Their ti at Joe's Tavern trickled to an odd end.
After fretting on such a damning topic, such as the King and the state of the world, the two drifted to a much less aningful, but more aningful, discussion of colors.
"I'm telling you, red is the best! It goes with everything!"
"Are you nuts, Piri! Green! Green is the best color there is!"
Ixion shouted back:
"Green?! Dia, you're betraying your entire aesthetic! What about blue or silver?"
Dia laughed, took a sip of her own Joe's Super Ale, and replied:
"Blue and silver? Those are such depressing colors! The color of sadness and lancholy and all that."
Ixion fell forward and laughed more than he had in his entire life.
'Ah…'
How much he'd give to have traded his life with a commoner at birth. Actually, anyone else…
'Except the twins.'
Ixion bead a smile at Dia.
The woman who spoke of King Ixion so easily when his na usually got stuck on the tip of a tongue.
The woman who would slander Despair without a second thought. Refuse societal constructs without fear.
Make light of the terrible situation with the King.
That woman?
She. She was dangerous.
Perhaps the most dangerous woman Ixion had ever t.
***
After paying, Dia and Pirithous (Ixion) exited onto the cobbled streets.
Ixion, unlike when in his main body, could actually get slightly inebriated since his Aether lay dormant unless he willed it.
Dia, on the other hand…
"Piri! Piri! Where we off to now?"
She gripped onto his arm and snuggled close, rubbing her head on his shoulder.
Ixion looked down at Dia and into her pleading eyes.
'I don't really know…'
Ixion only ant to visit the tavern and return to his real body; he made no plans after.
"Do you have anything in mind?"
The girl laughed as she stood on her toes and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Mmm. What about your place?"
Ixion sighed, patted Dia's head, then adjusted her hat.
"Let's try not to give your father any more reasons to torture ."
'Besides…'
Ixion was mightily curious about this platinum-haired woman. Yet, he was also cautious around her.
Those who could attack Aether were rare, and those who could attack the Soul were near non-existent. Yet, there was still a chance she possessed the ability.
This woman was a mystery.
He wasn't going to put himself in a vulnerable situation with soone whose soul was tainted.
Even if it was unlike any blemish he'd ever seen before.
Dia rose slightly, pushing her toes into the ground.
"Awee. Co on!"
Slling the ale on her breath, Ixion asked:
"Dia, have you not drunk ale before? Wait… How old are you?!"
The girl laughed.
"Of course I haven't drunk ale, I'm 13—"
"What?!"
Ixion tried to step away, but Dia held him tightly. Even leaning up and trying to kiss him.
'By the gods!'
Ixion felt fear for the first ti in years as her lips drew closer.
'Soone. Call the patrol! Royal Guard! Royal Assassins! Anyone! This Pirithous fellow is a creep! Lock this pervert away!'
Dia stopped her advance then laughed at Ixion's horrified expression.
"13 days past my twentieth birthday!"
Ixion fixed his hair, which had fallen in his eyes.
"You. Don't play with a man like that?! Don't make them think they're a creep! That's our greatest fear in life!"
Dia chuckled lightly.
"Oh? Not death?"
Ixion bellowed:
"Of course not?! Being labeled a child creeper is a fate worse than death! Well, if it's true, then you deserve that fate… But if it's not!"
Dia's shoulders bounced up and down as she pushed her forehead into Ixion's tunic. The corners of her lips curled up, and she said:
"Sorry, sorry. I'm usually such a refined woman and all, but it seems this excursion has brought out the worst in ."
Ixion sighed as he rubbed his head with his free hand.
"I think it's the ale…"
The beautiful woman giggled as Ixion began to walk.
"Where are we going? And aren't you supposed to carry ?"
Ixion marched down the alley, back toward the way they ca. He asked Dia:
"Where do you live?"
The woman stopped in her tracks, pulled on Ixion's sleeve, and blushed.
"Oh my?! How bold of you, Piri! I didn't think you had it in you?"
Ixion pald his face and shook his head.
"You know that's not what I ant. You should probably return ho. I don't exactly know your situation, but if your father is as overprotective as you say, it won't be long until he cos looking for you."
Dia laughed.
"Overprotective? Him? He protects the world from !"
Ixion lightly smiled at the cute girl.
"Is that how you see it?"
Suddenly, a cold chill shot down Ixion's spine, and he felt his soul rattle.
A familiar feeling…
An all too familiar feeling.
'I see. So that's who…'
'He has even more secrets than I thought.'
'Also, he wouldn't hurt a fly? My ass!'
Ixion coughed and then sent Dia's soul into shock, causing the girl to faint. He caught her form in his arms.
'Backed by soone dangerous, huh. That was the answer in this case.'
Ixion looked over into the darkness.
"It seems you've learned quite the trick, Despair."
Being able to hide his damnable soul from Ixion? Quite impressive.
'It ans he learned to be aware of his soul…'
Not only that.
"I didn't know you had a child."
It explained her soul.
The tainted part.
It was inherited, not earned. Which was why it was both pure and corrupt.
Ixion added:
"I've been looking for you. So nice of you to co to . Since you're already here, why not co out?"
A tall man with dark hair stepped out of the shadows and greeted Ixion. His face appeared youthful, untouched by age.
His eyes were bleak and hollow.
Despair spoke slowly:
"Ixion, my friend. Why don't you hand the girl to and go back to your palace? Play pretend a little longer."
Ixion looked down at Dia.
"The girl? Not even calling her by na? Do you hold no love for her?"
'Is she his child or not?'
If so, how did Despair keep her hidden for so long? How did Ixion not know?
'Is she so random girl he found on the streets?'
Ixion tried to use her age, assuming she hadn't lied about it, to discern when she was born.
It didn't entirely add up…
"Who are you to speak of love, Ixion?"
Ixion laughed.
"You know, sotis the truth hurts, Despair! Learn so manners and lie!"
Despair's face betrayed not a single emotion.
"Give her to . She's not what you think she is."
'Interesting word choice.'
Ixion smiled:
"Oh, Despair, have you not learned anything about dealing with ? You only made curious as to 'what' she is!"
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