Smile, child, even if it is only an act.
The words ran through Ivan’s mind the entire time he had been back in the capital. He hadn’t given much notice when he left Arcadia, he had only worried about himself. In all honesty, he tended to do that quite a bit. Even if he vocalized that he was leaving on important business, in reality he had wanted an escape. He tended to run from his emotions more often than he cared to, but he had at least accepted it to the point where he never bothered to tell people when he was leaving on a trip. Perhaps that was disrespectful... but then again, he didn’t have many people he was all that close to on the island. He only stayed for one person, and that person was equally the reason he was back in the capital.
If you can instill peace in your subjects, you have earned your title.
To be a royal Earthmate meant to play the part of royalty, and as much as Ivan hated to say as much, he had gotten adept at it. Even as the king wished him a happy birthday, Ivan could smile brightly enough to persuade Gilbert into honestly believing his search was going well. He told the king what he told him every year-- he had been mistaken in his search, or the information he had received wasn’t honest. This was the only time he had lied, but Gilbert believed him. Or perhaps he just feared what would happen to the dejected young boy who lost his brother should he choose not to believe him.
But do not create a false sense of peace. Lies do not become the royalty of Norad, and the repercussions will double.
Ivan could almost feel the tension in the air as it battled against the smile he had scrawled on his face. It was a thick and sturdy mask, made with the finest thoughts of happier times. There was no chance it would break, even as he stood both casually and respectfully in the throne room. He could feel his chest restrict itself, denying himself the required oxygen he needed to form words. It was the same dialogue every time. He had practiced year after year. His emotions were wavering now, though. Now that it was no longer a search and rescue.
“A purpose...” He muttered into the wall of scales he had retreated to after the discussion had finally ended. The cave on the surface was his only safety net in the capital. His hair draped wildly across the glimmering sheen of purple, contrasted with the thriving plants that encircled the two beings. Between Earthmate and Earth Dragon, the humidity and simple smell of nature was a pleasant and welcoming aroma.
“Isn’t existing its own purpose?” The grumble from the enormous figure grounded Ivan, his eyes refocusing from the individual scales to the being as a whole. The god’s eyes were especially entrancing, seeming to reflect the world as a single orb-shaped entity. As he considered the statement, Ivan realized Terrable had existed here underneath the capital, sealed away for as long as he could recall. Between himself and the Divine Wind Dragon Ventuswill, taking away existing as its own right was an insult to the two of them-- perhaps to all of them, but he cared not to linger on the details of the two remaining elements.
“I could try and break the seal.” Ivan had broken it once as a child, for his own selfish gain, and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. This was his downfall.
“So that you might keep me in your own comfort? Don’t you think too highly of yourself?” Terrable snorted, the vines drawing nearer to his breath and extending slightly. “I’m still a god, you know. This seal does not keep me in, it keeps others out.”
“Do you make yourself a god before you fancy yourself a friend?” Ivan frowned, his face contorting into an unusual expression of frustration.
“I do when that friend is acting like a child.” Terrable’s emotions echoed off the cave walls, “You should be celebrating, not crying. You’ve found your brother.”
“An unrequited love from an unexpected mishap with fate.” Ivan muttered, his lips tightening with the emotional pain that coexisted alongside such a sentence, “I hardly see a reason for celebration... and I wasn’t crying.”
“Right, right...” The dragon seemed to have given up, “Well, when you’re done your emotional roller-coaster, leave. You’ll have important business to attend to on that island.”
Ivan knew the god could see a lot, but his words of premonition often left the Earthmate wondering if he could see the future of the whole world. He doubted that-- even gods had limits. Still, the wall the dragon had built as Ivan grew in years left the man frustrated. He reasserted his authority and power as a god time and again. It seemed as if Terrable were telling him he was only human, and yet as often as Ivan thought this, the god was quick to reinforce the fact that this was never an insult.
“There is a power in humanity. Emotions are not a weakness, as convincing as this may seem. Your feelings on your day of birth are even more a strength, if you are willing to accept them.” Terrable breathed out long words, his scales replicating the sound of rainfall as he shifted slightly, allowing Ivan to make himself more comfortable. That was invitation enough for him to stay a bit longer. This was a show of trust that seeped through the title of “god” and betrayed the dragon’s mask. This was their friendship. This was his loyalty. This was Ivan’s pious and personal beliefs mixed into an unlikely relationship. “Happy birthday.”
Tl;dr: When ur friend acts like a 5-yr-old, react by acting like a god. Works every time.
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