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As a Royal, Malleus had been made to study a great deal of subjects ever since he was a fledgling dragon fae. From family crests and words to the subtle ways of communication in court.
Though one of Malleus’s favorite things to learn so far had been the language of flowers. He had been amazed how a thing so fragile and ephemeral, not made to withstand the passage of time like the gargoyles he was so interested in, could hold such strong and powerful messages within their petals.
That knowledge also gave Malleus insight when it came to certain celebrations in the Valley of Thorns and why certain flowers, such as black and purple tulips and purple orchids, were always present in one way or another. One could think the flowers had been merely chosen because they matched the Crown’s colors, and while that could be a secondary reason he now knew it was a discreet way to show off the power and strength of the royal family.
But, if someone asked him what was his favorite? Malleus wouldn’t be able to give a proper answer, rather saying that in his dreams he stood in a meadow where many different flowers with varied meanings grew wild, symbolizing each and all the things he thought he lacked and wished to obtain, the only ever constant, standing out for never changing despite Malleus’ needs changing as he grew up, was a spot where forget-me-nots grew undisturbed, symbolizing the people Malleus had come to care, respect and trust as friends, and the ones he had come to love as family. Even if lately, ever since he had met a certain someone, there were more and more red tulips growing in the meadow, bringing a smile to Malleus’ face every time he saw them and the person that had made them appear came to mind, making him feel as light as weightless as he did when he flew.
Though, ever since the incident with S.T.Y.X, those dreams that Malleus had had been slowly changing. The meadow now covered in snow, a cold wind making him shiver and his breath fog. The cold surroundings made the vibrant red of the lonely poppies stand out, as if calling out Malleus to follow the path they created as more of the same flowers seemed to grow out of nowhere.
Leaving the winter landscape behind, Malleus was now standing in a distorted version of the Diasomia dorm, now in ruins and overrun by thorny vines, with beautiful poppies growing out of the cracks in the stone pathways and vines of morning glories, the only drops of color in this black and white nightmare, leading him directly to a garden where a solitary weeping willow, that had never existed in the real world, stood.
But when the Prince made an attempt to approach the tree, it was as if magic stretched the distance that separated him from the tree, no matter how much he walked, he did not get closer as a two voices he knew very well overlapping each other, told him: “It is not yet time for you to discover this, Malleus/Tsuntaro”.
And as if a curse powerful enough to affect him had left him stunned, Malleus felt himself falling, but never hitting the ground as everything around him disappeared in a sea of black.
When Malleus’ eyes snapped open again, he was back in his room at the Diasomnia dorm, still standing in one piece. And despite the feeling of dread he had felt upon waking up, it was as if the memories of the dream he just had slipped through his fingers, staying further and further beyond reach if he tried to recall it.
If he could not remember it, Malleus guessed it could not have been that important or it would have left a more lasting impression on his mind. So all he could do was lay down and close his eyes again and ignore the prickling sensation in the back of his mind telling him something bad was about to happen as he danced in a field of red tulips with the one he loved to a song of his homeland.