Chapter Text
The castle was not how he expected it to be.
Sure it was regal and magnificent, the marble shining, the carpets spotless, the banners regal. The people either hurried along to complete their duties or stood on guard with well-practiced patience waiting at attention or for their shift to end. Everybody had a place and their duties, and everybody knew them well and did them better.
When he first arrived, nobody seemed to give a second glance at the Golden Guard's apprentice.
At first, Darius thought nobody even realized somebody new was on the castle grounds.
He was proven wrong fast.
On the occasion when he couldn't find the Golden Guard, Darius was fast to be swept up by whoever higher-ranking captain or lieutenant needed something carried, fetched, or delivered. He could fume all he wanted, but he was stuck with chores left and right.
"I was under the impression that being the Golden Guard's apprentice would come with some respect," he complained to Lucas. The Golden Guard was a surprisingly good person to vent to, despite what a stickler he was for the rules. "Don't they have their own errand boys to run all around the place? Why do I have to do it?"
"You don't have to do it."
Darius scoffed. "They would beg to differ."
Lucas shrugged. "It's your fault that you do as they tell you to," he said matter of factly. "They have their own people assigned under them, you have no business taking on any of their responsibilities."
"But they all but push it into my hands. What am I supposed to do then?" Darius groaned.
"Give it back."
"You think I didn't try that? They just leave."
Lucas sighed. "Then put it down, onto a shelf or the ground I don't care. Or hand it to a scout, it's their job to figure it out."
Darius rolled his eyes. "Easy for you to say, you are the Golden Guard. People have to do what you tell them to."
"Exactly," Lucas nodded. "And you, as my apprentice have the position to do the exact same. But if you don't put your foot down nobody is going to respect you."
He didn't have any cleaver come back for that, so he just crossed his arms and glared at a corner. What does he know?
"Stop acting so childish, Darius, it's unbecoming," Lucas chided him. "Come on, show me how you have improved since last week."
Despite what a bad taste it left in his mouth, Darius decided to take Lucas' advice. He wasn't going to let them take him for some sort of sucker. The next time some busybody captain pressed some papers into his hands and ordered him to take it to whatever office, Darius just handed it over to the nearest scout who begrudgingly took up the task. He felt a bit bad for the guy, but then again, it was their job and they didn't care about him being made an errand boy so he isn't going to bother himself either.
There were more incidents after that. But the more Darius put his foot down and gave attitude to the captains for good measure, they eventually stopped.
He couldn't help it, but he felt really smug about it - even if the captains and some of the scouts turned to ignoring him. Whatever, he didn't care.
"You are in an oddly good mood?" Lucas remarked one day.
"I decided to take your advice."
"Finally. About what?"
Darius rolled his eyes again. He didn't know if he was genuinely asking or if he just wanted him to say he was right.
"About the captains. I finally got them to lay off."
"You are finally done being an easy target, then."
"Very funny," Darius said. "But yes. It took some time but they are finally leaving me alone."
Lucas nodded. And Darius could practically hear him say 'i told you' without him having to open his mouth.