Title: Not Just A Myth

Summary: Learning more about this mysterious Golden Imperial leads to more questions than answers...

Pairings: Smidgens of Jeroden/Logre, Zesiro/Roxbury, and Achyuta/Nitish

AN: Special treat before I hit the sack. Just a quite oneshot because I wanted to be evil and write hints about the new good boy, the Golden Imperial just before I launch into NaNoWriMo next week :'D Anyway, hope you enjoy reading~

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It had grown late in the evening when Logre found himself on the couch in the seating area of the Researchers' Clinic. Jeroden, of course, sat next to him. Which was something Logre was grateful for. After having moped about for a few hours without his presence, Logre was now apprehensive about letting the other man out of his sight.

It was strange, wasn't it? Hiding himself away for hours to have a good cry, and now was unwilling to let Jeroden go more than a few feet out of his sight because of a sudden and startling feeling of anxiety that would appear in the pit of his stomach.

Being the stupid man that he was, even he knew he was now experiencing separation anxiety. He was afraid that Jeroden would virtually disappear on him again.

He hadn't spoken to Isiah or Nitish about this newfound sense of apprehension. But Nitish had been giving him small smiles of reassurance all evening, so obviously he was aware of his current emotional state. No, he was overly aware. He likely knew more than he did.

Isiah wasn't exaggerating when he said Logre had experienced more emotions in the last twenty-four hours than he had in the last ten years.

Good god, he felt like a teenager again. Emotionally stunted one. But yeah. Emotions were a pain.

He tried to push that thought aside as he listened to the chatter of his guildmates around him. The clinic wasn't as full as it usually was this time of night. The natives of the Cloudy Stronghold, along with Roxbury, Isiah, and Nitish, were the only ones residing in the clinic. The others had ventured out into the town and to the wharf to help Ciaran with a few random tasks.

It was likely to allow Jeroden the chance to get used to his new surroundings without being overwhelmed by so many new people. And to tell his story to those who understood the Cloudy Stronghold and the workings of the Empire better.

The Phaedron guild were used to new comers suddenly appearing and creating a place for themselves in their guild. But Jeroden wasn't.

Sure, he looked rather jovial at the moment, his arm casually resting on the back of the couch behind Logre's head. And he had always exhibited the ability to adapt to any situation. But Logre just knew that once the man gave himself the chance to sit down and rest for just a moment, he'd finally realise himself how overwhelming his situation truly was.

It was likely that reason alone that Logre wanted to keep an eye on Jeroden. His current situation wasn't entirely different to the one Logre found himself in ten years ago. He had a mission to continue, but Jeroden?

Maybe it was his pledge that kept him focused.

"Wait a fucking minute," Zesiro suddenly interrupt from the kitchen area where he was with Roxbury. "Golden Imperial? A dumbass in golden armour? That...you met that bastard, too?"

Jeroden frowned slightly as he turned his head to look over at Zesiro. "Hm? Too? That means you've encountered him as well?"

Though Zesiro's expression was that of agitation; his brow furrowed and a frown on his lips. The way Roxbury looked at him, however, with worry clearly seen on his face, Logre hazard a guess that Zesiro was more troubled than annoyed.

"That's...The Old Bat was the one who let me escape the empire," Zesiro suddenly said, his jaw tight and his posture tense. "But it was some dumbass in golden armour that led me to safety."

A look of surprised appeared on Roxbury's face, seemingly understanding completely the true meaning to what Zesiro just revealed. Despite the company around them, Roxbury immediately pressed himself to Zesiro's side and whispered something inaudible to him.

A flicker of unease appeared on Zesiro's face before he turned his attention to Roxbury. As he turned to face Roxbury, thus turning his face away from everyone else, he slipped an arm around Roxbury's waist as Roxbury pressed himself against his chest.

Normally, such intimate acts would warrant the protective bristling of Roxbury's guildmates. But not now. In fact, they actually looked concerned themselves.

Zesiro's reaction was...curious.

There was obviously no point pushing to know more. Knowing Zesiro, he would defiantly clam up. But perhaps, hopefully, he'd speak to Roxbury about it later.

Jeroden looked away from the embracing pair and immediately turned toward Logre. Their gazes met and Jeroden arched a questioning eyebrow.

But Logre shook his head. "Later," he whispered in response.

Jeroden simply nodded. Curiosity and concern in his gaze.

Logre wouldn't be able to give him much information about Zesiro, though. Not just because of privacy reasons, but because he didn't know much of the flighty imperial either. Zesiro kept any pains or uncertainty to himself. The only other persons Logre had ever seen Zesiro be even remotely vulnerable around was Roxbury and Kalan.

To think, though, that Zesiro had met this legendary Golden Imperial as well.

"What the hell is this Golden Imperial?" Baldur suddenly questioned, to the surprise of Logre and to the amusement of Jeroden.

Honestly, to hear the one sullen and stubborn prince speak so...bluntly. In a way it was comforting, as he was still a teenager himself and he should be allowed to have moments where he acted as such. But hours after the headbutt he planted on Logre, and now this?

Maybe he was hanging around Bryce far too much. Maybe he should try to convince him to spend a few days with the likes of Nitish or Roxbury. Good, polite people.

"The Golden Imperial is believed to be a lowly imperial soldier who had encountered information regarding either the Empire, or perhaps the Cloudy Stronghold itself," Jeroden was the one to answer his highness. "Information so devastating and shocking that he renounced loyalty to the Empire, stole important documents, before fleeing into the wilds of the Cloudy Stronghold. He is known as such for the golden armour he wears."

Baldur's brow furrowed deeper. "No one knows who he is? No name?"

Jeroden shook his head. "No. Even those who had met him, know little of him."

"When did this Golden Imperial go rogue, as it were?" Bladur continued to fish for information.

That...was actually a good question. In all honesty, Logre was curious about the imperial that had spoken with Jeroden. Who had led him to that farming village, and then told him about Logre's life in Tharsis.

That Golden Imperial had essentially saved Jeroden's life. Why? Not that Logre wasn't thankful. He was. Completely and utterly. But why? What happened to him? What did he learn?

There was...just so much mystery around him. Not just him, though. But the empire, and the Cloudy Stronghold itself.

"I heard it was sometime before the Emperor's voyage," Zesiro surprisingly replied. "About a day or so at the very least."

Jeroden shook his head a little in dismay. "I'm afraid I do not know the exact date, either. I've heard both a day before and a day after the voyage. In all honesty, you know what rumours and gossip is like. It could have been months or weeks in-between supposed dates."

"I've never even heard of this Golden Imperial until now," Baldur exclaimed, obvious agitation in his voice. It was highly likely that he was lamenting at the lack of information offered to him by his own retainers.

Logre hadn't heard of him, either, for obvious reasons. To be frank, there was likely to be a lot of information and knowledge he didn't know about the current Empire. And he was very unlikely to be given said information.

"Xander," Logre said as he turned to the other imperial, noting that he had been quite for the majority of their conversation. "Have you encountered any information about this Golden Imperial?"

Xander subconsciously straightened his posture, as a soldier would when a superior requested his attention. "Just...just a few rumours, I'm afraid. Superiors referred to him as rumours and myths, and would berate anyone who dared speak of such trifling matters."

He suddenly fell silent, his expression darkening ever so subtly as he pressed his lips together. He remained silent for a few moments longer, prompting Logre to wonder if he should make another request of him when Xander finally spoke again.

"In fact, I remember a few superiors actually threatening cadets of disciplinary action should they continue with such gossip."

Well now, wasn't that interesting information. For the empire to react in such a way. Even if they claim it was just gossip, to invoke disciplinary measures on soldiers? Were they afraid that others would follow suit?

Clearly, some members of the council knew more information. How much more, was debatable.

"Achyuta," Nitish suddenly, but gently prompted. "You feel troubled."

Logre lifted his gaze toward Achyuta in time to witness him give Nitish a small smile of reassurance. Though it did not quite reach his eyes, and he knew it didn't as he sighed a moment later.

"It's just, I'm recalling a memory of long ago. I'm not entirely sure why," he confessed. "I do not know if it's related to what we're speaking about..."

...He couldn't have encountered the Golden Imperial as well?

"Go on," Nitish gently urged.

"It was a few years ago now," Achyuta began. "Perhaps two years into my training. I fell ill with a fever. Terribly ill. It lasted for a few days, I'm told. I had been resting the entire time. One night it was particularly uncomfortable. I only have vague memories. I was likely falling in and out of delirium."

Achyuta unexpectedly paused for a moment, his lips pressed together tightly as a serious expression adorned his face. It was as if he was trying to find the right words for what he wanted to say next.

"Then a cool hand was suddenly placed against my forehead," he continued, his hand unconsciously rising up to touch his forehead. "I remember looking up at someone. Someone in...unusual armour. For some reason they, no he, felt familiar to me."

Achyuta paused again, but with a faraway look in his eyes. "A face that seems familiar somehow. Similar to mine...but older."

From the corner of his eye, Logre noticed that Zesiro had stiffened and his head snapped around to look at Achyuta. Though he didn't say anything, Logre got the feeling that Achyuta's words were new to him.

So...did that mean the face that Achyuta saw wasn't that of his brother's...?

"He then murmured something and..." An expression of realisation appeared on Achyuta face and his eyes widened. "A tingling feeling touched my forehead. It felt similar to a cure spell. Like the ones that Isiah and Miach use."

Wait, an imperial using a cure spell?

As if snapping out of a trance, Achyuta shook his head suddenly and gave them all a shy smile. "Of course, I do not know if that is accurate. Or even true," he said as his arms subconsciously tightened around Nitish who was pressed tightly against his side.

The room fell into a heavy silence nevertheless. Logre didn't know how to take all the information he just learnt. Even as he shared a glance with Jeroden, even as he realised that Jeroden was equally puzzled and curious.

Logre, on the other hand, felt more confused now than he did before.

There was...there was just so much about the Cloudy Stronghold, about the empire, about virtually everything that he didn't know. He...didn't feel bitter about it, surprisingly. He had long grown accustomed to the fact that he wasn't to know everything that the empire planned or had previous done. He was a soldier, after all. It wasn't his place to know.

Logre couldn't help but feel something was afoot. Leading Zesiro to safety meant that Zesiro was able to learn about the Hall of Darkness. Leading Jeroden to safety, allowed Jeroden to learn more of their diseased lands of the Cloudy Stronghold. And, if it was him, healing Achyuta meant he was able to remain an imperial, to which allowed him to meet Nitish and the Phaedron guild.

He couldn't possibly have known all of that. It was still incredible to think that one man was behind it all. Who else had he aided during that time? Was he still helping others now?

One thing was certain, however; This Golden Imperial knew far more than anyone else. And he was a threat to the loyalists of the empire. Perhaps in more ways than one.

That fact that Jeroden was now in Tharsis, with Logre, meant that the Golden Imperial was still around to this very day. He, too, had wandered the lands of the Cloudy Stronghold for more than ten years. Where? How?

Just who was he? Should they try to look for this Golden Imperial themselves? Or...was he closer than they could possibly imagine?