Ch2 - Answers

Sometimes it is better to never learn the answer

Purpura stood in a large room, the walls lined with shelves.

The shelves were full of books and other random items.

Purpura was examining the various items on the shelves before a small open box caught his attention.

He looked in the box, and there was a blue teardrop shaped stone inside.

It was the Angel's Tear, said to heal any injury or disease.

He stared at it before he heard the door begin to open.

In a spur of the moment action he grabbed the stone and stuck it in his pocket.

He turned to see Prince Tynan entering, though Tynan was talking to another male.

The other male had mainly black hair, with silver streaks.

They were discussing something relating to military strategy.

Tynan spotted Purpura, "Purpura? I haven't summoned you, what brings you here?"

The other male seemed to scowl at Purpura a bit.

It was natural, the two of them had never seem eye-to-eye.

The other male had been Tynan's caretaker, and was now in charge of Tynan's military.

Purpura stood in silence, shifting his weight a bit.

Tynan looked to the other male.

"Temris, please ensure the company is prepared, they have not trained against magic.

I will not be made a fool of."

The man gave a polite bow, before stepping out of the room.

Tynan closed the door, the two waited in silence for what felt like an eternity.

Finally Tynan signed and spoke, "Alright, we both know he's gone.
What do you want?"

Purpura walked over to the table, it had a large map spread across it.

Tynan walked up, to watch.

Purpura pointed to a location on the map.

The location was well out of the Heartless Empire's territory.

It wasn't even on the same land mass.

Tynan examined it, "That is Vulkaan Territory.

Do you have an assignment there?"

Purpura offered Tynan a scroll, and Tynan opened it.

He read it to himself, before chuckling a bit.

"I'd be more flattered if it was as Black.

But I suppose I can make a royal visit, it is an excellent cover.

I'll come up with an excuse to visit, no worries.

Was there anything else you wanted to discuss?"

Purpura slightly shook his head no.

Tynan examined him a bit, "You're hiding something from me."
Purpura shrugged, and turned to the shelves examining them.

Tynan felt himself grumble, "Don't play dumb, we've known each other long enough for me to know when you're hiding something."

Purpura shrugged again.

Tynan sighed, "Fine, don't tell me.

But I will find out, I always do."

Purpura smirked, he knew Tynan thought that.

However, he was better at keeping secrets than Tynan thought.

About a week later Tynan was sitting in a carriage.

The carriage was pulled by two black horses.

Sitting across from Tynan was Purpura, though dressed in his 'foreign adviser' clothing.

The two were quiet, before Tynan spoke.

"You got me a gift."

Purpura looked to him, with an expression that said, 'Why would I do that?'

Tynan grumbled, "Come on, it's been bothering me all week.

What are you hiding?"

Purpura rolled his eyes.

Though he feigned annoyance, it actually was a lot of fun teasing Tynan like this.

Tynan had been trying to guess for the last few hours.

The trip into Vulkaan territory was long, being that Vulkaans were across the sea.

Tynan could easily have transported them there, but they risked immediate imprisonment.

They were not a highly trusting species, or forgiving.

They were also the only species that had mastered a way to imprison shadow demons.

Because of this, the Heartless Empire remained on friendly terms.

The carriage stopped, and Tynan got up exiting the carriage.

He went over to a large arch rock formation, and waited a bit impatiently.

His mind was on Purpura's secret.

Suddenly the arch filled with red and black magic.

A male in dingy brown clothing stepped thru.

The male's hair was ashy, and face was dirty.

The male gave an extremely low bow to Tynan, before returning thru the portal.

Tynan walked back to the carriage, and went inside.

He sat down again, "They are getting more paranoid by the day.

They sent some hapless servant thru, for the check."

The carriage moved again.

The two were quiet, before suddenly the temperature shifted.

The inside of the carriage was sweltering hot.

Tynan grumbled, and touched a device on the wall.

The air inside the carriage suddenly began to cool.

"Oh, you decided to accept my invitation!" Tynan said with a bit of excitement.

Purpura looked to him, and shook his head with a silent chuckle.

Tynan sat back, seeming to have exhausted every idea he could think of.

"I am determined to figure it out before we finish here."

Purpura smirked, there was no way Tynan could possibly guess.

Who would ever guess that he'd purposely sought this assignment?

He was trying to think of whatever he could to keep Tynan away from his family.

This would cost about a month, and Purpura had some other ideas.
He wasn't sure how else to keep Tynan from killing his mother.
Yet getting Tynan out of the castle improved his spirit, and kept him happy.

If Purpura had learned anything, it was that the castle brought out the worst in Tynan.

He became cruel, and angry.

It was interesting the change in personality that was clear to all except Tynan.

The change was obvious to even the other royals in other kingdoms.

If they could have Tynan visit them, instead of visiting him they would go for it.

The carriage finally stopped, and the door opened.

The heat entered with visible fury.

Tynan exited, followed by Purpura.

In front of them was a large volcano, a door built into the side.

The entire area seemed to flow with lava.

There were no trees, and ground seemed to shift a bit with the flow of lava.

The two walked to the door and went inside.

All the servants had ashy hair, and dirty faces.

They came inside, and waited a moment.

A figure came down a rock formation that resembled stairs.

The figure appeared male, but his body was made of rock.

Red and yellow seemed to flow in between the rocks in a menacing manner.

Tynan smiled to the male.

The male spoke, his voice a bit gravely.

"Tynan, it has been too long."
Tynan spoke, "Yes, I should make a better effort to visit more frequently.

Oh, Brand. This is my foreign adviser, Damiaan."

The male examined Purpura, "A neko? Well met.

I am afraid your kind does not often visit.

Something about the smoke blocking out the sun."

He gave a light laugh.

Purpura gave a fake smile, before Tynan spoke.

"My apologies, he is rather shy.
He will only speak to me, so please do not feel offended if he doesn't answer."

Brand nodded, "Ah, noted.

Let me show you your room, we can talk business on the way."

The three began walking, with Purpura tailing behind the other two.

Brand and Tynan spoke about various political things.

Purpura wasn't listening, he was examining the 'palace'.

It was carved out stone, certain areas were carved into arches.

Some places had statues carves, there were multiple locations.

Purpura's eyes trailed small lines of lava flowing down in the halls.

The whole place was hot, just hot enough to be uncomfortable.

They finally arrived, Brand and Tynan agreed to continue their talk at dinner.

"Your adviser can use the room directly across the hall."
He said, before walking back down the hall.

"Please join me in my room, so we can talk in private." Tynan said, maintaining formality.

The two walked into the room.

Tynan groaned, and moved over to a device on the wall.

He touched it, and the room began to cool.

"I think they enjoy watching us sweat."

Purpura chuckled.

"Alright, are you going to need my help during the scouting phase?"

Purpura shook his head no.
The assignment wasn't one he could just run out and take out the target.

Especially in the Vulkaan territory.

The entire land was covered in either molten lava, or volcanic rock.

All homes were built into rock.

The different species in the area were all some variant of the royal family's species.

Tynan looked about the room, "You're lucky that the peace treaty was about to expire.

And that Brand wanted to renegotiate a bit."

Tynan gave a bit of a scowl, "I had to fight that woman for permission to renegotiate on behalf of our Kingdom."

Purpura looked about, he knew Tynan was referring to his mother.

She didn't like to let anything not be under her tight control.

Though Purpura wondered if the fighting was more for control of the peace treaty, or control of Tynan.

The queen was much more watchful of him, and critical.

She disguised it as wanting to ensure the heir apparent was perfect.

Tynan instead believed she felt threatened by his natural gift for rule, and status as a prodigy among shadow demons.

Tynan sighed, before there was a knock at the door.

"Who's there?" Tynan asked.

"We have brought up your luggage, sir." It was servant.

"Enter, and be quick." Tynan said and walked to the balcony.

Purpura followed, as the servants entered and brought in the luggage.

"Would you like us to unpack, sir?" a servant asked, avoiding Tynan's gaze.

Tynan eyed the servant, who was covered in ash, and glanced to see they all were.

"Send someone who's recently had a bath, I don't want ash on my clothing."

The servants looked to each other, before nodding in agreement.

"We'll send someone, right away." one said, before they all rushed out.

Tynan watched them before looking to Purpura.

"Did you decide to take over the Trustless kingdom?"

Purpura looked to him, shook his head and walked out of the room.

Tynan called after him, "Give me a hint!" Purpura ignored him.

"B*****d." Tynan grumbled, when a servant hurried in before suddenly ducking their head to avoid Tynan's gaze.

The servant was soaking wet, hair and clothing was dripping.

It looked like they had simply hosed him down, rather than bathe him.

Tynan sighed, "If you get my clothing wet, I will have you beaten."

The servant nodded, fearfully, and began carefully unpacking Tynan's things.

Tynan knew that the dominate species were Vulkaans, and their sub species.

Anyone who wasn't and lived in the territory was most likely a servant.

Mainly because of the heat, and harsh environment.

Anyone who isn't some variant of volcano demon, could not live comfortably.

He thought on the comparison to his own land.

The servants here were only dirty and ashy because of the environment.

The servants in his home were clean.

Did that have to do with treatment? Were they treated better?
He realized the answer was no.

These servants appeared treated, perhaps better.

Just looking at the servant, he saw no scars, or bruises.

The servants at his home, were beaten often, whipped and punished rather cruelly.

He contemplated it a bit, before going across the hall.

He knocked on the door, and Purpura opened it.

Tynan walked in, and Purpura watched him, before closing the door.

Tynan looked to Purpura.
"While we're here, I want you to investigate the treatment of the servants here.

They are quick, and efficient.

Yet appear to have not been beaten before.

I want to know if that's true."

Purpura sighed, and nodded.

Why not? If Tynan was curious about it, he might as well.

Purpura opened the door again, there was a servant in the hall.

Tynan looked to him.

The certain turned and spotted him before lowering his head.

'Sir. Dinner will be ready soon, I have been instructed to guide you to the dinning area."

He gave a low bow, and held out a small rock.

"If you have any need of me after dinner, please rub this rock."

Tynan gently took the rock from the servant and put it in his pocket.

Magic trinkets were common to ensure guests could easily summon a servant to their side.

Tynan knew guests to his home, often were given small pendants.

Tynan nodded to the servant who began to lead them to the dinning hall.