Like A King | bl | WMMAP | ✓

C4: "Whitey and Sen"

C4: "Whitey and Sen"

.

.

"You're not calling this one Mister Fairy anymore? What a pity. I liked that nickname."

"— what are you doing here?" She ended, acting as if Idris didn't interrupt her at all. Athanasia decided to thicken up her face in Idris' presence. Since he seemed to know something about her, then she should act as if it didn't bother her. That way, it would slip his mind to use it against her.

"Hm, let's see." Idris hummed a random tune, obviously drawing out the time just because he could. "This one had been bored ever since I left my home. Why don't you and the little magician over there entertain me for the years to come? That way, the fact that I want to kill every human won't come to mind. How about it?"

"..." For the second time that day, Idris left Athanasia speechless, even Lucas couldn't utter a word at that.

"You're joking, right?"

"Do I look like I am, lovely princess?"

... well, that sucks.

.

.

"Octi."

"Yes, Lord Idris?"

"This one had been a little curious," said the odd magician as he and his little escort strolled around the garden. "What had become of Elric?" The unfamiliar yet familiar name tickled the knight's brain, wondering where on earth he had heard that name. In the empire, the name Elric had been scarcely used, after all.

When it dawned on him, Octavius almost yelled in fright.

Elric!

Elric Bastien!

The founder of House Bastien!

How could he forget?!

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Octavius mentally beat himself up for forgetting his own ancestor's name. But wait, Lord Idris inquired of... ancestor's condition? "That... Ancestor Elric had already passed some centuries ago, m'lord."

"..." It didn't escape the knight's observant gaze how Idris halted for a short moment before they resumed their casual walk around the garden. Curiosity burned within Octavius' eyes but for someone of his status to ask such a personal thing from Idris Drayce... he thought he might die first before he could say more than a word.

If Idris Drayce truly was the so-called honorable being that had been passed down from each head of House Bastien, then wouldn't that make the odd magician over two or so hundred years of age? I'll be damned; Lord Idris is actually a lot older than me!

The knight stopped the second Idris paused to glance at the lake. Numerous lotus flowers drifted by on the surface of the still water, their soft and gentle appearance adding a peaceful ambiance in the garden. A pair of dim obsidian eyes refused to look away from them, causing Octavius to furrow his forehead.

Lord Idris had always been hard to read ever since he appeared... how could a group of lotus flowers make him look that way?

"Octi," the knight stood in attention upon hearing the magician's oddly calm tone. "These lotuses... does the emperor value them?" The question stunned the knight but he answered normally. "No, Lord Idris. Have you... taken a fancy towards them?"

"... yes."

And Octavius watched as that lord knelt at the edge of the lake, the tips of his fingers breaking through the water's surface. He watched as the lotus flowers began to move, congregating towards Idris' fingers. A thin sheet of ice began to form around each flower, trapping them in a world of winter for eternity.