I believe I wrote this about a year ago, as I remember sharing it at a thanksgiving family gathering. It may be older than that, really. I'm open to any feedback if someone wants to give it! Generally any kind of reviews, questions, theories, etc, make me really happy!
- Scene begins -
Lazu sat at her desk, the dust just brushed off from weeks of disuse. She rarely used her desk, most things she did as a spymaster were in person and verbal. Occasionally she would sit down, and check the work of those whose job it was to break code of other kingdoms.
Really, today she just didn’t feel like interacting with anyone. Normally her time of month was quite tame, but this month it was particularly painful. It left her in a foul mood, but at least it seemed the code cracking work was sound.
Behind her she could hear the door to the office opening. In her small mirror she could tell it was the Queen of Alteria, or as Lazu knew her, Nora. She spun around on her chair, and draping her arms across the back of it, looked at the newcomer to her office.
“Hey Nora, need anything?”
Nora raised an eyebrow, “Must I need a reason to visit a friend?”
Normally Lazu would accept the little lie, let the comfort of ‘friend’ roll over her and let her feel wanted for more than her skillset and the danger she posed as an enemy, but today she was not in the mood. “Right, so what’s your reason?”
Nora sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose, and crossing her arms. “What’s wrong Lazu?”
“I’m not in the mood for games, what do you want?” Nora acted as a friend, let Lazu believe she was a friend. But it wasn’t real, it’s simply how she could be controlled, and hell it worked. She gave her unwavering loyalty, for the illusion of true friendship.
Nora’s furrow creases, and her glittering black dragon wings spread out the slightest bit in annoyance. “Dammit Lazu, I’m not playing any games. I’m worried about you.”
Lazu was not in the mood for this. She got up, intending to exit through a second door. Lazu wouldn’t accept an office with one exit. As she made her way out, she felt Nora grab her arm, a cool coin shaped metal seemingly attached to the glove she was wearing.
Lazu knew what the metal was instantly, her entire body tensing as her magic was suddenly locked away by the touch of the nullium metal. Her mind spun for a way to get out, but Nora’s grip was firm and she had the strength and agility to keep it that way. Lazu was at her mercy.
Was Nora done with her? Had all these years, simply been a plot as Nora got her hands on the nullium she needed for Lazu to no longer be a threat?
Nora snapped her fingers in front of Lazu’s face, and Lazu looked at her, unable to hide the fear on her face. Nora seemed like she couldn’t decide between frustration and concern, it wasn’t the face of someone about to kill.
“Lazu…” her voice was soft, and shaking. Nora took a breath, starting again more confident and firm. “Lazu. You are my friend. Not because I fear you, or because I want your ability. You could quit right now, and nothing would change. You are my friend, I care about you.”
Nora released Lazu as she began to shake, an apology quivered on her lips unspoken but not unnoticed. Her eyes sparkled with concern. Nora caught Lazu as she slowly crumpled to the ground under the barrage of emotions, so many of them felt so rarely that she couldn’t sort through them. Nora’s wings wrapped around them both, as Lazu cried silently into her shoulder.