"Mhm? Eirian, is everything okay?" Azrael tilted his head to the side a bit as he tucked a strand of his hair behind his ear, stunning Eirian a bit.
'He really is acting like nothing happened to him. Why? He is even asking me if I'm okay.'
Eirian let out a sigh. "I am fine, your imperial highness. As for your previous question, I was on my way to the library to...study." He hesitated for a moment as he thought of a lie on the spot, but Azrael seemed to believe him considering his expression did not change negatively.
More or less, the young prince seemed amazed.
"You study even on Restdays? You're quite diligent." Azrael praised him effortlessly, which took Eirian back a bit but not enough to shake his composure.
"You're too kind, your imperial highness."
"You can just call me Azrael."
"I'd...rather not." Eirian said honestly, which, for a moment, seemed to disappoint Azrael but maybe Eirian's eyes were just playing tricks on him due to the events that unfolded in front of him earlier.
Azrael let out a soft laugh. "Alright. Well, since you're here. I want to update you regarding the plan to get you a sword." He says as he placed both of his hands behind him. "I asked Adham, my student servant, to request for me to take a quick leave next Loreday, and if you're wondering how I'm going to even get the sword or how I know where I'm gonna go."
'He is...'
"I plan on finding a map of the Aurora glade this week to help me figure out where I could find spirits that can forge weapons, as well as do my research...though it might be hard to find credible information about them since it's not common knowledge."
'...rambling.'
Though it was obvious since the night they spoke and came to an agreement that Azrael was prepared for any question that Eirian could have, the way he is explaining now was different from how he did before.
First of all, Azrael did not let Eirian speak at all; he just continued to speak and answer questions that Eirian never even thought to ask.
"I'm actually a bit nervous because usually forging weapons involves payment, right? I do have a lot of gold because, well, I'm a prince. We're all princes; that's why we live in Celestial summit. Haha. But I'm not sure if spirits take money?"
Second, the more Azrael spoke, the more Eirian noticed that he did seem off. His face was smiling, but his eyes were tired. It was similar to how Eirian's father always looked after managing a difficult affair that was probably related to him.
He would smile as to not worry Eirian, but all his actions and the look in his eyes showed exhaustion.
"Hmm. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. You do not have to worry at all, Eirian! I have it all covered, and once I manage to give you a sword, we can talk about the next phase of our plan."
'What's the point of pretending, though? My father, I could understand. He cares about me, he knows I will worry. Based on what I saw earlier, he does not pretend or conceal his real feelings. Why pretend with me?'
And now, he was curious about more and more things related to Azrael.
It was like Azrael was a never-ending question. The more you speak to him, hoping for answers, the more you just keep wanting to ask.
"Anyways, I will make sure our collaboration will be a success and—"
"Your imperial highness." Without thinking, Eirian calls out, making Azrael stop himself from rambling about his plan then looks up at Eirian.
"Yes?" Azrael asked, his pink eyes bore holes in Eirian as he was staring intently.
'Are you alright?'
That was what Eirian wanted to ask but for some reason, he voiced out a different question instead. "You mentioned that this was a collaboration but most of your plan only involves you doing something to help me. Don't I need to do anything as well?"
Despite the fact that Eirian felt mildly infuriated with himself for not asking the question he originally wanted to ask, he was still interested in finding out how the young prince would respond to what he said.
Because Eirian had been quite curious about his own role in Azrael's grand scheme.
"Ah." Azrael seemed to be deep in thought, as if he never expected Eirian to ask him that. Well, normally Eirian would not.
As kind as he was, Eirian was not open to 'collaborating' with anyone. Originally, when he agreed to Azrael's plans, he didn't have any thoughts of participating, considering it was the young prince's offer.
Why should he do anything?
He already tried all his life to change how things went for him and he failed; why should he disappoint himself further?
Eirian doesn't know why he is trying now, and he doesn't want to know the answer yet. He'll think about it when he needs to.
At the moment, the thing plaguing his mind is that the moment he showed any signs of willingness, it seemed to break Azrael's mask a tad bit.
Azrael, who acted as if he was fine, now showed hints of frustration. Eirian was not sure why. All he was certain about is that Azrael's frustrations weren't directed towards him. In his eyes, Azrael's frustrations seemed to be directed towards himself.
The young prince would open his mouth to speak but then close it immediately, his finger made its way to a piece of his hair and twirled it as he thought to himself intently. All Eirian could do is watch Azrael and wait for his response.
It was obvious that Azrael did, in fact, need help with something but was debating whether or not he should say it. Eirian decided to wait patiently and not pressure the young prince to answer because he already looked drained.
With what originally was a leisure stroll suddenly became a nightmare for Azrael. Eirian could not help but think about it as well, though. Everything that transpired, except the Aquarise twins because that was settled almost immediately.
And they never did seem like the type to submit easily, except of course to people like Valerian and Caelum, or even their eldest brother whose name Eirian forgot.
The guidance counselor and Valerian were what Eirian couldn't stop thinking about. Even when the Aquarise twins almost attacked him, Azrael felt more bothered by his conversations with his brother and the guidance counselor. One would wonder why.
The guidance counselor and Valerian were also strange.
They both had so much contempt in their eyes, as if Azrael's existence was an eyesore. Eirian was an only child, but he knew from observing others that most siblings got along, unless it was a situation where the younger sibling or older sibling was born out of wedlock, like Caspian Aquarise.
Valerian and Azrael were like younger versions of their parents; he didn't have to ask to know that they were both legitimate children. Valerian was the mirror image of the emperor except with pink eyes instead of purple, while Azrael was just the male version of the empress, yet he still kept even her femininity in looks. If Azrael had not confirmed that he was a male the first time they spoke, Eirian would have continued to think that he was a lost princess.
Wait.
What was he thinking about right now?
Eirian shook his thoughts away as he completely deviated from his original thoughts.
"Uhm. Actually..."
His eyes snapped up when he suddenly heard Azrael speak, finally ready to answer Eirian's question. "I do need help with something but...it's quite strange."
'Strange?'
"Tell me. I will be the judge." Eirian answered calmly as he was curious as to what strange thing Azrael needed help with.
Azrael turns his head a bit nervously as he pulled onto the hair he has been playing with for the past minute. Something about how the young prince was acting also made Eirian feel a bit uneasy because what kind of request was making him act that way?
It was certainly embarrassing or odd if he was acting this reluctant to say it.
Still, he wanted to hear Azrael out, so he did his best to patiently wait for the young prince to say something again.
Fortunately for Eirian, this time it did not take long. With a gentle tone, speaking quite slowly, Azrael said. "Do you happen to know how one can access their magical core? I know...that you aren't able to use your magical abilities right now, and I really did not want to offend you by asking you this, but if you do know how. I would like to ask for you to teach me now. It's a strange request, and I can't explain why I don't know how, and I understand if you want to say n—"
"Alright. I will teach you."
That was it? That was the request that made Azrael hesitate for a long time? It was hardly odd or even embarrassing. Most people do not learn how to access their magical core until they enroll in the academy, and even then, nobles can easily get in using just their status.
How else could Eirian have enrolled in a magical course with no magical talents?
Sure, it was surprising that Azrael did not know how, considering his aura earlier, but who was he to question it? Out of every single detail about the young prince, not being able to summon his magical core is hardly the strangest thing about him.
Yet Azrael still seemed genuinely shocked when Eirian agreed and not even question him. "Meet me in my room again tonight, same as last time."
"O-Okay then. Great!" Azrael's face twisted from shock to happy within seconds, his eyes still tired yet relieved. He definitely did not expect Eirian's reaction, and Eirian himself thought he agreed too quickly.
'But then again...'
Eirian stared at Azrael who was immersed in his own thoughts again as he smiled in joy, his heart beating loudly against his chest.
'Who could really say no to his face?'