Before long, he would arrive alongside Sage, both hustling into the living space.
It went without saying that Azuma was suspicious when he saw the state of the room. Eon had been strangely persistent about avoiding certain details, so he was left grasping straws at what had transpired.
“...I brought Sage with me in the hopes of investigating the body, but…” His gaze trailed towards the mauled carcass, hazel eyes narrowing. “...I can see there’s not much left to investigate.”
The two knelt before the remains, inspecting what they could thoroughly.
“...If I didn’t already know ahead of time that this was a Demon, I don’t think I would have been able to tell.” The Doc, Sage, grimaced at the sight of the slashed up corpse, his eyes narrowed in all seriousness, despite his normally, bouncy personality.
Eon couldn’t have done this, Sage already knew that. He wasn’t this violent...And honey colored eyes met an emerald green.
Max’s ears flicked back reflexively at the blatantly curious look shot his way, the base of his tail trembling.
“...Well, I suppose I’ll get this specimen brought back to headquarters for now.” He finally said, pushing himself up from his knees.
“...Typical, to be treating it like just another thing to study.” Max couldn’t restrain the jeering comment.
“For the one whose responsible for so horribly mauling this creature, I don’t think you’re one to talk, dearie.” Sage shot back on the dime, pushing up his glasses with a slightly wry grin.
Max bared his fangs, a low growl resounding from his throat.
He really couldn’t stand doctors. Not in the slightest.
Triumphant, Sage stepped away, eventually taking the corpse away with a few others.
Azuma, however, remained, his attention fixated on both Eon, and Max. As always, those keen, hazel eyes seemed as though they knew all.
“...While I expect to hear the full details later, I’ll spare you the interrogation for now.” He said with a small sigh, inspecting the state of room once more. “I want you two to continue to Sahrim, as planned. With this, it might be for the best if you stay away from the Capital for a bit. At least until I can find a plausible way to explain this fiasco.” He was clearly exasperated, perhaps even concerned about the turn of events, but he didn’t give much away aside from that. “You two may take your leave now.”
Eon cast Max a small glance, though it would appear neither of them had any arguments on the matter. It probably would be best if they made themselves scarce, especially Max. So, without much of a word in exchange, Eon walked on ahead out the door, expecting Max to follow.
Naturally, Max intended to, shaken, but reflexively heeding the need to follow after that broad back.
“...You’re the spitting image of Kota.”
Max halted in his tracks at the words just barely bouncing off his ears, glancing over his shoulder at Azuma.
...Had he misheard the man? There was no way, or so he thought, but those hazel green eyes met his with a knowing gaze.
...He didn’t recall his father ever mentioning having an acquaintance from Raoul. Max was certain of it, and before he could truly confirm those mysterious words, he heard Eon calling out to him.
Reluctantly, Max had no choice but to chalk it up to him mishearing things, and soon after, followed along after Eon. There was just no way he had heard the man correctly, after all. So he focused on the task at hand in an attempt to keep himself grounded.
They would have a long journey ahead of them from here on out. One that would span over several months, the cold of Fall and Winter having long since settled in before they would even arrive.
By then, they would only be a mere day away from the port, the salty scent of the sea carried through the small clearing they set up camp within. Tall grass, shrubs, and small trees were scattered about, providing some coverage from the open, but the area was relatively clear of heavy foliage and forests. Such seemed to be the case the closer they got to the edge of the continent.
“...Damn. I can’t stand the cold.” Eon’s hiss of outrage against the frigid, night air rang throughout the area.
“Don’t be such a baby.” Max shot back with a slightly annoyed sigh.
“Easy for you to say, you’ve got all that fur. Why don’t you shave some of it off to make me some mittens or something??”
“…” Max shot Eon one of those little looks of his before turning his face away...Though, Eon couldn’t help but notice the tips of his ears trembled slightly. No doubt, he was rather cold himself, but Max was probably too proud to say it out loud.
“Y’know, if you want a cuddle buddy, all ya gotta do is ask.” Eon chimed with an amused flick of his gray-black tail.
Max’s brow twitched, unimpressed, emerald eyes looking up at him.
“...What about you? Why don’t you just admit that you want a cuddle buddy?” He shot back, hoping to turn the tables on Eon for once by putting him on the spot, but his plan immediately backfired.
“Oho~ Are you inviting me after all? Don’t mind if I do.”
“No. I didn’t say that-”
“Uh-huh. It’s alright, I get it. You’re sooooo cold, so you want a snuggle buddy, but you’re too proud to admit it. Don’t worry, I got ya.” Eon cut Max off, scooting closer before wrapping one arm around Max’s shoulder, and practically draping himself over the poor fella.
Max’s eyes narrowed fiercely as he slapped Eon in the face with his tail, promptly giving him a nice mouthful of fur before accepting his fate.
“You’re ridiculous sometimes, you know that?”
“Isn’t that just part of my charm?” Eon shot back with a cheeky grin.
“No.” Max replied flatly, without a hint of hesitation.
“Tch. Party pooper.”
The rest of their night consisted of silly, pointless bickering just like that, before the two would eventually fall asleep.
And when Eon next awoke, he was confused by his surroundings.
A bright, colorful place. Plants he’d never seen, animals he’d never seen, and a warm, salty scent tickling at his nose.
The ocean? He recalled they were near the ocean, but somehow, this feeling was different. Warmer, softer, nostalgic. The breeze that swept through the tropical trees carried a familiar scent. Soft colored buildings reflected in his narrowed vision, somehow ethereal and mysterious.
A faint voice reached his ears, both near and far. The words were inaudible, and yet, Eon felt as though his name were being called. He turned towards the sound, recognizing the form before him as a person, however, he couldn’t seem to make them out...But he knew this person. They were speaking to him, even if the words didn’t reach his ears.
A glimpse of vibrant, red hair swaying in the wind. That’s what he recalled the most as the dream-like visions receded, ebbing away bit by bit.
And then it was gone.
Two-toned eyes opened to see a gray sky above, morning frost clinging to the tall grass around him, stiff and straight from the cold, but Eon didn’t feel the same chill.
He felt rather warm, actually, and he had the strangest inkling that eyes were on him, so he looked down.
At first, Eon thought it might have been snow, but he soon realized that white fluff belonged to Max, who was fit snugly in his arms, staring up at him.
Or rather, it was safer to say that Eon simply hadn’t let him go.
“...If you’re awake, can you finally let me go now?”
“...Ah.” Eon released Max, letting him get up before Eon sat up himself. He was a bit shocked that Max stayed that way throughout the evening.
“...Because you were clinging so much, I couldn’t get away even if I wanted to.” Max answered, as though guessing what Eon was thinking within that moment.
If Eon looked closely, he could make out the slightest tinge of pink underneath the white fur of Max’s ears. Whether from embarrassment, or the cold, he didn’t know.
From there, Eon simply waited as Max spent some time grooming himself. He always did this in the morning, starting with the tops of his ears, to the tip of his tail. It was rather curious to watch, really, even though Eon never really understood this strange, animal-like behavior. Max was a person, but at times, he seemed more likened to an actual animal. Was this an instinctual behavior? Or was it just Max??
Regardless, Eon wasn’t in any rush, letting Max groom himself to his heart’s content before the two would pack up and resume their travels.
It wouldn’t be long at all before they would be nearing their destination, ascending a large, grassy hill, the sky spanning out above, before eventually meeting glittering, azure waters in the distance.
A massive city spanned out along the entirety of the coast down below, rivaling the Capital in size.
“...Wow.” Max couldn’t bite back his awe at the sight below. There were so many buildings and ships scattered across the waters...It put the Farronian Port to shame. It couldn’t even compare to this.
“...Never been to a city like this before?” Eon questioned, surprised with Max’s open amazement. His reaction wasn’t nearly the same when he stepped foot in Vars for the first time.
“...Ah...Not a port city like this. Ours is pretty small, and people don’t cross the ocean much at all.” Max admitted, his gaze glued to the widespread city.
Eon...Really didn’t want to burst Max’s bubble. Rather, given the chance, he’d have liked the opportunity to give him a grand tour himself, but Eon knew things weren’t going to be as pretty as Max likely hoped. Sahrim was hardly as glamorous as it looked...For people like them, anyhow. For Humans, it was surely paradise. Despite being so far away from the Capital, no Demon dared step foot within this city.
“...Well, let’s go, shall we?” Eon suggested before the two began descending the hill, and towards the city below.
As they got closer, there didn’t seem to be a distinction between outside, and the city within. In an instant, they were already in the middle of clamorous chaos.
Street kiosks, performers, and various business’ lined every corner of the bustling city. Tall, multi-story homes, made of either wood or stone, fine, cobblestone or dirt paths circling and winding. There were even dark, sketchy alleyways cut between the tall buildings, occasional vagrants lounging within them, beckoning to those who passed by in an attempt to draw attention.
There was far more energy charging the air here, and Max’s fur swelled out in response. Neither good, nor bad, and he felt stares from every direction. Not all were aggressive, some were of confusion, others of envy and greed.
As they continued going further into the depths of the wide city, they drew closer to the docks, filled to the brim with both ships, and various fish merchants. That salty smell hung in the air heavily as the chilly, sea breeze swept inland.
Max dared to glance around in curiosity, noticing a small commotion along one of the empty docks.
A gathering of people, noisily murmuring among themselves as they crowded around something, or perhaps someone. He wondered what it could have been, but Max didn’t move, looking up at Eon, whose attention had also fallen onto the gathering, looking as though his gears were turning...And then, something seemed to click.
“...Stay close.” He hissed under his breath, visibly tense. Regardless of that, though, rather than walking away from the commotion, Eon made his way towards it. He pushed his way through with Max tailing close behind, getting little more than slight, annoyed looks from the others. They were generally disregarded. They were far too preoccupied by whatever spectacle laid just ahead.
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