Beastsinger: A Kritoan Odyssey

Chapter 3: Reflection

      As he made his way to the main hall, a figure strode up beside him. The figure stood a few inches taller than Nerio and about two times broader. He didn't even have to look to know Matthias Ardelean was right beside him. After a few steps in time, Matthias broke the silence.

"A man of the noble house Aichean shouldn't make so many enemies, especially with foreign delegations."

      Nerio cast a sideways glance at the larger boy. "Yeah, well, not all of us can belong to house Half Breed- I mean the noblest house Spathenis."

"Oh by Pax, you're starting with that. If you dare insult my family's honor, we shall duel right here, right now."

      The boys turned and leered at each other, circling around the room. Matthias made the first move and lunged forwards, grabbing Nerio. Nerio responded with jabs to the larger boys side. Both fell in a pile on the floor, wrestling for supremacy. At one point, the smaller boy sunk his teeth into the larger one's arm, but not hard enough to seriously maim.

      A voice croaked through the room. "That is enough, boys."

      Both stopped to see an elderly man in long robes approaching them. They quickly rose and fixed themselves. Nerio audibly swallowed as the man walked forward and stopped. All three stood in silence, until the heaviness was broken by a small laugh, specifically Nerio's. Soon the room was filled with joy and laughter, with Matthias leaning on Nerio.

"I cannot believe you bit me, you animal."

"Don't put your arm near my mouth then, stupid."

      Nerio thought back to long ago, when these tiny brawls started. House Aichean and House Spathenis were severe rivals, with some points breaking into civil war. Nerio met the Spathenis boy in the royal library. The two bonded well before they learned about each other's bloodlines. The result was a friendship that threatened to end the house rivalry once and for all. At first, the Spathenis' denied the friendship, with good reason too. Matthias' mother had an affair with an Antian trader. The result was a boy with forest eyes, fiery hair, and tanned skin. His entire family shunned his bastardly appearance, which is why he usually uses his fathers name, Ardelean, rather than Spathenis. After a few years and many secret hangouts, Matthias joined the royal guard and left his family behind. Him and Nerio have been together since.

      Nerio was dragged from nostalgia when the man spoke up again.

"You boys are uncontrollable. I remember when I was your ages with my friends. The amount of brawls could have put drunkards to shame. But of course, it isn't kingly to fight at all."

"Of course not your majesty"

      The man- the king- was small in stature compared to the boys, Nerio able to see him balding at the very top of his head. On his throne, however, this feeble old man became Constantine the Lion-Hearted, Tamer of the Southern Hordes. Throughout his long reign, Kritoa has reassured peace and prosperity over and over again. Both a skilled negotiator and general, he himself is personally given credit for making the capital Tarion the trading capital of the world.

      The king chuckled at the boy's antics and spoke, seriousness once again taking over his demeanor. "Boys, I must have a word with both of you, about the future."

      Constantine led to boys out of the castle into the gardens in the central courtyard. Nerio has on many occasions visited this garden in his visits to the castle, The Siren's Palace, with his Uncle and Sister. It was filled with plants gifted from exotic places to the king, all surrounding a shallow pond. People who wished for an audience with the king had to pass through it to reach the throne room, just as a reminder of what the king had done in his time. The king took the boys to the middle, on the bridge overlooking the pond, and breathed heavily.