You shake your head to clear out the recollection and focus on addressing the present, letting the chime of your chains calm your elevated heart rate. You exhale, then open the large wooden doors before you, keeping your hands raised in a defensive position as soon as you finish. You know they have a guard of some kind and you didn’t live this long only to get skewered by some overprotective delusional fool.

“Adenza, I need to speak with you, it’s…” You hesitate as your half-moon gaze flits upward to the radiant figure lounging on the altar ahead, taking in the devil you just thought of. Mentally, you know that they wouldn’t appreciate the comparison, but you’re still too bitter to care how they feel about anything. Finally, the end of your sentence slips out in a murmur, “...It’s your old friend, I need something.”

The gold bloods gaze has been on you since you entered and their expression is as unreadable as you expected. They’re smiling faintly, of course, but that doesn’t really mean anything. You don’t see their guard at this moment and you thank the stars for that because the faster you’re done here the better. You hate seeing this.

“Ah, Tavian, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you and we have spoken to one another. I would have visited you, but our home was gone by the time I returned.”

The way with which they mention it so casually irritates you and you wonder if they care. You know they may have, once, a long time ago before they blinded themself with their own luminous ego. “Yes, well, shame it is to say, I’m not here to reminisce or catch up. I need you to remove whatever you’re doing to the Blue that came to me the other night. It’s preventing me from my work and I’m sure you can imagine how un-fun that is for me.” You’ve closed your wings, but have yet to put them away, just in case they don’t take kindly to your demands and you need to make an escape. You don’t trust this place.

Adenza frowns. You aren’t sure exactly what that means, since you haven’t peered in on them in some time, but it definitely makes you nervous.

“Yes, I know to whom you are referring.”

That does not bode well, even still after all these sweeps, you know a short sentence from someone like Adenza can be a bad sign. A touch of sweat beads on your forehead when you see their giant bodyguard come from behind and loom over them to glare at you, even from this distance his tall and muscular stature intimidates you. You have to bite back your normal cheeky replies and instead schmooze. This feels so beneath you, but you know you probably can’t fend off both of them, you’re just not built for that.

“Look, Your Lustrousness, I did not know they were one of yours before accepting their request. I am trying to get this over with as quickly and easily as possible, what’s one follower for a quick chat with an old friend anyway?” This isn’t you, well, not the way you speak and it certainly isn’t the way you feel about any of this, but you’re no idiot, so you just hold your tongue for now.

Their smile returns a little as they reply, “You are right Tavian, let me offer you this extension of goodwill, if I may. I would hate for us to be on bad terms after our growing up together.” They look over their shoulder at their-- Mate? Bodyguard? …Assistant? You’re still not completely sure-- And then they give a small nod. Before long the blue you were locked into an exchange with is brought forward to stand in front of Adenza, facing you.

This action gives you the worst feeling you’ve had since you arrived here, but you decide to wait for them to do as you asked and keep your mouth shut.

Adenza sits up with a wince, yet seems unimpeded by it as they outstretch their hands to be on either side of the blue-bloods head. Their eyes begin to glow with warm radiant light, one that usually inspires awe but to you only brings out discomfort.

After a moment their nose begins to bleed. You think that’s the worst of it but then the Blue’s eyes begin to bleed and they cry out, falling to their knees in pain.

“All taken care of, now please, take them with you and be on your way for the evening Tavian, I must retire…”

You’re frozen for a moment before your brain finally catches up with what just happened. It only takes another second before you swoop in and grab the injured troll, ushering them outside with you as quickly as you can.