Inquiring the King: The Case of the Lost Bond

[Bakery]

    "It looks like it's finally clearing up.." Seraphina noted as she set down the tray of tea on the short table in front of Rucian. Her gaze was locked outside toward the garden, where the sun had just started to poke through the clouds.

    It was a muggy morning full of rain and humidity but now that the rain had cleared, it had begun to become blissfully warm- much like the weather in fall. Rucian, King of the Verengeith, glanced outside and flicked a strand of his long hair out of his face, picking up a tea cup with both hands.

     "It seems it is." he agreed monotonously before taking a sip of the tea and sighing quietly. It was so peaceful...He enjoyed it immensely. Casting a brief glance toward Seraphina, who had begun to sit beside him, Rucian set his cup down and turned his gaze back toward the letter before him.

     "I have a meeting today. So perhaps, my lover," Rucian spoke quietly, the tiniest of playful glints in his emerald green eyes appearing as he reached his hand out to grasp Seraphina's tail, "You should hide your appendage."

    He spoke softly and tugged her blonde tail gently, stroking the end of it lightly with his pointer finger.

    Giving out a small yelp to the sudden touch, Seraphina yanked her tail away and sighed, "Alright. I'll go make sure everything is ready for their visit. When will they be here?"

    "He. And soon." Rucian corrected and gave a tiny smirk as he picked up his cup once more to drink from it. The heat of the liquid misted against his lips and the smell wafted into his nostrils. It calmed him..

    At least the visitor hadn't come to fight- a simple meeting of words should be easy and not require so much energy...Perhaps he would go for a walk later...Or just take the guest on a walk with him and Seraphina.

    "Seraphina," Rucian called before taking another sip, his eyes turning once more to the garden outside, just drying off from the earlier rain, "When he arrives, have him meet me in the garden...I think I will go for a walk."

    "As you wish..." Seraphina nodded and picked up the empty tray from the table. "I'll go wait for him to arrive then.."

[clouds just clouds]

Of course it had been raining, and of course it stopped as soon as he reached this guy's place. Always prepared, he shook off the umbrella he had been using, only to have it taken away as soon as he was seen by some of the servants. No time to back out now. In fact, he had thought of it several times. In his bag, which he left back at the hotel, he had a letter that explained to Rucian, the great king of his enitre race, that he unfortunately got sick and couldn't see him with the deepest apologies that could ever be offered.

Not that he really knew. Why was he coming to see the king out of all people? To look like an idiot in front of the very person who had created his entire existence? A blush already started to tinge his cheeks, but he tried to force it away and remain impassive. Marcellus had taught him that much.

"This way, sir," a door opened and Calix stepped inside. His heart fled away, but left echoing beats of panic in his chest. Lifting his eyes, he saw a woman who looked young, but he knew much better than that. In fact, he felt her power. This wasn't the king, was it?

All of Calix's words caught in his throat, but he somehow managed to remain impassive. Maybe he should pretend to be mute and have to write everything down. Oh yes, that is why I sent a letter that I had to of written at least fifty times. Fifty? Yes. I had to perfect the e on "dear". Even if he worked to show absolutely nothing, it felt as if his very bones were trembling in anxiety.

How was he suppose to act? He knew basics, but what if there were critical things he was suppose to do, and he didn't know them? What if he just walked into his own deathtrap? And then his bondmate would deteriorate without knowing that he was suppose to find a new baby to mutate.

"Hello," Calix said quietly, his voice somehow managing to remain soft when all he wanted to do was turn and fly away. "I am Calix and I have requested audience with the king, if you please."

[Bakery]

Looking over Calix carefully, Seraphina gave a nod and took a step forward, meeting his gaze. "We've been expecting you, Calix. Follow me." she motioned, turning toward a set of doors and holding one open for Calix to walk through.

    The door opened up to an old Asian style hallway, with beige wooden floors and paper sliding doors, leading down a long corridor. If Calix stepped in the hallway, she would close the door and lead him down the hallway in silence.
   
    With a neutral face, Seraphina glance toward him from the corner of her eye, studying Calix carefully. He was new, alright. Not fresh out of the womb but not an old Verengeith either- and she could swear he was trying his best to hold back his emotions...What kind of Verengeith had he had for a master? She knew she wasn't one to speak- when she was a younger Verengeith her emotions were all over the place, Still...Should she speak to him? Did he know how to greet the King?

      She should probably ask him...

    "I am Seraphina, Bondmate to the King, by the way. Have you been educated on how to address the King?" she asked, stopping right before the end of the hallway, her hand resting on the sliding door. "Don't worry. It isn't anything too formal but I advise that you address him by his title at least once or twice."

[clouds just clouds]

Calix couldn't say anything else. He expected to find some sort of eerie when he was going to meet the king, but instead, his anxiety only got worse. It was harder to gain control of his emotions and keep the reeled in. Her voice surprised him, making him flinch. His eyes glanced up at her. He must have been easier to read himself. By now, his heart was flying around in his chest. A breath left him and he turned his head away from her. The king's bondmate.

Swallowing thickly, Calix tried to stop his anxiety from filling his face. "So no bowing?" He managed to say, glancing up at her. His breath had quickened, and he tried to force it to calm. "Your majesty? Right? O-Or is it your highness?" Once again, his cursed cheeks heated. Instead of looking up at her, he stared at the ground and counted to ten.

He wasn't going to live through this, was he?

[Bakery]

    Seraphina fought off a smile as she turned toward him, arms crossing over her chest. "Nah, there's no bowing here. And it's just 'my King' or 'my Liege'. Either is fine, whatever you can remember in his presence will do."

    With a smirk on her lips, Seraphina turned back toward the sliding door and opened it up, revealing a bountiful garden full of flowers and many exotic plants. The view of green cascaded as far as the eye could see and the roof of the pavilion poked through the top, the glass glinting in the sunlight. If one were to focus, it would seem as if the whole garden was shining, illuminating the eyes of any onlookers. Brilliant floral scents wafted through the air and birds and bugs sang in the distance, flying about the garden.

    "If you'll follow me..." Seraphina motioned and led him through the garden and too the pavilion.

    The pavilion, made out of glass and wood, sat in the middle of a shallow pond, built directly in the middle.

    Once they reached it, a figure would be standing near the railing of the pavilion, observing the garden in all its glory. His hair, long and blond, was worn down and the straight strands brushing against the ground and even pooling together in some areas. He work a dark blue and black hakama, with a white kimono overcoat. His pale skin glistened in the sun, illuminating his entire body with an eerie glow, almost matching that of the suns.

    "My Liege, I have brought your guest, as you requested." Seraphina spoke softly, her voice taking on a new tone as she motioned toward Calix.

    The King didn't turn toward them, but instead gave a nod before turning, sparing one last glance to the garden growing just outside the ponds reach.

    "Thank you, Seraphina." he nodded, "Welcome, young one. I am King Rucian, Founder and creator of the Verengeith race. It's a pleasure to meet you." he turned his bright emerald eyes to Seraphina and Calix, offering a neutral face and a stoic look in his eyes.

    "I hope you don't mind meeting with me in my garden. It was too nice of a day to turn down spending some time outside."

[clouds just clouds]

Calix felt like he should through himself to the ground and kiss the very ground this guy walked on. Seriously. His heart literally stopped and he forget entirely how to speak, much less what words were. His entire mask broke and his brows fell together. Quickly, he looked away and turned his head away, swallowing. His breaths came out too fast and he fought to hold them back.

Come on, Calix, remember how to breathe. It really isn't that difficult. Blinking a few times, he managed to wipe the emotion from his face and he glanced up at Rucian. "My King," Calix started to stay, but it all came out in a wispy breath. Maybe he should just throw himself over a cliff, or ask them to kill him now. He stared down at Rucian's feet. This guy is the real deal. His hair was long--longer than his previous bondmate's, and it fit this guy--I got to stop calling him that. He's my king. "Thank you, my liege," Calix managed, unable to raise his eyes, "for taking conference with me."

His heart was going to burst. "I-It's a great pleasure to meet you," his voice became smaller, and he fought to make it an actual voice. Gods, he was a failure for all verengeith. An embarrassment, really. His blush refused to die down, and his voice kept disappearing. "If you could, please, my liege..." It didn't really matter if he finished that last sentence because his voice had decided to run away along with every last bit of his dignity. He should have pretended to be mute. Annoyed with himself, he let out a sigh.

[Bakery]

Rucian, patiently waiting for the words Calix was trying to say, stared on directly with a stoic gaze. Unfaltering, his emerald eyes remainded on Calix, watching as the poor boy damn near shriveled up in Rucian's presence. An amused glint came to his eyes as he waved his hand as if to dismiss the formality in Calix's thanks.

 "I am a King. It is not often I get to speak with my subjects. Many times others visit strictly on business. This however, judging from your letter is quite an unusual case." Rucian noted and unfolded his arms from his sleeves, motioning over to the table set up in the middle of the pavilion, "But please. Sit. We may address the matter at hand when you have relaxed a bit more."

Sitting down himself, Rucian glanced up toward his Bondmate, meeting the blonde gaze fearlessly, the strong connection between them almost tangible as he spoke. "Seraphina, my love, would you bring some more tea out for us? It seems our guest is in need of some calming remedies. Unless, of course," Rucian turned to Calix- if he were going to sit down across from him. "You would prefer something else? We have many beverages to offer and we can accommodate all of your needs while you are here."

[clouds just clouds]

Calix moved to sit down, letting out another breath. I'm so embarrassing. He sat down and made his spine straighter than he's ever had it before, but he still didn't look up at the king. Instead, he decided to calm himself by looking around at the garden. It helped, a little. "Oh," Calix didn't think and looked back at the king, his eyes falling into the king's bright green ones. He dropped his gaze, one of his brows twitching as he tried to formulate words. "I've never had tea before, but I'll try it." He nearly had a heart attack and scrambled to say, "Thank you, my liege," but it came more out as one single word.

Clutching tightly onto his pants, he fought to control his breath. Again, he looked up at the garden and scenery around him. It would be fun to paint this, he thought, looking at the beauty of it. Slowly, he leaned back a bit, relaxing a tad. Figuring that the king hadn't made a move to kill him yet that he might as well amuse him.

Glancing over at Rucian, he stared at his hands. "A-As I stated, I didn't have the best... connection to my previous bondmate, i-if you don't mind me jumping right into this, my liege, but I don't want to waste your time, u-um," Calix cleared his throat and plowed on. "When I said that I am... a bit under-educated about our race..." He reached up and ran his fingers through his light blonde hair, which was a bit damp from the earlier rain. "I actually..." He blushed deeply. "Well, um, my liege, I made a bondmate, a-as you know, but, the woman who had him, or...her..." He muttered the last part. "She, well... disappeared and... it's been some years now, and I've looked around for a bit, and I haven't--" Have I spoken too long without saying my king? "--located... my bondmate. And, I don't... really know how to, what, do that thing where, you know, call people with your mind?" He twirled his finger through the air, but as he said it, annoyance poisoned his tone.

He hated the calling thingy with his mind.

[Bakery]

Rucian, patiently listening to Calix, watched the boy as he spoke. It was amusing, how flustered the poor boy got by just looking into his eyes. Was he that scary? He'd have to ask Seraphina later on...

"If you find you don't fancy it, we can bring you a different drink. Seraphina, bring water as well, please. Oh and some snack of some kind." he instructed as he turned to the lavender eyed woman, who gave a nod and walked back they way she had led Calix here.

Rucian, amused by the boy, made a mental note to count how many times he addressed him so formally. Not that it was a game, but the nervous boy said it so much that it would probably be a new record. At least for the next fifty years or so. Things like that should be remembered.

"Interesting..." Rucian remarked, stroking his chin as he listened to Calix. "Summoning. You are not sure how to summon? Typically it is a second nature to a master but cases like this do occasionally come up. Very well then, I shall teach you. However, I would like to ask a few questions of my own before we jump immediately into the remedial lessons."

   Rucian spoke softly, his voice carrying a neutral tone, calming and assuring. He could feel the air on his skin, the sunlight shimmering down through the frosted glass. A part of him pitied the poor boy before him, so nervous just to meet him. It happened usually, with the younger Verengeiths whom Rucian encountered, and this was nothing new.

Perhaps, judging from his letter, he should have the boy stay here a while- at least until they had taught him how to summon. Or maybe have him summon his lost Bondmate and have him stay here until they arrived. It shouldn't be that long- if he had lost his Bondmate and the bond hadn't been worked on, then the emergency and immediateness would be evident and they should arrive shortly. Yes, that was a good idea. And it would allow him to explain, with the aid of Seraphina or Rucian himself, what exactly the Bondmate was and the likes. Not having known very well himself, Rucian guessed Calix could use some help with that. Not to mention Rucian had the time to spend on helping- it wasn't like he was doing anything too terribly important. It wasn't often he got to interact with the younger members of this race and who knows? He could provide more amusement.

[clouds just clouds]

Calix could feel his pulse in his throat, his own steel blue eyes watching Rucian. "Y-You're going to teach me?" He said it out loud, only because repeating it in his head didn't make it seem real, and his mind was already buzzing. He looked down at his hands. For a moment, he was able to erase all the anxiety from his face and make it become a complete lack of emotion. The last time someone tried to "teach" him, it didn't go too well. Those days always ended in screaming and shouting, and the occasional object throwing.

With the most guarded expression he's had since he came here, Calix looked up at Rucian. "Th-Thank you... m-my liege. I'll answer as much as your questions as I can." He tapped his fingers on his leg so he wouldn't bounce it.