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He fell for minutes. Minutes that stretched into hours as his thousands of years in power flashed before his eyes. He refused to scream as he fell, though the terror of knowing he was helpless to stop what would inevitably come when the fall stopped made him want to. And it would stop. All too soon.
His endless ages played over the receding image of HIM leering over the edge of his crumbling aerial courtyard at him as he dropped towards his doom. To think he'd been so easily deceived! He ought to have felt the difference in him! His Servant never stood before him without flinching! He should have felt the drain on his magic, especially with as little as he had left!
He hated the feeling of fear that consumed him as he descended uncontrollably through the thick atmosphere between his floating castle and the stone far below, regretting only now his need to remain apart from everything deemed beneath him. But if it was all beneath him, why did he bother keeping Sun? The thought fled and he offended himself with the hint of a whimper leaving his vocal processor upon spotting the ground rising to meet him. He hated how even now, after so much, Moon was right. He was pathetic.
His cape wrapped itself around him as he tumbled through the air. It was cold up here. Not that he'd need to worry about that soon. The fur collar on his shoulder whipped around, stinging his face and making him clench his eyes shut as the rapidly passing air simultaneously dried them and drew tears from their corners.
Mere seconds later he impacted the stone, and everything ended in an instant with an impossibly loud crunch and flash of red spattered in darkness.
Moments later it seemed, the red flashes resumed, seconds apart as he booted back up and opened his eyes with a gasp.
The fear flashed through him momentarily once more, but he quickly found he was not in any pain, and that the gritty paving stones of the alley he sat in were not, in fact, splattered with his fluids and armor chunks.
He patted himself, if only to reassure himself that he was alive. All of his armor was intact, as was his body within.
His attention was diverted quickly by the fact that the world was no longer silent. The constant murmur of people piqued his curiosity, and he stood shakily, following the sound to the end of the brightly lit alleyway.
Crates and barrels of goods stood along the walls. Banners and colorful cloth flags with hand painted words declaring goods for sale fluttered. Carts drawn by burdenbeasts trundled by down warmly colored stone streets as vendors hawked their wares. He was just outside the main square of his kingdom..... But there hadn't been people here for... thousands of years.
He blinked in confusion at the sheer population of the place. It was so....lively! But everything was somehow wrong... Wait, was he smaller?! He looked down at his hands. He was smaller! How? Why?!
He frowned with an angry growl that sounded far too high pitched and snatched at his cape, wrapping it around his shoulders and clutching it tightly. This was outrageously unacceptable!
He stepped back into the alley. His subjects could not see him like this! He'd have to destroy the lot of them and rebuild everything from the ground up, or he'd never outlive the ridicule!
He snarled and leaned against the barrel behind him, sliding back to the ground.
He was alive again. His final moments as he rotated midair before striking the ground replayed in his mind and he flinched, huddling down into the fluffy collar of his cape. Listening to Sun had paid off this time, though he’d never tell the fool. Setting up a reincarnation circle cast into the dimension's energy threads themselves had worked at the very least, but what had gone wrong?
He hadn't set the intention to return in such an insignificant form! If anything, he was meant to return in even more grandeur! He was meant to return to the set point to be welcomed with fanfare and make a grand speech of his triumph! To reap the adoration of the people he'd long lost interest in providing paradise for. The people he'd grown bored with and began destroying for his own amusement when their opinion of him soured after so many generations of painless, peaceful life. What more could the ungrateful things want?
He pouted to himself, quietly fuming until he was interrupted by a very human gasp, "Oh! Oh my goodness! Where are your parents? Are you all alone dear?"
He’d barely turned to face the voice of concern filling his audio as he was lifted under the arms and hoisted into the air.
A startled gasp left him, and he was stunned into temporary silence as the grandmotherly vegetable stand keeper fussed over him worriedly. He dangled from her hands only for a moment as she looked him over, checking to be certain the child was unhurt before holding him close. "You poor, poor thing! Where could your mother be? I know that I will be giving her an earful when we find her! Yes I will!" she repeated the sentiment as she patted his back and hugged the very much undersized god to her shoulder.
He got over the initial shock quickly however, and pushed himself away from the insolent peasant woman's hold. "How dare you!!" He squeaked angrily as she hushed him, rubbing circles on his back.
"Ohhhh, aren't you so smart! Talking at your age, are you? Can you tell me where your mommy is, young man?" the woman cooed, hopping him in her arms and jostling another indignant scoff from the shrunken god.
Lord scrunched his fingers into the woman's blouse, tiny claws catching in the material. "I will have you executed for this impertinence!! I am a GOD and I will not stand for this lack of reverence I am due!" he responded in as hostile a manner as he could muster while his face reddened
The woman smiled indulgently at the child screeching angrily in her arms. Having raised several of her own, she was more than familiar with the temper of little ones who wanted their way and must be taught that they cannot have the final say in matters above them.
"So many big words from such a little boy! Now, you are being quite naughty. Where did you last see your parents, dear?" she asked once more as Lord did his best to tear her shirt.
"There are no parents! I will repeat myself only once because your ancient ears no doubt lack full hearing, I. AM. A. GOD."
Her concern only grew as the child seethed in her grasp, and she tutted, disregarding the imaginative answer and looking around for any sign of a parent searching for a lost little one.
When she found no one frantically searching for the small boy, she decided the child's interests would best be served if she were to alert the authorities. Certainly if a boy so young had wandered off, the town guard would have been alerted and on the lookout for him by now!
Lord ranted at the old biddy, but was ignored as her attention seemed to be drawn to quite literally anything and anyone else around them. How could she simply ignore him? He was the sole maker and unmaker of this whole entire dimension! He was known! So how could this be?
He clung to her shop apron as she began walking away from her produce stand. Where was she going now? Wait.... was he going to be harmed?!? He was quite small, it would be a simple matter for her to find some manner of disposing of him.
As her path took them closer to the central market courtyard, his eyes fell upon the common well and he stiffened. "No! You cannot do this to me! I will make you suffer!!" He threatened as they only got closer. His eyes were fixated on the well and the rush of fear at the thought of another fall into darkness was just as unwelcome as the withered old hands that held him close.
As his breaths became more ragged in his growing panic, the woman patted his back to calm him, and at the last moment before he thought he was to be tossed down the well to die yet again, she turned to address the twin guards stationed nearby instead of casting him into the depths.
"Excuse me dears," the woman began as she approached the armored guards, whose attention turned to her as she spoke up.
"Good day ma'am! What service do you require?" one scarlet clad officer responded, soon followed by the response of the second.
"What assistance are you in need of?" the second reiterated helpfully.
"Well dears, I seem to have happened upon a lost child." she held Lord towards the guards, whose attention were immediately on him, no longer relaxed and friendly, but concerned by the serious matter at hand.
Lord refused to release his hold on the woman's shirt as the nearest guard reached to take custody of him. She gently pried his small fingers from the fabric and curled his hands into themselves, "Now then love, these fine people will help you back to your family. No need to cling so!" she soothed gently and patted his hands as the guard settled him in his own arms.
The second guard had to chuckle at the way the found boy clung to the vegetable seller.
"Come on lad, we'll get you back to your parents soon enough, don't you worry." The first guard struggled to contain Lord as he resumed his wild flailing that had calmed in the woman's arms, and began squeaking out his commands once more. Surely his own guardsmen would mind his orders!
"Release me! I command you to set me loose! I am your Lord and I will not tolerate this manhandling!!"
He scratched and clawed at the solid leathern bracers the guard wore in quite an undignified manner unbefitting his claimed status as god, more closely resembling the behavior of a captured feral beast cub than a civilized person.
"OW! calm down, lad!" The first guard insisted, doing his best to get a firm hold on Lord as the small being struggled to free himself and made angry demands.
"Where did you last see your parents, oh mighty lord, hmm?" the second guard asked good naturedly while his post partner did his solid best to contain the furious toddler.
Lord dug his miniscule claws into the leather of the forearm protection and faced the chuckling guard, "I haven't any parents, fool! Return me to my castle at once! You'll be lucky to be spared for this outrageous treatment I've had to tolerate!" he squawked at the two, face red with embarrassment and rage. How could they ask him this question? Did they not recognize the Lord of the realm when he was in front of them?
The guard holding him tilted his head slightly, looking him up and down before a light seemed to go off in his head and his expression brightened. Lord watched suspiciously as the man leaned to speak quietly in his cohort's ear, "You know, I haven't seen anyone close to his appearance aside from the castle's people. Maybe he's one of theirs afterall, out playing at being king..." he said in a hushed manner.
Lord narrowed his eyes at the guards whispering back and forth. They were talking about him, he just knew it. "Just what is so secret that you must hide it in front of your Lord?" He demanded.
"Worry not, lad. We'll get you back to the castle sure enough." The second guard assured him and patted his head gently.
Lord swiped at the hand with a ferocious hiss, "I shall have you hung for that!!!" He squalled and thrashed as the guards began making their way down the cobbled streets to the castle gates.
"Ugh! Do they discipline their spawn at all in there?" The guardsman barely containing the angry god complained once away from the crowds of the market, Lord's hostile epithets echoing off the stucco and stone walls of houses around them.
"Guess not. Can't stand castle brats," commented the other as he waved away a mother with three little ones who eyed them with concern as they passed by.
To be fair to the woman, the stream of threats and profanity coming from the little one was impressive for his apparent age, if not downright alarming.
After some time, the guards diverged from the main street onto a private footpath well worn into the landscape by others on patrol as they approached the castle's entry. The one with blessedly free hands knocked on the troop station's door and after the gatekeeper checked in with them, they were allowed passage inside.
By this time, Lord had fairly tired himself out, and coughed with a dry, hoarse crackle after issuing another threat to the livelihood of the man who'd successfully restrained him for nearly an hour of walking now. His fighting had dulled to merely dangling from the man's arms, but his attitude was nothing but sour.
"Think there's anyone at the doors today?" the first guard asked his cohort as they knocked on the massive wooden doors to the castle's outer keep. "Maybe? Hard to say-" their chatter was cut short as the clank of the door being unbarred and the large metal hinges creaked.
Slender golden digits crept around the handle side of the door as it opened, holding it open and pushing it effortlessly to the side as the well dressed, tired looking mechanical keeper opened the doors.
"Oh! Hello! Can I help you both? You're from the town guard, yes?"
"Yes, sir!" the guards both execute salutes. They may be of the guard, but anyone in the castle court, servant or not, outranks them.
Sun looked the pair up and down, and his eyes locked on the tiny Lord dangling miserably from the one's arms, scowling darkly in a manner that he recognized as lethally dangerous to any nearby.
The guard held Lord's limp little self out to the ragged servant in pristine attire, "This little guy was found wandering alone in the market square. We figure he's someone here's escapee," he offered as Sun slowly reached for him.
"Th-thank you! U-uhm, yes, I-I-I uhm, I'm certain we will be able to get him home now that you've..... returned him to us. Thankyouokaygoodbye!" Sun quickly took the little copy of his master in his hands as delicately as he could from the guard, careful to not drag any further anger from the tiny armor-clad bot and hurried them out the door, closing it behind them.
He heaved a great nervous sigh and leaned against the doors, arms crossed securely around Lord, who grunted impatiently.
"If you value this current life, you will RELEASE ME IMMEDIATELY!!" Lord roared from his servant's arms.
It came out much less of a roar than it was intended to be, and he made sure to scrape Sun's arm as the twitchy bot obeyed his command and set him down on the stone castle floor.
The Sun model stood awkwardly to the side, clasping his hands together as Lord wobbled unsteadily for a moment, then began brushing dust from his armor, grumbling the whole time.
"M-my Lord?" Sun asked carefully, half hoping the small bot before him wouldn't reply.
"What."
"I- uh, I uhm....Welcome back?"
"Is that a question or a statement?" Lord asked without so much as a glance to his servant.
He resumed his attempts at removing dust that had settled on him throughout the walk to the castle and simmered in anger. His own guard hadn't recognized him!
"Make a note to have those two beheaded. I refuse to allow such flippant treatment of my self go unpunished." he commanded callously while the confused staff stood by tapping his fingertips.
Sun really wanted to say something.
"Ehem," he cleared his throat, "You've only just returned to life, my Lord, perhaps the beheadings can wait a day or so?"
Eclipse paused his swiping at dust that dared still remain clinging to him to turn slowly to stare incredulously at his servant. "You dare defy me?"
Sun felt that familiar rise of unease that came when his Lordship was angered, or even annoyed at him…..but why wasn't he feeling the god's incorporeal tendrils of power constricting his very being right now as would usually happen?
Could it be.... "My Lord, I must insist on this. O-only a minor delay in exacting your revenge would be wise granted that we have only just returned to life! The both of us!" he stammered his assertion only slightly at the wilting glare from the knee-high form of his master.
As Eclipse seethed at him, he found himself pondering his latest death and subsequent reincarnation He remembered....that other Sun.
He'd called it a 'mercy kill', hadn't he? That's right. Right before everything went dark again.
The tresspasser had briefly mentioned something about 'absorbing whatever was left' before he'd sent him to the other side and he'd woken up back in the castle. ....which was somehow in nearly pristine condition.
"-UN! SUN!!" the servant was brought back to the current moment by a very squeaky little voice demanding his immediate attention to matters at hand.
"O-oh! Forgive me, my Lord! I-I I was just wondering at when we have been revived..." he admitted and took his eyes off the small mech in front of him to allow himself to take in more fully how... intact everything was.
"I don't care to know when I've been returned to life. What I care about is why I've been made to appear so ridiculous!" Lord snapped, out of patience as his servant's focus once again wandered from himself.
Sun looked down to his Lord and Master, and the facts began to sink in. They'd died. Horribly, though what was one more death to his name? Eclipse had made death a frequent consequence of failure, and the sheer number of times he'd faced it had jaded him to its impact. But his master? Oh, Eclipse had died but one time. Looong ago when the star had only just been created by.... well, that didn't matter any longer, did it?
At an impatient scoff from Eclipse, Sun straightened some. "O-oh, m-my apo-pologies, my Lord! I'm afraid I don't have an answer for what's caused you to appear as such..." he stammered, caught slighty lost in his thoughts.
The god rolled his eyes and exhaled dramatically. His one servant, bound to him by the alterations he'd made to the fabric of this reality, was useless.
"Why do I even bother keeping you around?" He griped, making his displeasure apparent before continuing, "And just how long were you intending to leave my person unattended? I am famished!"
Luckily enough, the goings-on of maintaining the castle and its many servants had not paused, so hot food was generally available at all times from the kitchens.
"I believe there to be a side of beef roasting in the kitchens, my Lord. I shall escort you there myself! I shan't let you out of my-" Sun was interrupted by one of the head maids.
"Master Sun! Just the man I've been looking for!" she began, earning an incredulous scoff from the tiny Lord. Since when did anyone refer to this oaf as 'master' of anything?
He simmered in anger at the contrast between the respect Sun received compared to the indignities he'd endured since waking up in the dusty alleyway, thoughts full of rage and considering how best to punish his servant for daring act so high and mighty.
So preoccupied with plans for revenge was he that he failed to notice when the conversation changed to him. The maid had noticed the small armor-clad child while discussing important management dealings with the head servant of the castle, and took an immediate interest.
"Now that that business has been settled, I must ask. Whose little one is this? I haven't seen him about the grounds or among the servants' children." she confided in Sun as Lord scowled and schemed.
Sun stiffened at the question. How could he explain his Lordship's being here now, as well as his lack of having appeared before now? Gossip spread like wildfire amongst the servants' quarters, and whatever he told the head maid would certainly make the rounds.
"Ah, well, you see-"
Eclipse's head snapped up at the change in tone, and he glared at the two taller figures standing over him. "I am the Lord of this realm, and you would do well to remember it." he squeaked out seriously.
The head maid gasped, and Lord basked in what he believed to be admiration and awe from the woman until she clasped her hands and fawned over him, "Is this our hidden god's son? Oh he is simply precious!"
"...what."
Sun had a difficult time concealing his amusement at the absolute disbelief on his Lordship's face at the maid's assumption, but did not correct her. It was an adequate cover story for the true god of the realm being in this form until they knew more about their situation.
He decided then and there that this would be their cover. The throne room has always been inaccessible to the peasantry, who was to say that the true god of the realm was not so fearfully terrifying that all who laid eyes upon him perished or went mad?
He nodded to the head maid as she cooed over the incredulous Lord, who appeared red in the face at the belittling treatment. "Yes. In his infinite wisdom, our resident deity has chosen to allow his eventual successor to roam these grounds. For now I must attend to the young Lord's need to feed. There is a beef roasting in the kitchens today, is there not?"
The maid straightened her skirts and cleared her throat, "Oh goodness yes! One of the young cows, if I recall. A shame, but a happy accident if our young Master here is to be fed. Only the very best for a god's son!" With that she hurried away, presumably to continue her duties, but certainly to spread the news of a godchild's presence in the castle.
Sun let out a sigh of relief, though it was a short-lived reprieve from stress as Lord began beating his fists against his servant's leg.
"What have you done?!? How dare you tell that wench such a thing! How dare you!! 'Successor'?!? I am the only ruler of this entire plane of existence, and you have the audacity to speak of me as if I'm simply some lower being of no consequence?!?" He fumed as he ranted on, taking no heed of the anxious scurrying away of the few servants who happened by.
"My Lord, please!" Sun spoke softly, hands out in a placating gesture, attempting to settle the angry god even the slightest bit into lowering his volume, "Unless you wish to reveal yourself to your subjects in this state, I advise using this as a cover." he continued, lowering his voice.
Lord was having none of it. The gall of his servant, telling him what to think? Unacceptable! "I will do as I please you ungrateful rodent!! You do not command me! You exist to follow my orders to the letter!"
Sun had to restrain himself from allowing his mental eyeroll to become a physical one. Eclipse always was unreasonable, prone to reacting explosively prior to giving anything deeper thought. "I am well aware of this, my Lord. forgive my forwardness, I-I was only considering the peasantry's perception of you." he replied soothingly. Appeal to his ego, that usually works, Sun.
Eclipse snarled and spat, "Save your pitiful consideration! Your punishment will be swi-" his rant stopped cold as his stomach rumbled loudly, and he hissed.
"My Lord, perhaps my punishment could wait until we've gotten you something to eat?" Sun suggested with an air of humor that was not lost on the compact deity.
Lord scowled up at his servant, but relented for the time being. "Fine. but do not think that you've gotten out of suffering my wrath simply because I happen to be hungry." he huffed and began walking awkwardly down the hallway towards the kitchens.
Sun bit the knuckle of his first finger as he watched the once towering and imposing god he served waddle down the hallway away from him. Keep it together, if you laugh now, he won't listen to a word you say...just...breathe…
Sun stifled his mirth and opted for brushing the rumpled fabric of his shirt, then clasped his hands together behind his back and moved to follow after his master.
Lord paused momentarily in his awkward march towards sustenance when he didn't hear Sun's footsteps following immediately, turning to snark at the tall servant, "Finally moving, eh? At the very least you're still operable." he snipped, "Slow to start, as always."
"My Lord, I was only allowing you to take the lead."
"Hmph. A likely story. And just what is your excuse for walking so slowly I wonder." he replied testily as he resumed his toddler-esque march.
"When several of your steps equal only one of my own strides, it is a necessity to move slower so as not to pass you, my Lord." Sun responded matter of factly.
Lord froze mid-step and turned on Sun in a whirl of fury- or at least he would have, had he not lost his balance and fallen halfway through the turn.
The small bot fell to the floor with a clatter of armor and a sound Sun would swear was a snarl that turned into a yelp of surprise.
Hurrying to Eclipse's side with a gasp to cover for what absolutely would've been a laugh otherwise, the servant fussed over his shrunken master. "My Lord! Are you unharmed?"
The disbelief at his own clumsiness on his face shifted rapidly from shock to a resentful scowl and he lifted himself from the floor only to be scooped up and set back on his feet by Sun. He felt a brief flutter of panic when his feet left the floor momentarily, and the short, sharp intake of breath he let out nearly gave it away, though he composed himself quickly once standing again.
He smacked Sun's retreating hand and dusted off his shoulder plating, ruffling his cape as if offended. "I am perfectly fine." He growled, hiding his embarrassment with anger.
"Is the young Lord unharmed?" Came a curious and concerned voice from nearby. One of the castle's younger messengers paused in his rushing about at Lord's fall, curious about the god child he'd heard about in passing. The rumor of his presence already spreading about.
Sun answered quickly for him, "Yes, he is alright. But have the maids see about these rugs. I will not have him tripping over their turned-up corners from here on, do you understand?" He lectured the boy, making his expectations clear that this was a problem to be dealt with now.
"I-I will inform the maids directly, Master Sun!" the boy stuttered and hurried away, leaving the two alone in the hall. Sun fixed an iron stare in the boy's direction until he disappeared around a corner, then let out a small breath. He did his job efficiently, but it didn't mean that he enjoyed being so firm with the younger help.
With the boy gone, his attention returned to the master of the castle seething at his feet. Ah. He's upset again.
"Shall we continue?" he suggested, indicating the way to the kitchen with a sweep of his hand.
"What gives you the right to answer in my place." the toddler spat.
"My Lord, I believed you were above speaking to the lesser occupants of your domain? In what world would I assume you wished to speak to an errand boy in passing?" Sun dismissed the comment easily. Eclipse had never made a habit of speaking directly to servants aside from himself, so the vitriol at being prevented from doing so was a bit confusing.
He interrupted once more before the miniature armored god could utter another syllable, "Besides, I thought you were hungry? We are in a hurry to get you to your meal, my Lord. For expediency's sake, I merely wish to avoid as many delays as possible."
With that, Sun continued onward, leaving Lord behind momentarily. " ...I did not trip over the corner of the rug." he muttered under his breath, but followed after his servant. Does he think to save me humiliation in front of the peasants with such lies? He stewed in his thoughts as he toddled after the lanky servant.
As they neared the stairway down to the kitchens, the scent of roasted beef caused Eclipses stomach to rumble loudly, the tempting smells of the meat and its richness made his mouth water, and he hurried forward. He stopped at the top of the downward stone staircase, watching Sun descend towards the warm glow of the fires well below the main floor. The steps seemed so much larger from his current perspective, and he doubted his ability to navigate them efficiently without looking foolish as he stood at the top.
Sun disappeared around the curve of the stairwell and his shadow passed the bottom doorway before he stopped and called up to Eclipse, "My Lord? Are you coming?"
The tiny god did not respond. He was too preoccupied with brainstorming a method of descending the steps that would preserve at some of his dignity. It would be difficult at his new proportions to navigate certain areas of his domain, he just began realizing. Until he could restore himself to his natural state, minor day-to-day needs would become obstacles to his convenience.
With each step being higher than his knees, this was easily a monumental task before his small frame, and he did not approve.
As he pondered his options, the clipped sound of slick leather soles tapping on stone approached, and he found his servant returning to him from below.
"My Lord?"
"What." Eclipse snapped at the querying tone. Wonderful. Now he had a witness to his indecision.
Sun took in the way his shrunken master clenched and unclenched his small fists, the way he shifted his weight from one foot to the other indecisively. .....he can't get down the steps on his own....
He was filled with amusement as the thought dawned on him that this God might be all too reliant on him in this form, and wasted no time in taking advantage of that fact.
Sun took the last few steps upward to meet Lord at the top step and reached out, lifting him under the arms and swiftly turning down the steps once more, emerging into the kitchens below holding an enraged tot.
It took the entire four second trip down the stairs for the initial shock of his servant's audacity to wear off, but the moment Sun crossed the threshold into the heat of the lower kitchens, his small clawed hands clenched and gripped the larger bot's forearm as his face warped into a rage-filled expression.
"Release me at once!" he commanded as harshly as he was capable, digging his clawtips into Sun's arm to motivate him into obedience.
"Ow- easy, my Lord! Here!" he sets the small being down on his feet, gently plucking the small claws from his arm as he releases the little one.
Eclipse makes it a point to attempt to dig his claws deeper while Sun sets him down, hoping that even though he is small he can inflict damage on this ingrate.
He huffed and brushed himself off, the feeling of being simply grabbed and carried by his servant a violation of not only his royal self, but his pride as an all-powerful being! "How dare you presume to carry me!" he hissed.
The threat such a hissed statement would carry before was lost as it simply sounded like a pouty kitten rather than the mere whisper of horrors to come soon as a consequence of a misdeed.
Sun clasped his hands behind his lower back, assuming the position of a dutiful servant hearing his master's orders, but hid his lack of fear behind the facade of seriousness Eclipse was more used to. His lack of cowering, however, was picked up on.
....but not before the kitchen cooks discovered them.
"My Lord, I only meant to expedite getting you to your meal. My humblest apologies for any offense given." He bowed low, one arm at his waist while the second remained tucked at the small of his back. He caught the eye of the approaching kitchen tenders, who hurried to meet the head servant and his rumoured charge, more than eager to satisfy their curiosity.
Two of the kitchen's servants hustled to the pair, all smiles and seemingly eager to please.
"You do not speak for me, Sun." Lord hissed upwards just as the serving women arrived. One carried a basket on her arm, the other a small platter with sliced meats and vegetables, steaming from the fires they'd been roasting over.
"Welcome to the kitchens, Master Sun!" they greeted, performing the standard servants' bow as well as possible with their hands full.
Eclipse scowled darkly at not being addressed first, and whirled on his heel to face them. Once again, he fell, turning too fast for his lack of balance in this form, and tilted over only to be caught under the arms and steadied on his feet while the women gasped and giggled at his clumsiness.
"Silence your foolish tittering, wenches! Your Lord has arrived. Now serve me!" he demanded as he slashed ineffectively at Sun's retreating helpful hands.
"Oh! At once, my Lord!" He was immediately offput by their happy enthusiasm and smiles.
"Perhaps our Lord would better be served seated at the table rather than the floor?" Sun suggested with a sweeping motion towards the sturdily built thick wooden longtable, massive stone cooking hearth at the far end of the high ceilinged room lit with the dancing firelight.
Eclipse huffed impatiently and headed to the bench, stopping at a section clear of cooking implements and food prep mess.
He risked a backwards glare to his manservant, finding him standing idly at attention in the same place. The kitchen staff, however had followed the toddler the several feet he'd waddled with disturbingly joyful smiles, watching his every move.
Lord huffed again and looked up to the tabletop and bench above him.
Now, did he dare climb up to seat himself, or did he command his servant to lift him to his seat? Both had the potential to humiliate him, especially if he failed to gain the bench on the first attempt…
But he is a god! He will not be discouraged by the mere idea of a failure! He is Eclipse! Lord and creator of this world! Failure is a foreign concept to him!
He smirked confidently and bared his small claws, then jumped as high as he could to the bench....
His mighty leap took him all of two inches off the ground, and only managed to get his arms above the elbow above sitting level. He smacked both small hands onto the seat and sank the tips of his claws into the aged wood, tips catching in the grain and suspending himself just barely above the floor, cape hanging well below his dangling feet.
His small growls of frustration and grunts of effort had the servingwomen cooing at his independence, which was well enough a distraction for him as Sun's hand lifted to cover a smirk at his Lordship's struggle.
Unbeknownst to any of the servants, Lord was having a crisis. Not only was he failing to achieve a near insignificant goal, but he was battling a growing fear of falling from the bench he clung to. And he hated it.
He kicked his legs as he clawed for a better grip on the bench, sliding down despite all his strength being put into pulling himself up.
His grip slipped and he gave a panicked squeal of a gasp at the pull of gravity, squeezing his eyes closed tightly. His mind flashed back to the memory of his final fall at the end of his last life as he scrabbled for the bench edge.
Before he fully met the floor, however, the woman carrying the basket in the crook of her elbow caught him. She lifted him to her shoulder, rubbing his back to comfort what appeared to be an armored toddler on the verge of tears.
"There there, young Lord. You did so well on your own, but let auntie help you." She shushed him and set him on the bench once his shaking had stopped.
He gripped the edge of the table tightly, intensely focused on the wood grain as he fought his wildly rampaging thoughts and emotions.
"No need to fear, my Lord," the second servant said as she laid the plate on the table in front of him. "Supper is served!" She declared in an attempt to distract the child from crying.
"Fear? I fear nothing!!" He snapped at her, only receiving a knowing look from the women.
"Of course not, you are a very brave boy! Exactly as expected of a god's son!" They flattered and bowed, then stepped away as the head servant approached. Sun noted the direction the interaction was headed and moved to intercede before things went too far.
"I am a god myself!! I am-!!" He was silenced by a napkin being dabbed at his face while Sun addressed the women. "Thank you for meeting us with a meal already prepared. That will be all." He said simply, dismissing the two with a flick of a hand.
It would be best for none of the servants to attempt to become too easily familiar with Eclipse. Children of nobility were generally targeted for such things in order for families to climb the social ladder, and Sun wanted exactly none of that even starting.
"Of course, Master Sun." they said in unison, and hurried away.
Lord grabbed at the napkin held to his face as Sun exhaled in relief. For the moment, they were alone.
"What in my name do you think you're doing? How dare you take such liberties in assaulting my person!!" He screeched, enraged at having been muzzled in front of such lowly servants as mere kitchen staff.
"My Lord, is it not unwise to reveal yourself as the true ruler of this realm in such a vulnerable form? I do not intend any offense by this, but you are in such a state that your destruction would not be difficult..."
Lord simmered in anger, refusing to acknowledge his slave as being correct. "I am not defenseless by any means!" he denied loudly. "I am a god and my power is unmatched. I alone command this universe!" he continued, reiterating that he is the one the universe revolves around, and he will accept no criticism.
"So your powers are intact? Why then have you not punished anyone today, my Lord?" Sun puzzled aloud, offering the slight in a tone of curiosity rather than aggression. What would Eclipse's answer be?
"It is not like you to extend such grace and mercy to your serving staff."
Lord scoffed, lifting his chin proudly. "I have simply chosen to pause in meteing out judgements until I have further knowledge of when I have been resurrected in my kingdom's timeline." he said, repeating Sun's previous suggestion as if it had been his own idea from the start.
Sun exhaled gently. Eclipse did this often, so this was no surprise. "In the meantime, you may wish to enjoy this roast beef while it is still hot, my Lord." he produced a fork and laid it alongside other eating utensils next to the steaming plate.
Eclipse was already reaching for his silverware, the aromas wafting to him from the plate only making him hungrier.
He grasped the fork's handle in a small fist and eagerly stabbed at the meat, dragging it to the edge of the plate when picking it up was out of the question. His arms were too short and the table too tall to allow him the space to do so properly, much to his annoyance.
Sun merely observed as his master struggled to eat. Eclipse fumbled his fork and knife several times, but gave up attempting to cut the meat on his plate when his grip failed him again and again. He resorted to stabbing the beef with his fork and pulling it close enough to the edge of his plate before lifting it to his mouth. The small piece behind his teeth stayed in his mouth as he bit down, but the rest of his forkful chose rather to slip from the utensil directly onto the floor with a wet 'slap'.
With an obviously displeased grunt, Eclipse scowled at the food on the floor, then aggressively stabbed another piece from his plate. As his meal progressed, more joined the first dropped slice on the floor, until Lord threw his fork down on the table and slapped his palms against the wood.
He turned to Sun, standing nearby with arms neatly folded behind his back and snapped at him, "Why are you just standing there?"
"My Lord?" the taller of the two queried.
"Don't play stupid. Get over here and serve me, slave. You are ruining my supper with your ignorance." Blaming anyone but himself for his troubles. Yes, business as usual would continue, he was certain.
Sun joined Eclipse at the table, though he paused for clarification prior to taking action undirected, "What do you require, My Lord?"
"Must I say it aloud? You really are too stupid." He pointed to the remaining pieces of uncut meat and vegetables on his dish. "Make yourself useful and prepare this for my consumption."
Sun hid his astonishment well. "...you wish for me to 'prepare' your food? My Lord, it is already fully prepared and-"
"I did not request your input. My request was for you to cut this up. Now do so, I am famished and the floor is getting more of this than I would prefer." He grumped irritably from his spot on the wooden bench.
"Very well, my Lord." He acquiesced and proceeded to begin cutting the god's meal into small bite-sized pieces.
Lord simply sat impatiently while his servant performed the task, growing more upset at his own inability as he watched Sun do so effortlessly.
Sun didn't hurry, but also did not dawdle about his task, and soon what remained on the plate was nothing more than very small bite sized pieces of meat and veggies. He laid the fork and knife in their places at the table setting and stepped back. "Your supper, my Lord." Sun spoke as he retreated to allow Eclipse his space once more.
"Took you long enough." he complained as he settled back into his seat and reached for the fork again. Maybe this time he won't embarrass himself doing something as simple as having a bite to eat!
He took up his fork once again, clutching it tightly in a small fist, and stabbed a bit of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, quickly followed by another. The third piece he dropped into his own lap and he growled his displeasure aloud as he chewed. Only a few bites later, he decided he was through, and laid his silverware down with a soft sigh, and he stifled a yawn.
He was exhausted in multiple ways, his armor and thoughts far too heavy for him to adequately cope with at once. He needed to think, but thinking is hard when you’ve got a full belly and a warm cape wrapped around yourself. He was quickly wilting in his seat, and the sudden drop in energy was not missed by Sun.
He removed the plate and utensils from Lord’s place without meeting any protest, scraped his scraps into the fire, and set the cutlery aside to be washed with other dishes. By the time he turned around again Lord had slumped to the side and was laid out on the bench, nearly ready to roll off the edge.
Sun simply stared for a moment at his ‘master’, fast asleep and half wrapped in his own cape, for a moment before making a choice. He scooped up the sleeping child and made for Lord’s private chambers to put him to bed. For now, he’d run the kingdom as he had been for the last month of being back. As if Lord still were missing from the realm. He had enough information already to know his ‘master’ no longer held any true power. He sensed precisely zero mana or star energy from the child- and that’s what he was. Practically an infant, if he were honest with himself.
He shook his head as they progressed further down the winding stone corridors, Lord softly snoring on his shoulder, head lolling about limply as his air cycling buzzed in his audio. Upon reaching Lord’s bedchamber, he entered and locked the door, then gently began removing Lord’s armor before peeling back his thick bedding and tucking the small form in for the evening. Lord could not be more dead to the world if he actually were dead once more, and it struck Sun just how helpless Eclipse was. Small portions of forgotten code warmed his processor as he watched him sleep, peaceful for once.
Sure. They’d find out more in the morning. The smeared runes beneath his leather soles would never speak his secret to Lord, and perhaps a fresh start would do their world some good.