A refreshing wash of relaxed mind and muscle greeted Ixion as he stretched in his bed. The faint scent of lavender clinging to the air.
Unlike Ixion, the shadows seed a little restless.
"Ah, I never wish to be a thrall again!"
Oh, how he didn't envy those guards who stood and walked all hours of the day.
Sowhere beyond his chamber, distant footsteps echoed in a steady rhythm, a quiet reminder of his burdens. Ignoring his usual routine, he didn't even bother to check his Soul Scripture.
He'd already been reminded enough of the path he must walk.
Ixion slipped out of bed and got dressed. The fabric of his attire falling neatly into place.
"How nice of her to return it."
His autobiography lay on his personal desk in pristine condition. Thumbing through the pages, he confird they were all intact, then slid it into the drawer and took out the scroll of desire.
Giving "No Regrets" a once-over, he rolled it up and dropped it atop "Noble Path of a True King." then shut the drawer and locked it.
"What to do, what to do…"
As much as his list of desires needed tending to after being ignored for a few days, Ixion eventually decided to stay true to his original goal of spending the day with Runa.
That should be a good way to cool off after forcing himself to dwell on terrible tis and recall worse ones.
Making sure his clothes were in order, Ixion left and made for the chancery, finding Andrea neck-deep in papers. Stacks of parchnt threatened to topple from her desk, ink still wet on several pages as her hand moved in hurried, practiced strokes.
All he said was:
"I've solved the little poison problem."
"Huh?"
Andrea's quill froze mid-scratch, a bead of ink pooling at the tip before dropping onto the page.
"Work on getting a redy for those infected, but no more poisoned food will be left in the sewers."
"Wait—"
Ixion closed the door and humd as he made his way toward the dining hall. The corridor stretched long and quiet before him, banners swaying faintly in the draft as servants and guards parted instinctively at his approach.
After he ate his 'fair share' he found his way to Runa, who was dusting a vase.
'I feel like this exact situation has happened before…'
The vase was delicate, etched with fine patterns that caught the light as she turned it carefully and slid the goose-feathered duster across it.
His shadow swallowed her smaller fra, stretching across the polished floor, not allowing her to ignore his presence.
With a fidgety turn, she bowed before Ixion.
"I greet you, Your Majesty."
'I wonder if she'll beco scared of vases…'
Ixion smiled.
"Runa! Follow , my dear."
All of a sudden, the jester dropped from the ceiling, landing on the delicate vase, shattering it.
"Oopsie! Ixion, Ixion! Gyah! You look angry!"
'Perhaps this is revenge for denying her the previous night.'
The jester scooted away, throng the shards of the shattered vase all around the halls. The other maids all watching with pleading eyes knowing they'd have to clean it up.
Ixion sighed and pointed. The jester received the ssage clearly. Flipping to her feet and skedaddling.
Once the jester buggered off, Ixion smiled again and looked back at Runa, who had grown quite used to the jester's odd actions and barely batted an eye even after watching her fall from the ceiling.
Ixion clapped and said:
"Now, now, Runa! When's your lesson with Se'van?"
The Lord of Truth chirped:
"Fuck you!"
'Ah, I love this bird.'
If only everyone were as sensible as the Lord of Truth.
Runa looked at the bird and went back to swinging it rhythmically. The cage creaked softly with each swing, the small creature inside fluttering just enough to keep its balance, but eventually it cald and just let itself be repeatedly bashed into the walls of the cage.
"It's in three hours."
"Ah, good, good. So you have ti to keep company."
Runa looked around at the empty halls.
The silence of the corridor pressed in, broken only by the distant murmur of palace life far beyond their imdiate space.
"What is it you wish to do?"
Ixion smiled.
"Follow to the garden."
Runa tilted her head, looking up at the broad-shouldered Ixion.
Her ears twitched slightly, betraying a mix of curiosity and quiet caution.
"What are we going to do there?"
Looking down at her with a smile, Ixion said:
"At my last dance lesson, Se'van ntioned you have grown well at sensing Aether and reading your Soul Scripture. I want to see your Aspect in action."
Runa flicked her tail slowly, the end snapping like a whip. The motion was sharp and controlled, hinting at a restrained tension beneath her otherwise composed deanor.
"Isn't it improper to reveal anything about one's Aspect?"
"Ah, you can reveal it to , dear Runa!"
"It's the reason I brought you here, after all."
Sloth had been quite particular that he bring Runa to his side.
The cat woman sighed, perhaps knowing she hadn't the luxury of choice in the matter.
"I guess. Though I don't really understand it well myself."
Ixion turned, leading them to a long hallway with a grand door at the end.
The door lood tall and ornate, its carved surface depicting intertwining vines and blooming flowers frozen in stone.
"That's alright, my dear Runa."
The two reached the doors, after which the guard stepped aside and let them through.
Armor shifted with a soft clink as the guard bowed his head, eyes lowered in silent deference. Though his eyes seed to hold so hint of scorn as he looked at Runa.
Runa and Ixion stepped onto a stone pathway surrounded by flowers and hedges.
Color burst into view, vibrant petals swaying gently in the breeze as the air grew softer and scented with blooming life.
Runa couldn't stop herself from saying…
"How beautiful."
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