The Scepter of Arándelis and The Lost Kingdom

6. The key

A few seconds had passed since they left the library when the portal opened at their destination, and both emerged, panting. The golden-haired boy leaned his head against the wall, exhausted and sweating, letting his quiver and bow fall to the floor. Alsan looked around with curiosity.

"Where... are we?"

The blonde boy released the ponytail that held his mane and straightened up. He moved towards a side wall and pressed a button, turning on the light.

"We're at my flat," he replied, discreetly nudging a pair of boxers under the sofa with his foot. "Sorry about the mess... I wasn't expecting visitors."

Alsan smiled faintly and shook his head. He had noticed, though compared to the chaos of the apartment, that was nothing. The place seemed spacious, but the sheer amount of clutter and grime made it feel much smaller.

In front of him, a black sofa was covered in clothes. A stained blue uniform stood out among the garments, probably from work. In front of the sofa, a reddish cabinet held a television and several used glasses. To the left of the entrance, a table piled high with dirty dishes, one with a half-eaten slice of pizza. Behind the table, a large window led to a terrace. To the right, the kitchen was large and seemingly well-equipped, with plenty of cupboards, though the sink overflowed with unwashed dishes. Going from there, at the end of the corridor was a closed door, which he assumed led to the bathroom. To the left of it, a simple bookshelf crammed with papers, books, and manuals surprised him. That guy didn't give him the vibes of being much of a reader—though they had met in a library.

The flat was divided into two floors. A staircase in front of the bookshelf led to a small upper floor. From below, Alsan could see that it was the bedroom. He squinted to make out what was hanging on the wall when a soft cough from the young man interrupted him.

"Oi, mate... You're really giving this place a thorough inspection, aren't you?"

Alsan laughed, scratching his neck sheepishly, somewhat embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'm very curious."

"Yeah, I can see that... Do you want a glass of water or something?"

"No, no. I'm fine, thanks."

The young man sighed and moved to the kitchen, pushing some dishes aside to open a cupboard and pull out a glass.

"These are clean. It's just I've been really busy with work and... well, with other stuff, and I haven't had time to clean."

Caught. Alsan nodded a couple of times, stepping closer.

"Okay, okay."

After filling the glass and taking a sip, Alsan set it aside. There was a brief silence between them.

"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier..."

"It's all right. I suppose I don't inspire much trust at first glance," he replied with a tired smile. He splashed some water on his face, breathing a bit unevenly.

"That's not it. It's just that... she tempted me with something I desperately needed, and I fell for it like an idiot... But I'd trust you more if I at least knew your name. Then I wouldn't have to thank a stranger for saving my life."

The boy wiped his face with his shirt sleeve. He seemed to ponder for a few seconds before answering.

"Kain. My name's Kain," he said, coughing. He leaned against the sink, trying to regain his composure. "Karda..."

"Hey, are you okay?" Alsan asked, worried, moving closer.

Kain stopped him with a raised hand. He closed his eyes, clenching his teeth, trying to suppress a grimace of pain. He grabbed his left arm and, with effort, pulled himself away from the sink.