"Nym! Stay back!"

Phocleus said as I, avoided the monster, it was scary... Fearless strikes kept coming our way. Yes we all are the 5 great rulers of this world but even us... can't beat this beast, all we can do is dodge and dodge we can't even get close, it's getting annoying at this point, we can't even use Magic because it is immune to magic.

Then I heard all of them scream.

"NYM! GET OUT OF THERE!"

They all tried to warn me, it turns out I had been cornered by this beast, I was so lost in my thoughts that I had not realized... It was too late.. The beast has already swung it's weapon towards me...

Everything seemed to slow down, I saw the weapon glisten under the moonlight.

"Is this the end?" I thought to myself, as the weapon got closer to me, I closed my eyes accepting my fate.. I have lived long enough I'm ready to come with you.. Raphiel.

At the last seconds of my life I didn't think about my empire, I didn't think about my people, or family, I thought of him, the reason I kept on living.

I chuckled at myself as I recall my memories of him.

Raphiel Alexander Cassemir, a half wolf breed, I bought him off a slave auction, I was still a little spoiled rascal back then, not knowing any responsibility. I bought him to play with me or so what I call torture was back then, for me torturing people to death was an entertainment, their screams, the expression they make. It was all heaven to me but Raphiel, he was different, as I pressed the hot branding iron to his skin he didn't react, he didn't even flinch nor did he show any emotions at all, he just looked at me blankly like I just asked a stupid question. I was intrigued, so I asked him why isn't he reacting at all.

"doesn't it hurt?"

I looked at him the branding iron still pressed on his skin. He scoffed rolling his eyes away from my interested gaze.

"Hurt? I've felt worse"

Worse? What is worse than being branded by a piping hot metal being pressed into your skin? That was it, he definitely piqued my interest. I asked him.

"Tell me, what's worse than this, then I'll give you a chance not to die"

I commanded my eyes gleaming with interest.

"Sure"

He shrugged nonchalantly, and proceeded to tell me all his almost death experiences, and there were a lot of them, like how he got bitten by a crocodile, I was laughing intrigued and amazed about his stories.

As the heir to the throne of my father, my freedom was kept short, that's why I enjoyed seeing others in pain, I was jealous

"How could those lowly bastards go out and I couldn't?"

I've always thought to myself. As Raphiel goes on, and on, I was amazed that such a world exists over the palace walls, the beautiful landscape he described, animals, and people, I didn't know such world existed

I muttered in amazement the iron branding was on the floor laying while I was beside it looking up at Raphiel, amaze and astounded bout all the stories he has told

There is a clear line between life and death, and this guy uses it like a jump rope.

"You're a fun guy, I will keep you alive for my entertainment"

Those were the words I left, but little did I know I would regret it later…

Nym woke up, the birds chirping, the sunlight shining through the open doors. It's like every other day, simple, peaceful, and a whole lot of workload for the poor emperor. A commotion was heard outside it seemed like someone was trying to get in, he fixed his golden robe and stood up to open the door.

Boom!

The door almost hitting Nym, two guards were holding down a man, seems like a half wolf breed 'that's rare, in a country like mine?' Nym thought.

"Forgive our incompetence your Majesty, this guy is trying to get in saying he's your lover"

The guards said, Nym looked at the half wolf a tear falling out of his eyes involuntarily, 'huh? Why am I crying' he thought, as tears fell out of his eyes like a beautiful stream of waterfall. The guards were confused, Nym signed the guards to go away, they did, the half wolf standing up to meet his eyes.

"Who are you?"

Nym asked, the half wolf looking as if he saw a ghost, he stepped closer, Nym stepped back.

"What do you mean? I'm Raphiel!"

A huge painting in the walls of his room caught Nym's attention, it looks exactly like the wolf, at this point tears are still streaming down his face, the wolf wiped it off, human hands… It is not common for half wolf breeds to have human hands or feet, but this one does. As the wolf touches his face, Nym's tears seem to have stopped like a lost little child finally finding his way home.

"Raphiel was it?"

Raphiel retreated his hands, and nodded, he looked around, paintings, wooden carvings of his face, then he saw it, a one to one scale replica of him, made. Out. Of. Magic. Crystal.

Author: sorry to interrupt, but I'll be popping out once in a while to explain stuff, ehem! Magic crystals are rare and most people in this world have probably never seen one, there are 3 magic stones red is the hardest to find, and it is said that you need 400 souls to create even one kilo of this stuff…. So just imagine, a one to one replica (btw Raphiel is 6'4) of this stuff.. How many souls does it take...

Back to the story <3

Raphiel gagged at what he saw, Nym looked in the direction Raphiel was looking at, and he was intrigued.

*"so this is how obsessed I was?.. Interesting… Fascinating"*

He thought to himself, as he smirks he doesn't remember this guy, but it seemed as if they've known each other for a long time

"Is that real?"

Raphiel asked his eyes wide, Nym just chuckled and nodded his head

"It is, I would be too cheap to put on a fake one, and as an emperor, I can't have that reputation can I?"

Even though Nym doesn't remember, he knows in his heart that he once treasured this statue. But one question still stands in the center of his mind.

"Who is he...?"

The elf looked at Raphiel like he was an unknown gem just discovered by his emerald eyes.

"Will you tell me who you are?"

Raphael stood as if Nym took his ability to breathe.

"Do you really not remember me?"

Nym shook his head, those words may sound like just a question but somehow, someway Nym's heart ached as if someone was trying to break out of his heart

"Forgive me if I forgot you, would you…"

The elf smirked and looked at him up and down.

"Like to refresh my memory...?"

"No, thank you."

Raphiel responded quickly.

'God this man is always so cheeky'

He thought to himself as he avoided the elf's gaze. Nym chuckled as he sat on his huge bed, taking a sip of warm tea.

'Where did that come from?'

Raphiel thought, as the long silence was broken by Nym.

"You piqued my interest... Do you know what that means?~"

Nym said cheekily, of course he does, Raphiel smirks.

"Like always"

Raphiel said remembering how they met.

'Dé jàvu'

"Isn't this kidnapping though?"

Raphiel said looking at Nym sipping his tea, Nym chuckled.

"I'm the emperor, I can defy rules I made"

Raphiel scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"I can't believe under that tyrant killing, smart decisions, the emperor is a spoiled brat"

Nym chuckled, the fact that if any other person were to say even a single, subtle, or indirect insult, them and anyone related to them would be beheaded. Raphiel talks confidently as if he knows he's safe, and Nym isn't annoyed or angry, it's really as if they've always done this but for the elf it's the first time he's met him.

"Aren't you afraid of me? As you said, I'm a tyrant"

Raphiel just laughed and walked over to Nym he knelt before him, Nym towering Raphiel as he was sitting on the bed.

"Slap me, bite me, hurt me"

Nym just stood, in shock at what the half wolf said, if it was any other person he would've done it with no express on his face, but if it's him… Why does he hesitate to hurt a man he just met?

Nym glared at Raphiel, looking down at him, while the half wolf was smirking, he knew he won.

"Get away from me"

Raphiel stood up, chuckling as he took a few steps back sitting on the ground like a dog waiting for its owners command.

"Good dog, now you're coming with me to court tomorrow morning, I will announce you as my personal guard-"

Nym stopped as if someone had pulled the words out of his head.

'I'm... lowering my guard towards him... Didn't I just met him? Why am I making him my personal guard...'

Nym thought to himself, but he brushed it off thinking It's probably because he seemed interesting.

"Is something wrong Nym- I mean your Majesty?"

Raphiel asked concerned, Nym shook his head as he placed the tea cup down.

"No, the servant will give you a proper clothing fit for the emperor's personal guard, they will also lead you to your room. You may leave now"

Raphiel nodded, as he quietly closed the door behind him, Nym felt empty as Raphiel left. He laid in his huge bed, but it seemed as if he couldn't sleep, there is still time before he needs to go to the royal court, so he decided to take a walk to the palace garden.

He could smell the scent of the flowers in his dear garden, he walked to a what seemed to be a small green house, there was a chair made out of fine gem's and a small table, there was someone seating in it, seemed like they were waiting for someone, they were wearing a what seemed to be a black dress with a black veil covering their face. Nym's eyes darkened.

"Who dares to come to the emperor's private garden!"

the person dressed in black chuckled. It seemed familiar in Nym's ears.

"what took you so long....? my dear emperor~"

...----------------...