Pull the strings of fate [FOP - Day 2]

The morning after - or rather a few hours after he had gotten back in bed - he had woken up very groggy and still tired. His head hurt, he had more mysterious bruises than he could explain, and regret filling his mind. The main reason of getting out of bed while he would rather stay in all day, was to not face Chaska for a while longer, because they would certainly otherwise spend their whole morning and afternoon bickering. So he had quickly thrown on some easy attire and told everybody some fresh air would do him well and he would return quickly.

Not that the air ever felt that fresh in Al-Qahil. It was hot and dusty, and the sun was beaming down hard. Ezekiel had not a true goal of today, only that he just needed to be away for a bit and think about how he would set things straight. Or rather, just keep everybody in the dark about where he had gone off to the previous night. He wasn't even sure if he could remember everything that had happened, but some parts were certainly ingrained in his brain for a long time to come.

The sorcerer wasn't really paying attention as he walked at a leisurely pace through the what he thought to be empty streets. It was so different than Lythrania, but he still could not focus on the pretty surroundings for now. Nor did he notice the merry chatter of a passerby, which he completely body checked. Only when he felt a person against himself, he snapped out of his thoughts and was back on earth. He even tried to get hold of the person who was falling over as he tried to find his own feet, but it was in vain as the girl fell to the ground.

His face was completely blank as he looked at her, stepping towards her to offer his help, but not before the man that was her company kept looking at him as if had just committed murder and he refrained from it. ‘‘No, the fault is mine,’’ he told her as she apologized. He placed a hand to his chest as he made a tiny bow, as manners demanded. And with that, he wanted to hurry along, because the man she was with, certainly didn't seem to enjoy his company. Was he thinking that he was hitting on her, because she wore a pretty, revealing dress? Sadly, his ringfinger was already adorned. But when he looked back up at the girl, he couldn't help but furrow his brows. Because what he saw, was like looking in a mirror, odd-coloured eyes and silver hair.

‘‘Ezekiel Vylasar,’’ he quickly told her, not knowing what else he should say at this moment. It was probably coincidence. Not that he had ever seen anybody else with his eyes. But he couldn't help but jump to conclusions, to have that flutter of hope in his chest, that maybe, maybe, this girl knew more about... well, parts of him that had been closeted away from him. ‘‘My apologies, once again. I hope you aren't hurt,’’ he started to ramble, after his awkward introduction.

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Between the small girl and the guard standing beside her, he had difficulties where to look. Because he caught himself staring at her familiar features, and the guard was glaring at him suspiciously. It was only when the girl made him back off, that he felt safe to engage with her again, as she seemingly was willing to speak to him after his impromptu introduction. He still couldn't shake the confused expression as he studied her, and ignore the hope that fluttered in his chest. He had given up on the thought of ever meeting family of his mother's side. That was deeply buries within him, a can of worms he should not be touching right now. So why did it bother him so much, when he had nothing more than a coincidental stranger?

Rizal, there it was. Not Vylasar. He liked his lips and bit the inside of his cheek for a second. It would be stupid if it was that easy, wasn't it? He knew sorcerers often wed between each other. His brother-in-law even had to marry a Rizal. No, he could not allow himself to make excuses for himself and he gave the girl a weak smile as he shook her hand. ‘‘Pleased to meet you,’’  he continued with the usual pleasantries. He gave her another small smile as she confirmed she was unharmed and he nodded, averting his eyes to the ground. As she went to continue the small-talk, he placed his hands behind his back and his face tensed up as she ever so observantly noted that he could go as "one of us". He laughed without his eyes as she seemed so pleased with herself. ‘‘Oh,’’ he noted. ‘‘I never knew I was Rizal passing,’’ he spoke, his hands squeezing tight around each other. One of them, what did that mean? They didn't see the Rizals that often, as his aunt seemed to have a funny relationship with them. That the two of them were in Lythrania, was rare already. And they didn't look anything like him. Alyssia pulled him back from his thoughts with another question. ‘‘Uh, yes,’’ he answered, absentmindedly. ‘‘I was born in Lythrania. The governess is my aunt.’’

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Ezekiel was wondering if he was still dreaming at this point. His body was still very much complaining about everything he had been doing the past day and night. He narrowed his eyes at the girl in front of him, trying very hard not to stare. But who could blame him for being so fascinated? This could be a freaky coincidence, or maybe not. He really should not get his hopes up this high and keep everything buried where it should. He could only get hurt.

Even so, he was acting like a fool. He had no idea what to do with this information, making him feel nervous and wanting to walk away from the conversation he had initiated in the first place. He already regretted it. But he knew he would regret it more if he didn't even explore the opportunity. The "what ifs". And yet, he wasn't ready for the disappointment either. Once again, he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was Alyssia's chatty aura that kept him somewhat in real-time.

The divineress didn't really help him with his thoughts, as she seemed to be a bit slower than he was. Or is she just so used to people looking like this. Like him. Like them. As she explained, only people from her family had silver hair. Ezekiel leaned back slightly as she came a bit close to his personal space and blinked slowly at the comment about his eyes. ‘‘No, don't worry,’’ he muttered as he shifted his feet a bit awkwardly on the floor. ‘‘I was surprised as well,’’ he commented. ‘‘I never met anyone else with my eyes. I always thought, well-  I dunno.’’ That he had gotten it from his mother?

The girl was a bit strange. How longer he spoke with her, she seemed a bit youthful. It was like childlike wonder in her eyes. He nodded quickly as she blurted out her excitement, with caused his lips to curl upwards for a short moment when she tried to hide her embarrassment. That soon withered as she had taken hold of his hand, which took him a bit aback. ‘‘Uhh-’’ he started softly, but he could not really get a word in between her rambling. He already had gotten an invitation to the palace, being introduced to the family. Was she just being very direct... or? He really should not go with a strange girl to the palace, certainly not after his stunt from last night. Spending more time away from his wife would certainly get Chaska's blood boiling. It was the man standing behind Alyssia that saved him, and once more she was standing apologizing.

The sorcerer quickly placed his hand behind his back again. He had no idea to respond to her blunt proposal. ‘‘I really would love to talk some more sometime,’’ he answered her slowly. He looked past over her shoulder at the man watching her, being pretty sure he wasn't quite fond of Alyssia's idea. ‘‘But I'm afraid I've made other promises for the rest of the day.’’ And what would he do? Waltz into the palace and look at all the other Rizals with silver hair she spoke about. And then? Expect magic to happen? It was better if he got those silly ideas out of his system now. ‘‘I'm sorry.’’

fitje