Apprenticeship (For Elias)

[ixis]

Now that the implications of what he's accomplished have fully sunk in, Naugus is in a delightful mood. His steps are quick, his back is straight, his grin is gleeful and even his tail is held up off the ground slightly. He's led the young king back to his tower home in the residential outskirts, just where it begins to bleed into the parklands. The place is a looming, earthen and green crystal tower, something befitting a wizard of deeply questionable morals like himself.

The door opens as Naugus approaches, the slab of green splintering and sliding back to allow entrance. He ushers Elias inside happily as he says, "I'm eager to begin, boy. You're quick and sharp, surely you'll take to the Ixis arts swiftly. Come, come, have a seat and we'll begin covering what awaits you."

The inside of the home is all formed from singular stone, all the fixtures (with the exception of a few crystal objects) fused to the walls and floor as if pulled up from it. Seams of green swirl and trace along the walls artfully, adding a bit of colour and flair. There appears to be a living area, as well as a humble kitchen, with stairs leading upwards against one far wall. There is also another green door, crafted to look like a more accessible and reasonable one, with a lock set into the knob. The place is lit by enchanted fire hovering in sconces, giving the place an eerie glow. A snap of one crablike claw and the flames glow brighter, dispelling some of the gloom.

Comments

I know, right?! I also totally did it on accident. XD

[onceandneverking]

Elias's eyes closed at the words. They struck deep into his chest, each one of them. His father. His father would never look at him again because of this. His father was never proud of him to begin with. Would this lower his opinion of him? Could it even be lowered? He hung his head in shame. He could only think of one thing to say.

"Thank you, Master."

[ixis]

"Please. Sit, rest. Gather your strength before we try anything else." He shoos Elias towards his prior seat where the book and glass of water are waiting for him. "And I am, as your teacher, an open book as well. Please. Ask me anything." He sits down on a nearby stool, his tail curling around the base of it.

Naugus is still all smiles and he looks...genuinely gleeful and friendly. There's no cackling or leering at having 'trapped' the king like this. He's just happy to see he has a promising young student who HAPPENS to also be the King. That just means his rightful place on the throne will go that much more smoothly!

[onceandneverking]

Elias took his seat and fell back into the chair. He couldn't even hold himself up enough to sit straight. He looked up at Naugus and found that happy smile somehow comforting. He finally made someone proud. It was his enemy, the one who stole his crown...but someone was proud. Sure, Sally, Sonic, and Megan would all say they were proud of him.

They were biased. Naugus hated him. Naugus was like his father, critical and driven. It was hard to admit but he could see why the sorcerer was once his Father's adviser and court wizard. He had fallen for the same trickery with Geoffrey when he was king.

"...Why did you agree to be my father's court mage?" The question just spilled out of him.

[ixis]

The question catches the mage off guard as well, his ears lifting slightly in surprise and confusion. "Hm." He leans on his elbows, tapping his index finger and the tip of his claw together.

"I had originally agreed to be King Frederick's. And I served him well and faithful until his son took the throne. And I continued to serve him as well; I was sworn to the lineage of Acorn and the betterment of the kingdom.

"I appreciated the prestige it gave me. It let my magicks have a wider impact to better the lives of many. And I was appreciated and lauded in turn. Both kings sought my council and I gave it freely and honestly. It was only when Frederick also let in that Overlander, Nate Morgan, in that things began to sour."

[onceandneverking]

Nate Morgan. The name didn't quite ring a bell for Elias. He knew some of the history of the Kingdom but not as much as he should have. Arriving so late in his life and having been raised by the Brotherhood, it wasn't something he was able to study extensively.

"And how did things begin to sour?" Naugus sounded like he was being honest. He had agreed to be honest with him. He was even proud of him. And now here they were, talking about the mage's past. He was loyal to the kingdom once upon a time. This Overlander changed that. But how?

[ixis]

"He was all about technical things, as Overlanders often are. Mechanical and robotic solutions and devices. He developed the power ring forge as proof that magic is simply science at an misunderstood level. None of this sat well with me. And even more so when his inventions and innovations began to replace mine.

"He was polluting our society, Elias, with his Overlander ways. He was making me obsolete. Frederick was a kind king, open and allowing enough that he let in both the likes of myself and Morgan. But he was naive to a degree as well; the simple, accessible allure of technology was seducing him and he began to turn a deaf ear to my own advice and advances."