Distant Yet Close

 The next few days had rendered Varen to be incredibly busy as he was often outside while Zeya remained inside the cottage for the most part. It seemed like the plan was going smoothly as Varen was set to meet the man in charge of this whole operation in a few days.

 In the meantime, he was busy acting the role of a well distinguished businessman, going around all the hidden poppy farms with that man Phantom. Zeya could tell that Varen was starting to get impatient, it was only a matter of time before he'd just suddenly decide to burn down the farms himself. 

 He had been awfully quiet lately she thought as she was cleaning the cottage out of pure boredom. All the teasing and disrespect had abruptly stopped after the night she came home drunk. She didn't remember what she did exactly but was glad that it was enough to anger Varen to not even speak to her. 

 She waited until midnight and still, there was no sign of Varen. Her sixth sense was telling her that something was amiss so finally, she summoned Nox by her side.

 "I want you to keep an eye on him, Nox." She ordered, the creature nodding obediently as a result. "Make sure he doesn't get himself in too much trouble and fuck us all up."

===============

 Varen had been finding himself in an odd predicament lately. Nothing seemed stick with him except for that image of Zeya's figure on the day she got wasted. Everything around him turned incoherent when that thought invaded his mind, leaving him helpless and worked up. 

 "I'm sure a human prostitute would suffice your needs well enough." Her words rang in his mind constantly against his will, driving him insane. 

 'She always knows just what to say to provoke me.' He thought, remembering how his mood from that night immediately soured after that one sentence. 

 "Sir?" Phantom's voice caught him off guard, bringing him back to reality. "Are you alright?"

 "Couldn't feel any better." Varen replied with that dashing smile of his, patting the concerned looking human on the back. "So, what were you saying earlier?"

 "Oh, I was just asking if you wanted to look around our farms if you had some time to spare." He went back to promoting the opiate farms, faking a laugh as he spoke. "You know, see if there could be any equipment that needs any fixing."

 'He must see me as his wallet now.' Varen thought, amused by the mere human.

 From the days that he'd spent with this human they call Phantom, Varen learned that this was not his first time doing this type of business in his current lifetime. He had just been released after serving his sentence back in Imnolyn after being caught in another crime similar to this when a 'friend' told him about the poppy business that had been gaining popularity in Exousia. Phantom claimed he accepted the offer in just a heartbeat after he was told that it was going to be protected by a high-ranking figure in the royal council.

 This confirmed Varen's worst fear to be the truth.

 Despite his anger however, it was certainly fueling his motivation to find out who it was, but he had to be patient. With clenched fists, he chatted with the obnoxious human as he faked immense enthusiasm for the entire day, hoping to get closer in gaining his trust.

 He came with one resolution in mind, and that was to catch whoever dared to shake the peace of his nation that he sacrificed everything in his life for. Especially if they were on his side.

=================

 The house was dead silent as Varen entered through the door. It was already late into the night by the time he finally got back from yet another hectic day. It seems as though the human was trying to buy himself some time by attempting to distract Varen with useless trips and conversation about the poppy business.

 The leader of this whole thing had to be quite high ranked if it was taking this much time for them to just get some free time to leave the palace. It was rare for any council members to leave the palace for personal reasons as they were sworn to serve Varen and only him. It was forbidden for them to own any personal businesses or property, but Varen wasn't an idiot. He knew that plenty of them were corrupted and were scheming something behind his back. 

 This was just the beginning of Varen's intervention as he wanted to get rid of the entire committee for good, so that he will become the only one in charge of both Exousia and Imnolyn. Zeya's brother, Lex had done him a huge favor by devouring almost all of the human member, they were the hardest ones to get rid of because of how thorough their princess, Kaari could be. Of course, he could always just erase his memories but that came with a lot of consequences on effects both him and the victims.

 "You're back." An unsettling, monotonous voice said from behind Varen, it was the shadow monster.

 "Oh? Look who decided to come out of its shell." He commented, slightly surprised to find Nox trying to start up a conversation with him.

 "Do shadows not get any sleep?" He asked humorously, pulling one of the dining chairs so he could take a seat.

 He took out a pen and paper from his coat and began writing. Nox said nothing as it watched curiously, the scribbles on the paper were foreign to him but he recognized some of the words Varen wrote.

 "We are simply keeping watch for Lady Zeya." It replied without much thought, staring at the Kaxarene with eyes filled with curiosity. For the first time, Varen seemed to sense emotion in its voice, the formidable shadow creature known for its wrath and unwavering hunger for blood was worried for its creator's sister. "She has been sleeping well lately so we try to do whatever we can to let her rest for as long as possible."

 "You talk as if this was a rare sight to see." Varen noted, wanting to know more about the Roseabelle. 

 "..." Nox said nothing but stared at the Varen, watching each and every move of his like a hawk.

 "This is my first close encounter with Kaxarenes and humans alike." Nox said more to itself than to Varen, its gaze now diverting Varen's searchful ones. "I cannot help but feel fascinated."

 "How old are you, Nox?"

 "Two hundred and forty-four."

 "Hm, you're barely a child." Varen flashed a small smile. "I've met Fire Deities older than you."

 He finished writing the note meant for Zeya right after he said that, leaving the small piece of paper on the table before standing up to leave.

 "Are you leaving again?" Nox revealed, following Varen as he headed for the door. "Let me come with you."

 "Too bored to stay here with your beloved lady?" Varen asked in a joking tone, holding the door open for Nox.

 "Lady Zeya gave me specific orders to follow you once you got back." It answered shallowly, not wishing to say anymore. "Do not worry, I'll remain in the shadows until you want me to come out."

=================

 "It smells like death." Nox commented after a long time of silence outside the opium farm. 

 "Excuse me?" Varen looked over his shoulder where Nox continued to stare into the farm, unfaltering as it repeated what it meant. "I smell absolutely nothing."

 They were up in the treetops watching Phantom's goons work late into the night, producing the addictive narcotic. Varen was hoping that maybe he'd catch a glimpse of a royal member from the palace. He had overheard a conversation of Phantom's earlier that day which made him come back at night.

 "Make sure this place is spotless." He demanded the exhausted-looking Kaxarene, who could only nod as a response. "One of the higher ups says he wants to come by to see how everything's going so if I hear anything close to a complaint from him... you're the one I'll blame, you understand?"

 "Over there." It said, referring to the building, continuing to stare. "There's a smell the scent of death coming from over at that farm."

 "Have you heard of necromancy before, Your Majesty?" Nox asked, its entire body stirring uncomfortably like a pool of disturbed water before settling down again.

 Necromancy, the magic of death was the only form of magic that was forbidden throughout the entire world due to its unethical methods. Only dark mages were allowed to participate in some of the practices due to its incredible energy source and even then, it came with many consequences that were usually never worth it. It was used to 

 Varen nodded a yes to its answer.

 "We sense it coming from them... the smell is unmistakable." Nox confirmed its speculations confidently.

 "But why would they use necromancy just for some narcotics?" Varen argued, unable to see the vision behind Nox's speculation.

 "Why don't we head inside and find out then?" Now offered as it jumped down into the forest grounds without even waiting for Varen's response. Varen quickly followed after it, hoping that they would not be seen by anyone that would recognize him.

 Just as they rushed behind some bushes to cover themselves, a pair of Kaxarenes walked right past them, carrying a large linen bag with an unknown substance inside it. The bag was limp, and the two men struggled to drag it into the building, unaware of Varen's and Nox's presence.

 "Quickly." Nox urged Varen, not leaving the Kaxarene a second to hesitate or ponder. "Before the scent disappears."

 With that, the creature quickly dragged Varen into the building, leaving him no space to agree or deny.