|| The Chaos Mage ||

Chapter 7 - Reminisce

A/N: POV: your trying to make two characters fall in love but your terrified your forcing them together too quickly/not quick enough. Pls tell me if I'm going to fast/slow lmao :,D

Zarek

Zarek was in a state of opposing deliberations.

He had killed someone. 

And not just anyone, he'd killed one of his own. A soldier who had worn the same crest he left in the mud until the day she died. She died with honour, serving her nation. Zarek didn't think he'd be as lucky as her now. Murder of a fellow soldier was treason, surely? He'd never thought to check. He never expected he would have to face those consequences. He suspected once he got back to Edotaria it was unlikely he would face anything. Nobody would ever find out, and even if they did it would be brushed to the side. He was a prince after all. And somehow that fact only weighed on him further. 

The only person who would ever know about the blood on his hands was currently asleep on his shoulder.

And for reasons unbeknownst to him, looking at his face so unmoving yet so alive, Zarek couldn't bring himself to regret what he had done.

Soren was alive because of what he did.

He had to remind himself that the other was his enemy, and as soon as he awoke Zarek was quite sure they'd return to their routine of ignoring each other one minute, and snarking the next, but for now he was satisfied to enjoy this moment of peace. Not conflicting, or arguing. Not enemies. Just two young men seeking comfort in someone they'd trust to watch their back, even if only temporarily.

The two were currently seeking shelter in a run down building on the southern outskirts of the village Soren had mentioned earlier. At least Zarek hoped it was the right place. He was quite sure that the mage mentioned the village being abandoned, and this southern-most point indeed was, as Soren said, almost entirely abandoned apart from a few squatters. However, just a little further north there was a great industrial town. All varying shades of grey against a sky which was palpable with toxic fumes. After the witch fell asleep Zarek had gone to investigate, he'd been puzzled at the familiar stench that was burning morterite. Morterite was an ore of great value to modern day Edotaria, which when burned produced huge amounts of a peculiar energy. It was now an integral part of their society. It was quite the strange material, only being found in particular areas, but thanks to it's seemingly endless supply, Edotaria could develop factories, mass produce weapons, canned food, anything the factory owners can make coin from. The only let-down of the ore was that processing it for use was extremely dangerous. Toxic fumes and poisonous gases, risk of explosion and temperatures well above and below natural. So the factories that processed it were forced outward so as not to stain the beautiful city of Edotaria. And it seemed they'd stumbled upon such a town.

Zarek had never particularly enjoyed the idea of such dangerous and mysterious material powering his home. But as prince, he couldn't help but enjoy the luxuries it provided. And if the people were making coin, paving the way to a better future, who was he to dismiss it? 

So he decided he would wait for his travel companion to wake, then they could fashion up some masks to protect against the fumes and head into the town centre. Towns like these were so thick with people trying to make a little coin. So it would be unlikely that they be recognised and let alone spotted. Not to mention, after only ten days of travel their supplies were already quickly waning. And they needed something to aid with Soren's healing. 

He'd managed to mostly knit his bones back together with the help of magic. But his neck was an angry swollen purple, like a rather painful necklace. Zarek didn't expect he'd be able to talk for at least a couple days.

Zarek carefully pried the other from his shoulder, lowering him onto the slightly charred plank flooring. He quickly stood, much quieter then usual (having shed most of his armour), and went to stoke the small fire he'd started in the fireplace. It cast an intimate orange glow, and warmed the empty home significantly. 

He wondered why this part of town was so desolate. Surely with such a busy town, the suburbs would be humming with rich merchants, and middle-to-upper-class families. Many of the building were indeed damaged, but not in a way which was entirely unfixable. The houses on the very edge of town, not far from a thorny, overgrown clearing seemed in total disrepair but further inwards were definitely repurpose-able. 

Hopefully, simply a great stroke of luck on their part.

Zarek didn't believe in luck.

The blonde finally stirred from sleep.

Pine-tree eyes disturbingly dull in the dim light.

There was tenseness in his frame, like he felt dread from simply breathing in the industrial-tainted air. 

Steel met emerald.

The mage relaxed sightly.

Zarek has no idea how he's supposed to feel about that, but he's quite sure its not supposed to be warm and uncomfortable in his chest.

The blonde parts his lips to say something, but nothing but a small, rather sad choke comes out. Zarek winces, crouching in front of the other and placing what he hopes is comforting  hand on his shoulder. "Sorry, I should have warned you. Maybe give it a few days?" The blonde shoots him an unimpressed look, but seems to accept it as he doesn't try and speak again. 

Zarek rises back to his feet, about to go look for some water for the other. It was hard not to feel sorry for the dejected looking blonde, expression akin to one of a kicked puppy. Suddenly he catches a series of sloppy hand gestures from the other. He's about to scald the mage, thinking he's about to use magic again, when he notices there's something familiar about these hand motions. 

Yes, he's seen these many times before! His oldest brother, Tolvos often used them for his second oldest sibling. Zhee was partially mute, they were once kidnapped by the neighbouring kingdom. Unfortunately, they'd never been the same since. But their intellect was still second to none. Tolvos and Zhee had the closest relationship between all his siblings, they were best friends. It made sense Tolvos would convince all his younger siblings to all learn a little Edotarian Sign Language. Zarek was honestly shocked at how much he'd picked up. "Soren, that's ESL right..?" The mage nodded enthusiastically continuing with more sharp gestures.

Zarek couldn't pick out every word, but the meaning was still clear.

How...are...horses...?

Zarek couldn't help but chuckle, of course that was what Soren would ask about first. "They're  fine, your mad thing followed us here. They are both outside."

The mage relaxed further, sitting himself up against the wall before asking,

And where exactly...here...?

The ravenette glanced out the greasy window at the monotone skies. "Honestly, I'm not too sure. After you fell asleep, I followed your directions to here, but I thought you mentioned an 'abandoned village' not an industrialised morterite mining town." The blondes expression turned to one of confusion, then one of anger, it couldn't quite settle on one or the other. There was also something else, something the prince couldn't recognise. 

Show me.

"Alright," he conceded. Normally he'd complain about rest, but there was something urgent in his signing.

And honestly, it made him a little nervous.

A/N Sorry boring chapter I knoww but stuffs about to happen I promise