"Titans forbid, you are more insufferable than itchy bugs," you cursed.

"Hah, says the spawn of the devil," the golden guard glares at you behind his mask.

The both of you sat on a stool in the infirmary with two healing witches that tended to you - namely the head healing witch in Darius's fort and her apprentice. It was one of your petty fights again.

The two healing witches who were currently healing the both of you sighed. 

It's been going on like this forever. You were enough of a nuisance to deal with in the fort and yet, Darius just had to mentor another insufferable kid.

Ever since Darius started mentoring the golden guard, the both of you would start to bicker and battle every chance you get. Not to mention the numerous pranks that the workers had to deal with - mainly speaking your messy pranks like glitter bombs. 

Other innocent witches had also been caught with both your petty pranks resulting to more work in the infirmary.

Titans did they want to just let the both of you suffer from the injuries that you caused to yourselves but they couldn't do that now can they? 

You were Raine's nephew, and he was known to be a powerful bard, and was there a need to mention the golden guard, the nephew of the emperor? 

Worse is that you were both Darius's precious students. Although Darius may not show it, he did care about the both of you.

"Ow! Can you stop that?" You looked at the head witch that pinched your wounded knuckles. Thankfully, this time there wasn't a chip of mask embedded on your bones.

The healing witches, currently treating both of you, exchanged tired glances. "It's been like this forever," the head witch murmured, adjusting her attention between you and the golden guard.

"You know..." The head healing witch looked at you and the golden guard for a brief moment. "Under all those layers of character, you and the little princeling here are similar."

"Say that again?" the golden guard said in a threatening tone. "AaHOw! Why you—" He turned to the healing witch who had pinched his arm.

"Do not talk to your elders like that," the healing witch glared.

"Pffff, yeah, she's an elder alright," you laughed.

Smack. "Hey! Would you cut it out, old hag?!" You held your head.

"Call me that again and I will make your veins explode," she glared.

"Why can't the both of you just get along? Everyone in the fort is complaining about how they keep getting caught up in your petty fights!" the healing witch beside the golden guard said with a discontented face.

"Get along? With him? Look at him! His skin is practically bursting with a sore amount of ego!" You held both your hands out toward the golden guard.

"You're just saying that because Darius favors me over you," he said smugly.

"Why you—" The head witch pulled the back of your collar down to keep you from pouncing on the smug blondie.

She sighed, "When will you grow up?"

"Well, I ain't," you huffed and crossed your arms.

The healing process was done.

"Yeah, even if you tried, you wouldn't," the golden guard retorted. Since when did he become so insufferably sassy?

"Shut it, Goldie," you glared.

You stood up and stretched your legs. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm having lunch with my mentor." You smiled smugly and turned to the large mahogany door to leave.

Just as you left, the head witch sighed once more. She felt like she was getting older the more time she spent with you.

Then she turned to the little princeling. "It would be in the best interest of this place if you two just got along."

"With them? I would rather be boiled alive," the golden guard said, putting on his glove.

He then left abruptly.

"He reminds me of (Name) when they first arrived at the fort," the apprentice witch said as she watched the golden guard leave.

"How so?" the head witch asked.

"(Name) hasn't always been so spirited, have they?" She turned to the head witch.

They remembered the first time you entered the fort as Darius's student. At that time, you weren't as open and mischievous as you are now.

You were similar to the little princeling: cold-hearted, rigid, and not very talkative. You were quick to warm up and change your attitude, though.

You had a way of making everyone annoyed and repulsed by you while at the same time growing on them, making them used to your presence.

While your chaotic nature wasn't welcomed with open arms in the fort, you made the place feel alive. Your absence started to make the place feel lackluster compared to when you were around.

"Perhaps time will make them realize," the head witch said, looking at the empty infirmary.

"I. Want. PANCAKES." Three resounding thuds followed each word as you pounded the dining table with your fist.

"Quiet, atrocious bard. We do not hit the dining table like a bunch of uncultured monkeys," Darius reprimanded you, his tone sharp as he took the pan from the corner.

He wore a purple apron and casual clothes, much like a househusband and a sweet father. Despite his homey outfit, his pompous and princely attitude was still quite evident, a stark contrast that never failed to amuse you.

"Would you shut it, monkey?" The golden guard, sitting on the other side of the table, glared at you. "Darius is baking waffles, and that is final." He smugly crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin.

"It's not fair! Why does he get to choose?" You pointed accusingly at the smug princeling.

"I've told you before, pancakes and waffles are the same," Darius said, his voice calm as he mixed the ingredients with practiced ease.

You gasped dramatically and covered your mouth with a hand. "What a blasphemous thing to say."

It wasn't an uncommon sight for you to see Darius acting like an actual responsible mentor. The first time he had cooked for you was after a particularly grueling training session where he felt guilty for pushing you too hard. Ever since then, it had become a common occurrence for Darius to spend his free time with you whenever he was in the mood.

What? Just because Darius was annoyed by your childish and sadistic persona didn't mean he actually resented you.

"Ugh. Ever since that golden two-shoes became your student, you've been neglecting me! This is betrayal! Disloyalty! Treachery!" You hit the table once more, making the plates clatter, emphasizing your dramatic proclamation.

"Heh, what can I say? I guess I just have that kind of charm," the golden guard chimed in, his smugness practically radiating off him.

You shot your eyes to him and glared, feeling a surge of irritation.

"You are acting even more childish than before," Darius said, looking at you with an 'I'm tired of you' gaze.

"My dearest mentor is favoring the Emperor's nephew more than me. How can I not?" You huffed and looked away, crossing your arms.

Ever since the golden guard became Darius's student, you had to split the little attention you had from your busy mentor.

Not to mention that the golden guard was so annoyingly clingy to your mentor. For Titan's sake, he would follow Darius like a leech everywhere he went.

One time, Darius shooed away the little princeling by saying, "You are becoming insufferably annoying, little prince. Leave." To which the golden guard hummed happily and left, skipping and jumping like a child who just got a toy.

It was weird. Even Darius was weirded out.

You were starting to think that perhaps the golden guard pulled some strings illegally to have Darius mentor him. The thought made you shudder. His obsession with Darius was a bit unnerving.

But you noticed that Darius started warming up to the golden guard over time. He even invited him over to your special break lunches!

How would you describe it? It was like an only child being cast away from attention because another sibling was born. It's not fair!

"I remember the days when it was only me that you cared about in that stone heart of yours," you said, looking up at the ceiling with a sad face as if to reminisce about the old times. "Whisper to me, where do the echoes of yesteryears roam?"

The golden guard rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated by your theatrics. So dramatic. What were you? Three?

You started to feel bored of the golden guard and your mentor ignoring you. With a loud bang, you hit the table with your forehead. The golden guard looked at you weirdly but decided to disregard your actions for his own good.

Then you stared at the ceiling like a madman. "The cosmos is calling out to the believers," you declared, your voice full of faux wonder.

You turned to both of them.

"Did you know we're in a fanfi—MhpMH!" Darius stuffed a waffle in your mouth with magic, effectively silencing you.

Darius groaned as he massaged his temples. When would he have a normal, peaceful day without having to be stressed? He swore he could feel his face wrinkle more and more each day.

"I'm the favorite!"

"No, I am!"

"Stop visiting my mentor, you goldenbutt!"

"Stop bothering him, you vile monkey!"

"Get out of my way!"

He listened to the two of you, bickering and arguing at the entrance to his office. Your voices were shrill and relentless. He could faintly hear worrying thuds and thumps that made him assume the two of you were brawling outside.

He sighed deeply.

He had let the little prince hang around you in hopes that his sense of conduct and levelheadedness would rub off on you. Instead, it was the other way around. Your pettiness and irresponsibility were rubbing off on him.

Tweet. Tweet. The little hummingbird flew to his papers and released the pen it had taken in its beak.

At least your little palisman knew how to comfort him.

"I wonder why you even thought of choosing that little witch," Darius said, looking at the bird and taking the pen in his hands.

Tweet. Tweet. Tweet. It sounded unsure.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that little bard somehow scammed you into becoming their palisman."

Seriously, you and your palisman were like parallels in terms of behavior. From what Darius knew, palismen only chose those that had the same ambitions as their witch.

Did you even have an ambition?

The small palisman flapped its little wings to a comfortable, soft pillow on Darius's desk. It seemed that the little palisman frequently stayed with the head of the Abomination Coven. Darius was quite affectionate, wasn't he?

And to think he would keep the small bird made of wild magic hidden from the Emperor.

Thud.

The brawling stopped.

"I TOLD YOU TO STOP FIGHTING!" The voice of a woman resounded.

"Ow. OW! Stop pulling my ears, old hag!"

"Call me that again, and I will cut your ear off!"

"Why are you pulling mine?! The monkey started it!"

"I do not care if you're the Em...p...r...s...."

The shouting became less and less loud as it seemed that the head witch of the infirmary was dragging the two of you away.

Darius finally took a breath of relief. The head witch was becoming more and more of a nanny figure every day.

As he settled back into his chair, he allowed himself a moment of peace, savoring the rare quiet. The soft rustling of the little hummingbird's wings and the faint, fading echoes of your bickering were the only sounds left. 

He glanced at the small bird, now nestled comfortably on the pillow, and couldn't help but smile at its innocent presence.

"Why did Darius even take that stupid bratty prince as his student?! JUST WHY?!" You threw your hands up in the air, staring at the ceiling as if it would give you the answers you needed.

"You seem fond of the golden guard," Raine lightly snickered as they continued working at their desk.

You gave Raine a 'what the fuck?' look while laying messily on the couch. "Ew, barf. He is so annoying, for Titan's sake!"

Raine noticed that recently, you had been rambling on and on about your days, particularly your experiences with the renowned golden guard.

Raine had heard from Darius's complaints about the golden guard becoming his student. They laughed as they listened to Darius whine like a bratty princess about the little princeling sticking to him like gorilla glue.

You babbled about how the golden princeling would purposefully annoy you just to make you get back at him. Although in Raine's perspective, you were just making up excuses to bother the little prince. It seemed like you had found a playmate, though.

"But you seem to like his presence." Raine rested their chin on their hand and looked at you. "Looks like someone is having hormonal changes."

You shuddered. The way Raine worded it made it seem like you were starting to like the golden guard because of your teenage puberty.

"I would rather die." You put a hand to your chest dramatically.

"Sure you would," they said with a laugh. "But before anything... you should know that he is the golden guard..." Raine looked at you with a serious expression.

"Well, that's one thing I wouldn't forget." Your eyes lost a bit of their radiating gleam as you looked at the clock on the wooden pillar.

How funny would it be for someone like you to be friends with a witch who would soon be your nemesis? He was the right-hand man of the Emperor, and there was no changing that.

There was a wedge that drove you from the golden guard. Perhaps that was the reason why you refused to know his name and face. To remind you that he was nothing more than the golden guard and that you needed to know your boundaries and responsibilities.

Responsibility... what a funny word.

Raine watched you in silence, feeling something bubbling in their chest. Guilt? Remorse?

To strip you away from your childhood and happiness for the sake of what? Rebellion? If only they could become a better guardian for you. If only...

You sat down cross-legged on the couch, shaking off the depressing thoughts. "Hey Raine... I just had a brilliant idea."

"None of your ideas are brilliant, little one."

You rolled your eyes.

Every little idea you had always resulted in a sore amount of chaos for other people. Remember your idea of using power glyphs to win in an underground brawling competition? Or your idea of brewing a laughing potion and putting it in the cafeteria? Or... whatever, everyone gets the point.

"I'm just saying... what if the golden guard could become my accomplice?" Your eyes shone brighter as your head became filled with mischievous deeds to do.

"Accomplice in what exactly?" Raine raised a brow.

You smiled devilishly.

Raine sighed and prayed to the Titan that Darius would not try to kill you once more. But they smiled nonetheless.

"Hey, Goldie!" you called out as you skated on your staff, weaving through the labyrinthine corridors of the fort to find him.

Goldie? First, it was goldenbutt, then golden asshole, then GG. When would you stop calling him names? You wouldn't, honestly. Even if you knew his real name, calling him these nicknames was still better.

"What?" the golden guard asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"I have an offer." You plastered on a mischievous smile.

"Whatever it is, I refuse." He turned to walk away.

"Oh, come on. You haven't even listened to it!" you shouted, hastening your steps to catch up with him. For Titan's sake, you had short legs, and it bothered you immensely.

"And what makes you think that would make my answer any different?" He turned to you, skepticism in his eyes.

Poof. Your hex scroll appeared in your hand. "Would you reconsider if I showed you... this?" You smiled sheepishly.

The golden guard finally stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening. He rudely snatched your hex scroll and brought it closer to his face.

"THIS IS DARIUS?!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing slightly and making the paintings on the walls shake.

The picture you showed him was of Darius with his hair entirely different—pink and glittery. In the picture, Darius was looking at you dead in the eyes with a 'you are dead' expression plastered on his face.

You had messed with his shampoo, adding an abomination recipe that changed the properties of an abomination. Your prank had gone wildly successful.

"You won't believe how his full abomination form looks like," you snickered.

Too bad you couldn't get a picture of his full abomination form in pink glitter. He was going to essentially kill you, so you couldn't stay still and get a proper picture.

You remembered how he isolated himself in the fort, not letting anyone see his majestic pink glittery hair. You were banned from his sight for days.

Good times. Good times.

"Oh, Titans..." The golden guard stifled his laughter but hid it with a cough, clearing his throat.

He finally turned to you and handed back your hex scroll. "So, what was it that you wanted to say to me?"

You grinned mischievously and took out a small vial containing a blue substance. Your eyes sparkled with playful malice.

"Wanna hear Darius in a child's voice?"

The golden guard raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

You held up the vial, letting the blue liquid glint in the light. "This potion will temporarily change his voice. Just a few drops in his tea, and we'll have Darius sounding like a six-year-old for the rest of the day."

He looked at you, a mix of disbelief and curiosity in his eyes. "And what's in it for me?"

You leaned in closer, lowering your voice conspiratorially. "Imagine the look on his face when he tries to give a serious lecture and all that comes out is a squeaky, high-pitched voice."

The golden guard thought for a moment, his expression shifting from annoyance to reluctant amusement. "Fine. But if this backfires, you're taking the fall."

"Deal," you said, shaking his hand with a grin. "Meet me in the dining hall at lunch. We'll make sure Darius gets a special treat with his meal."

As you both walked away, a sense of mischievous camaraderie filled the air. For once, it seemed like you and the golden guard might actually be on the same page.

"Oh Titans, Darius is going to kill us for this," the golden guard muttered, glancing around nervously.

"Shhhhh, you're going to blow our cover, you stupid butt," you whispered harshly.

You and the golden guard hid behind thick bushes. The balcony where Darius usually had his teatime was just in view, and you two were close enough to hear and see everything.

"Maybe I should..." The golden guard began to stand.

You grabbed his hood and yanked him back. "There's no going back now, GG. We shook on it, remember?" You turned to him with a smug smile. "You are in this with me."

"For Titan's sake..." The golden guard grumbled but remained crouched. Why did he agree to this again? Darius was not going to be pleased.

Just as expected, Darius finally appeared on the balcony, his assistant following closely behind him. He waved his hand, and the assistant nodded, heading back inside to fetch something.

You'd essentially lived in this fort for almost two years, giving you enough understanding of Darius's schedule. He would typically work tirelessly in his office, doing paperwork when he had no missions. However, between 14:00 - 15:00, he would take a break on the balcony for tea. You'd joined him a few times, chatting while sipping tea. It was quite nice to spend quality time with your mentor.

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" The golden guard whispered as low as he could manage.

"Of course, I never fail," you replied confidently.

You and the golden guard watched intently as Darius's witch assistant placed the tea on the white table.

"What a peaceful day," Darius mused, gazing at the violet sky. "I wonder where and what mischief those two exasperating kids are up to."

"The laborers said they have seen your students somewhere together," the assistant responded.

"Together?" Darius raised an eyebrow. "Without brawling each other to the ground?"

"That is indeed what I have heard, sir." The assistant nodded, even they couldn't believe it. 

It seemed like those two kids were up to no good. Dealing with one mischievous bard was enough but just imagine dealing with two insufferable duos. Life would be chaos.

"Whatever, I am just glad that I do not have to deal with them today." Darius took the teacup.

Your eyes glistened as you silently took out your hex scroll and hit the record button. This was the moment you had been waiting for.

With graceful and distinguished movements, the unsuspecting abomination coven head brought the teacup to his lips and... sipped.

Darius placed the cup on the white glass table with a light clink and looked at the beautiful scenery once more, adopting a relaxed posture. When was life so peaceful?

"Life is really pea-" Darius stopped mid-sentence.

His assistant blinked.

Darius also blinked.

Was there something wrong with their ears?

"S-sir?" The assistant choked out.

"What in the Titans-"

"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" Darius stood up and shouted in the highest pitch ever, much like a child's voice. The teacup on the table clattered from the abrupt motion.

Just then, two infuriating laughs echoed from somewhere in the lush bushes below. 'AHGHAKAHAKHAGKAHAG'

The sound of two hideous cackles from the greatest prankster and most bratty prince ever.

The assistant grimaced in understanding.

"You..." Darius said angrily, looking toward his ever-so-beloved students who were rolling on the grass.

You couldn't take him seriously. He sounded like a five-year-old child.

That tall, muscular stature of his was excessively contrasting to the child-like voice coming from his throat.

"Mother of Titans -AHAHAGH- this is fucking -AHAKGAKA- priceless! AHAHAHAHAH-" You clutched your stomach and punched the ground like a deranged person.

Your hex scroll rolled off somewhere unknown.

The golden guard wasn't any better. "Oh Titans... Darius, I can't believe this! I-AHHAHAKHAKA- Darius is- AKKHAKAKAHHA-" He clutched his stomach and laughed, feeling his knees go weak as he knelt to the ground, a sight unbefitting his usual demeanor.

What was worse than dealing with the golden guard and you bickering?

It was you and the golden guard as an insufferable duo.

Swish.

Darius's full form was revealed, his hands morphing into two sharp blades.

"You will regret this..."

You laughed harder as Darius spoke. Oh Titans, hearing him talk angrily with a child's voice was just too much.

Darius disappeared into the ground.

Then... Swoosh!

You rolled aside to avoid an incoming blade. "Shit-"

You grabbed GG's hand and summoned your staff. "Byeeeeeeeeeeee!"

The golden guard also took the retractable staff from behind him and followed you to escape.

"(NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEEE)!!"

You snickered at the childish voice shouting your name angrily.

"Titans, Darius is going to kill us," the golden guard said while catching his breath from all the laughing.

"He honestly would." You turned to the golden guard with a knowing smile. "Oh mighty golden guard, how far from grace have you fallen..."

"Y-you forced me into this!" He tried to defend himself. Now that he thought about it, this really wasn't a good idea, was it?

"You remember things wrong, GG. Even if I did force you... Darius thinks otherwise." Your eyes curved in crescents.

"I-I... You did this on purpose to make me look bad, didn't you?!" He abruptly stopped.

You simply smiled and giggled, not answering his question.

He wasn't wrong. Your charade of teaming up with him to mess with Darius wasn't only for the intention of actually pranking him and having a good time. Though, you did actually enjoy spending time with GG. You secretly hoped that someday, both of you could do this kind of thing again.

But alas, you knew better than to get attached to someone who was the emperor's right-hand man. Things could get... complicated.

It didn't stop you from hoping though.

"You..." His wand started to glow ominously.

"Oops, that's my cue. See ya, partner in crime!" You waved and skidded away on your staff.

Two hands in mischief, fingers sticky with delight, 

Turning calm to chaos, from dawn till fading light.

Misbehavior never-ending, like a river they cascade, 

The joy of young years, a perpetual feeling never to fade.