Ocular to the Dying Sun

Distracted Night Light’s; part 7

Certain that they were far from the rest of the group Epiro was with and Lagodis, they stood by the wall outside of the eatery, at least twenty steps away in an alley well-lit from the main road but dim enough to hide them from people.

“Mitt, I’m sorry for not listening to what you needed of me,” Epiro said as a sense of frustration grew ever slowly. “However, it isn’t a reason for you to follow me outside of the mansion at this hour. You don’t think everyone would be worried when you’re a child in danger, here?”

One second of looking at each one’s expression, with Epiro doing his best to express the exasperation he’s felt, should have equally clued in what they should be conveying. But Epiro wasn’t expecting the small, determined look on Mitt’s face, along with his words.

“I’m confident no one noticed me,” with an exhale as if the boy was the one exasperated by Epiro’s reaction. “Besides, this isn’t the first time I’ve done this. Just, it’s a new place for me. But you don’t have to worry about anything, Epiro, I’m a very good magician. If things go out of hand, I know when to get out.”

“Yes, just like a while ago as you completely looked like you were ready to throw in a hefty bet about who would win between Aling Nora’s fist while in front and ogling at the excitement without a clue?” Epiro snappily said. Something inside of him remembered in a heartbeat that this child once bled to death, and the moment it did his face completely crumpled. “We don’t want you to be in danger so early in your career as a Prime Magician, Mitt.”

Blinking as Mitt was caught off guard, he slightly frowned and then said, “well, if you didn’t try to run away from what I wanted to ask, then I wouldn’t be here anyway. Don’t worry, Epiro, I’m fine.” After which his face broke into a bright smile.

There’s something in the way Mitt said it as if he was scolding Epiro, and for all the sudden annoyance he’s come to gain, it quickly eased away by simply seeing Mitt’s face. With this, Epiro’s face turned still and realized that at some point Mitt wasn’t exactly unintentionally being a brat for his sake.

Rather, as Epiro looked at Mitt and his body language, he wasn’t exactly unaware of his folly. Simply, he was being at whim not by design, but by expression outside of his usual. This wasn’t what Epiro was used to Mitt, even though he’s spent time playing with him during his growth.

Yet, in those cases, it was in an environment where he could easily protect the boy. This time, it was just a place he had nothing to hold for, and it made him feel like a fool. Either way, he held his ground, putting his body between the rest of the crowd and the boy.

“Alright, since we’re here, I’m all ears,” Epiro said as he leaned on the wall while hiding Mitt.

There was disbelief on Mitt’s face because he expected that Epiro would instantly pull him back home. Into his mother’s presence, in the middle of the night, and express his profound stress about this current matter. Eventually, in his mind, despite spouting confident nonsense; he was genuinely worried.

He’s one bit conscious of the fact he has been thinking out of his crap hole and has now figured perhaps he isn’t as smart at the current. Though, he still insists that in some way, he has a better chance of figuring out if the rumors are false or not.

Mitt looked up at him with one thought to say, “I heard that there is a person who might be my father because they think he looks like me.”

Epiro’s face looked almost borderline grim but held his tongue.

“Don’t worry, I don’t believe in it,” Mitt paused and cautiously continued, “but I want to know why they insist he looked like me. Not that I want to meet that person, but I’m so curious if he does exist or not. I mean, don’t you have the same thought if someone said you looked like someone?”

The man Mitt spoke to couldn’t imagine what thoughts were running a mile a minute in his head, but he couldn’t get the feeling that Mitt is under a sense of confusion due to stress he shouldn’t be having. He is still young, understandably, and it makes sense for him to believe that he could do anything or try to.

“Are you worried it’s true?” Epiro said but before Mitt could answer. He could hear his group of fellow guards call for him. “For now, you have to be satisfied that we are all well aware of the rumors.”

Mitt blinked and looked at Epiro, looking for any form of deception or hint he will give the word of what they know.

Holding the boy’s shoulders, he firmly held him and said, “but trust me when I say this, don’t run off on your own again trying to do an adult’s work. You’re still young, these things shouldn’t be reaching your ears but here we are. Either way, you should be focusing on your training, Lady Yphemu will skin us alive if the chance is given that she hears about this night.”

“I told you Epiro, I don’t mind,” Mitt said then smiled again. “I assure you, I’m not that childish to stop thinking about loving mother when my possible parents ‘come’ back. She’s my mother, I don’t have a father, nothing else matters. And, if mother catches us, I think she won’t be punishing us that hard.”

Epiro rolled his eyes before saying, “right, come on let’s get you back to the mansion.”

A split second of thought entered Mitt, but he didn’t exactly show that he had a different idea cross his mind. Believing this would be a better action, he nodded slowly as he huffed, then followed Epiro as the young man lead the way. His demeanor was less tense as if he had a wave of relief wash over him.

▓▓▓▓▓

Running in the hidden alleys of the All-Monarch kingdom felt like a new playground Jacoba could feel herself coming to like, better than the familiar mountains and landscape of the wilderness they often visit. Cobblestone mixed with rugged cement pathways would lead into colorful or often grime-filled but interesting corners of the town at night is like a confetti-filled surprise.

Jacoba thought she would be bored to death, stripped of her ability to roam the town with escorts left and right like the pretentious aristocrats her father want them to be. At least she thinks that’s what he would end up pushing her to do, but she could have sworn he winked at her when the strict etiquette mistress scolded her for being frustrated with a kid her age telling her stories that “people in the boonies are rightfully slaves” to these city-dwellers.

Sure, there was nothing wrong with what the boy said, whatever his name was, but she wasn’t going to consider him if he didn’t show any. So, as a result, she was grounded to stay in her room, with the crew visiting her now and then. Telling her stories about the town was the worst torture her excited ten-year-old self could take.

That night was the last straw, so here she is, practicing her skills as the trained crew member that she was. Following Ugnille, around like a sneaky thief, the first person she found leaving. Eager to know what kind of places the central city of the All-Monarch could offer.

And you know what? She wasn’t disappointed, because the first night she visited in her shabby training clothes is a fight between a strong woman and a partially drunk off his rockers pirate.

She knows a pirate when she sees one, at least as best she could. Not that she’s confident or proven herself for her age. Doubtful as it would be for others, she’s quite positive for the ending of this night to be exciting and worthy of witnessing.

Dismissing all other annoying elements like sweaty brats clinging near her when she was fine on her own. Brawls aren’t hard to come by in the Sunflora, especially if one of the members gets into debates or heated fights about small things that shouldn’t even be worth a trickle of blood.

Her excitement ran dry though when she noticed Ugnille’s eyes trained on her. Quick as a blink, she ducked down under one of the tables and, as instinct, deftly exited through the front entrance out into the night.

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