𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐬 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞

It's been a couple of days since the meeting with the King of Amphibia. You with Anne and the Plantars were just hanging around the city for a while. And this city was-- beautiful and interesting. Clearly different from others. Although, some residents here were-- arrogant. They considered themselves better than frogs and toads. No wonder, they are considered smart scientists, legislators, and nobility. They did a lot of research, and it's like there is a whole story of Amphibia. And that's why you're going to the library now. You were curious about what interesting things you could find out. There was nothing like that in Wartwood. Heck, they didn't even tell you they had a goddamn king!

As it turned out, the biggest library was in the castle. Not surprising. Actually, you were going to meet Marcy so she could show you the way. She said she would be waiting at the castle. Only... you didn't know where to go or where anything was.

You had to talk a little and convince the guards that you are a "friend" of the king and you can go inside the castle. Although, can you come here whenever you want? Or just for important things? Right now, you're just wandering the halls looking for... Marcy. Or the library. Or someone to show you the way.

— Marcy, Marcy, Marcy... where are you? MAR-MAR! — you randomly opened the room. It turned out to be the kitchen. All the cooks are staring at you.

— SORRY, — you slammed the door and ran on. Heck, you won't find anything at this rate. You stopped to rest. You leaned on the armor set in the corridor. You know, like a statue.

— What a day, huh?

After taking a breath, you continued down the hallway. Suddenly, it seemed like the corridor itself shaked. You heard... loud footsteps. As if someone big was walking along the corridors of the castle. It can't be...

The damn King of Amphibia himself came out from around the corner. His foot stepped right next to you. If he was a little closer, he would just step on you. In the end, you almost ran into him. More precisely, in his leg. But you managed to retreat. Andrias tilted his head as he looked at you. You just froze. You were face to face with the king himself. Alone. TOTALLY ALONE.

— Whoops, that was close. Didn't see you there! — he said with a slight smile. You straightened up as much as possible.

— H-hey, good morning, Your-- Your Majesty, — oh no, you started to stutter. This is not good.

— Oh, please! Just call me Andrias. We don't need to comply with such formalities. Well, as long as Olivia isn't around, — he whispered the last part and chuckled.

— Ah. Okay, — you still haven't recovered from the shock that the king turned out to be NOT AT ALL what you imagined him to be. Although, maybe that's for the best.

— I'm sorry about... almost stepping on you. I didn't notice you, really, — Andrias said this with an apologetic and even sad tone, — You're just... pretty small.

— That's okay! After all, you are huge! I'm sure it's inconvenient sometimes. Especially the constant fear of stepping on someone--

— Yeah. You gradually get used to it. Although, next time, I should better look around--

— Nah, don't worry about it. I didn't notice you myself. Sometimes, I have a habit of not looking where I'm going. Aaand sometimes, I bump into someone... or something. Like, once I almost "kissed" a lamppost. It was pretty funny, — you snorted. It seemed to you that Leviathan giggled a little but tried to hide it.

— Well, I hope you weren't badly hurt then? — you didn't expect him to be so worried about you. Like... you thought he just wouldn't care about you. That you're just another human for him to send home.

— Pfft, it's nothing. In any case, those who put this lamppost there are to blame. Because it wasn't there before! My friends could confirm this. I suppose these workers put it there specifically for a laugh, so that when people went without thinking about anything, and then BAM! crashed into it, kissing, — you hit your fist into your palm, simulating crashing. And Leviathan laughed. He laughed out loud. So loud that he wiped away a tear in the end.

— Oh, well, you're quite an interesting individual, ha-ha! Say, you were going somewhere?

Oh, right, you completely forgot about your "mission."

— Uh, yeah. I actually wanted to find a library. Marcy promised to be here at the castle to show me the way. But I have no idea where to go and where everything is, — you shrugged your shoulders. Andrias ran his hand through his beard.

— Hmm... unfortunately, Marcy isn't here right now. She ran off on some 'personal mission,' as she said. Unfortunately, she didn't give me any more details.

— Oh. Well, that's a bummer, — you wanted to turn around and leave, thinking you'd be lucky next time.

— Wait! I can show you the way if you want, — Leviathan suddenly said, quite loudly, trying to stop you. You looked at him blankly. This surprised you, too. Did the king seriously decide to waste his time on you just to show you where the library is?

— Uuuh... you sure? I mean, what if I'm distracting you or--

— No, not at all! I'm not busy right now. I can take you there, — the king smiled warmly. You smirked a little.

— Alright, if you say so. Lead the way, — you were ready for the fact that now he will go in some direction. But--

— I can carry you in my hand. You see, considering that I'm huge, you may not be able to keep up with me. Therefore, so that you don't have to run after me, I suggest this option.

Okay, that was unexpected.

— What, — that's all you could say.

— Don't worry about it. This isn't the first time I've carried someone, — apparently, he meant Marcy. Or maybe his friends, who knows.

— I'm still not sure... — you hesitated, but... — Ugh, okay. Whatever you say.

Andrias then crouches on one knee, holding out a huge hand to you, palm up. You... were a little caught off guard. It's just that he did it so fast. You gulped and stepped closer. And you VERY carefully climbed into his hand so that God forbid not to cause him inconvenience. And oh my god, it must have looked so awkward from the outside. And you did it! Turns out his palm wasn't that big. Well, definitely not for you. Suddenly, Andrias stands up, and due to the tension of the upward push, you fall. Thank God you didn't fall off his arm. He brought you closer to his face. Oh god, he's so close--

— I hope you're comfortable? — he asked with a raised eyebrow.

— I hope YOU are comfortable, — you answered with a snicker.

— Come on, don't stress yourself out like that. After all, you don't hurt me, — Leviathan's smile seemed to widen.

— I hope so... — in the end, you turned your back to him and sat on your knees. And he went, obviously, towards the library. And you tried to remember the way so as not to get lost next time.

— Tell me, why do you need a library? Are you interested in anything in particular? — the king suddenly asked.

— Oh, you see... I'm interested in Amphibia. I mean, I would like to know more about what to expect in your world, — you turned to him, — There was no library in Wartwood. And I was interested to learn more about your culture, traditions, and dangers. And learn more about... all of you. Your structure, habits in different species--

— I understand. Lucky for you, here is the largest library. You will definitely find what you need. And even more so... we came, — he stopped. You were standing at the large doors leading to the library. Out of habit, you wanted to get off, but in time, you remembered that the ground is quite far from you. Andrias leaned down and lowered his hand to the floor again. You jumped off and turned to him as he began to straighten up.

— Thank you for this.

— No problem! If you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask me. I'll be happy to help, — he smiled kindly and left. When Leviathan disappeared around the corner, you exhaled as if you had been holding your breath all this time. That... was... interesting... it doesn't matter, you've already reached your goal.