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It was a sunset one night, the Divine Dragon was on a walk with Sommie around the Somniel, exercising the immortal Dog that had recently turned into a Potato. The poor creature eventually plopped onto the ground, defeated, and the Divine Dragon laughed. "Oh, it isn't that bad, Sommie. Come on, let's get you back to your cave then." The Divine Dragon laughed, he had been through a lot during the past few months, and had found many irreplaceable friends and Allies. He loved them all, but a part of him ached knowing he'd outlive them all as time passed on.. The pain was unbearable for one individual specifically. He, who had promised that they'd always be there for eachother.
"Ah, Divine One. You're usually asleep by this time, I didn't expect to find you of all people here."
Speak of the Devil himself. "Prince Diamant, did you have more paperwork keeping you up tonight?" The Divine Dragon looked at his dearest friend, Diamant was looking at him with an amused, and gentle, happy gaze.
"Ah, there was. I have all but finished it now, though, Divine One. May I ask why you're still up?" Diamant looked at the Divine Dragon with a questioning look, mixed with concern.
"I… Just. I just couldn't sleep. You know, Diamant, you can always ask me to help out with your paperwork. I have grown quite fond of Brodia, after all, and would like to help you in any way I can." The Divine Dragon responded.
Diamant's brow furrows at the response. "I am… Honored, Divine One. But I cannot allow a Deity such as yourself to do such a mundane task.. But besides that, as your friend, I am worried about your health. You haven't been sleeping the past few nights, have you?"
"Why not, Diamant? Just because I'm the Divine Dragon doesn't mean I'm above paperwork, you know?" The Divine One laughed. "But… For the sleep thing, I'd rather not say… I'm sorry."
Diamant laughed, but soon gained a stern look. "Divine One, we promised to always lean on eachother. Please, if you have any worries, or problems, come to me about them. I beg of you, tell me what troubles you so that it robs you of sleep. What will Lady Veyle think if I was unable to protect you kn the battlefield and you died, again, due to lack of sleep? This is what we exchanged Rings for, is it not?"
The Divine Dragon sighed. "Diamant… Fine. I can't sleep because I feel.. A great sense of pain, knowing that I will outlive all of our friends… That I'll outlive you. You, especially, are in my thoughts every night.. It has become a point that I cannot imagine life without you, especially since I lost my memories at the start of this war so it'll feel like I'm losing my only family. I'm not as prepared for this as other Dragons. I can't lose them… I can't lose you. Diamant…" The Dragon nearly began crying.
Diamant gave the Divine Dragon a sad look. "There was another reason I wanted to speak to you, Divine One.. Something that may ease your concern for now, even if just a little. Although I feel troubled knowing I'm the one keeping you from sleep.." Diamant sighed, not knowing if he should continue.
The Divine Dragon, still tearful, looked at Diamant and began to tilt his head in confusion. "Diamant..?" The Divine Dragon sniffled. "What is it?" He asked.
"I… We exchanged rings as Best Friends, and made vows as companions. But not as.. Lovers.." Diamant got on one knee, after that.
The Divine Dragon's eyes widened with disbelief and his heart began to race. He gripped his chest unable to contain himself at what he was seeing.
Diamant had gotten a new ring, it was pure silver, with a beautiful Brodian Diamond. The ring was reinforced in steel, so it could be worn even on the battlefield and not be damaged based on the looks of it. It was almost certainly a Bridal Ring. "Diamant..
What..?" He asked.
Diamant, spoke. Voice full of conviction, and booming. "Oh, Divine Dragon, Prince of Lythos. May I ask you for your hand in Marriage? I made the mistake of not asking before using the Ring I had made for you from my Medal, I wanted to correct that mistake by properly asking for your hand now, if you would have me." Diamant remained composed, but it was clear to see the Gallant Prince was afraid, and so very vulnerable at the moment.
The Divine Dragon stood stunned. Unable to speak.
"I'm sorry.. It was quite bold of me, to think that I-" Diamant began.
"Diamant, no. Don't pull an Alcryst on me, the Answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you, Prince of Brodia. The issue is, where will you get your heir?" The Divine Dragon answered and asked in turn.
Diamant blushed, heavily, shocked, but soon began smiling the widest grin the Divine Dragon had ever seen in his composed face. "Divine One, there is Magic for that, we will be able to have a child with both of our blood. That is quite funny though, to you saying I was pulling an Alcryst, as my brother is the reason I even had the courage to ask for your hand, he thought I was foolish for having chickened out initially. It was only due to him I corrected my fatal mistake."
The Dragon gave a small smile. "Sounds like Alcryst. When it comes to family matters, he definitely isn't one to back away. This still doesn't solve my concerns, though. One day.. We won't be together. Unless…" The Divine Dragon remembered something. There was a letter with the pact ring, from Lumera. She mentioned a blood rite that could be done with a Dragon's intended that could extend their lifespan.
Diamant's brow furrowed again.. "Unless…? Divine One, what do you mean? Regardless, my lifespan… I cannot say I won't ever leave you, but it won't be by choice. It will because my body cannot hold on anymore.. My love.. Yes, that has a good ring to it."
The Divine Dragon blushed. "'My Love…' Diamant… You make me so flustered. You really are a storybook Prince." The Dragon recomposed himself, and continued his train of thought. "Anyways, Mother.. Left a note with the Pact Ring… She left it there for me, and the note said a Dragon can extend their intended's life span with a blood rite if said intended was human, so the human could match the Dragon's life span."
Diamant narrowed his eyes. "What type of blood rite, Divine One? I am not opposed to doing such a thing, but I need more information on such matters."
"It's a blood rite where a Human drinks Dragon Blood, effectively making them an honorary member of that Dragon's bloodline, even if they do not share genetics. If you were to drink my blood… We will be able to be together, forever." The Dragon blushed at the prospect.
Diamant raised his hand to his chin, lost in thought. "I would not be… Opposed… To such a thing, if it meant being able to spend my life with you as long as possible, but I cannot just extend my lifespan like that, not unless I step down from the Throne when the time is right instead of ruling until my dying breath. Although I already intended on stepping down eventually once we had a child that was old enough, and since our child would be half Dragon it would likely be a while until they were ready.. I almost certainly would not see them grow up, they'd still be an infant by the time they died naturally. Very well, my love. I accept."
The Dragon was shocked "Really? Just like that? Diamant, are you sure? There's no going back once the ritual is complete. You'll forever be cursed."
Diamant shook his head. "It doesn't matter, although.. perhaps we should wait until our wedding night for such a ritual. It wouldn't feel right if we did it now."
The Divine Dragon brought his hand to his chin. "Yes, I suppose you're right. We should wait. Doing the ritual will mark a new era in both of our loves, where we will never be apart. It's only natural it should take place on the night of our greatest vow together." The Divine One smiled gently at that.
"Yes. I'm glad you agree, I would like the ceremony of our wedding to be… Private.. However. Close friends and family. I do not think the world would take kindly to us right away, Divine One." Diamant frowned as he said this.
"Yes, you may be right. But they don't matter, we can announce our relationship when we're both ready, well after the blood ritual. It's sorta funny… To think I was so worried over losing you to time, only to find out that i'll never have to worry about you again." The Divine Dragon smiled.
Diamant frowned with a conflicting look. "Divine One… No… My love. I cannot say the same for me. I will always worry about you. Just recently, we had lost you twice in such a short amount of time. I thought I'd never see you again, that I had failed to protect you. That's… Why when we exchanged rings, I didn't ask for your hand then. I felt unworthy of you, Divine One. That I had failed you when you needed me most."
The Dragon looked shocked once more, and felt like bitch slapping the Crown Prince of Brodia for his stupidity. "Another Alcryst moment, Diamant! What would your brother think, that his perfect older brother was starting to become like him? He'd start isolating himself from you as a way to start protecting you. You're supposed to be the confident one!" The Dragon then smiled. "Although, I'm glad you worry about me. I will always worry about you too, but I don't have to worry about your life span anymore after the ritual, I'll just have to worry over anyone taking you from me. However, I'm glad you're showing me your weakness, here. I don't mean to poke fun, at all. It's just still so strange to me, you being weak, when you're so strong you help prop me, a deity up, in my own times of need."
"I… No, you're right." Diamant looked flabbergasted at the first statement but soon steeled himself. "It was quite foolish of me, and Alcryst would become heavily concerned if I started talking that way around him. It's just, these thoughts still exist, Divine One. It's just, when it comes to you, I can't help being a little bit like my brother." Diamant smiled, gently, with a fond look. "Oh, Divine One. Has our promise left your head so soon? We promised to always be there for eachother in moments like these, to rely on eachother in our moments of weakness. It wounds me you have forgotten such a promise already." Diamant laughed, his voice booming throughout the Somniel.
The Dragon blushed. "It isn't as if I forgot, so much has happened in such a short amount of time, we just got Engaged!! Literally this time! Not with me as an Emblem!" The Dragon sputtered out.
Diamant laughed once more. "Ah, is it just me, or was I the only person you ever Engaged with in combat as an Emblem, Divine One? I have never seen you do it with anyone else, and I've gotten many a jealous look before. Namely from Princess Ivy, although I'm glad she feels comfortable enough around me to allow such jealousy, it means we've become good friends." Diamant looked amused, yet curious.
The Dragon blushed heavily at being called out. "W-what?!" He shook his head furiously. "No, no, I've done it with-" The Dragon sighed, no use in lying. It wouldn't look good for a Divine Dragon to lie, no matter what their true heritage is. "Fine… You're the only one, Diamant. You get very special perks, since you're a very special person. I never Engage with anyone else." The Divine Dragon was impossibly Red. As Red as their hair originally was, before Lumera saved them and turned them Divine.
Diamant smiled, although it was distorted in a sort of giddy grin, like he was trying to hold back a laugh or something else. "I thought as much, my love. What do you mean by special perks, though?" Diamant questioned.
"W-well.." The Dragon took a moment to regain their composure before answering. "We possess a bond that is deeper than I have with anyone else. It makes sense you'd be the only one to get such privileges.. Plus.. You do get combat benefits as well ever since we made that promise, now that we are Engaged, for real, and are set to be married, it makes since that you'd get even stronger now if we Engage. I hope this makes sense." The Divine One managed to get out.
Diamant instead of answering, merely grabbed the Divine Dragon's chin, gently, with a gloved hand, and gently pressed a kiss against his lips. "Thank you, Divine One. For your favoritism, for your love, and for your support. I don't know what I'd do without you." Diamant gave the Dragon a smile, full of love and happiness.
The Dragon was speechless. It was his first kiss after all. At least he thought it was, losing your memories is a shitty situation, after all. "Diamant, I could say the same to you. Thank you, for, well, everything." The Dragon returned Diamant's kiss, this time it was more passionate than it was gentle.
Diamant was taken off guard and nearly lost his footing from the shock, but he sooner regained composure and returned the kiss with the same ferocity as the Dragon. "I love you, Divine One. I promise to stay by your side to the end of days, I swear it on my honor as the Crown Prince of Brodia." Diamant smiled warmly, full of love.
"I swear to remain by your side as well, Diamant. Fell or Divine Dragon, I know we were always meant to be together. I'm just sad it took three separate deaths to finally find our love together." The Dragon hugged his prince closer, refusing to let go.
"You will never die again, as long as I draw breath, my love." Diamant caressed the Dragon's cheek. "I love you. To the end of time."
The two continued to embrace as the stars hiding behind the veil of the orange sky began to show themselves as the sky blackened to Night, and the Moon showered them with gentle light as they began to walk back into the barracks of the Somniel.