Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 48: Painted Reality

"So, what room is it you wanted me to paint?" Eory's voice echoed through the empty halls as did his footsteps. Everyone was either in bed or eating.

It's just me and Maruka... Eory thought to himself.

He probably has ulterior motives for seeing you just like you do for him. Taylor warned him as he trailed behind Maruka.

I don't think he does. He seems lonely—like he wants company... Eory remembered seeing the supposed-human crying bitter tears in the hallway. He said he was a prisoner... I can relate to that.

Taylor sighed. You're so foolish. Those could have been fake tears and a fake story to pull at your foolish heart strings.

Eory shrugged. How bad could his intentions possibly be?

"Oh, y-you'll see. I want it to be a surprise." Maruka answered his question mysteriously.

Eory commented aloud to Maruka as they began climbing a staircase, "Astral Elves sure aren't ones for decorations, are they? There's nothing in these halls..."

Maruka chuckled in response. "N-no. T-they're very logical and straightforward people. That's why I need your help painting this r-room."

Eory panted as he continued up the stairs; when he reached the top, he asked Maruka, "so, the Astral Elves run this place, right?"

Maruka nodded. "Yeah. I just w-work as a kind of... Commander, here. Astral Elves are incredibly efficient, but they're not good at teaching or leading. They help plenty on the battlefield, of course, and run the place behind the scenes."

Eory pushed himself harder to keep pace with Maruka and exclaimed without thinking, "unlike you! You're amazing! You've taught me—or Taylor--so much in just three days! You're a great teacher!"

Maruka covered a grin with his hand. "W-well, I try my best, but I w-wish the Astral Elves would give me just a few more days to train recruits."

The selkie playfully nudged Eory. "I-I also wish I had been training you and not Taylor. You should get that discrepancy in your identity sorted out for your own good. Taylor is insolent."

...I hate him. Let's go to bed instead. Taylor demanded.

But Eory ignored her.

Maruka marched forward down the eerie, gray hallway in front of them and threw open the second door on the left.

In contrast to the dreary halls which were not lit, this wide, circular room was bathed in warm, orange firelight from torches on the walls. The room was a glorious, empty, iron canvas which Eory drank in with great excitement. His mind was abuzz with dozens of ideas of what he wanted to paint.

In the center of the room were barrels of paint filled with every color under the sun.

Eory walked forward with his heart pounding in excitement. He did a spin to get a good look at the empty room. His voice echoed as he asked, "What is this room?"

Maruka stayed at the entrance with a smile on his face. "Normally, it's an armory. B-but we cleared out all the weapons and armor for the time being so you could paint it."

The smile wouldn't leave Eory's face as his eyes roamed over his limitless canvas. His mouth wobbled and a happy tear rolled down his cheek.

Without thinking, he threw his arms around Maruka. "Thank you..."

Maruka looked over his shoulder in surprise. He felt an unfamiliar warmth bloom in the pit of his lonely stomach.

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