Like A King | bl | WMMAP | ✓

C5: "Shadenfreude"

C5: "Schadenfreude"

A future without Mister Fairy made Ijekiel's heart throb in sorrow.

I don't want for him to disappear.

"Child," a cold hand cupped Ijekiel's cheek. "Do not fret. This one does not plan on going anywhere for now. This one will stay in Obelia for a very, very long time." Those words of reassurance settled the anxiety in Ijekiel's heart as he rested his cheek on that cold palm holding him.

"Then, when I come back, will you come visit me, Mister Fairy?"

When his golden eyes stared directly at Idris, the magician felt his chest tighten as a similar pair of amber eyes overlapped the child's. My dear Sen...

"Of course. This one will definitely wait for your return."

.

.

Idris Drayce remembered it well.

It was because of Sen that he could live.

At the same time, this new life Sen gave him was a curse at the same time.

Sen, why must you leave this one all alone again?

.

.

- Prequel to Like A King

- a short excerpt -

"Stay away!" Cried Idris as a trail of blood dripped down his chin. "You filthy humans, get your hands off my dear Sen!" But the shackle around his neck tightened, choking him  of what little air he had after yelling. Tears began to escape the corner of his eyes, each drop rolling down his cheek.

The lack of air made his face reddish, turning purple right after. After seeing a human throw Sen into a cage, something inside of Idris snapped.

The once noisy forest suddenly turned quiet, alarming the humans who had trespassed Idris' territory. "What's going on," one of them asked, a hint of anger lacing his voice. "Monster, are you the one doing this?" The human glowered at Idris who had gone limp after his last yell.

Fear crawled through their skin out of the blue. For no reason at all, they felt dread overcome them as they held their weapons in front of them, ready to take action at any given moment. However, Idris began to emit a bright icy-blue light, temporarily blinding the humans who tried to capture Sen.

Once the light died down, the human form Idris took on was nowhere to be found. Instead, they found something they couldn't describe in his place. It was a white creature emitting a soft glow of pastel blue. It gave off an ethereal feeling that made the humans let their guard down.

They felt comfortable and at ease, wishing nothing more than to lay down and sleep. None of them realized that they had already fallen to Idris' scheme and only Sen, who had been unaffected, knew what was going on.

Sen— who took on the form of a snow fox— began to move around the cage, trying to escape. Idris! It internally cried its friend's name. Idris! Turn back! You can't let that out! However, Sen's cries remained unheard as it watched with teary eyes as the white creature began to paint the ground red with human blood.

Sen, for the first time, felt a pain that wasn't physical. From what Idris explained to it before, it was certain that this pain was one of emotional. It was a pain that was difficult to remedy. As Sen tried and tried and tried to escape from the cage holding it captive, the more pain he felt as it watched on helplessly as Idris began to lose himself.