#arthur kunyus

[bloodredx]

Day 20: Rebel(ious)

Arthur struggled to hide his smile, a deep sense of pride was dashed across his heart as he stepped into the library. For he was the only one who could sneak up on the princess, her keen senses too finely tuned to human actions to be fooled by them, but his plant body had to be caught. However, he was confident it was only a matter of time until she registered the most minute of his actions and scents. For the moment, he has been able to slip behind her, peering over her shoulder to the exact nature of her stubbornness.

A book between the young lady’s hand distinctly had the title of Historical Battlefields: Points of Success and Failure. The queen had banned any such study by Serena of these gruesome things, for what purpose would a princess have to know the nature of war? And on one level, Arthur could see the woman’s flawed point. This was a time of great peace, a so called “Golden Era” for the Glacidean Empire. Though the trees had whispered much of movement, of actions taken in distant lands and courts quite local. He didn’t need to sink his roots in deep to know it wouldn’t last.

But here, in this tucked away library, he could see the cleverness of the young girl. For she knew well that she could out speed her snooping mother, a book of etiquette sat to her right, a bookmark cheekily stuck some well thought out distance between the front and the back, not quite halfway. This bode well for her understandings of the nuance of strategy, she either realized this gift quickly or had learned it within the pages of her current tome. She would be a formidable foe.

Slipping backward, he ran a finger along a shelf, pulling a much more applicable volume, and wrapping a vine around it swiftly. The book, Supply Chains and Organizational Structure, was heavy, but his leaves hauled it well enough, sliding it onto the young lady’s table without so much as a peep, let alone raising her eyes from the text before her. Nodding to himself, he turned on his heel after recovering his leafs. His talents weren’t well served in instruction at this moment. No, they were much better served at occupying the attention of the busybody queen. Her majesty had better things to worry about than what her daughter was reading, after all.

(OC-tober prompts by @oc-tober2023 can be found here.)

[bloodredx]

OC-tober 2020 Master Post

Hey y’all! I hope we all had a fantastic October and a delightfully spooky Halloween. I had a wonderful time participating in my first OC-tober, so thank you all for following along. Extra special thanks to @oc-growth-and-development for both writing the prompt list I used this year and sharing some of my posts! This was a ton of fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is even slightly interested in trying it!

By far my favorite prompt was Day 25: Flowers, I’m so pleased with how the phrasing turned out. Please go check it out if you get a chance!

Below is a link list to all the posts for this year. Now prepare yourself for my upcoming NaNoWrMo posts. Wish me luck, we’re on novel #9.

OC-tober 2020 Posts

Day 1: Sunrise

Day 2: Mercy

Day 3: Youth

Day 4: Ambush

Day 5: Beloved

Day 6: Luxury

Day 7: Cliff

Day 8: Festival

Day 9: Mentor

Day 10: Silence

Day 11: Craft (This one has art too!)

Day 12: Drip

Day 13: Grow

Day 14: Cornered

Day 15: Myth

Day 16: Hand

Day 17: Shelter

Day 18: Vintage

Day 19: Fruit

Day 20: Glow

Day 21: Laugh

Day 22: Alone

Day 23: Revenge

Day 24: Teeth

Day 25: Flowers

Day 26: Costume

Day 27: Midnight

Day 28: Treat

Day 29: Need

Day 30: Flight

Day 31: Reflection

[bloodredx]

“Go back, beast of wood.” The priestess yelled to the tree-face, “This is the realm of men, do not interfere with the rights of our kind.”

“Foolish priests, you do not know what was promised here.” A claw like branch grew off the main body, reaching out and grasping the woman easily “And we will take what is rightfully belonging to the woods. There shall be no effort to cross deep into these thresholds again, for the gods will rightly punish you with what they promised us.”

[bloodredx]

“Your majesty, you can’t seriously believe the words coming from your own lips.” Arthur tilted his head in his usual fashion. The dryad was in his natural form still, standing deeply rooted in an old pot left behind in the king’s private quarters. The soil wasn’t the best, but it would be enough to keep him focused for the time being. He wasn’t going to be able to fully heal more until daylight reached him. And with how long this night was dragging out, he didn’t have the slightest idea of when that would rationally be.

The king eyed his old friend carefully, brushing his hand against papers on his desk. “It’s the most appropriate way to follow through, Arthur. This is such a delicate tightrope to walk, and the future hangs in the balance.”

“The future hangs in the balance with every individual choice one makes, from simply making breakfast or deciding to take a bath or not. Let alone the choices you come to face as king. You cannot simplify or justify anything with that.”

“What better choice do I have? It leaves the crown neutral, and lets those versed in law manage the scenario.” He resisted the urge to slam his fist on the desk, knowing the weight of the sound would do little to affect the dryad.

“Is that ultimately what you’re doing? Trying to remove the risk of choice from yourself? The crown cannot be neutral here, and you know that. You’re shifting blame away, and hurting your family in the process.”

“This has never happened before, we’ve never had a pair of vampires running around the castle grounds as royal family members!” he protested, standing up to show his passion for the matter.

The dryad was, as expected, unfazed. “But certainly the crown has had internal strife before, there have been murder plots and coups in every monarchy on this continent. I’ve heard of them through the grapevines, literally. You cannot look at me in the eye and tell me that there aren’t procedures for dealing with what your wife is attempting to do.”

[bloodredx]

Day 7: Cliff

Arthur placed his hands squarely on his hips, staring up the sheer rock face before him. How wondrous the world is that he had a chance to come up to such a barrier! It was good to be faced with opposition every now and then, and Arthur relished the chance to play with another beautiful gift from the gods. The child that stood next to him scoffed. “I don’t understand your smile.” Her soft words breaking the calm.

“Ah, now then little one, what is it that I can explain to you?” His eyes passed over his young pupil with a steady calmness.

“We cannot proceed.” She whispered almost mechanically, tilting her head as she attempted to solve the puzzle. “We should return to the palace. There is no use in extending effort.”

“Come now, don’t be like that. Aren’t you at all slightly curious why we headed out this way? Why we came all the way out here?” A soft nod from the girl told Arthur to proceed. Though it was hard to notice, he knew by the look in her eye he had captured her curiosity. “We’re so close to seeing something wonderful. We’re so close, why don’t we look a little harder and see if we can solve this.”

The girl fidgeted her hands, taking a second look over the raw cliff face, tracing each stone, looking for some sort of answer to the riddle. How does one as small as her climb a mountain? She places her hands on rock face, and began pulling herself up, step by step.

“Well, that’s one way to go about it, keep it up.” Arthur goaded, he himself taking soil firmly in his grip.

The two managed firmly, passing over different mounts on the cliff, taking each step slowly so as to see progress little by little. Fear was slowly replaced by confidence in her eyes, and they sped up significantly, nearing the top. “We’re almost there.” An excited giggle chirped out.

“You’re right. Let’s still be cautious, we’re not over the top yet-“

As if on cue, the girl’s footing crumbled, sending her down the side with a yelp. Arthur pressed his bare feet into the stone, forcing his grip as the transformation began. He twisted, throwing his arm towards her, feeling the sting as his limb swelled and grew out at great speed. A leafy vine wormed its way towards her, wrapping quickly and snaring her in a safe coil before she could slam into the ground below. With a firm grunt, he hauled her back up, withdrawing his extended body toward his core, feeling his now root feet cling on every crevice.

Her startled eyes locked onto his once she was close enough, a plain look of terror crossing over her. “Hey now, it’s okay. I’m right here, and I’ve got you.” Arthur’s voice creaked, echoing through the bark his body had solidified into.

“Why are we doing this?” the girl sputtered. “We must go back, there’s only softer sands at the top. The wall will deteriorate.”

“Because, my little flower,” the dryad said as he pulled her close into a hug, “nothing worth doing is easy. And if we work together, I know we can make it. We’re so very close. Let’s finish strong.”

“You promise it’ll be fine?”

“On the moon, it’ll be fine.”

“You’re right in one way, as the path was only up. However, if you had asked, I could have simply done this.” He lifted her again, gently extending vines up towards the ledge of the cliff. “I know you’re used to being alone and solving things by your own merit. But there are people who want to help you. You must ask though. And there’s no shame in it. Sure, you certainly could have faced this alone, but then who would have caught you?”

“I see.” Was the quiet response back.

“No need to feel bad, just remember that, dear.” He laughed gently, setting her down on a soft patch of grass.

He anchored the ends of his vines at the top, spreading roots deep into the soil as he dissolved himself into the vines, following their path up to the top. A few moments of pooling leaves collected as he regrew his hominid form before her, maintaining his tree-like appearance. Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the silent spectacle awaiting him. Thousands of glowing plants surrounded them, their soft glow reflecting off the girl’s face. The look of unbridled joy on her face forced him into a warm laugh as they sat together and watched the majesty. It was wonderful to see her so elated over this simple thing. He knew she had a long and hard road ahead of her, and if this one thing could make her smile, than it was certainly worth the risk.

(OC-tober prompt list by @oc-growth-and-development can be found here)

[bloodredx]

He didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence, for she was on him in a second. “No one may take what is mine, and you shouldn’t have removed the will of the people. For now a monster amongst you dwells. And you shall pay for this slight against me and your country.”

Her fangs pierced into her throat, taking the font of life at its finest, fresh and fearful. And it felt so good. No more indecisiveness. The world was to be made her own. Once his heart stopped, she threw him aside and fell to her knees, finally able to weep for what had happened so long ago. A gentle footstep came to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. Arthur’s voice resonated throughout the chamber. “Welcome back, your highness.”

[bloodredx]

King Valenfir looked away. On some level, he knew what the choices he needed to make were, right in the locks of his heart, but that didn’t make it easier. “Would that I were, Arthur.” He moved towards the door. “Court starts soon. We’ll know the rule of fate from there. Gods help us, I wasn’t meant for this.”

“You could be though. And the gods would no sooner acknowledge that then they would solve it for you.”

The king shook his head and closed the door behind him. “So it would soon be decided, regardless.” The dryad shook himself free from the soil and made his way out to the gardens to absorb as much energy as he could, bracing himself for whatever choices the gods had made for them. For it was clear that men would not.

[bloodredx]

Day 9: Mentor

“You really ought to think about teaching, Bones.” The dryad stared at him with their unblinking gaze. “I think you have a knack for it.”

“You’re jokin’, right?” Bones scratched his head uneasily. “I’m just some swamp witch, I ain’t got the trainin’ or wherewithal to be tellin’ anyone what to do with magic. No college would take me, and I ain’t interested in bein’ stifled like that.”

Besides. He thought to himself, I ain’t even good at magic in its own right.

“Maybe not like that.” Arthur continued to stare at him, no maybe through him was more accurate. Though Bones couldn’t imagine he was going to see anything good if he truly had the ability. “But perhaps you’ll find someone who needs a little guiding.”

“Lots of people need help. Ain’t mean it’s gotta be from me.” I’d just ruin anyone who’d get that close. I’ve ruined most else in my life anyways.

Arthur finally released Bones by turning his head. “I don’t know all your history. But perhaps those lessons could do someone else good.”

“Nah, the only thing I’m good for is an example of what not to do. I ain’t needin’ to be directin’ anyone in that. All those mistakes were just… lapses in judgement or common sense.”

“Just think on it.” The dryad smiled one last time before vanishing into a flurry of pink petals, spreading far and wide on the weight of the wind.

Bones had had the time to think on many things, and this was one he had considered. His mother was adamant that their family secrets were just that, secrets. And the limited magic in his veins should stay on the property and be doing good things. But then everything went south, leading to his current existence. No, his mother was a mentor, not him. He had nothing to teach nobody, for these lessons were meant for the women of his bloodline. He was just the last chance to save a damned legacy, caught up in actions of his father’s rage. If there was a lesson, just don’t get caught in other’s business and get punished for it. But how do you teach the obvious?

(OC-tober prompt list by @oc-growth-and-development can be found here)

[bloodredx]

“We will solve this.” Arthur confirmed without hesitation. “If you may, I should like to look over the princess and your wife. I might be better able to determine their statuses than a local medic would.”

He nodded. “Yes, I think that would be wise. You’re most in tune to the princess.”

“I doubt she’s in any real harm, other than mental. But there’s enough here to concern me about the queen.” Arthur shook his head. “Can’t jump to conclusions just yet. Let me help secure the prisoner and then we will see.”

[bloodredx]

“And you think you can comprehend and contain the powers of the gods?” Arthur crossed his arms. “You’re already blessed with what limited powers you have, why are you reaching for that which you cannot possibly hope to comprehend?”

Dorian busted out into sick laughter that echoed down into the otherwise silent halls. “Blessed? You thing we’re blessed? I’d have more a blessing by being normal, lending myself to my lonesome. I wouldn’t be plagued by concepts you couldn’t understand. The gods at least pretend to like you. At least Norimans offers his favor.”

[bloodredx]

“You don’t sincerely believe that she found fear in my fangs until last year.” Serena raised a brow incredulously. “Things like that don’t suddenly stop, Arthur. You know that as well as I do.”

“Perhaps, but you have always been so skittish and untrusting. She’s still your mother, it wouldn’t surprise me if she had a single cockle of care in her heart and it finally just decided to manifest now. I know she’s… pushy, but don’t write her off just yet. Not everyone has the same capacity for kindness as yourself or your father.”

Serena nodded cautiously, only half believing the idea put forth by her mentor. Her head was swimming now, lost in all modes of stress and overwork. Would that she were to become a proper monster instead a feral one, who knew that it would take all this work?

[bloodredx]

“The propensity for the human mind to turn to a rational explanation pleases me, but sometimes the evidence is too strong and they choose to ignore it anyways.” Arthur cusped their hand against their cheek, making a mental note of something. “But what good is such memories when they are spent under 100 turns of the year. With the most potent authority given to me by the Hamadryad, I can confirm that these beings, let’s see what term would be appropriate in your language, vampire I believe? They have been on your doorstep for as long as the trees are willing to whisper, but we know not where they came from. We just know they are here. Fortunately, they seem to lack a social coalition, so at best you will have to deal with rogue agents.”

Valenfir shook his head. “But why my daughter? What could have happened that led to this… tragedy?” his mind swam with all the information the dryad had dropped upon him. By all accounts this made no sense, but he had seen it with his own two eyes. “Why would they claim her, an infant?”

Arthur tilted his head, his dark skin offering a low glow in the now flagrant moonlight. “It stands to reason it could be nothing more than random chance. I know that these beings are made by sharing their own blood with their prey, but I haven’t the slightest idea where they began. Perhaps it was just the willing and random fates of the Conductor that granted this occurrence. I cannot think of a magic that would bring this about intentionally. Though, the vampires themselves would know more. However, I doubt that they would willingly offer such information, assuming you make it out of the conversation yourself.”

[bloodredx]

Without so much of a polite greeting, Arthur stumbles into my office, somehow bypassing all security. Not that I am surprised. The clever man probably took advantage of the knowledge that my office’s roses shared with him. They’re quite terrible at keeping secrets, or so he’s told me. Fortunately, not many speak rose as they have quite the challenging dialect, so I have no intention of repotting them just yet. But I digress.

[bloodredx]

Arthur tilted his head, listening in the night for only forces that a plant could understand. “It might happen someday, Serena. Until then, let’s get you home and see if we can come up with a decent enough reason for you leaving.”

Heat bubbled through her. “I have no intentions of lying to my father. If he is ashamed of my actions, I would prefer to him say it to my face. I am tired of being made to conform to actions that only hurt me in the end.” She quickly moved her hand over her mouth upon realizing what she said aloud.

Her companion took a moment before responding to that, as it was too raw to immediately retort. She was hurting, her mother hurt her, her father had best intentions but didn’t know what he was doing with her. On top of it all, she was tortured for a day and sent back to duty immediately. It wasn’t at all that shocking that she was lashing out when one thought about it. “I’m sorry, Serena.”

The response caught her off guard. Duty was the only force she was enslaved to the entire time she was able to act upon it. And now she was being confirmed that her emotions were right. It would be one thing if the duty was one of her own choosing, but there was no option until that moment in the woods. She stopped in her tracks, looking up at the clearing skies. The moon was still as bright as before, marking a consistency that she appreciated. “You’re without bounds, Arthur. There is nothing to hold you here, except your own honor. I can no sooner leave the palace than I could leave the country. Part of that makes me sad. The other part is glad that people need me. But for what reason should I be found good as a leader? I have blood that is my fathers? At this point, I’ve drank so much I know none of it is mine. It was never mine to begin with, the first was my mother’s after all.” She sighed. “When the time comes, I’ll take the mantle as queen, for that is my duty. I shall do it to the best of my ability. But did you ever wonder if you were made to do something else?”

[bloodredx]

“I know that there is contamination in the energy fields of Glacidea. Someone with immense knowledge of this is trying to tap in and gain power for themselves. In all likelihood, the only people with the resources to even attempt this are mages. And the only legal mages are-“

“The church of the northern light.” Serena finished his sentence, scribbling something vigorously down in in the margins. “Do you remember back when I was a girl?”

“Couldn’t forget, blossom. But that does pose an interesting question.” He rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “If I wasn’t both so concerned for your safety and removal from the situation-“

“And my very impressive sword skills.” She interjected

“Right, throwing a sword from a tree does not sword skills make. But yes, that was the other factor.” He smiled weakly before continuing. “But you’re correct. That man was donning the robes of the church and had the skills of an ice mage. That’s a strong lead, but there’s only the two of us as witnesses and the true identity remains a mystery.”

“The church has hundreds of members. It would be impossible, even under royal order to go through all of them. We only have clue of voice and smell.”

“Smell?”

“Yes, I would recognize his blood.” Serena looked at the floor, not wanting to assert that claim heavily.

[bloodredx]

She slipped again into hesitance, finding confliction in the request and the known fear of the few that had seen her. Even so young, it was pressed by the actions of others that she should take care to make herself small so as to not cause a reaction. “You promise you won’t get scared?”

“I promise. I’ve seen many a scary thing in this world, and I have nothing to fear from you, right?”