Building Bonds

Uravis layed unmoving on a bed that felt strangely soft. With the smell of flowers and the aroma of delicious food wavering in the air. The room was cool with air coming through the windows on both sides of the room, also bringing in warm light from the early morning sun.

He turned to the other side of the bed, only to be met with Elyria's worried face.

At first, he did not seem to see anything strange or wrong about her presence, untill his eyes made its way to her hand.

'My mask?' he thought, squinting to get a better view of the black cloth in her hand.

After realizing she did not know he was awake, he slowly and silently turned to the other side of the bed, "It better not be what i am thinking," he told himself as he raised his hand to his face.

Relief washed over him when he felt the soft fabric covering his face was still there. He heaved a sigh and raised himself up, his bones cracking as he did. Without waiting a second, he got out of bed and staggered into the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Claire walked in at that moment, carrying a basket and a bag in her hand, her green eyes gleaming with excitement as she placed the items on the bed.

"Your Highness," she said, drawing Elyria's attention to her since, she seemed to be staring in space for what felt like eternity, "I hope you're not too worried about him?" she asked, still not turning to look at Elyria as she was bringing out the items from the basket and bag.

"I wish I was not," Elyria replied, her tone low, as guilt passed through her, in and out like oxygen, "He used up all his energy to heal the King and was knocked out for three days and I could not do anything to help him," she explained, her eyes slowly getting watery.

Although as a princess, she was not supposed to be feeling guilty for 'A stranger' who happened to heal her father without asking for anything like; Women, money, houses and all sorts. She just couldn't help it, seeing him lay down his life for her father, just made her feel indepted to him.

Claire turned around holding a spoon in her hand, a smile appeared on her face when her eyes fell on Elyria, "It's really nice to see someone worrying about my brother, asides me," she said and crouched down beside her. "He is fine, trust me. Now you trust him and go freshen up, the King planned a party," she flashed a smile that Elyria mirrored and stood to her full height.

Her blue eyes suddenly brightened up, now matching her platinum blonde hair, that one would have mistaken for white, she rose up to her feet and curtseyed, before making her way out of the room.

Claire shook her head slowly and turned back to what she was doing, untill Uravis emerged from the bathroom shirtless, the locket around his neck dangling as he moved.

Claire, who seemed unfazed by how he decided to walk in, suddenly gasped.

"What is it?" Uravis asked, his eyes focused on the plates she set down on the bed.

"What is that?" she pointed at the side of his neck. Uravis glanced at her with a raised brows, silently asking her what was wrong, "You have a tattoo on your neck," she paused and walked over to the other side of the bed where he stood. "Login," she muttered, tracing her fingers along the mark. "Its like a design of the letters in one,then the name signed below. Did you do this?"

Uravis shrugged and turned to face her fully, "Should be the symbol of my abilities, Must have appeared the first time I changed," he trailed off but then his eyes suddenly darkened, startling Claire in the process.

"W.. what's wrong?" she stuttered, suddenly terrified of the menacing look he gave her. "I didn't do anything wrong," she added and he chuckled.

"Since we are noticing new stuff about ourselves, When were you going to tell me about your new friend?" he asked expecting a laugh from her but she just smiled nervously and averted her gaze. "Claire," he dragged her name, "What are you hiding?"

"Nothing," she mumbled and made to leave but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"You are hiding something from me," he uttered, "What is it?"

"I said it's nothing, You also hide things..."

"Like what?" he cut her off, crossing his arms to his chest. The menacing look in his eyes faded, now replaced with a blank look.

"You didn't tell me about what you had to do to heal the King, you didn't tell me what's between you and Lady Seraphina. And you didn't tell me each time you switched identities a part of them would remain permanent on your original identity," she stated, still searching her brain for something, but he chuckled softly and moved to the bed to sit down.

"Firstly, you are right about the last part, but you didn't expect me to tell you. As for Seraphina and I, we are just friends..I think. Besides her standards of a man are raised to a bar I cannot possibly cross," he responded as he opened up the plates on the bed. As the aroma of spicy chicken sauce got into his nose, his stomach growled lowly followed by a groan. "Now, Please excuse me, because you will not want to see me devour this food like a beast."

Claire stared for a while, thoughts running through her mind as she imagined what he would be like with different identities' behaviors combined with his would be like.

She exhaled and picked up the basket, "Put on the clothes in that bag and come to the Palace's grand hall, The King wants to see you."

That being said, she exited the room, with Uravis watching her retreating back, he chuckled dryly and turned to the plates.

____

The Palace's grand hall was filled with nobles, members of the Kingdom and those who visited. At a corner was the King speaking to his friends while his eyes sneakingly searched the hall for Drakonis. He was getting impatient to the point he doubted Drakonis would want to attend the party thrown for him.

"The special guest isn't here yet?" One of the nobles asked as he approached the King with a charming smile playing on his lips. "Doesn't he know it's quite disrespectful to keep nobles waiting?"

The King glanced at the man who spoke, his right hand man and friend, his brows curved to a frown as he turned fully to him.

He was certainly not in the mood for his friend's jokes.

"Felix, you are not saying anything? What happened to always bickering and yelling at me?" the man added but the King scoffed.

"I am not in the mood for your jokes, Williams. By the way where is your daughter?" King Felix asked after realizing he hsd not seen Williams' egocentric daughter roaming around, since she tried to talk to every man in the room.

"She went with Elyria to grab drinks," he replied and smiled, "It's good to have you back."

King Felix stared blankly at Williams, his expression suddenly turned grim then he shoved Williams aside, "Keep your positive remarks to yourself," he uttered and walked off, leaving Williams who just laughed and followed him.

Suddenly, Arcanis strode into the hall, his mind far from what was going on. He was staring at the glass slab in his hands, monitoring Seraphina and Torvald's movement. The hall immediately went silent when he walked in, his greenish blue eyes glowing faintly.

Elyria who noticed the sudden silence turned around from the table where drinks were being served, her jaw immediately dropped as her eyes landed on him.

No one was left out, even the King was stunned as well as his friend.

Cladded with a white pants and button up shirt with the collars and end of the sleeves, gold... Like the last only difference it was red. There was a chain around his neck that replaced the one that came with the locket.

When he finally raised his head, after realizing the whole hall was silent, his brows curved as confusion washed over him. As he opened his mouth to speak, Claire walked in, also wearing the same thing, then murmurs rose.

"They look perfect together."

"I imagined the hero would be solo, but he has his heroine by his side."

"I am so jealous."

"I bet he's a dragon or demon."

"I doubt, he looks like a Fae."

Arcanis remained silent, everything they said slowly got him infuriated. Claire on the other hand was trying her best to explain but they ignored her. He was on the verge of exploding when the King cleared his throat, drawing their attention to him.

"Now that I have your attention," he left where he stood and walked over to Arcanis' side, "Today we throw a party in honor of our hero, the only person who did all he could to find me a cure."

"To be honest, I don't know any other way to thank him, but I am grateful Drakonis. You and your sister," his said but then the crowd gasped. "Drakonis, you don't mind right?" the king asked as he took a box and staff from his guard.

"Offcourse not," he uttered and smiled, "But please take the staff. I would end up breaking it," he said politely as he took the box from the King.

King Felix nodded and handed the staff back to his guard, he then turned to the crowd, with a smile. "Let's celebrate our new Hero!"

The crowd cheered and continued what they were doing before he stepped in, Arcanis stood where he was, still staring at the glass slab in his hands.

He actually liked that they threw a party from him, but he was not the party type, since he spent nineteen years of his life in his room.

Claire had already left the hall to join the general, for a walk, to get to know each other better, since she was already getting attracted to him.

Elyria on the other hand, walked up to Arcanis holding two glasses of wine in her hand, she took the glass slab from him, almost earning a glare but his eyes softened when he saw her.

"Hand it over, your highness," he said, as politely as he could, he couldn't possibly yell at a princess, no matter how annoying the 'said' princess was.

"No," she replied and held out one of the glasses to him, "You don't seem to like parties, so," she paused and gestured to the roof. "We sneak away."

"Won't your father be angry with you for that?" he said as he collected the glass from her, his eyes inspecting the wine for any unusual substance in it.

"Every Princess goes rogue or becomes rebellious against her father," she smiled, her blue eyes gleaming once again. "Shall we?"

Arcanis raised his head from the glass and to her face, he shook his head, chuckling softly before pushing himself away from the wall. "Only this once," he warned, hoping he was not making a mistake getting acquainted with royalty. 'Just this once, Uravis.'