Terror. Pure utter terror. The only possible tag to describe the dizziness, cold sweat, and rock-heavy stomach. Beads of sweat trickled down his back and his necktie felt tight and itchy. Ajeel raised up his fist to the oak wood death-gate before him but it was repulsed, as if his hand and the door were the same pole of a magnet. It was now or never.
Knock
Knoc-
The door swung open revealing the pale-haired inhabitant.
"Oh, you arrived." Invel said nonchalantly as he sidestepped out of the way - an invitation to enter. An invitation never once presented to him or any of the 12 in a matter of fact. Ajeel cautiously stepped into the room. Immediately, his eyes scanned all the surfaces in the room for a sign of crawling frost. None were found.
"How long are you going to be standing dumbfounded in the middle of my office? This is not the first time you've been here" Invel said sternly behind him.
Ajeel stiffened but nodded, and plopped, as carelessly as he could, into his usual seat awaiting the possible lecture of death seasoned with punishment. Invel sat at his desk and handed a small file to Ajeel:
"Your salary for the month. You may take your leave."
"...What," confusion tied with bits of dread muddled the sand mage's mind.
Invel frowned, "I said: here is your salary for the month. You may take your leave. Is that clear?"
Puzzlement and possibly pent-up nerves tore out of his throat, "that's it?"
Invel raised an eyebrow at his outburst.
"I sunk a fucking island," Ajeel swung his arms around in emphasis, "And all you do is give me my check? What is wrong with you? Are you sick? Have you slept enough?"
Invel pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, his collected expression unwavering, "I am aware of that. And I am feeling fine, thank you."
Ajeel opened his mouth to retort only to be silenced by a wave of Invel's pen.
"Unless you want punishment I suggest you take your leave so I can get back to my work."
It was clear that Ajeel was not going to receive any other answer so he took to his feet. Suspicion prevented any sense of relief from lifting the weight of anxiety that nested on his shoulders.
As he stepped out the door he heard Invel call out: "By the way, happy birthday."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was exactly fifteen minutes later when God Serena, usually a flamboyant glittery pain in the ass, trudged out of the Emperor's office appearing as though he experienced horror beyond belief. Ajeel furrowed his brow in confusion then spotting Invel smirking in the hallway before taking his leave back to his office.