6 — THE CLANDESTINE ARDOR

SIX

Bewildered. There were over millions of words to aptly elaborate his muddled state, but he would settle with that for the time being.

Kaizo was utterly shell-shocked at how things transpired a few moments ago than how he seemed to let on. Deep crease of wrinkles decked his forehead as his squinted golden eyes darted down the dark-cloaked figure weaving through the estate's lush maze with Ferguan Clan's Astreon and lord.

Forehead touching the cold glass surface, his brows thoughtfully furrowed, reminded by the person under the garb. It was like a dream—at least at first few seconds that his eyes met her deadpan ones—until he'd woken up by her unapologetic claimed that he was gravely mistaken her for someone else he knew from the past.

Well, in a way, she was right. There were faint vestiges of the person he once knew in her, but that was all. It was as though the familiarity of what once she was deliberately purged to nonexistence.

Gone was the warm presence she exuded; it gone exceptionally cold and detached.

Gone was the vibrant emotions swirling in those enthralling, amber eyes; it gone soulless—saved for the wicked glint it sported when she briefly flipped.

That woman who scalded his hand at mere touch of the skin had gone straight out apathetic for the rest of her audience with them.

She was right. Not an inch of her demeanor screamed of her. She wasn't her anymore.

She was no Hollis.

And he had no right to even question why.

The tragedy five years ago had changed her for good. That was for sure.

"I think she doesn't like me."

Turning away from the window, Kaizo strolled back down to the couch where the mediator to four clans in Grevus, taking form of a thirteen-year-old blonde lad, had taken a seat across him, slouching.

"I mean, she has every right, but man, she's scary!"

Kaizo shook his head when the lad visibly shuddered, wide eyes looking up as if reliving the memory.

"And you didn't back me up at all, you traitor!" Forefinger was pointed at him at the blatant accusation.

Rolling his eyes, Kaizo ignored his cousin's dramatic flairs and instead turned to the lad's silver-haired instructor who had been exceptionally silent through the course of their guest's stay. Leaning against the glass table's side, Mavi seemed to have found interest at the maroon carpeted floor since he was staring at it in deep thoughts. They were the only ones left after she walked out of the door. Nuallan and Sage take their leave after a while to oversee her demand prior to agreeing to be their country's Priestess.

"I really think she doesn't like me," Magnus stated for the second time around. The poor lad had a crestfallen expression going on around him as he sighed and huffed, then rolled on his stomach at the velvet couch. "How could she un-dislike me though?"

Poor boy.

Though he had taken the highest seat of power of their country at a young age and had been doing an exceptional job under the guidance of his advisors, council members and instructors, no one could still take away the fact that he was still a boy who craved affection of everyone surrounding him. A downside of growing up motherless and an unfeeling father.

They both were. The only difference was he got to bask himself with their parental love before old age took them in their deep slumber. He was sixteen then. Twelve years had passed, but he still ached for their lost.

Magnus wasn't as lucky as him though.

Born to the eldest of two brothers, late Minister Alessio Magnus Romulus III, the young Magnus was completely orphaned at the young age of nine with his mother dying of giving birth. Law had it decreed that the child of the last Minister had to assume the position upon vacancy regardless of age of ascension. Not that Kaizo wanted the title. None of them cousins desired it actually, but someone had to take the duty of overseeing the country and Kaizo, as much as he felt bad for his teenage cousin, had never been so overjoyed that his blood birth was one echelon down from him.

Gods, he hated the blood pulsing in his veins.

It was a series of tangled silver chains wrapped around his body from conception to birth. So many fuckin' no's than yeses. His blood was more of a curse than a gift. Had he was given a choice, gods knew he'd rather be a farm boy. Anything would do as long as it had absolutely nothing to do with being noble. A street boy was even appealing. At least they didn't always have to live their life lurking in the shadows of anonymity and hearsays.

How many times he had wished for this? It was his will-o'-the-wisp. The word elusive couldn't even cover it.  The distinct possibility was next to naught.

Waving off the dejecting thoughts, Kaizo diverted his attention to his frowning cousin, willing a light vibe to liven up the atmosphere. "You're too kind, Mag." His lips stretched into a wolfish grin. "It's pretty apparent she hates you."

Magnus begrudgingly shot up in the seat and glared at him. "Not as much as she is to you."

Confusion instantaneously slammed Kaizo as he raised a thick brow at Magnus. "What?"

"Oh, puh-lease! Seen the look in her eyes when it grazed yours?" Magnus smugly cocked his head, eyes held a knowing look. "I think she's mentally skinning you alive."

"Really?" he snorted, sarcasm lacing his tone. "I sure thought she was admiring me. You must be mistaken, cousin."

Magnus stared at him bemused. "Only you would mistake hate for admiration. You sure your nanny hadn't dropped you when you're still a babe? 'Cause it seems to me that she does."

Kaizo found himself frustratingly running a hand over his face while grunting. One good thing that came for being anonymous was people wouldn't know how credulous the Young Minister can be at times. It was few of the reminders that Magnus was indeed still a lad and not always the distinguished mediator that brought the once four clashing clans together in his home with the aid of the Seer by talking some great sense to them like a Minister should be. At his first year of assuming the position per se.

It ran in the blood and printed in the DNA, of course. But how Magnus' mind sifted through non-duty related sarcastic remarks without detecting its dry undertone was still an unfathomable mystery to not only Kaizo, but everyone serving under the Young Minister.

Nuallan's wife and also Kaizo's close friend, Tauriel, once laughed at him for bringing up the trivial matter and just said that it was one of the Young Minister's appealing charm.

Kaizo snorted. There is nothing charming about it!

"It's about time for your session with Captain Nafier, Your Excellence. You should probably get going," Mavi interrupted, glancing at the grandfather clock leaning on the other side of the room between two ceiling high bookshelves.

The Young Minister was instantly on his feet, eyes widening in panic as it darted on the ticking clock. "No way! You should have tell me much earlier! That geezer would kill me even if I'm seconds late!"

"Then, I suggest ya to move along, Your Excellence. Killing is a bit too far, though. Running a hundred laps is more viable. Captain Nafier isn't a lenient man after all."

"You don't have to remind me!" Magnus blanched and made a record breaking dash out of the study in a few seconds, heavy footsteps of stationed guards outside falling behind.

As long as he was gone, Kaizo let out an exasperated sigh and threw his head back to the couch, an arm draped over his head. He sensed Mavi took the seat across him and before his friend could even break it, Kaizo was already at it.

"You don't have to tell me, pal. Just please don't," he rasped out dejectedly and his jaw clenched, so was his hands. It felt like his energy was already spent even it was till midday.

Mavi responded with a heavy sigh. "I know, Kai. What I'm concern is—"

"How Tauriel would take it?" he interjected. "Honestly, it's the least of my concern at the moment. Nuallan has that covered."

"And what about you? How will you proceed from here, Kai?"

The arm over his head languidly fell to his side as he found himself staring at the ornate ceiling. "I don't have any idea. She isn't her anymore, Mav. If getting close to her before was arduous, that increased a hundred fold now. She's . . ." he paused, thinking, "untouchable. And I mean it in every practical sense." He held up his previously scalded to bones left hand which still had the ruined glove on. His tone had its usual playful touch, but he knew his friend caught the gloom in it.

"That I agree. It stung to see that she didn't even acknowledge Nuallan and me after years. But I guess, it's due to the fact that we'd only met once, and let's not talk about how it goes for you then." Mavi lightheartedly chuckled making Kaizo grimaced at the brief memory trip. "Ah, I can still remember it as if it just happened yesterday," he drawled sentimentally and before Kaizo could stop him, he was already at it.

"We were sneaking in the Lavine's house to fetch Tauriel for our usual midnight escapade. Nuallan and I went first, but you . . ." He stifled a laughter and Kaizo grabbed two of the decorative pillow beside him and stuffed it over his head to block Mavi out, but it was futile. "We actually didn't expect you to mistake Tauriel's sister's balcony as hers. I mean, the rope we used to climb up Tauriel's bedroom was still there hanging, so why you did climb the wrong one again? Sorry, but I seem to forget that vital part. A li'l help would suffice."

Kaizo groaned as his cheeks started to heat up. "BecauseIwascurious," he said in haste, but Mavi won't have any of it.

"I'm sorry, what was that again?"

To Kaizo's chagrin and annoyance, he forcefully threw the pillows in his hands towards Mavi to which he just deflected with ease. "Because I was so fuckin' curious about Tauriel's sister, you conniving moron! And that was why a spreading knife ended up in my throat before I could even take the rest of the step inside her room," he indignantly frowned upon the memory of the first encounter he had with Hollis or Verēna, whatever it is, then recalled their second time meeting a while ago. Fuckin' the same. "Happy now?"

He froze, eyes widening ever so slightly at the sudden realization.

There's traces of the previous her still left, then.

Kaizo pursed his lips, uncertain how he should feel about the discovery.

Does it still matter?

Nei. He knew better than to cling to an elusive hope. Not after she audaciously voiced out the ceaseless grudge of hers to his family.

And yet she agreed to Magnus' request.

Per the Seer's order, most definitely.

Hestia, the country's Seer who refused to live among the rest of Grevus citizens, was the embodiment of harsh winter season. Kaizo was there six years ago. He was also there when the Seer threw crude remarks to the entire Minister's Council. The century old woman used to be like her, and maybe still was; oozing with lethal animosity to the four clans who annihilated her clansmen. And yet when the country almost faced absolute obliteration, the Seer stepped into the scene and took the huge role in stopping it.

Do not be mistaken. I'm merely doing the purpose of our clan's existence. Had I was given a chance, I'd rather see this country fall. The Seer's exact words then.

What occurred moments ago ran similarly to that six years ago. It was remarkable and equally disturbing how their duty outweighed their personal resentments. And he couldn't fathom how they could attain it.

Mavi's choked a laughter, pulling him out of his trance as he found him eagerly nodding. "My, my, my," he tauntingly sing-songed shaking his head. "I always forgot that it wasn't even a mistake in the first place. I wonder why."

Kaizo shot his friend an irritated look, took off his ruined gloves, and hurled it to him who again just whisked it seamlessly. "Because you're an ingrate who vicariously thrive from the misery of your friends, so leave the fuck me alone now or I swear I'll shove your bastard arse off this plateau and get away with it."

At the statement, Mavi finally burst out in a peal of laughter as he made his way to the doors. "You seriously need to get laid, my friend. Heed my words of wisdom," he said, putting his palm together as if praying. "The distinct possibility of her wanting ya back is zero to none as it appears."

Kaizo's mood gone dimmer. Swiftly, he grabbed the remaining pillow beside him and chucked it across the room, but as always Mavi evaded it and ended up tumbling against the newly slammed doors. His annoying laughter bounced off the hallway outside and Kaizo's expression went even sourer.

Fuckin' aggravating.

So much swearing for the day.

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