forum At War // OxO // Closed

Started September 19, 2021 by @ElderGod-Icefire

tune

He just grunted, a strange emotion taking a hold of him. “Don’t thank me,” Kaylum murmured after a moment.

Nik shrugged. "Yeah. Uhm…you remember what we talked about the other day?" he asked, looking over at Kaylum. "About…if you escape and I don't make it?" he ran his hands through his hair, taking a deep breath.

He glanced back Nik before nodding slightly. Both certain and uncertain of what he would say next, Kaylum held his gaze, his mismatched eyes glittering.

He sighed. "Maybe don't tell my council what you just told me. It is going to be difficult enough to prove your claim, even with the soulmate mark on your shoulder." he kept his gaze on Kaylum.

Kaylum almost scoffed. “As if I would tell them anything.”
He turned away again. He couldn’t decide if he was angry or if this feeling was something else.

Nik closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the floor. "I just need you to take care of my country, Kaylum. You don't have to do it out of love for me– I know you do not –but if you do not step up, someone will take charge, and they may rekindle the war." his words were quiet. He didn't want to make Kaylum angry, but he needed the other man to understand.

Kaylum’s hands curled into fists, and he wanted to raise his voice, to shout at Nik, to fume, but he couldn’t. He was angry, he knew that now, but he wasn’t angry at Nikolas. To pour his anger onto him would be childish and cruel. He gritted his teeth.
“What do you mean?” He asked helplessly. “We already discussed this. Are you asking me to take responsibility of Kevra, even though you are still alive? I will do this for you, I will, but if and only if you are dead and I escape alive.”

Nik let out a faint breath. "I know. I am sorry. I only…I worry. Your country, from what I have heard, would be…better prepared for its monarch to never return. Mine depends on lineage and claims. My soulmate has the closest claim. The next is my father's…well, a bastard cousin, or something of the sort. He is not a good man and I do not want him on my throne." he opened his eyes to look over at Kaylum. "Even if I am not dead. If you get out of here and I do not, whether or not I am alive or dead, I need you to take care of Kevra." he knew it was a lot to ask, but he also knew that his likelihood of getting out was, well, likely smaller than Kaylum's. Kaylum was healthy, and had magic and the ability to shape-shift. Nik had only a curse and limited abilities, and a leg that he couldn't walk on.

Kaylum turned to look at Nikolas again. His brow furrowed, and he now realized what that other strange emotion was. Fear. “Better prepared…?” He muttered under his breath. He could only imagine the chaos that would ensue once the news of the attack and his parents’ death reached Tesh. Wonderful, another thing Seren could possibly take advantage of. Kay frowned, nervously running his fingers through his dreads. His gaze drifted before locking on Nik’s. He moved closer. The strange emotions seemed to be stirring in his chest, making his heart quicken.
“Nikolas,” he hissed. “I am the prince of Tesh. Tesh must always be my priority. Do not ask me such a thing unless you know that I will always place Tesh above Kevra, and that you know what that means for your country.”

Nik closed his eyes, letting out a faint breath. "You had said…perhaps I misunderstood how your country's monarchy works. For that, I apologize. And I am aware that for you, Tesh will come before Kevra. All I am asking for is that if necessary, you take control of Kevra. Just don't hurt my people. That is all I ask." his voice was quiet, and a bit strained from pain. "Please."

At this, Kaylum’s anger began to dissipate. He let out a sigh, hanging his head. Misunderstandings were so frustrating. “No, I would never.” His voice had lowered. “I do not want more war.”
The fear still sat there, stirring, making him shivery. His ear twitched. “No, it isn’t you. I had only said as much about it to imply that it is more protected from Seren if he used traditional means. I can explain more, if it would help.”

Nik nodded very faintly. "I…yes. More of an explanation would be nice, if you are willing to give it." he replied, eyes still closed. The pain was still rather obvious in his voice; he didn't have anything to dull it. He hoped that if Kaylum was speaking, he could focus on that instead of the way his back was hurting.

Kaylum winced slightly, wishing he was not laying any of this on the other man while he was hurting. It wouldn’t do anything for his injuries, that was for certain.
“I told you that we do not have crowns, we have crests, and that we rule through families, not individuals,” he began. “This would make taking over Tesh more difficult for Seren, as he a human from Kevra. At least, under normal circumstances. Clearly, this is not one of them. The news of my parents’ deaths will surely cause a lot of tension and uncertainty. Though, I’m not sure what they will think about me. As of right now, they may think I’m still alive, so the most influential families will set up a council for temporary rulership. Over time, if they decide I am dead, the other families will likely try to decide who will rule next. It’s not a peaceful affair, mind you. Seren could likely take advantage of the chaos if he wanted.”

Nik nodded faintly. "Right. That's…what I was thinking of. When I said your country might be better prepared. Because you rule through families and crests, whereas Kevra is run through an individual related by blood." he opened his eyes, looking up at him. "But the chaos…yes. Seren will do his best to use that, and use you, to his advantage."

Kay nodded, still thinking to himself. “There is also the possibility that, if I escape, I won’t even become king,” he murmured. “I am alone now, I barely have any family. If they let me rule, then it wouldn’t be for very long. Just until they decide which family rules next, I suppose. If I were to marry, my rulership would be more justified, but…” his eyes focused on Nick’s face for a moment. “Having a human spouse would be quite controversial.”

Nik laughed a little bit, though it was a melancholic sort of laugh. "Ah. And if they do not let you rule…the peace could fall apart. Godsdamnit." he kept his gaze on Kaylum, a bit dismayed by all of this. "And we are soulmates, surely that must count for something. Human or no, I am your soulmate."

“I hope so,” Kaylum said, giving him a grim smile and shaking his head. “Gods, I hope so.”
He sighed. “So, yes. Tesh is only protected because the system of rulership is different than Kevra’s, but due to the circumstances, now may be the easiest time to take it over.”

Nik frowned, shaking his head for a moment. "Why must everything be so complicated?" he mumbled to himself. "Well. We should try to get out of here as best as we can, but…" he trailed off. "I am afraid that I am not going to be all that useful." he couldn't stand, much less walk, and too much movement would make all of his wounds worse.

“No,” Kaylum agreed, “but you will be. I am a foreigner here. Your knowledge of the area will be vital if we escape. I can more likely get us out, but you will be able to keep us out. Which is why you can’t die, among a million other reasons.”
He started fiddling with his hair again. He had never thought of it as a nervous habit, but now he was beginning to suspect it was.

Nik grimaced. "I'm not exactly an expert in the local forest." he said, a faint laugh leaving his mouth. "Though I might be able to get us to a town or city." he opened his eyes to look over at Kaylum again.

“Better than being a foreigner,” Kay shrugged. He twirled a dreadlock around his finger. “Ah… how’s the leg, now?”

"It still hurts." he replied, clearing his throat softly. "It won't stop hurting for a long while, or at least, I assume it won't." he sighed, turning his head and resting his cheek against the floor.

“Mmm,” Kaylum nodded. “Maybe you could… well, maybe we both should try getting some rest.” But then he moved his his finger from his dread to his chin. “Although, I do have a… personal question for you, if you don’t mind my asking.”

Nik inhaled softly, then nodded. "Go ahead and ask, then." he said softly. "If, ah, you want to." he didn't know what Kaylum intended to ask, and he was a bit worried that the question would be one he did not want to answer.

Kaylum placed his hand in his lap. “Um… do you know how exactly you were cursed? How exactly does one become cursed in the womb?”
It was an honest question. With all the abilities they already had, no one in Tesh practiced magic in the way humans sometimes did.