<div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #40BFBF"><span style="font-family: Monotype Corsiva;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Archmage of Scarborough</span></span></span><br/><span style="color: #BFBF80">Scarborough Castle</span></div><br/><br/>Light green eyes fell upon the faces of three children as they giggled and yelled  while passing <span style="font-style: italic">him</span> by. They ran down the hall and in their paths to the kitchen, knocking everything to the floor. A woman, wide and tall, stopped them in their tracks. She pinched one of the children's noses as the two others laughed. The first one opened his mouth to breathe while the other two attempted to escape. The woman still managed to grip one of them by the ear and drag both kids into the kitchen as they whined. The third, seeing his friends captives to the female miller, had no other choice but to follow behind - a hunched back and a frown on his face. It was that, or playing alone.<br/><br/>It was early morning in Scarborough. It was too early actually that elsewhere in the Kingdom, some people still slept safe and sound. And when they rise from their sleep, they would have rested peacefully, soundly,  indubitably knowing they had guardians at their gates. Of course, most citizens would have been awake and on their feet a little bit earlier than the inhabitants of the King's palace. Some of these people were clergymen, bailiffs, farmers, blacksmiths and carpenters, traders and merchants alike along with other service workers. The kingdom lived in prosperity and they woke thankful everyday, thankful that they had something new to do that day.<br/><br/>To Aurion, it always seemed very strange how humans needed sleep in order to function properly the following day and how sleep was like this golden chain that tied their health regimen to their body through the depths of blackness that was the night. Ah, these miserable creatures!<br/><br/>Sleep though he knew not. Every time he was awake, he was awake for the first time. The Djinni never slept before or knew what sleep was like, they did not even need to recharge. But since he was freed and granted a physical form, Aurion found himself to be very curious, curious about a blood and flesh material form he was never used to. For 6500 years and as centuries passed, he knew nothing else but an invisible, smoke-like form. Even when he was conjured, he would shape-shift into nothing else but a simple manifestation of what the conjurer would have wanted to see.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>A light wind swept over the grass while he stepped into the open, the hem of his somber robes sweeping the ground as he advanced into gardens buried in verdure. He rubbed his hands together, a single sage leaf between his palms. He breathed deep of its fragrant aroma while eyes riveted to one particular window as he looked up. A wicked tremble of the lips pulled one of the corners of his mouth into a faint smile, and he inhaled a swift intake of breath. <br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Your highness, it's nearly seven chimes. Your breakfast is nearly ready."</span><br/><br/>The words slipping through the lips of the maid, adjusted their sails and reached his ears. It was then that a light brow arched above his eye and distaste moistened his throat as he scented <span style="font-style: italic">her</span> presence - the woman sharing his Highness' bed. The wife. His lips closed tight. He stiffened. That woman. There was something about her he disliked immensely and frankly, if it wasn't for the King, he would have made her swallow her own gut-churning screams as he accompanied her on a trip into the abyss of no return.<br/><br/>Unfortunately, with embracing freedom also came the loss of certain demonic abilities of his, such as the ability to hear people's thoughts from any distance, or the capacity to possess their bodies to turn them into vessels in the physical plane. There were other powers he had lost the moment he joyed in the taste of liberty, and if there was anything in his existence that he feared the most, other than being entrapped and bound, then this other thing would be none else but his very own freedom. <br/><br/>Even though the master granted him freedom, Aurion found himself obliged to serve the ones he was meant to protect and so, he continued wearing his golden bracelets as a sign of his servitude. He was there to ensure the rise of the King, every day, and safely. So if he could, he would have been able to plunge into the wife's mind to find out for himself what exactly was  or is she thinking. His instincts did not betray and in the meantime, he would study <span style="font-style: italic">her</span> closely.<br/><br/>Obtrusive footstep sounds neared. He dropped his gaze away from the King's window and turned around on his heals, leading himself back inside the castle. <br/><br/>---<br/><br/><span style="color: #BFBF80">" I take it that your master is awake? "</span> His sudden presence out of nowhere startled the maid, caught with her ears against the surface of the beautifully ornate doors that gave to the King's massive chamber. His voice was spoken smoothly and low when he asked a question he already knew the answer to.<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">" Aye, his Highness is indeed awake. "</span> Her fragile answer was short and clear but the nervous change in her breathing pattern belied the glint of calmness in her eyes. This maid, in particular, never felt at ease around Aurion, much to his satisfaction. He never truly enjoyed the company of humans.<br/><br/>Aurion put his gloved hands behind his back as he cocked his head to the side.  <span style="color: #BFBF80">" Well then, keep moving, unless you want your master to find out that you've been eavesdropping on a private conversation. "</span> He glared at the female whose eyes clouded over with concern.<br/><br/>When the wench departed, the creature began to pace the corridor, patiently waiting.</div>