22.

Connie will not speak a word. Not until they’re far enough to not be heard. The friend’s pace is quick and his fists are turning white. He’s tense; Arlon isn’t used to seeing him like this. It is not anger, nor fear. He cannot point out what emotion he is showing, or what kind of news he had brought with him. The library doors open up for them and as soon as Connie checked if no one was around, he opens his mouth.
“He is of the Amias bloodline, Arlon.” Connie stares right at his friend when he drops the news.
Arlon stares back at him as he takes in the words. It can’t be; there are only three Amias children, and all of them are fighting in their war. No son is called Elai. This is not possible.
“But his name- there is no-“
“King Heseras hid him because of his ability. Just like your mothers. He was exiled for hurting Mave.” Connie points out what was told and watches Arlon sink further and further into his chair.
Arlon feels himself getting dizzy; is it true?
“Worst thing is, he’s out for the warlord. Killing the warlord means a place back beside his father.” Connie drops the toughest news of it all. They both know who the warlord is, and they both know in how much danger it puts Arlon in. “He’s a snake, Lo. Have you seen how he’s been acting? And that for someone who’s around his enemies the entire day.” Connie feels a sense of disgust roll down his spine. He can’t believe he has been spending time with his enemy, with a son of the king he hates. It makes him feel like a traitor. But that would mean Arlon is one, too.
“But he doesn’t know the warlord’s identity, right? He can’t know. Chay wouldn’t tell him.”
“He doesn’t, but he’s out for it. has he asked you about it yet?”
“No..” Arlon hasn’t heard the word fall out of Elai’s mouth even once.
Arlon cannot find the words to say. He is staring at his best friend in disbelief, hands intertwined and mouth dry. Elai Amias. It sounds so.. right.
“Chay’s sure he’s out for the warlord?” The gloves around Arlon’s hands seem to tighten when he thinks about it. How is he going to handle this? How is he going to look into Elai’s eyes now? “Yes. Green magic does not lie.” Chay didn’t need convincing; he said it the moment Connie asked about it. Connie does not want to admit it, but he’s pretty sure that Chay still has a weak spot for the king, especially after the time they had spend together when Eryx died.
“What in the moon’s light am I supposed to do with that? What am I supposed to- I’m just-“ He had stared into those eyes only moments ago. They were green and filled with innocence. He can’t believe he fell for the lies. He can’t believe he allowed himself to start trusting him. “You need to execute him. There is no other way. He will try and-“
“Try and kill me. I know.” Arlon leans back into his chair and lets his eyes stare up at the shelves filled with books. This was supposed to be a calming place, now the library just seems to tighten around him. He wants to throw up.
“But he is the prince of Lyle. of Lyle, Connie.” A hostage from their enemy kingdom. It sounds too perfect to be true. Connie shakes his head violently as he paces through the library, hand resting against his chin. “Don’t start that. We don’t need a hostage. His father doesn’t even want him back! Just kill him. Kill him and we’ll be-“
“I am not going to kill him, Rahno!” friend. Arlon only uses the nickname when he and Connie are arguing. “I cannot kill him.” The mumble is soft yet heard by the grey-haired friend. He lets out a deep breath and leans his hands onto the table, the loud noise startling the king. He looks up at Connie, eyes tired and confused. Elai Amias. Why didn’t you just tell me?
Arlon roams his hands through his hair. He knows how hard it is to persuade Connie once he has chosen to think differently about matters. “Let’s pretend we don’t know, just for now. Until I figure out what to do.” Arlon doesn’t want to hear him talk about executing Elai again. He doesn’t want to think about even the slightest image of it; he does not know why. He should be happy to have the exiled prince with him, but Connie is right. The king of Lyle doesn’t even want him back, so why use him as a pawn in their war? Maybe his brothers care enough, but even that is not sure. In conclusion; he is stuck.
“Who are you? Last time a Lylenian got in, you killed them on the spot. And now there’s one in your own fucking home and you decide to let that brat roam around ‘until you figure out what to do’?” Connie mocks his friend’s words and puts his hands up in the air. Arlon rolls his eyes at him before pressing his forehead against the desk. He was about to start liking his company, too.
“How can you say that to me? I thought you were the one who told me not to rule the way Eryx taught me to rule.” Arlon has a point; Connie indeed begged Arlon to stop being as reckless as he once was. Eryx had a tight grip around the way he ruled, and numerous innocent lives got lost because of it.
“Eryx does not have anything to do with this. There is an enemy among us, and enemies are supposed to be eliminated.” Connie takes a few steps back and puts his hand against his forehead. They’re both getting frustrated with each other, yet neither decides to end the conversation.
“I ask you to respect my decision, Rahno. It is the least you could do for your king.”
Connie shakes his head. “He’ll be the death of you.”
“I am willing to risk that.” Arlon means it.

The young king is quiet when he walks towards the fireplace. His friends had already settled, and he can’t help but keep his eyes on Elai and Chay. Now that he knows who the boy is, the aura around him has changed. It has become sinister, solo. Arlon would love to look through it and pretend it doesn’t exist; there was something about Elai he wanted close to him. But he is not allowed to think that way anymore, not now that the truth has come to light. He bites on his bottom lip as he lets the fire tickle against his fingertips. He understand that Connie did not want to wait, but this evening would’ve been easier if he didn’t know yet. Now he has to see his enemy have fun with his friends, hold his alcohol and sit on his couch. What threatens him most, is the fact that Chay is unfazed by it all. All this time he knew, yet he did not show one bit of hate or fear towards Elai. Is it because Chay started liking him? Arlon knows how easy the alchemist falls for someone. “Arlon! Come sit down with us! You’re roaming around the room like you need to take a shit.” If it couldn’t get any worse, Connie is the one who decides to ask him to come sit with them. The friend watches Arlon stand up straight with a smile on his face and alcohol in hand. Why is everyone acting so normal?
Because you asked them to, idiot. Arlon has to shake his head. He needs to stop overthinking. They are doing what the king had asked them to do; this is how they are supposed to act. Nothing is wrong, nothing is strange. “My apologies. I was thinking of training methods for Elai.” The trainings have to stay the same, too. Elai can’t suspect a single thing. “I want to make it as easy as possible, so that you can grow stronger in a small amount of time.” So that we can throw you out and forget about all of this.
Elai nods at the king, smile bright on his face. “Don’t overwork yourself, though. We have time! I don’t mind if it takes months.” Well I do. Arlon sighs. This is impossible. He needs to put an end to this.
“I can help.” Connie raises his glass, and Elai happily joins in on it.
“Huh?” Arlon did not want his friends to get any more involved than they already are.
“Yeah! Death gaze matches death gaze the best! You can show your fighting technique, and I will combine it with our ability. This way the barrier won’t get in the way!” Connie is trying his best to help, Arlon can see it by the look that appear on his best friend’s face. he knows all too well Arlon can’t do this alone.
“That sounds great!” Elai is excited. Arlon hates it. He’s not supposed to be here.
“Okay, but we’ll start with the gaze only, then. No sword fighting.” Arlon’s words are stern, but they bring curiosity into Elai’s eyes nonetheless. “Sword fighting? Why need a weapon when you have your fire?” He does not understand, which is normal for someone who has been locked behind doors for nineteen years. It is no surprise. Still, it gets on Arlon’s nerves. Why does he have to be so curious? And why does he have to be so.. admiring? His eyes seem to lighten up every time something new falls into his life, and Arlon wishes he could unsee it.