A Change In The Horizon || The Lost One AU

18.Encounter

Hey everyone! I hope you've had a Merry Christmas, and will have a happy New Year.
I might've mentioned this, but I've been slowing down in writing chapters. I think I'll start writing more chapters again, but not at the frequency of what I once have.

Thank you once again for reading. Everyone's support is really what keeps me coming back to writing this, even if I don't have as much time to put into it any more. <3

Also since the 25th has passed, so has Miesall's birthday! So uh, happy birthday to him! (Man, it would have been cute if I wrote a sort of birthday short but whatever.)

Alright, enough of my blabbering and let's get back to the story, shall we?

~🌤~

Miesall stumbled backwards,his eyes darting around this newcomer in the dazzling clothing. His eyes especially noted the crown that rested gently upon her brow, between her horns.

'Y-you—!!' He scrambled to say, pointing at her.

"Yes, it's me. Don't worry, I come in peace." She chucked, opening her palms to show that she had nothing in her hands. Of course, there very well could be something in her inventory — not even the Great Ones could see that, even if they weren't currently in a void.

Miesall growled at her, talking another step back. Get away from me, you demonic Listener! You king of lies and treachery! Why, even now, you lie and decieve with that form! he thought, since he knew that she could read his thoughts.

Having walked backwards, he accidentally bumped into a group of dancers, all four of them falling over since they had all linked arms. A pair beside them tripped on one of the fallen, almost becoming grounded themselves. They stopped dancing, looking over at all the commotion. The dancing quickly came to halt after that, everyone beholding the two at a stand off, the broken melody continuing on in the background.

"Your highness!" One elf cried. "What are you doing here?"

It was then that Xel slipped beside Miesall. He frowned as he studied the Listener, somehow feeling as though he had seen her somewhere before, years and years prior. He couldn't put a finger on it, though.

"I am here to make sure these two get home safely." She replied, momentarily turning to look at them as she spoke.

'Lies.' Miesall hissed, his fingers snapping in accusation. 'You wish to see us dead or worse! You have come here to torture us!'

Xelqua couldn't help but stare at the crowned female. Just who was she, he wondered. He took the risk, signing his question to the Watcher.

'That is the king of the Listeners! The very rival of the Great Ones themselves!' Miesall replied, almost exasperated that Xelqua couldn't have figured that out by himself.

"That confuses you." The king replied, having had read their thoughts. She did not move, as that may prove to be even more threatening than standing in the same place while holding no weapon or anything to defend herself with. "It is like Miesall told you once— Listeners are able to change form. In truth, gender is a concept outside of myself— it is for the leaders of the higher species. I am king, but I am also queen. The societies of this world believe that a king is stronger than a queen, and thus when it matters most, I am king. However, I am predisposed to pretty things, and so I often find myself acting as queen as well." She twirled in her dress, admiring the beauty in it as she giggled to herself. 

Grian wasn't sure how he was supposed to take this, subconsciously stepping closer to Salt.

"It is not unlike your dictators are not the same. Masculinity is associated to power, and femininity to gentleness and love. They have split themselves up accordingly, but they are one and the same." The king continued. "It is such an arbitrary system, but nonetheless it is one that I play with."