Elias rushed to the palace without looking back. When he reached the gates, the guards stiffened at his appearance. He looked like a man ready to start a war.
"Excuse me, Captain Elias, do you have an appointment with someone in the palace?" one of them asked nervously.
Elias shot them a near-murderous glare, making the guards flinch. "Yes, I do. I'm here to see Anemone."
"Lord Anemone?" one guard repeated, exchanging a wary glance with his colleague. "Did he have an appointment with someone from the guild?" he whispered.
The other guard shrugged. "Who knows? Just let him in already—he's starting to cause a scene."
Passersby were beginning to take notice, murmuring amongst themselves as they eyed the furious Captain. The guard quickly unlatched the gates, allowing Elias through. He strode past them without hesitation, his sole focus on reaching the advisor.
When he arrived at Anemone's office, he didn't bother knocking—he simply pushed the door open and stormed inside.
Anemone looked up from his stacks of paperwork, startled by the sudden intrusion. His eyes widened as he took in Elias's disheveled, urgent appearance.
"Elias? What are you doing here?"
Elias scanned the room. Nothing was out of place—no signs of distress or danger. His gaze settled on Anemone, who sat at his desk, a teacup in hand, leisurely reviewing official documents. The captain's alarmed expression morphed into confusion.
"What… is going on?"
Anemone frowned. "I should be asking you that. Why are you here? And why are you barging into offices without permission?"
"I-I…" Elias faltered. "I was told there was an emergency here…"
Anemone's frown deepened. "What emergency? The palace is perfectly secure. Where did you hear this?"
Elias's lips twitched. I'm going to kill Casper when I see him, he thought bitterly.
"No, it's nothing," he said, regaining his composure. "Must have been a mistake."
Anemone exhaled, clearly unimpressed. "I see. Do you actually have business with me? Because if not, I'd rather you leave—"
"I do!" Elias blurted out.
Anemone arched a suspicious brow. "Really? What business?"
Elias froze for a moment, unsure of what to say. He racked his brain for an excuse—anything that could buy him a little more time. Now that he had laid eyes on Anemone, he found himself unwilling to leave just yet.
"Chariot!"
"Chariot?"
"Yes, a chariot race. I hear there's one happening near the Grand Pantheon this afternoon. I was wondering if you'd like to join me." He silently patted himself on the back for coming up with an excuse so quickly.
Anemone gazed at the captain with mild interest. "I see. A chariot race does sound nice, but as you can see," he gestured to his desk, "I'm rather busy at the moment. Perhaps another time."
Elias followed his line of sight and frowned. "How long have you been working?"
"About four hours now. Why?"
"I think you deserve a break after working so hard. You're allowed to rest, aren't you?"
Anemone considered this for a moment before sighing. "I suppose you're right. A break from all this paperwork would be nice," he admitted reluctantly.
A smile broke across Elias's face. "Of course I'm right—I always am. Now let's hurry up and get out of here." He wasted no time rushing the advisor out of his chair before he could change his mind.
Anemone watched the captain with amused eyes as he was dragged from the office. Seeing the happiness on Elias's face brought a small smile to his own. Shaking his head in resignation, he allowed the captain to do as he wished.
It had been a while since he'd spectated a chariot race, and he found himself looking forward to the break.
Chariot races were a popular form of entertainment in Trojas. They took place once a month and always drew a sizable crowd. A dedicated track had been built to accommodate the races, designed to facilitate the swift movement of the chariots and horses. The track was surrounded by low walls where spectators could watch from a safe distance.
Anemone was amazed by how much things had changed since his last visit. The two men enjoyed their time off, undeterred by work or responsibilities.
"Where should we go next?" Elias asked after the race had ended.
The captain was in high spirits—not only because he was spending time with his dear friend, but also because the chariot rider he'd been rooting for had won. The blond man was all smiles and wasn't ready for the day to end just yet.
Anemone, on the other hand, was slightly disgruntled. He had been certain his chosen racer would win, only for them to suffer a crushing defeat near the end. I guess my instincts aren't as sharp as they used to be, he thought.
Noticing the troubled look on his friend's face, Elias frowned. "Hey, are you still hung up on that loss? It's fine—I think most of the audience thought he would win."
Anemone shook his head. "No, it's not that. I just realized all that time I've spent inside the palace has dulled my senses a little."
Elias observed him for a moment before sighing. "Well, that's what happens when you don't move your body as much as you used to. If you leave your sword untouched for too long, of course, the blade will rust and become dull."
Anemone nodded. "Right."
"Well, it's nothing to worry about. I'm sure you're just as skilled as you were in your youth," Elias assured him with a smile.
Anemone eyed him suspiciously. "What makes you say that?"
"I know for a fact that when you're not working at your desk or answering the king's summons, you're training. The Anemone I know would grow restless if he didn't get to wield his sword every now and then," Elias chuckled.
The advisor felt his face warm at the remark. "Oh? So you know me that well?" He laughed, gently shoving Elias away.
"Of course I do. What other best friends do you have?" Elias slung an arm around his shoulder, pulling him closer. "No one knows you better than me."
Although Anemone wanted to deny Elias's words, he knew they were true. Elias was the only one he could truly call a friend—the only person he could rely on if he were ever in trouble. And in that moment, he realized just how lonely his life had been until now.
Yes, he found his role as the advisor to the most powerful king an honorable one, but more often than not, his days were filled with solitude. He was profoundly grateful for these small moments of peace he shared with Elias.
They both were.