Interlude: On Top of the Mountain

 Once upon a time, on a mountain made of glass, there was a great and beautiful castle inhabited by the most magnificent wizard in the kingdom.

Reod stretched out on his throne, cushioned by cushions of all shapes and sizes—some of them even shaped like animals!—and with his golden gaze, he watched over everything that happened in his little kingdom. Right now, he watched the Neuntöter’s domain, even though he couldn’t clearly see the two lovebirds hiding beneath the vines. He squinted for a second, before he leaned back with a sigh. He really should brush up on his observational spells. 

"You must save them," Husina said from out of the dark.

The sphynx was trotting back and forth, her twitching tail betraying her calm appearance. She didn’t even lay down on her favorite pillow. Instead, her golden eyes looked right at Reod. Not a plea, but a demand.

"They have accepted my challenge," he grumbled back.

Still, he couldn't take his eyes off the two lovebirds he'd met through sheer luck—or rather, a pull of fate. The tailor, Paltar, was slowly fading away, even as the princess sobbed over him, staining her pretty dress. It was a horrible sight. Reod’s mouth twisted into a grin, but he didn’t feel happy.

"They are quite clever," Husina said, coming closer. “Should it really end here?”

Reod simply shook his head in reply.

The two of them needed a little adversity. After all, things had gone so well before—but now a simple griffin was enough to turn them into a shambling mess? Reod simply didn't understand humans, magical or not. Even if these two were... interesting.

"I'm not saying that for me—or for them," Husina hurried to say. “I just think they’re fun.”

The she-cat shook herself and began to lick her paws. Usually she didn't come out of her cave—it was quite a climb up to his throne room, and even though she was his subordinate, she wasn't spared from the effort.

"I mean, they provide a lot of entertainment for you, don't they?" She laughed. "You should have seen him up close when we met! He was shaking like a leaf."

"And yet they managed to solve your riddle without a problem."

"That wasn't my fault." She began to lick even faster, as if trying to get every last speck of dust from between her toes. "I don't even know how they got the answer. It was like the little goose read my mind."

"Hm."

Reod stretched out and took one of the pillows from behind his back. It was shaped like a mouse and a little misshapen, made of all sorts of fabrics. It looked quite worn.

“Huh.” He couldn’t even remember getting this one.

"This is mine!"

Suddenly, it was out of his hands.

"Eonolt," Reod said to the shape in the shadows, "you were to blame as well! You were supposed to lead them astray, not help them!"

"But…"

"Can't you just admit defeat?" Husina sighed.

As always, she sided with the little changeling. Even though Reod was king here, it felt like he was constantly being undermined by his underlings!

"Fine, fine," he sighed.

He wasn’t entertaining them. It was true that the two humans had awakened his interests, and it would be a shame to have their story end here. But he would never say that out loud. He stood up and smoothed out his rumpled clothes.

"That tailor better make me a good suit for all I'm going to do for him," he muttered.

After all, he could use a new set of clothes. Especially when they came from someone as interesting as Paltar. He still couldn't quite understand the boy, but he certainly wasn't from this world. Not with his power. The threads of fate... if he ever mastered them, he could change this world forever. Reod shook his head. No, he wouldn't let it go that far. But maybe a little guidance wouldn't hurt.

"Really? You will help them?"

Eo stared at him from the shadows, eyes unblinking.

"Who knows?" Reod shrugged. "I think they should help themselves. I will only give them a chance."

He didn't want to play favorites. They weren't the only ones vying for his favor, or the only ones accepting his challenge to the mountain. He saw them all, their destinies intertwined, interchanged, all striving upward—or staying behind. This challenge was not for the weak-willed.

After all, a wizard's favor was worth more than gold.

His footsteps echoed across the cold stone hall as he made his way through. Husina followed behind him, her steps as soft as her fur.

He wasn't one to play favorites. But sometimes...

"It's not because of you, my dear," he said. "So don't get any ideas."

"Ideas? Me?" She laughed. "I just make up riddles. You're the one who should think more."

But he could tell by the way her tail curled that she was happy with his decision. And the more he thought about it, the happier he was with his decision. After all, their story was not over. Not yet.

Not when there was a choice to be made.

"I will go alone," he said at the door, his hand resting on the heavy bronze doorknob. "You just stay behind and watch."

He looked back and saw Eo moving from one shadow to another.

"Don't interfere."

His voice grew cold, and the temperature seemed to drop.

"I will not tolerate such a thing."

"Of course not, sir!" Husina hurried back to the mirror monitors. "We'll just enjoy the show from here."

Eo stared at him for a little longer than was necessary, but when Reod blinked, he had taken the seat next to Husina, clutching that worn-out toy in his hands. 

"Good."

With that, he finally opened the door and made his way to the two poor souls.

He was getting too soft.

Or maybe it was just getting good. He grinned as the hot air hit his face.