"Sebastian, I dare you to meet Artemus' mother and have a cup of tea with her before you leave."

The mage groaned.

"Fine. A-mu, what about you?"

"Tell the Emperor that you're considering monkhood and so you require a teacher."

"How cruel," Syryn tutted.

Artemus was playing the long game of torture. If Sebastian really did say that to the emperor then he had to carry out the act of monkhood. Plain bread and soup for meals, religious study, abstaining from pleasure, meditation - Artemus was trying to kill Sebastian.

"Is- is this revenge?" The mage asked.

"Yes."

"Can I give him his third dare?" Syryn asked Artemus. He was plotting again.

"Go ahead."

The mage wasn't feeling very comfortable at the moment. Syryn had a look in his eyes that promised pain.

"So, your last dare. Tell Rowan that I, Syryn, told you that I love the shape and build of your body, Sebastian." It wasn't even a lie.

The mage reared back in surprise. "S'ryn, what?"

"You heard me."

"Are ya tryin' t'make him jealous?"

"No. If I wanted to do that, all I have to do is hold hands with someone from Nua." Syryn wanted to light a fire under Rowan so that he would feel a sense of urgency.

"I don't understand the games that youngsters play these days. I'm sure Rowan would have a lot t'say about it," Sebastian said to the young man. "Nevertheless, I'll do it." The sandy-haired mage could think of two ways that Rowan would react and neither was likeable. But it was also Syryn's head on the chopping board alongside his, so Sebastian accepted his fate.

"Anyway, A-mu," Sebastian's smile was evil. "I wanted to go easy on ya but I change my mind. Cruelty begets cruelty, don't ya think?"

The anti mage shrugged. "Do your worst."

"I dare you to go on a date with me." This had been Sebastian's objective all along. For this, he began the game. For this, he accepted the dares that would take his life.

"Sure," Artemus answered.

Sebastian raised his brows in surprise. What was going on? He felt like he was walking into a trap. Where was the refusal that he had been expecting? The frown, the wrinkling of his nose in Sebastian's direction?

"I'll pick you up tomorrow evenin'," he quickly answered before his expectations became a reality. He didn't know that Artemus had other plans for him, one that involved not leaving home.

The anti mage had been badgered and flirted with for so long that he decided it was time to just fuck the mage and put an end to the sexual tension that had begun brewing between them lately. It would also be the culmination of all those years of pining that never got closure. He didn't think he would lose his heart to Sebastian again. The mage was no longer the boy he used to love.

The sandy-haired mage was still a bit surprised by how easily it had happened. His easy-going nature took a backseat and the thinking part of Sebastian came to the fore to dissect the mystery of Artemus' agreeability.

"Syryn," the anti mage's dark gaze rested on him and it brought a sinking feeling to the pit of his stomach.

"Yes.."

"I dare you to hold hands with the Prince when Rowan is watching, preferably with your fingers laced."

This was called the technique of using the most useless of information to ruin your enemy. Artemus had woken up and chosen violence.

"Ah, the prince?" Syryn asked with a slight tremor in his voice. The letters came to mind. He wept from the inside because Rowan had already confiscated them for future reading. He hadn't been able to deny the handsome blond face when Rowan had made pleading eyes at him.

"You look pale. Are you okay?" Sebastian asked.

"Rowan will kill us, Seb."

The mage snorted. "You realise that now?"

"I take back your dare. Don't say anything to Rowan!"

"It's too late. We're both going down together."

"Sebastian, please!" Syryn fell to his knees. The letters were bad enough. If Sebastian told Rowan that Syryn found his body hot, and then saw him holding hands with Riaku - forget jealousy, Rowan was going to blow his top!

"It's good t'see ya beg like this sometimes," the mage grinned. "Plead a little more S'ryn. Use those pretty eyes and shed a few tears. I might relent."

"Elysium sure has strange customs," a voice interrupted their fun time. Riaku had woken up and witnessed something suspicious happening.

"Your highness," Artemus smoothly took over the situation. "How are you feeling?"

Riaku raised his hand and felt around the smooth skin on his face where he clearly remembered the armour searing into.

"I am strangely well. Syryn, did you heal my burns?" Riaku turned curious eyes to the teen.

"No," Syryn could not mention Red's involvement at the moment. "It must have been the healing powers in the armour of Soma." Which was now lying in a heap at the corner of the room.

Riaku's brows drew together in confusion but he played along. "I see. How goes the war?" He was strangely calm for a prince whose nation was under attack. It seemed that the latest incident with the demons had sapped the prince of any sympathy he had left for Nua. An abandoned prince who was expected to die for the kingdom; how much could he endure before he snapped?

"We'll receive news soon."

"Artemus, how did you get here so fast?" Riaku said to the anti mage.

"Your guard, Akida, came through the path and asked for assistance. Consequently, I arrived with Sebastian and Rowan, two of Sigil's most capable fighters."

The prince nodded. "Nua owes Sigil. We will open a diplomatic channel through which our kingdoms may come to a satisfactory exchange of goodwill."

Artemus cast a glance towards Syryn. His lips quirked up just enough to tease the teen. "Our emperor will be informed of it. We will probably leave tonight if Rowan can convince iron claw into retreating. Syryn, however, will remain till a delegation arrives from Elysium. I request that your highness take good care of him until then."

"And does that include holding hands with him?" Riaku smiled at the suddenly bashful Syryn. How much had he heard?!

"That is entirely up to you, your highness," Artemus responded after clearing his throat. "We meant no disrespect to your-"

Riaku waved the anti mage's concerns away. "It's the least I can do after having my life saved by all of you."

While Riaku and Artemus made polite conversation, Syryn's attention was drawn to the window. He spotted Akida flying towards them. He was alone.