A chance Meeting

Ezra often wondered just how he found himself in these situations.

Trapped, underground, in a coffin. Six feet deep.

Well, ‘trapped’ was a bit of an over exaggeration frankly. This wasn’t the first time this had happened; and it was doubtful that it’d be the last.

He sighed, preparing to use his Sweetical magic to melt the dirt above him when a ‘thunk’ hit the wooden casket he was chained within.

After a moment, there was a pause and he began to hear one side of a conversation.

“Grave robbing? No Sirs, alas this is no grave and I promise nothing of monetary value is inside…”

“…Hm? Nonsense. My master lies within. Like I said previously, this is no grave. After all, it cannot be a grave if it doesn’t hold a corpse.” There was a chuckle from the speaker before they continued.

“Yes yes, I assure you he is very much alive and is no doubt listening to our conversation as he does love collecting data.”

Ezra groaned. While he was thankful that Cacino had come to free him, that pesky robot was more trouble than she was worth most of the time.

He banged on the lid of the casket before yelling at her.

“Cacino! Just get me out of here before I do it myself!”

“See? Very lively, like my previous statement. Will you now allow me to continue to work to free my master now?… Splendid. Master, I shall continue to work to free you, although I did not bring bolt cutters so it might take me some time.”

Even though he knew it was a wasted expression, he glared up towards where he imagined Cacino was standing above him. 

He then turned his focus to those pesky chains. Placing a hand on the top of the casket, he infused it with his sugar magic, willing the chains on the other side to melt. It was child’s play to someone like him.

He heard the telltale sign of chains breaking and pushed the lid open in annoyance.

Ezra was met with the ever smiling face of Cacino and two Sweeticals, who could only have been the ones the robot was talking to earlier.

“Well, hello there.”

The tiger sweetical’s eyes narrowed as Ezra clawed his way out of the hole while the other one spoke, a hint of laughter in their voice.

“The way you’re acting, it would make one think you get buried alive often.”

As Ezra brushed himself off, Cacino replied.

“Oh yes. I believe this is the fifth time in my memory banks that this has happened.”

The two Sweeticals looked at each other before the golden one spoke once more.

“That’s quite unlucky. Wonder what you did to get the locals all in a tizzy? Well, whatever. My name is Tyrant, this is my cousin Daimont.”

Daimont? That was the name of the Sweetical that defeated and captured Hagan in the past.

With a smile Ezra nodded. 

“Where are my manners? I’m Ezra Modread, at your service and my traveling companion is Cacino.”

Daimont seemed uncomfortable; as Ezra looked at him Tyrant replied with a chuckle.

“Apologizes, Daimont isn’t much of a conversationalist in the best of times nor does he like warm things and as you’re actively on fire… well, that’s two strikes against you sadly.”

“That’s fine. It’s not as if you two went out looking for conversation after all. I do appreciate you checking if Cacino was doing something unseemly though. I do enjoy a region that is kept in check.”

With a scoff, Daimont finally spoke,

“You must be from Wickshire then.”

Ezra shook his head.

“Sorry, but no. I call a small little town in Bolougia my home, though I mostly wander nowadays. Spreading the good word so to speak. Although, as you can see,” he motioned to the hole behind him, “…not everyone enjoys what I say.”

Tyrant tilted their head inquisitively.

“Oh? I wonder just what that good word is?”

Ezra noted Cacino shake their head before he spoke up with a chipper smile on his face.

“Well, I’m a follower of Asteria’s Flame. We believe that She’s waiting for us within the planet and will return to us with all the warmth and love of the past.”

Tyrant nodded their head but obviously wasn’t convinced, while Daimont huffed in disagreement. 

Ezra didn’t really mind though; he wasn’t trying to convert these two anyway so it wasn’t a loss so he added to his statement.

“…but I’m more than aware it’s not for everyone, and that’s quite alright.”

Daimont’s expression didn’t change much, though he did uncross his arms while Tyrant smiled.

“You’re rather open for a believer. I’ve heard that most of them are… well, devout.”

Ezra shrugged. 

“I travel a lot. ‘Sides, I personally think that Asteria blesses us all in her own ways.”

Tyrant fished around in a pocket before pulling out a phone.

“Hm, it’s pretty late and it’d be bad manners to just leave you two out here. Why don’t I put you up at my place for the evening?”

Cacino clasped her hands together as foam cats purred around her.

“Oh yes please! That would be absolutely lovely. We’ll gladly take you up on your offer.”

Ezra simply nodded behind her. “Yes, thank you for your hospitality.”

Daimont crossed his arms once again before speaking up and claiming he had other nightly plans.

As such, after parting ways with the chilly Sweetical, Tyrant led the way to a rather nice estate, luckily the opposite direction from the village that had buried Ezra the other day..

————

As they approached the door, Tyrant paused.

“Hmm it seems I had at least one other surprise guest. Looks like more introductions have to be made. Sorry about that.”

Ezra shook his head. 

“Nonsense, you’re extending your home to us for the evening, it’s the least we could do.”

Tyrant gave a chuckle before heading inside. Ezra followed only to stop in his tracks when he saw the Sweetical sitting in front of the fireplace.

He was breathtaking. Surely handmade by Asteria herself with that flaming blue hair, those wings and that piercing glaze that was currently fixed on Ezra himself. A voice from behind him sounded out a hint of annoyance in the tone.

“Master, would you please continue until everyone can get inside?”

A blush creeping on his face, he moved, letting Cacino step inside; it was unfair to keep her from being able to view such a stunning sweetical after all.

The Sweetical spoke with such clarity in his voice, power dripped from it, demanding to be listened to.

“Hello Tyrant. Apologies for popping in without notice. Who is your companion?”

“Companion? Oh no, we just met, His name is Ezra Mordread. I’m letting him stay the night before he continues his journey.”

The sweetical nodded before addressing Ezra.

“My apologies for being presumptuous. I simply wished to see my child since I was in the area.”

It felt a bit colder in the room when his attention went back to Tyrant as he stood.

“I’ll be off now. Enjoy your company.”

Ezra watched as the beautiful Sweetical exited the house, unfurled his wings and departed.

“Sorry for my father, he isn’t much of a conversationalist.” Tyrant shrugged while Ezra shook his head.

“No need to apologize, it was a treat to meet him.”

He made a mental note that he would have to learn more about that mastercraft of Sweetical.