Chapter Text
These past few weeks Hunter’s performance had been dropping, horrendously. He had failed in capturing even one Palisman for the Emperor, and had also gotten a beating handed to him by a mere schoolgirl, who just so happened to be the humans girlfriend. Maybe she was truly here just to ruin his life?
He sighed rolling onto his back, his body giving a dull ache as a punishment for his recent fight, though she hadnt broken much skin he did end up being thrown a lot. He ignored the minor aches and pushed himself up off the edge of his bed, receiving an angry chirp from the cardinal who had been flung off of his stomach whilst forgotten about,
”Oh, sorry Palisman, i’m still not so used to you here i guess” He tried to reassure the red bird, it chirped in angry manner before landing onto his opened window, he followed the bird, facing out towards his window, seeing the rays of early morning grazing his opened window, deciding he’d been here for long enough already he began to slip out of his night clothing and don his Golden Guard uniform, finally sliding his cloak over his shoulders he was ready. He looked himself down in the mirror opposite himself and a small frown worked itself onto his face, he looked so weak and vulnerable without the mask. There wasn’t much he could do about that now though, Kikimura’s strange dragon, hand? HandDragon thing? Whatever it was, had enjoyed his mask as a mere snack, so the replacement was still in the making for a while.
He turned on heel and made his way to the door, palm rested on the handle before a weight on his shoulder made itself quite present “Rascal, go away, you know what the emperor will do to you and i if you’re seen, please” He pleaded with a hushed voice, who knows who’s outside that door. However the bird had other plans as it continuously flew around his body, sometimes landing for a few seconds, a groan escaped his throat as he thought for a second, his lips tightening in a thoughtful process.
”Fine, you can come with me, but you must hide yourself in my cloak and if you are seen titan help me i shall hand you to Belos myself” The voice came out a lot softer than he planned on as he side eyed the cardinal, it seemed satisfied enough with the answer as a content chirp came and it flew towards the underside of the cape. Hunter gave a small smile, his grip becoming present on the handle and twisting, allowing his door to swing out into the barren hallway. He closed it quickly behind him before beginning his walk through the building
His walk was cut short as he was stopped not four minutes later, a guard stopped him with a timid tap of the shoulder and a wavering voice “Exc-Excuse me sir, but the Emperor requested for to see you” Hunter turned towards the guard, the guard was around his height, visibly shaking and from the sound of their voice was probably still going through puberty, pitiful. Hunter gave a short nod before asking his question “Did he mention what he wanted?” The young guard shook his head frantically, Hunter sighed quietly, a flash of worry present in through his head, he gave one last nod towards the guard before making his way back towards the direction of his Uncles throne room
The doors stood grand in height, looming over the guards short build, he swallowed the contents of his mouth, which was dry by this point, to have been called by the Emperor so suddenly after the failure he had given was a major call for punishment. His hand came up and rested on the wooden surface of the door, before finally working up the courage and pushing it slowly open. The door revealed the dimly lit room, Hunters opening causing a still stream of gold light to trickle in from behind. “Hunter” The Emperors voice shot through the air coldly, “Here, my boy” reassuring words came from the voice laced with anything but, despite this Hunter forced himself forwards, kneeling down before his emperor; the door closing silently behind him.
“You wished to see me?” Hunter kept his voice and face neutral, silently begging for a good outcome as his heartrate picked up. “Recently you have been failing me, even when you came back with something to show you had managed to break it” His voice pierced through Hunter coldly, causing a small shiver in the boy. He heard a minor assortment of rustling coming from above him as his uncle rose from the throne “and i cant stand to watch you fail. Not with the plans you must fulfil” Hunters ears rang as a step bounced around the seemingly closing in walls and Belos strode close. “Our golden boy can’t be underperforming at a time like this Hunter.” His voice pounding into Hunters brain, more and more malice was threaded into each word. “So, Golden guard, what is making you fail, what is distracting you?” His feet fell right into Hunters downwards view, he could feel his heart beating relentlessly in his throat as his presence was entirely dominated by that of the Emperors. His breathing become quicker and shallower as he struggled for the words “i-i uhm i-“ he fumbled over as the panic began setting in. The emperor was upset with him. He had failed him. The emperor grew impatient with him. “Stand yourself up. Now” A commanding tone extremely present in the words, with that Hunter rose quickly to his feet, feeling the red cardinal re adjust its position as to not fall. Blue eyes bore into Hunters purple-hued ones as the Emperor glared at the boy. “Now, i’ll ask again, what is distracting you from your duty, fear?.” His voice brought fear to Hunter once again. He kept his face as calm as was possible before replying “No, My lord there isn’t any distractions i ju-“ Hunters air was cut short as the emperors metallic glove clasped around his neck, his eyes widened and his hands instantly began to claw at the elders, desperately trying to free himself. In the movement bringing him off his feet he felt a small loss of weight on his back, his pupils shrunk in complete fear as his cursed uncle continued to cut off his breathing “Fine Hunter, tell me one thing” His grasp tightened itself ever so slightly as colour began to drain from Hunters face, ragged coughs leaving his throat, which was dryer than before his entry. “What truly strikes fear into you.” He glared through Hunters watering eyes, weakening hands still trying to pathetically claw through the armoured man as he choked
“What scares you Hunter” the Emperor spat loudly into the teenagers face, rage building behind the dull mask, Hunters hands stopped clawing as the tears began dripping down his paled face, purple eyes meeting blue as he was finally able to give Belos his true answer
”You.”