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Feyrahl, FurAffinity Edition

The Kingdom of Feyrahl, Ch 1.4

Kenzie didn't respond to Cecil's offer at first, waiting until Silas was out of the garden. Once the two were alone, Kenzie fought back another yawn, fighting off fatigue in favor of following up on an earlier topic. "Cecil... how does magic work?"

The Ferret's ears rose up and his eyes widened before narrowing in concern. "Ah... uh... Mistress, you are asking the wrong Feyrahlian. I never went to school."

At first, the Human woman thought he was kidding but, when his expression continued to show confusion with a hint of dismay she pushed back. "But you USE magic."

Cecil blinked, and he let out a nervous chuckle. "That is like me asking you how breathing works and expecting you to know because you breathe."

Kenzie couldn't stop herself, pressing her hand to her torso below her sternum. "When I take a breath, my diaphragm contracts, moving downward. This increases the space in my chest cavity, and my lungs increase in size as they expand to fill the space, drawing my breath in as a result. When I breath out, my diaphragm relaxes, decreasing the space in my chest cavity, which causes my lungs to shrink and my breath--" she paused, seeing that the Ferret was staring at her with a glassy-eyed expression, muzzle hanging open. She suddenly realized her error. "Oh... you meant that rhetorically."

Fortunately her bodyguard recovered quickly, attempting to gloss over the discussion with another nervous laugh. "You must be a scholar of some kind. I can't think of anyone other than a sage who would be able to explain something like that."

Letting out a breath, Kenzie tried to move past the awkwardness. "So, who would be able to explain magic to me, do you think?"

Cecil didn't even need to think for a moment about the answer. "Dark Gregor."

The name made her pause. "Dark Gregor? You mean the Court Mystic I met today?"

The Ferret's ears reddened and lowered. "Yes. Please forgive me, Mistress. Formally, Baron Gregor of the West. So many around the castle refer to him as 'Dark Gregor' that it... slipped out. I apologize for mis-speaking."

Smiling, Kenzie stood, placing her arm on his. "You're Forgiven, Cecil... I know you didn't mean anything by it. Would you please show me to Baron Gregor? If there's a chance he could help me understand magic better, I'd like to have a talk with him."

The Ferret nodded, but his tail puffed out. "I will guide you to his tower, Mistress, but he is not prone to entertain. Very few members of the court willingly visit him."

The young woman measured her tone to avoid sounding accusatory. "Does it have something to do with why the members of the court call him DARK Gregor?"

Cecil shied away slightly. "Baron Gregor is a Mythic, Mistress... his kind are as rare as Humans, or rarer, and, as such, most do not know how to relate to him... and he does not make it easy."

Kenzie took a step closer to the Ferret, sliding her arm more fully into his as he escorted her down a long hallway. "People fear him?"

Her bodyguard shrugged. "I suppose some may. In general he makes people uncomfortable. It may be similar in many ways to how the court reacts to me-- they view me with disgust, and they view him with unease."

She was pleased to see that he had the ability to self-reflect; that made her plan that much easier. "Well then, in that case I suppose if I'm giving YOU the benefit of the doubt, that's the least of what we should do with him then."

Kenzie was surprised when Cecil's lips pulled back into a half-smile, and he very nearly chuckled. "As you say, Mistress."

The Human glanced at her guard. "What's funny?"

His smile grew for a moment before it disappeared. "Oh-- it's... many Feyrahlians have a certain perception of Humans and... well... you are not what most seem to expect."

The young woman smiled. "Good. Between the two of us we'll prove them all wrong and, presuming Baron Gregor is also more than the rumors that seem to define him, that'll make three of us showing people the error of prejudging."

Cecil inclined his head to her. "If that is what you wish, Mistress... but are you sure you would rather not visit him in the morning after you get some rest?"

Kenzie rolled her eyes. "Cecil, where I'm from magic doesn't exist, and I've seen and experienced a few things that I can't explain. I won't be ABLE to sleep if I can't get at least a few of these questions answered."

The Ferret fought back a smile. "You are most certainly a scholar..."

Smiling at the statement, she didn't realize how many stairs they'd ascended during their talk until her calves started aching. "We've been going up stairs forever. How many floors does the castle even have?"

Cecil took a slightly tighter hold of her arm. "Mistress, we are in the Western Tower... the castle has but five floors, but the tower has ten."

Kenzie went out on a limb with her guess. "He's out of the way so people don't have to deal with him?"

The Ferret fidgeted. "He has a certain reputation, Mistress... yes, in many ways like me, but also... there are rumors about him."

She sighed. "Right... hence the 'Dark Gregor' name. Let me guess... it won't look good for me if I spend time around him?"

Cecil sighed. "I know you do not have any regard for the opinions of others, but, I ask that you let me stay with you if he invites you into his quarters."

Kenzie tried to keep her tone from being accusatory. "In order to protect my honor, or protect me physically?"

His tone was grave. "Both."

Pushing the negative thoughts regarding that statement out of her mind, she chose instead to try and stay positive. "I'm happy to have you with me, Cecil. Thank you."

She was unable to ever remember a time where she had seen such a large, genuine smile on his usually dour muzzle, but it disappeared a moment later when the two came to a stop, and Cecil motioned to a large, black, iron-bound door. "We are here, Mistress."

Something about his sudden change in demeanor gave Kenzie a moment's pause, but she quickly suppressed her doubt and offered him an encouraging smile. "Well... no time like the present, then."

She raised her hand to knock, but was startled when the door shuttered, a metal 'clank' coming from it as a locking mechanism was disengaged and, as it opened, Kenzie heard Gregor's unmistakable voice. "Ah... Lady McKenzie Fuller... so charming to have you visit."

Kenzie honestly didn't know why she felt ill-at-ease; perhaps it was the way he'd opened the door before she got a chance to knock, or perhaps how he seemed to know it was her before the door was even open enough for them to meet eye to eye-- both of those thoughts completely disappeared from her mind however when they were finally gazing at one another. She was looking up at him from their almost 2' height difference, and his eyes gazed back down at her; Gregor's eyes were two pools of red light... no irises and no pupils, just a red glow. She had to kick-start her brain. "Uh... hi."

He offered a warm smile, his leonine face surprisingly warm despite the way the rest of his presence chilled her. The black fur of Gregor's face was framed by a slightly lighter dark-colored mane and she saw an even blacker leather choker encircling his throat; she also noticed the royal seal on it. She remembered the significance after having had it explained to her by Cecil. "You've sworn yourself to the Emperor's family?"

Realizing after the fact that her statement may have been rude, she didn't have much time to consider it as he responded with an almost bemused smirk before answering her question with another one in return. "Are you interested in hearing about my history, or did you perhaps come with questions of a more magical nature?"

He slowly turned, pushing the door open as he stepped away from it, moving further into his room. What Kenzie first thought was a heavy cloak wrapped around his shoulders, she quickly realised were bat-like wings that he'd folded down to link together on his sternum. Further, it looked like he was wearing nothing else, or at least very little. Cecil also seemed to notice at the same time. "Baron, if it pleases you, you're in the presence of a Lady. Would it be too much of an imposition to have some modesty?"

The Mystic turned back around to face the two of them and, while not exactly LOOKING, she didn't specifically avoid looking, and realized that the man had a rather lavish-looking dark purple loincloth on. He snapped his fingers and he was suddenly adorned by a robe of a slightly lighter hue. "There. Does that pay due consideration to sensitive sensibilities, Guardsman Cecil?"

The Ferret fidgeted. "Y-yes, Baron... thank you."

The Manticore's gaze returned to Kenzie, making her shirk back reflexively before she forced herself to withstand the urge to cower. "Please forgive my indiscretion, My Lady... I do not often entertain guests, and, thusly, I do not often give much consideration to my rather casual appearance."

His comment could certainly be taken as chiding, but there was a genuine nature to his formal apology. She decided to see just how much of an advantage his request for an apology could gain her. "It's already forgiven, Baron Gregor... especially if you might do me a favor in return?"

Her statement seemed to either intrigue or entertain him. Taking a seat in a huge armchair, he raised one leg up and rested its foot paw on his other knee as he peered over his leg at her. "Please... no formality is required here. 'Gregor' will be fine. And what might this humble Mystic do for the Emperor's honored guest?"

She wasted no time in providing her answer. "I want to learn about magic."

He raised one eyebrow, an obviously humored smirk on his muzzle. "Oh? That is a rather large topic, My Lady... just how much time do you plan on spending with me?"