Personal Duties

8

Leonan listened, his shoulders resting on the mound of red cashmere pillows placed at the head of his comforter, and its ornately carved frame. His request of terms was largely rhetorical; having obviously made his own deduction, the only variable still left in uncertainty was Mateo's temperament or bloodlust.
Propping up an elbow, the younger male rested his chin atop his palm and wrist, no longer watching the other as he spoke, but instead gazing toward the window and the gentle light flooding the room.
"-It's not merely religion, Lord, you cannot escape the truths that are to be found here; the burdens, the curses that will brand you for all your mistakes. You will suffer, and the suffering of countless others will be incurred by your helplessness, and it's /not/ fair." His voice had began to quiver and lift in its pitch; unable to withstand venting his own thoughts. An idle moment passed as Leonan regained his composition, drawing in a deep breath of air through his nose and holding it.
Curling his fingers, idly rolling them against cheek, Leonan sighed, his eyes turned back again to the other, "I hope that you'll do as best as you can in... all of this. The hardest endeavors of my life have never surpassed my own survival; yours is now the survival of the world entire. ... My terms, as stated, are to be buried to my request at my death, and left undisturbed until the end of time. Unless your... other underlings find me objectionable, I'll help you."

A wide smile broke across Mateo's face, he gingerly reached for Leonan's hand, dropping his forehead to lightly press against the back of the small appendage, "Thank you, Leonan." He was a leader of Frelen, no matter the costs or the curses, he was from a nation of bravery, he would accept the risks.

Standing up, his feet turned on the lush carpet underfoot before his legs began to take him towards the door to consult, his feet driving powerfully into the ground. Making his way half way through the room he stalled, turning to face back before Leonan, "And Leonan?" he started off, a sad smile on your lips, "The more you think of your own death, the more you'll force your body to succumb to it." He lifted the side of his lips in a half smile. "I hope to work with you for years to come before all of our demise, let me know if there's anything I can do to brighten your expression." He dipped his head slightly, respectfully, and turned once more, heading out into the hallway to discuss what has transpired with Aaron.

"Please watch over him, I don't entirely trust him to be alone in his State if you'll understand," Mateo spoke in a hushed tone not wanting to offend the man inside the room if he overheard. Aaron nodded, "Where are you off to?" Mateo's smile slowly grew, "To see if they left anything in that large kitchen of theirs." He chuckled, patting Aaron's arm and waving off his worried expression, "Don't worry, I'll be fine." and with that he turned and walked down the echoing stone corridor, leaving Aaron to head inside.