Chapter Text
Cyril stood in the middle of the busy crowd of the Mountain Guild House’s hospital wing. He couldn’t bring himself to move. His heart thrummed in his ears as people shoved past him, tending their own businesses.
He stared at the ground wide eyed, blinking back tears, taking sharp breaths. Anything to calm down. The room felt like it was spinning, his vision sharpening as someone shoved him out of the way.
“Move it kid! People got places to be!” A voice faintly shouted at him.
Cyril stumbled backwards into someone who had elbowed him to the side mindlessly before Cyril thudded against the wall. He shakily glanced through the corner of his eye at his shaking hand that had landed on the wall.
Was it just him or were the voice getting louder..?
Cyril's heart beat faster, his hand gripping the wall. He heard a soft voice. His eyes darted across the hall room rapidly. People crowding, shoving past one another. Beasts tapping their claws against the polished floor. Small dragons flying above head with their keepers.
He heard the voice again. He shifted his eyes quickly in front of him towards the muffled voice before his gaze fell back on the ground, his vision blurring hastily as everything faded out.
“CYRIL.”
A voice snapped.
There was a pause. Cyril inhaled sharply. His heartbeat slowed before returning to a normal pace. He let out a shaky sigh, lifting his gaze up.
Runa stood in front of him. Her blonde hair was messy, and her eyes were filled with tired and worriness.
“You okay?” She asked softly.
Cyril swallowed hard before choking out, “Y-yeah, yeah. I…” He searched her eyes for a moment before looking down. “I’m fine.”
Runa nodded. “Okay..um…Leo told us to go at the..in the hotel tonight.. and he would uh..shit..” She scolded herself as her words slipped up.
“Leo’s gonna stay the night. He just told us to go back to the hotel.”
Audrian quietly finished for Runa, walking up behind her. His voice was barely audible but Cyril understood.
Audrian looked equally as tired, his hair disheveled and his arms crossed. But the thing that stood out from Audrian and Runa was that Audrian seemed…mad.
Cyril lifted his gaze to Audrian. “Alright…” Cyril’s voice trailed off before finishing, “Did…did he say anything about…?”
Runa shook her head, holding her arms to her chest sadly.
“He just said to get some rest and he’ll deal with this alone..” Audrian muttered.
Cyril looked back down. “Yeah…yeah that’s fair-” He started,
“Is it though!?” Audrian snapped, cutting him off.
Cyril, startled, snapped his gaze back up at Audrian.
“Audie..” Runa quietly warned.
“I know..I know!” Audrian said frustratedly, running his hand through his hair before sighing and shoving his hands in his pockets before continuing.
“But he said he wouldn’t leave us out on this sort of stuff anymore, and truth be told, he did it again! And-”
Runa interrupted,
“Well we also said we wouldn’t get in his way if it was “too personal” or whatever.” Runa scowled, the frustration in her voice as clear as Audrian’s.
Cyril straightened up his posture, holding one arm with his other hand, nervously, but tried not to show it. “Let's just…go back to the hotel.” Cyril sighed. “He’s already twice as busy than when we arrived, and…”
Cyril paused and shakily added,
“And.. if he doesn’t want us to be with him right now, then we should back off for a while. Let him handle things.” Cyril concluded sadly, each word paining him.
Runa stared at Cyril, then nodded. She held her head down in her hands before throwing her head back, groaning frustratedly.
The walk, or more so, hike back to the hotel was quiet. Not including the bustling city of Halois and the occasional grumbles when they took a wrong turn. (Which happened more than any of the three would like to admit.)
Once they reached the enormous building, they pushed their way to the back of the elevator. Getting squished in between other guests.
As they made their way to their room, Cyril fumbled with the key before unlocking and pushing the door open.
Runa didn’t acknowledge the huge space, instead effortlessly collapsing on the couch. And like Runa, Audrian paid no mind and just wandered around in the dark for a bedroom.
Cyril’s shoulders fell sadly. He missed when they used to get all excited when they stayed at fancy places like this. Even if they’ve done this dance many times, they’d always at least act surprised in the end…
Cyril quietly looked for a room as well.
But before he closed the bedroom door behind him, he heard a muffled voice.
“G’night..” Runa mumbled through the pillow on the couch.
“Goodnight.” Cyril smiled slightly as he closed the door.
As it clicked shut, Cyril sighed. He turned around, pressing his back to the door as he took in his moon-lit room.
He slowly walked towards the neatly made bed, collapsing atop it with a groan.
He peeked his head to the side at the sliding window door. He had to admit, despite the circumstances, he couldn’t help but feel slightly agape at the view. You could see almost the entire city of Halois from here. It really was beautiful…
He then muttered something and buried his face into the pillows.
It was just a matter of time now.
Then he would be seventeen.
Just five more-
Crack
Cyril’s thinking paused.
Crrraack
Cyril rolled onto his back. The bed creaked slightly as he sat up. He turned his head to the window once again and froze, muttering under his breath,
“Is that…”