Stolas took a deep breath before he swung his body over the edge of the bed, intent on getting a bath to wash away the cold sweat left behind from another night full of incomprehensible dreams about his late mother. Sliding on his slippers, he grabs his robe and tightened it across his waist as he made his way to the washroom.
He walked tiredly through the palace hallways, passing portraits of himself and his father that loomed down at him with blank, impassive expressions, giving him the feeling that they were judging him.
Eventually he reached the washroom; Grand and elegantly decorated, just like everything else in his life. What good was all this luxury if you feel too hollow to enjoy it? he thought bitterly as he began to remove his nightclothes.
As Stolas ran the bath, he found his mind wandering to his mother.
He tried to remember the good memories of their time together. Her kind eyes, her warm smile, the way she used to read to him when he was a child. Anything to push down the memories of her death that threatened to rise to the surface. He sank into the warm water as the tub filled, sighing as he felt some of the tension leave his body; The pressure felt good against his chest. He leaned back against the edge of the tub, his eyes closing.
"What I would give to see you again" he said quietly, his voice echoing in the empty space of the washroom.
Stolas let out another sigh, sinking deeper into the tub until the water reached his beak, a sense of despair washing over him. The loss of his mother had left a permanent void in his heart and it pained him to think of it. He would do anything to have her back at his side, to talk to her and to tell her the truth about himself.
Would she accept him if he did? Would she understand the way he felt? He had no way of knowing, the question making him feel even more alone and lost.
After a while, Stolas emerged from the tub and dried himself off, using one of the soft, luxurious towels that were available.
As he was about to dry his feathers, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. There stood a tall slender barn owl with a round, white face and light to dark blue plumage everywhere else. His eyes large, and oval in shape with a deep red hue.
It wasn't like Stolas didn't know what he looked like, but he often found his thoughts focusing upon his appearance. He wondered what Phenex thought of his appearance.
He quickly shook his head, ridding himself of the thoughts. "Enough of that" he said out loud, the sound echoing once again in the quiet space. With a heavy heart, he turned away from the mirror and finished drying off, preparing to face another day.
He returned to his room, where a servant already had his clothes laid out. Stolas put on the clothing without a word, moving mechanically as he readied himself for whatever was to come. He tried to focus on the tasks ahead, but his thoughts kept returning to Phenex.
He wondered what his friend was doing now. Was he also thinking of him? Stolas felt a flutter in his stomach at the thought, the familiar feeling of longing rising up inside him.
But he quickly pushed the feeling back down. It was pointless to think about such things. Phenex was his friend. Anything more was only a fantasy; A fantasy that he couldn't afford to indulge in. With a heavy heart, Stolas prepared to face another day of being the perfect Goetic prince that his father desired.
He exited his room and began to walk towards the throne room, his mind already turning to the political maneuverings and obligations of the day. His father was always planning something, always one step ahead. Stolas was just one of the many pieces in his father's grand game, and he had to be careful to play his part. It was a difficult and dangerous game, one that was always on display. And one that could result in dire consequences if he made a mistake.
Stolas reached the doors of the throne room, pausing to take a deep breath before entering. He put on a mask of indifference, ready to face his father and whatever challenges the day had in store. With a steady hand, he pushed open the doors and stepped inside, the sounds of his footsteps echoing off the high ceilings.
Inside, he spotted his father sitting proudly atop his throne, flanked by his most loyal advisors. As soon as he entered, Stolas could feel eyes upon him, judging his every move. He approached the throne, head held high and eyes fixed forward as he made his way towards his father. Paimon's gaze turned to him, his expression giving away nothing as he regarded his son.
"What is the agenda for today, Your Highness" Stolas asked with a slight bow.
Paimon gave him an evaluating look, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Your performance in your studies is not up to standard as of late" he replied, his voice cold and distant.
Stolas felt a pang of fear. He had been trying to be more careful with his responsibilities, but the stress and pressure had been taking their toll on him. "My apologies, sire. I promise I won't let it happen again."
"See that you don't" Paimon replied, his tone making it clear that there would be consequences if he failed. Standing up from the throne, Paimon slowly approached Stolas, his eyes continuing to scan his son. "There is a legal matter we need to attend to today. One of the more problematic rival kings seems to have become very territorial as of late and wishes to dispute our right to our land. I want you to pay close attention, one day you will be the one presenting or defending a case in court!"
It wasn't exactly what Stolas wanted to hear, but he knew better than to argue. "Of course" he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "I will do my best to learn from observing you."
"Good" Paimon said, clapping a hand on Stolas' shoulder. "You are starting to understand the importance of responsibility. Continue to remember your place and perhaps you will grow into a worthwhile successor"
The words were harsh, but Stolas knew they were the closest thing to praise he was going to get from his father. And right now, he would take any scrap of respect he could get.
With a determined nod, he followed his father out of the throne room and into the palace halls, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As they walked, Paimon began to lecture Stolas on the legal matters at hand, going over the history and details of the case. Stolas tried to listen closely, determined to prove himself to his father and show that he was worthy of the responsibility of a Goetic prince.
"When the court is in session, it is imperative that you remain silent unless directly addressed" his father warned. "You are to observe with a keen eye and a sharp mind. Every detail matters, even the smallest, most insignificant facts may prove crucial in a case."
With years of practiced knowledge, the king didn't even so much as have to raise his hand for a rift to open before them. With a final deep breath, Stolas followed after his father.
Inside the courtroom, Stolas took in his surroundings. The room was ornately decorated with fine stone flooring and tapestries, the walls adorned with murals and artwork depicting scenes from Goetic history, starting from the fall. The chamber was filled with important figures from both sides of the dispute and neutral parties, all gathered to witness and participate in the proceedings.
It was an intimidating display. Stolas didn't know most of the attendees, but he could feel their eyes upon him, judging and assessing his every move.
In the far center of the courtroom, the high king Bael was sat atop his throne which itself was a few feet above the floor level to accentuate his position above the rest of the Goetic rulers. His current appearance was that of a hooded feline, his face was completely covered by the hood but his pawed hands were still visible.
Looking in his direction for too long made Stolas' head buzz with an unfamiliar feeling.
Shaking his head in an attempt to clear the feeling, the sound of footsteps behind him gave him an excuse to look away.
"I was hoping I would see you today, Your Highness!"
Surprised, Stolas turned around fully to see Phenex standing there, a wide grin on his face as he approached. The other noble looked just as elegant as ever, his clothing impeccably tailored and his feathers perfectly coiffed. A trait clearly picked up from his parents as compared to his father who stood right beside him.
"Phenex!" he exclaimed in surprise, a smile appearing on his face immediately at the sight of his best friend. "What are you doing here?" Inside, Stolas felt a surge of happiness at seeing his friend, the feelings of nervousness and fear he had been feeling all morning slowly starting to dissipate.
"Why wouldn't I be here" Phenex replied, reaching out to grasp Stolas' hand in a friendly greeting. "My father was summoned to provide assistance on this issue. He invited me to come along and learn from the experience"
The Duke Barbatos gave a slight nod to Stolas and greeted, "Your Highness" before he moved to stand beside Paimon to discus matters with him.
Stolas felt a warm flutter in his heart at the touch of Phenex's hand, feeling both happy and nervous at the same time. He could feel a blush rising in his cheeks, and quickly tried to will it away. "I'm glad you're here" Stolas admitted quietly. "I needed a friendly face today."
Phenex watched his father for a moment before turning back to Stolas, his smile growing wider. "I am glad to have been of service, my lord!" Knowing it would be a while until everyone arrived, he subtly gestured for Stolas to follow him, discreetly leading him to a quieter corner of the courtroom.
"So how have you been?" Phenex asked, his voice softening. He knew that Stolas had been dealing with a lot of stress lately. It was clear he had been worrying about his friend.
"Tired" Stolas admitted, leaning back against the wall behind him. "The last few weeks have been... eventful to say the least. The increasing political tension has my father on my case more than ever. I haven't had a moment's peace."
He gave Phenex a weary smile. "But I'm glad to see you. It helps take my mind off things." Especially with how gorgeous you look today, was left unspoken and only an intrusive thought in his mind. Instead, he changed the subject. "And you?"
"Saying I've been busy would be an understatement, but it's not like isn't self imposed. Between the law and military science classes to fencing and writing, I may have bitten off more than I can chew" He replied while leaning against the wall with him.
"Sounds like you" Stolas teased, a grin on his face. He always admired Phenex's passion and drive. I wish I had even a fraction of that, he thought to himself. "You act as if you're running out of time!"
The two of them shared a laugh as the conversation continued, Stolas' worries temporarily forgotten in the moment. He found himself becoming lost in Phenex's eyes, momentarily forgetting where they were. The only thing that existed was him and his best friend.
Until he was suddenly ripped away from them when the doors to the courtroom opened, announcing the arrival of more royals and Goetic leaders. The moment was shattered, the sound of footsteps and chatter filling the room again.
"Oh, here comes trouble" Phenex said in a joking voice. Stolas didn't quite notice who he was talking about until a figured started moving in their direction.
"Bonjour, mon ami" The voice was enough to let Stolas know who it Phenex was referring to; Fellow prince and Earl to be, Ipos. Dressed in a green suit vest with a white dress shirt underneath and pants that matched the vest. He sauntered over to them, the feather in his cavalier hat swayed as he moved.
"If it isn't Earl Grey himself." Phenex greeted in return, using the nickname he had given him when he saw photos of Ipos as a gosling with abnormally grey feathers compared to his siblings.
Stolas couldn't help the small smile that appeared on his face at the sight of his other friend. He wasn't nearly as close to Ipos as he was with Phenex, but he got along well enough. "Hello, Ipos," he greeted back politely, straightening his own attire as the other prince stopped in front of them. "Fashionable as always, I see."
"I see you've noticed the hat!" Ipos replied excitedly. His accent was noticeable, but far from being to strong to understand. "Father finally is letting me use his old hat after years of my asking him!" He gently took off the headwear, careful to not let the crown atop it to slip off.
Stolas chuckled at the other prince's enthusiasm, amused by his excitement over the simple hat. "Well, it is a nice hat. It suits you" he said graciously.
The three chatted for a few minutes, catching up and trading stories from their latest escapades. Stolas didn't have many of his own, he had spent most of his time locked up in the mansion after all, so he mostly listened and contributed only when he felt it was appropriate.
Eventually, Ipos' eyes wandered over the gathering Goetia until he spotted a young noble women about his age that piqued his interest. "If you would please excuse me, I have something to attend to." And with that he disappeared.
Stolas watched Ipos go with a raised eyebrow, noticing how the other noble's interest was piqued. "I worry he will never settle down" he said with a chuckle.
"I think that is a fair assessment to make" Phenex replied with a snicker of his own. "If nothing else, it give us the opportunity to be by ourselves once again"
Stolas felt his heart race at the words, suddenly noticing just how close they were to each other. "Y-yes, that is true" he managed to stutter out in response, cursing silently at his own nervousness. He quickly searched for a topic, not wanting the silence to settle too long as it would only further his nervousness around Phenex.
"Are you doing anything after this hearing?" he asked, inwardly cringing at the sound of his own voice. He probably already has plans. A familiar sense of self doubt flooded into his mind.
"Despite my earlier statement, I am actually free the rest of the day. The most I had planned was to write some when I got home" Phenex leaned against the wall again, his hand in his pockets.
The knot is Stolas' stomach loosened slightly at the confirmation that Phenex was available. "Would-" he began, taking a deep breath to gather himself, "Would you like to do something together this afternoon?"
"Something in particular in mind?"
"I was thinking a walk in the garden?" he asked, the words slightly rushed as he spoke. "It's been a little while since we last did that, it would be a nice refresher after all of this" he added with a small gesture towards the rest of the Goetia members around them. "We could have tea afterwards, and you would read me some of your more recent poems" Oh god that sounded stupid I shouldn't have said anything, he mentally berated himself, the knot returning with a vengeance. His hands began shaking slightly at his sides, he hoped it was unnoticeable to Phenex.
"Actually, that sounds really nice. When do you want me?"
Stolas could barely believe his ears for a moment, he hadn't expected his invitation to be accepted. He's just being nice out of pity, his mind whispered to him. He pushed the thought aside quickly. "An hour after this is done?" he suggested, hoping it wasn't too soon.
"Perfect. Gives me plenty of time to change into something more comfortable and clean up my work a bit!" Phenex replied as he took note of the activity happing around the room. It seemed they were getting ready to start.
Stolas nodded, feeling a sense of comfort and relief wash over him as the two walked back over to their respective fathers.
As the room began to fall silent, he watched as Phenex took his seat next to his father. He really is beautiful the thought came to him unbidden, and he quickly pushed it away, focusing on taking his seat as the hearing began.
Stolas found it difficult to focus, it was far more interesting to watch Phenex, and his thoughts continued to wander. Stop it, he's just a friend, he repeated to himself, just a friend. Stop thinking about him like this. He glanced around the room, trying to keep his eyes off of Phenex so he wouldn't get caught staring.
Eventually, to the dismay of the opposing side. The territory issue was ruled in favor of King Paimon and his affiliated nobles. The ruling hardly came as a surprise as Stolas knew very few arguments held weight against his father.
As the Goetic members milled around the room, some talking amongst themselves and others leaving quickly. Stolas took one more stolen glace at Phenex as he collected all the notes he had taken throughout the course of the trial.
I should probably go change into something else... he considered, his formal attire was becoming uncomfortable.
He got to his feet, giving a quick farewell to Phenex before exiting building with his father. One hour, and we'll see each other again. He thought, a mixture of giddiness and anxiety coursing through him at the thought.
As soon as he got home, Stolas headed straight to his room and changed clothes in record time. He checked his appearance in the mirror multiple times, making sure he looked perfect before leaving his quarters and hurrying to the garden.
His heart raced with anticipation as he waited in the garden, sitting on one of the benches. He tried to distract himself by reading a book he brought with him, but his mind kept drifting back to Phenex. What if he didn't come? He worried, doubting himself again in the familiar way.
His mind kept going through all the what ifs to distract himself. What if something came up? What if he forgot about it? What if he was just too polite to say no? The thought that Phenex simply just didn't show up kept coming to the forefront, and each time it did, a small shard of pain came with it.
"Are you overthinking again?"
Stolas turned his gaze over his book to see Phenex standing there. He hadn't even heard him walk over. He felt a rush of relief and joy, his fears melting away at the sight of him. "I- no I wasn't!" He quickly put the book down and stood up with a smile, trying to keep his cool as he greeted his friend.
"Then tell me what the last four words you read in your book were, from memory" Phenex smiled back, but with a bit more snark to his attitude.
"I um..." he trailed off, looking to the side as his cheeks flushed slightly. He couldn't remember for the life of him what he was reading, everything having faded away once he started to worry. "I can't" he admitted with a frustrated groan, giving Phenex a helpless look.
"What's the point of reading a book if you aren't going to remember any of it" Phenex teased.
"I-I can't help it I'm just-" Stolas quickly cut himself off, not wanting to make excuses and sound pathetic. An uncomfortable silence hung in the air for a few moments, neither noble sure of how to break it.
"You look really good by the way" Phenex said, his voice and manner was a clear indicator to show he was not lying in the slightest. Stolas always had an eye for clothing and knew how to present himself, thanks in large part to his life as Goetic royalty. He was dressed much more casually than in court, but he looked just as stunning.
The Prince couldn't help but flush at the compliment, his hand quickly coming up to smooth out his clothes self-consciously. "T-Thank you," he replied, stumbling over his words slightly. "You do too," he added, taking in Phenex's appearance. "You always do."
"We, always do" Phenex said while laying down his grimoire on one of the outdoor tables.
Stolas was silent for a moment, unable to deny that Phenex was right. "Well... we do need to look presentable" he commented with a small grin, trying to sound confident despite his inner shyness.
"Looking presentable is only half the battle. Admit it, we are rather easy on the eyes!" He replied with a smirk.
His face heated up at the comment, a mix between embarrassment and enjoyment at Phenex's blunt complement. "Y-yes... we are" he admitted, fiddling with the hem of his sleeve. Gods how does he do that? he mentally asked. Every single time Phenex would compliment him, he ended up a flustered mess.
"So, do you want to take a walk first?"
"Yes, that would be nice" Stolas replied, standing up and smoothing out his clothing. "The garden is very nice right now, with the late spring flowers just starting to bloom."
"And I'm sure you will tell me all about them" Phenex teased while idly combing his head feathers.
Stolas felt a little embarrassed, wondering if he really did talk about them that much. "If you would like..." he replied quietly, beginning to walk down the garden path. "There are some new ones that I just planted by the eastern wall."
Following right beside Stolas, Phenex playfully bumped his shoulder into the prince. "You know I'm always content listening to you talk"
The action caused a wide grin to spread on his face; Stolas felt himself relax. "I have a few new herbs to show you as well." He added, slowing down his pace to stop and gesture at a small corner plot. "I planted some chamomile last week, I hope it might be able to help with my insomnia." They were tiny right now, and looking barely any different from the other seedlings in the plot.
The Prince reached down and gently ran his fingers over the soft, delicate leaves. "Did you know that chamomile flowers have been used for centuries for a variety of things? Some people drink it as tea to calm nerves, some use it in baths to relax, and some believe it has healing properties." He was talking fast now, his excitement showing through his words. He turned to Phenex with a bright expression, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "I can't wait to see how these turn out. When they grow I will prepare some tea and we can try it out together."
"I'm looking forward to it!" Phenex crossed his arms as he intently continued to listen.
They walked the rest of the way down the path, Stolas pointing and talking about his newly added plants as they went. "Oh, I nearly forgot." he said as the came near the gazebo. "I just added a few red and pink Camellias in with the ferns. I love the way their deep red and light pink blooms look with the rich green of the ground cover ferns"
The two passed a couple of Gardenia bushes that flanked the entrance to the gazebo and took a seat on a swinging bench inside. "You've been reading the language of flowers again, haven't you?" Phenex teased while he opened his poetry book and started flipping through the pages.
"Ah... that may be so" Stolas admitted, feeling a little embarrassed at the teasing but smiling nonetheless. He sat down as well, curling up as he got comfortable on the bench. "I think it is fun to find the meanings in the flowers I grow."
The gardenia bush swayed gently in the breeze, its delicate flowers scenting the air around them with a sweet and heady aroma.
Phenex laid his poetry book down on his lap idly as he closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze. "In a way, it's your own form of poetry. Pairing all of these different plants into arrangements that tell a story. I honestly adore your ability to do that"
I adore you, Stolas silently thought, his face turning red once again. "Th-thank you" he said out loud with a bit of stuttered. "It is definitely my favorite past time." He felt a swell of gratitude and affection towards Phenex. It meant the world to him, to hear genuine praise from his friend.
"Oh, I forgot to mention" he said, sitting up a little straighter. "I am thinking about doing something a little different with this year's rose beds." He leaned over and picked up a sketch book and pencil from a small basket beside the bench, quickly flipping to a page and showing it to Phenex. The page held a sketched layout showing a basic idea of the arrangement he had in his head, with different colors used to help differentiate between differing flowers. "I am considering pairing them with the irises. What do you think?"
"Are we talking about red or white roses? Because I think the red ones would look decent with the irises, but I feel like they would clash a little too much. If they are white, then I think that will help to boost the deep blue of the irises while keeping the lovely shape of the roses"
"I was thinking white, for the same reason you mentioned" he said with a chuckle, tapping on a section of the design with the pencil. "I would also put in some pale purple Pansies with the irises, I think the colors would work very well together. And some white Carnations as well in the corners," he added, pointing to specific sections of the design.
"I think you should enter some kind of show, given the amount of effort and thought you put into your garden!"
Stolas chuckled at that, setting aside the design book and curling up once more on the bench. "I will leave the showing off to you" he said, smiling. He let out a content sigh and closed his eyes, breathing in the rich earthy scent of the garden. The sound of flowing water from the pool and the wind whistling through the leaves of the trees. It was a beautiful song that he never got tired of hearing. With his eyes closed, he felt some of his tiredness starting to return. His sleep the previous night had been fitful and full of confusing dreams. It hadn't helped that he had to attend a party the evening before without so much as the company of his friend, so he was feeling more worn out than usual.
Phenex started writing in his book, apparently having just been hit with an idea. "I might be here for a moment, so now might be a good time to take a tea break" He said whilst not even looking up from the book.
Stolas smiled and uncurled himself, leaning over to see the page Phenex was writing in. "What are you writing?" he asked, peeking over the Prince's shoulder as best he could to see what poem he was working on.
"An idea I just got, now please don't bother me while the inspiration is still flowing through me!" While he was mostly joking, Stolas knew to let him burn himself out of 'inspiration' before talking to him again.
"Alright, alright. I'll be back with some tea" he said, standing with a smile.
Returning a while later with the tray of two tea cups and a teapot, Phenex was still hunched over his book, but had a very pleased look on his face.
After Stolas set the tea down on the wooden half walls of the gazebo, Phenex straightened his posture and looked at him. "It's not perfect, but I think that might actually be my current masterpiece. Thank you for the inspirational setting."
"Well, now I must read it" he said teasingly, taking the seat beside Phenex and handing him his cup. Stolas shifted so that he was snuggled closer to his friend as he looked at the book in his lap.
"Be my guest" Phenex handed over the book while he cradled his cup for a moment before taking a sip; his tolerance to the freshly boiled water being much higher thanks to his abilities.
"Thank you!" Stolas happily took the book after laying his cup down on the ground of the gazebo. The sound of the water fountain, the smell of the nearby flowers, and the warmth of Phenex's body against his own created a safe, contented feeling as he read his friends newest work.
"In shadows deep, where secrets dwell. An adoration untold, a silent knell. A chance there was, a mere step away, but fear whispered, trepidation held my passion at bay. The object of my affection, so dear to my sight, remained ignorant, in the glow of the light.
Within my bosom, a fire did burn, for another's love my heart yet still yearn. Now my beloved rest afar, unaware of my longing like a distant star. With eyes that sparkled as a night sky's glow. "Oh, if only they could know"
In dreams, my heart, an unwavering flame, cries out for intimacy, forever, my beloved's name. Yet when daylight comes, the heat is rendered muffled and cloud, the light of my life, lost in the shroud."
"It's beautiful" Stolas whispered, his eyes wide with awe as he read the poem.
A strange sadness came over him as he read his friends own heartache. If only he knew his heart quietly cried. But he knew he would never tell him. Never say the words that he had desperately wanted to say for years now.
"Beautiful" he said again, smiling through his sudden tears, and handing back the journal and quickly hiding his face to not show the effect it had on him.
"I got the idea from the arrangement of plants around us. I know it's kind of silly given how this isn't something I've experienced myself, but I liked the thought nonetheless"
"No, it's not at all" he mumbled, wiping at his eyes to try and erase any hints that he had been crying.
Stolas sighed to himself, closing his eyes for a second and just focusing on being with Phenex. The two of them, just sitting and enjoying each others company with the scent of the flowers and the sounds of the surrounding garden to keep them company.
He's such a wonderful friend. The thought came unbidden, filling his heart with longing. What he would give to hold him and let him know just how precious he is to Stolas.
But he forced that thought away, refusing to spoil the moment by longing for something he couldn't have. Instead he focused all of his attention on his best friend, enjoying the warmth of his body, the sound of his breath, the feeling of him being so close.
The moment was perfect.