Yiren's eyes widened for a brief moment before he burst into laughter, the sound loud and unrestrained, echoing through the room. The two boys stood in stunned silence, exchanging confused glances.
"Ahh! Now that was a good joke!" Yiren wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as he chuckled.
One of the boys responded, tense and serious. "That wasn't a joke. We weren't joking."
"Alright, alright. No need to yell. My head is pounding," Yiren said, raising a hand to calm the atmosphere. Then he smirked, glancing over at his companion. "Hmm... Gardiyan, what do you think about this?"
Gardiyan didn't even lift his eyes from the drink he was sipping coolly. "They're just kids who believe life is simple, and that everyone is as kind-hearted as they are. Throw them out of the palace, and let's forget this ever happened."
Yiren laughed again, louder this time, flashing a thumbs-up toward Gardiyan. "Nice one, Gardy" Then he turned back to the boys with a grin. "So? Will you walk out on your own, or shall I escort you?"
"Wait—wait, sir!" one of them cried out, his voice quivering with panic. He was on the verge of tears, while the other nodded rapidly. "We can handle weapons! And we know magic too! We could be useful to you someday!"
Yiren scoffed. "I'm the strongest mage in the world, and I've got Gardiyan, who's apparently quite handy with weapons. Why on earth would I need either of you? Face it, kids. I'm no easy mark. Go find someone else."
The boys exchanged a look of despair and began walking slowly toward the door, shoulders heavy with disappointment.
"Smart choice," Yiren said cheerfully as he settled into his chair, eyes now locked on his dessert.
They stopped abruptly. One of them turned back hesitantly. "Umm… we never got to taste the dessert."
Yiren waved them off. "No need. I'll praise myself on your behalf."
********
"What now, Rain?"
"I don't know," Rain sighed, slumping to the ground and burying his face in his arms. "He was like a golden fish… and we couldn't catch him. Do we wait for another, or try convincing him again?"
Brian looked up at the sky, where the sunlight had begun to fade. He spoke bitterly, "Golden fish don't come twice. I thought this was finally it… a roof and walls for once."
Rain nodded solemnly. "You're right. It was a false hope."
Silence fell between them. Then Brian, resting his chin on his hand, murmured, "He took in that kid because the kid's useful, right? So… if we become useful, he might take us in too. Right?"
Rain hesitated, then slowly nodded. "I guess you're right. But how? We're only decent at sword and sorcery—and even then, not great."
Brian frowned, deep in thought. "Do we go back and beg again or…?"
"No," Rain cut him off firmly. "We've shown enough weakness already. Looks like we're sleeping on the streets tonight too."
*********
He's staring at the mirror again… five whole minutes this time. What's wrong with him?
"Gardy, can someone marry themselves?" Yiren asked suddenly, eyes still fixed on his reflection.
"Are you joking?" Gardiyan replied dryly, still chewing his biscuit with slow precision.
"I've never been more serious," Yiren answered with gleaming eyes.
"You're a dragon. Maybe dragons can pull that off. Humans can't, as far as I know." Gardiyan said, lazily reaching for another biscuit.
"Tsk tsk… Then I now pronounce myself married to me, Yiren." Yiren smiled and gently stroked his cheek in the mirror.
"Congratulations," Gardiyan muttered, clapping once with deadpan boredom. I think I've grown numb to his idiocy.
"I want you to turn me into a ten-year-old," Gardiyan said suddenly, serious.
"No," Yiren answered immediately, without so much as glancing away from the mirror.
Gardiyan growled in frustration and shoved a handful of biscuits into his mouth, fuming.
"Eat normally. You're disgusting."
"Shut up," Gardiyan muttered, continuing to munch bitterly.
"Don't talk with your mouth full. You're scattering crumbs." Yiren grimaced at the mess. "Clean it up before I get back."
"Going out again? Where to this time?" Gardiyan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If I tell you, I'd have to kill you," Yiren replied coldly as he walked toward the door.
"Why so dramatic? And hasn't the inventor finished the gun already?"
"I wouldn't know. He hasn't contacted me yet… If he had, I'd know. Later~" Yiren waved as he disappeared out the door.
Gardiyan lay on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Maybe sleeping will speed up my growth, he thought, letting silence wrap around him.
***********
"Is this him?"
"Yes, sir."
A splash of cold water hit the face of the finely dressed man, jolting him awake with a scream. "What the—?! If you're not after money, then what the hell do you want?!"
"War." Yiren replied with a broad, wicked smile. His eyes sparkled with unsettling delight, and the man began to tremble.
"You're insane! Untie me right now!!!"
"What about war?" asked the man in black beside him.
"War what?! We've been at peace for six centuries! You can't just start a war from nothing!"
"Isn't peace boring? All those weapons, all those soldiers—what a waste not to use them."
"Did you kidnap another king?" the man in black asked bluntly.
"Geez, it's not like I need to say it out loud. Obviously."
"You're bullying me because I'm a young king, aren't you?! I was crowned just two months ago! Let me go!!!"
"But he's got a pretty face… Would be a shame to just kill him. Should we sell him off as a slave?"
"Hm… Do you know how to raise a child or change diapers?"
"Just kill me already!!!"
"Ugh, fine. Kill him."
"Wait. Think about it, Lord Yiren. Wouldn't it be better to use him to threaten the other kingdoms?"
"You mean, say that the King of… what was the kingdom called again?"
"Marcin," the bound man replied tersely.
"Oh, right… Who said you could talk? Anyway, where was I? Ah yes—make it seem like Marcin is starting a war, then we kidnap another king, and make it look like an alliance against the rest."
"Exactly, sir."
"Ha! You're smarter than you look! I like that!" Yiren patted his shoulder with enthusiasm, though the man dared not speak. A faint hum rang from Yiren's pocket. He pulled out a glowing red gem.
"Yiren! The device is ready," came a voice from within the gem.
"Oh Magnus, perfect timing! You're about to witness the greatest war in history! With little Gardy, and that thing you built... Ah, I can't even contain the excitement!"
"War? I've never even seen a war… and I'm not participating."
"You're as dull and antisocial as ever. I'll come pick it up soon." Yiren slipped the gem back into his pocket, placing a hand over his face, as if lost in deep thought.
For a few moments, he stood still. Then he brushed his hair back, revealing a radiant face and a wicked smirk.
"Everything is going smoothly… and fast. I'm so excited I might not sleep tonight!"
"So feed me something at least… You don't want me starving to death, do you?"
"Feeding you would be a waste. I'll cast a spell that eliminates all your bodily needs. Even peeing. Am I not a great mage?" Yiren laughed uproariously as he stepped into a magic portal he conjured, disappearing in a flash of light.
"Let's see how this plays out!" he called as the portal sealed behind him.