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The air in Latissa smelled warm and sweet like some sort of exotic spice.
During the most frigid days of the year, Hunter would sneak into the spice cabinets in the castle’s kitchen, close his eyes, and pretend he was at the Imperial summer residence in that port city, training out in the sun and surrounded by forests and fields instead of being cooped up inside the freezing, stone walls of the castle.
Hunter scoffed at the memory and shook it out of his mind. He hadn’t done anything that childish in quite some time.
Letting out a long sigh, he curled in on himself, hugging his knees closer to his chest while a soft breeze tousled wisps of his ash-blond hair. Now, it felt like he was wasting his time here at the residence in Latissa. He should be doing something— anything— to help serve the Empire, but all he ever seemed to do was study and train without purpose. Which is what he was supposed to be doing right now— if he hadn’t hidden up on the rooftop before breakfast that is.
From up here, he had a near-perfect view of everything behind the residence. A river cut through the open land that stretched out far beyond the mansion, disappearing into the blood-red treeline that created a natural barrier at the borders of the property. The bleating of animals grazing in the fields below were the only sounds at the moment; the worried calls of his instructors had quieted down some time ago, and Hunter desperately hoped they’d finally given up their search for him
The air around the boy suddenly grew chill, and a dark shadow shaded him from behind. He didn’t need to look over his shoulder to know it was his uncle who stood there.
“Hunter.”
His heart skipped a beat, and he practically jumped to his feet at the low tone in the emperor's voice. He quickly turned and bent at the torso into a formal bow, holding his breath while waiting for permission to speak.
“Your dueling instructors have been searching for you all morning,” the Emperor continued. “They’re convinced you’ve run away.”
“I’m sorry, Emperor Belos,” Hunter said, his eyes locking onto the gold boots his uncle wore. “I didn’t mean to cause you distress.”
“No, just the instructors I presume?”
Hunter’s shoulders stiffened and his pointed ears dropped slightly, tinting to a dusty shade of rose.
Belos hummed out a small laugh and brought a hand under Hunter’s chin, raising the boy’s head to meet his eyes. Hunter swallowed and tried to keep his breathing as steady as possible, watching how the tipped beak of his uncle’s horned mask glistened brightly in the afternoon sun.
“We’re talking in private, Nephew, there’s no need for formalities.”
Hunter relaxed his shoulders ever so slightly after Belos released his chin, though his ears still pointed downward— it was a tell he hadn’t quite mastered the art of hiding yet, and his uncle picked up on it immediately.
“What’s bothering you?” Belos asked.
Hunter’s face twisted into a hesitant expression as he tightly gripped at the ends of his shirt, nearly piercing his nails through the fabric and into his palms. Then, wisely knowing better than to keep his uncle waiting, he opened his mouth and tried to work up the courage to ask the question on his mind.
“Why… Why do you keep me around?”
Belos tipped his head to one side, looking like a bird of prey ready to strike. “Whatever do you mean?” he asked in an even tone.
“Everyone in your service has a purpose— everyone is useful except me.”
“Do not presume to know what does and does not have a use to me, Hunter.”
The boy winced at the rebuke, tearing his gaze from the Emperor’s mask and looking back at the animals down in the field. “Forgive me, Uncle, I spoke out of turn.”
“You’re still in a grace period,” Belos gently said, taking a step closer to Hunter and placing a heavy, gold-plated hand on his shoulder. “You had the first nine years of your life stolen from you, and in only three you’ve surpassed ten times that of what any witch your age is capable of.”
Hunter looked up at Belos again, his brows furrowed and his red eyes darting from side to side. He wasn’t sure what to say. Words of praise from his uncle were so rare to come by— especially ever since his curse had started worsening.
“Although,” Belos continued, his voice sounding breathy, almost like a half-laugh, “I fail to see how moping on the roof is going to help you find your worth.”
The dusty-rose blush returned to Hunter’s cheeks and ears.
“I, um, I came up here to clear my head.”
“By watching the goldhorns graze?”
Belos turned his blue eyes out into the field, to the same place Hunter had been looking. True to their names, goldhorns had golden horns that curved into loops as they aged, looking almost like a halo by the time they were fully grown. Their four eyes and pearlescent wool admittedly had taken some time to get used to, but the animals were the closest thing the Boiling Isles had to sheep. Belos hummed a small sigh. Titan , how he still longed for proper, fresh mutton after all these years locked away in the demon realm.
“...Do you think it’s a little sad?”
Belos looked back down at his nephew, nearly missing the softly spoken question.
“Sad?”
“They’re raised just to be slaughtered.”
“No,” Belos said. “I don’t think it’s sad at all.” It took every ounce of the Emperor’s self-control not to laugh at the wide-eyed expression Hunter gave him. He took a deep breath and pointed to the forests far beyond the boundaries.
“Out in the wilderness, another bigger, carnivorous animal might prey on the goldhorns. They could die of a disease. They could break a leg and die a slow, painful death. Any number of awful things could happen to the goldhorns if it weren’t for the protection my estate provides them. I give them comfort, safety, and care for their every need, and when the time is right, they repay for that privilege with their lives.”
Belos moved his hand down, gesturing towards the bleating goldhorns peacefully grazing, living contently without a care in the world.
“So you see, it’s mercy… Even if the animals will never be able to comprehend it.”
Belos watched Hunter slowly nod his head, but he knew his young nephew wasn’t convinced. Not that he minded in the slightest— he would take cooperation over consent any day.
“Ever the bleeding heart,” Belos breathed out, the heavy waves of nostalgia not lost on him. He softly shook the memory of his brother from his head. “Training with the coven scouts ought to sort that out though.”
“Coven scouts?”
“Yes. I planned on surprising you after our summer holiday in Latissa, but given what happened this morning, I won’t keep it from you any longer. You’re a very gifted boy, Hunter, I see no reason to delay your enlistment simply because of your age.”
Hunter looked down at his boots, the world around him felt like it was spinning— he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
Belos hummed at the lack of response from the boy. “Isn’t it still your dream to join the Emperor’s Coven?”
“Yes, of course!” Hunter exclaimed, snapping his head back up and sounding perhaps a bit too desperate. “B-but I don’t have magic?”
“Which makes you a perfect candidate,” Belos gave Hunter’s shoulder one final squeeze before letting go. “One of the only witches in all the Boiling Isles unable to be seduced by the lure of wild magic. You’ve mastered artificial magic beautifully, and I imagine it won’t be long until you’ve earned an imperial witch’s staff of your own.”
Belos began to walk away, back towards the higher tiered section of the roof where a window leading back inside the mansion waited for him. He paused and turned back around.
“You know, the fastest any scout has ever achieved the rank of captain was four years.”
“I’ll do it in three.”
“I expect two, Hunter.” Belos’ eyes flashed an electric shade of blue. “The Titan has big plans for you, and you don’t want to keep them waiting, do you?”
“N-no, of course not!”
“I thought not. Make me proud, Hunter.”
“I will.”
Belos shot Hunter a quick nod of approval, then moved his head from side to side as if he were looking for something.
“Well,” the Emperor heaved out a heavy sigh. “It appears that I’ve searched the entire roof and yet my little nephew is nowhere to be seen. I suspect he’ll turn up for dinner though.”
Hunter’s mouth upturned into a small smile. “I will! Don’t worry,” he softly laughed.
“I’ll leave the goldhorn watching to you then,” Belos said. “But you’d be wise to work twice as hard during tomorrow’s training.” He turned to leave but looked back at the boy again over his shoulder. “Oh, and Hunter? An outburst like this will not be tolerated a second time.”
Blond bangs fell into Hunter’s eyes as he quickly nodded. “I’m sorry that I ruined your surprise,” he said before his uncle turned away.
“Think nothing of it, Nephew. But always remember, I’m always keeping your best interests at heart.”
Even if the child would never be able to comprehend it.