Chapter Text
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SCOTT
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“Scott! Hellooo?” A voice called.
Scott woke up to a tapping on his shoulder, jolting him upright into his chair. Standing beside him was Gem, his closest friend outside of Rivendell. Her ginger hair was tied into a neat braid, lying flat on her shoulder. Instead of her classic wizardry attire, she’d opted for a button-up and a long green skirt. The only accessories she wore were an amethyst brooch and a leather satchel.
“Dozing off at a time like this! You’re going to make a great first impression as king, Scott.” Gem noted, a hint of teasing laced with her serious tone.
Scott let out a weary laugh. “I barely slept last night. Besides, my parents insisted that I come an hour early…” Dark circles formed beneath his icy blue eyes, sticking out profusely against his pale complexion.
Gem pulled a chair beside the elf and sat. She adjusted her collar and swatted off invisible dust from her skirt.
“I see. Arriving early to being early, that’s how it always goes with your family.” She offered an understanding smile and dug into her satchel, before pulling out a compact mirror and powder.
“Want some?”
“Absolutely.” Scott thanked Gem and seized both items in his grasp with a newfound energy. He opened the mirror, nearly gasping aloud. A corpse! That’s what he resembled. At least his hair was still properly styled, its teal hue glistening underneath the grand chandelier atop the meeting room. After an intense powder-brushing battle with his skin, Scott inspected the rest of his face, swivelling his head in different angles like an owl. Before he could begin over-analyzing every individual pore on his face, Gem shut the mirror.
“You look perfectly fine, Scott! Don’t be dramatic.” She huffed, stuffing both her belongings back into her bag and setting it down on the floor.
“My dearest apologies, your majesty of the Crystal Cliffs,” Scott joked, feigning a posh demeanor. “It is only my intention to appear my finest on this very day.”
The two laughed in unison. “Besides, don’t call me ‘majesty’ just yet,” Gem continued. “It’s stressful enough just thinking about ruling over a kingdom one day.” A couple strands fell loose from her braid.
“Come on, Gem. You’ll make a great queen! You’re responsible, intelligent, helpful… you’re even learning magic! What isn’t there to love?” Scott smirked.
Gem let out a sigh, “I’m flattered, thanks. But… I’ve never felt destined for a position of power. I don’t think you understand, you’ve always wanted this.”
Though mildly offended by the comment, Scott assured himself that Gem did not intend any harm. “No, I get it. It’s nerve wracking to think about being responsible for an entire population. But hey, as far as I’m aware, we still have time. This meeting’s sole purpose is to gather all of the heirs and to discuss our plans.”
Scott’s eyes wandered around the room, watching as people began filling their spots. There were two tables: One of which where he sat, with twelve seats total, and in the shape of a U. This is where the Emperors sat – but in this case, their successors. A strange setup, he thought. There were only about ten official Empires since the Crystal Cliffs gained its independence from the Grimlands.
The other table was positioned opposite to theirs, and much smaller. Seats were placed only on one side so as to maintain focus on the Emperors. It was reserved to the Council – the Council of the Empires. The team was formed of five members, including one leader who sat in the middle. Five people may appear very little for the heavy task of handling every World Power, but Scott believed this was done on purpose. The smaller a group is, the easier it is to coordinate between yourselves and agree upon different matters.
The prince turned back to his wizard friend after being silent for a moment. However, Gem had already pursued a different conversation with her twin brother, fWhip. Scott sighed, the memory of her words repeating in his head. Oh, Gem. Her head was always somewhere else, thinking about all of the magic spells she could be learning. Her brain was very analytical, leaving her to unintentionally disregard other people’s feelings. Scott never got mad at her for this trait, though. Perhaps he felt insecure sometimes, but that was the extent. She was one of his closest friends, and silly little comments were not enough to change that.
Scott’s pointed ears perked up as he noticed an unfamiliar face taking the seat across from his. She appeared to be a young woman, perhaps a couple of years older than him. She towered over everyone else in the room, and her skin was… blue? He rubbed his eyes, but surely enough, they were not deceiving him. As if she weren’t boldly colored enough, the girl’s long, wavy hair was pink. Despite the interesting appearance, she had a regal beauty to her, the kind that made you want to respect her. She also had more unnatural features… almost fish-like.
The elf furrowed his brows. What was a complete stranger doing here? Not all of the ruler’s heirs shared a close-knit bond, but they could at least recognize each other. This person was new. As the woman locked eyes with him, Scott realized he might’ve seemed rude. He stood up from his seat and walked over to her, figuring it was more polite than staring.
“Hello, my apologies for staring. I don’t believe we’ve met before…” Scott stuck out his hand. “My name is Scott Major, Prince of Rivendell.”
The woman seemed indifferent to Scott’s hand, instead bowing her head.
“No worries, I’ve received plenty of looks similar to yours. And no, we have not crossed paths before. I’m Lizzie, the Ocean Queen.” She spoke calmly.
Scott paused. His eyes scanned over her, noticing fins on the sides of her head, and an amphibian tail.
“Queen of the Ocean. Why, that’s quite the title… Forgive me for my ignorance, but I’ve never heard of such a kingdom.” He admitted.
“That is completely normal. Just a few weeks prior, two territories have officially been named a part of the Empires. I rule over the ocean.” She answered.
So that explains the twelve seats, he thought. Two new Empires? Why wasn’t he made aware of this? The Twelve Empires… It rolled a lot better on the tongue than Ten, despite its familiarity.
“If two Empires were founded, and one of them is yours…” Scott started.
“Who rules over the other?” Lizzie finished, a knowing smile on her face.
“Ah– yes. Do you happen to know?” Scott felt slightly embarrassed by his predictable statement.
Just as Lizzie was about to answer his question, someone approached her.
“Oh, Lizzie, there you are! I was wondering where you were, this place is built like a labyrinth…” The boy heaved – or at least Scott assumed he was a boy. The person wore a mask concealing his entire face, so his only visible features were his golden blond hair, brown fins and the rest of his body. The mask was carved to resemble a fish, and admittedly, it was a little intimidating. The stranger let out a deep breath and took notice of Scott, which seemed to shift his demeanor (It was hard to tell, really).
“Ah, well that’s rather convenient, isn’t it! Scott, this is my brother, Jimmy. Newfound ruler of The Cod Empire.” Lizzie explained, setting a gentle hand on her brother’s shoulder.
Scott bowed his head. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I’m Scott, prince of Rivendell.”
After a couple of seconds in silence, Jimmy quickly lowered his head as well. “Was I interrupting you two?” He asked.
“Not at all,” Scott reassured him. “You came at the perfect time…” He was desperately curious to find out what the mask was about, but considered it too nosy.
Scott cleared his throat.“I believe you called yourselves the rulers of your empires… I do not mean this as an insult, but isn’t this supposed to be a meeting for the heirs?”
The two siblings looked at each other as if deciding who would answer. Eventually, Lizzie took the initiative. “No offence taken. We do not have any direct predecessors, so despite not being of age we were given the responsibility.
No direct predecessors? That would mean… Scott bit his lip, regretting the question. He was impressed by the casualty in her tone, considering the weight of her words. Nonetheless, he decided against making a big deal out of it.
“I see… Well, congratulations on becoming a part of the Empires! I’m guessing it was no easy task.” Scott acknowledged.
The Empress nodded. “It was a tedious process, but very much worth it in the end. Now we just have to establish ourselves within the community and build connections.”
“I’m sure you will have no trouble with that, your majesty.” Scott gestured toward the other heirs. “I can’t say I’m particularly friends with everyone here, but those I know well have kind hearts and good intentions.”
“We have conditions that need to be met.” Jimmy muttered. The elf’s eyes widened. Conditions? What in Aeor’s name did he mean by conditions? Scott pondered, taken aback from the cryptic statement. However, he shook the thought, rather interpreting it as a joke.
Lizzie stared off. “Prince Scott, I think someone is calling for you.”
Scott spun round, spotting Gem waving her hand. Having caught his attention, she motioned for him to come over. Scott nodded and turned back to the siblings.
“Yes, thank you for telling me… It was a pleasure meeting the both of you! Maybe we could speak again another time?” Scott bargained.
“Absolutely! Ocean’s blessings, your highness.” Lizzie smiled.
“Take care.” Jimmy added.
“Perfect! I’ll see you two soon– If I meet your conditions, of course.” Scott winked at Jimmy teasingly. Perhaps his parting actions were not exactly proper etiquette, but seeing the masked boy stiffen in response amused him far too much to care.
“You look happy.” Gem noted with a raised brow as Scott returned to his seat. It was true, he felt a rush of confidence coursing through his system. However, it felt strange to admit.
“What do you mean? Did I not before?” He chuckled.
“I don’t know, you seem more excited than usual,” She shrugged. “But that’s besides the point, I called you over here for a reason, after all…”
Scott hummed in agreement, ushering her to continue. Just as Gem prepared herself to speak, a loud tune boomed from across the room. The ceremonial horn had been blown. Instantly, the entire table fell silent, leaving only distant footsteps to be heard. At last, grand doors opened at the end of the room, and 5 people entered, The Council of the Empires.
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JIMMY
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“Settle down, everyone.” Announced a council member. The five took their respective seats, until eventually the elf in the middle cleared her throat.
“What an honor it is to be sat in front of the twelve of you, the heirs to The
Empires! My name is Elora Vinter, President of the Council of the Empires, and I, alongside my four colleagues, have invited you here today to discuss the future. Though I am aware you have all taken your fair share of classes, it still remains important to lay out the details of your ruling and offer explanations to any possible questions.”
The human beside Elora continued, “Treat this environment not as a conference, but rather a space where you may share your ideas and listen to one another.”
Jimmy sighed, was this seriously how they were going to spend the next couple hours? It was difficult enough to stay grounded knowing that everyone kept staring at him and his sister. At least his mask shielded the annoyance painted onto his face. He took a deep breath and tried to reassure himself, It’s a privilege to be here! You’re doing this for The Cod Empire. As he locked eyes with the President of the council, Jimmy sensed what was coming next.
“Now, before we begin,” The President continued. “I am sure you have many questions regarding the two new faces sitting around your table…”
Collective nodding served as a response.
“I am glad to introduce to you, our two newest emperors!” She exclaimed.
Having practiced dozens of times, the siblings rose and walked to the front in perfect synchronization, standing on opposite sides of the council’s table.
“Elizabeth, Queen of the Ocean Empire.” Elora announced, following a loud applause from the heirs. Lizzie bowed in pursuit, smiling politely.
“And James, King of the Cod Empire!” Jimmy clenched his hands, his heart racing as everyone turned to him and began clapping loudly. He then lowered his head as did his sister, and looked upon the heirs. These were the people he would rule against– No, aside. Rule aside. Jimmy had to keep reminding himself that the others were not staring out of viciousness, but curiosity. At least for the most part…
He recognized a pair of familiar faces amidst the successors: A ginger and a brunet with a permanent look of mischief plastered onto their faces, otherwise known as fWhip and Sausage. Ever since Jimmy claimed territory neighboring Mythland (Sausage’s domain), the two poked fun at him whenever they had the chance. Jimmy constantly needed to stay strong, or at least appear strong, which made his Codfather mask incredibly useful.
After what felt like ages, the council excused Jimmy and Lizzie back to their seats. The President and the council members each took their turns delivering long lessons about the history of the Empires and the qualities of a ruler– which surprisingly, Jimmy found interesting. Growing up as a sea-dweller meant that you hardly ever received news about what was happening above the surface, leaving Jimmy uninformed about the different lifestyles and cultures the land had to offer.
The Codfather grabbed a piece of scrap paper and a quill from his table and jotted down the name of each individual Empire: The Cod Empire, The Ocean Empire, Mezalea, House Blossom, Pixandria, The Undergrove, Gilded Helianthia, The Lost Empire, Crystal Cliffs, Mythland, the Grimlands and Rivendell. Jimmy peered over at the seat across from his, where the elf he’d stumbled across before was sitting. Scott, was it? He was the Prince of Rivendell, the last name he wrote down. Jimmy could not get that wink and playful grin out of his mind. He thought elves were all about being pretty and proper, so the codboy found himself taken aback when Scott decided to take his words out of context so casually. It was almost as if he was flirting – but no, that was out of the question! Scott was teasing him just as anyone else would.
Jimmy broke away his gaze, realizing he had gotten distracted from the important task at hand. He focused instead on listening to the council.
“Now before we have our ten minute break,” a council member started. “We have a task for all of you.” They stood up and passed out a small piece of paper to the heirs before sitting back down. “I have placed strips of paper before the twelve of you. I want you to answer my following question using one word, and one word only. What aspect of your soon-to-be empire would you like to be remembered for? Later, we will select a certain number of you to present your answer and to develop it.”
Jimmy looked down at the paper in front of him. What did he want to be known for? This was a difficult question, especially considering the fact he was the founding emperor, meaning he was building a foundation for generations to come. It certainly was not wealth or power, because The Cod Empire was admittedly a little behind in those departments. Closing his eyes, the codboy tried to picture his Empire in the near future. Townsfolk strolling through a busy market, chatting amiably, children laughing and playing by the docks... That was it! Jimmy seized his quill in hand and wrote ‘Community’.
Dating back to the humble beginnings of his Empire and since, the people had always been Jimmy’s top priority. They were the ones who took him under their roof, who incited him to become the unofficial ruler and eventually Emperor.
Jimmy stood up and stretched before peering over at his older sister.
“So, what did’ja put?” He whispered so as to not disturb the people still writing.
“Influence. I want the Ocean Empire to be known as the greatest Empire there ever was! My people will be looked upon highly.” Lizzie responded with confidence.
Jimmy nodded, he figured she would write something along those lines. “Well mine sounds a little stupid now, it’s Community.”
Lizzie stared at her brother for a couple of seconds before letting out a soft laugh. “No, Jimmy, that’s not stupid at all! It’s beautiful, really. Besides, you’re already on the right path for that.” She ruffled up his hair lovingly. “Mine is a tad unrealistic. For now, at least.”
“I’m going to freshen up, I’ll be back in a bit!” Jimmy wandered off until he wound up in the restroom. He did a quick scan for any other people before promptly removing his mask. He sighed. Despite the comfort it brought him, it could also get awfully stuffy to breathe in, especially when feeling nervous.
Jimmy washed his face and hands, appreciating the familiarity of water. He then fixed his hair and took another minute to wind down before putting his mask back on.
Just as he was prepared to leave, the door swung open with a loud creak, catching Jimmy off guard. Thankfully, it was someone he knew well. “Joel, you scared the life out of me!” He let out a shaky breath.
“My bad, Jim.” Joel grinned, not showing an ounce of regret. He put a hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. “Look at you! Emperor of the Cod Empire.” He messed up the boy’s hair.
“Hey, I just fixed that!” He swatted Joel’s arm, redoing it quickly. Lizzie must’ve taught him that… “But yeah, I still find it hard to believe.” Jimmy felt curious. “What did you put on your paper, by the way?”
“Oh, that old thing? I put beauty, naturally.” Joel shrugged, feigning an overconfident demeanor as he always did, for reasons unbeknownst to Jimmy. Obviously, he meant his Empire and not himself, as Mezalea was notorious for its fascinating and intricate architecture, but the man wasn’t so bad himself. He had dark brown hair with a moss-colored streak down the middle (a cultural style, he assumed). His Empire also had an abundance of wealth, so the prince adorned himself with colorful clothing and jewelry no matter the occasion.
By appearance he seemed to be some lavish and arrogant monarch, but Jimmy knew it was all a facade. He and his sister had been friends with Joel since they were kids, meaning they all understood each other on a deeper and more personal level. He was one of the few people who’d seen Jimmy’s bare face. Joel was a naturally-born creative, a sensitive soul and a loyal friend. Oh, and he had a massive crush on Lizzie.
“Can you tell Lizzie she looks beautiful today?” Joel whispered, his cheeks looking noticeably pinker.
“Why not tell her yourself? I’m sure she’d appreciate it.” Jimmy answered, crossing his arms with a hidden grin.
The Prince scowled, mumbling something under his breath before responding. “You know what, I will! Later… probably.”
Jimmy shook his head, snatching Joel’s wrist and marching outside of the restroom to deliver the man straight to his sister, tuning out his complaints. Unfortunately, she was conversing with another heir, who he believed went by the name of Katherine.
“See, Jim? She’s busy!” Joel freed his forearm from the cod-boy’s grasp before continuing. “Lizzie is way out of my league. If I’m a prince then she’s a goddess! She is the literal embodiment of perfection…”
Jimmy groaned and sat down, bracing himself to listen to one of Joel’s lovey-dovey rants about Lizzie that would most likely last the remainder of breaktime. He rested his head onto the table, his eyes wandering. Everyone was talking amongst each other now, except for one person whose paper was still empty– Scott. The elf had an empty stare, taking the paper in his hands as if he were making the toughest decision in his career. Jimmy felt a pang of sympathy, despite not fully understanding what was going on.
“Hey, are you even listening?” Joel interrupted.
Jimmy whipped his head around. “Of course!” That was a complete lie, but Jimmy continued with a guess. “Lizzie is not only beautiful, but she’s also intelligent, kind, witty and charming. She’s the most extraordinary person you’ve ever met and you want to marry her when you’re older.”
Joel nodded. “Good. Now where was I?...”
The codboy turned back to what he was doing, but found himself taken aback when the elf was already looking his way. Despite trying to play aloof earlier, Jimmy couldn’t help but ask him if he was doing alright by gesturing a thumbs up. Scott nodded, scribbling something onto the paper and pushing it away. Then, he pointed at him. Jimmy fell silent, trying to interpret the response. Was he returning the question? Jimmy held out a flat hand face-downwards and rocked it right to left, then subtly pointed to Joel and opened and closed his fingers and thumb together repeatedly to impersonate a mouth talking too much.
Scott chuckled, forming a proud smile underneath Jimmy’s mask. He liked when people laughed at his jokes instead of at him.
Jimmy was shaken out of his thoughts when he spotted Prince fWhip walking over by Scott’s side. He then waved at Jimmy. The codboy sunk into his seat, pretending he hadn’t seen the gesture. He broke his gaze with Scott, instead focusing back onto Joel, his fingers tapping impatiently onto the table.
A council member walked around the table, collecting each answer-strip before returning to their previous position.
“Attention everyone, breaktime has concluded!”
“Catch you later, mate. Pun intended.” Joel pretended to cast a fishing rod as he left, as if the context were not already made clear.
“Please return to your seats — excluding the two selected candidates who will present themselves upfront.” The council member continued, dumping the 12 papers into a goblet, shaking it gently back and forth.
Jimmy’s stomach sank, beginning to seriously regret his answer. He pleaded under his breath not to get chosen.
A member dug their hand into the cup, clearing their throat.
“Community!”
Just my luck! Jimmy repressed a sigh and made his way toward the council for a second time.
“And tradition!” They finished.
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SCOTT
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Scott froze, hoping he misheard the council. Unfortunately, no amount of fatigue could have hidden the truth. His prompt had been chosen. He rose in shame, mentally cursing out Exor, elven god of chaos (for surely this was their own doing)…
Tradition is what he put, and the reason was just as rubbish as it sounded. Scott was not entirely sure what he wanted. Rivendell is an ancient
Empire, with deep-rooted customs and rules. To rule, you are to follow in the same footsteps as did your greatest ancestors, and their even greater ancestors. Doing otherwise could ensue havoc amongst the natural order of life, he was told. At the end of the day, it did not matter what Scott thought, or rather any Emperor of Rivendell, as long as expectations were met.
However, Scott opted for a much friendlier wording to describe his answer, shifting his focus onto the nicer aspects of his Empire, like the well-respected cultures and beliefs.
Despite the lack of enthusiasm in his tone, the others seemed satisfied with his answer, holding a round of applause. Scott nodded, feigning a polite smile and rushing back to his seat.
Now, all eyes were on Jimmy. The cod boy had been an enigma the entire time, first appearing standoffish, but later showing a sense of humor… Whatever he was doing, Scott found himself exceptionally curious.
On another note, community was his response. To him, it sounded a tad counter-intuitive. What in Aeor’s name was so special about community? fWhip and Sausage found this particularly touching, snickering between each other.
Jimmy adjusted his mask, straightening his posture and taking a deep breath.
“When you think of the word ‘Empire’, others may come to mind, such as power, or wealth. But I believe that the true foundation of a nation is built on its population.
In my eyes, I am equal to my townsfolk. We all have our share of struggles, of achievements and dreams. The day I see myself as a higher power will be the day I resign.
In the future, I envision the Cod Empire as a safe haven, a place where no matter who you are, nor where you come from, you will be accepted. That is why I would like to be known for my community, because without my people I am nothing.”
The room fell completely silent, his words lingering in the air. Wow, just… wow. Despite his years of classes, Scott could never have delivered a similar speech. It was sincere.
After a moment of silence, an uproar of approval reigned above all. A council member fanned themself, holding back tears.
Scott exchanged looks with Gem, who was equally stunned. Her friend, Sausage, stopped smiling. fWhip’s clapping was noticeably slower than the rest. The elf could barely tell if the air had gotten thicker, or if he was simply choking on the tension that lingered in the room.
“Geminitay?” Scott whispered.
Gem shuddered, glaring over at the name-caller. “What do you want, Scott Major?”
“Is there something going on between your friends and the new emperors?” He claimed.
Gem broke eye-contact, shuffling with her fingers. “I was going to tell you earlier, but the break ended! I suppose now you don’t care whether or not there’s an important meeting going on to talk…” She gestured to the council members, who were blabbering on about names for different types of political systems.
“Gem, we’ve learnt all of this since before we were in the double digits, and you know that!” Scott leaned in closer, “You’re just dodging the question.”
“Okay, okay! We might have some history. I’m not as involved in it as my brother and Sausage are, though.” She exhaled, as if a burden had been lifted off her chest. “Listen, I just don’t think you should talk to the Codfather.”
“The Codfather…” Scott paused for a moment. “Jimmy, you mean?”
“Yes, it’s a title he goes by. I haven’t spoken to him many times, but he doesn’t get along well with fWhip and Sausage at all. It’s due to some ‘ancient conflict’ or whatever.” She scoffed.
“Right…what does that have to do with me, exactly?” Scott muttered, still not following.
“Our kingdoms are all allied, remember? If you start meddling with the whole Cod agenda… I’m afraid things won’t look very good between our Empires.”
“Gem, I love you.” He started, “ But I will talk to whoever I want.” His tone was completely serious.
“I understand, Scott. Remember that I warned you…” She fidgeted with the cuff of her sleeve.
As the meeting finally concluded, the heirs spared no time to reach the exit of the grand Parliament, Scott included. Gem, on the other hand, stayed behind to supposedly ‘ask the Council a question’, leaving him by himself. It wasn’t the end of the world, but he would have liked having someone to complain about the dull meeting to.
Just then, he felt someone walk over to his side.
“Uhm— Scott, is it?” The Codfather interjected.
“Oh! Yes, that’s me.” Scott smiled.
“I’m sorry if I sounded rude earlier, when we first talked, I mean. The condition stuff— It’s not as bad as it sounds, I just, I don’t even know why I worded it like that!” He stammered.
Scott laughed softly, wondering what about this guy could possibly worry Gem so much before. In the span of one meeting, Jimmy had gone from intimidating, to silly… to maybe a little cute.
“Hey, there’s no need to apologize. I understand that this is a new environment, seeing as you’re a new Emperor and all, it’ll take a while to get yourself accustomed.” Scott continued, “I am curious, though. What did you mean by conditions?”
“Come to think of it now, you probably don’t know about the conflict…” Jimmy paused. ‘Maybe it’s for the better. Just… don’t get involved, things are complicated enough.”
There it was again, someone trying to tell him what to do. Everyone was beginning to sound like his parents now… Where were his parents anyway? They were always adamant on being punctual, so the idea of them being late to pick him up was very, very out of character
The Codfather fiddled with his fingers “Uhm, are you alright?”
Scott was shaken back into reality. "Forgive me, I was lost in thought there.”
The exchange grew more and more awkward as they simply just stood together. “I uh… I should get going now. This was a pleasure, Scott. Meeting you, I mean.”
“Right. Have a nice day.” Scott nodded.
Despite having said goodbye, Jimmy hadn’t left yet, so Scott figured it was on him to walk away.
“Wait!” The codboy called.
Scott turned back his head, seeing Jimmy rummage through his pockets to eventually pull out a slither of paper, similar to the one from the meeting. He then held it out in front of the elf.
“These are the coordinates to The Cod Empire. If you ever want to talk, feel free! I usually hang out by the docks during my spare time… Okay, bye!” This time around, he darted off straight away.
Scott blinked in surprise, peering down at the paper in his hands. Surely enough, there was a string of numbers on it, along with a smiley face on the side. He shook his head, laughing under his breath. Was this supposed to be a declaration of friendship?
As Scott admired the gesture, a familiar voice boomed from behind. “What are you laughing about?” They said in a wary tone.
The elf felt his shoulders tense up, stuffing the note into his coat pocket and turning to face them. “Xornoth?... Why are you here?”
“What do you think, genius? Mother and father ordered me to pick you up from your lousy meeting.” Xornoth crossed his arms, glaring at Scott with their piercing purple eyes.
Scott rolled his eyes, his older sibling always knew how to ruin the mood. The two walked beside each other in silence throughout Spawn’s lush mangrove until he cleared his throat.
“I don’t see the carriage.” He pointed out.
“Correct, we’re flying back.” Xornoth responded flatly, stretching out their snowy white wings, which stood out profusely from their black clothing. “You know, I still don’t understand why you hide them.”
Scott heaved a sigh. Fly all the way back home? He was not a bad flyer, far from it actually, but using his wings required a lot of energy that he was currently lacking. However, he knew that Xornoth wasn’t joking, so there was not much of a choice in the matter.
He whispered ‘reveal’ in Elvish, and a large pair of owl wings appeared onto his back. “I’m not hiding anything, it’s just annoying to walk around with these chunks of feathers. They bump into everything!” The elf complained
Xornoth scoffed, continuing in a judging tone. “Those chunks of feathers are a divine gift. As the champion of Aeor, you should be more grateful.”
You’re just jealous, Scott thought to himself, not brave enough to say it aloud.
And so the two siblings flew back to Rivendell, not uttering a single word to each other during the long journey. Once they had arrived, Scott sank into his bed, wishing he could hibernate for at least a millennia.
“What a day…”