candybox | FOR TAISA - Reincarnation AU

FOR TAISA - Reincarnation AU

It had been two weeks since the attempt on the Regent of Khura'in's life. He had given a speech in the temple plaza, which coincided with the annual festival of Khura'in's founding and continued sovereignty. Now, it also became a festival to celebrate its freedom from tyranny once more, mirroring the acts of the Founder and of Lady Kee'ra all those centuries ago. The political nature of the celebration was important, but it also made it a perfect time for Ga'ran loyalists to strike. A sniper had narrowly missed a shot and had been apprehended at the scene, as had several other armed individuals, all shouting, 'Ur dihara Ga'ran!'. Since then, a search had been on to find the one who had coordinated the attackers.

Unease had spread throughout Khura'in, and with it, the rumours. A masked figure had been spotted, some said, stopping the sniper from taking a lethal shot. Others denied it, not wanting to pin their hopes on what could turn on to be a fraud like the rebel-hunting Lady Kee'ra.

As for Nahyuta, he had heeded Amara's advice, retreating from the public eye for the time being except to prosecute in court. The rest was televised statements or interviews of reassurance to the public that all was in hand, and that the revolution would not be quelled so easily. To the public, he embodied the perfect combination of the unwavering determination of his father, and the pragmatic caution of his mother.

Privately, however, was a different story. Fear hounded Nahyuta everywhere, because he knew if something happened to him, Khura'in would likely be ruined, Apollo would be in danger, and his mother and sister would be prisoners once again. Not only did he have a family to protect, now, but an entire kingdom, and once again he needed to be prepared to lay down his life for that.

So his nerves were frayed, he was becoming increasingly on edge which each day that turned up no new information or leads. Even meditation did not help. So when he went to sleep at night in the palace, it was a fitful sleep, wracked with dreams of spiders ensnaring him and the palace burning. Tonight, however, was different. Tonight, his dreams were interrupted as he was struck in the world of the waking -- hard -- across the head. Dazed, he could feel someone yanking him upright by his silvery hair, and the feeling of cold, sharp steel at his throat.

If he was half asleep before, he snapped awake in an instant. The assassin was a dark silhouette, their face covered, so it was impossible to discern their identity even with the pale strand of moonlight streaking across his bedchamber. Then they spoke in a low voice that identified his assailant as male.

"Before I kill you, tell me where the Founder's Orb is."

Nahyuta swallowed, trying neither to flinch or cringe away at the blade at his neck, but instead to lift his chin in defiance.

"You cannot threaten a dragon. I would sooner cut out my own tongue than tell you."

Despite his confidence, Nahyuta knew how dire the situation was. The guards outside were surely all incapacitated; no one would come to save him this time. All he could do was pray to the Holy Mother that if this was the end, his soul would be safely conveyed to the Twilight Realm.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[... -> Maybe a little of option 2 and 3?

Nahyuta doesn't flinch or look intimidated as the dragon draws closer, gazing at him evenly. He couldn't guess what the dragon wants from him, but there's something exciting about being this close to a legendary creature, and the one emblematic of his father's cause, no less, that makes his heart beat faster.

Hesitantly at first, he stretches out a tattooed hand and rests it on the dragon's muzzle. It's completely impulsive and might even cause offence, but curiosity compels him to do it.]

I prayed that you might stay a while longer, great dragon. Our kingdom is very blessed to have you as a guardian.

[The thought of making Nahyuta jump crossed his mind as he felt a small hand pressed against his muzzle. He'll choose to save it for another time, letting him appreciate the moment. It's not everyday one can say they've touched a dragon, especially with how significant they were to both their lives. They stay like this for a little while longer, until Dhurke makes the first move and raises his head. In the next moment the dragon fades away like an illusion, returning the masked warrior before Nahyuta.]

For as long as this kingdom needs me, I will stay. [He bows and takes this time to make his exit. He wanted to stay, hold that moment where they connected a while longer, but that would have started rumors that there could have been something more going on between them.

He will not be returning to the palace for several days after, except to make discreet visits to make sure his family were doing ok. There will come stretch of days where he stops coming altogether though, caught up in a border scuffle. There was more trouble than just the unrest within the Kingdom of Khura'in. Neighboring nations wanted to take advantage of Khura'in's weakened state and take control. They came in small numbers, scouters looking to bring back information for their leaders and military. They won't be making much headway in their investigation though. Any attempt to approach would be halted by unexplained lightning storms, with a few reports coming back about a great winged beast frightening the soldiers into retreating. Many of those repeated reports would end up being ignored as simply hallucinations, or Dhurke coming in to remove the evidence himself.

On one such days that Dhurke was away patrolling, a public gathering had been held within the Kingdom that the royal family was attending. He wouldn't hear anything about how it had gone until it already ended, with violence. The situation was reported to have been handled swiftly and as far as he was aware, no one had been killed. Still, the whole thing left him feeling uneasy and anxious.

And so, he'll make a house call that night, after being absent from the palace for more than a week. Gray clouds have gathered around the palace with a storm threatening to burst from them, a sign of his arrival. He'll appear in Nahyuta's room like the first night. He'll be sitting on his bed, waiting patiently for Nahyuta to return and retire for the night.]

[Nahyuta can only be thankful the scuffles were not worse. What had started with a handful of protesters had escalated to full-blown violence between those who supported the Ga'ran regime, and those who believed in the revolution. The arguments went thus: Nahyuta Sahdmadhi is the son of a traitor and always has been, and to let the disgraced prosecutor take the reins of the country is beyond madness. He is using his mother and sister for his own gain, supported by evil insurgents, and a heretical foreign attorney who has no business rewriting their country's laws. Ga'ran was driven mad when she was forced to give a false confession to trying to assassinate her beloved sister. And so on and on the theories went, no matter the evidence to the contrary, no matter the rulings of the sacred High Court or the words of Queen Rayfa herself.

Perhaps such rumours and unrest are destined to hound Nahyuta until the day he steps down as regent, and Rayfa takes the throne. Nearly quarter of a century of misinformation was impossible to overturn in just a few short months, and to some, he would always be hated.

In any case, no one was killed despite some injuries sustained, so the situation could have been worse. Still, Nahyuta feels exhausted, and when he retires to his chambers, he scarcely notices the figure waiting for him at first, taking off his shawl (which loses its mysterious floaty powers when not worn, who knew) and unfastening his sherwani.

He's hanging up the longcoat when he finally spots the dragon sitting on his bed, and freezes.]

Ah... Forgive me, I did not see you there. [He bows deeply to Dhurke.] To what do I owe this honour?

[It's not difficult to miss how worn down Nahyuta appeared to be from today's events.]

...I heard about what happened today. [He shifts slightly where he sat.] How are you feeling? [How is everyone doing?]

I am fine. Please do not concern yourself with me. [Which is a barefaced lie, but Nahyuta has years and years of practice at those; he can say it without so much batting an eyelid. He's sure a dragon has more important things to concern himself with than something so trivial as his feelings.]

The events today were disappointing, but not unexpected. It seems I still have much work to do if I am to convince all of my people I am not their enemy.

[He tilts his head.] While I have no doubt that you'll find a means to turn the situation around, that was not what I asked.

[A part of his father still exists in this life, and he could see Nahyuta was just putting up a strong front. And really, he shouldn't be lying to a dragon anyway. He places two small dish bowls on the bed, holding a bottle of wine in his hands that he apparently had somehow been carrying around somewhere on his personal.]

Come and sit with me. I am here to listen.

[Of course... He's addressing a dragon, not one of his own citizens. What is better for seeing through lies? Feeling foolish for falling back on his old habits even in front of such a creature, Nahyuta does as asked, moving to sit on the bed.

Confiding in anyone, even the likes of his own mother or Apollo, is difficult for Nahyuta. Maybe the fact that the dragon beside him is so much less personal, is not someone who is depending on him to make things right, will somehow make this easier.

He takes a deep breath, and looks at Dhurke.]

... I am tired. [Mentally, physically, and emotionally. As much as he doesn't want to admit it, that is the truth.]

[Dhurke fiddles with the cork while trying not to crush the bottle in his hand as Nahyuta starts his confession. There was a POP sound once he manages to pull the cork off and starts pouring the wine into a dish.]

It certainly shows. [He'll offer the dish bowl to Nahyuta.] I'm sure you haven't been given a chance to rest these last few weeks. [Or perhaps he hasn't been giving himself that chance.]

[Nahyuta takes the bowl with silent gratitude, nursing it in his hands as he thinks.]

Too much has required my attention to rest. [And too many worries have been on his mind. He reaches up and touches his head in an unconscious gesture, from where the assassin had struck him. Though it's healed by now, the memory certainly hasn't.] And when I can, it has been... difficult to sleep.

[He watches and listens in silence. He could feel the strong desire of a parent wanting to comfort his child, to do something to help ease his suffering. They were alone in this room, surely he could break his own rules when no one was watching. Carefully, he sets the bottle in his lap and leans forward. He raises a hand and gently presses it where his head injury had been. Eventually he ends up stroking his head.]

[The gesture catches him off guard, particularly because it's so familiar, and at first he's bewildered by the sudden intimacy of it. But soon, Nahyuta relaxes into his touch, accepting the comfort, even leaning in to it.

Eventually, he speaks up in a quiet voice.]

Thank you.

[He keeps his hand there a little while longer before leaning back.]

I will stay here with you until morning. [He pours himself some wine, raising his dish.] Let's try to clear your mind of any worries or troubles for tonight.

[Nahyuta is almost regretful that he takes his hand away. It brought back a lot of memories, all of them fond, if bittersweet. Still, the company is welcome itself, so Nahyuta nods and takes a sip of his wine.]

Ordinarily, meditation and prayer are solace enough, but they have not been, of late. Perhaps the company will help.

[Company of any kind, really. He has Amara and Rayfa around the palace, but in some ways, their company only places more pressure on him. His constant fretting over their safety has not abated much since Ga'ran was deposed; in some ways, they're in more danger than before now the kingdom is less stable. As for Apollo, neither of them have much time to spend together beyond work.]

Heh, there is no better cure than being in the company of others you trust. [That's what his past life thinks anyway. He lifts his mask slightly so he could drink from his dish.]

You should find people you can talk about things with. It doesn't have to be always serious, it could just be about what you had for lunch.

I understand now why Queen Amara shunned the throne, once it was restored to her. It is a lonely and difficult place.

[Nahyuta isn't even used to the life of royalty to begin with, so adjusting to it on top of the position of leadership has been an uphill struggle. In some ways, Rayfa is already far more prepared for it than he is, even if she isn't yet ready to assume her duties.]

But perhaps you are right. Even monarchs require confidants, and I ought to find mine.

It can be a difficult place to be, but she was never alone. She had her family, a loving husband to support her when she was our Queen. [He raises the wine bottle, offering to pour more for Nahyuta.]

It doesn't have to be a lonely place, I know you have people you can depend on in time of need, if you allow yourself to let them in.

[Nahyuta takes another sip, before offering his bowl. He doesn't get inebriated easily, but he's starting to feel a warm buzz from the wine. It's not unpleasant.]

"Our Queen"? [He echoes the phrase, looking at Dhurke.] Then you consider her as your Queen as well?

[There's a note of surprise. Certainly, animals adore Amara, and if they had the capacity to speak they might have considered her their Queen. But a dragon?]

The Kingdom's. I was referring to her as the Queen to this kingdom. [The mask hides the uncertainty on his face when he was suddenly put on the spot. Thank goodness this was easy one to explain away.]

She was a respectable Queen I could have stood behind though, heh. [He should stop while he's ahead, but how can he not talk about the love of his life to some degree? Maybe Nahyuta will see it as an amusing joke.]

Ah, I see. [He smiles, apparently satisfied by that answer, even if he doesn't realise the full meaning behind it.]

There is much I have to live up to, both in upholding her legacy as a beloved Queen, and my father's legacy as well.

Hm, well I'm certain they're already proud of you and of what you're trying to achieve. Reuniting an entire kingdom isn't exactly a walk in the park. Your mother certainly didn't have to worry about that back then.

[He takes a sip of his wine.] This is also your life as well. You can learn a lot from the past, but don't let their accomplishments weigh you down. I believe you are just as capable of making the right decisions, s-- [He's not even tipsy and he let himself fall too far into familiar territory.] Nahyuta.

[The familiarity with how he talks about it all, like he was there to witness it firsthand, really is starting to puzzle Nahyuta, and his smile gives way to something more quizzical. Still, he doesn't want to pester the dragon with questions, so he just takes another drink of wine.]

I will try my best. [It then occurs to him he doesn't know how to refer to the dragon, so...] Have you a name or title I may refer to you by? [Please pick one, before he comes up with something like "Your Thunderousness"...]

[There isn't an immediate response from Dhurke as he stares down at his dish bowl. He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't answer.]

I was not given a name when I was given life, only a desire to accomplish my mission. [It's not a lie at least. In the end, this was a different life he was living from the previous one.] Although your people have certainly given me a few titles, the Dark One, Vanquisher of evil, Thunder Fist....[the list goes on.]

Her Benevolence would most likely enjoy the first two. [Nahyuta says that with a wry smile, glancing at him before drinking more wine. Names like those sound like something straight out of the Plumed Punisher, something she's still fond of, even if the show was cancelled.]

Of all the names given to you, is there one you prefer?

[He quietly contemplates this. There were plenty of names and titles that emphasized his abilities, but he wanted something to represent his purpose, what he was to the people.]

...Satyendra. [A word he heard the kids on the streets utter a few times, not directly at him, but it was a concept they believed he was. He nods, looking back up at Nahyuta.] Satyendra, the true.

In that case, it is Satyendra that I shall call you as well, then.

[Nahyuta smiles brightly, indicating he approves of the name.] It is truly a moniker befitting a dragon.

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