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“I owe him a debt.” Joshua said as he held the Crown Prince’s unconscious body. Blood dripped from the dragoon’s forehead.
His older brother sighed “Ugh, fine.” Surprisingly Clive did not ask anything further.
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The two men were sitting at a table in a dimly lighted tavern. A small rough looking tavern, secluded from civilization northwest from Sanbreque. “Thank you.” Joshua said as the waitress served the food and drinks to the two men.
The waitress, a middle aged woman, scoffed at the direction of the man sitting right across from Joshua. “No hooded man is welcomed here.” she said. The Bartender gave the two men a suspicious look as well.
In response the hooded man lowered his head further to hide his true self. “Ah, you see.” Joshua hid his lips behind his gloved hand. As if his voice would come out quieter this way. “My friend here had a horrendous face sith his birth.”
The waitress raised her eyebrow curiously. Joshua gave her a nod “Mayhap you want to know. The wane of his face was done thro inbreeding.” Joshua did not pay attention to the brown eyes hurling at him. Just as Joshua hoped it would turn out, the waitress shook her head.
“Keep that ruth tale for yourself.” She turned around and walked away.
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The hooded man dropped his disguise once Joshua closed the door. “I hope you don’t take my harsh words to heart.” Joshua said as he looked at the blonde prince who was beneath hidden the hooded cloak.
“Of course.” Dion gestures his hand over to the wooden table next to the bed. Joshua understood and pulled out a rough map out of his pockets. He was still surprised that the Crown Prince of Sanbreque accepted his request to accompany him to the old ruins northwest of the land.
The prince’s eyes gazed over the map. “Your people said the unknown ruins are here.” Dion’s finger pointed at the map.
Joshua gave him a nod. “Yes, old ruins which my people could not enter. Mayhap we can.” He gave the prince an eager smile. Dion did not return his smile but watched him carefully.
“And what do you wish to find in there if we were to enter this place?” Dion asked him with his usual pleasant voice which Joshua might or might not have been pleased to hear.
Joshua shook his head ever so slightly “I do not know- yet.” He let out a sigh and looked over to the map again. “However there is something inside these ruins. I can feel it and so can the Phoenix.”
“Then we might as well depart from here as soon as possible.” Dion said as he grabbed his cloak again. “Whatever we will find there I promised to accompany you.”
Joshua’s eyes light up. Prince Dion Lesage was truly a chivalry and forbearing man and Joshua could admire every little thing about the man in front of him. Howbeit the Prince was mostly occupied due to his duties yet he still decided to help Joshua.
“Thank you, your highness. I promise you I will repay this debt” Joshua slightly bowed, however Dion stopped him with a swift hand movement.
“Don’t, Phoenix.” Dion paused, “I’m very certain that we will be in each other’s debt in the near future as well.”
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“Why do you have the need to bring this many packages?” Dion asked him curiously as he carried half of Joshua’s bag.
“We must be prepared for everything. What will we eat and drink when we get trapped inside these ruins?” Joshua tried his best not to pant. Perhaps he overdid it with his package.
“If” Dion started looking at the strawberry blonde male “If we have no way out of these ruins then we have no choice but to die here.”
“We are the Phoenix and Bahamut. I’m sure we will always find a way out.” Joshua smiled optimistically as if this was a harmless adventure for the both of them to enjoy.
“Remember those words.” Dion warned him. "So much optimism suits no one.” he mumbled as they went deeper into the dark ruins.
These ruins looked different from what Joshua was used to seeing. There were not many akashic as well. Should he be worried if something worse will await them?
Perhaps Joshua's certainties were for none since they came to a dead end very soon. Joshua took a step closer to the wall. His suspicion grew. “This doesn't look like a wall.” Joshua gently rested his hand against the wall. “Mayhap this is not a dead end?”
“I am pretty certain you do feel this strange sensation as well” Dion as well came forward to the wall. He was right. Joshua could feel something calling for them behind those walls.
Once Dion was close enough, the carvings on the wall were glowing before the wall itself sank down like a gate. “Be careful, Phoenix.” Dion warned him again as they slowly approached the ruins deeper. Joshua gave him a nod. A dim light came from the ground they walked on but other than that this place was quite covered in darkness.
However Joshua could hear it. The calling, someone or something was calling for both Eikons. Despite his excitement, Joshua had to be cautious. Who knows what danger awaits them. “What is this place?” Joshua’s quiet voice came out breathy as he looked around the long forgotten and nameless ruins.
“Careful.” Dion’s steady grip was on his shoulder. Joshua stopped moving and turned around, facing the prince. He tried to ignore the fact that the crown prince looked quite charming- a little too tempting, in this dim light.
Dion shared his gaze for a moment before he gave him a nod. Instructing Joshua to look to the ground before them. A little delayed with his movements, Joshua looked on the ground.
At first glance the ground did not look suspicious in particular. That was until Joshua noticed the slight difference of the light coming from that specific area of the ground. Dion threw a little pebble in front of them.
Of course, the ground was lifted, like an illusion it vanished. Revealing the truth behind the illusory ground was a deep black pit. “Founder… this place is truly mysterious.”
“Phoenix.” Dion gained Joshua’s attention back. “Whatever lies here does not want to be found. We have to be more careful. Do not act too rash.”
“I apologize” Joshua gave him a smile “I guess you saved me from falling.”
Dion shared his smile “Does the Phoenix unlearned how to use his feathers?”
Joshua let out a chuckle “Let’s hope not.”
“Right, we shall only use our eikons only if necessary.” Dion went back to being serious “I have a feeling that we need every power we have in our bodies.”
“You are right." Joshua nodded “If we are not careful enough who knows what could happen.”
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“What in great Gregor's Name did you pick up?!” Dion yelled as they ran away from mysterious water like creatures. Not only do they look like water, they are made of water! Fighting them did nothing for both men.
Not only that but the creatures’ number was rising rapidly. The hast splashing sounds were loud, coming from each step that they made. “I- ugh, I picked up the key!” Joshua coughed “We need the key, I saw a door up the ruins!”
The water level grew expeditiously. And running from those monster creatures became impossible. Joshua and Dion were swimming now but of course they couldn’t be faster than these creatures. “We have to prime-” before Dion could do anything else Joshua felt something odd around his ankle.
What is- “Wo-!” Joshua got pulled inside the deep water. He was struggling as this unknown creature was holding onto his ankle. He couldn’t see well, it was dark. Not only that but he was not sure for how long he could hold his breath.
What should I do? I can’t breathe…
Joshua felt something closer- yes something other than this creature who dragged him down deeper further. Dion wrapped his arms around Joshua’s waist. A firm grip to make sure Joshua could not get pulled further. He guided Joshua’s hands to his shoulders, hinting that Joshua should hold on to him. Joshua understood and wrapped his arms around the prince’s neck. Holding tightly onto him.
And with that a powerful Dragon rises above from the water. Flying higher and higher until they reached the upper part of the ruins, far away from any signs of water, they landed on the ground again.
With the dragon gone, Dion’s body was on hard ground. “Great Greagor…” Dion panted.
Joshua, who was on top of Dion, rested his head against the other male’s chest. He was breathing heavily, greedy for the air he would finally breathe again. Then he tried to push himself up his hand against the armored chest before Joshua began to cough uncontrollably.
“Are you fine?” Dion seemed worried and held Joshua’s shoulder.
Joshua covered his mouth as he kept coughing. “Ah, I’ll be.” he removed his hand and looked at the crown prince.
Dion’s eyes lingered for a very long time on Joshua’s lips, then slowly they reached his own eyes. Joshua shared the gaze. The prince’s eyes were so soft, lovely- yet Joshua could see the hint of sadness. Perhaps yearning as well.
Dion came a little closer, his fingers almost touched the corner of Joshua’s lips. “You…” Dion’s eyes went down to his lips again before he looked deeply into Joshua’s blue eyes again. “You have a bit of blood on your lips.” The prince’s voice sounded so tender.
Was it because the both of them were dominants? This indescribable feeling inside Joshua, it was similar somehow. When he first saw Dion inside that tent after all these years- yes. It was the same feeling. Dion must feel this as well.
It was almost unfair how handsome Dion was with his wet hair muddled, his wet skin glowing and despite his tired eyes Joshua was blinded by the man’s attractiveness. Joshua noticed a shift from the other male’s eyes. Like he snapped back to reality but just like the chivalrous men he was, Dion did not move nor did he say anything. He merely just observed Joshua, waiting for him to react first.
A gentle smile crept over Joshua’s lips. He stared long enough at the prince's face to notice the tiredness of the man. Dion’s eyes widened in surprise when Joshua’s fingers lingered near his cheek. “Phoenix…?” Dion almost whispered.
Joshua used his magic to ease Dion’s body. Freeing him from his tiredness. “Don't,” gentle fingers wrapped around Joshua’s. Slowly Dion guided the other male's hand away from his face. “It's better to use your power sparingly.” Dion’s voice was soft. His eyes never left Joshua's.
“Ah, yes I know but it seems like you were in need of it.” Joshua’s lips formed into a charming smile “and I did it gladly, your highness”
“I must admit” Dion’s eyes hushed only for a mere second on Joshua's lips before he turned his head away. “I do feel much better… much lighter.” Dion stood up and held a hand out for Joshua.
Joshua took the hand and stood up as well. How odd, his coughing stopped so soon and he did not feel any weakness at the moment.
“Allow me to take the lead since between the two of us I am the one less tired one.” Dion said. “we have to head further up to that one door?”
Joshua smiled, “Yes, thank you.”
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A small sparkling red gem awaited them behind the door. No traps, surprisingly. The room behind the door was empty besides the altar where the red gem was placed. Joshua carefully approached the altar while Dion was looking for anything suspicious but the room seemed to be safe.
For now.
Joshua’s fingers hovered over the gem, as if he was testing the air around it. With a quick movement he picked up the sparkling object. To his surprise nothing happened.
“Do you know what this is for?” Dion asked him.
The two of them looked at the gem in Joshua’s hands. “No, but this thing is not the one calling us.”
“Whatever called us, mayhap it’s not here anymore, or do you hear something?”
Perhaps whatever called them down here, wanted them to find this gem. Or maybe it was really just their imagination which Joshua could not really believe.
Joshua shook his head “No, I don’t, maybe we should-”
Suddenly the ground began to shake heavily. Were the ruins about to collapse? Joshua almost lost his footing but Dion gripped his shoulder. “Ah, I’m usually not behaving like this.”
“What do you mean, Phoenix?” Dion asked him.
“You know, like a helpless maiden.” Joshua said.
Dion let out an amused snort “That thought never occurred to my mind, Phoenix.”
“Oh, then please forget what I just said right now, your highness.”
“You can call me Dion if you wish.” a warm smile hushed over the prince’s face when Joshua seemed to be surprised before he shared an elated smile.
“Of course, Dion.” Joshua dared to say the crown prince’s name right in front of his presence. Unfortunately for Joshua he couldn’t fully enjoy the little moment they had since another rumble made almost lose his footing.
“Let’s depart from this place, shall we?” Dion patted his shoulder gently.
“Yes, Dion.”
Joshua could hear a faint chuckle from the prince’s mouth coming.