The Atrocious Bard and The Little Princeling | Golden Guard X Reader

Hunter's scowl deepened as he crossed his arms tightly, glaring at Luz like she was a persistent gnat he couldn't swat away. And to be honest? She was.

"You got us stuck in the Emperor's mind!" he shouted, voice sharp with accusation. He paced around, crossing his arms. Titans. He was stuck in the Belos's mind. His mind!

"Hey!" Luz shot back, fists on her hips. "It wasn't my fault someone activated that spell! Maybe you should take responsibility, Mr. I-Wield-a-Golden-Staff-and-Know-What-I'm-Doing."

Hunter huffed, rolling his eyes with exaggerated exasperation. "Why were you even lurking around the night market?! Don't you have... I don't know... magic school homework or whatever it is you humans waste time on?"

Luz's determination didn't waver. She looked him dead in the eyes, her frustration melting into something rawer. "Look, I just need answers, alright? Everything's a mess right now, and no one will tell me the truth. I came to you because I thought you might actually give me something useful."

"Answers to what, exactly?" Hunter ran a hand down his jaw. Does he look like someone who had answers? If he did know these answers then he himself wouldn't be out in the night market, searching for Titan knows what!

"...the emperor. What is he really planning?" Luz locked her eyes towards him with a heavy and serious note in her tone. "You gotta know him, right? You're practically his right-hand man!"

Hunter's brow arched, clearly unimpressed. "And what? You want me to admit that my uncle's some... some evil mastermind?" He chuckled coldly, though his voice betrayed the tiniest edge of discomfort, turning his gaze away. "Yeah, right."

Luz didn't miss a beat. "Pretty much, yeah."

The mocking smile faded from Hunter's face as he looked away, letting out a quick, dismissive sigh. He didn't want her to see even a shred of doubt. This was his uncle they were talking about —the man who'd raised him, molded him, given him everything.

"Well," he snapped, gesturing towards the hall of flickering paintings around them, "there's your answer. You dragged us here, so start looking."

Luz glanced at the bleak walls lined with gold and vintage paintings. "Yeesh, you know, I was in Willow's mind once. It was way less... gloomy."

Hunter smirked, clearly delighted by her discomfort. "Not everyone's mind is a flower garden, Human. Belos is the most powerful witch in the Isles. Besides," he added, gazing at the dark hallway, "the mindscape reflects the person's character. I read about it. But I wouldn't expect you to understand."

Hunter's eyes darted between the scenes along the walls, each painting telling a story that felt more like a forgotten chapter of his own life than a stranger's memories. It was exhilarating, finally seeing for himself the truth he'd always wanted to believe about Belos. 

Every frame painted the Emperor as a hero, a figure of unmatched strength and compassion, guiding the Isles through the chaos that had once threatened it.

He took a few steps forward, eyes wide with wonder as he caught sight of a painting that drew him in completely. 

"Woah..." he murmured, voice filled with awe. 

There, frozen in the canvas, was Belos with his carved wooden mask, his arm outstretched as he guided frightened civilians away from something menacing just beyond the painting's edge. The way they looked at Belos — relief and gratitude lighting up their faces — stirred something deep within him.

"Look at this memory!" he exclaimed, barely noticing Luz was still behind him as he drifted closer to the painting. A proud smile tugged at his lips, lighting up his face with a mixture of admiration and nostalgia.