"Come and get it, little gale~"
Taking a step back as he gained a pout, Leo whined to the king, "C'mon! That's not fair! You're way taller than me!" Leo then reached back up to grab the satchel, but Lupin once again lifted it up above the witch's head.
"I don't know Gale, I think you almost had it that time" Lupin joked, backing away and moving the satchel behind his back, which made Leo pout, but he quickly perked up as he got an idea. Leo swiftly turned around and snapped his fingers, causing the satchel to glow a mixture of pink and red before flying out of Lupin's hands and into Leo's.
As Leo looked back with a smug look Lupin could see his eyes and star-like freckles glow an enchanting pink hue. He then lifted up the satchel and stuck out his tongue to Lupin in a playful manner.
King Lupin was caught off guard by this, blushing ever so slightly, but he quickly regained his fanged grin, lifting his hand to his lips to hide his laugh as he stepped closer to Leo, whose magic glow had left with his playful smile.
"Clever trick little gale~ tell me. . ." Lupin turned Leo around to face him, gently grabbing the witch's hand and bringing it up to his lips. "Must you insist on tormenting me~?" Lupin grazed Leo's hand with his lips, so close to the delicate dark skin that was adorned with a pink star marking, the same as his freckles.
What Lupin had said surprised Leo, making him feel guilty as he looked away, but even so, the king closed his eyes and smiled kindly as he let go of Leo's hand and said, "apologies, I guess that was out of line my dear Gale, I'll leave you to your business"
Lupin then turned to leave, waving to Leo, who lifted his hand as if to stop Lupin, but he paused before looking away with a small blush and an unknown feeling that left a lump in his throat.
Even so, Leo gulped and called out for the king, saying, "goodbye, your highness" Lupin had stopped, but didn't look back, his saddened expression staying hidden before saying back to the witch, ". . . I told you little Gale. . . call me Lupin"
Lupin then left the room, swiftly closing the door without making a sound. He then sighed in frustration as he ran a hand through his long hair. A single thought ran through his mind. . . 'He is as beautiful as a pyre. . .'
King Lupin walked through the old library, feeling his heart pound at the thought of his favorite witch. His dark skin, his long red hair that reminded Lupin of a dying flame, his bright pink eyes that shone lilac in the moonlight, his star-like freckles that seemed so strange yet so fitting to the king.
Soon, Lupin's thoughts were cut off as he stopped in front of a bookshelf, which was painted to match the night sky. Lupin looked over the shelf before bringing his clawed hand up to grab a blue and purple book. He tilted the book down and the bookshelf began to slide to the side by itself, revealing a long spiral staircase that glistened with the lights of crystals and luminescent mushrooms.
As he descended the staircase, Lupin looked up at the ceiling, which was painted with a depiction of a dark skinned deity with long dark red hair, and dressed in a black and silver cloak, holding with a beautiful crystal spear, decorated silver twine. Of course, no mortal knew who this deity represented.
Lupin finally reached the end of the stairs, being met with a bunch of tiny mushroom people, who were moving scrolls and books from one place to another. They were the caretakers of the library. Only King Lupin knew of them, as they tended to stay in the castle's catacombs.
The mushroom people scattered this way and that as Lupin walked past them, heading towards a closed red and pink door, styled with many colorful crystals. He paused ever so slightly before sighing and opening the door, revealing a room that was so stunning, it still took the king's breath away.
The room was bewitched to look like a foggy night sky. With blue, purple, and lilac mixing together and fading with gray and silver fog, along with many stars that glowed almost as bright as the full moon.
In what seemed to be the center of the room, lay a casket, covered by a red and gold blanket. Lupin looked over the casket, running his hand over the soft blanket before reaching into his shirt and pulling out a bundle of star flowers, setting it down gently.
The king admired the beautiful petals. The king took in the scene as he backed away from the casket, keeping his footsteps quiet so as to not disturb the serene silence of the night sky room. . .