Be My Muse

When The stranger was young, his daily routine was dull. He did not have or want to do anything other than the schedule. 

He would wake up early in the morning as a habit and go to the training grounds. He would train with his aide and only friend, Cain, and have breakfast alone. He studied hard. He trained hard.

He would have lunch alone again. And then supper. And Cain would blow out the candle. He would close his eyes, still dealing with his hunger. He obeyed the orders from his father and did well, Ate well, Slept well. Yet he was always tired and hungry. 

Physicians came to check on him and said that he was healthier than any other boy in his age. Yet he was hungry. His heart felt hunger. He was starving. 

One day, a new servant was employed in the mansion where he lived. The servant came to serve tea to the stranger. While he was brewing tea, the stranger saw through him. He saw the servant's bruises hidden under his sleeves, dark circles under his eyes, and the silent pleading for help. 

"Was it the butler?" The little stranger asked. 

Because of the unexpected question, the servant was startled. He slipped his hand and burned himself with hot tea. He swallowed his screaming and plopped on the floor. 

The stranger's golden eyes glinted. 

Hearing the commotion, the butler showed up. "What in the world is going on? Are you alright, your Highness?"

"I am very well butler. Rather…" He trailed off, glancing at the servant. His eyes welled up, and they screamed at the stranger. 

'Don't tell the butler'

At that time, the stranger's headache that appeared because of the never-ending hunger disappeared.

"What did this pest do this time?" The butler shouted, trying to fetch him, yet the stranger stopped him. "You all can leave," He ordered. 

'I was starving all this time,'

The demon inside him fed on the misery. 

On the day he fed on blood, the stranger wanted to escape from the mansion. He never knew he was a prisoner since his father fabricated a paradise, upon the prison. When he was aware of the iron bars, his father bound him with silver chains deep in the dungeons where the sunlight could barely touch him, and the water smelled like dead rats. Slime and slugs coated the walls.

The stranger was imprisoned until he came of age, until he became the man with the best ploy of escaping. 

Yet, he was ravenous. When he favoured the hunger, he could not see the ugliness, in there. The misery was a beauty to him, even his own misery. 

Cain could see the ugliness, yet he could not help as the outsider. He was doing everything for the sake of his master, and it was his great happiness. 

And one day, Cain succeeded. It was just a month ago. 

After ten years of starving, no living person was carrying a burden, misery, or unfortunate enough to conceal him until the mysterious painter stood before him as if it were her cruel fate. Her aura was dark to the point that she might kill herself at any minute. Her will to survive was hazy and one glance of her could fulfill the demon inside him. 

Though he had to knock her out for the first time, he could make a deal with his meal successfully. The first time was the hardest. 

She would sleep soundly, while her nightmares were eaten away by the demon. The stranger did not listen when she was spouting about the reasons for her sleeping disorder which carried a load of crap about her personal life. 

It was given and taken, fair trade. 

"Your Highness," Sir Levi, who had not let go of his bitter face since Ezra stepped into the red lights, started his daily habit. His green eyes were cursing at Ezra inwardly, yet he ignored him and continued to enjoy the seventh refreshing morning. "I know you feel better here, but I can't keep coming here! What if my sister was to know me roaming here? Oh, my dear goddess!"

"She would confirm that you don't like men?" Cain sipped the tea sitting across the table. Sir Levi wanted to yell at him, but the lobby was sunk in a blaring silence as usual morning under the red lights. "Ah! I forgot. There are men, too. I think they're slaves. Imported slaves," 

"Please shut your trap!" Levi threatened, glancing around him. "Anyway…. I prepared everything. We should leave immediately before dusk," 

"Dusk? I thought it was dawn. How unfair," Cain leaned back, pushing his brown bangs back. "Well, what's the difference? We're all going to die,"

"Oh! For God's sake! It's the best translator's war plan!" Sir Levi was sick of Cain, who always got on his nerves. Cain teased his best friend with all his might whenever he had the chance. "We are not going to die!"

"Yes, yes" Cain responded nonchalantly. "I want to get drunk. Hello dear," Cain walked towards the maid who was wiping the dishes at the table, showing off his charming smile while Sir Levi clicked his tongue in displease. "He's out of his mind" He mumbled. 

"He's right," Ezra said, not looking at him and placing the teacup on the table. "We are going to die,"

Sir Levi locked his eyes on Ezra's face. "We might. But you are not. I won't let you die."

"I won't thank you," 

To Ezra, he was his sole saviour, the one who broke his chains. He did not like him doing it again, even for a bit. After all, Ezra was beyond the saving, yet he survived. And he still did not know the price. 

"You don't have to," Levi said. He glanced out of the glass wall, sighing. His mind went far away in a second or two. "My only concern is my sister,"

Ezra had nothing to say. His freedom cost a price. 

He brought the teacup to his mouth and froze, hearing the loud slamming of a door. Unlike him, Sir Levi choked. He heard… no he smelled his breakfast walking towards him, with the topping of some strong potation. 

Rivienne, who almost survived a fall, placed her hand on Ezra's shoulder with an awfully big smile. "Hello, good sirs," She bowed politely yet swayed like a rag in the wind. "Hope you're having a nice morning." Levi peeked at Ezra.

"May I borrow this good sir, for a second? Thank you," She did not wait for Levi's answer as she slammed her palm before Ezra on the table. 

"Be my muse!" She spitted out her legendary three words shamelessly. 

Ezra stared at her for a minute. 

"…No" 

The tea became sweet all of a sudden.