here's my fantasy drivinglessons au that started as a joke and is very much not a joke anymore oops. meet Rielan and Drevar! lore under the cut and also on my artfight page
Rielan is a wizard who was a high ranking Court mage before being embarrassingly ousted and demoted to a trainer of novices. Eventually, the Court calls him for his aid out of nowhere, to go on a long journey to help save the kingdom from a mysterious far-off threat, joined by two other high level strategists. They are assigned Drevar, a dangerous criminal they've reformed into a "knight" for whatever their purposes. He's of dragon lineage, something extremely rare, as dragons have been thought to be extinct for several generations. He's exremely obediant and honorable, only removing his mask to eat, far away from his charge.
Early in their journey, their party is attacked, and the other two members are killed. Drevar unleashes his power to subdue the attackers, brutalizing them in order to protect Rielan. Neither of them want to turn back for fear of being seen as a failure, so they continue their quest. Drevar is committed to his cause, becoming borderline obsessed with Rielan and his safety, but Rielan realizes he doesn't mind the attention. Soon, they learn more about each other and find comfort in each other's lonesome company.
Drevar was detained when he was young for a violent act and held by the kingdom, being trained to be their tool and weapon as penance, and conditioned to think that he was innately violent and dangerous to others, and that he needed the reformation to redirect his strength. Convinced of his nature, he follows the rules set by the Court with no complaint, doing whatever job is needed of him. They cut off his horns to better pass off his appearance, and make him wear gloves and the mask to prevent accidents. The mask "reacts" to him opening his mouth too far, causing him to talk quietly as well as keep his stoic composure even during fights.
Along their journey, Rielan finds out about Drevar's past and of his situation and is disgusted by what the kingdom has done to him. He convinces Drevar through his kindness that he is in fact not inherently violent as he knows Drevar would never hurt him. Drevar was very much against receiving any affection or closeness from Rielan at first, because he wasn't used to it, didn't think he needed/deserved it, and was deathly worried he'd hurt him. Eventually, though, being on such an arduous journey (and after dealing with some magically fatal pollen iykyk), they grew closer, and soon relished in it. Drevar melts at any affection or praise Rielan gives him, and Rielan loves being protected and considered so passionately.
