, he held a small piece of meat out for the bird, "Do you want something to eat?"
It just chirped at that; the noise similar to laughter.
He put the fork down and patted the bird's head with the tips of his fingers "Okay," he laughed; it was a ridiculous idea after all.