All this dragging, I am more than capable of walking myself, you know. Jynn thought to himself, but remained silent. The last thing he wanted to do is upset someone who could have potentially killed an oracle and the Queen of Eden in cold blood, and those were only just of two to his knowledge. Rest their souls? What did he mean. His mind raced as they made their way around the palace's circular corridors. If it's true how did he manage to kill an oracle? She must have foreseen her death - right? Why would she have come to Providence if she knew she would surely be killed? Did he truly kill the Queen? Was it Eva who managed to injure him this badly? These were all valid questions.

They went down several other hallways, passing through many doors in silence. The palace truly was a magnificent place, massive to say the least. The architecture, the winding halls of spotless marble, the decorative, paintings, tapestries, and things that lined the walls and ceilings. He couldn't imagine how long it must have taken to design and build such a place.

They walked in silence. He said nothing to Azrael and Azrael said nothing to him. He didn't mind that. He gathered that the king's temper was that of a loose cannon and surely didn't want him to fire over something as trivial as saying what Azrael presumed out of line. The king was acting odd anyway. Not just because of today's events, but in a physical way. He kept noticing Azrael would twitch. His head would sort of - snap - to the side a little. That itself wasn't that strange, but when it happened, the king's eyes would do the same, Twitching and rolling themselves inside his head, leaving his eyes white in their sockets. It didn't last for very long though; a second or two at best, and the king seemed to take no mind to it, as if it wasn't even happening.

Jynn felt his heartbeat pick up its pace. His mind wandered aimlessly, thinking of what possibly could be troubling Azrael. What if he couldn't cure him either, would the king have his head? Did he take the lives of the others that failed? What had he gotten himself into. He had no idea the extent of Azrael's rule was so perverse and honestly had no desire to know. He had always stayed to himself - had always been by himself. He never knew his parents and didn't spend much time with his aunt and uncle who raised him. Finding out he was gifted at such a young age, they sent him the magi colleges of Kokiri, the Crystal City, where he studied and passed the time while they worked in the fields. He didn't follow or get into the affairs of Eden's politics; not because of his age, but simply because it was something he cared little about.

They came into a library, and much like the palace, even something as simple as a bookcase was crafted by nothing short of a perfectionist. Swivels, swirls, and depictions of birds and mountains were all etched into the edges of massive stonework shelves that were just as inviting to the fingers as they were the eyes. Lining them, was one of the most extensive collections of literature he had ever seen, rivaling even the college's.Various books and tomes were bound with dyed leathers, colorfully stacked along the shelves. Numerous tables sat scattered around the room, well-waxed to mimic the luster of the polished, marble floor.

A housekeeper stood on a ladder, dusting the many nooks and crannies the library held. Azrael spotted her, and the prolonged silence was broken. "You -- what are you doing here?" he barked.

The housekeeper nearly fell from her perch. She had not seen them enter and jumped from the sudden audible shock. "I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty," she stuttered, "I was just doing the dailies."

"Get out of here!" Azrael said, "Have you not heard the news? Leave."

"Right away," she began descending the ladder.

She didn't move fast enough for Azrael. Carefully taking one step at a time. Jynn watched his anger grow to a boil.

Azrael growled and stormed towards her. The servant screamed. He grabbed the ladder and pulled it away from the shelves. Tipped, she couldn't hold on, and lost her grip. She fell from quite a height and crashed back-first into a table. It gave with her, snapping in half with a loud crack. She hollered out in anguish, gasping for the breath the fall robbed her of. She rolled back and forth in the rubble holding her arm. "It's broken," she cried, "My arm!"

Azrael loomed over her with a scornful expression. He reached down and snagged a handful of her long, tawny-brown hair.

She yelped.

"I told you to leave," Azrael fumed. He twisted his hand in her locks and began dragging the woman across the floor. She sobbed in her agony, crawling like a beaten dog after him. He released her at the libraries entrance and slammed the door behind her.

Jynn's couldn't believe what he had witnessed. Azrael was ruthless. His heart laid in his throat and he swallowed an almost audible gulp as the king turned to him.

"Apologies, Jynn," Azrael groaned, adjusting the collar of his raiment. "Pathetic servants-" he glanced toward the door, wailing. "Who - do -not - listen!"

Jynn only looked at him, apprehensive to say anything.

The king stepped over to one of the bookcases and surveyed it with his eyes. He ran a finger across the bindings of several volumes and stopped on one in particular. He removed it from the shelf and protruding from behind it, a wooden handle. The king took hold and turned. Something clicked. The bookcase swung open to reveal a small alcove.

Jynn determined it was a scanty, little nook at best. A cluttered, round table strewn with scrolls, book, papers, inkwells, and pens, sat center, and maps of the many provinces of Eden brushed the walls.

"I suppose I should tell you why I brought you here," Azrael said.

"If it's your will, Your Grace."

"I need your help, boy," the King continued, "This may sound absurd, but I need you to aid me in my search?"

Jynn's eyes regarded Azrael's with an uncertain skepticism, "Search for what, Your Grace?"

The king went silent for a moment. He stepped toward the wall and studied one of the many maps covering it. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a peculiar looking gem. Jynn observed as he fidgeted with it, rolling the tear-shaped crystal between his fingers.

"I need your help finding the Eyes of Eden," Azrael said.

"The Eyes?" Jynn repeated back, the statement bewildered him. "I thought of them no more than fable. How do you know they even exist?"

Azrael spun around. Jynn gasped for the breath that evaporated from his lungs. The king's eyes were deprived of all color and light-- a wretched black, like ebon pools of sin.

"Because, caster, it was my father who created them."