Conflicting Opinions [Social/Lagi]

Now that things have calmed down in Reim, it was time to scope out the state of the country. What better way to do this than to address the head of the nation himself? Bahir approached the front gates of the castle in Remano to be met by three armor clad guards. The men, with their armor and weaponry, were greatly intimidating. Bahir, not wanting to cause too much of a scene, played into their appearance and crafted a look of unease on his face. As the fanalis got closer to the gate, the three men stepped closer together, making a bit of a wall between Bahir and the door to the audience hall. "What business do you have here, boy?"

Bahir winced a bit at the question. The man's tone was a bit aggressive. Instead of getting angry, he redirected the meaning of the gruff tone to be what was necessary for his job. Bahir took a moment to clear his throat before trying to straighten his back, playing even more into his meek, intimidated facade. "I-I'd like to speak to His Majesty and thank him for the kindness he's done us, personally."

The guards stared down at Bahir suspiciously. After discussing amongst each other, Bahir was ordered to wait where he was while one of the men entered the Audience Hall to seek out the King of Reim. "Your Highness. There is a commoner at the gate seeking an audience with you. He claims it is to thank you for your kindness."

Bahir was met with the return of the guard in an interesting fashion. He was asked to surrender his arsenal and to fill out paperwork. Thankfully, Bahir thought ahead and only came with his sanjiegun: The Triple Stick and his lightning charm. His knife and throwing spikes were signs of his assassination persona and decided to leave them at his home. After filling out the paperwork to have an audience with the King, Bahir found himself being patted down by the guards of the Palace. It was an irritating procedure, but Bahir remained silent. No need causing a ruckus when he was just there to pick at the King's mind.

It wasn't long before he was escorted into the King's audience hall. The fanalis took a moment to take in the beautifully ornamented room before looking upon the throne that Lagi was sitting in. The fanalis could almost smell the superior strength from the man. It wasn't the same as before... this was a man who has truly realized he was a King. Someone who has and was willing to lead his country through Hell and high water. This is the man that Bahir and the others of the rebellion fought for. At least he's finally realized himself..

As the King spoke and recalled Bahir's name, he took the fanalis a bit by surprise. He had mixed emotions from his initial encounter with the ruler. The man ignored the Fanalis's attempts to be respectful and seemed to forget about his presence. Granted, Bahir wasn't one to keep attention on himself. He pushed their initial meeting from his thoughts as he walked forward a little and bowed, respectfully. "Your Majesty. I am not a man of this country, so my thanks to you for what you have done in the name of Reim would mean nothing. I am, however, curious in you. From what I've heard from the people of this country... You were never supposed to be King." The fanalis raised his body to an upright position. His cloak falling over his arms. "You were given that throne by the very people who tried to rule this land... as such you are... were... their puppet. Do you deny this?"

Knowing he was still under the supervision of the guard, Bahir stayed in his same place. Though his eyes held no animosity towards the man, his voice held no sign of sympathy nor praise. He was almost emotionless in his speech. The windows to his soul, shut. "And yet... you did what you thought would make the lives for these people 'better.' You freed the slaves, you tried to make their lives easier with your beasts... but... in doing so, you made them lazy. What work would there be for your citizens if all of the jobs are done by beasts? How will your people live if they don't have the means to make the money they need? Are you doing this for your people, or for you to say 'Look what I did.'?" The spy's eyes seemed to become even more dull. The red orbs never left the King's eyes, wanting to read into the very soul of the man on the throne.

"Even so... if you did all of that for yourself... There comes the Kou invasion. Knowing your people would rather fight, you agreed to marry the Princess of a nation they all HATED. That was for the peace of Reim, yes? So none of your people would lose their blood or lives. Despite the fact that many of them did WHILE you were doing so. The princess... I don't know her name. Was she a puppet to you? I saw you at the final battle. You had the eyes of a man who was emotionally broken. Was it the death of the princess that caused such pain? Was she MORE than a pawn to keep peace for your kinsmen?" Bahir's eyes started to soften. He sighed softly and closed his eyes for a moment. He prayed that the King didn't have the temper of his Fanalis Generals and could make it to the end of Bahir's questioning. If not, the young spy was likely to be executed or imprisoned. "And yet here you sit. The man who should not have been King in the first place. You have somehow gained the backing of the great General Octavius and the remnants of the Fanalis Corps. The people of Reim have been satiated by the outcome of the war and has started to accept you... but... what of you, King Lagi? What do you desire? Why have you stayed on this throne for so long? Have you been spoiled by the luxurious life it has to offer? All of the guards and women and riches and affection?"

The fanalis stood unflinching. He watched the royal's face and body as he let Bahir's words sink into his mind. It was foreign to Bahir that such a man as Lagi el Nagi let the words of some foreigner hold so much weight to him. Perhaps it was the fact that his name was being sullied? Either way, Bahir got what he wanted. Whether Lagi knew it or not, he was baring himself to Bahir. The spy listened to the King's words and read his emotions. Fortunately, he wasn't being sentenced to prison nor execution, and he was hearing the types of things he would have expected. The King neither faltered nor apologized for what he did for Reim. The man had a very strong conviction... or was stubborn beyond belief. Either way, the fanalis could work with... and for such a man.

The fanalis sighed at the Emperor's final request. Will Bahir serve him? He spoke as if he had none that TRULY believed in him. The fanalis wasn't completly cold. He looked up to the man, a stern look in his eyes. "Am I a believer? I believe you will learn to lead. I believe that you will rule over this country. What I don't know is how you will continue to fair as a leader. You asked me to follow you without knowing who I am. All you know is that I'm a fanalis. Can you truly ask loyalty from someone you don't know?" Bahir removed his cloak and let it drop to the ground. He was wearing his dark purple midriff shirt and matching pants.

"I am called Bahir by most. Others know me simply as a shadow. My father is one of the deadliest assassins that had existed through Balbadd. I, like my father, am an assassin. I have been trained since I was a mere child in the ways of killing. Is that the kind of person you want associated with you, Emperor Lagi? Can you rest easy knowing that someone as shady as me is always with you?" Bahir took a few steps closer to the Emperor. He had no patience for the court formalities now. If Lagi was to be the man he would devote his life to, he would have to be able to deal with the man no matter what. The first step was revealing himself. Even though every fiber of his being was trying to keep him from doing so. "I have killed multiple Kou generals that lived here in Reim. When I was younger, I assisted in killing people in Reim and Heliohapt. Can you live with the fact that someone so bathed in blood stands behind you? Can you TRUST someone like me, Lagi?"