Noxus walked through the woods towards the city; he felt a sense of peace wash over him. The forest had always been something special to him. He had always found that he wanted to protect his land, and the woods around him were the treasure he was guarding. Now, he knew he would allow for the forest to burn down in ruins to protect Aurelia. She was his treasure to guard.

Arriving in the city the next day, after walking through the night, he felt the peace escape him. He was nervous about what the elders would say and how they would react.

The castle at the center of the city towered over the other homes and buildings, seeming to reach into the clouds. The gray stone was littered with blue and green vines that twisted their way up as if to seek the top.

Walking towards the doors, he saw them opening on their own. Soon after walking in, he was greeted by a butler.

“We’ve been expecting you,” the butler said with a bow.

Noxus questioned, in his mind, how they knew he was coming. The elders had their ways, they seemed to mind link with all of the kings of the realm. He wasn’t a king, though. Fear ran through him as he thought about the possibility that someone else had known about Aurelia who was now left alone in his home.

The butler ushered him down several hallways. When they arrived in front of a set of doors, the butler motioned for him to enter and gave him a bow before he walked off.

Noxus found himself taking a deep breath as he opened the doors to the Court. The last time he had been here, four years ago, he had turned down his role as king. He saw the people of the city sitting in chairs towards the elders who sat at the front of the room in their own five chairs. He hadn’t thought of the fact he hadn’t seen anyone in town, but now the realization helped him understand that they had known of his coming long enough to wrangle the whole town.

He walked the aisle down to the spot before the elders with his head high.

“Revered council, I stand before you today to ask for your blessing to allow a human to stay in the realm.” Noxus bowed but kept his eyes on the elders.

There were whispers and gasps, along with a few snickers, behind him. The elders did not show any sign of anger or worry in their faces. They just stared at him.

“and why should we bless this?” one of the elders asked.

“She is my ethereal mate,” Noxus responded.

More snickers were heard from behind him.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

He held his head high as he watched the elders look at each other.

After a moment of silence, Noxus added, “You know my kind has been attacked. I hope to secure a future for the Basilisk within our community with my mate by my side.”

As soon as the words had left Noxus’s mouth, another elder asked, “Have you decided to take your spot as the King of Basilisk?

Noxus tensed. He knew this question was coming he had prepared for it. Yet, hearing it out of the elder’s mouth made it sound more intimidating. He knew what the duty entailed, and he was now ready for it. He had something, or rather someone, to guard.

“I have,” Noxus said.

The elders looked around at each other, nodding their heads.

“Then we shall allow it. We will give you a year to win her over and marry her. We also expect to see you accept in the basilisks who are wanderers as well. With a king, you shall grow and help our realm of the Otherworld, which may mean war,” the first elder said as he furrowed, his brows as if it were a question instead of a statement.

“As you command,” Noxus said while bowing.

“We shall encourage the wandering basilisks to join our community,” another elder said

Noxus turned to walk out and saw that some of the faces looking back at him were happy; others glared at him as he passed. He understood that welcoming a human into the realm had never been done before. They were worried.

He left the city the same way he had come to make his way back to his future wife.

***

Aurelia had spent most of her time in her bedroom or in the library since Noxus had left two days ago. She hadn’t eaten, too worried about what Noxus was doing and if he would return.

Today, she found herself wanting to venture outside. The woods seemed to call to her; they brought a sense of home to her that she had never felt before.

She walked behind the castle in a spot that looked to be an old garden. It was in bad shape, but allowed her to think about the potential that it had. She thought she would like to spruce it up and put it back to its former glory.

The thoughts made her chuckle as she thought about how she was turning into a typical woman; wanting a garden, sulking at Noxus being away, and falling hard for a creature she didn’t know that well.

“Does the lack of a garden humor you?” Noxus said as he watched her.

She turned quickly and with a smile of relief she said, “No, my change of thinking has left me feeling different.”

Noxus watched her as she stepped closer to him. She stopped within arm’s reach. He knew she wasn’t afraid of him, but he wasn’t sure he could ever live with himself if she didn’t feel the same way for him as he did her. If the year came without a wedding, she would be sent back to the human realm.

Aurelia found herself wanting to touch him, but after the exchange they had in her bathroom, two days ago, she didn’t want to push him away.

“The court has allowed you to stay within the realm,” Noxus said.

The questions within Aurelia seeped out in one breath, “What did they say? Are they upset? What does this mean?”

He couldn’t answer her questions. He was awestruck watching the worry grow on her face. He wasn’t sure what the worry meant; was she worried about staying here, or was she worried about him?

“Tell me, Aurie.” Her shortened name seemed to fall out of his lips like he had used it hundreds of times before. “Why are you worried?”

Aurelia's cheeks flushed red. “I don’t want to have to leave. I know you were upset about what happened in the bathroom. I apologize; I should not have done that. If you are in trouble, please take me to them so that I am the one to deal with the punishment.”

Noxus felt his heart explode with her words. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He had to have her, and he needed to show her that his words couldn’t.