"Attor, why are you constantly looming behind me?" I ask, turning around to face him. Just to find him merely inches away from my face.
Yet he lets out a smirk wide enough to where his fang pops out when he responds. "You have an interesting scent, is all." Before petting my head just between the horns.
'Odd' is the only word that crosses my mind as I back away from his touch. He's more physically affectionate than ever. It makes me wonder...
"How long have you lived in this world, Attor?"
Attor raises a brow as he dives into his thoughts. "About....10 years? It was a very short time period so I'm not even sure myself since this world has no technology or calendar."
"This world does have a calendar. Although different from the one you're used to, it functions the same way." Ezephyr explains. "By the by. How is it you are still alive? I thought that the Dragon Act ensured Dragons of various regions, no matter the blood quantity, to cease living amongst the inhabitants of Ehert, so as the Immortal Queen's blood reigns supreme?
A good question in which I gave no thought to. After all, I do not have basic history knowledge. Could have been avoided only if I were allowed access to that library. Maybe none of this would have happened. None of our arguing about who should climb the tree to spot the nearest village or spook a little kid into telling us info.
Back to the main topic; I do recall hearing such an act when I first arrived to this world. And I was atop a Dragon too. I never questioned it because I was new and clueless. But now it's piecing together. History and forbidden from entering the library. There's more to this world's history than I could ever fathom. It made my problems feel miniscule, but at the same time it made the nerdy Art eager for more.
Attor suddenly laughs and laughs. Breathless wheezes until he wipes away a tear with a sigh of relief. "I don't know." Is all he says.
"...."
Both Ezephyr and I gape open our mouths like Mama bird was about to feed us baby birds. But instead of worms or lizards, it was a massive pile of bones difficult for us chicks to consume, let alone, digest. His reponse was so....basic and evasive. Usually a sign that he is hiding something, and I think I know why.
Especially mixed in when his sudden affection. Although my intuition tells me that's not the secret he's hiding. The very nature of the secret lies within his behavior. If only I could recall. I remember always dozing off whenever we hung out.
"Perhaps your brain is too small to remember but did you, by any chance, recieve special permission to stay on Ehert? You were a small part of the "great" council after all."
"Listen," Attor begins, walking towards Ezephyr. Purposely positioning himself right to where I can not see their lips nor eyes.
And whatever magic or trick they are using is making it impossible for me to eavesdrop on them. It must be one heck of a secret conversation if none of them want me to listen.
Before I can begin to feel left out, they stand back with tight smiles on their faces. None speaking for a long second until Ezephyr makes his way to stand next to me, placing a soft hand on my shoulder.
"You must be careful with your so called feienx here, Arsin. Legends surrounding their infamous dragon race are all true." He warns me. Saying all of this to me while reflecting Attor's offended glare.
"I wish I could answer your burning questions. But I can't really. Hope you can understand." Attor states without a smile.
"Oh, how wonderful. A secret into the pot of trouble. Just what this group needed." Ezephyr sighs.
Disregarding the insanity, I turn to my little band of misfits. Observing them as they shift in their places. One avoiding eye contact out of pain and the other more than happy to assert dominance over a powerful being.
"Let's go get a hotel." I breathe out in exhaustion.
Attor shoots a look my way and I immediately shake my head.
"No."
I am a bit glad his human self is still intact. Dirty minded, danger-seeking, teaser. The best three words to describe him.
"Here. If we are to enter the kingdom I spoke of, you must conceal yourself." Ezephyr tells me as he hands me a peculiar, silky cloth.
"Uh, thanks." I peep, holding up the cloth with a tilted head.
"It's a head veil. Clip these to the back bottom of your horns and have the sides cover your entire head."
"Is this magic?" I ask as I follow the instructions for putting on the mask, sniffing the cloth. It smells like Ezephyr's old home, but also a different type of magic.
"Yes. It's meant to reshape your head so that it looks more human on the outside. Of course inside you remain the same and the same if you were to unveil yourself. It's only meant to be temporary."
Attor snickers as soon as I adjust the veil. "Haha, you look just like my Elf Rung character!"
This confirms he's the same old Attor whose favorite video game was Elfin Rung. A game he played from day to night until his PC broke. It was the worst day for him, but to me it was victory. Because he began to relocate his focus on more healthy things.
I give him a long sigh. "Let's get on with it."
We all walk, listening to Ezephyr's rant about the nearest kingdom about thirty minutes away. Once we enter the gates with little to no trouble, I stand between both Attor and Ezephyr with my head low, tuning into both my temporary shielders' rather random conversation.
"Did you know this luxurious hotel, DuBonsur, was also one of the many few to be influenced by the great calamity that befell us soon after Prince Sin's careless act?"
With the ability of newfound sight different from normal humans, I peer through the darkness of my new face veil and observe the hotel as Ezephyr bores the life out of Attor.
As my ears consume his words, everything he says is the truth. At least I think it is based on my knowledge from my dreams and the stories I've read.
DuBonsur was a hotel in the middle of Blue Oasis (the City of Richies, many call it). As prestigious as it was and highly exclusive it looked, it was one of the very few hotels to open their doors to everyone with enough change in their pockets.
I can drool over the details, but this one is different. Your typical medieval castle-style hotel but mashed with details found in a modern hotel. A mini restaurant blended with the lobby and employees dressed in attire unseen in past times. Dare I compare it to the castle from The Phantom of the Opera. But even more grand.
Ezephyr reaches the conclusion of his fun facts with a proud smile before having a harsh pat to the back by Attor. Who was ready to make a joke. Just like he would do back then.
"A demon prince, a Dream Fairy, and Dragon walk into a frickin fancy hotel..." His voice trails off as soon as we arrive to the front desk. Many passerbys' eyes wandering on and off us.
"Hello, there. Can we have three rooms?" Ezephyr asks the desk lady whom I can't see very well.
"Ooohh, I'm very sorry but unfortunately we are very full and currently have only one room available." She coos without any hint of deceit in her voice.
Just plain fake apologetic tone that would satisfy those with a cool head but anger those commonly known as a Karen.
"Oh." We all say in perfect unison and then to each other.
"What's the plan?" Attor whispers to us but no more than a second later, he gives an immediate response, "You know what? We'll take it." Just like that. Without properly consulting us.
As much as I want to turn around and find somewhere else to spend the night-- I can't handle standing any longer. I need rest, therefore I have to comply with the choice. Perhaps this is why Attor did not hesitate to accept. I've always caught him glancing at me as I stumble into crowds of people and wooden posts. Saying "Apologies" to trees as I slip by. Even now I still feel the ache in my head as my eyes struggle against my command to stay open.
"Alright," The desk lady claps her hands together. "
"And we have a strict no-face-conceal policy in this hotel. So if your lover? Servant? Adventure party member? Would kindly take off their face veil?"
"Um." Everyone gulps nervously at the request and I'm left under the spotlight. Unable to know whether or not to react to either being mistaken as a lover, or to take off my face veil and reveal my identity as the most wanted villain.
"I'm sure you guys understand. We're a proud crime free kingdom, and your safety is of our utmost priority. So if you don't mind...?"
"What a stupid rule..." Attor mutters under his breath. 'Stuff your head under his shirt like you can't get enough of him, Arsin!' Attor sharply whispers inside of my head.
'What?? Are you mad?! I am no lover!!' I reply back to him through our telepathic connection once I understand how to.
'Yes, you hermit. I know you were never a love hippie, but this is a matter of life and death! Plus, humiliation.'
Unfortunately, he has a point on it being a matter of life and death. Because if we get caught here, we are bound to be thrown to the dungeon of The Council, or worse--face execution. And I do not wish for my journey to end so soon.
"Isn't there another way? Say, a transformation spell or something similar? Those exist here, right?" I plead.
"Unfortunately, I do not have any expertise in transformation spells or any illusion-type magic." Ezephyr responds with the shake of his head.
"And I never cared to learn such weak spells." Attor adds in, leaving me in utter defeat. "But don't worry. Stuff your head in there. I got one hell of a story cooked in my mind."
"Hell?" Ezephyr questions and I turn to him smearing my palm against my face with defeat clinging to my arms.
"Let's get this over with, Ezephyr..." I groan, sneaking my way beside him.
The woman at the desk becomes more suspicious the longer we waited. Her eyes almost giving the gesture to nearby invisible guards. But I act fast as soon as Ezephyr slightly lifts his garment open for me as Attor taking two large steps towards the desk.
At that moment I understand Attor's plan. It didn't occur to me sooner. But now that I know, pure embarrassment flushes my face as I stuff my face under his shirt.
I am playing the role of Ezephyr's helpless lover....
Then I hear the desk lady's embarrassment in a series of concerned ah's.
"Wow, um- ah- err," She stutters softly, left without words. "Please-" I know to her this must be a dream come true. Given that in a society lacking perfect love, women are driven to hopelessly romantic ML. The very thought of males engaging in sexual behaviors scratch their brains like a reward.
"That is embarrassingly fruity." A party of adventurers pass us from behind, snickering more insults before disappearing.
'Make it more convincing. The desk lady needs more!' Attor demands and I deeply slip into a sea of sorrow.
I never imagined myself to be in such a position. Then again, as younglings, human Attor used to play jokes this heavy to Art in public any time he had the chance. He never passes an opportunity to play a prank. And I see now it'll never end.
"I'm sorry, Ezephyr..." I whisper to him as I grab his waist, careful not to pierce his soft skin with my horns.
"I just want sleep as much as you do, Prince." He whispers back, patting my head in consolation.
Pushing my face against his skin, I come to realize how soft it is and how strong the smell of flowers and honey. And I can feel his heart pounding steadily. Speaking of heart, I can sense the Mad Star's magic in him. The cracks of this maddening magic running down to even his belly.
Overcome by curiosity, my mind blocking out sounds around me, I run my ear across the cracks. Though it's completely smooth, I can hear it making a soft static noise mixed in with this whooshing noise. Like a static radio in a tornado storm. Also mixed in with the soft singing of a feminine voice.
They sung a song with words unknown to me. But in a tune somewhat familiar to me.
"The sickness rises."
Those words are as clear as day. Wrapping around my mind like a broken record.
I want to pull back but what if I don't? What if I give in?
I have been feeling this tickling feeling in my corrupt eye. Running with the same cracks as Ezephyr's. What if I let the two five in to this magic?
Taking off my eye cover, I run my cracked eye across it, only for the both of us to jolt in pain as an electrical sensation runs through both our bodies.
"Ouch!" We both snarl in unison.
"Aha, ouch in a good way." Ezephyr lies as I put the eye cover back on. "Love bites, you know?"
"Ah, such cuties." The desk lady sings.
"Already springing into action, huh? Naughty naughty." Attor chuckles. "Thank you, lovely lady. We best get going. Have a nice day."
Ezephyr wraps his arms around my upper body, leading me as I walk backwards. Following them until they stop.
"How are we supposed to get up there?" Ezephyr growls.
"I guess I can teleport us there with what remaining juice I got left in me." Attor replies with a groan.
The next moment I feel a soft whoosh. And muffled silence outside sudden darkness. I pop my head out of Ezephyr.
"Hm, room for one isn't as tiny as I thought it'd be." Ezephyr comments, looking around the room.
"You're right." I respond and turn to the environment.
The white stone wall and mini chandelier hanging above our heads. A gold desk sitting at the corner near a bathroom (medieval material although it's in a more modern style), with a twin sized-white-sheeted-bed sitting just across from us near a tiny window made of silver bars. Like a prison but more fine.
"Wow. It's fur carpets! Made of monsters!" Attor gasps in amazement.
"Fascinating. I've heard of stories but I never believed it to be this luxurious." Ezephyr remarks as he pats the bed. "Real silk from Toranilas! Native to Uzmaz!"
"Real uppity." I agree, feeling my eyelids become heavier.
"Aren't you amazed by the beauty?" Ezephyr asks only to stop. "Oh, right."
"Yeah. I am in dire need of some shut eye." I explain, stretching out my hands. "Ezephyr. You can take the bed. I'll take a sheet and sleep on the ground."
"Really? I feel it is big enough for the two of us." He replies.
"Hehe, naughty birds." Attor mumbles as he takes a sheet from the bed and plops himself onto the ground. "I need to keep guard anyway so couch is free for you to take."
We silently agree. Ezephyr taking the bed and me taking the couch.
And I fall deep into slumber. The cracks in my eye and beneath it, throbbing like angry wasps as I rest....
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"Arsin?"
I wake up and turn to the voice of Ezephyr. Piercing through the cloaking shadows in his image, giving illusion to his body being distorted. How knocked out was I to wake up this disoriented? How long was he awake?
I push through it all to ask him, "Is everything ok?" Believing that perhaps he's going to tell me that his condition is worsening.
I see him clench his cane before speaking. "I wandered through your mind. Seen your dreams and memories. Feel connected to you on a spiritual level. Thought I had all the answers I needed, though I feel myself asking, are we real?"
Heavy.
The thought never occured to me. Or has it? I always asked myself what was real and what was a dream when I was Art. Even went as far as to ask a complete stranger this one time to punch some sense into me. But it never worked. I would gaze down at my two hands and feel uneasy-- this sense of disillusionment and distraught taking over my mind.
And then I pushed it all into the back of my mind. Convincing myself otherwise by turning to different ideas. Eventually becoming a mentally unstable person with dreams and disabling thoughts like no other.
"I don't know." I only reply. Clearly seeing slight disappointment fall onto his face. But it quickly disappears (or becomes masked).
"I see." He only responds, and by the look on his face of slight strain and concern, it looks as if he's holding back something else. Only for it to disappear with another thought. "Do you trust that dragon friend of yours?"
Alarmed, I turn to glance at Attor. To make sure he's asleep by checking his aura. Sometimes sleep and unconsciousness determines the flow of one's mana and aura. But in the story I've read and how they influenced this world, some have control over those. To make it seem like they are asleep.
"I know this is from out of the blue but rest assured, Attor cannot hear us."
I turn to him in curiousity but come to understand what he means. "We are in a dream, then."
Ezephyr nods. "I have my concerns about him. Some I suspect you have a blind eye towards."
"Interesting." I mutter. He's not wrong. A person can be biased when it comes to people they know. That's why most families and friends of some serial killers tend to be surprised to hear the crimes that their loved ones have committed. A morbid example, but it paints the picture perfectly well. "Does this have to do with that one two thousand years old dragon law I heard so much about?"
Ezephyr gives me another nod. "Barely anyone nowadays know about the truth behind the Dragon Act. Even its name isn't the truth."
Hidden lore. I can't say I'm not intrigued but I feel like this will have a chapter of its own. But if it can reveal anything hidden--confirm or bring to life any theories stationary in my mind--
"I shall listen. After all, this is a dreamscape. We have more than enough time."
Ezephyr inhales softly. "It all started with the Battle of Ralzeoth..."