Dax

Madeo was warm this time of year so I shed my crimson coat beside of me while Helios droned on about the war.

I always believed when I became king, my life would be all about extravagant parties and expensive foods, but it was quite the contrary. As soon as my father died and I was crowned king, my entire existence was shifted. Instead of lounging and dining and living the extravagant life of royalty, my kingdom was caught in a war, and, therefore, so was I.

Grohera was once a beloved ally to Madeo. My father and the king of Grohera were close friends and, in turn, their friendship led to my friendship with the eldest prince of Grohera, Kai.

The kings' friendship was tested in my late childhood, though.

You see, there was only one thing that my father and Kai's father disagreed on, and that was the existence of Magi, or those who could bend reality at their fingertips. My father believed that the existence of Magi could be useful, he would always talk about their use in war or protection of those in need of it. But Kai's father believed that they were an abomination and were sent to this world to kill everything they came in contact with.

So when I began showing signs of being a Magi, Kai's father became enraged and started to distance himself and his son from Madeo all together. Finally, on one disastrous night, he was sent over the edge and stormed back to Grohera where he declared war on Madeo promptly.

This disagreeance between the two kings eventually led to the downfall of their friendship and the beginning of a long, difficult war between the two kingdoms.

And I couldn't help but to feel so very responsible for the conflict.

"Your majesty?"

My eyes flicked to Helios, my advisor, standing stiffly next to a lean man who exuded some sense of false confidence.

"Yes?" I responded almost lazily, as if I did not want to be there any longer.

"Allow me to introduce you to Joseph Acker. He has come asking to speak to you for a moment." Helios gestured to the thin man standing to him. Upon further examination of Joseph, I began to notice his pale skin and dark eyes that bore into me, almost challenging my deducing gaze. His face looked to be mutilated as there was a scar cutting from his lip and ending underneath his left eye. Though Joseph was lean, there was a faint definition of muscle under his shirt which led to believe he worked for a living.

"Speak then, what is it you desire to discuss with me?" I asked, regaining my composure from the brief moment of eye contact.

Joseph shifted his weight and spoke quietly.

"What I wish to speak with you about is a very sensitive topic. Perhaps we should move somewhere more private?"

I rolled my eyes and gazed at the large, extravagant room laced in gold and crimson. I did not want to leave my seat on the comfortable throne in the center of the space, but Joseph's gaze seemed to beg me to accept his proposition.

"Fine." I grumbled. "Helios, take him to the Hall and I'll meet you there momentarily."

Joseph seemed to relax as Helios led him to the Hall, where most of our more private matters were discussed. Contrary to the name, the space was not a hall, but a small room tucked at the end of a large hallway on the first floor of my grand castle. I could not recall the origin of the misleading name, seeing as it had been called that for as long as I could remember, so I decided to not question it all too much.

I finally rose off the throne I had been lounging on and began the short walk to where Helios and Joseph waited patiently.

Many people expected me to be a cruel man, after sitting on the throne for 5 years, but it was quite the contrary. I did my best to be kind when I could be and be understanding when it wouldn't compromise my reputation, but there were times when I just couldn't. Men were always looking for moments of weakness to try and grapple for some status, so being weak was never an option. Never.

I finally found myself standing outside of the closed door leading to the Hall and I took a breath, preparing myself for whatever was to come next.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me without pausing. Those who worked here did not offer the promise of secrecy, so we had to tread lightly, stay quiet, and keep doors shut, tight.

"I thank you for agreeing to meet with me, your majesty." Joseph spoke as I turned to face him.

I simply gave a curt nod before turning to Helios.

"Stand outside the door. Make sure there are no," I paused for a moment, attempting to find the right words. "unexpected ears listening in."

"As you wish, my king."

He stepped out of the room, leaving Joseph and I alone.

"Please, take a seat." I offered, gesturing to the set of arm chairs by a large fireplace.

Joseph and I sat quietly across from one another and stayed in a heavy silence until I spoke.

"So Joseph, what is the pressing matter you have come here to discuss?" I did not have time to dance around the topic any longer, so I decided to cut to the point.

He took a breath.

"I recently came into.. uh.. contact with a former Groheran soldier near my home on the border and I have gained some information that I thought you may appreciate." He spoke, folding his hands in his lap.

He spoke nervously and he stumbled over the first bit of his sentence as if he did not want me to hear it.

"Came into contact with?" I questioned curiously.

He shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, you see, he trained alongside the other Groheran recruits but left the ranks very quickly afterwards. He did not want to stay there and associate with those from his former kingdom, so he left one night and came across myself."

Joseph tried to sound vauge, but his rushing and stumbling over words gave me the crystal clear image. He had done more than just 'come in contact' with this former Groheran.

"So, why did you come here without him, Joseph?" I questioned, leaning forward in the armchair.

"Because I did not want harm to fall to him." Joseph said, mimicking my movement. "This is war, your highness, and trust is not given lightly. Especially to those who can be considered threats to Madeo."

I was taken aback by his sudden burst of confidence and sat back in the chair.

"I applaud your attempts to protect those that matter to you, but why would I believe you? What do you have to offer that gives you any sort of credibility?" I questioned further.

Joseph had to understand that I couldn't simply believe his 'information'.

"Your majesty, bringing him here could have meant death for the both of us. You have to understand, even in the slightest." His eyes suggested that he wanted to say more.

"You look like you would like to add to that statement." I narrowed my eyes.

He shifted in his seat.

"Well, it's well known that you and the eldest prince of Grohera were close at a point in time. You have to understand that these sides in this war are dangerous, it is so easy to lose those close to you." Joseph met my gaze with a fierce expression. I could see the hope in his eyes. He was begging for me to listen to him.

"I understand how dangerous times are right now, but I still cannot simply take your word as truth. There has to be some semblance of evidence behind it."

Joseph looked as if he had lost all hope. He looked so very disappointed.

I sighed.

"The most I could do for you is arrange a meeting, a very secret meeting. I'll bring one of my trusted individuals for precaution and that will be it." I offered.

His eyes rose to meet mine.

"And not harm will come to him?" He asked.

"I swear on my life, no harm will come to him."

The room fell silent after those words.

Joseph glanced to the dying fire next to us and sighed in relief.

"Thank you, highness." He whispered.

I did not respond immediatley. I was lost in my own memory of the past. I found myself tangled in a web that encompassed my thoughts all too often.

"What is his name?" I questioned gently.

"Zachariah." He whispered almost inaudibly. "His name is Zachariah."

I nodded and gazed longingly at the door.

I was living a life that I hated. I was living a life that left me so very alone at the end of each night, and I was sure that if I continued on this route, I would die with no one to hold my hand. But the one person, the only individual who made any of the pain and suffering in the world worth it seemed so very far away. As if I were constantly reaching out for him, but our fingertips just never quite met.

"I hope you and Zachariah make it through these dark times." I spoke quietly, unaware of the way my shoulders began to slump and the burning in my eyes.

"Thank you."