The boy stared. And the man carefully watched his reaction. From what he had observed that would should've sprung the boy to ask questions. Although he would not have answered them it was a normal reaction to have. But instead the boy just stared blankly back at him with no shock or concern for the statement…
"What makes you say that" the boy finally asked, taking notice to the prolonged silence. Still making no reaction his voice flat and emotionless.
"A life time I don't bother remembering anymore, I made a deal. And with it, I gained power. In exchange, once my will was carried out my life would end. Consumed by flame."
The boy continued to show no concern nor even have a reaction to this.
"Who did you make a deal with?" The boy asked, in the same dull tone as before.
"A god, something so beyond our understanding that we can't even begin to fathom its power."
As the man spoke. The boy noticed that the cracks he saw on the man's face had grown deeper at some point.
"So who was this god?" The boy asked, seemingly back to normal in the eyes of the man.
"The true names of the gods can't be spoken, nor heard by mortals. But in older times he was referred to as the Malefic Devourer" The man explained.
The boy points to the statue in the center of the room. "Was she also a god?" He asked in earnest.
"No. There are only three gods. She… simply was an important figure in this world's history."
The man explained carefully, his voice sounding distant. Picking up on this change the boy changed the subject,
"So who are the other two gods? If there was three."
The man shook out of from his daze, explained.
"The first I already told you. The Malefic Devourer, a god of destruction, chaos, and darkness. The other being called Everlight or more commonly, Helios. The god of Light, purity, and peace. Then finally there is Fate. The god of balance, destiny, and death. A story older than time explains that the Malefic one would destroy so Everlight may create. And Fate keeps the balance of the world in check by keeping the balance of the two."
The boy listened carefully as the man explained this. But it caused him to think. And finally he prompted the question.
"If gods true names cannot be heard by mortals, was the crone one of the gods in disguise?"
The man sits in silence. Saying nothing to the question, and all but confirming the boy's suspicions as truths. Sensing that pressing on the matter more than he already had could become dangerous, the boy instead asked the man to continue the story.
"Of course. Allow me to begin once more, only a few days after the dream Josiah had. There was a meeting with the nobles once more…"
The days following Josiah's supposed dream were sickening. Nyx had been rushing him around the day of to doctors and medical experts to see if anything was wrong with him only to find nothing. His sheets and clothes had been washed but the memory had not. He felt only crippling exhaustion and unending stress. To make matters worse, a meeting with the other nobles was to be held soon. As of now, he sat in his bed chambers at his modest sized desk to write. Though no matter how hard he tried to put a sentence on the paper he couldn't form a proper thought. The whispers from the dream had followed him, causing him never ending stress. His restless nights had grown even worse because of it.
'It was nothing more than a bad dream. Nothing could come of-'
"You are a fool, child"
Josiah lept to his feet and turned around to be face to face with the crone. She appeared as she did in the dream. Her face still in that empty grin.
"How have you come here?! Why must you torment me?!"
Josiah screamed out. The whispers grew louder until they were screams in his ears. He stumbled to the ground as the crone began laughing at his image.
Barely able to think, Josiah yelled for help. Surely someone could catch her and lock her away. Even if she somehow had gotten here there's no way she can leave without being caught. Soon it will all be over and-
"Josiah!! What's wrong?! Why are you screaming?"
Josiah looked up to see Nyx. "My love call the guards! It's…" He paused. The whispers had stopped and as he looked around so was the crone.
"Where did she go… she was right infront of me.."
"Who on earth are you talking about? There's been no one in your room all day. Are you sure your well?" Nyx offered him a look of concern. She walked over to Josiah and helped him stand.
"The Crone from the stall, she was just here.."
"My love, you haven't been getting enough sleep. I'm not sure what you saw but I can assure you no one is here."
Josiah shook his head. He swore she had been right there. He was right in front of her. "Perhaps your right.. I should get some rest. The meeting is tomorrow yes?"
"It is. And because you happen to be the laziest king, I already organized your clothes and papers you'll need for then." Nyx gave him a kiss and a smile, before stepping out of the room. "Sleep well my king, my love."
"I will my love, remember that you need rest as well. Don't do all my duties or they'll put you in charge." Josiah heard Nyx chuckle as she walked down the hall. Making his way to his bed, he layed down and for the first time in a while he had no nightmares. Even the whispers had grown silent.
He should have known something was wrong.