Chapter 61: Whispers of the damned

It was with a weary sigh he watched the determination rise on Cyra's face, briefly looking over at the shattered tree, he decided to just go with half truths.

''Fine, I tell you and you'll tell me.''

''Agreed.''

''I guess I will have to trust you on it.''

''I guess you will.''

It was a more serious and dangerous vibe he had ever gotten from Cyra and he knew, better than he thought he did, that the details didn't fit together by a long shot. Then again neither would the details he would give her.

"My soul doesn't match this body, it will barely stand for more than a decade, at least that's what your teacher says.

I'm trying to power it through magic, keep it strong for however longs it needs.''

''If my teacher says so then it's a fact. What would be so important to you that you would actively shorten that deadline?'' The frown upon her face increased.

"My nephew, I want...need him to be safe.

Don't even try to stop me.''

''I never said I would but i'm sure your mommy dearest will.''

Snarling on instinct he countered her. ''It's not mommy dearest,it's my sister in law.''

''Still a mom then".

Dazzling emerald eyes intensified greatly as his own narrowed in response.

"A factor she isn't very interested in.'' While Sophie had asked for updates on her son, she didn't ask them frequently enough to even pretend she was interested. It was more like she wanted to know if her son was still breathing or if he had done anything to him.

He hadn't and that was that.

''Your nephew isn't the only one with a disinterested mother. He's lucky to have an uncle like you.''

A huff of disbelief left him, voice barely above a whisper.

''I doubt it.

Not that it matters seeing as he won't ever know.''

Cyra did not disappoint, a smirk broadly displayed as she spoke clear of doubt.

"All your efforts and you won't even tell him.''

''It's for the better unlike your creation of artifacts that are being used against me.''

''You can't blame me, we are only trying to live.''

''Be that is it may at least tell me who you gave artifacts.''

"A few here and a few there, only when I needed to. Besides some of those are nobles which i'm sure you aren't in contact with.''

A sentence spoken on purpose and his own reaction fitted the implementation as he moved the conversation elsewhere with a nervous sigh.

''Seeing as you won't answer anything of importance, can you atleast answer where we are?.''

''Like I said, an island.

Swirling eyes returned the deadpan answer. ''And the time?''

"You want to know the time difference?''

Nothing on his face betrayed the fact that he was seen through, after all he couldn't stay long as his duties were no doubt piling up.

Chuckling, the distance steadily closed between them.

''We got here around twelve and now three is rapidly approaching.

Yet you can't leave until I let you.''

''You just love letting something hang over my head don't you?''

''Yes.''

Exaggerating greatly he clutched his heart in betrayal, Cyra didn't disappoint as she smirked broadly, no doubt having already forgotten about everything that happened just moments ago.

"I'm glad you're aware, now take off your clothes.''

''Woah, easy there." He flustered at the suddenness of it all.

She went way too easily from serious to a different case altogether.

"No need to worry, I shall take it easy on you."

Smiling at her ridiculous words, he let her hand support his neck as he pulled her down. A soft kiss landed before breaking to form more words between.

"Now let me help undress you, my prey.''

''Well then, do remember to go easy on me.''

''I'll try.'' She did not in fact try, hand gripping his neck way too tightly as the other ripped his silk top, gasping out he muttered for her to be softer yet even his hair was harshly let lose out its high ponytail.

"Soft?" Rough nails dragged it's way over his skin, frustration deeply noticeable in the action. "As soft as them, right?"

"Are you... jealous?" He didn't know how to feel about that fact, too much on his chest to actively research that little fact. And it wasn't like she was going to answer, merely gripping sharp nails in soft flesh causing him to whine out.

Grunting out with a slimmer hope of a hearable present."Not even when I say please?''

"Not even when you beg.''

Now that was so her!

Cheekily turning his head he admitted defeat.

''Then do as you please. I can't stop you."

Snorting she replied ''Yes, you can. Wich makes me wonder why you didn't towards them.''

"One, I'm a helpless prey, remember. Two, they had a nasty thing called artifacts.''

Groaning, she quickly shut him up with a clash of lips.

* * *

The tree which had proven to be a teleportation device was apparently based on a magical imprint.

One that could be found within the maker itself.

Twirling a necklace in his hand, he grinned.

He had been worried about how he was going to leave after setting up Sophie as the undeniable puppeteer. But now he had a whole island ready to turn to, all because of Cyra who refused to let him leave before he agreed to keep it on him.

Ofcourse only after having received a kiss as a prize, which was weird considering the whole thing they had done beforehand.

But what is he to say?

She wasn't very happy when he gave her a kiss on the forehead though, on the other hand her reaction was absolutely hilarious for him.

Not that he had much time to enjoy it, he had barely made it back in time, the clock ringing six loud and clear.

Submerging into the hot water, he pondered what he was about to do and if he shed tears he didn't know.

Running in circles seemed to be all what he was doing lately, one step forward, three steps back.

A never ending circle to hell.

After he got back he saw tons of messages urging him to deal with the two divine messengers, his first idea was to drown his sorrow in a bath.

Not really an option so instead he still settled on the bath but with a glass of wine instead, disgusting really but very much worth sneaking in for.

He was enjoying it, while the water cleaned the mud out of his silver hair he ignored the time that kept passing by.

"Your highness, you're already awake."

It was a stated fact and soon flickering eyes crossed over the bath, silver hair and the half filled glass of wine.

Acacius didn't care at all, the fact that the youngest member of the council gazed upon his vibrant silver hair and could do whatever he wanted with that info. Maybe the wine was in fact dulling his senses.

''Awake?" Twirling his glass, he emptied it. ''I didn't even go to sleep.''

Standing up in an exaggerated manner, he turned around watching the eyes drop down as he exited the bath. Delicate fingers grasped the bath robe and wrapped it around him in a slow and tedious way.

Drying his hair for barely a millisecond he tied it in a low ponytail and watched it turn back in the original colour much to the surprise of the younger.

''If you have anything to ask just ask.''

''Thank you, your majesty but it's quite alright."

It was obvious he was thanked for the apparent trust which showed that the other wouldn't say a thing to anyone.

"How is it?"

''Smooth, it shouldn't take much longer.''

''That's good.''

Eyes watched attentively on him, which made him acutely aware of how his neck and part of his upper body were visible. Not even denying his wandering gaze the boy questioned.

''Does that hurt, your highness?''

Closing his robe entirely he avoided it. ''It doesn't matter.''

''I can clean it, it just so happens my grandfather taught me some authentic and working homemade brews.''

''No need for all that, it will go away as it always does. Anything else of importance.''

Coughing, eyes glancing over he went back to work. ''Some elders have voiced their concerns about the servant spectacle, combined with the rising issue of a certain council member using his closeness to you so he can actively meddle with a lot of factors."

There was no need to mention who as there is only one person who he was close to in some degree.

They are going to raise this issue in the next council meeting.''

''Joy.'' There was no joy inside his voice.

''Some are asking for him to be dismissed, removal from the castle and all given luxury on the grounds of extortion. They are already planning to split his lands between them.''

''I can already tell who's leading it, grounds of extortion.'' Huffing at the ridiculousness of it all, he filled his glass to the brim.

A fact that made his underling quite unhappy as he sipped from the wine while leaning against a wall.

''Your guess would be accurate,there are also worries about the two holy disciplines and when you're going to deal with them.''

''All in good time, all in good time.''

"Have...have you visited your sister in law yet.''

Throwing caution in the way huh, Acacius was still blinking at the daring question before uncomfortably moving the fabric on his neck and downing the rest of his glass.

''That's been taken care of.''

Leaving the rest to the boy's imagination he walked away, hand crushing the glass decorating the floor with fresh blood and pieces of it.

Pissed and somewhat drunk he wasn't exactly looking forward to the paperwork