Julius woke up feeling a strange fog hanging over him, as if the world had become softer around the edges. His apartment in the capital, modest but well-kept, seemed oddly unfamiliar to him, as though he'd been away for years. It was the space the Magistrate provided for him, but something was off. The recognition they were about to give him for his hard work translating the ancient texts felt like it should have been a proud moment, but his memories of the event were hazy. He couldn't recall the details of finishing the translations or even arriving back to the capital.
He sat up, his head spinning. He knew that after the ceremony, he was supposed to meet up with his mother and Cedric at the statue of his father. They were going to visit the triplets Lia, Mia, and Kasen at their school, and then have lunch with Willow and her husband, Crown Prince Zearik. The entire day was planned, an yet, as each event unfolded, Julius felt as though he were merely a spectator, walking in a dream. Faces passed by, voices spoke to him, but none of it felt real.
At the end of the day, Julius was introduced to someone new-his apprentice. The magistrate had mentioned assigning someone to him, but now that moment arrived, it all felt surreal. Tynan, a young man from a distant land, stood before him. His deep green hair was cut to his shoulders and laired but one piece braided at the front, the single braid falling down to his thighs. His eyes were a soft pastel yellow, and his smile was impossibly bright, like the sun itself. Julius blinked, momentarily struck by how vibrant Tynan appeared compared to the dullness of everything else.
But what unsettled Julius the most was how the Magistrate treated him during the introduction. For once, they hadn't called him any homophobic slurs or made snide remarks about his sexuality. In fact, the Magistrate had been polite, even cordial. Julius couldn't comprehend it. They always ensured that anyone who worked with him knew the full extent of their distaste, poisoning his chances of ever forming bonds with colleagues. So why was Tynan here, standing with a genuine smile, seemingly unaffected by the toxic influence of the Magistrate.
Tynan greeted him with a warm, respectful bow, his voice soft yet confident. "Master Julius, it is an honor to be your apprentice. I look forward to learning from you."
Julius could only nod, his mind racing. Something was wrong, terrible wrong, but the world around him continued to flow as though nothing had changed.
"Yes, it is nice to meet you as well," Julias managed to say, though the words felt clumsy on his tongue. His mind was still processing the oddness of the day, the surreal way everything unfolded, and now… this?
Tynan smiled warmly, his tone light and breezy. "If you're wondering about the whole Magistrate thing," he began casually, "yeah, they tried telling me all about it. But where I come from, it's accepted, and I don't get why they would fixate on it. Unless," Tynan added with a playful wink, "they're jealous."
Julius's brain froze. Wait… was Tynan flirting? His mind spun in a chaotic whirlwind. Should I flirt back? Quick, say something! Don't just stand there like an idiot, Julius!
For a heartbeat, he stood there in stunned silence, his brain working overtime to come up with something-anything-that could resemble a response. His eyes widened in mild panic, and he felt his pulse quicken.
"Uh… maybe they… um, just… don't have good taste?" Julius blurted, instantly regretting his choice of words. Oh gods, what was that?!
Tynan chuckled, an easy, melodic sound. "Exactly! Poor things."
Julius felt his checks heat up. He had absolutely no idea what he was doing. Why is this so much harder than translating ancient languages?
Tynan's sun-kissed skin seemed to glow softly as they continued talking, a casual ease radiating from him with every word. He moved like someone without a care in the world, yet there was a certain intensity in the way he spoke, particularly when the conversation shifted to the Magistrate. It became clear that Tynan held a rather low opinion of them, his disapproval veiled under a calm exterior.
But then, in a surprisingly warm turn, Tynan mentioned something that makes Julius's heart skip a beat.
"Actually," Tynan said, leaning slightly forward, his voice carrying a bit more weight, "the last time Crown Prince Zearik and your sister Willow visited my homeland, they spoke very highly of you. They were praising your skills as a mage and your incredible talent for translating ancient texts. Seems like you've built quite a reputation, Julius."
Julius blinked in shock. "They… they did?" His voice wavered between disbelief and cautious pride. The idea that Zearik and Willow had spoken about him, positively no less, in a foreign land made his chest tighten. He never expected to hear anything like this-especially not from someone like Tynan.
"Of course," Tynan grinned, "Zearik himself wished you'd accepted his offer to be his head mage and advisor. He said no one else compares to your skills with ancient texts. Pretty impressive, if you ask me."
Julius felt warmth rising in his chest, but doubt lingered at the edges of his mind. "That's… kind of them to say. But I always thought Zearik only offered that position because of Willow, not because of my abilities. I didn't think I stood out on my own."
Tynan waved a hand dismissively. "You're wrong about that, Zearik wouldn't offer such a position to anyone who couldn't handle it. He sees your skill. Trust me, people notice talent, especially someone like him." He gave Julius a knowing look, his eyes sparkling with admiration and something deeper that Julius couldn't quite grasp.