The Necromancer's book of Stories (BL)

It was after dinner time when we were taking a walk along the boardwalk, neither of us had been to the actual port part of the city, and Llyr proposed that we should go together.

Honestly, I didn't want to particularly want my first actual look around the port to be with him, but at the same time, I doubt I'd have any other calm moment to look around it.

Victor and I did come over here during our trip to Vienna City, but even then, we only used Lady Chobi's private port. To add, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of a vacation and evading the banquet held by his majesty.

"I must admit, Zion is definitely a beautiful city," Llyr commented, looking at the lit-up windows of the restaurants and cafes along the boardwalk.

"Hm, yes, it is indeed," I responded half heartedly, reminiscent of the ports in Japan. If I had to be honest, it was mostly because I missed my home.

"Are you alright dear? You appear to have something on your mind," He noticed, walking in front of me and stopping me.

"Heh, it's nothing, just thinking of where I used to live, that's all," I admitted and laughed it off.

"...Do you miss the Griffins' family?" He suddenly asked me.

"What? No, why would I miss them? I left that family on my own accord," I replied, throwing a bit of salt into it.

"If you say so, my apologies for asking, i was just wondering by how you said you missed where you used to live…" He responded, trialing behind me after I walked past him.

We walked for a while, not sharing words, just enjoying the weather by the port and the lights reflecting off of the surface of the water. I stopped for a brief moment to just feel the breeze and feel of the water spraying into my face a little from the wind.

"..." I could feel Llyr staring at me, i didn't bother to meet gazes, even though he did make me a little uncomfortable with the way he was looking at me.

"Hey Llyr, you mentioned being a sea folk, right?" I asked, and he nodded at me with a smile, "Then are you of the kind where if even a little water touches you, you turn into your other form?"

"Pfft! What's with the sudden topic?" he asked, laughing about it, his smile brightening his face even more.

"Hey, I was just wondering! And there was no change in topic, we weren't even talking!" I joked back, finally looking at him, "Just answer the question!"

"Haha, alright, alright…Though I could just show you," Llyr suggested, leaning in towards me and smiling his smugly flirtatious smile.

"What? Hah! If you strip right here just to get into your little fish form I am going to…Walk away very fast!" I said, thinking of a threat that wasn't violent so as to not get accused of attempted murder or some shit like that.

'He's lucky he's a King!'

"Relax, there's no need for me to do that, well unless you want me to!" He joked and I swatted at him, but he just smiled at me and jumped backward off the boardwalk and into the water.

"..." I was in silence, just staring with a blank face into the place where he used to be.

'Haaaa, I need to get it together and stop acting so chummy! I mean, seriously! I'm trying not to get too involved in the story, but here I am on a date with this stupid fish! Though to be fair…No! Don't even continue that thought!'

I crouched down to the water so that when Llyr resurfaced I could talk to him and not feel like I was a hundred feet away from him. But looking down into the water, even with lights on behind me I still couldn't make out a figure.

"Hm, he's' been down there for a while now," I mumbled to myself, a little worried. Though before I could express that, an arm came out from the water and scared me a little.

The creature that was the owner of said arm then shot out of the water and grasped my head and neck, nuzzling it into its neck. Then removed the hand that was used to grab my arm and hugged me tight with my arms locked in its embrace as well. I was immobile, and I didn't get a chance to struggle.

"Hehe, Gachu," The being chuckled with delight as it pulled me down into the water with it. But I recognized its voice, it was none other than the fish bastard that was my date for the night.

***

"Hmm, it's rather late, isn't it? Shouldn't his Lordship have been back by now?" Brielle wondered, putting the laundry she had folded into her basket and glancing out the window briefly.

"Now that you mention it, his Lordship did say he was going to be back shortly after dinner," Diarmaid commented, halting in putting the cleaning supplies away and thinking for a while.

The two of them and Alvaro were in the servant's quarters, taking care of their last tasks for the night. Alvaro was putting up the materials used to clean the weapons, while also helping Brielle put away the soldiers' laundry.

"It's almost midnight, should we send Victor on a horse to go see if the Lord has gotten on the carriage yet?" Alvaro interjected, taking a pile of handkerchiefs from Brielle.

"Mmm, let's wait a bit longer, perhaps their Graces are just enjoying their date, we wouldn't want to bother them," Alvaro thought up, not knowing the animosity Lev held towards him.

***

"Keep your sword straight, you're slacking!" Victor shouted as his sabre met Arwans blade.

"I know! But it's kind of difficult when you keep coming at me, and non-stop at that!" He shouted back, blocking his shoulder from Victor's jab.

The two were training together, Victor teaching Arwan the proper way to wield a sword, to use it to protect someone instead of to harm another. And Arwan was having a very hard time keeping up with his teacher, they were so engrossed that they didn't even realize the time.

The sound of swords clashing was the only sound heard in the training area for the next few minutes, until Victor came in with a swift last attack, knocking Arwans sword out of his hand.

"It's like I told you, it doesn't matter the weight of your sword or blade as long as you know how to wield it," Victor reminded, before walking over to the benches and taking a drink of water.

"Yes, and I find it quite ironic," Arwan commented needlessly, going to pick up his sword and bring it to the bench next to Victor's.

"Ironic? You find it ironic? HA! And how is that?" Victor asked, wiping his sweat off his face with a towel and staring at Arwan.

"Well, not to be…y'know…But I mean you are just so much weaker in both stature and physicality, so," Arwan shrugged, then sat down and began cleaning his sword.

"...Are you being speciesist right now," Victor questioned with a small chuckle, shaking his hand towards Arwan.

"NO! That is not how I meant it! Hahaha, gods I can't believe that's how it sounded! I just meant that you are a little on the smaller side so I didn't expect you to be so strong!" Arwan admitted, laughing and apologizing.

"Oh, good gods I was about to beat the shit out of you!" he joked, which made Arwan gulp, but he just smacked the side of his shoulder with his towel, "Relax, I'm messing with you. I mean, it's not the first time I've surprised someone like that!"

A face of nostalgia was brought upon Victor's face, perhaps recalling his time serving as an ensign. He went back to sit on his bench, sighing and cleaning his sword's small but mighty blade.

"...Is something the matter?" Arwan asked, leaning forward and looking at Victor's face, worried about his co-worker.

"Ah, it's nothing, just thinking about the past, that's all," He said, smiling briefly before returning to shining his sword.

"Alright, if you say so. I won't poke, but…I know this sounds odd, especially after that fight we had over in the Peril Kingdom, but I'm here to listen if you ever want to talk about something that you can't talk to his lordship about." Arwan offered, smiling and nodding.

"Heh, thanks, I appreciate that…The same goes for you, I know there are a LOT of things you can't say to Lev, but you can talk to me, even if it makes me want to slap you in the face," Victor offered back, knowing he'd regret it later.

"Really?! Even if I'm talking about my crush on him and swooning over him and how fucking awesome he is?!" He asked eagerly, standing up quickly, almost hitting Victor with his sword.

"Ugh, yes, even that. But not too much! Especially if you talk about wanting to make out with him or shit like that, I don't need to hear that shit!" Victor agreed, but still setting boundaries for both himself and Arwan to follow. 

"Ooooooo! Yay! I've never really had anyone to talk about this with! It's so exciting having a friend!" Arwan expressed, jumping on his heels a little.

"...Have…Have you never had a friend before?" Victor asked hesitantly, worried he'd say the wrong thing.

"Not-Not really, I mean I was pretty isolated in the dragon village in the Ender Empire…" Arwan admitted, trailing off them continuing at Victor's worried look, "Back when I lived in the village, everyone avoided me after I was assigned my attribute."

"Why? I mean, what about your family? How did they feel, did they accept you or shun you two?" He questioned, wanting to know more.

"Eh, I mean my parents treated me fairly, but my brother was always clearly the favorite. Our entire family had attributes that would be considered apart of the darkness class, but my brother's actual attribute was 'Darkness,' so it was quite obvious what the outcome of the treatment would be," Arwan rubbed his neck, then continued upon seeing Victors question, "But things got better!"

"Oh? What happened that changed?" Victor asked in response, even more curious now, and wanting to get to know his junior even more.

"Well, I left the village and lived on my lonesome for a while, making a name for myself amongst the other dragons that didn't live in the village or moved from it…Then I met his lordship and everything was the best it had ever been! I mean, I now have someone to serve and give my heart to, and a friend as well!" Arwan cheered, smiling and sitting beside Victor, who scooted over to give him more room.

"You know, I really am quite curious, how exactly did you and Lev meet? I'm his personal attendant and i've never seen or heard of you before, which baffles me," Victor admitted, putting his elbows on his thighs and leaning forward to look at Arwan.

"Hm…It's kind of embarrassing for me to say this, but he sort of saved me," He recalled with a shy smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Pftt-HAHAHA! Apologies for laughing but I do find that a little funny," Victor snorted, then met glances with Arwan who was giving him a glare, "When i first met the master, he was some hopeless teen wondering the streets in ragged priests attire, so to me he is a little helpless."

"Huh?! Seriously? Tell me, was like a cute little bunny, or maybe even a scared little kitten?" Arwan question, getting closer to Victor with sparkling eyes, intrigued at what his master was like as a kid.

"Hahaha, alright, alright. I'll tell you all about it, so just calm down, alright?" Victor agreed, pushing Arwan away and sitting him back down.

***

"Your Majesty, perhaps you should rethink your decision. For all we know, King Roman could find out and wage war for the abduction of his pressious Lutneient Colonel!" Someone lectured Llyr, his voice laced with frustration and annoyance at his kings recent antics.

"I will not! This man has stolen my heart, he has already rejected my mariage proposal, so the least he could do is stay here and let me see him whenever I please," Llyr complained, throwing a little kid who doesn't want to get rid of it's favorite toy even though its old and worn out.

"Your Grace, you are acting like a child for gods' sake!" The man shouted at his master, not afraid of being locked up.

"So what if i am? You all have never let me keep anything dear to myself, so the least you could do is let me keep the person I love!" Llyr argued back, finally facing his attendant.

"I would love to, but the fact of the matter is, is that you two aren't married. And for all i know, you could have kidnapped him and brought him here against his will!" And the attendant was right on the money, "Be grateful that nobody has noticed enough to do anything yet!"

It was already the next day, and after Llyr and Lev's little "date," they had returned to The Alkmene Island palace. Somewhere people can't go to without an invitation, and still on land but isolated from the rest of the world except for select individuals.

"HA! Shut your damn mouth, you don't know anything. Now, he will be staying here and that is final! Now get out before i have your tongue!" Llyr threatened, and kicked his attendant out.

Llyr walked over to the bed where Lev was currently sleep, and sat down next to him. Lev was unconscious, he was dragged underwater and practically drowned just for Llyr to beable to bring him here.

"Soon, my love. I will make you mine no matter what it takes, my dear knight in shinning armour," Llyr whispered to him, stroking his hair and leaning down to Lev's face to kiss him.