Seth could already feel puddles of water beneath his feet, whispers, and a small breeze as they walked. He wanted to cover himself or just rip his skin off and wear them as clothes at the sound of the various murmurs. He couldn’t make out a single voice, but the fact they were there, and he was on full display it felt like a million mocking voices that could shrink far enough away from. Marcus noticed the tension around the child, stopped, took one large step back to walk next to him. He placed one firm hand on his back and felt all the tension melt away in his hand. Normally he wouldn’t care, but he felt the need to do something.

“We are here. I will unbind your hands.”

Seth stretched and lowered his hands. Marcus observed where Seth’s subconscious met with reality and ran down his back. “Thank you.” The boy cleared the huskiness from his throat then lightly bowed. “I will restore your eyesight. It’s startling to most at first so close your eyes. Open them slowly on my command.” Seth felt him touch his thumb to his temple; heard him stepping back. “Now.” That was his cue. Seth opened his eyes. A constellation of freckles. Marcus face conveying no emotion, studying him with bored interest. Two strands fell between his eyes, he didn’t bother to move. The sound of running water is what made Seth notice past Marcus. This was no private bath. It was a large room the size of two football stadiums with four large pools equally place near each corner. Open cloudy sky above each, showers lined as much as doors with people coming and going. Everyone: inside a bath, shower, coming or going stole glances at Seth like he was a monster, like his family.

“Rinse off then get in a bath.”

Seth didn’t respond. His attention affixed to the sensory beyond his new master and Marcus wasn’t used to repeating himself. “Azazel-8,” he said in the same tone, but it was enough to get everyone to down and look away. There was not child nor warrior who did not fear Marcus, some more than Victor. The lack of attention prompt Seth look up and process the last few seconds. Rinse off? He looked around then behind. There was no knob or visible mechanism to turn it on. He looked, see if he could spot someone turning it on. No one dare to breathe until commanded, everyone stood still and away mining every blink or muscle twitch.

“How do I turn it on?”

“Stand underneath it.”

It couldn’t be that simple. How could it turn on that easily? How did it sense his presence? Thinking it was a trick Seth looked at the shower again, then back at Marcus. “I have been instructed your home is archaic.” Marcus began undressing. A boy runs from across the room. “I could use a shower as well.”

“Sir.” The boy, up close clearly a man (the same height as Seth), makes it in time to grab Marcus’ clothing and fold them small enough to fit underneath his arm. “What scent would you like, Sir?”

“Something flora.”

The young man looked around his pouch strung around his waist and pulled out a purple, swirl of orange flat patty then handed it to Marcus. “Anything else I can get you. I can have a certain temperature, new clothes, a towel, a masseur or other pleasures waiting for you.” The man asked not meeting Marcus’s gaze.

“A towel.”

“Will you be taking a bath as well?”

“Hmmm…Yes.”

“I will have your towel waiting afterwards.”

The young man with head still down glanced over at Seth as if he had more questions but didn’t know if he was meant to acknowledge Seth’s existence and if so as an equal, below or an object? Marcus noticed. “It will also require a Rhomi.”

“Same one, Sir.”

“Same one.”

He handed Seth a patty that fit comfortable in his palm and vanished back into the background. Seth watched Marcus step up to the shower, the tiles beneath his feet fell six inches, the shower rained as he squished the tablet, gel oozing through his fingers and multiplying enough for him to wash his hair and body. Marcus arched an eyebrow at Seth signaling for Seth to follow suite. The floor felt like a comfort guide down, not as startling as Seth believed it would be neither was the stream of water that evaporated the days or months of sludge away from his body. The warmth penetrated deep within, melting everything around him. Seth didn’t need anything else but the slight aroma of lemongrass radiating off the water and now himself nor did he notice anything else when he accidently burst the Rhomi in hands. It was as if he murdered a slug in his hands and its guts bubbled between his fingers. He froze. How would he get this thing off? He slapped his head trying to get it out his head and wiggled his arm around, but it just spread and stuck to him like a thick slimy booger. He could feel the panic swell around, consuming him. The warmth and calm he had moments ago already forgotten. Glass lined his throat as his breathing became thinner, it turned into drowning.

He tried to move away from the shower and tripped. Someone came over and put a soothing hand on his shoulder. A warmth of calmness, an at-easiness washed over him. Seth filled his lungs up with air and look up into deep orange eyes. The dark-haired man held out his hand with a gentle smile. Seth grabbed it on reflex and image appeared in front of him: a hand with a brush spelling E-N-L-D-R-I-S. “Ehn..nel..dress?” Seth attempted to pronounce.

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“Enldris.” Marcus stepped out the shower effortlessly. Properly saying Enldris name (EN’Ldris). Enldris smiled wider at his name, showing every tooth. ‘Was he sick? …dimwitted?’ Seth thought.

“This,” Marcus gestured towards Seth “is my new headache”.

Enldris looked between Marcus and Seth. Thinking on something then a picture of a small shaking furry animal appeared in both their heads. Then there was an outstretched hand petting the small white animal. “You want me to be kinder or take care of him better?” Marcus asked. Enldris nodded. Marcus sighed, rubbing his temples. Before he could respond another image played between the crowd. A young Marcus, Enldris and other men and women doing some type of exercise, then building house, and finally all in formation. Enldris at the front. Marcus second. Then their position flipped. Seth couldn’t understand what this was supposed to mean, and it was hurting his head. They were in a military?

“You tell me to be nicer and you go and hurt it. That was too much information.”

Enldris looked back, rubbing his left thumb and forefinger vigorously at Seth then to the center of his eyes. “He’s apologizing.” Marcus stated for Seth’s benefit. “You don’t have to do that.” Marcus grabbed Enldris and pulled him up. Then Enldris did the same for him. Enldris smiled at him to keep him calm then motion as if he were cleaning himself, then touched Seth again. The same uncomfortable feeling of bursting the bath tablet followed by a soothing lotion smooth. Seth believed he was telling he was overreacting. “Thank you, but how….” He wanted to ask why he didn’t speak but figured it would be disrespectful. Enldris understood what he wanted to ask and answered with a picture of a baby.

“Finish your shower and join us in the bath. Yell if you need anything.”

Seth finished his shower remembering the feelings that Enldris gifted him. Joined them in the more vacant of the four pools. They were having a one-sided conversation when he arrived. Enldris let image of two black gravestones in the mist of many blue one slip through to Seth. Seth wondered if they were discussing him.

Marcus stood up and the boy that gave them the Rhomi was there with another young man. They both dried Marcus then Enldris, put textured stickers on their feet and escorted them to their clothing. Seth received a towel to dry himself and was handed the stickers to figure out. The new boy waited for the trash as Seth caught up to Enldris and Marcus. They were nearly dressed in virtually identical clothing with exception of the thickness the bracelets they wore on each arm. Marcus was helping Enldris wrap tape around his neck, a line down his spine then a small piece on each lower rib.

Afterwards they took a straight shot outside. Everyone they passed greeted them like Marcus greeted Victor and he returned the same. Recognizing them close to the king.

“This is Nzaaris.” Marcus removed a large curtain revealing a beautiful stone city accessorized with different shades of cloth. Children ran in the street. People worked, trained, and played. Alongside the walkway plants were well maintained people ate from them in passing spiraling up to them standing at the top of the hill. The city was one big intricate spiral working together, everything flowing in the direction as one, as usefulness. Seth had never seen anything as breathtaking. More than halfway down there was a large fountain with a marble fire that almost seemed real when the light hit it at the right angle. This made Seth realize: What did his country look like? Nothing outside the castle walls came to mind.

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In Fangaria Alex paces his room, occasionally walking Seth’s room. If there is no one in the halls he opens the door then slam it close otherwise he walks on pass. All the servants knows what or rather who he’s looking for so if they happen to see him before he sees them, they have all coordinated to hide in his presence. Alex was growing more anxious as the days turned into months.

A bell rang signaling midday meal which no longer served any purpose, not even the twins enjoyed a meal together anymore. Since he was out on a stroll, he would make his way to the dining hall where he would sit in his usual spot at the end of the table, opposite of his father when no guest were present. Food was swiftly placed in front of him by a young man he’s only seen a few times in passing. “I don’t want to see you. Have someone else bring it.”

The young man bowed and cleaned the table. It was reset by a tall girl with long straight hair. “Not you either.” Alex was still not satisfied. He rotated through all the servants until Vessuillus took the plate out of the last persons hand and dropped it front of Alex, cracking the plate with one word. “Eat.” He sat in Seth’s customary seat to the left of Alex propping himself up on arm. “He’s not here.”

“Then bring him here.”

“Alexander.”

“Father.”

“Sometimes I wonder who is bound to who.”

“We need him. Everything is falling apart.”

“You need him.”

“-and you want your son if not the power he carries.”

“Alexander.”

“Father.” Alex challenged forking a small bit of food into his mouth. His father watched him play with his food. “You feel him.” Vess sighed grabbing Alex’s spoon.

“Yes.” He looked away. “Briefly. The longer he’s away the strong he will become.”

“Alexander.”

“Wha-!” He yelled out of frustration. It caught in his throat when his father took the opportunity to shovel a spoon full of food into his mouth. “They all think you’re a villain. They’re planning to run away”

“I am one. Let them.” Vessuillus reached over and put the spoon back down. “But if they succeed your pet will never be whole.”

“Father,” Alex lowered himself to his knees. “Please bring him to me.” The boy that never begged or asked for any was his knees, crying in his father’s lap like when he first found him. “Little Alexander, stand up.” His father demanded. “No. why did he have to go? Look my hair is growing. You are aging. We could’ve killed them and all the people they have. We could’ve destroyed them all. Me, you and Stryard. What is this fantasy family you’ve created for yourself?” his father was silent. “Father give him to me.” He began to bang his head against the floor.

Vess rubbed his hands through his hair. Thinking of all the options as the thumps of his son’s head repeated crashed into the ground in the background of his thoughts. Finally, when it became too loud for him to bare, he grabbed Alex by his throat and pushed him back into his chair. “STOP!”

Alex grabbed the knife and pushed it against his father’s Adams apple. “I can kill another one of his father’s.”

“I’ll see what I can do. We can’t kill everyone.”