Evander paused for a long moment at the question, considering how to answer it. Knowing that whatever answer he gave would have to be the story he told for the rest of his life. Obviously the truth was out of the question, but some permutation of it would have to work. "We…had a monster that we could control, to an extent. And we used it to threaten their capital until they surrendered." he said slowly, hoping this was a good enough explanation to satisfy Dacian's curiosity.
A monster….Dacian quietly repeated the word to himself before his eyes lit up. "Ah that is right! I remember reading about it in the papers," He said. Staring down at the floor, he used his peripherals to get a glimpse at King Evander. He tensed up when another chill went down his spine. Clearing his throat, he continued, "But there was one thing that I had found strange about this….monster. There is nothing else about it. What does it look like? Does it look like you and I? Or does it take on a more beastly form?" No one ever mentions of this monster, and he barely knows a single detail about it. Well, he is assuming that the king must know a lot about it; His Majesty is the one who used it to save his kingdom after all. The curiosity is simply biting at him now.
Evander hesitated again, thinking. Would it be best to tell the truth about the creature's looks, or to lie? He glanced over at Dacian, grey eyes flickering for a moment. "The…monster is humanoid in shape. It has wings, rather like a bat's, and claws. Fangs." he resisted the temptation to touch his own canines, which were dull now but weren't always. "Dark skin, more like the hide of a creature. Scaled, I mean." he thought for a moment. "Red eyes."
With his left thumb, index, and middle finger, he waved it in the air, writing along what His Majesty was saying. A human with bat wings, claws, fangs, dark skin, scales, and red eyes. In a way, it sounded like the monsters his older brothers would tell stories of, but different. "Ah I see, it's like the bloodthirsty ones in Sceivanian folklore. They're just stories though," He mused. Dacian turned to stare over at the king. "What does it do? I heard it ravaged through so many towns and cities? Does it feed off of the blood of humans? Or does it use its sharp claws and wreak havoc?"
Evander took a deep breath. It. He. Him. "It…destroys. It does not usually feed off of the blood of humans, though it will kill them if given the chance." he winced imperceptibly. He hated this. Hated himself and what he could do with this.
"Interesting…." Dacian whispered, still writing in the air. When letting his hand drop to his side, he noticed something as the king exhaled. It was heavy and carried something, exhaustion maybe? Maybe it's because the monster is probably being held somewhere or maybe it's something else. "Where is it right now?" He questioned. "If it is held in a cage of some sort, I am sure that it will start to get angry, would you not agree? Holding it for so long will only increase the chances of danger."
Evander thought about how to respond to that. "It is…under control." For now. Who knew how long his control would last this time? The longest he'd ever been able to go was a month, and that had been exhausting. Exhausting and debilitating, just all around. He hated still what it had done to him and how difficult it had been, how exhausted it had made him. But the beast within was worst. So much worse. And so he chose the lesser of two evils and did everything he could to keep it contained, because even if it was hard on him it was better for everyone else.
The pause between words lead him to quirk his brow. He almost questioned what that had meant, but there were already so many inquiries that he had already asked and still so many in his head. Dacian simply kept on his warm expression, hoping that the king was alright. "I wonder where you had found it and how you managed to make it yours. How did you do that? I bet it is something that so many want to have and want to take down. You are very impressive, Your Majesty," He beamed. Keeping his gaze forward, he would glimpse over at the king from time to time.
Evander almost laughed. Not a good laugh, though. A dark, melancholic laugh that made him shake his head a little, rather than let it out. "It took quite a lot of work." He finally said. Yes, quite a lot to get himself under control. To learn how to recognize signs of the beast within and how to cage it. Even now it roamed his mind; he could hear it roaring, feel it scratching at the cage he had forced it into. This of course was a metaphor; the beast didn't actually roar and scratch in his head, but he could feel it. Just beneath he surface of his skin, waiting for him to slip up and let it out.
Dacian watched the king closely. For a brief moment he was confused. Did he say something amusing? He wondered if his questions were beginning to be or if he was acting like a fool. On the other hand, he barely knows anything about this creature or why the king is the way he is. This all must mean something. His eyes squinted yet he returned back to having a happy look as he laughed. "What kind of work?" He inquired. "Like hunt and capture? Did you summon it? Quite impressive how you managed to find it before Farrantil did, I must say. I bet it was a terrible trouble to, was it not?"
He sighed for a moment. "A little bit of both, I suppose." He said, thinking about how to say it. "It was… summoned, and then we needed to hunt and capture it." Close enough, right? Right? He glanced over at Dacian for a moment, then away again, running a hand through his hair and looking back down the hallway.
The sigh had captured his attention in an instant. Perhaps he is going overboard with the questions; what a terrible first impression he is making right now. "I am sorry, Your Majesty, I suppose I am getting a little carried away with the inquiries," He said. Dacian prayed that all will be fine, he really did. "I was going to ask about how one can summon it, but maybe we could discuss more about the monster over some tea or whenever you are available. Again, please forgive me, I suppose I am still very excited about working and living here." He bit the inside of his cheek while gazing down at the floor, watching as he placed one foot in front of the other. Is he making a terrible impression?
He nodded a little. "It is alright. I just was not…expecting quite this volume of questions, especially about the creature." most ambassadors didn't question him this much, especially not about the monster. The monster was somethign spoken of in hushed tones, not something everyone chatted about. No one liked to admit that it was real, especially not to the king's face.
"Oh" He whispered to himself. Perhaps he should have been more cautious with asking about the monster. There must be many reasons as to why he has not know much about it. Though now Dacian feels terrible about practically interrogating the king and he feels more terrible about the fact he still has more. "Again, my deepest apologies, Your Highness. I suppose the trip and the ambiguities about the monster have left me to be quite skittish."
"The monster will not harm you. I do ask that you remain in your chambers at night, though, in case it…gets loose. You understand, it is difficult to keep caged for long, and it escapes practically no matter what we do. So if you see it, please exercise caution and move away, and stay in your chambers at night unless there's an emergency." Evander replied, glancing over at Dacian again.
"It escapes?" He asked. Dacian glimpsed over at King Evander with wide eyes. His shoulders became stiff while his steps began to slow down and get smaller. "What does….what does…What happens to it? It just escapes for the night and goes back to where it was before?" No wonder why others do not speak of it; he wondered if the other ambassadors knew. Swiftly, he made the sign of the cross. And while the sensation of worry was beginning to settle in, he attempted to maintain a grin. "Yes, will do, Your Majesty."
"Yes. It…breaks its way out of whatever we cage it in. You likely will not see it, so don't worry about it too much. I just ask you remain in your chambers at night, out of caution." Evander said, looking down the hallway ahead of them as he led Dacian into the ambassadors wing, and up the stairs to the second level.
Dacian turned his head, looking away from the king while taking a deep breath. He worries that if he gets himself worked up, then his heart will start to beat at a rate which he cannot keep up, but there was already enough worry and excitement in him. "Of course," He nodded, talking in a soft tone. For a brief moment, he stared at the king before focusing on their surroundings. "But what about you, Your Majesty? Will you be alright when the monster escapes?"
Evander's mouth twisted for just a moment, before he carefully smoothed his features back out. "I shall be perfectly fine, there is no need for you to worry about me." he replied. Of course he would be fine. He was the monster, and as such was more worried about other people than about himself.
Evander's mouth twisted for just a moment, before he carefully smoothed his features back out. "I shall be perfectly fine, there is no need for you to worry about me." he replied. Of course he would be fine. He was the monster, and as such was more worried about other people than about himself.
Initially, he nodded his head in response. It probably made sense that the king would be fine; he is the one who captured this beast and has dealt with it for a while now. Oh but how Dacian cannot ignore this strange feeling he has lingering in his heart. He lightly laughed, "I tend to worry about others a lot, even when I am at my weakest and cannot move, I always worry for others. It is very taxing on the heart." He let out a soft sigh after he nodded his head. Though the king does not look like the kind to worry, maybe he does. Maybe…
Evander nodded. "It is a good trait, Dacian. Better to worry about others a little too much than not at all." He said, leading the man down the hall of the second story of the ambassadors wing. "And here are your quarters." He opened the door to the set of rooms. There was an entrance room that doubled as a sitting room, and beyond that was the bedroom. Off the bedroom was a bathroom and a walk-in closet.
"Although it is good to worry and care for others, it is also vital to do the same for yourself. Wouldn't you agree-" Dacian stopped himself once they approached the door. He almost rushed over to open it himself once he saw that the king was going to, but he ended up staying put and bowing as thanks. Waiting till the king had stepped in, he took a glance. "Elképesztő," He whispered to himself as he looked around his quarters.
He nodded a little. He waited quietly near the door as Dacian looked around the rooms, reaching up to adjust the circlet of gold on his head, letting out a quiet breath. It was exhausting, sometimes, keeping the monster pushed down.
Dacian had to admit that he was pretty excited about being in his new quarters. On the other hand he kept himself collected while looking around for he had to keep reminding himself that the king was there. Although he couldn't help but beam as he opened up the curtains and gaze out. Looking over his shoulder, he stared back at King Evander. The expression on His Majesty's face alarmed him. "Are you alright Your Majesty? Would you like to sit in a chair or should I go fetch for someone?" He asked, turning and walking away from the curtains.