Finding Contentus

Chapter 32: The R&R Tale (1)

Well, handsome. Very handsome. Around Renero's level of handsomeness, a true rival. His skin was a lush light to moderate brown and he had a rather sour to semi-sweet, somewhat bitter grapefruit kind of scent.

Like Renero, he also had long dreadlocks that reached his back, with the exception of them being more thick with red highlights to go with the faded sides of his head that were shaved.

The clear side of Ramsis's untouched face allowed Renero to formulate a duplication to complete the other side to reveal quite the good looking man that most likely used to have women swarming all over him, and men wishing to look like him.

Like how a true Prince should look, and how a true prince used to look like. Before—

Debi. No, he thought. Not yet Reno, not yet.

Another thing caught Renero's eye in surprise from when he first saw Ramsis's face in the blistering storm, which Ramsis picked up on with his eyes that were a mixture of brown and green.

"Your eyes are not deceiving you. The eye you see on this scarred side is artificial, but real."

Renero still hadn't said anything yet and let Ramsis do the talking as his attention was still preoccupied on the network of atrocities committed on his body.

"This artificial eye I believe is my third eye, and the second that Xantris has done for me now. My original eye I lost to you of course, then the first replacement I lost to that blazing warrior. Bri... Bria... ah, yes, Brianna."

The manner in which he casually said Brianna's name without a hint of — anything really, had the insides of Renero burning like polluted coal emissions.

How dare you speak her name. Is what Renero could have easily said in futile anger, hence why he said nothing since it wouldn't do anything in the slightest, nor would it change anything.

Ramsis used her as an example to remind him of what he had done to his family. Something he still couldn't remember in the slightest, even now. So Renero on the outside simply remained as patient and as passive as he could be, knitting his brows in doing his best to steer his resolve.

Yes. He did not come here to fight. Yes. He did not come here to slaughter Ramsis when he very well had all the power in the world to do so being this close to him. Renero came here for answers. Renero came here for clarity. Renero came here for understanding.

Not just any understanding, but to understand his enemy and his demons. To not just understand his past, but to also understand himself through the connection both shared. And judging by how unconcerned Ramsis was in not just waiting but expecting Renero's arrival, one could easily tell that Ramsis was seeking the same thing.

Mutual understanding from mutual destruction. Answers to the questions he had, and answers to things he could not find or escape from in being unable to find peace with things. Things pertaining to life as a whole, and how the world worked to be so unfair and cruel.

Ramsis's attention shifted in the direction of four distinct portraits that were first drawn then painted to masterful perfection, hanging on one of the walls above Renero.

One was of Renero, looking proud, mighty and smug, the one next to him was of his current wife Minaleese, looking caring, loving and beautiful. Right next to her was Kakara, with her signature scowl. It even looked like her cold eyes were glaring through the portrait itself, nonetheless she still had her mother's beauty.

And last but not least were the twins, Genesia and Neosa. Both were smiling happily with slightly contrasting kinds of smiles. Genesia's was more relaxed and modest in only showing the front row of his teeth. Neosa's smile was more broad, beaming to the sky and back in showing off both rows of her teeth.