Respite

Time to say Goodbye I

Their days working at the academy were filled with the bustling of students, the grading of papers, and the occasional ventures into the Relictombs during their off time. It was rare for them to meet or interact beyond those occasions, and yet, more often than not, they found themselves frequenting his office every now and then in an attempt to satiate their boredom and lounge in each other's company. Today was one of those days.

"Three questions. Three answers."

Grey wasn't sure when or how it came to be, though. Slowly, surely, and ever so steadily, the two of them had started to grow more and more acquainted with each other beyond their occupational professionalism and mutual treason against the Alacryan Empire. It was pretty doomed from the start, really.

"And both of us can choose to refuse one of the other's questions."

Caera sat across the desk from Grey, holding up three fingers after proposing they play a game to pass the time. Whether it was a genuine suggestion or a shameless ploy to learn more about her colleague-slash-companion-slash-partner-in-crime was anyone's guess, however.

Grey poured himself a glass of Dragon's Breath, a gift courtesy of Highblood Corbett after their hosted dinner meeting at the Denoir's estate. 

"And what if I don't have any questions?"

Caera gave him a blank stare that said, 'really?'.

Grey smirked, shrugged, and took a long sip out of his glass. "Maybe you're not as interesting as you seem."

Caera placed a hand on her chest, feigning a gasp. "How dare you?"

Grey rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying. There's not much for me to gain here."

His not-so-willing-to-admit-she-was-a-stalker pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "You're willing to pass the opportunity to ask a Vritra-blooded lady about all her deepest darkest secrets?"

Grey thought for a moment.

"How old are—"

He was immediately interrupted by a kick to his shin. "There's your answer. My turn."

You kinda deserved that.

Fuck you too, Regis.

"Who were you before we met?" she asked, acting as if nothing had happened.

Grey rubbed his leg and winced before collecting himself. "Do you really want to know that much?"

Caera's eyes widened. She hadn't planned on getting this far or so close to her answers. "Yes."

Grey downed his glass and leaned forward, a grim expression settled on his face. "I was a king from another world before I got reincarnated here and met a deity. I took care of their daughter, and they brought me to their lands to train me, telling me I was chosen to fight in the war. Then I learned how to make a portal and ended up in the Relictombs, where I met you. Happy?"

There was a pause. 

After a moment or two, Caera frowned and sighed. "You could have at least tried to make it more believable."

Grey snorted and turned away. His grip tightened around the glass.

"Now then... What should I ask Lady Denoir next?"

Ask what color her—

Regis. Shut up.

"If you ask me about my weight, I swear to Vritra Grey, I will maim you in front of all your students. Secrets be damned."

Grey rolled his eyes. "I don't need to ask. I've already carried you before. I'd say you're about—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Caera pulled out her sword from her dimension ring and, in one swift motion, bisected the table between them as the blade struck the floor right between Grey's legs.