Darak swallowed hard, ‘Why did you ask about this, this is not a light question, no, wait calm down, see what she wants to know first then move on’ he thought and blinked then looked at her, “Why would you like to know exactly?” he asked.
Meaio glanced down and thought about it then looked at him, “I want to know why they called you that.” she said warmly, her tone felt more curious than prying.
‘So, she wants to know why I have that title’ Darak thought then sighed and spoke. “I got that title after I had to take a trip into hell to retrieve the sultan’s favorite concubine. During my trip alongside Azair and Jason, I was met by an archduke called Lucifer and he called me as such, apparently, he found my skills and mana control to be on par with himself and crowned me as the Dark Prince of Magic.”
“You went into the rings of hell to get the sultan’s concubine?” She asked perplexed by the confession, “But then how did you leave, I thought a soul that is sent there can’t leave.”
“Yes, I did go for a concubine, and the sultan rewarded me more than I could ever spend,” he said back with a hand wave “As for the trip into and out of, it is a simple matter, the gates of hell keep souls that are meant to be there in, but time within is fluid so we just convinced them we were early and hadn’t yet truly died. The demons at the gate believed us when we used magic to tamper with the time they could perceive on this plane, and they thought we were indeed a week early.”
She laughed a bit, “You fooled demons by making the clock change the time it read?” she asked with amusement in her tone that burst into laughter as he nodded.
‘She is beautiful when she laughs’ he thought as he joined her, ‘Her smile right now is divine, and even for a bit I want this time to stop.’ Their mirth slowed and tapered out and he spoke, “It was the worst mission I ever took, even after my visit to the heavens was easier than that.”
“Why did you go to the heavens?” She asks between chuckles.
“The Holy Emperor of Waino wanted to ask his father a question about who his mother really was, had me carry a letter to him and everything, on this plane it was a matter of seconds, but up there it took me a year to cross the seven realms and find the old man.” Darak said back with a bit of a laugh. “I have had to do amazing things to gain my power, and I do not regret any of it.”
“You did all of that over thirteen years overseas?” She asked pointedly.
Darak nodded, “It was not easy, spent my first five just learning magic from whoever would teach me, that's how I met Azair and Jason, Azair, despite his lecherous nature, is a master summoner and has gained infamy in The Arabia Corridor for using his magic to abduct and seduce noble ladies that are unwarded. Jason comes from Irland, and is a master of Seer magic, though he only learned so that he could get drunk without leaving his favorite chair. They were in Frankia trying to run a con on youngsters who wanted to use magic, when they realized that I could indeed use magic they took me in in earnest and taught me as much as I could understand. And finally handing me off after three years to my druidic arts master, who dragged me to The Arabia Corridor so she could meet new spirits, and spent two years learning by proxy, then I went east and to the Lands of Inan, where I learned to meditate and expand my mana point and channels, though I did so alone as no one there wished to teach me.” He subconsciously scratched the scar on his neck. “After about a year and a half there I crossed the mountains with Yair, Voloiar, and Carlos, and reached into the Greater Khan’s Domain. During our trip I learned about Mage arts from Voloiar, he was the Frankian that was here. I learned Priest arts from Yair, and no, we don’t understand how she can use them. I learned Oracle Arts from Carlos from Hispania, they were quite surprised that I could use all those forms on top of my existing skills in the prior three. Then after a half year of trying to find a new teacher, I met Yuie, she taught me how to use sorcerer arts, though she only started teaching me after a year of cooking lessons. It took me two years to fully understand her craft and I moved on to the lands of Waino, there I joined the palace and learned from Master Ryu, he was a grumpy asshole, but he did teach me well, I finally heard rumors of a nation farther east, and used magic to fly there after my trip into heaven. Finding a teacher for a magic school called Huckstar, a dangerous form of magic that uses the soul in its entirety to forge deals with demons. And then I went to help Azair get his record cleared and be allowed back to his home by going to hell. Spent the last years up in Narway learning rune magic from Master Hilda and resting there while studying alone the arts under my belt and gaining mastery over them. Traveled to Frankia about two years ago, to help the king with a curse placed on his daughter, and got titled as a viscount, which I promptly dumped on Voloiar much to his annoyance, as a Frankian can’t give up a title, then about a year ago I and my friends had to work together to stop Alucard, I in a moment of utter insanity created the hundredfold spell to turn him into a familiar under my control, which has been heralded across the mystic realms as a proof of my mastery over magic.” he said and looked to her, the starstruck look in her eyes did pamper his ego a bit, but he smiled, “Sorry got a bit carried away with my story.”
Meaio shook her head and composed herself, “No, it was a short but wonderful tale, I think I see why you told me to keep this ring on, and why you are not yet ready to introduce your friends to me” She said as she turned the ring on her hand over and over, “To think you had gone so far and achieve so much in thirteen years, it would be exhausting to do, I am even amazed by your drive.”
Darak placed his hand on her shoulder, “I do not do things without thought, and I hold to my request for your hand in this marriage, but I know that as my wife you could be targeted so I gave you the strongest item I have for protection, and blessed your son too, so that he would be protected.” He spoke in a soft tone that carried warmth and affection.
Their moment of silence shifted as she looked up into his eyes, her lean closer to him made his heart beat a bit harder, the scent of her washing off her skin clouded his mind, and as he reached his hand up to her neck ready to pull her in a bit faster, Arcaio started to cry, shattering the moment of tension that had been built, and they shared a chuckle before she spoke, “You really are an amazing man, and I feel that tomorrow I will feel even luckier to have been saved by you, Please excuse me” She pulled away and stood while taking her son, cooing as she left.
Darak leaned back into his chair, sighing as he did, ‘Thank you, my son, I was losing that battle.’ he thought to himself, and looked over the table and stood up gathering the dishes on the tray and blew the candles out before carried the tray out and to the kitchen. He locked his eyes with hers as she reached the stairs, a small glimmer of affection in her eyes sent a wave through him, a warm wish to hold her, but he smiled, “Good night, Meaio.”
She smiled back “Good Night, Darak.” she said back and walked up the stairs.
Darak watched her ascend for a few seconds, then turned to the kitchen, placing the tray down and rolling up his sleeves, and started on the dishes, but then a mental words of Zaiz came to him “Master, you are doing the dishes?”
“Yes, I am, is it wrong to do so?” Darak asked back.
“No, but why not use seer arts to clean the dishes?” Zaiz asked back to him.
“Yes, I could, but seer arts are stronger if you know how to perform the action yourself.” Darak said back as he finished with the plates, “I consider this a training, the same way Seer magicians train in the use of swords.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
“So, you are doing this so you can use seer arts later.” Zaiz said.
“Yes, and working with my hands helps me clear my head.” Darak said back.
“Is it Meaio?” Zaiz said as he leaped up to the counter coming to a seat next to him.
Darak let out a sigh, “Is it that obvious.” he stated and got a nod from the cat familiar, “Yeah, i am in trouble, every time I see her my plans and desires shift to no longer looking to undo the nation but to just stand as a wall in front of her and Arcaio, to protect them from anything and everything that could do them harm, it is infuriating to my mind but not because I think it's wrong, just that my wish seems irrelevant like my goals for the past thirteen years are just the goals of a child that is still angry with their parents.” Darak placed the cutlery in the rack after checking them over once more, “ I don’t understand how she has that effect on me, even after traveling the mystic realms, I don’t understand it, and yet she does, and when she does I don’t feel wronged or cheated, It feels like that her gaze upon me is warranted, like some siren song for rest, like I don’t need to hold on to my hate any longer,” He pulled the glasses up and checked them over before setting them in the rack, “But I need to stay focused on my mission, this nation is the only one that practices the level of consolidation of magic that Mistra does not allow, and she has tasked me for that mission. I do want Meaio to stay at my side but the longer I am around her it feels like my mission seems less important.” he said calmly like he was speaking with a child, trying to make sense of the thoughts he had.
“I see, and if you choose to abandon the mission?” Zaiz asked as he lay down.
“Mistra’s hand stays for as long as I am on this mission, I spent three years in the heavens pleading for her to give me a chance along with power, to let me undo this nation for the sake of its common people if I abandoned the mission she will strike this nation down as she did to the Azteks, she will destroy anyone that calls this nation home, a mana fire that even I can’t ward against,” Darak said back while he finished cleaning the tray and setting it to dry on the rack, “I initially convinced her because I wanted my revenge, I wanted to see the nobles bend the knee to a bastard son that they despised, to lord over them as the emperor, to topple there bases of power and rebuild this nation to one where anyone with a mana point can achieve great things, yet now after a day with Meaio, I can’t help but want to succeed for her and Arcaio’s sake, the two don’t have to be mutually exclusive, but it feels wrong to me when I think of blending them togather.” Darak said as he dried his hands, then rolled down his sleeves.
‘Maybe if I go and talk with Mistra I can convince her of a change to my plans, but she may stop lending me her power. That would complicate things.’ he thought then turned around and stopped at the door of the Arcanium, his hand hovering over the handle, ‘Do I have more to make? I have recovered everything I have used and made the pouches for the next spells I would need.’ he pulled back, and turned to go upstairs to his room, ‘Tonight I will sleep, I need to rest and clear my mind, tomorrow I will get more work done and ready.’
As he ascended the stairs he came to a stop as he heard Meaio singing a lullaby, the words were soft and sweet but familiar to him, promises of Acraio’s future and safety, and he listened closely, as the common lullaby was sung, it was not something new or special, it was just a lullaby, yet her voice and the tone she sang it with made his heart sore, as the weight he had from the day cracked and fell away, unable to stand in the darkness he stepped slowly closer and peeked in.
She was sitting in a rocking chair, with Arcaio in her arms, holding him as she fed him, a shawl covering most of her chest but giving her a clear sight of her boy, her eyes watching over the small baby with love and care, a smile for her son on her lips as she sang, her hair hiding her a bit away from him, but her voice soothes his heart, and his mind raced.
‘I would do anything to protect them, that is for sure.’ he thought to himself and leaned a bit away as she continued to sing, this next lullaby was one he knew, he had heard it from his own mother, a call for his silence in exchange for a growing list of gifts, a lullaby that now calmed him to, he shifts a bit ready to leave.
“You can come in if you want.” Meaio’s voice called out to him, and he shuddered.
‘Had she seen me look at her…’ Darak thought but turned back to the door and took a half step in, looking up to her, but found not but her smile for him, her expression showed a bit of embarrassment, but there was also acceptance. “I did not mean to disrupt your singing, I apologize.” he said as the embarrassment of being caught watching her at this time showed.
She shook her head, but looked back up at him, “I heard you coming up the stairs, I don’t mind you listening, but if you do, don’t hide in the dark, you are my husband.” She waved him closer. “He is almost done, and he is already falling asleep, do you want to say good night?”
Darak felt the nerves along his spine race out of him, and he took a hesitant step in, walking slowly so as to not make more noise than needed, until he was standing next to her. The sight of her mostly exposed breast drew his eyes for a second, but he focused and leaned down slowly and kissed the side of Arcaio’s head, pulling back a bit to whisper into his ear, “Good night Arcaio, sleep well and dream of wonders.” he said in a soft and gentle tone, but shuddered as a set of soft lips press against the scar on his neck and didn’t move.
She finally pulled a bit away from her kiss, “Good night my King, sleep well, and thank you again for taking me and my son in.” she whispered before he pulled away.
‘That was... on my… king…?” Darak’s mind stopped functioning, he felt his heart thunder loud enough to drown the world away, and his blood pulsing through him, his eyes locked on to her face, the blush in her cheeks, the sight of her lips that were soft and tender on his scarred skin, the way her hair framed her right now, and the look of affection and tenderness in her eyes. “I…, umm…, Good night to you too.” He stammered out and quickly walked out and to his room.
Leaning against the door in an effort to keep it closed, his hand gently traced over where she had kissed him, the thought of her affection towards him just now was something he had not readied himself for. ‘Did she really just do that? Was it something else, maybe she did it in retaliation to my kiss of her hand this afternoon. Yeah, that's it, she was getting back at me for embarrassing her,” he thought and nodded along with the logic he had summoned but stopped, ‘No, wait then why did she call me her king, or let me get so close when she was exposed like that…’ his breathing quickened, and his heart started pounding again, he could feel his blood rushing as a logical conclusion came to him, ‘she… might… actually…like me?’ the idea of her accepting him as he is aroused a part of him he had not bothered to think about, a part of his that was more than lust.
He leaned forward and walked to his chair collapsing into it before he sighed. “Now you have done it Darak, you have really fallen for her.” He said out into the air over him and closed his eyes calling the look she had just now to his mind, “Why did she have to be the one to have what I need for my mission.”
He took a few seconds to calm himself down then got back up, slowly opening the door and walking to her room, but going a bit farther to the nursery peeking in and finding her singing again, he cleared his throat, “I need to check over the wards and spells in your room, it will not take long.” he said with a forced calm in his voice.
She smiled at him and nodded, without breaking her lullaby, then turned back to watch Arcaio.
Darak watched for a second then moved to her room, walked at the foot of her bed, closed his eyes, and allowed his mana to reach out and around the room, feeling it bounce back towards him as he willed different minor and major spells against the walls and doors, the return of his mana told him everything was fine and she was indeed safe within her room, and as he was about to complete the check he felt a pair of hands press on his back forcing his eyes open and he started to turn but stopped as she spoke.
“Don’t look.” She said her voice sounded shy, “I just wanted to feel your magic at work, but I am not decent, so don’t look.”
Darak swallowed then let out a slow exhale, “I am actually done, the wards are still strong and the protective spells are working as intended.” he lowered his hands to his sides, “You flustered me earlier, I was not expecting you to kiss me, let alone there.” he said a bit sheepishly, he wanted to tell her more but felt it would be inappropriate to do so now.
“Oh, I have managed to fluster the master of the hundredfold spell…” She said back as she slid her hands over to his abdomen, pulling him in a bit. “Does that happen often?”
Darak’s mind railed a bit at her actions now but wanted to make sure and allowed a simple detection spell out yet found no magic influencing her actions. “It does not, I pride myself on my control over my emotions, and I rarely ever get flustered,” he reached up and covered her hands in his, “But you are different, around you I feel like I can relax, and stop hiding how I feel.” he said slowly to keep calm as he feels her chest press against his back.
“You are nothing like your family, you are controlled, you resist your urges, and you are kind and thoughtful. When you told me your goal this morning I thought it was a jest, something to unnerve me, yet you have been nothing but honest with me when I asked you questions.” she shifted her hands and started undoing the buttons of his shirt, “I want to show you my appreciation of your vow to me and my son, I want to be of more use to you then just as an assistant, I want you to come to me when you have a need, I can feel it now its faint but your aura, it feels intoxicating.” her voice as she spoke was inviting, a soft and sweet tone that promised that whatever would happen next would be enjoyable to him. “So, come and use me, as your partner and wife, I have seen how you stare when you think I am not looking, a longing gaze that I know is driven by your thoughts and desire for my body.”
Darak shuddered as he felt her kiss the top of his spine, the feeling of her soft hand that had found its way under his shirt, the warm caress of her breath as she spoke to him. But he sucked in a hard and deep breath, then stopped her hands. “I am sorry, but no,” He felt her pull a bit away, “It is not that I don’t want to, or that I find it wrong for us to do so, but I want you to come to me only when you are truly ready for this. Until then I will be fine, I don’t want you to force yourself to do anything, I may be a man, but I am not a weak man who is driven by those desires, I will keep protecting you even if you never come to me, I vowed to protect you without any requirement for you.”
She pushed back in and hugged him tight, “And what would you do if I said that I am ready now?” She asked into his back.
Darak sighed, and spoke back, “I would ask you if you truly loved me, or if this is just lust.”