Maybe he should have insisted on refusing the prince, Euth thought to himself, closing his eyes as he fell into a light midday slumber.

–

“Light midday slumber” my ass. The healer thought to himself, rushing through the halls of the kingdom, trying his best not to knock anyone over lest he has a death wish. He had promised to meet with the prince around noon, yet currently it’s a little over the afternoon, the sun had just moved from its highest point. 

Euth didn’t know why or how he overslept, only feeling a deep fatigue enveloping his body. A plausible reason is that he overexerted himself a few days ago in Cyra’s bar, yet it doesn’t matter now as he was more than late to the meeting. He had sworn that he woke up right at noon yet, with all the misfortune in the world, he fell asleep again.

Euth curses his luck as he bursts into the royal sanctuary, pushing the grand door open with his shoulder. He winces as he nearly loses his balance, looking over at all the eyes that are on him. Euth could see Sirius and two other people, one of them had long dark hair, long enough that it reached the floor of the sanctuary, their horns grew from their head, and their skin was as pale as the finest porcelain. If Euth had to describe such a sight, the words serenity would come to mind. 

Yet his face sours when looking over at the other person. 

“You!” The person pointed at him, his dark blue eyes pierced right through Euth’s soul. “I know you! Ha, did you come here for a rematch?” 

Euth could feel his anger slowly rising from the provocation, he turned his head to the prince, yet Sirius only responded with a shrug and a snarky laughter. 

“Have you two met before? Well, I guess this would make things much easier wouldn’t it.” Sirius laid back in his chair, sipping a cup of herbal tea while the stacks of papers blocked Euth’s face from his perspective. “Euth, I didn’t know you had a connection with the general warrior of Tyleth, I wonder how you met him?” Sirius continues to tease. 

“I do not!” Euth snaps at Sirius, before realising what he has done. He clears his throat and straightens his posture, walking towards the group and sitting down on the seat. “Apologies, your highness, I don’t want to speak about or to him.” The healer turns his glare at Kaslien. 

“Hah?! Are you still sour about your loss? Is that what you’re saying?” Kaslien asked, a mocking laughter burst out of his mouth. “You’re a sore loser, do you know that?” 

Euth could feel that if he was not in front of the prince at this current moment, he would’ve sent the latter flying out of the sanctuary. He ignores the man’s words, accepting defeat for the time being as he recalls his master’s words about anger management, repeating all the advice and experience in his head. The healer could only sigh in frustration, leaning back into his seat, wanting to ignore the provocations. 

“Kaslien.” The person besides him speaks, the androgynous voice is gentle yet firm in their scolding. “We shouldn’t offend the hosts, as we are their guests. It is thanks to Prince Sirius’s offer that we found a probable way to solve the excessive corruption and strengthen our bonds.” 

The words seemed to shut Kaslien down, cooling the tense atmosphere. The person, who Euth assumed to be the sovereign of Thyleth, gave the healer a warm smile, apologising on behalf of Kaslien’s actions before turning to the prince. 

“Prince Sirius.” The person calls out to the amused Sirius. “Did I bring the right person for your plan?” They ask, giving Sirius a knowing gaze. 

“Master Titania, perhaps I should ask you such a question.” Sirius chuckles. “This project of mine… could solve many problems within our kingdoms, yet you’ve told me you were sceptical of some points, no?” 

Titania nods, their gaze turns to Euth and Kaslien, assessing the both of them. 

“It’s just that, I have never expected your healer to be such a gentle-looking person, with the rumours about his personality and all.” Titania turns their attention to Euth. “But from the looks of it, I must have made a mistake in my judgement. I don’t doubt the success of your vision.”

Euth could feel himself getting irritated, though the person’s words weren’t exactly false, he had a few gripes about being described as gentle. The healer doesn’t even know what the latter had implied with those words! He wanted to return the gaze, glaring right at Titania, yet he had to calm himself down, forcing his glare to go on Kaslien instead. 

Kaslien seemed to notice the action, making an unpleasant face at Euth as both rulers discussed more about the project. Euth and Kaslien continue to glare at each other, a mutual dislike grew. The staring match continued on until the prince clears his throat, getting the attention of both parties. 

“Well, what are your thoughts about the plan, Euth?” Sirius asks, though Euth couldn’t answer his question. Such a reaction from the healer had caused the prince to sigh into his hand, he had expected at least half of Euth’s attention, yet from the looks of it, the healer had instead focused his attention towards Kaslien. 

“Euth, did you hear what I said?” Sirius asks. 

“If I did, I would’ve answered you.” The healer responds, getting an odd stare from the prince. 

“Right then… If you could focus your attention on me, that would be great.” Sirius shakes his head in disapproval as he explains the plan once more, from the time span to the objectives. There were a couple times Euth would disagree with the prince, sometimes outright objecting the decision, which would incite a reply from Kaslien, leading the both of them (and only them) to argue. 

Such a thing goes on for what seems like forever, with most of the group’s discussion being a bickering squabble between the two of them. Sirius could feel his life span being shaved away as he listens to the verbal fight, though he has no regrets with this project, he’s more than aware that they might encounter a few hiccups along the way.

The plan was simple, both Euth and Kaslien would be sent down to figure out a way to deal with the excessive corruption; they’re there to buy time while Sirius and Titania find the source of such corruption. Yet mid-way, Kaslien brought up about his displeasure working with an obnoxious bastard, which Euth seemed to agree with. At least they have one thing in common.

The prince looked over at Titania and shrugs, getting a slight chuckle from the latter. Both of them seemed to find amusement in their arguments. Euth wanted to file a complaint to the King about the Prince’s recent interests, if he’s being honest, or this project if he could! But he won’t, aware of the fact that everything Sirius does is for the betterment of this world (maybe), hence why he won’t go against Sirius’s desires, even if it means being partnered up with an absolute irritating buffoon. 

–

“Can you not snoop around my office?!” Euth grabs the book out of Kaslien’s hands, glaring at him with annoyance. “Just because the prince allows you access to all parts of the kingdom, it doesn’t mean you’re allowed in my office.” 

“Why not?!” Kaslien argued, pulling out a scroll out of the bookshelf, dodging the healer’s attempt at taking it away from him. Kaslien scoffs in mockery, opening the scroll as his body continues to dance around Euth’s movements. 

“Because it’s my office!” 

Euth lunges forward, tackling Kaslien with his body weight, taking the latter off guard as they stumbled onto the floor. Kaslien’s instinct seemed to kick in at that moment, flipping Euth over while covering the healer’s head to prevent it from impact. He sighs, looking down at the healer to make sure there are no injuries, even if the fall was a trivial matter. 

“I guess you’re right.” Kaslien sighs, making an unpleasant expression as he checks on the healer. A sense of regret flashed across his expression, yet it was too quick for Euth to notice. “I’m assuming you have some really important information you don’t want me to know, don’t you?” 

“Get off of me.” Euth pushes Kaslien off, not particularly gentle, as he sits down on the floor, rolling up the scroll while dusting his clothes. “I know the prince wanted us to get used to each other’s presence, but I prefer if we keep minimal contact.” 

“Why?” Kaslien asks. 

“Because I hate men.” Euth retorts, getting off the floor.

“...” 

Kaslien seemed to have a difficult expression on his face as he watches Euth sitting on his desk, putting the scroll on the pile. The man didn’t know what to say or how to react to such a statement, only staying silent, letting the awkwardness permeate in the room, preferring to stay in place. 

The peace goes on for quite a while… which was quite enjoyable for Euth as he pulls out some of the study material that he has been preparing for his students. Even though he was considered a battle healer, the prince had seen another potential within him (though he’s not sure if the prince is doing this out of pity or amusement). Said potential was lecturing students, with matters regarding medicine, regenerative healing and cleansing, though in reality, Euth has little to no experience in medicine… nor cleansing.

He scribbled down more notes, letting the ink run wild, while his eyes periodically turned to Kaslien once or twice. He has to make sure that the rascal wouldn’t cause him any trouble in the future, or the present. The healer could feel Kaslien’s gaze boring into his soul, eerily so, as this momentum continues. 

But Kaslien just kept staring. Those dark eyes follow the path of his hands, looking at the expression of his face and even the way his hair falls down his face. It was a mixed look of interest and caution, along with hints of pity, which struck a nerve within Euth. 

“Can you stop staring?” Euth turns his head towards Kaslien, setting down his quill as he finishes another paper. “If you have nothing to do, then read a book or something. Any book from the first to the third row is fine, while the fourth to the sixth are my notes, anything beyond that is forbidden for a stranger like you.” 

“Right, sorry.” Kaslien says, though Euth does not know why he apologised, only brushing it off as a one time thing. 

The silence goes on, with Euth now staring back at Kaslien’s back. The healer had noticed it for a while, but Kaslien’s toned back could easily be seen through the sleeveless shirt that he wears, the way his muscles would flex with each movement, such a simple thing captured Euth’s attention. He didn’t know how or why he’s thinking of such a thing at the current moment, maybe due to all the stress that has been building up. 

Euth shakes his head, a ringing from the wooden box snapped him out of his trance. 

“What noise is that?” Kaslien turns his attention to Euth, walking over to his desk with a book in his hand. 

“It’s none of your business.” Euth shoos him away, opening the wooden box to see the ringing device. “I’m going to need you to get out of my office, now.” He tells Kaslien, yet to no surprise, the latter didn’t move from his spot. Such an action struck a nerve within Euth, yet he couldn’t do much about it. 

“What even is that?”

Kaslien’s question had Euth sweating, searching for an appropriate response as the ringing dies down. The communication device stays silent in Euth’s hand before activating once more, not as ringing but a holographic like screen, popping out of the device and in between the healer and Kaslien. 

“This is none of your business.” Euth shuts down Kaslien’s question, reading the sentences that appeared on the holograph-like panel. The healer could feel his eyes shine with excitement from the content of its message, as the device seems to work as intended (of course, since his master is the greatest inventor). 

Kaslien watches such a scene play out in confusion, not being able to read the words that appeared on the panel, as if the words aren’t written in any standard language. But from the looks of it, the words seemed to put a smile on the healer’s face, even Kaslien notices the way his eyes glimmered, filled with hope. 

“Can you just tell me the content of the message? I promise I won’t act out of line.” Kaslien rolls his eyes backward with the way the healer glared at him, putting the device back in the wooden box. 

“I’m planning to go up north tomorrow.” Euth says, finally clearing out his desk for the day, as he returns his gaze towards Kaslien. The healer tries his best to hide his excitement from the news, thinking of ways to tell the prince about his departure wouldn't be the hardest thing in the world, and getting away from Kaslien for a few days might do him some damn good. 

“Alone?” Kaslien raised an eyebrow. 

“I would rather kill myself than bring you with me.”