Once Upon a Story [ HIATUS ]

Longing

I know the start is blunt, but I was about to nap when my brain made this up, so we started there 🤣 I was reading the Daughter of Sparta series at the time, and it heavily inspired the setting and people involved. The names not found in the index are from a name generator.

Index (greek terms, translated from the internet):
ánthos: blossom, flower
Ílios: sun
Fengári: moon
putána: whore/bitch

If anyone is interested in a second part, you can request it in a comment. I wrote this out of the blue without a plan, but I'm willing to continue the story if anyone is interested.

Word count: 2380
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"You called Master Ílios?"

"Please, Ílios will suffice."

"But master–"

"That is an order, Chryssa."

She set her broom aside, hand on her hips. "Why?"

"I wish to be your friend."

"Friendship would demand we know each other personally." She inclined her head questioningly. "What do you know about me besides my name?"

"You're quiet but have an outspoken mind. You love spending your free time in the garden, sleeping or reading. Your natural talent for musical arts is also quite enchanting. Perhaps a favourite of Clio and Euterpe."

She laughed. "You would be the first to ask."

"Oh? What secrets are you hiding, Chryssa?"

She shrugged, smiling innocently. "No more than your mother."

He sauntered around her. "Should I introduce myself, or have the rumours sufficed to create my profile?"

"Ílios, the second son of Myron Xenedis," she started. "A boy named after the sun, who prefers living in the shadows. Your mother's heritage has blessed you with extensive knowledge of herbs and their healing properties," she added. "You avoid your brother and his entourage like the plague and spend most of your time studying in the library or your special office. I assume you have your share of potions in there, but I can't say for sure."

She paused for a moment, thinking of more things to stay. "You bite your lip when you're nervous. People think your attitude is arrogant, but it's more a disinterest in social trivialities. Something your brother loves to entertain," she said, mumbling towards the end. "And lastly, I view you as perhaps the few of the Xenidis family whose head is still on their shoulders."

Ílios raised a brow and quirked his head, surprised. He was impressed and a little concerned. "You're observant."

"I note what people allow me to see," she shrugged. "Some people are easier to read than others."

Ílios bit his lip. "Do you think me a shallow man?"

"Not at all," Chryssa reassured him. "You have complex emotions that people struggle to decipher. Despite your blank expression, your eyes reveal everything you think about. But it depends on the person. Your brother can't tell you're annoyed with him, even though your smile tilts crooked on one side."

The boy chuckled, "He is rather aloof."

"How kind of you to say," Chryssa said with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "I expected the self-absorbed behaviour to be the center of your comment."

He stifled a laugh. "Reporting the obvious is a waste of my breath."

"Fair point."

The doors swung open, and the pair immediately flinched.