The Treasure Seeker: Saga 1 - Etrian Odyssey 5 Fanfiction (BoyxBoy/BL)

Chapter 13

AN: *smashes head against keyboard* I want these headaches to leave me alone ;^; A rather short chapter this week. It's more of an info dump but I hope you enjoy anyway. It has Ramus in it so that alone should be enough to warrant a read, right?

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Chapter 13:

The quickest and easiest way to travel to the Council Hall was by hitching a ride on a carriage. Thankfully they pass by the Crescentia frequently, so it wasn't hard for them to hail one.

Sitting in the back of a carriage, however, gave Drayce time to think and ponder. And the main theme of his thoughts was of course this Radiant Moon. He was more than certain that he had heard it somewhere before. There was a story about it. He just couldn't remember the exact story, the exact words.

The word compassion was extremely important to the tale as well.

Only those with compassion in their hearts will see the light of the Radiant Moon...

That was all he could remember. What that meant, he didn't know. He didn't even know if it was connected. He felt in his gut it was significant, though. He just knew that it was important.

It wasn't until the carriage came to a halt did Drayce realise they had reached their destination. He had been in his head the entire ride, not paying attention to anything else.

"Get your head in the game," Blayke said to him as he nudged him to the exit the carriage with his foot. "What's got you so preoccupied? I mean besides the obvious."

Drayce hopped out of the carriage and ran a hand through his hair. "That...thing," he said, unwilling to utter the real words aloud. "I've heard it somewhere before. I know I have. And it's driving me crazy!"

Blayke didn't look surprised but he nodded his head idly anyway. "Well, you will have to return to your thoughts later," he recommended. "Don't start muttering under your breath incoherently in front of Ramus, ok?"

Drayce gave him a purely indignant look and planted his hands on his hips. "I don't talk under my breath."

Giving his usual response of rolling his eye in a way that was damn near contempt, Blayke ignored Drayce's pouting as he turned his attention to the carriage driver. As he spoke with the man, offering a few coins for the lift, Drayce found himself drifting to his thoughts once more. More specifically trying to find the right words to tell Ramus what had recently happened.

Everything he knew, at least. He didn't have all the information yet, but felt it would be best to at least give Ramus a head's up to what he's been up to.

"Let's go," Blayke said, pulling Drayce from his thoughts once again. "The sooner we talk to Ramus about this, the better."

"Right," Drayce said as they turned to the stairs and headed inside.

Once more Ramus stood atop of a flight of stairs, dutifully speaking with explorers and locals alike. Thankfully the line to reach the prince wasn't as long as it usually was. After only a few minutes, it was Drayce and Blayke's turn to approach the prince. And Ramus smiled politely at them at first, but that smile turned genuine when he recognised them.

"Oh, hello again," Ramus greeted. "Have you come in regards to the mission?"

Drayce scratched the back of his neck as he gave him a lopsided grin. "Ah, about that. We've hit a little snag, so to speak. Could we talk somewhere private?"

Ramus appeared momentarily startled before he once again smiled royally politely. "Yes, of course," he said as he motioned in the direction of his office with his hand. "Let's return to my office."