The light had always graced Khnurn's presence, whether by right or by will it bent to accommodate his presence in such an illuminating fashion that many thought the beautiful black man glowed with the power of the Sun himself. Naturally however, this was not the case, merely being the Avatar of the Sun did not grant one such a privileged, merely it was a byproduct of who he was, and who he was meant to be. Khnurn had always been intended for greatness, it was just what his mother and father had intended, but unfortunately for them the large man hadn't been raised in the Palaces of Nebu or raised with the mindset of a Desiertian. No he had not been raised as Khnurn the gifted, the talented, the destined. He had been raised as Seika. The stalwart, the everlasting, the selfless. He had been raised as a man who would give his all for the cause, because that was what was needed to survive in the world he had been raised in. Every day he had to fight to survive, every day he had to give his all to a singular purpose in order to truly believe that one day things would get better, that things would change. And when they did, he had no reason to believe differently any more.

But then came Khalfani. And things changed again.

Stepping out onto the streets of Baska, Seika didn't bother shielding his eyes from the late morning Sun. Why would he deny the blessings of his Lord? It was not as if Sol would blind him, no on the contrary, Seika was able to see perfectly even with the glare of the Sun directly in his face. He was here to meet with Khalfani and one other for their annual check in, something the brothers did to make sure the other hadn't died. Or at least that was the reason Khalfani had given to convince Seika that it was necessary. If he was honest, the young man wouldn't have needed to lie, but Seika understood how he was, he made everything unnecessarily difficult due to his rather straightforward nature. Of course in his mind everything was easier since he cut straight through the bullshit, but it also meant that he missed the forest for the trees at time in his pursuit for knowledge and understanding. And so in a roundabout way, maybe it was necessary for Khalfani to trick him, if only so that Seika wouldn't overly question or look for a double meaning in something as innocuous as seeing his brother.

The streets were relatively clear this morning, meaning the trek to where he was to meet the two was actually fairly short, only taking at most ten minutes from his hotel room. He had stuck to his loosely tied haori and pants, only wearing a rather tight black shirt underneath to avoid a public indecency charge. It was a simple get up and one that he preferred to his priest robes if he were honest. Maybe he could look into getting some clothes like these that better fit his station in the future?

Thoughts of fashion aside, he arrived with little fanfare, pulling out a chair to sit across from Khalfani quietly. He would greet the two in his usual gruff yet respectful demeanor before hunching forward to stare into his brothers face. It was interesting what a few months away from each other could bring.

Seika's gaze didn't waver nor wander. Even when the young man sitting next to his brother awkwardly started up a conversation and introduced himself. Seika was already familiar with his brothers taste in individuals, and it wasn't something that he disapproved of. Sol always preached to him that life itself was the true reason for its existence and warmth. The way people lived their lives did not matter to Sol as long as they lived a full and loving life. One did not need to impose upon others, nor did they need to be so sour and dry that they could not enjoy all of the gifts that Sol inevitably provided into their lives. Of course such tenants had to mentally be drilled into Seika, considering the man's rather... simplistic world views, but he was more than happy to share such tenants with those who could truly benefit from them.

Looking upon his brother, and his brothers... companion, Seika would finally turn away from Khalfani, not even rising to the young man's brash statement. He didn't know if it would get a rise out of him, but knowing Khalfani, he disliked being ignored. It was something that Seika never quite understood, the large amount of self-importance the young man had. Sure they were both Princes, but Seika never felt that they gave him the right to demand more of others around him. Just another way they were different he supposed.

Leveling his heavy gaze upon the other young man, Seika quickly memorized the rather exotic features his brothers companion had. Seika could easily see what drew his brother to the young man. He was rather... refreshing. He would maintain the stare down for but a few more moments before finally leaning back in his chair and humming softly to himself before turning back to Khalfani and finally responding to the boy turned man. "احوالت چطوره داداش", he spoke in Desiertian. It was a pet peeve he remembered of his brother, for whatever reason the boy hated talking in the Fiorian language if he didn't need to. It wasn't something that Seika minded honestly, he was a fairly recent speaker, but the royal courts were pretty good in their instruction of his mother tongue.

Seika merely blinked at the combined effort of the two men. It was cute in a way that they postured themselves as a means of propping each other up to achieve a similar collective spine. It was something that Seika was always worried about when it came to Khalfani. The boy had seemed so flighty, so finicky, that Seika feared he would never find someone who could properly match his temperament and keep him grounded long enough to not fly off the handle. Though that testy tongue of his seemed to only grow sharper with this little act of defiance.

Cocking a sly grin, the older brother finally relented on his pressure, forgoing the next part of his examination in favor of finally greeting the guest properly. It was a small gesture, only a curt nod of approval and a whisper of “به علاوه، شما مودب تر بودید، حداقل زمانی که ما برای اولین بار ملاقات کردیم.” He would actually truly relax in his chair, the flimsy cheap metal of a park bench whining in protest as the large man settled and attempted to clear the air of hostilities. He was truly aware of how he was as a person, but he also needed to keep up the act at times in defense of his little Brother, the only true blood he had left in the world after their parents had passed. Of course he would never tell Khalfani this directly, the young man would hang it over his head for all eternity if he knew that Seika was actually fiercely protective of him, even going so far as to look the other way with all of his various misdeeds.

As such he took the insults and snide comments in stride, his brother may see him as a boot licker now, but having someone like him on the inside was far more valuable then trusting the safety and security of their people within Fiore to these... people. Racism bred ignorance as the saying went, and as long as he was in charge, the amount of profiling done on their people had dropped significantly since he had taken the position. Of course once again it wasn't something that Khalfani could see from the outside looking in. He only saw his beloved brother prostrating himself before another King like some sort of servant. Which in a way was fair. But Seika had other plans, other worries. The worthless mortals of this country and indeed Earthland were far below his list of concerns if he were truly honest. But in a way he guessed that's what put him at odds with his brother. He never saw the forest for the trees. The people were what truly mattered, but he could never focus on the people because the things that threatened them were far beyond their understanding. And unfortunately, he could never explain that.

So instead, he would take charge of the conversation, cutting to the heart of the matter before either could continue this pointless back and forth, no matter how comedic it was. "پس موضوع جلسه امروز چیست؟ خودت میدونی چقدر سرم شلوغه امیدوارم این فقط برای معرفی مهمان دوست داشتنی ما در اینجا نباشد. در حالی که من مطمئن هستم که شما عاشق دریافت تایید من از چیزها هستید، همانطور که بارها به من بسیار شیوا و شیوا گفته اید، آنچه در    مورد رابطه شما فکر می کنم بی اهمیت است. پس معنای واقعی این چیست؟  "

Seika quirked an eyebrow at the nervousness the other lad began to show as the two brothers finally got into step with each other. It wasn't something that took away from Seika's thoughts on him, but the sudden need to excuse himself was noticeable, and distracting. Cutting his eyes back to Khalfani, he watched as his younger brother took charge of the shifty youth, wrangling him in and keep him moderately pacified, or at least attempting to anyway. It was enough byplay that Seika actually watched and observed, choosing not to answer the young man's question of drinks as he wasn't even sure if Khalfani was going to let him leave in the first place. Eventually the sideshow would pass and the two would get back on with it. Khalfani would beat around the bush a bit more yet again but would finally get to the end of it all causing Seika to blink and sigh before turning to Amir and smiling.

"Apologies for my conduct and lack of manners, but I think I will take that drink. A warm jasmine tea if you can find a stall that serves it."

It wasn't that he was trying to dismiss Amir or push him away, but Seika knew how passionate Khalfani when he felt he had stumbled across a plan or scheme that he truly believed in. Though Seika truly believed his brother was on the right path and just needed guidance, the young man was far too headstrong to actually take his advice or guidance due to his own perceived notions of Seika's allegiance, not only to him, but to their people. Seika would give the young man a chance to vacate the premises, but should he choose not to, or whether or not Khalfani didn't give him the chance, Seika would continue to in short terms break Khalfani's heart.

"Does your home have to do with the moves and plans your current guild have been making? Believe it or not Khalfani, my being in this region is no accident. Odin Morningstar is no mage to be tying yourself too, not for one as yourself of royal blood. The man has no love for any King, Grandfather included. So if you intend to continue working with, or for him, I can not join your plans for a 'home'."

He would give it a second for his words to marinate before beginning to speak again, hopefully cutting off Khalfani before he immediately jumped to conclusions and stuck his own foot in his mouth again, "...But I do agree. We do need to stick together, which is why I have been working on my own sort of... home. Away from the ties of this country, away from the ties of Grandfather. While yes, it is mainly rooted in my need for allies to fight the forces of Destruction, at the end of the day it is intended to be an Oasis for our people away from the harsh realities that has been forced upon them by not only Grandfather, but all King's of this accursed land. I don't expect you to follow me in this venture. But know that your words and concerns have been heard by me, and I'm taking my own steps to rectify them."

Finally he stopped speaking to allow Khalfani the chance to respond. For once he spoke his mind directly to Khalfani, if only to get him to see the bigger picture. There was no King that was a master of Seika, he did not make goals around King's. But King's provided a resource that no single person or servant could, and that was an abundant source of readily available money, that was legal. And if it meant bending his neck so that he could bless the people he had witnessed struggling the most, then he would take the knee every time.

Seika quirked his eyebrow at his little brother's plea for emotion. It was rare in the small time that the two had known each other for his brother to actually show this level of devotion and weakness to him. Khalfani had always displayed himself as strong and firm in his beliefs, something that Seika had honestly respected. While it wasn't enough initially to get him to believe his brother when the information was first revealed, it was that level of conviction that got Seika to even accept the fact that his name was truly Khnurn and that he was part of something so much bigger, at least in the term of mortals. But now here they sat, both living a life away from the palace that they both had a claim too. Both working to improve lives far away from their actual home in hopes that their work would trickle back to the land from whence they came. It was something... inspiring in all of that. But still Seika could not see himself following in Khalfani's path. There was something there that always seemed to overshadow it. Even with the young man's claims for neutrality and independence, Seika, no Khnurn could not shake the fact that those were indeed empty words.

And so here the older brother sat, before his younger brother once again, at a crossroads of thoughts and implications. Like Khalfani said, them working together would be more beneficial, but Khnurn could not bow before Khalfani. Not because he was older, not because he was far more powerful, but because principally he was destined to lead, to take charge, to provide the light that Khalfani reflected onto others. And he could not do that in the boys shadow. So once again he would have to break his brothers heart, but in a way that maybe, just maybe one day the two would finally be reunited under one banner where they both belonged.

"The offer is appreciated Khalfani but I can not accept. Perhaps in the future we can join banners, but it seems that today isn't that day." He knew he wouldn't have to explain his reasoning to his brother, but was fully prepared to do so should Khalfani not find his answer acceptable. It was unfortunate that the young man had started this process without consulting him first, but he understood that his brother had goals and aspirations that existed far beyond its current scope.

Amir grabbed the drinks after haggling about the price. It was not that Amir could not afford them, it was the principle of the matter. They were overcharging to the point that it could be considered larceny. The young scholar was still a member of Infinity Wolves at the moment. It places Baska and the surrounding area under his protection. The Eternal Nightmare guild influence was stretching but not even they were criminal to overcharge so much.

Making his way back Amir caught the tail end of the conversation, it was something about banners. Amir assumed it was about them working together. It was still none of his business so he was not inclined to ask. He simply gave everyone their drink orders like a dutiful secretary. Looking at the sun he approximated the time, and realized he spent more time arguing than he thought. He had promised to get some harder quests done this week. One included shooting over to another guild.

“Sorry Habibi. I wasted so much time and I just realized I have to go. I have some personal business to take care of.” He turned towards Seika. Giving him an inquisitive look as he worried about the man's problematic personality. “It was a pleasure meeting you Seika. Next time maybe we can chat about Khalfani growing up.” It was all the wolf was going to say before heading out to his next mission.

[Exit]

Seika could see and feel the disappointment that Khalfani had for his rebuttal for his request. It wasn't as if Seika was enamored with the idea of harming his brothers heart but Seika also knew his brother well. Khalfani would bounce back from this loss. If he was truthful in his statement of separating from Odin Morningstar's influence, then it could be said that he was finally on track to become his own man. Separate away from Grandfather's influence, Odin's influence and in some ways, his elder brother's influence. Seika would not lie and say he didn't see how much Khalfani admired or worked to emulate some of his habits, and while Seika was greatly flattered, it also saddened him. Seika had wished for Khalfani to find his own path, something he believed in, but also something that would not lead to his own downfall or destruction. Such a fine line was always going to be precarious to walk, but if there was one to attempt it, Khalfani definitely could. And that wasn't to ignore the presence of the young man who had accompanied him. Amir was definitely a person with their head on their shoulders. Something that Khalfani definitely needed.

Standing up from the chair, he would take the tea offered to him with himself as he walked away minutes later, his quiet contemplation tucked away for later as he marched back towards the hotel room. He still had much work to do.

[Exit]