Well the day passed with not much else to speak on that is true you did get to see the crew all in anguish and pain...Yes self inflicted through one of their roles as royalty but still they are drained and done with parchment...Still makes no sense to me how you get tired of parchment but hey ho some people are pitiful...Oh yes the stress of royalty, something most don't even consider a shame really. If the lower classes understood the world and the lords and ladies felt the harsh winters maybe things would be different. But this is a pipe dream. A concept that sounds nice but impossible to achieve. Name a lord that would toil away at the land or find me a peasant that can negotiate a peace treaty, you cannot Never going to be able to for the Lord is above the dirt and the peasant cannot wield a pen. But these False Heroes are some of the closest examples of what I explained and the tools are already great in the minds of our protagonist of this grand play.
A day had passed since the play had been cast and the wedding preparations had begun, We see Kyu waking up feeling light and warm, the comfort of the sheets and bed itself seemed to enveloping him as his eyes started to close again before a voice was whispered into his ear,
''Mourning pretty bird...Stay in bed for now because when you leave that is when we have to plan the weddings all day again...You'd like a break correct?''
"Umm I guess we could stay in bed a while."
"Oh Kyu! You are the sweetest little thing aren't you."
Baarias said, hugging tightly into the angels sides while stroking his hair, enjoying the soft radiance he realesed with every breath. Almost wishing it could last forever.
Bee woke up face down on a soft pillow slightly wettened from his drool in his sleep. Rolling to his side to see the back of Gura's head, hearing her soft breath as her chest ascended and descended slowly. Looking around he saw his hammers and clothing, Getting out of bed and over to his equipment before dressing himself preparing to leave as Gura spoke.
"Oh so you think you can just walk out after are little tussle hmm?''
The demon smiled before he continued outing on his gear before he spoke,
''Well I won so ya know...Got to go to work again.''
He turned to place his Warhammer on his back only to feel Gura's arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer and whispering in his ear,
''Oh? Round two begins then.''
Her arms grip became tight around the dwarfs neck as he was pulled back and his clothes flew back into the corner after his weapons.
Orelia woke up but did not open her eyes, feeling a familiar warmth that she now loved knowing it was the back of her fiance releasing this was now her life and that made the elf smile with glee and let out a small chuckle as she moved into a ball and wrapped her hands around the man, feeling the beat of his heart slowly turn over and smiling even more as she felt his hand grab hers as he turned to face her,
His eyes of violet and green still barely visible with his eyes still half shut, his usually kept overflowing undercut now frazzled and making the shaven side seem to not be there, yawning though a smile before making the noise of a new-born child looking at the stars and realising what they are for the first time to Orelia's amusement,
''Don't make that noise, I don't want to look at you like a kid ya know''
Mathis laughed while stretching his arm over his head as usual before coming in to squeeze her close as the room went silent once more before she looked into his eyes and pressed her lips slowly into his, more force and speed being used with every rotation before Mathis pulled his head back and spoke soft but grizzled,
''You know we could just stay here and avoid the wedding stuff you know''
''Oh? You want to let Baarias plan it all then?''
The sarcasm in her voice made the wood elf turn to his back while still smiling and turning his head back to her,
''Yeah yeah I get it...Let's get up then''
The two leaned in to have one more kiss but it was interrupted by a large bang down the hallway.
Baarias ran through the door with Kyu wrapped by the neck under her arm like a snake starting to coil around it's dinner making the pale white of his skin turn slightly blue before she noticed and dropped the angel in shock, recomposing herself,
"Oh my darling! Oh you two!''
The two were sitting in the bed with Orelia wrapped around Mathis's neck and the wood elf grabbing the chain by his bed before his sister's look turned from fear to envy looking at her still blue fiancé before she looked back and spoke,
''Well...Should we leave you two alone for five min...no the explosion!''
Mathis put the chain back before he sighed,
''Really Baarias? All the noise for nothing? What of the boom?''
''It came from your lab!''
Mathis realised quick and opened his eyes and moved quicker than anyone could see making a gale of wind blow through before they looked by the door and saw a fully dressed Mathis who turned back to Orelia,
''The chain please!''
She grabbed and threw the bladed chain as the prince turned to walk out the door and catching the dagger's end with his arm only in the door frame by inches making everyone stare in confusion before Orelia realised and shouted loud,
''Wilt!''
She got up and proceeded to get her robes back over her head while moving to the door and bumping into Baarias who helped her out the door while still dragging the fallen one by the hair out the door.
Mathis frantically busted into the lab seeing the damage done, The dragon was fine and unharmed. Looking around seeing shattered beakers along with the subtle remnants of smoke and vapour littered the air with the goblin sitting in the middle of this scene, face down with a green smoke rising around, Mathis clapped his hands as a strong wind blew the smoke out through the roof's vents before running straight past Wilt, rushing to the parchment to his relief they were unharmed by the reaction of chemicals, seeing they were fine as there strong leather casing and cloth had managed to resist the blast. Mathis moved to the corner desk, pushing it aside revealing a small safe under it with stitches popping from the ground and taking the book, placing his oozing hand over the seal. It opened with a small glow of light coming out as he placed the book inside before becoming one with the floor's shadows as Mathis turned back to Wilt with eyes of fury.
"What the infinite hell's happened in here? I was gone for less than a day and you almost made my work go poof! Up in flames...What in Daedalus sake were you even attempting?"
Wilt was in a state between awake and asleep as the loud voice broke from his stupor, realising what had happened as he looked to Mathis, his eyes puffy and red from the exposure of gases,
''I had just finished the last of the fair princess requests...only to find a random recipe. It said untested and it looked fine to me so I tried to make the smoke for the play.''
Mathis looked down to the goblin with scorn in his eyes as he spoke as sharp as a blade,
"What did you make...Did you think untested just meant anyone could make it? So tell me what you tried to make already in case there's any residual effects.''
The goblin pointed to a piece of parchment that was on the floor near the desk after the gale that blew the smoke away, Mathis picked it up and turned back to Wilt with the anger only seeming to increase with his bright violet eye shining and his deep forest green now adding a sharp contrast,
''Oh now I get it...You thought because of the great adventure you could just make a potion from our lands? No. I'll tell you now this is a reserve potion made for Ki, Just shoving your arcane reserve in there made the damn thing melt...Well I guess the great master of 'reversal' magic just really went up in smoke.''
Wilt shook his head as his eyes opened fully now and looked at the prince, not caring about the goblin as he dusted off the recipe and moved to Wilt, offering him a hand up as the rest of the crew could be heard coming down the stairs before popping around the corner all at once and falling on their faces, looking up to see Wilt and Mathis now bellowing out laughter and joining them on the floor, rolling with tears running down their eyes as Baarias stood wiping the dirt and soot of her robes before she spoke,
''So you made the smoke? Green and Violet remember!''
Wilt looked up to her looming form responding.
"Yeah I did say I finished what you commissioned didn't I."
Wilt said as he grabbed a washcloth on the side to wipe down his blackened face, the princess commanded her subjects for the day's activities and events.
"Well if that's done, meet our family friend stitches he will guide you through your tasks also Wilt don't touch anything you don't know what is. Can't have any accidents happening now can we."
Baarias said, enforcing the last words with venom in her tone as if some had walked on her grave before she turned to the rest of the group, beckoning them to follow as she ascended the stairs with grace dragging her fallen angel along with her.
The crew made there way out before Mathis turned back to Wilt,
''Please don't destroy my lab...Please.''
''Shouldn't you be worried about the tall, dark and creepy fuck over there?''
''Oh Stitches? He will live even if this place collapsed in on itself so try not to piss him off got it?''
Wilt rolled his eyes and did a sarcastic bow towards him,
''Aye of course ya highness...Please let me actually get on with my work.''
Mathis smiled as he followed the rest up out of the lab and made their way to see the progress on the stage.
As they entered the banquet hall they saw the progress of the commoners and was pleased at the newly transformed room now looking like a theatres main hall, the roof covered with a beautiful cloud of mystic colours swirling above making Baarias smile, now walking over to a young human girl whose hands were emanating a pale yellow,
'' Oh that is looking wonderful! Remember to keep your arms stretched out to keep the blood flowing!''
The young girl smiled and bowed at her as spoke,
''Thank you master, Is there any background you would like to see as a demonstration?''
''Ah yes!! Show Recocto before father arrived please.''
Her voice seemed to die out near the end making Kyu tilt his head in confusion but the girl bowed once more and did what she was asked, hands swirling faster and rotating the cloud that now started sinking down from multiple strands, some thick and some skinny but all meeting on the back wall as the dark outline started merging with the rainbow of mystic colours and spreading out, taking shades of black and grey showing a shell of what the kingdom stood as today, The centre of town was all that stood and even that looked like it had not been touched in era's, Windowless and shattered wood lining the cracked cobblestone. The crew all looked in confusion before the door flung open with Gura and Bee walking in and coming to the party, Bee hand waving as he approached with a smile on his face,
''What the hell is that? Feel like we could take that in a hour!''
Gura smacked her fiancé on the back of the head before she barked at him,
''Don't be an idiot! That is Recocto before our father remade it...Every time I see this I realise how much work he did...Became a great warrior…''
Baarias's voice was still breaking as she spoke,
''...A master with experimentation....''
''Also the one you forgot...A great father.''
The crew turned back to see Jericho now standing behind them and putting his hand on Gura's shoulder before moving to hug Baarias who let out a small sniffle before placing her vibrant smile back on her face.
"Now let us begin everyone to their places. We have rehearsals to do."
Everyone got into their places as the servants passed props and scripts to everyone while Baarias led the casters to the spots before she raised her hands speaking and incantation.
"Mists of Rococto, Vail this beauty, for the people are not ready to see it. Under the grace of are Serpent of the Gale and his children of the elements. I ask for this favour."
As mists seemed to emerge from the bricks and mortar Baarias conducted her hands, shaping it to her will, walling off the area in a thick wisps of vapour wrapped around the edges of the walls and extended into the skies, everyone seemed to be in their correct places as Baarias spoke allowed,
"I can keep this spell going for a couple hours. Make the most of the time you have."
The princess said before looking over to Kyu, smiling at him being dressed in paladin styled armor, walking over and hugging him tightly before whispering into his ear,
"You will do great, you are my shining knight after all."
Mathis scoffed as he looked over to his sister and the knight beside her.
"Keep ya mouth shut. There are no paladins in Rococto for a reason you know that right. And Kyu...after this is over you want to go out back into the fields for a bit. I can show you the reason.. if you'd like."
Mathis said his voice slightly unhinged, his eyes twitching at the sight. Before Baarias tutted responding while groping her angel.
"Get over your little phobia. When was the last time you even saw a paladin Mathis."
The princes eyes seemed to widen while the twitch started to intensify before his cracking voice broke through,
''Do you really even need to ask that? Why would the time I last did some charity for this world be important? Your fiancé would agree to purging hierarchy correct birdie?''
"Well if they worship the wrong god it is clearly justice being served.".
Mathis seemed to calm at the comment before saying back to the fallen.
"Well we can agree on that at the very least. Right Baarias?"
Mathis said looking directly into her eyes, smirking slightly knowing he won this little scuffle before he returned to the script he has read though at least one hundred times in his life.
Baarias walked away muttering under her breath as the first rehearsal began with smoke and illusions setting the stage and the princess taking her place.
The lights were gone and only the shine from the magical cloud was left, reshaping the wall from the broken kingdom that was left before Recocto into a very ornate but seedy looking establishment with a overlooking balcony, filled with seats above a bar and fight ring in the middle as Baarias began to shout,
''Okay!! So the first scene is when father meets with his adventuring party and is given the task of taking back the isles! I'm needed in this one as I will be playing Arthus! Also with Yyvone who's playing Arla, Bee who is playing Tocs, My sweet birdie who plays Alexander and Jericho who will play father! We need to extras that are playing bar staff and fighters to come forward as well please!''
Everyone proceeded to get into their places all in costumes as Baarias approached them squealing!!
''Yyvone you look adorable!!''
The girl was no longer dressed like her brother but in a over flowing robe of patched forest green and a staff of elder oak wood that looked to be sharpened at one point, the girl blushed but looked away acting as if the complement fell on deaf ears before the elder ruffled her hair before turning to look over Bee and Jericho.
the former wearing what looked like a mix between a traveller and a high class waiter with a long draping coat of fine cloth while the later was draped in a musky orange Gi that had embedded stones with runes carved upon them in a symmetrical pattern flowing around the chest and arms of it underneath a chain wrapped around his right arm while his left hand held a Uche katana with three separate engravings from the hilt to the stem of the blade, Jericho looking rather proud as he wore the costume looking like a monk of the third age making him puff out his chest only to hear smirks from his sister before he spoke,
''I don't know why your laughing?! I look the image of father only with better hair!!''
This statement made all the royals in the room laugh until the elder stomped the ground and shouted,
''Well what are we waiting for?! Father fights the sorcerer Tocs in his first fight so come here Bee!''
The demon was still staring at his cloths with disdain before being pushed by his fiancé and looking up at Jericho,
''I look like some fancy asshole! Why would any respectable dwarf wear this?''
Mathis laughed and looked up from the script to speak with a sarcastic smile on his face,
''Then it makes sense for you to play him right?''
Bee looked angered by this but Kyu moved in and placed his hand across his chest and spoke,
''He only speaks the truth though why are you mad?''
Bee looked at Kyu with pity as he knew the bird meant well..
''Ok Kyu I'll play the part i better get something good out of it though''
Kyu seemed confused by the comment
''Umm you get a gold sticker towards on the chart, get five and you get a treat...Ask Gura its a girl thing i think.''
''Kyu...that's...Umm...you know what not today...Tell Mathis about that if I were you''
The demon moved towards the stage to see Jericho take the centre stage and clear his voice before booming out his statement,
''Listen well! As there is no one leader right now until after the play is complete, I Jericho D. Price will be acting as the king until elections...I presume that none of my sisters or my brother will have any problem with this correct?''
The rest of his family were already on one knee and bowing as they spoke in complete unison and with no emotion in their voices,
''All hail the new king.''
''Wait, I'm not becoming the king permanently!! We will hold royal elections the day after the play so around now would be the time to start announcing it to the people so they can choose...Anyway''
He turned back to the commoners all bowing after his speech,''
''Anyway, people of Recocto, The men and women who make this land the shining lining in the clouds that it is! All royals through blood or marriage will be eligible but we must ask you not use your vote on the first born! He would appreciate it if he was not pulled from his quest so early on...But all the others and their respective partners are eligible! Now then we have two days before production so let us begin!''
The crowd erupted as they got to work and the days bleed into one another, showing us the signs of progression with everyone in their respective roles, The main crew becoming more and more fluid with there movement and eloquence, Wilt and Stitches working away making clouds of brilliant colours encapsulating all shades of the spectrum and the extras toiling away with prop swords and shields sweating hard in the air mixed with wedding preparations from all included seeming to get easier every hour until finally the sun of the day the play will be shown arrived and the start of the task begins.
Well it seems that the group have been able to handle the power that comes along with royalty albeit with a helping hand from the royals themselves but alas they have only scratched the surface of responsibility and with that will come, power not just of the arcane or Ki, no more than that the faith of their people along with the destinies of generations to come. Will these proud princely False Heroes ascend to the great stars above? Or fall forever in the mists of time, who knows not I for I dare not impact the threads of fate for that is not my domain but many have and many will just the way of the world. Now let's get to this play. It better be accurate. There are plenty of accounts of that event. I don't care if propaganda is half the point. I worked hard on those reports…. But yeah I guess we should return as the day of the play has arrived.