Like Father, Like Son [Epic Quest - Azix Niraj]

The orange magician's face lit up to see Ariella's smile and returned the hug, squeezing her just as tightly. He followed her into the room, closing the door behind him and noting the dampness of her hair. 'It appears everyone felt the urge to bathe after today's events.'

Before answering her question, Azix had to resolve a pressing matter. He felt an urge to 'mark' her once again, especially after watching Yoshiro place his lips on hers. Azix pulled Ari into a close embrace, kissing her passionately. He gently nibbled on her lip, leading her to take a seat next to him on the bed. "Everything went well, my love. Yoshiro and Lagi are making a speech later today, announcing Reim's sovereignty."

Azix wrapped his hands around hers and stared into her golden hues. He hesitated a moment before continuing, letting out a sigh. "However, we might have to delay our vacation. I accepted an offer to be Kou's ambassador. Yoshiro wanted someone that both he and the people of Reim could trust. However, once everything settles down, we'll be able to go."

Ari gave a muffled sound as she was thoroughly claimed by Azix’ lips, the sound softening to a soft moan as she returned the intimate gesture. She was thankful he had not hesitated after seeing her kiss Yoshiro. It had not been pleasant for her, but given the history, she had almost expected her lover to doubt the action. When he led her to the bed, she became hopeful for a more pleasant distraction but pouted when he began filling her in on what had come of the meeting. She listened as he spoke, nuzzling against his neck until he mentioned their vacation would be postponed. She almost got upset before remembering what she had planned to talk about with him, making her sigh in acceptance. Looking into his undamaged eye, she gave an understanding smile, raising a hand to brush across his cheek.

“It’s okay, dear. I understand. An ambassador? That should be an interesting position. Does this mean I will get to see Kou one day?”

She paused for a moment, chewing her lip in thought before speaking again.

“Postponing the vacation for a bit is fine, I need to return to Magnostadt for a short period. The magician’s need to be returned to their home and I believe Ayero would like her brother back at some point. And when I get back… I…”

She took a deep breath, her eyes shooting to the faint outline of chalk on the ground.

“I want us to go after Lilly. We can’t just let her run wild, not knowing who or where she will strike next. I could push her out of my mind while we focused on the war, but… she cannot be allowed to be out and killing people…”

She said the words while trying to keep her face clear of the panic wanting to rise at thoughts of the small monster the Contractor had unleashed on the world.

Yoshiro pressed his fingertips together in contemplation, considering the man’s request. He could understand, he supposed, the man wanted a fresh start, not as Iatsu Takegawa, Spymaster of Kou. While his services would have been invaluable, it was reasonable compensation for helping to end a reign of terror. He took a bite of the steamed rice as he thought over the steps to complete the request, not answering Garret immediately. He would not dishonor what good the man had done, both in the ball room and on the battle field.

“I will honor this request of yours. I will have it stated that you died during the Battle for Remano, falling as you sought to protect Captain Natsuki. I will add you to the list of casualties, and you will have a funeral like the other soldiers. As far as Kou is concerned, you will be dead, free to live your life as you so choose.”

He took another bite, humming softly in appreciation of the meal before speaking again.

“Azix has accepted the position of ambassador. If you wish to stay at his side, you would need to cover your face during any time spent in Kou, though I am sure you realize this. You seem quite loyal to the Marquis. It is nice to see that he found a place in the world with people he can trust. You and Miss Ariella are both fierce protectors. Consider your request done, I will send you the official documentation via messenger, if you would like, once I complete it. I will not try to convince you to not do this, you are fully aware of the ramifications of such a request, I am sure. You did not become a Spymaster without being intelligent and well-versed in the government systems. Very well. Now, please… enjoy the meal.”

Yoshiro drained his cup of tea before pouring another, allowing it to cool as he ate. He was quite hungry and it showed as he devoured bite after bite, paying little attention to decorum as he consumed. Garret had seen him take out his father, he hardly felt it necessary to be delicate and proper in his eating habits. It was one of the reasons he did not keep servants in his quarters to serve his meals and tea. He was not a fan of constant servitude and liked his peace and quiet.

Garret was somewhat surprised to hear the ease at which Yoshiro agreed to his request. The blue magician continued to eat, pausing only during the time that the Emperor was speaking. Garret took note as Yoshiro explained Azix having accepted the ambassador position, and how he followed up by mentioning that Garret would have to hide his face during any time spent in Kou. I have spent little to no time in court... I do not believe myself to be an easily recognized individual... Prudence, however, outweighs the alternatives. He nodded his head slowly at the man's words, understanding the meaning behind them. At the mention of official documents, Garret furrowed his brow.

"One last thing, Sire. As to the method of... Informing me of the completion of the request. I assume they won't be quite... Official, in the official meaning..?" A paper trail of his existence was something he would prefer to avoid. If necessary, he would be fine with Yoshiro passing an encrypted message along, such as 'your friend's request has been taken care of' to Azix, who would be able to get in touch with Garret and inform the blue magician of the fact. After giving Yoshiro a chance to respond, Garret would explain this preference if the man did not provide a more subtle approach to informing Garret of the deed.

The rest of the dinner was finished in relative silence; the magician knew he likely wouldn't have a similar opportunity any time in the near future, but his mind was occupied enough as it were. He needed to figure out what it was he planned on doing in the future, insofar as actual work was concerned. Garret sipped at his tea pensively, staring off into the distance before politely excusing himself and going back to his inn.


[Exit]

Azix let out a sigh of relief and chuckled, "Yes, I suppose that does mean you'll get to visit Kou some day." He noticed her hesitation and waited for her to continue. He gave her a look of understanding when she mentioned going to Magnostadt and squeezed her hand, wondering what was bothering her. He felt silly for not realizing that it was Lilly. With everything that happened with the Emperor, Azix had forgotten about the little murderess. Of course, Ariella hadn't, it had probably plagued her every thought.

Azix hugged Ari tight and kissed her forehead softly. "You're absolutely right. While you are gone, I will do my best to find out where she is." His fingers danced up and down her back in soothing motions as he spoke in a tone that let her know she had his full support. "We will kill her, I promise."

He stared off in the distance, contemplating how he would track Lilly down. Azix made a note to ask Yoshiro if he knew anything, when they met. The orange magician noticed that his cousin had never gave him an update and frowned. Either he hadn't tried to locate the girl or he wasn't able to. Both options were unhelpful, so Azix would have to think of a backup plan.

Azix’ reassurances quelled Ari’s nerves about bringing the topic up. When he promised they would kill her, she felt a small weight lift. If Azix could take out an Emperor, he would be able to help her take out the monster-in-disguise. Her complete trust in his abilities allowed her to relax into his side, simply enjoying his presence. They had been so busy, there had not been much time to simply relax. And she would be leaving for Magnostadt as soon as possible, wanting to get things taken care of so she could return to Azix that much more quickly.

She did not mention that she planned on taking her final Kodor test while in Magnostadt. She did not need to take the test, she knew, but she had to prove something to herself with the test, to prove that she was strong enough to serve at Azix’ side as a household member. She would not allow herself to become a liability to him. She dragged him back onto the bed and stretched out beside him, wrapping her arm around his thin waist. She would keep him here as long as he allowed her to, absorbing all the warmth and comfort he had to offer.

[exit]

Yoshi waved to a chest, a servant hurrying over to gather the last of the Emperor’s belongings. He has sent word to Azix to meet with him outside of the Palace to escort him back to the magic transfer circle south of Remano. He wanted to go over a few of the finer details of the Marquis’ newest appointment with Kou and to sort out any remaining questions Azix might have for him. He disliked having to leave for Kou so quickly, but he had to solidify his rule as quickly as possible. It was a shame that he would not have more time to absorb some of the culture of Reim while he was here, but his duty to his people came first. This was not a vacation, but perhaps he could return one day on more pleasant terms.

He glanced around, his guards apprehensively watching every person that passed by as they awaited Azix’ arrival, a carriage waiting to take them to the magic transfer circle.

Azix spent the night with Ariella, enjoying the opportunity to simply cuddle the hours away with his lover. The sensation of her wrapped around his body soon had him drifting off to sleep. In the morning, he regretfully untangled himself so he could get plans underway to assist with the rebuilding. He spent the day at Opportunity Hall, discussing his ideas with the workers for rebuilding and sending runners to Lagi to coordinate their efforts with the King's group of Ravenous Smashers.

He wasn't surprised when a servant entered the building and announced that Yoshiro requested his presence outside the palace. Azix dismissed the servant with an idle wave of his hand, wrapping up his discussion with Gilda, Kylar and his son, Marcus. He then left towards the palace to meet with his cousin before he left to secure his rule in Kou. Azix wondered if Yoshiro was nervous of returning home and if anyone would object to their new Emperor.

Azix found his cousin, waiting next to a carriage in the courtyard of the Palace. The orange magician bowed deeply in greeting, "Good morning, my Lord." He straightened his back with a small smile on his face. As much as Azix despised his family and hated to watch Ariella with Yoshiro, his cousin had grown on him. Fate had certainly led them down a strange path, one he never would have foreseen. Azix found himself nervous of Yoshiro's return, not wanting to see his cousin assassinated like his father. "So is my meeting just an after thought or did you save the best for last?" The teasing tone in Azix's voice as he spoke showed how much his opinion of Yoshiro had changed as of late.

Yoshiro chuckled as he returned the bow to his cousin, waving him into the carriage.

“Not an afterthought, cousin. I apologize for everything being so rushed, but I am sure you know how important it is that I solidify my rule as quickly as possible.”

He waited until Azix had climbed into the carriage before following, his guard closing the door before climbing up front with the man driving the carriage. Getting settled on the cushioned seats, he turned his attention back to Azix, taking a deep breath. The reality of what had happened and was soon to transpire was weighing heavily on his and he knew his cousin would understand. Rubbing a hand over his face, he offered Azix a small smile.

“From the lion’s nest to the shark’s den, eh, cousin? Luckily, I have had a supporter assisting in Kou to secure my arrival in Kou, so I do not have to worry as much about being ambushed the moment I return. Journey books are wonderful tools for communicating so far away. It was one of the few items I kept from my experience in the dungeon, most of it was given to a local village. Now, I am sure you wish to discuss your role a bit? The role is fairly simply, you would be acting as a liaison between myself and King Lagi, or whatever the ruling government in Reim might be, on matters that involve both countries. It seems the people of Reim have a great deal of trust in you, you have done great things for them.”

He would pause and allow Azix to ask any questions he might have regarding the position, answering them as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Azix was familiar enough with life in court that he should have a basic idea of what his duties would entail, but securing the final points was always important. He knew one of the key reasons Azix had agreed to the position was to keep an eye on not just Reim, but also his own rule over Kou. Part of him wanted to be outraged by the idea of anyone keeping tabs on his activity, but given his family history, he understood Azix’ caution. Mostly, he was glad that there was someone making sure he did not step over the line, making sure he did not turn into his father.

It did not take them long to arrive at the last remaining magic transfer circle in the country and Yoshiro happily got out of the carriage, nervous but excited for what awaited him at home. Assuming Azix followed him out of the carriage, he led the Marquis towards the circle, where a familiar figure stood. With a deep bow, Azix' uncle, Illidan, greeted the new Emperor before turning to Azix with what might be considered a proud smile.

"Greetings, nephew."

Azix slipped into the carriage and found the cushioned bench seats to be quite comfortable. He noticed the weariness in Yoshiro's expression as the man sat down opposite him. The orange magician listened as his cousin explained that he had support back in Kou to help with the transition of leadership. Azix wasn't surprised, however he was curious to know who else had a hand in betraying Gao.

The discussion turned to what was expected of Azix in his new position as Ambassador. Once Yoshiro gave the queue for questions, the orange magician ran his hand over his jaw in thought. "How would you prefer I send communications to you?" He inquired not just for general messages but also for private messages. Azix knew communications were sent through the spy organization, but he wasn't familiar with the process and he wasn't sure if he could trust it.

Azix continued prodding Yoshiro for his stance on different matters with Reim's current state of affairs. In order to effectively act on behalf of his cousin, Azix needed to understand the new Emperor's foreign policies. There wasn't much time to learn everything he needed, so he covered the more pressing matters. The orange magician didn't forget to ask about his income, planning to use it to invest further into the welfare programs and Kios.

Once they arrived, Azix exited the carriage and saw an odd sight. His Uncle Illidan was waiting near the magic transfer circle with a smile, something the orange magician had never seen before. It was almost as if Illidan was proud of him. With an arched brow, Azix bowed to his Uncle and turned an inquisitive look at Yoshiro. The last time Azix had seen Illidan, the meeting hadn't gone too well.

Coronation of the New King:

"What a pleasant surprise, Uncle..."

Yoshiro glanced between his cousin and his uncle, aware the two were not on the best of terms. However, Illidan had proved an invaluable asset since before his takeover. It seemed not just Azix’ father was unhappy with Emperor’s rule, Illidan had been carefully and meticulously towards a similar goal. Illidan had learned from his brother’s mistakes, however, and had been more careful about getting caught. In court, he had kept up every appearance of trying to restore honor to the family name through traditional means. But since the day he had come across Yoshiro practicing his djinn equip, he had been assisting Yoshiro in whatever way possible. It had taken months to gain even a speck of the man’s trust, but it had proven worth the effort. Yoshiro gave Illidan a nod before turning to Azix with a smile.

“It seems your uncle and father were of the same mind in regards to my father’s rule. He has been helping for quite a long time.”

Illidan picked up a case from the ground near his feet, approaching Azix. It was true that he and Azix were not close and he had disapproved of many of Azix’ actions, none of that mattered right now. Illidan held the case out to Azix, a look of nostalgia crossing his face.

“Nephew… Azix… this belonged to your father, before… He would play it for hours, it was how he managed to woo your mother, actually. I think he would like you to have it. I wish we had more time to visit, but time is no friend today. When we are gone, destroy the circle.”

Illidan would then bow to Azix before returning to the circle. Yoshiro followed after filling Azix in on the listed of trusted informers left in Reim if word needed to be sent. For less sensitive material, a communications magician would suffice, but for private matters, the informants would be used to convey messages securely. Yoshiro gave Azix a final bow before moving into the circle.

“Good luck, cousin.”

The mages maintaining the circle joined the new Emperor and Illidan in the center before they were all transported back to Kou. It would be up to Azix to destroy the circle of runes on the ground, ensuring that the circle could not be used again. If Azix were to open the case given to him by his uncle, he would find a very small, intricately built violin set with glowing purple gems. On the neck of the violin, a very small magic circle could be seen inscribed in the dark wood. If magoi were fed into the circle, the violin would expand to the size of a normal instrument. Azix was left in Reim holding his father’s legacy as the horses attached to the carriage pranced impatiently, waiting to take him back into the city.

[exit]

Item given to Azix:

Azix's face revealed the internal struggle to comprehend what he had just learned about Illidan. The uncle he remembered was an emotionless man who treated him with scorn. Azix accepted the case, surprised to receive one of his father's possessions. Growing up, Illidan spoke little of Talix, regarding the topic distasteful. Azix clutched the link to his father tightly and returned the bow. "T-Thank you..."

He waited until they left to destroy the circle and climbed into the carriage to return back in Remano. He set the case in his lap, opening it to reveal a small, ornate violin, accompanied with an equally small bow. At first glance Azix questioned how it was possible to play such a tiny instrument. Upon closer inspection, he noticed a magical circle inscribed into the wood. The orange magician carefully picked up the violin and poured some magoi into the magical tool. Sonus Ex Cantus grew in size till it was nearly two feet long. The purple gems set into the instrument and bow began to glow when it activated.

Azix spent the trip back fumbling with the violin, trying to produce a pleasing sound to the ear. By the look on the driver's face as he exited, Azix had failed miserably.

[Exit]