With a longing gaze, you looked out the window, hoping Baldur would return soon so you could kill another night with chatter and questions.

Your skin was still burning form the night before.

Especially the spots around your elbows and joints had suffered quite a bit. They were itching as if a thousand insects were crawling all over, while biting and stabbing you every second. But scratching wasn't an option either, it would have caused wounds that needed weeks if not months to heal.

A sound filled the silence.

Footsteps made the floor creak.

A soft smile appeared on your lips. It was easy for you to recognise his steps, the way he was walking, confidently yet careful as if he was afraid the ground would shatter under his very feet.

"Baldur.", you threw a glance over your shoulder.

Letting out a soft breath he bowed his head in greeting, but kept his distance.

"Good night, (Y/N).", he said and eyed you as if he needed to make sure he wouldn't forget a single detail.

You noticed his strange behaviour. Compared to the night before he was reserved, holding himself back from touching you despite the interested shimmer in his eyes.

"Are you alright?", you asked.

He hummed and pulled out a scroll from his pants.

Interested, you tilted your head and let your eyes wander over the rolled paper before glancing up to him again, asking a silent question.

"It's an invitation.", he said and placed it on the table. "From my father."

Surprised, your eyebrows rose.

"What is it for?"

He sighed.

"I asked him if he could lift this curse of mine. But he can't. He is willing to tell me about someone who might be able to."

His eyes locked with yours, lake blue mixed with the excited sparkle of your (E/C).

"Your father is a mage?", you asked and grabbed the scroll to unfold it.

But the letters that danced across the pages were as unknown to you as a life without pain. They seemed old, ancient even, and so well written that each individual letter could have been a piece of art.

"My father is...", his lips curled in hesitation before he let out a soft gasp and had to frown. "You really... don't know who I am?"

You looked up.

"I don't know who anyone is.", you chuckled, but suffocated it immediately as you noticed his expression. "I- are you... someone powerful?"

His head tilted to the side, causing the long hair in the back of his neck to stroke across his broad shoulder.

"Yes. Yes I am. So powerful, so well known. And yet... you're... What are you?"

Unsure about the question, you placed the scroll back on the table and took a step away from him.

He didn't show a sign of threat, but the way his shoulders sunk and confusion made his eyes go dark was something that he had not shown before. He seemed different now, a little less human. They way his eyes jumped over your face felt arrogant, offended even.

Swallowing hard, you shook your head.

"I'm human.", you said in a silent voice. "Like you... right?"

Again, a breath escaped Baldur's bearded lips. He shook his head.

"No. I'm not. But I wish I would be.", slowly, he stepped forward and grabbed your cheek to give it a squeeze that caused a print of his fingers to appear. "Life gets boring, little butterfly. Entertain me with your weakness for a while, will you?"

Flinching because of the pressure, you squeezed the eye close to his hand shit and grabbed his wrist to dig your nails into it.

His eyes watched the gesture, but he only pulled away after a moment, making his finally realise that he truly couldn't feel a thing.

"Will you come by more often now?", you asked and wanted to scold yourself in the next moment for sounding so demanding towards a man that was far less than a friend.

Baldur shook his head slightly.

"I have to go on a journey.", be said and pulled out an amulet. "Be my companion."

Struck by surprise, your eyes widened and your breath stopped. But despite the shock, your curiosity drove you to reach out and take what he had to offer.

"What's that?", you asked and let your fingers run over the stone surface.

As the tips of your fingers cracked open, they left a thin line of blood.

The red dried immediately and sunk into the stone as if it was feasting on your pain.

"It's a seal of protection. I enjoy your company, even if I can't feel it. It kills time. But you seem awfully fragile and I don't want to risk loosing my entertainment through a stupid mistake."

A gasp escaped you. Your head jumped up, eyes locked with his.

"It will cure my curse?!", you asked, smiling with excitement.

"No."

"Oh..."

"But it will tell me whenever you need help. I'll be there, by your side. If you are willing to join me."

Unsure, your hands wrapped around the unusual present and squeezed so hard that a sharp pain chased through your knuckles.

For a long moment you couldn't help but keep your mouth shut. Thoughts raced through your head, the beat of your heart was unnaturally quick.

The offer made the hairs in the back of your neck stand up straight with ecstasy. But at the same time fear tied your throat.

"I- I've never known anything but this...", you said. "And mother..."

"She doesn't love you the way you imagine.", his voice was as cold as ice as he said it. "My mother is just like her, selfish, thinking she's doing right. But all she does is ruin your life."

"I don't want to die."

"You won't. I'll make sure of that."

"But... she'll be all alone without me."

As you looked up again to meet his gaze, your heart almost stopped beating.

His eyes were as dark as sin, burning with hate and fury.

"I've listened to her many times.", he said, calm yet so many emotions in his words. "She prays to the gods every night and every day that one day you'll die and she'll be free again. I've heard her plead. The only thing that keeps her from doing it herself is the fear that she'll be made responsible."