One last book was fitted snugly on the shelf. Another section completely read off, ready to be untouched for who knows how many more years. Together, Rem and Jacob had finished some reading and at Jacob's wish, reorganized what they had read. Rem had joked around earlier and asked Jacob if he needed any help with the material, and surprisingly Jacob had said yes on one particular thing. Rem was a bit surprised but demonstrated the magic anyways, confirming what Jacob had already thought it worked like. They then agreed to walk each other to dinner, walking down a long hallway.
"Jacob! You are getting very, very good at advanced magic. Well, more than you already are." Rem's small and bubbly voice resonated in the long halls. They were currently much smaller than Jacob, and would occasionally fly up and around him as the two walked, presumably to eat something.
"I know. Thank you for letting me access your library," Jacob said.
There was a small period of where they didn't speak, and Rem flew around in an erratic manner. Continuously a bundle of energy, Jacob watched Rem fly around carelessly. He wondered what Rem was thinking and concluded that, probably, not much. Vast periods of time lived did strange things to your current state of mind. He knew Rem could be very refined, but just found it easier to be immature. Long age was like repeatedly cycling through being a child and growing into an old adult, and periodically those lines blurred with Rem. But no one especially minded these days.
Still...the castle frequently dealt with people trying to come and challenge the patrons within it, or Rem themself. Of course, they never did get as far as Rem. Some of them were even beaten by Jamie. But Jacob knew that Rem sort of passively rooted for any mysterious challenger to be able to manage to get all the way to Rem themself. All their power was sort of...sitting around. Not being used. Jacob wondered if Rem would give him some. He also wondered how hard it would be to force it out of them himself.
"Rem..." Jacob began, " Do you ever feel like you have too much power and so it causes you to be...hyper?"
They ceased their flying around in the air, beginning to walk normally. Rem looked thoughtful before answering "No, I think that me being hyper is just myself being hyper. I was like this when I was just a regular human too. I remember this."
Jacob shrugged lightly. That was true. Before Rem had undergone everything after they had vanished, they had indeed been one to rapidly move around and wander. Be it for swordsmanship or any other interest, Rem was always very hard to catch. Speaking with them was difficult, but they also always had something to say that wasn't...boring. It was worth it to seek them out, if not just for the entertainment factor. But then they became powerful in more than just blades.
"Jacob...you're not done reading my library...I'll take you awhile. I also still have books I'm not done writing. There is also knowledge that is just being discovered, even as we speak. The sea also talks to me about developments. Will you leave once you're done with all the books here?" Rem asked Jacob the question, looking somewhat worried. "I will decide later Rem. I like it here." Jacob said in reply.
"What are you learning all this for right now anyway? Just for kicks? Bored? I was bored at first when I learned all that I did and got the power with time...Jacob...what will you do when you get reaaaaaally powerful?" Rem made exaggerated, happy movements. Truly they did wonder what Jacob was up to, cooped up and reading all the time. But they had lapses in memory...perhaps Jacob had already told them what his goals were...long ago. The thought worried them. Wouldn't they remember something like that for a friend? Maybe not...they had forgotten so many things. It was sort of a secret that the library was not just there for reference, but for certain reminders for Rem. Rereading books to remind themselves of forgotten things was not something uncommon, but was something they did in secret.
They brushed the thought off briefly, but were surprised when arms were wrapped around them. Their tiny body was lifted up, and their ears picked up keenly on Jacob whispering to them, "Perhaps take control not just the darkness of void and night, but the ocean and sea...and...All it's "patrons", as well" Rem squirmed a bit, but Jacob continued. "You know what I mean, don't you Rem? I hope you haven't gotten so soft as to dull your old cunning. Eventually if you sit around too long with a bunch of power...people will try to king you."
They were silent for a moment, ceasing their squirming. Then, in an odd visual experience, they warped themself to be bigger, in one of their "true" sizes. Jacob let go of them, with Rem's feet touching the floor, and Rem turned around and faced them with an amused expression. "I AM king. At least of this domain. It will stay like that."
Jacob allowed himself a chuckle. "A king you say? Perhaps, but only in title. The last time you were a king was centuries ago, and it was bloody on all sides."
"What did you expect in a demonic realm? Turnips? My finiese and brutality is remembered there...but there's no need to kick up old dust. It's... true. I may not be a "king" but I do watch over this area, and the sea. My cats are composed of those who view me as their old king turned friend" Rem said.
"Your cats...they are various "beings" aren't they? I thought as much."
"My loyals, my pets, my friends. They would be the first to tell you that the power I have is best to just be left alone and out of the hands of unscrupulous mortals." They paused briefly, grinning. "Or, unscrupulous immortals."
"Are you implying something?"
"Only if you're implying that once you amass enough power you want to try and dominate me."
"You would view it as unscrupulous?"
"Kinky, if anything. Jakey...be gentle with me, I am old and my hips hurt, my wings are sore." Rem sounded facetious for a moment.
They laughed at their last words and turned, continuing their walk down the hallway. Jacob followed, the smell of food eventually reaching both of them. Kinky huh? He liked that, no hiding it really. At the end of the day, Rem had still spent countless years on several completely different dimension planes than this one, had amassed power and infamy...only just to throw it all away, seemingly.
Rem started to speak again. "I'll tell you this...Jakey...if I were to "mysteriously" fall under the control of someone and lend power out, it would be out of boredom. You could probably get "a lot" out of me just for me being "bored." Just...as long as your intentions go with my moral...or amoral compass. If not..." Rem stretched their wings in a seemingly lazy gesture. "...we might have a bit of a...serious...conflict. I don't know about you...but it took me a couple centries to sleep off the stress of the last conflict I had...."
Rem allowed Jacob to catch up to them and got very close to them, eyes looking down at him. Smiling somewhat with mischief, they said "Don't be mean to your friends~ predator animals don't eat prey animals if they have a symbiotic relationship you know. There's fish and sharks in the ocean like that."
"It's been a very long time we've known each other and I think that's one of the most roundabout ways to describe friendships with power imbalances you've ever spewed from that blowhole of yours.
"Glub a dub dub, one shark in a tub. Come on now, let's eat, or I'll eat you."
They had kept walking all the way down the corridor until they had reached a door, which Rem politely opened for Jacob. It smelled nice in the next room, and Jacob observed various cats and members of the castle socializing. A few looked up at the master of the place and old friend entering, but went back to their business quickly enough with a few whispers here and there.
Eat him huh? There was no one around to say that he wouldn't mind that explicitly. Rem seemed to catch onto this and turned around and said "Later, when the pets are sleeping ok? Ok."
