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Description

Liege or Leash

Delvan society is beginning to reform among the underground survivors, and one part of that is the rise of new faces into their much-reduced leadership. Leith gets a tap on the shoulder for one such open position - that of personal bodyguard to the Elestae family head. The price of an inordinately powerful familiar is that it requires an inordinately long cast time to bring out, so it's imperative that they have a protector while summoning. An honourable post held by some quite legendary people in the past.

Unfortunately for Leith, it soon becomes apparent why he was chosen - yes he's a respectable and competent Templar, but more importantly he's been deemed quiet and tolerant (i.e. doormat) enough to deal with a very grouchy Hyacinth. Still furious about their old bodyguard Zefiel being banished, they make a point of loudly criticising everything he does and slipping away from him wherever possible. Leith's Templar Master assures him that they usually get along fine with their bodyguards (ironically thanks to Zefiel) and they'll simmer down eventually, surely, just hang in there... please...

In any case, their increasingly reckless attempts to get away from him only make it more important to keep an eye on them. Eventually one of their mad dashes into dilapidated buildings or daring rubble climbs is going to get them into big trouble, and it's his job to be there for it.

Leith straightened from the rubble, a sharp flick of his blade spattering the stones. The inky trail winding to the shadows glimmered in the firelight, pooling thick enough to assure the draconid beast wouldn’t return for a while… if at all. Wretched thing.

Yet heart still pounding, he hastened back to where the serpentine familiar circled by her master. If it weren’t for Iris seeking and leading him here, would he have made it in time?

Was he even still?

He knelt to assess Hyacinth’s state. Scrapes, bruises. A trapped leg. Leith hefted the pinning debris aside as they freed themself, exhaling a held breath when they looked mostly unscathed.

“Vitivier. Does it hurt?” But Hyacinth pulled away from his hand like a ruffled kitten — as expected — huffing as they made to stand.

“This is nothing. I’m fine!”

Sprawled on the uneven ground the next second, they clutched their injured leg with a mute hiss. Both Leith and Iris hovered over their little liege in alarm, the familiar burbling as she glanced between the two.

“...Let me see your leg.” A touch more insistent. (🗿)

Hyacinth picked themself upright with lips pursed, reluctance on their shoulders heavier than their dusty fur robe and Iris combined. Still, after a bit of waffling, they straightened in their seat to allow him closer. “Maybe it stings a little…”

“Just a little?”

“It doesn’t eve—”

Leith’s hand grazed their ankle. Hyacinth rocked forward, teeth grit, a sharp train of Ow’s in their wake.

“All right, all right, it hurts!”

With a small nod, Leith began the healing there, focused on soothing The Hurt. But as he stole a glance upwards, he caught sight of an expression both stoically pained and childish, a veneer of bravado that every youth must’ve wore at least once. Despite their averted gaze, Hyacinth’s embarrassment so palpably coloured the air to his senses, Leith had to look away too for both of their sakes.

Silly child. Esteemed Cardinal as they were, they were still so young. Their criticisms may have cut, and their antics may have worn, but he couldn’t ever hold it against them now when they tried this hard to save face. He could only hope they’d eventually understand the weakness of such a biting and reckless front.

And, of course, to not leave him behind anymore!

Interval 3: Happily Ever After , 8295

Gazes into the distance at babysitting life
And how this drawing has zero context 🧍🧍 (look, i just wanted to draw hyacinth & iris)
Bit rusty with words (huergh) and 4koma, but more gist: sta.sh/01ig0tcsojwj

Tried cool light-warm shadows while painting too, tho it doesn't show LOL bit hard to wrap brain around...

Leith - avodkabottle
Hyacinth - 2StreetsDown
MUAH THANKY STOOTS for cutest hya and the help!! Holds hya's hand gentle in future fun times... pspspsps

Description

Liege or Leash

Delvan society is beginning to reform among the underground survivors, and one part of that is the rise of new faces into their much-reduced leadership. Leith gets a tap on the shoulder for one such open position - that of personal bodyguard to the Elestae family head. The price of an inordinately powerful familiar is that it requires an inordinately long cast time to bring out, so it's imperative that they have a protector while summoning. An honourable post held by some quite legendary people in the past.

Unfortunately for Leith, it soon becomes apparent why he was chosen - yes he's a respectable and competent Templar, but more importantly he's been deemed quiet and tolerant (i.e. doormat) enough to deal with a very grouchy Hyacinth. Still furious about their old bodyguard Zefiel being banished, they make a point of loudly criticising everything he does and slipping away from him wherever possible. Leith's Templar Master assures him that they usually get along fine with their bodyguards (ironically thanks to Zefiel) and they'll simmer down eventually, surely, just hang in there... please...

In any case, their increasingly reckless attempts to get away from him only make it more important to keep an eye on them. Eventually one of their mad dashes into dilapidated buildings or daring rubble climbs is going to get them into big trouble, and it's his job to be there for it.

Leith straightened from the rubble, a sharp flick of his blade spattering the stones. The inky trail winding to the shadows glimmered in the firelight, pooling thick enough to assure the draconid beast wouldn’t return for a while… if at all. Wretched thing.

Yet heart still pounding, he hastened back to where the serpentine familiar circled by her master. If it weren’t for Iris seeking and leading him here, would he have made it in time?

Was he even still?

He knelt to assess Hyacinth’s state. Scrapes, bruises. A trapped leg. Leith hefted the pinning debris aside as they freed themself, exhaling a held breath when they looked mostly unscathed.

“Vitivier. Does it hurt?” But Hyacinth pulled away from his hand like a ruffled kitten — as expected — huffing as they made to stand.

“This is nothing. I’m fine!”

Sprawled on the uneven ground the next second, they clutched their injured leg with a mute hiss. Both Leith and Iris hovered over their little liege in alarm, the familiar burbling as she glanced between the two.

“...Let me see your leg.” A touch more insistent. (🗿)

Hyacinth picked themself upright with lips pursed, reluctance on their shoulders heavier than their dusty fur robe and Iris combined. Still, after a bit of waffling, they straightened in their seat to allow him closer. “Maybe it stings a little…”

“Just a little?”

“It doesn’t eve—”

Leith’s hand grazed their ankle. Hyacinth rocked forward, teeth grit, a sharp train of Ow’s in their wake.

“All right, all right, it hurts!”

With a small nod, Leith began the healing there, focused on soothing The Hurt. But as he stole a glance upwards, he caught sight of an expression both stoically pained and childish, a veneer of bravado that every youth must’ve wore at least once. Despite their averted gaze, Hyacinth’s embarrassment so palpably coloured the air to his senses, Leith had to look away too for both of their sakes.

Silly child. Esteemed Cardinal as they were, they were still so young. Their criticisms may have cut, and their antics may have worn, but he couldn’t ever hold it against them now when they tried this hard to save face. He could only hope they’d eventually understand the weakness of such a biting and reckless front.

And, of course, to not leave him behind anymore!

Interval 3: Happily Ever After , 8295

Gazes into the distance at babysitting life
And how this drawing has zero context 🧍🧍 (look, i just wanted to draw hyacinth & iris)
Bit rusty with words (huergh) and 4koma, but more gist: sta.sh/01ig0tcsojwj

Tried cool light-warm shadows while painting too, tho it doesn't show LOL bit hard to wrap brain around...

Leith - avodkabottle
Hyacinth - 2StreetsDown
MUAH THANKY STOOTS for cutest hya and the help!! Holds hya's hand gentle in future fun times... pspspsps