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Ralsei winced as Kris coughed up blood. They had to fight through several mini-Titans just to get to Worlds’ Edge; there had to be hundreds of them. They got separated from Susie somewhere along the way. Ralsei can tell that Kris is distressed about it.
They coughed up blood again. Ralsei worriedly wonders if their ribs are broken. No, if they’re coughing up blood, it has to be something internal.
He can’t take it anymore.
“Kris, sit down. And take off your armor.”
They did so, but Ralsei knows it wasn't them, per se. He knows by looking into their eyes; they constantly give him a worried, disgusted glare, as if they don’t trust him. That look has softened over time, but the being controlling their soul hasn’t relented. He thinks Kris expects him to do something about the being - and believe him, Ralsei wishes he could - but none of his magic would be able to do anything.
“Hold still. I want to examine your wounds,” He gently put a paw over Kris’s chest and frowned when they winced. Yep, their ribs are broken. Examining the rest of their wounds, Ralsei determines that one is the most urgent. He started to cast Heal Prayer. “Hey, um, this will take a while.”
The two sat in silence for about half a minute.
“...Hey, Kris? You’re wondering what Susie is doing right now, right?”
The being wouldn’t fall for it this time. It wanted to stick around.
Ralsei sighed exasperatedly. “I didn’t want to do this, but you’ve left me no choice,” He stopped casting Heal Prayer for a moment and put a paw on Kris’s chest… then drew it back and punched it as it emitted a golden glow.
“Ugh! Ow, what the hell was that for?!”
“...Sorry, I… I just want to talk to you… without it interfering-”
“Heal me first. Then talk.”
He sighed again - more-so out of sadness than anything else - and started healing Kris’s wounds again. Setting bones back into place, stopping internal bleeding (turns out that was coming from a tear in a pulmonary artery), sealing wounds, reducing swelling… overall doing his best and beyond.
After he finished tending to them, he sat in silence.
“What? Do I have to tell you to talk?” Kris frowned.
“Oh, um… I’m sorry.”
“Just say what you want to-”
“I’m sorry. That’s what I want to say, Kris. I’m sorry for being so… pushy on you when I tried to be your friend. For making you uncomfortable and upset.”
Kris thought for a moment. “I am not upset about you trying to make friends with me. I am upset that you think you are beneath me,” They glared at him, “If we are the three heroes, I would prefer to see you as an equal. Heck, if anything, I should be below you, right?”
“Wh- what?! But… I’m a Darkener- and you’re- I-!”
“Ralsei. You are the prince of a world. Also, I do not know where you got this ‘Darkeners are below Lighteners’ crap from, but cut it out! Susie, Noelle, Berdly, and I have never once seen any of the friends we made as beneath us! It is only you that thinks that way.”
“B- But… the other Darkeners-”
“Apart from calling me ‘Boss’ - for… whatever reason… why do they- whatever, anyways - most of them don’t treat me any differently than my Light World friends do.” Their eyes narrowed in sadness. “I… honestly wish you would be the same, Ralsei. You are supposed to be my best friend…” Their voice shook a bit. “I do not even know why I care about you so much! I just do! And it hurts!”
“Kris… I…” Ralsei’s intrusive thoughts started acting up, telling him that he should get away from them and never engage again. He takes a deep breath and collects his thoughts before he speaks again, “Again, I’m sorry. Presuming we get out of this mess alive, I’ll be better to you, I promise.”
“Why wait?”
He gave them a smile. “Oh, right! Hehe!”
“...I think we should find Susie first. Knowing her, she is either still trying to punt Titans on her own, or trying to fight the Vessel on her own. And she cannot fight the Vessel.” Their eyes widened. “I am… not sure any of us can…”
“We can try.”
“It has the power of a time and space god on its side. And what do we have?”
“The power of friendship!”
Kris gave him an unimpressed look.
“Hey, it got us this far! The world is counting on us and our friendship power!”
Kris thought for a moment, then perked up. “...Right, that is one thing we have that the Vessel doesn’t. And there is something else we have that it does not!”
“Hm? What would that be?”
Kris rummaged through their pocket.
“MOSS!”