Work Text:
Ras looked at the scene before him but couldn’t make out a thing, the view a mix of blurriness and darkness. He couldn’t see, couldn’t move, couldn’t think… Where was he again? What was he doing? He couldn’t remember. His ears rang too, rendering any audible hints outside of his headspace impossible to decipher. His body swayed of its own accord, twitching and aching but uncontrollable when he attempted to move it himself. Dissociated completely from his surroundings, he tried to recall why he felt such a sense of urgency in his heart. Wait, wasn’t he in battle just now? How is it that he suddenly couldn’t move at all?
“Ras?!”
This voice. This voice alone suddenly rang loud and clear. Vildred?
Several voices soon chimed in, but all of them were mumbles that muddled together. After so long his brain guessed they might have been calling out things like Heir of the Covenant! Diche! Savior! Holy Heir! or something of that sort.
“Ras?! Ras!!!”
“Vildred?” He mumbled, but before he could so much as twitch again, he felt a powerful force hit his chest, along with a sharp pain in his stomach. The world suddenly vanished in an instant, leaving nothing but pure darkness, the echoes of worried voices, the cruel cackling of a strange girl, and the loud, horrified cries of the swordsman who named him.
“Ras!!!”
Ras’ bleary eyes blinked open to see a cloudy evening sky above him, the image blurring until his focus returned. His parched lips parted as his eyes glanced beside him to find himself in a campsite, surrounded by busy soul weavers and doctors tending to the wounded. Did… Did they lose a battle?
Ras attempted to clench his fists to test his muscles before trying to sit up, finding that he was still in pretty rough shape as the memories of losing all control and being unable to move at all came flooding back to him. Before he could dwell on the pain, however, he noticed an odd feeling of something in his hand.
“Ras?!”
The blurry world suddenly became clear when Ras saw Vildred’s face appear in front of his. “Vildred?”
“Oh, thank Diche!” The distressed knight exhaled in relief.
It really was Vildred. Suddenly, the tension in Ras’ muscles relaxed a little bit. Feeling that odd-something in his hand squeeze for just half a second before leaving, Ras suddenly felt a gentle hand pressing behind his back, holding him up and keeping him steady.
Vildred’s free hand moved to Ras’ chest, both to check his heart beat and to gently urge him to lay back down. “Don’t move, okay? Just relax. You took far too much damage today to be moving around yet, our soul weavers haven’t even finished healing you!”
Unable to resist Vildred’s pressure, and uninterested in disobeying him anyway, Ras allowed himself to be laid back to rest, feeling his head smoosh gently into something soft. “As you wish, Sir Vildred.”
Vildred blushed. “Please, don’t call me that. I told you titles are too formal, remember?”
Ras looked up at him, blinking slowly with a tired smile. “Right. Sorry, Vildred.”
Vildred nodded. “That’s better. I’ll be back.”
Ras watched as Vildred left his side, rather sad to see him go even for just a moment, but hopeful that he wouldn’t be gone for long. After all, every time Vildred spoke to him, he had the most sincere look of kindness in his eyes. He would definitely be back. In spite of the pain Ras felt in his body, he only felt like smiling, recalling that split second of feeling his hand being squeezed and Vildred holding him steady. It was hard to think about what happened in the last few hours since he was unconscious but he couldn’t help feeling as though Vildred had also carried him at some point.
Protecting this world seemed a lot more difficult than he had imagined upon his creation. Given that he was created for just that purpose, Ras had no reason to believe he could not do it. However, today certainly seemed intended to shake his core. Mayhaps it was a test? He couldn’t say. What he knew for sure after today though was that as long as Vildred was there, he would definitely be fine. Just thinking about being beside him again, his worries disappeared. His purpose would be served, and this world would be saved. Yes. It most certainly would be fine. Within moments, Ras heard Vildred speaking again and so returned to reality. He was coming back after all!
“I heard it the first time, you don’t have to lecture me again.”
“Oh but I do, actually, you were way out of line today and I can’t afford to have you thinking you can get away with it.”
Somewhat disappointed to hear someone else speaking to Vildred and slowing his return, the Heir of the Covenant listened carefully.
“How exactly is protecting the Heir of the Covenant out of line? Did you miss the part where he got completely stunned? He may be designed to fight the archdemon, but if I hadn’t gotten him out of there, our savior might’ve been killed by that acolyte! If my duty was to stay in the formation and leave Ras in the frontline like that then I would say that’s blasphemous planning on your part, general.”
“Now that’s another thing! Why do you keep calling him Ras? Nowhere in the books, prophecies or documents is the word “Ras” even mentioned!”
“Because that’s his name. He told me so himself.” Vildred said, his tone certain and unyielding, causing Ras’ heart to skip a beat.
“You alone know this name, huh? Am I supposed to excuse you from all your faults now because the Heir of the Covenant favors you?”
“I still fail to understand what I’m to be excused of, my duty as a knight is to protect the Heir of the Covenant and that is exactly what I did today. Are you perhaps just jealous that he favors me and not you, dear General? Or are you just jealous that you can’t take credit for his rescue?”
The pair stopped walking suddenly, making Ras a little concerned. Vildred wasn’t in trouble for saving him, was he? For saving him… Ras smiled to himself again. He really saved me.
“Drop the horseplay right now, Dayern. Your duty is to protect the Heir of the Covenant, not to hold his hand, fool around with him, fondle him, or give him your damn coat of arms to use as a pillow! You wanna be a proper knight?! You wanna be General?! You lead by example! You stay in line and don’t cost us the whole battle just because you think the Heir of the Covenant is your little playmate! Do it again and I’ll see to it that your punishment won’t be easily forgotten. Unlike some people, I couldn’t care less what your last name is.”
Vildred held the plate of food he carried in his hands no less steadily as he watched the general stomp and grumble away in the distance. He smirked to himself. “Wow, guess you really were jealous.” he chuckled then immediately resumed his venture to bring Ras some dinner.
Ras’ little smile expanded into a wide grin once his eyes met Vildred’s again and he watched eagerly as the handsome knight approached him with a plate of food.
“I’m back.”
“You’re back.”
Vildred sat down beside him again and got to work chopping the meat and potatoes on his plate into smaller pieces. “I know you probably don’t feel like eating yet, but you really really should. You need your strength to heal, that’ll be the first thing Ruele asks us when she gets here too. If I have to tell her you didn’t eat, she’ll be most disappointed in me.”
Hearing Vildred explain it that way, Ras felt he simply had to eat at all costs! Vildred already got in trouble for him once today, and he didn’t want to hear anyone yell at him like that again. Especially not if this “Ruele” person was as mean as the general. “Mm! I’m ready to eat!”
Vildred lowered an eyebrow. “Really? You’re feeling that much better already? And here I thought I’d be taking care of you all night. I can- still do that if you really need me to, though.”
Ras forced himself to sit up again. He was the Heir of the Covenant! If he had the strength to stop the archdemon all on his own, then he was certainly strong enough to not be Vildred’s burden.
“Vildred?”
“Hmm?”
“Vildred?!”
Vildred’s arm hung low at his side, dangling lifelessly as he clutched at his useless sword. The pain was so familiar and yet so excruciating all the same. His eyes shut tight, locking out any light, as he felt his body go numb suddenly, numb and yet prickling all over with that terrible soreness. Dammit all, he thought.
“Vildred!”
What was worse though was a whole new sensation taking over his body. It was a particular bizarre urge to attack in a specific direction, a tactic he’d never experienced before but it almost made him glad he was unable to move lest attacking in that direction feed right into the enemy’s plan. The familiar muffled female voice nearby chuckled with glee in his ears, disgusting him slightly as he attempted to tune it out.
“Vildred!!!”
Vildred couldn’t move a muscle. His body swayed miserably on its own as his muscles denied him any control whatsoever. The voice calling him would just have to keep on calling him. He dared not dwell on its master, though... That would simply be too great a blow to his pride. What little of it he had left.
“Vildred!!! Vildred!!!!! Vildre-”
Silence.
Vildred woke up miserably in a strange location. He tried to keep his eyes shut, preferring to remain on that brink of peaceful death once more but alas, his body needed to move. His dark eyelashes trembled as his eyes fluttered opened, revealing an unfamiliar ceiling of what he guessed was a room in an inn. He remained still, not wanting to feel the leftover pain and aches of a familiar stun attack, and certainly not interested in feeling whatever else was inflicted upon him by the unfamiliar attacks. To his surprise, however, his body felt rather fine. He was tired, certainly, but he strangely felt fine overall. How was that possible? Had he already been healed? Even after such a lethal blow?
As he reflexively clenched his fist, he suddenly felt something in his hand. His eyes finally traveled down beside him and Vildred’s heart stopped for a moment. There he was. That stubborn, treacherous, villainous Heir of the Covenant, sleeping soundly in a chair beside his bed, with his head resting on the bed, and his hand, very tightly, squeezing Vildred’s. Vildred’s eyebrows furrowed but, unfortunately, he found himself unable to be angry or disgusted. He simply did not have the energy right now. Though he also wasn’t ready to admit that the energy to be mad at him was becoming more and more scarce. The Heir was sleeping heavily, the faintest sound of adorable snoring disrupting the silence. His fluffy head of snowy hair looked as soft and inviting as ever, even more so with the new streak of black running through his bangs, and it was honestly incredible how much better he looked in something other than that stuffy white suit. Vildred took a deep breath, tightening his resolve, and reminding himself of the promise in his heart. He would never, ever, fall for the Heir of the Covenant again. Never.
“You’re awake.”
Vildred jolted and turned sharply to the other side of the bed where apparently, more company was sitting. A blonde woman’s face, very familiar and yet entirely strange to him, was staring at him, while a feminine hand hovered just above his rib cage.
“R-… Ruele?”
The blonde put a finger to their lips, signing for Vildred to keep it down in here. “I’m Destina.”
Vildred’s eyes widened. “D-… Destina? It’s really you? Lord Destina?”
Destina nodded. “It’s been a very long time, Vildred.”
Vildred’s chest welled up with emotion. “You… Look amazing.”
Destina smiled in amusement, their eyes closing as they seemed to read Vildred’s mind, welcoming any and every reminder of Her. “Thank you. Try to keep it down, alright? Ras needs to sleep.”
Vildred glanced back over to the Heir of the Covenant. He continued sleeping soundly, hand still gripping Vildred’s and causing Vildred’s heart to beat faster. A sense of shame fell over him suddenly. “He hasn’t been losing sleep has he?”
“What do you think?”
Vildred was afraid to ask. “How long was I out?”
“2 days.”
“2 days?!”
“Shhh…. Please, let him rest.”
“He- he didn’t stay awake for 2 days, right?” Vildred asked quietly, desperately hoping the answer was no.
“He sure did. Even when I healed him and told him to rest, he simply couldn’t sleep. You gave him quite the scare, after all.”
Vildred blushed. “What happened?”
“You had a run in with Tenebria. Ras will have to tell you the rest, he was so tired and frantic by the time I got here, I couldn’t understand a word when he tried to explain. You’re lucky to be alive though. Or perhaps, not lucky so much as- well. I’ll let him explain that to you too.”
Vildred’s eyes shut tight again as his head sank into the pillow. Wishing he could force himself out of this life and away from all the embarrassment, he futilely opened them again and turned slightly to look back at Destina. “Why. I didn’t ask for any of that, and I told him already he doesn’t owe me a damn thing from the past. He has no business being in here with me like this…”
Destina looked at him, eyes full of understanding but also with immense disbelief. “You know better than anyone why people do such things.”
Vildred watched as Destina stood up again, flicking their wrist gently to halt the magic flow, and prepared to leave the room.
“Vildred? Can I offer you some advice?”
Vildred listened in silence as Destina stood in the doorway, their back to him as though they couldn’t bear to show their face again for this conversation.
The ever bright Lord of Light, somehow seeming dimmer all of a sudden, spoke quietly. “You don’t have to take my advice, especially when what you went through the first time was clearly so painful, but- what you two have? It’s something so precious. Something so rare, that few will ever know the joy of it, and fewer will ever have the chance to keep it. Celestial beings like ourselves, especially, cannot even fathom it until we’ve felt it. It is terrifying, and strange, and wonderful and beautiful, all at the same time. Gods don’t even tend to believe in its existence. By default, it is beyond our understanding, and purely mortal. And yet, Ras found it. You found it. Together, you found that impossible gift. To not only find it, but to see it return to you even beyond the separation of death… Well, like I said. It’s entirely up to you what you want to do. If you choose to deny it, I wouldn’t blame you. But if I were you- I would take the chance.”
A heavy silence filled the room. Vildred listened to their words, unsure how he felt about them, but wholly respecting them. After all, he knew damn well where she was coming from. When Destina finally began to leave, Vildred broke the silence. “Destina? Ruele would have loved to meet you in this new form. She’d blush for days.” He chuckled.
“…Thank you.”
Vildred could not see their expression. However, he could tell they were moved to tears.
Vildred looked at Ras from his pillow. That angelic face of his was exactly the same and yet he looked so different. So alive. So… human. He wanted to touch it. He needed to know if it felt the same way it did 20 years and a lifetime ago. He attempted to gently pry his hand out of Ras’ when suddenly, he felt it move in his.
Ras stirred awake, his striking bright eyes revealing themselves to Vildred’s sore ones, and he quickly turned to face the head resting on the pillow. “Vildred? Vildred! You’re awake!”
Vildred watched as Ras went from dead asleep to awake and alive again in seconds, bracing himself as the little man approached him. “Are you okay?! Are you in pain?! Destina was supposed to finish healing you today, did they leave already?! I can go and bring them back if you need me to-“
A hand suddenly pressed gently against Ras’ mouth. The heir of the covenant blushed wildly against Vildred’s palm, exhilarated to finally feel his tender touch again after so long, yet also embarrassed that it had to be like this when he hadn’t properly slept or showered in days. He gazed into Vildred’s fierce expression, longingly and achingly, but obediently remained silent as the hand pulled away, brushing against his cheek as it did so.
“I’m fully healed. There’s no need to worry. Can you tell me what happened?”
Ras’ expression turned to one of pain as he recalled their most recent battle. “We ran into Tenebria. She has quite the pocketful of new tricks. Not only did she stun you and provoke you in some weird way, but she also threw out an extra surprise attack that nearly killed you. If I hadn’t brought Aurius' shield with me, I-“ Ras wiped his eyes and sniffled, taking a deep breath. “Well, it doesn’t matter, you’re alright now, and everything is fine, like you said. Right?”
Vildred looked at Ras in awe. “You- You took Aurius with you? You took damage for me?”
Ras was a little worried. Was Vildred mad? He couldn’t think of a reason to be mad at that, but despite all his time on Orbis, he certainly had no doubt he could still find ways to trip into offending someone, especially Vildred who had the most reason to hate him. Of course, regardless, Ras had no regrets. He would gladly do it again and again, without a second thought. He only wished he couldve taken all the damage himself, the whole attack! Anything to prevent Vildred from getting hurt ever again, even if Vildred wanted nothing to do with him afterward. He swallowed hard. Already preparing to apologize for whatever he did to upset his ex-knight again, however, Ras was interrupted.
“Thank you.”
“I’m s- What?”
“You took damage for me, right? Did you rescue me too? Someone must’ve.”
Ras’ eyes began to sparkle as he looked at Vildred, cheeks blushing and heart pounding. “I- I grabbed you and ran immediately. I carried you as far as I could til I found a little cave nearby to hide in so I could patch your wounds. You were barely conscious, I was so terrified that I was going to lose you agai-“ Ras gasped at the feeling a kind hand on his shoulder, letting out a small breath when he felt Vildred’s gentle caress again, for the first time in years, for the first time in a lifetime.
“Thank you, Ras.”
Ras looked into Vildred’s eyes. Though he’d feared that they’d never look upon him with adoration and sincerity the way they used to, right here, right now, even with the haunting scar between them, Vildred’s eyes looked at him with kindness. They looked at him the way they used to. With sincerity. With hope. With…
He dared not hope for too much, after all he had no right to do so. Or maybe perhaps he was just too stunned by the sensation to think just yet.