Suspicions and Stares (1)

"Now that the audience is gone, how about we discuss the real issues?"

Anaroth glanced at the sharp eyes beside him. "And what do you mean by real issues?"

"What do you want in the peace treaty?"

"I didn't think I would have to spell it out for a man like you."

Veridin chuckled, his violet eyes as dark as the night sky. Anaroth tensed as he heard the soft sound, so quiet that even his enhanced senses barely picked it up. He sped up into a brisk walk; not wanting to be left alone with this man any longer.

From the Delos river, the current trenches were by no means a short distance away. A normal person would take at least 10 minutes to reach the Delos river from the current front line. The tents and camp behind it would be a half hour's walk. Veridin had traversed that length of distance in just a minute's time, and so had Anaroth. It was fairly safe to say that the two were far from the bounds of normal.

So when Anaroth maintained a human paced stride, he felt the distance quite clearly. After a few minutes of walking in silence, he stopped. Veridin calmly approached as Anaroth turned around.

"You should be in front of me."

"Should I? I could easily get hit by a magic mortar back here."

"You could just as easily stab me."

"Stab you? I didn't even bring a sword."

Veridin gestured to his vacant waist. Anaroth narrowed his eyes, but didn't say any more about it. Neither of them would even need a sword to stab someone.

"If you don't lead the way, I won't go."

"As you wish." Veridin shrugged slightly, glancing at Anaroth as he walked past. "You were the one who walked ahead of me in the first place."

Anaroth bit his tongue at the snide remark. He was pushing the limits of what he could do. He knew he would be risking the peace treaty, but there was something about that conceited gaze that he couldn't stand. He frowned as he followed Veridin.

"You still haven't answered my question," Veridin spoke without turning around.

"The treaty should last as long as it can, shouldn't it? To do that, the empire has to change."

Veridin ignored the accusation, "Demons have long lives, yes? So how about a starting duration of five hundred years?"

"Alright. Will the abolition of slavery will be included?"

"Of course. If you're so unsure, you can look over it yourself; After all, you'll be signing it."

"There is nothing wrong with making sure you keep your words."

"You're very suspicious of me. I feel offended."

Anaroth nearly rolled his eyes at the dry statement. There was no hint of irritation or discontent in his words. In fact, his tone had barely changed from the moment they met. A smooth, calm voice filled with confidence and levity. Anaroth began to feel that there wasn't a single thing about Veridin that he liked. Until the treaty was signed, he would have to keep his mouth shut, which was getting rather hard to do. Something about this man brought out the worst in him.

"I have every right to be suspicious."

"I never said you didn't. I said you should trust me as I trust you."

Anaroth bristled with rage. Not at the war, or even the humans' prejudice, it was at the sheer indifference with which he was being treated. His words were being twisted around to make a fool of himself. He took a deep, irritated breath as he gave up talking.

The two continued on in silence until they reached the humans' camp. The startled look on their faces quickly turned to fear and hatred as they saw Anaroth. He held his head high while he followed Veridin through the camp. He couldn't help but feel conflicted as he scanned the muddy soldiers and tents. Injured and disheartened, yet they still held rage in their eyes. It felt as if they were blaming him for everything. He walked faster before walking face first into Veridin.

"Pah! You–"

Anaroth backed up and glared at Veridin. His glare froze as he looked into the calm violet jewels staring back at him in confusion. Compared to the soldiers' it wasn't a look of contempt; It was a look of determination, ambition, and of curiosity. Anaroth couldn't help but feel guilty as he swallowed his words.

"Is something wrong?" Veridin raised an eyebrow.

"No. I apologize for bumping into you."

Veridin paused before he swept aside the cloth. "No need to be lost in thought by yourself. We can discuss the contents of the treaty inside."

As Anaroth ducked into the tent with a nod, a rough voice startled him. Rowan sat at the circular table set up in the middle of the tent. Anaroth flinched as the loud voice echoed in his ears.

"I see you've brought an enemy directly into our camp." Rowan glanced over Anaroth and looked at Veridin.

"Curb your temper Rowan," Veridin raised his voice, making Anaroth realize how quietly they had been speaking before, "That's no way to treat a guest."

Anaroth frowned. As if he had a choice in being here. As soon as the treaty was signed and the transfer circle was completed, he was returning to the demon capital. Being in this man's presence wasn't doing his health any good. He had been scowling more today than in the past year. The way he was completely overlooked also irritated him. He glanced at the man sitting at the table. This "Rowan" was giving him a glare similar to the soldiers'. He sighed.

"For the sake of all of our peoples, I'll forgive your impertinence."

Rowan opened his mouth but was quickly cut off by Veridin. "There's no need to create a full contract in one day. Rowan, go find an empty tent for his majesty to rest in."

Glaring at Veridin, Rowan limped towards the exit. He stopped to whisper to Veridin. "That's a devil you know. Be careful."

"Just go." Veridin narrowed his eyes as Rowan left.

Anaroth turned away and sat down at the table. He heard every word. He had known about how humans saw and treated demons, yet never experienced it himself. Being called a devil with such disdain made him feel indescribable. It was a term used to dehumanize demons or refer to anyone cunning enough to make you feel helpless. If anything, Veridin was more of a devil than himself.

Veridin watched him walk over before sitting down himself. "Forgive him. He's lived his whole life blaming and fighting demons."

"I should forgive him just for that? You don't understand how those looks feel. I've never met him before in my life, and yet I'm called evil? Devious? Because I'm a demon, one has to be careful around me?!"

"Humans are fearful creatures."

"Am I not human to you?" Veridin's eyes widened. He furrowed his brows and looked down. "I'm a demon, and you're a human right? But I have the same features as you and him, so does Yulis."

"I never said–"

"You never said anything. Does that mean you're any better? If the only difference between humans and demons is mana, then what are you? How are you human and I'm not?"

"I… don't consider myself human." Veridin glanced to the side before staring into Anaroth's scarlet eyes. "Humans disgust me. I'm only human because I was born without knowing I had mana."

Anaroth paused. The Hero of the humans doesn't consider himself human? He sighed. "That still isn't much different. Hating someone for what we think they are, it's all the same."

"But the fact remains that humans treat demons worse than demons treat humans, right?"

"That's right…" Anaroth looked down. He was right for wanting reprisal for his people's injustice, so why did he feel conflicted about wanting humans to pay the price?

"There's no need to feel guilty about the hypocrisy." Veridin brought a pen and paper over to the table with wind magic. "People's attitudes won't change unless we show them."

Anaroth watched Veridin write silently. "Why don't you have the same attitude then?"

Veridin lifted his pen momentarily. "Humans aren't very different from demons."

"But you hate humans? Aren't you being the hypocrite here?"

"Let me correct my statement then." Veridin placed the pen into the inkwell. "There are a few people I hate. I just seem to hate more humans than demons."

"That statement is more ridiculous than what you said first."

"Is it?" Veridin handed the paper over as he spoke. "Humans and demons both seem to be selfish and arrogant at times."

Veridin leaned on his hand as Anaroth shook his head. He was right, but said it so easily as if it was that simple of a thought. After glancing over the words on the paper, Anaroth set it down on the table.

"These are the key points of the treaty?"

"Does it need anything else?"

"No…" Anaroth glanced down at the three short terms on the paper. It seemed almost too simple. "There's really nothing more than this?"

"The requests I made are separate from the peace treaty."

Ah. That's what it was. Anaroth kicked himself for falling for such an obvious trick. He sighed and handed the paper back.

"Shouldn't you make a physical contract for those too?"

"Who proposes a binding contract against their favor?" Veridin chuckled when Anaroth's eyes widened.

"Nevermind, then!"

The corners of Veridin's mouth lifted up as Anaroth turned away with his hand on his forehead. He glanced up at Veridin's smug expression in humiliation. If this had been anyone else, would they have pointed out his mistake? Maybe Yulis, but probably not the king of the humans had he been here. This embarrassment was a worse feeling than the dread of a magic contract. Strangely though, it didn't feel too bad.

Anaroth lifted his head and sighed, then tensed his shoulders. Since when had he been conversing so leisurely? With a human at that. He glanced at Veridin and flinched. Those violet eyes staring at him gave him chills.

"Didn't anyone ever tell you it's rude to stare at someone?"

"I wasn't staring." Veridin tilted his head off of his hand with a sly smile.

"Then–"

Anaroth was cut off by Rowan entering the tent. The atmosphere turned sour the moment they saw each other. Rowan reluctantly spoke first.

"The soldier outside will lead you to your tent."

Anaroth looked at Veridin before standing up. "We have nothing more to discuss, right?"

"Unless you want to draw up a contract. Otherwise, we'll leave for the capital the day after tomorrow." Veridin watched him nod before walking out of the tent. He turned to Rowan. "Is there something you need?"

Rowan glanced at the door then sighed. "Are we really doing this? How do we know this isn't some devilish trick?"

"I know you can't forgive the demons, but remember: They aren't the reason the commander is dead. We're ending this war for the Commander."

"I know that. It's just… He's dangerous. I can feel it. He gives off the same ominous feeling as you do at times."

"Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take care of it."

Veridin knew what he meant. Rowan was a fine soldier by human standards, but he was still far from the level of demon knights. What Rowan felt as danger was high concentrations of mana. Veridin tapped the table lightly as Rowan spoke. For the first time, he had felt that Rowan's voice seemed incredibly loud.

"I trust you, but I'm worried about the soldiers. Who knows what would happen if you end up fighting?"

Everyone here would probably be dead, Veridin remarked silently. It didn't take him long to realize Anaroth had nearly the same level of power he did. If they fought, they would probably turn the Delos River into the Delos Lake. However, he thought that even if they fought, Anaroth wouldn't kill him. Anaroth's eyes didn't have that. They were hopeful, bright, and alluring. His eyes… What would they look like hurt?

"Veridin? Hey, are you alright?"

"What did you say?" Veridin looked up at Rowan's startled face and fixed his expression.

"Your face turned really scary just now. Were you thinking about fighting him?"

"I was thinking about if the soldiers provoked him, like you did."

"I didn't provoke anyone."

"Are you sure? You blatantly disrespected a king. Twice."

Rowan rubbed the back of his neck and grumbled. "I'll tell the soldiers to keep their mouths shut."

"I should be telling you that. Could you tell them to start preparing to leave tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah. You don't have to say it twice."

"Rowan."

"What?"

Veridin glanced to the side for a moment. "Don't… Just assume, alright?"

"You're talking about the Demon King right?" He sighed. "Since you're asking nicely, I'll try my best. For the Commander too."