The Demon Lord And His Hero

The temple of Eos was a structure that Sigil could call one of its most breathtaking constructions. The full temple was carved out of an enormous and single piece of rock formation. Inside its main chamber where prayers were offered, a perfectly circular glass in the ceiling let in celestial light that illuminated a bed of singing crystals. These crystals came in a range of colours and they let out a beautiful hum when illuminated. The pitch of the hum varied according to the colour of the crystal while its loudness varied with the brightness of sunlight or moonlight.

This inner sanctum was only open to the priests and priestesses of the temple. Rowan being the special existence that he was to Eos was given the same privileges as the high priests though he wasn't one. Right now, he sauntered into the temple with Red beside him. Rowan was accorded respect from all the junior priests and priestesses while the seniors greeted him like an old friend.

The anti mage had never brought a friend with him before so they were surprised by the redheaded child that accompanied him.

Red looked angelic in his semi-formal wear which Rowan had forced him to wear. The priestesses especially found him adorable when he acted sweet and smiled innocently at them with big red eyes. He was a picture of a perfectly obedient and naive little child. His anti mage guardian found amusement in Red's game of pretence.

"Rowan, who is this beautiful little angel?" A young priestess asked him. She had an oval face and pretty brown eyes that looked amber when the sunlight hit it.

"Hello, I'm Lucien, Rowan's son," Red replied cutely.

The anti mage just smiled and indulged the redhead. He didn't care what the child said as long as it wasn't too shocking.

"Haha," the priestess laughed. "Rowan, he's joking isn't he?"

"No."

She couldn't tell if Rowan was being serious or not.

"Then where's his mother?" She asked, looking up at Rowan through uncertain eyes. First, it was a male lover and now an illegitimate child. What was the world coming to?

"Syryn is the mother," Rowan replied. "We adopted Lucien."

Both the redhead and the priestess reacted similarly. Their mouths fell open.

Serenely, Rowan held Red's hand pulled him along while telling the priestess that they were in a hurry.

"What was that?!" Red asked the blond.

"You started it, Red."

"I'm telling Syryn about this."

"Mhmm."

An arched entrance was before them. A shimmering curtain covered the entrance and a guard stood right in front of it. He stepped aside respectfully for Rowan.

"Thank you, Keith," Rowan said to the guard. When Red entered the inner sanctum, the low hum of the crystals bathed him in peace. He saw before him many worshippers meditating and kneeling in several corners of the sanctum. It was a quiet and holy place where everyone focused inwards as they communed with the goddess.

"Rowan, I didn't think you'd honour our invitation," a weak voice said to the blond. Smoky grey eyes regarded Rowan and then at the child who had eyes like blood. The old priest stared at Lucien with a gaze that sent goosebumps down the boy's arms.

"I wouldn't think of it, Eyoni," Rowan replied. "Have the elders gathered?"

The old priest was holding a cane which he leaned his weight on. Back stooped low, he had to look up to talk to the tall blond. "They're waiting for you in the hall of blessing." The priest's gaze kept wandering back to Lucien though he was talking to Rowan.

"This is Lucien," Rowan introduced when the priest kept looking at the child. "I've been tasked with babysitting him so you'll have to forgive his presence wherever I go."

Red wanted to step on Rowan's foot for saying he was being babysat when it was the other way round. But he resisted.

"Papa Rowan, I'm hungry," he pouted. "You said you'd buy me cake."

The priest sharply looked at Rowan thinking his old ears had heard wrong. How could Rowan be a father already?!

The anti mage blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected Red to call him that but somehow it didn't upset him.

"I'm sorry Lucien, I'll get you the cake after my meeting. If you're really hungry though we can get some food from the kitchen." He spoke as a gentle father would to his son. They were both good actors trying to get an upper hand over the other while screwing with the priests.

"Rowan, explain yourself!" The priest demanded in a heavy-handed tone. Under his bushy white brows, the priest's eyes were blazing with anger.

"Eyoni, we are getting late for the meeting, are we not?"

Rowan's reply made the priest bristle. The anti mage had become more and more disobedient over the years. Disciplinary actions were long overdue but he had remained untouched because of his status. Now they had a good reason to bring Rowan under their control.

"Very good," the priest replied. "We shall see what your elders have to say about this."

"Father, this place smells like old people," a child's voice interrupted the adults. Red had his nose wrinkling and sniffing the air towards the old man.

"Get your illegitimate son out of this sacred temple!" The old man's grip on the cane was tight. His anger was palpable to everyone within hearing distance of them.

"Illegitimate son?" Red innocently asked. "Is he calling me a bastard, father?"

Rowan squeezed Red's hand signalling him to not annoy the priest. It wasn't the right time for it. But the child was disobedient if anything. The waterworks began as his eyes dripped. Now all the others felt sorry for the innocent child whom the priest had targeted.

"I don't like this place," Red said through sniffles. "Old grandfathers are supposed to be kind and warm but he's so mean to me."

Even the ones who had ignored their conversation paid attention now. A child was crying in the inner sanctum after having been called a bastard by one of the most respected priests of the temple.. This wasn't something that could be pushed under the rug since rumours tended to travel fast.