Chapter Text
The Pale King stood at the Palace Garden's south balcony, the breeze rippling gently through his pale robes. It wasn't clear what he was looking at. Perhaps at the alubras dotting the sky in the distance, or he was surveying the estate below. He could even be lost in thought, which was in fact the case. The pale sky was something of an abyss in its own right; an expanse in which, if one was meditative enough, one could lose themself to deep reflection.
It was for this reason why he was startled when a waist-height hand suddenly pulled on his robes.
He looked down.
There was his ch— his Pure Vessel. They were looking at him almost concerned, despite not being capable of expression.
"What is it, Vessel?" he murmured, as if waking from a dream.
The little one pointed to their right, and he followed the direction to the balcony's ornate entrance. A small, dark-caped thing was sitting in the middle of it, swiveling its head to and fro while keeping a good distance away from them.
He couldn't help but feel amusement bubbling in his chest.
"That's just a maskfly, little one. It is harmless. There is no reason to concern yourself with it."
The Pure Vessel seemed to stare at him, wary perhaps, before accepting this. They continued to stand next to him though. Despite how, uncomfortable, he was with the potentiality of becoming attached, he had grown used to them doing this: standing or sitting in silence with him. Was it because they craved company, perhaps?
He hoped they would shed the habit as they got older, but a part of him savored these moments. It reminded him of the damnable fact that they were not like his metal creations, but a semi-living bug with needs and comforts. He should wish that they were just a mechanical being— wholely pure without the stains of mortal emotions.
Yet...he didn't.
Because they are his child. A child that should experience living. A child whom he'd like to pick up and embrace while counting alubras in the sky. A child whom he wishes he could animatedly teach about maskflies. A child whom he could take flying into the vast sky, pointing out the tiny buildings of the palace grounds below them.
But he couldn't. He could not afford to give into those dreams.
So he steeled himself, the hardened facade weighing down his heart. He looked away from the vessel and continued staring into the sky.
But perhaps...his mind thought traitorously, he could give the little one an educational lecture on maskflies.