Chapter 6: To Be Friends and Equals

60 5 37
                                    




"I see, so the main source of conflict in the story appears to be that Virgil has an attraction to Roman, and Virgil and Remus discover that they are the very people Roman is looking for. They are afraid now that if Roman finds out, they'll be forced to play the political role of heirs to the throne, meaning they may never see their father again. However, if they go back home, they may never get another chance to cure their curse again. They also still seem to not have put the pieces together that Patton is the King, also looking for his son, but once they do, that will likely add more pressure to the indecision. Meanwhile, it seems that their father has found them, and given the narration, it sounds like he has a sort of antagonistic role." Logan stated, suddenly appearing behind Roman.

     "Logan? What the heck!?! How long were you listening?" Roman demanded, causing Logan to shrug before sitting down. "I started listening around the time of the poster argument. Am I right to assume that the romantic storyline is between you and Virgil, and that is why you didn't want the rest of us to hear it?" Logan questioned. "Look, Logan, if I wanted commentary I'd have asked you to be here." Roman muttered, avoiding the question.

     "Interesting... I'm impressed, though the storyline is a bit of a mess, specifically with all the clues the characters have to discover who each other is and yet they haven't, and with how the characters seem to stumble over each other, but the storyline is complicated and provides a proper source of conflict. No characters seem explicitly good or evil, and each character has motivations that affect the storyline." Logan commented.

     "Thanks? I think... If it makes you feel any better, your character figures out everything immediately and calls them out. Then your 'source of conflict' comes in, which is the reason you don't tell Patton." Roman explains. "Oh? Am I not Patton's advisor? Why would I not tell him information that is the very reason we are on this journey? Especially since it will end the journey, which I don't want to be on?" Logan prodded, causing Patton to shift awkwardly in his seat. "Well, after Chapter 6, you subconsciously don't want the journey to end, but you don't realize it until later." Roman explained.

     "I can't tell you why though." He then added. "Very well, should I listen to the story to find out why?" Logan questioned. "Sure, if you want to." Roman agreed, tempted by the opportunity to annoy Logan. "Uh, I actually don't think you'll want to know the reason." Patton murmured nervously, scratching the back of his head. "Why would I not want to know my reason for withholding extremely important information from the King, when it is my literal job to provide him with necessary information?" Logan rebutted.

     "It's complicated." Patton muttered. "You're acting like Roman had when he hadn't wanted us to read his story." Logan observed, frowning as he gave Roman a look of suspicion. "You put me in a romantic storyline with someone, didn't you?" He sighed, rubbing his eyes as his head began to tense up. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." Roman taunted, feeling more confident than he had for the past few days.

     "Do I even want to know with whom?" Logan groaned. "I don't know, do you?" Roman reflected. "Probably not. I'll allow you to continue reading this... 'Fan Fic' as you call it in private." Logan decided, reading off his vocabulary slang cards before disappearing again. "Do you think he'll figure it out?" Patton asked nervously.

     "Even if he does, knowing Logan, he probably won't let it change anything. He'll just be annoyed, but what else is new?" Roman dismissed. "Alright. You can keep reading." Patton replied, taking in a deep breath to calm himself.

***

     While Roman, Virgil, Remus, and Dominic went on their way, Patton and Logan had gone on theirs, Patton asking anyone who seemed magical if they knew a Janus Stilskin or young men by the name of Virgil or Remus. Logan's frown grew with every vague or deceptive answer Patton received, and Patton's cheerful demeanour became more forced as they went through the village. Eventually, Logan suggested that they take a break, and Patton, becoming exhausted, gratefully agreed to stop by a coffee house.

RevealedWhere stories live. Discover now