Viena and the Black Mirror

[ 4 ] - 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥

      "What do you mean, no?" Sen scowled, unconvinced.

Faul stood within the doorframe, a nervous expression on his face. He fumbled his hands together like he was trying to catch something, twisting his fingers together and picking his nails.

Sen remembers when Faul used to be the confident one. Often running headfirst into uncharted caves with Sen following, too afraid to be left behind. His hand would tremble as he held the glowworm lamp against the shadows. Many times, the darkness was so thick it felt like a cloud of smoke was suffocating him.

Faul would always send him a confident grin, a sense of assuredness whenever Faul roped him into these shenanigans. Instinctively, Sen craved this assurance, the look that insisted everything was okay. So it came to no one's surprise when Sen invited him to his parent's funeral.

But he never came.

Sen had forgiven him, of course. Once the visceral-like pain healed and the betrayal simmered down into a weak bubble.

He hoped that appointing him as an advisor would extend a branch of reconciliation, that they would be friends again.

But childhood friendship was a memory of the past. Like replacing a new rug after staining it with coffee. Many things would become forgotten as Sen became overwhelmed with ruling a kingdom.

Sen raised his eyebrow, folding his arms as Faul rambled what the Council had told him.

"W-well in the words of the council- not mine, of course- um." Faul cleared his throat. "They have never heard a more preposterous proposal and want to disregard your request on the subject."

Well that makes things more difficult. Not to mention the snotty grammar. Sarcasm is practically oozing from the relayed message.

"Well, we can't have that, now can we?" Sen grinned, tusks on display like a smirking saber. Faul gulped as he laughed, pulling the collar of his tunic.

"You go have fun with that. I'll just be-"

"You're coming with me."

Faul's face paled as Sen looked at him pleadingly. Though Sen knew Faul would prefer to leave and allow the king to deal with this alone, he couldn't help but continue to extend a branch of friendship.

"You're a good friend, Faul. It wouldn't be the same without you. Besides, don't you want to see the festival with me? I'm sure there will be lots of good food."

"No! Definitely not!" Faul sputtered.

Sen leaned back in his chair, trying not to take what the man said personally. Faul just happened to gain a lot of self-preservation as a part of growing up, and would still go with Sen if the activity was safer.

"Don't you want to know what humans are doing?" Sen said as he stood and walked past Faul, patting him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"Not particularly. I'd rather stay away from humans as much as possible, thank you," Faul snapped, following Sen through the cave systems.

Sen hummed as he turned a corner in the tunnels. "What about that magic blood girl? Aren't you curious about that?" The glow-lanterns flickered as Sen sped past them, his black cape trailing behind him like the shadows climbing up the walls caused by the manufactured light.

"Maybe a little," Faul admitted.

Sen picked up his pace, turning his head away to hide the smile that graced his features.

If he could only convince the council to agree with him. With their permission, he'd be able to go to Monduria for the night. Solving his curiosity and finding the magic blood girl were at the front of his mind since this morning.