Viravos~✨Talking to the Stars~✨

Testy, Testy

(Viren's POV)
I sighed as Soren went on about some new sword tactic he's been testing out. I could not be anymore uninterested. I nodded, pretending to listen with a listless expression. I checked my watch. "Well, Soren, I need to go check Claudia's progress."
"Bye, Dad!"
I walked down the hall, and saw a painting out of the corner of my eye. It was a painting of the night sky that I had passed countless times but for some reason, this time I froze and stared at it. I groaned, ruffling my hair. It was just the painting. Nothing more, nothing less. I knocked on Claudia's door. "Come in!" She called and I did.
"You ought to be more cautious with who you let into your bedroom. You didn't even ask who I was first."
She laughed and brushed it off. "I know everyone who works here! It's totally safe!"
I furrowed my eyebrows. "What if it wasn't someone who worked here."
She met my eyes and frowned. "You're right. Sorry, Father."
"Yes. How is that potion coming along?"
"Great! This potion was such a good idea!"
"Yes,yes." I rubbed my eyes. "Okay. Have you tested it yet?"
"No. It's effectively a love potion. Who would I use it on?"
"It's not a love potion. It causes someone to form an irrational attachment to you so that they will do anything you say."
"That's a love potion."
"Whatever. Call it what you like. Isn't there a boy you like or something?"
Claudia snorted. "I don't know, I don't really have time for boys."
"Smart girl." I put my hand on her shoulder. We exchanged a smile. "Well, it's for whoever's DNA is used in the potion. Maybe you could snoop around some gossip and pair up the staff."
"Sounds fun!"
"Good, let me know how it goes."
"Don't you want to watch?"
I punched the bridge of my nose. "Not today, I have a meeting in ten minutes anyway."
"Oh, okay, good luck!"
I walked out of her bedroom and passed by the painting again. I paid careful attention not to look at it. Then, I walked into the war room. I put on the charm. I was struggling more than usual to not lose my patience. These people were so difficult to coerce! By the end of it, I was at my wit's end and I lost it. "We can't station soldiers there! The horses will lose their footing and fall into the river.If that happens, the soldiers could be slaughtered if they're ambushed."
"Testy, testy." Prince Kasef grinned. I clenched my jaw. I mentally composed myself and put my hands behind my back.
"We will finish discussing the plans for battle in our next meeting. That is all the time we have today."
Slowly all the royals left and I sighed, leaning my head against the wall. My blood was rushing in my ears as all my anger came back full force. I stormed down the hallway, raising a hand toward a soldier who approached me and I resisted the urge to walk right into the secret room where I spent countless hours staring at a mirror. Continuing into my room, I threw myself down on the bed. I had woke up in the middle of the night and tested scents in my sleepiness for what the mysterious figure behind the mirror might smell like. These many scents were still mixed together on my bed sheets. Lavender, chamomile, sandalwood, plums, dark chocolate, Moonlight Breeze, Ocean Waves, and Old Parchment. I closed my eyes, letting myself be enveloped in these scents. Before I knew it, I began to dream. I dreamt of things I would never disclose out loud. His hands on my skin, his voice in my ear. Feeling the night air blow into the room from the open window. Our bodies laced together on my bed with not intent of leaving it. We kissed and held each other and I saw myself smile. The smile I used to wear when I first fell in love with my ex-wife, back when we were happy. Before we saw the worst in each other and let it drown all those happy dreams.
I woke with a start, not knowing how long I had been laying there. It had been hours. It was now the dead of night and I crept down to the secret room. I ignored my heart beating fast in my chest. I pretended to be calm, neutral, logical.
I walked into the room,my eyes resting on the sheet I had used to cover the mirror. I itched to remove it. I looked at the dagger and my hand. I took a deep breath and uncovered the mirror. To my surprise, he was sitting there, staring back at me. I smiled, he smiled. He picked up the dagger and pointed at his hand. I rolled my eyes. Was I really going to do this? What if it was a trap of some kind? The people of Xadia have always been deceptive.
I shook my head. There were no other options. I had to try. Finally, I cut my hand and dropped the blood into the bowl. I was surprised when a small purple caterpillar crawled out. The elf smirked and tapped his ear. I resisted the urge to cringe and placed the insect on my ear. "Hello, Viren. I am Aaravos." A deep, smooth voice spoke into my ear. I blinked at the mirror in surprise. He smiled wider. "See, isn't this nice? We can now commune with speech." I watched his mouth move to the words being spoken into my ear. My mind recalled my dream and the parallels between it and this. I pushed it away, furrowing my brow. I shook my head.
"Yes, but how do I know I can trust you?"
He continued smiling. "Ah, you don't yet, do you? You are wise not to trust so quickly."I nodded it continued to stare at him, still in awe that I could hear his voice. A voice which was quote deeper than I had expected from such a beautiful man.
He put his hand under his chin. "Would you like to continue meeting here still?"
"Yes!" I blurted out a bit too quickly and urgently. He noticed and raised his eyebrows. "That's not to say we can't speak otherwise but I do prefer looking at people when I'm speaking to them."
He nodded, his mouth half parted curiously. "Indeed?"
"I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yes. Is there a time you don't wish to converse with me?"
"Not in particular."
"Excellent."