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Kris woke up in a cold sweat, heart thundering in their chest, and breath staggered.
Darkness engulfed them. It didn't suffocate them, it wasn't the one that compressed their rib-cage and slowly pushed the air out of their lungs.
It was the calm and still darkness that enveloped their eyes, hiding the day's cruel aggression behind a curtain of shadow.
They were in the castle town, in the room they shared with Susie.
After the events of the previous day, their adventure in the town’s church, and the coming home to an unpleasant and rather bone-y surprise, they needed to decompress.
And what better way than sneaking out of their window to follow their delinquent friend?
The night felt like a blur; all they remembered was entering the Dark World and being greeted by a very worried Ralsei.
“What are you guys doing here?” they could still hear him cry in panic. “It’s late, your parents must be worried sick.”
But after they quickly explained what happened, he reluctantly let them in.
Since Kris’ and Susie’s rooms were still conjoined, Ralsei suggested a slumber party for all three of them.
Kris remembered eating leftover cake from Susie’s fridge and chatting for a while, but the exhaustion from their adventure hung heavy between them, making it harder to stay awake. After a few grudges and protests, Ralsei convinced them to go to bed.
Kris sat on their mattress, brushing sweaty strands of hair away from their forehead. Susie’s snoring worked as white noise, guiding them through collecting their thoughts.
They had a nightmare, they were certain of that. They had many in the past few days...months, usually tied to the same memory. The accident that they now carry like a cross on their shoulders.
Their nightmares occurred nightly. They were etched in their mind, cursing them during the entire day and making them dread the idea of going back to sleep, no matter how exhausted they were. However, for some reason, this one wouldn’t come back to them.
A soft click washed their thoughts away. Kris lifted their head, eyes landing on the door.
For a moment they thought it must have been Lancer, excited to come see them again. But a quick glance to their side said otherwise.
Ralsei's sleeping mat, which they temporarily borrowed from Tenna, was now empty.
The bed creaked softly under their weight. Their knees still trembled as they stood to leave, careful not to wake the sleeping dino by their side.
The castle's halls were cold and dark, leaving no room for the artificial light that trickled from the town's activities. Kris' boots clicked, the sound echoed faintly as they explored the empty castle alone.
When they reached the cauldron room, their eyes scanned every corner, but the prince was nowhere. Unease tugged at their stomach. Just as they were about to run upstairs, wake Susie, and turn the castle upside down searching for Ralsei, they noticed the grand doors left slightly ajar.
They approached quietly, careful not to make a sound.
And as expected, they found Ralsei on the other side.
They peeked from the gap, admiring the hidden garden secured behind that oak barrier.
Crimson red leaves filled the scenery, accompanied with dark flowers that looked ‘forget me not’s. Tall trees curved downward, as if shielding the tiny balcony that extended from the castle. Around the opaque marble balusters climbed dark thorned ivy, slowly taking over the dusty terrace.
Kris couldn’t see much, but from there, you could clearly see castle town’s fountain. The beacon that gave this place magic. The thing that gave their friends’ life.
Sometimes it was easy to forget.
Kris could barely make out Ralsei's figure, hunched over the balcony. Dangerously hunched over. Only a slip and he could-
“Ralsei!” Kris yelled, swinging the door open and coming to rescue the prince. But just as they slitted near the edge of the balcony, Ralsei turned around, perplexed.
“Kris?” He asked, fixing the glasses on the bridge of his snout.
“I- A-are you okay? What were you doing?!” Kris asked, alarmed. Ralsei only looked at them more confused.
“I’m fine, what are you doing here?”
Soon the sense of adrenaline in Kris’ system got replaced by a very awkward one.
“Uhm…” crimson red grew on their face, as their mouth went dry. They couldn’t say that they were looking for him, they would have looked even more dumb than their usual.
Just as they were about to find a good enough explanation, their lips began moving by themselves.
“I was looking for you” Shit.
Ralsei’s expression was impossible to read. Then he flushed, ten shades redder. Adorable. Ralsei didn’t blush like any normal monster. He blushed everywhere: face, ears, even a bit down his neck.
“O-oh! G-geez you’re right Kris!” He said shyly, hiding a part of his face behind one long ear. “I’m sorry…You must have woken up and… didn’t see me in bed…is that right?”
Kris nodded, too afraid to open their mouth again. Would it be too much to ask for a bit of independence? Of course it would.
Ralsei nodded back, looking mortified. “I’m sorry, I-”
“There’s no-” Kris cut them off, almost placing their hands on his shoulders, before stopping themselves. “-No need to apologize, Ralsei.” They reassured gently.
Ralsei stared at them like he’d just been hit by a moving truck. He slowly blinked, readjusting himself. He patted down his cloak, smoothing any stubborn wrinkles.
“Well… I… just needed some fresh air, you could say,” Ralsei admitted, turning toward the fountain.
Kris nodded, following his gaze. The beam of darkness stretched infinitely into the void of the Dark World’s sky.
They joined him, resting their arms on the rail beside him. The cold stone made them shiver, though that might not have been the only reason.
They were nervous.
“Sorry for startling you,” they muttered after a long silence.
Ralsei giggled softly, doing nothing for the heartache he gave Kris. “You didn’t.” He reassured.
The human raised an eyebrow, “really? I’ll try harder next time.” they said sarcastically.
Ralsei only giggled louder, covering his mouth with his hoof. “Good luck with that then.” He joked, and Kris couldn’t help but smile. It took them a bit, but they started to force Ralsei out of his well-mannered and well-reserved shell.
Maybe soon he’ll start to learn how to actually use sarcasm.
“Thanks.” They replied, taking a moment to get lost into Ralsei’s pink eyes. You could fit a galaxy in them. And preserve the universe’s secrets behind his long lashes.
If anyone tried to possess them, all he would have to do is smile, because the way his eyes could narrowly move when he did, could make anyone forget how to breathe.
Not to mention the way his red pupils reflected light like a torch. It always fascinated Kris the way two simple orbs could be capable of holding so much magic within them.
“But seriously, you scared me to death just a moment ago.” Kris asked. The soft wind brushed their hair slightly, tickling their face.
Ralsei laughed through his nose, adjusting a stray strand of wool behind his ear. He pointed downward, beyond the balcony ground. Kris followed his gaze, squinting slightly to make out what he was seeing between the darkness.
Among the thorning vines and ruined roots, a tiny flower sprouted from the creaks of the stone, frowning weakly from where it stood.
It was old and wilted, its once yellow tint was now desaturated and sad. Its stem was browning, bending with the weight of its own exhaustion.
Kris raised an eyebrow, perplexed.
“It’s a flower,” they said.
Ralsei nodded. “A daffodil,” he corrected gently. “It’s dying.” He said the obvious like it was a confession. “I was reaching out to heal it.”
Kris’ heart ached at that. Ralsei was so caring it hurt. He always did everything he could to help others, giving it his all to heal and fix things.
“You wanted to save it?” Kris asked, and Ralsei only nodded in confirmation.
“I stopped taking care of this garden a while ago…”
And now that he mentioned it, Kris noticed it: the dried plants, the dusty pavement, the general neglect.
“After we met, I’ve had so many things keeping me busy, I-” Ralsei fidgeted with his ear, voice immersed with worry. “I felt a bit guilty.”
Kris smiled softly and placed a hand on his shoulder, pulling him closer. “You don’t have to. You already have so much on your mind.” They rubbed slow circles along his arm.
“It’s not only that.”
Kris froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone.
“I… I don’t think I-” Ralsei stumbled, digging a hoof into his own arm, biting his lip.
Kris’ brows knitted with concern. They didn’t say anything, just waited, thumb gently tracing his back, urging him on.
“I don’t think my healing powers are working anymore…”
The way his soft voice cracked made Kris’ stomach twist.
“After… failing to heal Jackenstein, I-”
The words pierced Kris like a venomous snake. Their hand clenched at their side, fury burning hot under their skin.
“I don’t think I’m… good anymore.”
Kris bit the inside of their cheek. How could Ralsei even think something so completely absurd? It bothered them ,no, it infuriated them, the way he always put himself last, the way he tore himself down.
If only Ralsei knew how amazing he was.
How much he meant to Kris.
How much they envied his softness, his kindness, his magic, his heart.
If only he knew how important he was. Not only to Kris, but to Susie and the Darkners too. He’d never say something so painfully, impossibly wrong.
This had to be a joke. Seriously.
How could someone so clever, so gentle, so smart say something so stupid?
“I think that’s really fucking stupid.”
Ralsei jolted out of his spiral. He stopped playing with his ear and stared up at Kris, scandalized.
“K-Kris, you can’t just-”
“Tell me I'm wrong.”
Ralsei went still. His eyes widened, surprised not only by the challenge but by the sudden swearing. “What…?”
Kris jerked him forward, pulling slightly his robe. “Come on, tell me. Say I'm wrong.”
Ralsei blinked, dropping his gaze in shame, but Kris wasn’t letting him run from this. Not tonight.
They gently hooked a finger under his chin, lifting his head.
Ralsei flushed, pink blooming across his cheeks and the tips of his ears, but confusion still clouded those bright eyes. He opened his mouth, closed it again, searching for the right words.
After a moment of edging him to speak, he finally did: “what do you mean…?”
“I mean what i said.” They brushed a hand on his cheek softly, making him flush even redder, but the said expression never left his face. “It's stupid.” They retaliate.
Ralsei sighed, “Kris i-”
“You fail one time and suddenly you decide you’re useless.” Their voice was sharper now, frustrated but not unkind. “It’s stupid, and you know it.”
“Y-you…” Ralsei breathed, taking in the courage to keep speaking. “You don't get it… healing it's all I've been good at.”
“That's not true. That's all you've been doing.”
He tried to argue, but no words came. Instead he exhaled shakily and took Kris’s hand.
Kris strengthened the grip, grounding him. “I can't believe you're jealous.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.” Kris smiled faintly. “Susie tries something new, she’s good at it, and suddenly you’re spiraling and putting yourself down like this.” They let out a soft laugh, brushing their thumb over the curve of his hoof. “Didn’t expect that from you.”
Ralsei’s face went scarlet. “I didn’t mean it like that…” He tried to argue, but even he didn’t sound convinced. “Susie is great, but-”
“But you’re jealous she’s getting better at healing.”
“Stop that!” Ralsei’s voice cracked as he shoved Kris away. They stumbled, grabbing the railing for balance.
Ralsei wrapped his arms around his chest, curling inward again. “Healing has… always been my purpose. If I’m not good at that, then… I’m useless.”
Kris’s heart sank painfully. They stepped close, slowly this time, easing an arm around his shoulders and pulling him in.
“That’s not true…”
Ralsei brushed his face against the curve between Kris’ neck and shoulder. It tickled slightly, but they didn't make a sound.
“I'm sorry.” He spoke, Kris wasn't sure how many times he said that already. “I didn't mean to yell.”
Kris huffed a laugh, caressing his back once more. “It's nothing. I'm sorry I got so defensive. It's just that I like you a lot.” And the second the words left their mouth, they realized what they’d said.
Ralsei jerked back from the hug, staring at them with a bright, blooming blush of shock.
Kris cursed themselves silently. This time they couldn’t even blame the SOUL, this disaster was entirely their own. “I'm sorry i- i meant-”
“No- no! It's fine!” Ralsei breathed out, catching Kris by the arms. “That's…so sweet.”
Kris could have melted right in that spot. Now it was their turn to flush red like a tomato. “Really?” they managed, sounding painfully stupid even to themselves. They wanted to slam their head into the railing.
Ralsei giggled softly, making Kris’ ears buzz from how musical the sound was. “Yes, and I really like you too.” He added quietly, Kris’ knees almost collapsed in relief.
“I'm glad.” They sighed, and that only made the prince burst into a warm laughter. Kris blinked, still a bit red, but soon joined him in the giggles, slipping an arm across his back.
After the awkward moment passed the two heroes went back to chatting, resting their backs on the rail.
“You didn’t tell me why you were up,” Ralsei asked. He tried to mask it, but his voice shimmered with curiosity.
Kris' expression shifted at the weird situation they had earlier. “I woke up from a nightmare. That's all.”
Ralsei nodded, but something in his face looked off. That hint of mischief in his eyes that Kris never saw before.
Kris scoffed a laugh and leaned in, cornering him gently. “Did you do something, magic lamb?” they asked, and Ralsei practically snapped his neck trying to look away.
“No…” he said, sounding anything but convincing.
“I knew it was you!” they declared, tugging him closer. Ralsei giggled, pushing at Kris’ chest with his hoof, but it did nothing.
“I didn't do anything!” He insisted, but Kris was already aiming at his sides, suddenly tickling him.
“Okay okay!” He admitted, tears peaking from the corners of his eyes, he squirmed trying to escape their grip, and after he confessed Kris finally spared him.
“It's…ahah..” he breathed, trying to recollect from the attack. “It's a sleeping spell, similar to pacify. I noticed you were having trouble sleeping…so I used it…”
Kris listened closely, fascinated by the way his magic worked even outside battle. Kris nodded, hugging Ralsei closer. “And then you ramble about being useless.”
Ralsei smiled shyly, leaning closer to his knight. The steady beat of Kris’ heart slowly soothed his nerves.
“I know…” he admitted, resting his head against their chest.
Kris said nothing, their gaze only lowered on the dying daffodil in the cracks of the pavement. “Aren't you gonna heal it?” They asked, but Ralsei only shook his head.
“Let it die, I already made it go through enough troubles.”
Kris nodded in understanding, knitting their fingers in the boy's curls.
They stood that way for a while, until Ralsei decided it was time for both of them to go back into the light world.
Kris took one last glance at the old garden. Their eyes lingered on the fountain at the center, entranced by the smooth, flowi
ng movement of the darkness.
Soon after, Ralsei closed the tall oak doors, locking them with a small key. Kris didn’t know when they would be opened again, only that the day would come sooner than they wished.
And they would dread it until it arrived.