Chapter III
A dream. Two-toned eyes opened to catch sight of a blackened, star scattered sky. They glittered brightly, painting the endless black with a beautiful array of hues, as the memories of that dream lingered. Vivid, yet far away, the images ever fleeting, growing distant.
...How many times had he woken up feeling this way? Waking up after a dream he could never seem to recollect?? He felt somehow frustrated, and yet, that feeling too, began to feel as though it were an illusion the more the moments ticked by.
Like a dying flame, all of that disappeared, his gaze dropping from the sky as he spotted a small form of white sitting beside the flickering light of their campfire.
He had dozed off, it seemed, the tip of his jet black tail twitching just slightly as he roused himself.
That’s right, the duo had been traveling, ever so steadily making their way back to the Capital...Or rather, Eon had been, with a new, unexpected tag-along. The two had been doing so for about a week now, traveling by day, and resting by night.
By now, the vast grasslands had already long since been behind them, a deep, dense forest painting their surroundings beyond the small clearing they had set up camp within.
“...Sorry, guess I dozed off. I can keep watch now if you want to sleep.” He spoke up, breaking the silence, his companions, snow white ears twitching in response.
Emerald eyes met his own for a brief moment.
“...No, it’s alright.” Max’s quiet voice resounded, barely audible.
He couldn’t sleep even if he wanted to, his gaze returning to the sky above, a vacant, far off expression reflecting within his eyes.
Perhaps because of the dark atmosphere of the dense forest just a few feet away from them, Eon was seized with the feeling that Max just might vanish within the empty black.
It was a strange notion, but he truly felt that way.
By now, he had picked up on certain things about Max. Things like that frequent, vacant look in his eyes, as though his mind were elsewhere, wandering in an abyss of thoughts Eon couldn’t grasp. As though he had been carrying some massive, unseen weight upon his slender shoulders...He found Max to be rather mysterious. There had to be more to him than met the eye. Of that, he was certain.
Somehow, he wanted to know more about him...Which in itself, was strange, considering Eon rarely had any interest in people. Human or Demon alike.
But perhaps that was a result of the fact that he rarely spent so much time around others to begin with.
He didn’t necessarily find this arrangement unpleasant, however.
“...Can’t sleep?” Eon spoke up suddenly, deciding to strike up a conversation, for no other reason than to simply talk to him.
Max glanced over at him, apparently taken aback by this for a moment.
“...Not really.” He admitted after a moment’s pause, his gaze dropping towards the ground.
“…” Silence once again passed between them, but rather than dropping the conversation, Eon instead stood up, making his way over and promptly plopping down beside him.
“Something on your mind?” He questioned, leaning back a bit as he propped himself up with his arms.
Once more, Max was caught by surprise, his gaze returning to Eon yet again.
“...I didn’t take you for the talkative type.” He answered, albeit not Eon's question itself, yet there wasn’t a sense of annoyance in his voice either. His tone was bland.
“I’m not, really.” Eon shrugged nonchalantly, regarding Max carefully. “...Just somehow, I can’t bring myself to leave you alone. Specially when you’re sitting over here marinating in your own thoughts.” He added in genuinely. “S’alright if you don’t want to talk about it though. I just figured it wouldn’t hurt to lend you an ear, if you needed it.”
Max simply met Eon’s gaze quietly, moment’s ticking by at a strangely slowed pace.
Eon hadn’t truly been expecting Max to open up to him, which was probably why he was rather taken aback when Max opened his mouth to speak.
“...I…” He began, voice meek as he averted his gaze. “I’m just...Tired.” He finished quietly, pulling his knees up against his chest and burying his face against them.
“Then sleep.” Eon’s response was simple, even if he understood the meaning behind Max’s words wasn’t merely a plain lack of sleep.
“...Mm.” Max nodded weakly, deciding that would be for the best.
Sleep. If he did that, he wouldn’t have to think anymore, even if only as a temporary solution.
Surely, these thoughts would disappear into the night sky. He only wished that would happen.
He didn’t want to think anymore.
And so, he willed himself to sleep, as shallow as it may have been.
Just like that, the night would pass, and the two would continue on with their journey to the Capital.
All around them, the constant, deep forest remained, the foliage overhead growing so dense, that sunlight hardly filtered through from above.
The trees were a near black, making it difficult for one to tell if it was even daytime anymore.
Somehow...The air felt chilly. Eerie, even. Max was struck with a strange, baseless fear that some, unearthly creature would leap out of the shadows at them any moment.
It was entirely different from the gentle, light filled forests he knew back home.
Here, he felt as though the forest may devour him entirely.
Without really realizing it, the fur along his tail began to swell out a bit, the base trembling with unease.
He felt so unnerved, so focused on that feeling, that he let out a small sound of surprise when he suddenly hit Eon’s back just ahead of him, who had come to an unexpected stop.
“You alright?” He questioned, throwing Max a curious glance over his shoulder.
“...Yeah.” Max nodded, rubbing at his now, slightly sore nose. “Why’d you stop?”
“Because you went all poof-y for some reason.” Eon grinned, quirking an eyebrow before looking back ahead, jerking his chin forward. “Also because we’re nearly there.”
Max’s snow white ears gave a little twitch at this, reflexively lifting his face so he could give the air an inquisitive sniff.
It was faint, but he could pick up on the fresh scent of Humans nearby, carried in on the soft breeze from beyond the dark forest.
In fact, if he listened closely, he could hear the vague clamor of noise some distance away. The telltale sounds of a bustling city.
Suddenly, he was hit by a strange wave of apprehension.
Even all the way in Farronia, he had heard the stories of the Raoulian Capital; Vars. Rumor had it that the city nearly rivaled Farronia’s Capital in size. He tried to paint a picture of what the city may have looked like in his mind, but he had no way of truly knowing until they arrived there.
This, in turn, filled him with a sense of nervousness. Even if it hadn’t been long since he’d been around people, it felt as though it had actually been ages.
Swallowing down on that sense of insecurity, however, he continued to trail along after Eon as they once more began walking forward. Closer and closer, the sounds in the distance growing ever nearer. The density of trees began to thin out, that dark, eerie atmosphere gradually lighting up as sunlight was finally allowed to filter through...And then, almost too suddenly, Max was blinded as the area opened up, bright light hitting his eyes from directly overhead.
Once Max’s eyes finally readjusted, he could make out a large, arched, stone gate overhead, cobblestone roads leading off into a mass of noise and activity.
All around, there was a giant aggregation of clamorous, chaotic mayhem.
Tall buildings towered overhead, made of sturdy, gray stone. They loomed along the side of the streets, intimidating and bold.
Boisterous shopkeepers called out vigorously, hoping to attract passerby towards their wares.
Even if Max had been used to this jumble of noisiness, he couldn’t stop his ears from swiveling this way and that, picking up on each and every noise.
New scents would hit his nose, mixing together into something indescribable, until he could no longer differentiate between them.
Inside all this jumbled noise, it would initially feel as though their entry into the city was of little impact, but if Max were to glance around, he would notice more and more people became aware of their presence.
Some shot them harsh, hateful looks, while many others looked up Max in particular with a sense of bewilderment. He could feel such stares prickling all over his skin like a bunch of tiny, little needles.
He felt a bit uncomfortable, and oddly self conscious because of this, unknowingly shuffling a bit closer to Eon in an attempt to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible.
Eon didn’t particularly mind when he felt Max shift closer either. He himself was used to the hateful glances and stares, but Max probably wasn’t in the slightest...Plus, he found it strangely endearing how Max scooted closer like some small, timid animal.
Best not to say that out loud, though.
He simply led Max forward, the duo eventually leaving the busy and chaotic part of the city behind them some time later.
The cobblestone roads widened, the tall buildings on either side scattering and disappearing ever so slowly. Instead, they were replaced with well kept, green plots of grass and trees.
However, even though the area opened out quite a bit, the air felt oppressive.
If Max were to peek out from behind Eon, he would see a massive building towering over the city just a ways ahead of them.
Max found himself thinking this building resembled a castle in some aspect. The large building was made of that same, gray stone, making it feel dark and dreary, and a tall, stone staircase ascended towards a pair of large, wooden doors.
Hanging just above those doors, was a banner, a rather odd design centered around a spiral boldly displayed along it, colored in various hues of green.
Eon pushed the doors open with a loud creak, polished, white marble floors reflecting in Max’s vision as he looked around with increasing curiosity.
Overhead, the ceiling was nothing but a large, dome-like window, allowing plentiful sunlight to filter in and illuminate the room from above.
Despite the gloomy exterior, the interior gave off a surprisingly, uplifting air.
Then again, this was only the foyer-like entrance. Leading to the second floor, was a split, marble staircase, a single, peculiar door right in the middle. Max had no way of knowing what the laid atop them, or what was beyond that singular door just ahead.
Before he would be able to find out, however, the two were suddenly stopped by an unfamiliar voice.
“Well, look whose back.” An individual with gray-black hair, short and messy, called out to the two of them, shooting Eon a provocative smile. “Was beginning to wonder where the Chief’s lapdog had disappeared to. Thought you might have died in a ditch somewhere...Not that it would have been a problem if you did. Probably would be doing everyone a favor.”
Just what was this person’s problem? Max was struck with the immediate realization that this person’s ego was probably far bigger than their brain. He certainly seemed like the type. No, he reeked of it.
Eon, however, didn’t bat an eyelash, seemingly unfazed by the animosity filled comments directed towards him.
“...Do you always have to make such a scene as soon as I get here?” Eon shot back smoothly, crossing his arms. “Your timing is always so convenient, makes me wonder if the reality is that you actually want to see me.”
Brown eyes locked onto Eon with burning ferocity, the repugnant man looking as though he had wanted to spit at him...But then, his aggression suddenly dissipated the moment he caught sight of Max.
“...What the hell?” Brown eyes narrowed, that contempt attitude now shifting from Eon, to Max, bewilderment mixed in. “What is that?” He questioned, striding over in an attempt to get a better look at Max, but perhaps unexpectedly, Eon nudged Max more behind him, shielding him from direct view.
“Yes, yes. That’s quite enough of that.” A new voice called out, echoing through the marbled room.
From just shy of the middle of one of the staircases, an individual began making his way downwards.
His slightly disheveled hair was an ashen gray, borderline tan...Honestly, he seemed somewhat unkempt, and yet, there was a shockingly keen glint reflecting in his bright, hazel green eyes. As though nothing could be hidden from him.
“Can we not make such an unsightly scene right in the middle of the entryway? I’m afraid you’re beginning to make people feel uncomfortable.”
Caught off guard by this sudden newcomer, Max realized if he were to glance off to the side, groups of people speckled throughout the large room were looking their way, muttering among themselves as they watched the spectacle.
“Asato, I believe I’ve already briefed you on the details of your next assignment...Whatever reason could you have for still lingering around?” He asked, the black haired man, Asato, quietly clicking his tongue in return.
Then, without another word, he stormed past them, and out of the building.
“Let’s bring this conversation to my office, shall we?” The ashen haired man suggested once Asato took his leave, turning on his heel and beckoning for them to follow.
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