Arden woke, but he was not rested. Every fiber of muscle, every cell in his body was screaming. He had not realized the physical toll that magic would take on his body. He felt as if he had just run laps around the palace ground, rocks strapped to him. With a pained groan, he sat up from his bed, swinging his legs off the side. Gingerly, he set his bare feet on the cold ground. A shiver raced up his spine at the contact. Before he had time to think too much, he put on his clothes and made his descent once more.
Today felt different. He felt like Erebus and him were on even ground despite one being behind cells. He felt vulnerable, embarrassed, and his whole body screamed in protest at the stairs leading down to the prisons. Would Erebus give him the day off? Or would his weakness be the reason he is dropped as a student. He would not take that chance, despite his reluctance to see the demon.
With a shoulder roll and a couple of other basic stretches, Arden took the path leading to Erebus, hoping that he could mask his fatigue well enough to hide his weakness. He stepped into the room with confidence, but it was shattered when he saw Erebus looking at him. One eyebrow was raised and he could feel his blue eyes scanning and appraising him.
“What?” Arden asked, setting his stuff down in the usual spot.
“You need not hide your fatigue from me, everyone must adjust to the toll magic takes on the body when they begin. If I have given you the impression that I am a strict teacher, I apologize. You will not be reprimanded for needing rest. Frankly, I am surprised to see that you are still walking.” Erebus’ eyes landed on his legs. Instinctively, Arden placed his feet together to shield himself from the gaze.
“I am fine.” Arden said with a shaky tone. “Just a little sore and tired.”
“You are a strong man.” Arden let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He had expected Erebus to question him after what he had seen the night before, but luckily he seemed to know not to touch the subject. “I will not teach you anything today that requires the use of you magic or your body, just one that uses your mind.”
Arden was relieved and very curious. He stepped towards the cell, but remained further back than usual. Erebus seemed to notice the distance, but did not comment. Instead he stood away from the bars as well, probably trying to seem less threatening.
“I am going to help you view my reflection properly, without going mad.” Erebus stated, gesturing to a puddle near the bars. “I can see your hesitation, but remember, I broke you from its gaze before, I will not let it consume you.” He waited patiently by the pool of water.
Arden eyed the pool suspiciously, seeing the black void within it, terrified of what lies inside. “How do I resist?” Slowly he let his feet carry him towards the cell, but he daren’t look down yet, not until he was instructed.
“The first step is knowing that it is me, and it will not consume you if you do not feel threatened by its gaze.” Erebus gestured to himself, “I am no threat to you as I am, and neither is it. You give it the power it needs to take you from this world, not not give in.”
“If it is you, why don’t you just…. Stop it?” There had to be a reason that his reflection looked like that, but perhaps it was a demon trait.
“I could. But I will not.” Erebus stated matter-of-factly. “I do this to cut myself off from the reflection realm in order to protect myself from whatever lies within. Only I can enter my reflections. To anyone inside the realm, I do not exist and neither does anything in this room. It is camouflage.”
This seemed like a reasonable explanation. “Any other advice?” Arden asked, stalling.
“Do not focus on the eyes. And what lies within is my true form, do not expect it to look as I am now.” He gestured to his body, stroking his sides with his knuckles. “And stand close enough to me that I can snap you out of any trance you succumb to. I suspect it will happen a few times.”
Arden audibly swallowed at that, reluctant to try. “Okay.” He stepped closer to the cell, staying far enough away that he felt comfortable, but close enough that he could be disturbed.
“Go ahead.” His hand guided Arden’s gaze downwards. And when he woke up, he was on the ground, face covered in water and dirt. “That was quick.” Arden’s eyes scanned his surroundings until he landed on a hand outstretched. “Try again, but maybe remain sitting. That looked painful.”
Arden took the help and sat up, wiping his face on his tunic. He took a deep breath and tried again, this time he was at least able to look at it for a moment before blacking out completely. He woke to a hand on his hair, stroking it softly. His head was resting on the bars now, so much for staying a decent distance from him. He turned his head to look over his shoulder only to find Erebus’ face inches from his own. The demon smelled very nice for someone who has been in a cell for years. He smelled like an Oleander flower. Beautiful, but deadly. His eye lashes are long and dark, framing his crystal blue eyes and making them look as if they are glowing. His long black hair cascades over his shoulder. Arden knew that the man was handsome, but being this close to him was dangerous.
“Like what you see?” The trance was broken and Arden realized that he had just been staring at him.
“I-I you are a very handsome man- demon? I am sorry, It is not proper.” Arden shifted to create space between them but Erebus followed.
“You are taking magic lessons from a demon, I do not think ‘proper’ applies anymore.” Erebus’ hand reaches through the bars and sits gently on Arden’s cheek, his thumb brushing over his bottom lip.
Arden’s eyes flutter closed briefly, his face nuzzling into his hand. Except the hand that one felt warm and smooth was now rougher, and the nails sharper. His eyes flew open to reveal a black, scaly hand on his face. He did not panic at first, he just froze, staring. The longer he started at the hand the more details he began to observe and the more beautiful it became. The scales appeared black but were iridescent gold. The light danced over them like a koi fish in the darkest of ponds. The nails appeared to be made of solid gold, and they gleamed brightly in the sun, casting shimmers on the walls. His eyes trailed up the arms to find that the scales slowly disappeared to reveal warm olive skin towards the shoulders and chest. Only a few scales remained at the center of the bare chest, but they glittered brilliantly.
With great care, Arden brought his eyes up the neck and on the face. His chin remained free of scales, but they reappeared at the crest of sharp cheekbones and up the nose. He avoided the eyes for now, going on a hunch. He did not wish to break the spell by succumbing to panic. Eyebrows turned to forehead and from the forehead sprouted two horns swooping gracefully back over the man’s head. The tips were gold like the fingernails, slowly turning black as they connected to the skull. The ears were sharp and black but decorated with gold piercings, three in each lobe and a chain hanging from lobe to tip on his right. The gold of the jewelry perfectly matched the gold on his body.
Finally, Arden risked his eyes. He followed the shimmer on the gold scales from the ears, noticing an increase towards the eyes. With a breath, he locked eyes. Icy blue eyes, familiar. They reminded him of- “Erebus?” Arden asked, feeling his voice get swallowed.
The figure’s thumb stroked Arden’s cheek once more before pulling back. A slow nod, and then a flash of light.
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