Chapter Text
"Hold still a sec…"
Your eyes narrow. It just wasn't the same. Was it the hat? Maybe some of the stitching could be swept up and to the side. The tufts needed to be a little messy. Groomed, but not perfected. Natural.
"Kriiiis…"
The glasses were a bit off as well. The frame needed to be thinner. The plastic rims seemed to converge over the eyes until only small dots peered through, which was pretty close but…
You tilt your head to the side, leaning in.
…what are the dots even?
They're not buttons…wait, no, the entire thing was made of buttons! The glasses were just buttons with holes in them! Ingenious. With a bit of plastic linking them, they looked identical to the spectacles he-
"K-Kris! Please!"
You blink.
"…huh? Oh, right, sorry." Your gaze lingers on the training dummy for one last moment, "You can…"
It was the hat. It was absolutely the hat.
"Hey, why did you stop wearing your hat anyw-"
You glance back over; the shrouded prince beginning to wobble and waver.
"H-Hey! You can stand! Stand on both feet!"
Ralsei's head spins for a moment, your panicked cry seeming to bring him back from the edge. He cautiously drops his foot back down upon the ground, no longer the spitting image of the dummy at his side.
"Sorry, didn't realize you were that out of it. Didn't mean to…" You grimace, scratching the back of your head.
The emerald mage slowly returns to his senses, dragging a fuzzy palm up and underneath his glasses to wipe his eyes.
"I-It's quite alright…but I'm not sure as to why the training dummy and I need to…match?" He swiftly removes his spectacles, fogging their surface and cleaning the lenses with a loose sleeve, "The dummy is simply for practicing the basics of combat and communication in battle."
You cross your arms, a pensive look marking your face, "Well, I think it'd be more effective if the dummy matches you. Especially for teaching others how to use mercy in fights. Like, I think Susie would be more willing to talk to a dummy if it looked like you. Maybe she'd even hug it!"
You smile, staring down at the prince, his soft white palms halting in their task. You continue watching the frozen mage, grin slowly drifting away.
"…maybe more like, a bear hug?"
Ralsei sighs wistfully as he dons his glasses once more, "I suppose there is merit in making the training dummy more lifelike. Though…" He blinks once, twice, adjusting back to the view from his eyewear. Leaning forward, the prince curiously prods the dummy's side, a muted frown pulling on his lips, "I feel reinforcing the stitches may be more important should Susie accept my offer of training." He squints, "…believe I have some steel wire somewhere in storage. Maybe chains…?"
You chuckle, watching as the mage blinks back to reality, hastily folding his hands behind his back.
"B-But that isn't…well, it doesn't seem Susie has accompanied you today…?" Ralsei stands back at attention, pink horns reflecting in the dim cyan light.
"Uh…n-no. She was…busy. She's just really busy right now. With…stuff." You squeeze an iron-plated palm in your other hand, eyes drifting away from Ralsei's curious gaze.
"Oh. Oh! Susie did mention a group project coming up, did she not? I suppose she's a bit preoccupied with her academics." The mage absentmindedly brushes the side of his neck, white fur twirling between his fingers, "I did offer to assist, though I believe her thoughts on the matter were, 'They'll know you wrote it with your fancy-schmancy chicken scratch.'" A sour look flashes in his features, "Kris? Is cursive unappealing in your world?"
You blank, "Huh? Oh, uh, no, I don't think so…"
The stark white goat sighs, his hands receding back behind his robe, "I suppose it might have been rude of me to insist on helping anyway. I'm sure Susie is quite capable of completing the project with her assigned partners."
You bite the bottom of your lip, "Y-Yeah. I'm sure she can…yeah."
"…Kris?"
"H-Huh? Yeah?" You stutter out.
"Is…something the matter? I thoroughly enjoy surprise visits like this, but-"
"Yeah! Yeah, I'm great! I just…" You pause, struggling for words, "I…hey! How do you use magic?"
Ralsei's eyes light up, delicate pink irises glimmering back at you.
"I was just…wondering? I know you taught Susie. And Noelle seemed to be able to use it the second she got here. Even Berdly was throwing tornadoes at us. They really hurt…"
"Kris! Are you asking to learn magic?"
You're torn from the thought of cutting winds, watching as the shrouded goat begins to bounce on the tips of his toes. A barely noticeable crackle echoes throughout the room, both the noise and near palpable excitement radiating from the prince.
"Uh…yeah? I guess. That would be-"
Robed arms loop around your own, dragging you back and away from the dummy's side, pulling with a strength far beyond your reckoning.
"W-Whoa, okay, wai-"
"Oh this is wonderful! I had no idea you wanted to learn Kris! I would be thrilled to provide a basic tutorial on the intricacies of weaving arcane energies. Most important is positioning. Always be aware of who is in front of you and what kind of spell your mind conjures. Obviously, if you are using a healing spell born from elements of light and warmth, you don't have to worry as much. Though, if you are facing an adversary, I suppose you wouldn't want to heal them, now would you? But on the off chance an attack wounds instead of debilitates, healing an opponent may be necessary, to which you will still want to be cautious in how you focus the energies to-"
"RALSEI!"
"…y-yes?"
The bubbly prince freezes, staring up at you, his gaze slowly moving down to his own hands, tightened around your arm until the azure flesh turned a concerningly purple hue.
"O-Oh goodness!" You feel the grip loosen, oxygen beginning to flow once more through the extremity, "I-I didn't…I-I mean, I'm so sorry, I'm not sure what came over-"
You quietly squeeze your arm, the cold steel of your gauntlet providing much needed relief. You chuckle softly, placing a hand atop the panicked goat's head, weaving fingers through curls of white fur until the prince's words drift away.
"I-I…"
"You're fine Ralsei. Kinda cute when you get that way. Just didn't know you had a grip like that, jeez." You stretch your arm into the air, a dull pain continuing to radiate outwards, "But yeah, if you could teach me, I might be able to help with healing. Or casting giant fireballs. Or I could use the cauldron, that would be-"
You absentmindedly glance back at the prince, his fuzzy maw buried in the collar of his robe.
"…Ralsei?"
"Y-YES?!" The goat's face emerges, a strange shade of pink burning underneath his fur, "Yes! I-I would be happy to teach you! J-Just, um…" Ralsei blinks, shakily removing his foggy glasses, wiping them down with the edge of his robe, "What…um, what kind of magic would you like to…wait, no, healing! You said…healing. Or fire. Let's…let's start with healing, shall we?"
You nod enthusiastically, darkened blue hair drifting in your eyes.
"W-Well, let's um…l-let's see. H-How about this; does anyone in your family use magic? What types of energies do Lightner's weave in their daily lives?" Ralsei stutters, clearing his throat.
You cross your arms, the prince's words twisting in your chest, "Uh, my…family. Y-Yeah…" You hesitate, "Well, uh, my mom and dad don't use magic. I don't think. I don't think Lightners can use magic in my world. Or at least not…"
Ralsei taps a finger to his lips, "Curious. Were Noelle and Susie incapable of using magic in your world?"
"If they could, they never told me." You shrug, eyes drifting through the darkened training room.
"How do you normally heal then? Are there certain individuals capable of healing magics?"
"We…" You frown, "We go to a hospital?"
Ralsei watches you quietly for a moment, studying your expression, "That is a…medical facility? Do they have magic there?"
"N-No, they just…use medicine. And bandages. Sometimes they put your leg in a cast for a month or two if you fall out of a tree." Your eyes glaze over, quickly shaking from the thought, "…that's what I've heard at least."
"So, magic isn't used in your world?"
You grimace, halfheartedly shrugging.
"That is…I didn't realize there was such a difference between the realms." The prince remains silent for a moment, eyes darting throughout the room, "S-Sorry! I'm don't believe you visited for me to stand here and ponder." He chuckles, "We will simply start from the beginning and discover your potential together!"
You shift in place, plate mail quietly creaking, as you watch the prince stand to full, a practiced stance if you had ever seen one.
"Now, using magic is relatively straightforward. What is…complicated, is controlling the energy you conjure."
Ralsei subtly buries the bottom of his maw in his collar, near wordlessly muttering as light begins to collect around him. A brilliant line trails along the earth as a circular rune manifests, motes of energy bubbling up into the air. He opens his eyes, pink irises shining back as a barely hidden smile peeks out.
"The energy can form in a number of ways. When I'm conjuring light for healing and pacification, I prefer to ground the process and allow the energy to flow upwards. I find using the more…volatile, elements of light to be easier when channeled through a solid foundation. That way I can weave the magic that floats up as it is a bit weaker the further it drifts from the source."
Your mouth begins to hang open, words trapped in your reeling mind.
"…u-um, I suppose what I mean to say is…different individuals have different ways of using magic. Susie seems to prefer a more…physical method? B-But it works quite well! She is able to channel the energy out from her hands to a surprisingly effective degree. And I believe you mentioned Noelle as having conjured a sleeping mist during your time together? Such spells are incredibly difficult to master, much less control. Channeling ambient energies into a gaseous form is normally achieved by allowing such magic to flow through the caster…unless the environment itself was supportive of-"
Ralsei continues to ramble as he slowly begins pacing across the room, lost in thought.
"…and if Berdly were to utilize his weapon as a conduit for the energies…though Susie was also capable of such feats with her axe. Perhaps he also has latent magical capabilities he isn't aware-"
"…Ralsei?" You mutter, tapping the goat on the shoulder.
"Yes? O-Oh! Yes! S-Sorry, I…" He clears his throat, a bashful smile reflecting back, "I, um…we, simply need to find the stance or method that works. W-Works for you, I mean. Now, how do you picture conjuring magical spells? Perhaps there is a song you can recite that would allow you to focus? O-Or, maybe your shield could be used to-"
"What about this?"
You flare a hand across your face, palm pointed inwards, eyes peeking through the spaces of your fingers.
…
"K-Kris?"
"Wait, no, that'd be weird to do in a fight. Maybe…"
You snap both fingers in front of you, pointing towards the confused goat.
"…no, that's just finger guns. Wait!"
You pull on the side of your breastplate, the armor just barely unclasping as you lean to the side, sneering.
"Kris…I'm not sure-"
You huff. You looked fabulous, but you weren't sure you'd be casting any spells with such a pose.
Maybe…
You stand back to full, breathing in deeply. With one sudden, vicious movement you…
"…is that a thumbs-up? I recall Susie telling me about the expression. That and one involving a single finger…I believe it was the pinky? She said to hold the finger aloft when I wish to be friends with someone or-"
You loudly sigh, hands dropping back to your side.
"…sorry." You scratch the back of your head, heat burning across your face.
"N-No! It's quite alright! Magic can be incredibly difficult to conjure, even with the proper methods and training. Susie took quite a number of tries before she was able to use her healing spell!" Ralsei smiles back, laying a single furry palm on your shoulder.
You grumble, "Yeah, but she was able to use magic with her axe the second she got here."
The prince's eyes soften, "Well, yes, but-"
"And Noelle was casting full on sleeping spells! She thought it was all a dream…"
"I-I suppose that's true, though she may have been more magically inclined and…"
Ralsei hesitates, sighing softly.
"I-I'm sorry Kris. I'm sure it will just take some practice. I would be happy to train with you whenever you wish. I even have a few tomes dedicated to beginner spells that-" The mage's palm squeezes your shoulder, his eyes lighting up, "Wait! Of course! I believe I have a book on the nature of humans and what to…erm, expect?" Pink flares across his cheeks, "I-I know I have the tome somewhere…I read through much of its contents in preparation for you and Susie's arrival. Perhaps there are answers regarding what kinds of magic humans are proficient in? Oh! I could even ask Queen if she may be able to search for such information. I would imagine with a bit of research, we can-"
You quietly lay your head on the boy's palm, the chattering prince dying back down into silence.
Ralsei pauses, searching your eyes, "…Kris?"
"Can't use magic." You mumble.
"What do you…Kris, it's okay. I'm sure you will be able to given time."
You shake your head, soft white fur brushing your cheek, "I don't think I can. I don't think humans…"
Ralsei freezes, "B-But...I don't..."
You close your eyes, silence ringing through the Dark World halls, "…read a book a long time ago that my mom got from the library. They have a section on humans and I guess she was trying to figure something out or…" You sigh, "It said humans and monsters are pretty different. Something to do with us being more…solid? Like, more physical than monsters. Or that our souls are different…something, I don't know."
Your peer back out from your reverie, watching the smaller prince, a somber look washing away what little remained of his enthusiasm.
"I've tried. Ever since we came here. I saw you and Susie using magic, but I couldn't get anything to work. I think humans are just…I don't know. Maybe we can't use magic down here. Maybe we're just too different or…" You bite your lip, "Maybe it's just me."
You swallow sharply, heat rising to your face, "I…I even snuck into the Dark World sometimes to practice with the dummy."
Ralsei's eyes widen, a subtle smile blooming on his maw.
You shake your head, "I'm sorry. I knew I probably couldn't but…I don't know. I think I just wanted to come down here and not think about other stuff. But I didn't have an excuse and…I lied to you." You groan, "And now Susie probably thinks I'm ditching her…and I guess I kinda am! I just don't always know what to say or do, and I feel like I'm going to do something stupid and make her mad, and-"
"K-Kris?" The prince mutters.
"…sorry Ralsei. It's just easier down here sometimes. There's magic, castles, crazy monsters, dojos, and…" You chuckle softly, "And there's you. It's nice. Doesn't feel complicated. Doesn't feel like I have to worry."
Ralsei blinks, suddenly snapping back to life, "T-That's q-quite alright! I mean, w-well, I-I'm sorry that it has been difficult, but, I suppose that…" The mage's words lose comprehension, stuttering and stopping as they blend into nothingness.
You take a deep breath, eyes searching the ground for an answer, "…no, it's not alright. I shouldn't lie to you. Or Susie. I should just tell her that I'm not always able to be…around." You pinch the bridge of your nose, "Don't know why I can't just say what I want to say. Was easier when I kept quiet."
"…I like when you talk."
You freeze, trying to find the goat's eyes, his maw buried deeply into the collar of his robe.
"U-Uh…thanks?" You stifle a chuckle.
"I'm…glad you lied." The points of Ralsei's mouth pop from the cloth's embrace, panicked stuttering spewing forth, "I-I mean, no! No, don't lie! W-Well, but this lie was…okay…"
You squint down at the half-buried goat as he rocks back and forth, the edges of his gown floating around his lithe form.
"…I like when you visit. You don't have to make an excuse. It's…nice. I really like you…w-when you visit! With Susie too! Both of you! So, uh…" The prince lets out a shuddering breath, "It's okay. Apology accepted. But…no more lying. You can always visit me…us! You can always visit us."
You let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding.
He…wasn't angry.
You feel your cheeks flare once more. Of course he wasn't angry. Ralsei would forgive the Roaring Knight themselves if confronted.
But you lied to him. You lied to someone you care about. You wince, staring back down at the ground. You messed up. And now you had to fix it. But what would fix this feeling? What would make everything better?
…
Right!
"K-Kris? Are you still th-"
You feel a burning warmth caress your neck, Ralsei's wisps of fur brushing your face as you sweep over the prince. The mage's words soon melt into mumbled gibberish as you pull closer, his plush robe wrapping around your arms. You stifle a chuckle as the subtle smell of baked goods invades your senses. Of course he smelled nice. But you weren't sure why he always felt so warm. It was like hugging a crackling fire. Just a bit fluffier, and less…painful.
"…I'm sorry I lied. I don't want to do that to you or anyone else. I promise, if there's something on my mind, I'll just say it. Deal?"
You peer down, watching as steam begins to encroach upon the boy's glasses.
"Uh…Ralsei? You okay? Sorry, are you coming down with a fever or something?" You begin to pull away, "Probably shouldn't have just grabbed you like-"
Dull horns jab into the crook of your neck, Ralsei's head buried in your shoulder. You feel his arms wrap tightly around you, almost suffocatingly so. A small squeak shoots from your mouth as you're pulled closer and closer, the Dark World appearing to dim with each passing moment.
"R…sei…!"
"Y-Yes? O-Oh!"
Light fades back into the world as you struggle for breath. You blink back the dizzying images, multiple Ralseis dancing in your vision. In your dazed wobbling, you spot the Darkner prince shuffle back away, a searing pink flushing underneath his fur.
You weren't sure goat monsters should turn that shade of red. Maybe he really is sick…
"S-Sorry! I can, perhaps…here!" Sparks of light shoot up from the floor, "I-I can possibly heal the, well, the…asphyxiation?"
"I'm okay!" You chuckle, barely able to stand, "I'm good, just…jeez, should've just had you grapple the King instead of using magic. You could've carried him to the dungeon yourself."
Ralsei's cheeks begin to puff, a furious inferno washing across his features, "I-I would've done no such thing! H-How…barbaric!"
You snort, stifling the laughter before you lose consciousness, "Sure, sure." You breathe a sigh of relief, coming back to your senses, "Ugh…sorry Ralsei. Again."
"…'s okay." He mumbles, "Are you…do you think you'll come back tomorrow?"
You smile, gently poking at your breastplate, checking for any dents, "If that's okay with you? I'll see if Susie wants to come. After she's done trying to throw me in the lake for ignoring her texts this week…"
"O-Of course! I-I mean, not the…um, lake throwing. But I would be happy if you visited tomorrow! Perhaps we could have Susie train with the dummy when you come by." Ralsei's eyes wrinkle on the sides as his smile broadens, "And…maybe I can still look for that book? I know you said that humans may not be able to…" He pauses, "But that doesn't mean we can't try, right? The knowledge of the arcane arts is vast and still widely unresearched. If there is a chance, then perhaps…?"
You quietly smile, "So…tomorrow then?"
"Huh? Y-Yes, tomorrow!" The prince grins at you, only for the expression to fade in a single moment, "But not during school hours! Susie told me when you two have classes, and I remember you once visiting not even an hour into the curriculum!"
You roll your eyes.
"A-And…you should still spend time with family. And friends. It's still important that you-"
"But I like it here." You huff.
"Well, yes, but-"
"And you want me to come visit, right?"
"O-Of course! I always enjoy seeing-"
"Perfect. I'll see you tomorrow then!"
You quickly silence the stammering prince with another hug, hastily circling around the Darkner in a tight embrace. You purposefully wrap around Ralsei's arms, preventing another soul-crushing response, breaking away after a single moment.
"See you later Ralsei! And take care of yourself! Seriously, think you might be getting a fever…"
You begin dashing down the corridor, the darkness once again opening into a pillar of light back home. You vaguely sense a crackle of magic as you turn around, spotting Ralsei still rooted in place, a deep red searing almost to his horns. Flickering motes of light swirl around, out of control and frenzied, as you fall back into the portal above.
You limply wave goodbye, the world soon disappearing from sight. In moments, the school's dim hall comes into view as you land upon tile, brushing away a bit of dust from your sweater. You pause, gently biting the bottom of your lip.
You raise a hand to your forehead, sighing with relief.
…
Note to self, if you ever learn to cast magic, don't do it while sick. Seems hard to control.