The Chained Watcher

Not Blackmailed

~~~

Quaxel knew they were coming before they arrived.

Letting the scrying pool's image fade back into a reflection of the ceiling far above, he sits himself down atop a dais, putting on the regal majesty of a prominent god in preparation for his visitors. They mean no harm, he knows. They simply wish to verify Grian's words.

Much like Grian, they did not attempt to use their magic to appear within the temple's walls. Unlike him though, they knock politely on the doorframe of the outer courtyard's wall, waiting for permission to enter. His predecessor's actions did not bother him. Not when this temple was his in the first place.

But he should not keep these Listeners waiting. Calmly, he calls out, "You may enter." Normally his voice would be unheard, mortal ears being too weak to hear him without stepping within his temple, but these are Listeners, not ordinary mortals. Listeners hear much which would otherwise go unheard.

They enter. Though their movements are not reverent, they still carry respect for him, acknowledging this as his place of residence and treating it with the respect that deserves. While waiting for them to arrive at his inner sanctum, he examines them more closely through the lens of Trade, confirming that they see no value in bringing danger to his doorstep, only seeking to ensure he is safe from Grian.

He smiles at them when they reach him. "Greetings, Listeners. I take it you are here to confirm the words of the one named Grian?"

Perhaps they were expecting him to avoid the subject, because they take half a second to process before speaking. "Ah, yeah, we are. Sorry for letting him slip away and bother you, by the way. We're supposed to be supervising him, but he..."

"Your apology is accepted, though not necessary. He did indeed arrive here, but his intentions were pure, and he caused no trouble."

"Wait, really? You're saying he actually didn't threaten you?"

"Why would he have needed to?" Quaxel asks, amused. "His desire was to ensure we would not clash and bring harm to those he values, which lines up perfectly with my own desire to ensure my following would not be threatened by his presence. A non-aggression pact was in both of our best interests."

"I guess you're not wrong..."

He can see it in their eyes. They don't truly believe that his predecessor carries no malice in his heart. He probes, "You have misgivings about the non-aggression pact between the strange Watcher and I, yes?"

"M-Maybe a bit... Watchers can be pretty good at feigning benevolence, you know? Just because he hasn't shown any obvious signs of malicious intent doesn't mean there is none."

"Then perhaps you would be interested to know that my domain allows me to perceive the value one holds in certain things. I do not fear being double-crossed because I see that he holds little value in it, same as he holds in other unprovoked conflicts."

Sure enough, the two Listeners' eyes widen, his words sinking in. "Wait, you can get a proper read on him? Like, intentions laid bare? Completely?"

"Yes, though I do not share that information lightly, Listeners. The values one holds in one's heart are private things, something the person themself may not even realize they would consider a fair trade unless confronted with it." He peers into them, exposing, "Were you forced to choose between saving your partner and saving your mentor, you would choose to save each other, every time."

He doesn't say this as an act of aggression. Merely as an example. But their faces still twist in discomfort at the exposing of the true values in their hearts, stripping away the popular deflection of 'I'd choose both'.