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There were plenty of things running across Susie’s head right now.
It was like a chaotic, jumbled jargon of thoughts that raced in her mind. There was the small, stupid crap that her brain was questioning in the present. Was the ceiling always this dark, or was it just an illusion of one, and she was just staring into a neverending abyss that climbed endlessly upwards? That one was dumb - she knew that the castle had more rooms above. But speaking of that dark, did it even lead somewhere? Was there something to reach there in the sky, or was it really limitless? How did Ralsei’s cauldron work? Could it make something else other than cakes? She’d have to ask him sometime. Even if food in the Dark Worlds couldn’t really fill them at all, it still felt nice to feel a taste of something in her mouth, and pretend, at least for a moment, that she wasn't hungry anymore.
But then, of course, there was more serious shit that wouldn’t leave her head, stare back at her no matter what and no matter how much she was going to try. In fact, all of the small-think was just something she tried to engage in to try and let her mind wander off everything else that’s happened. The Dark World, the Old Man, the Knight, the Titan and… the Prophecy.
What a lot of bullshit. To think like that would even happen, or any of them would allow it to. Before she saw the words written in glass, about the tragedy that was required to save the worlds, it seemed that all they had to do was to follow this stupid legend along and then everything would be fine and dandy. She should’ve known it would be this easy - that there was some catch all of it. When the words appeared before her and Kris, before the statue of Old Man attacked them, she should’ve put the pieces together.
Prophecies were overrated anyway. Whatever happens, and no matter what it takes, she’ll just break it like that panel - or she’ll write over it with her own words, maybe even with blood to be more cool and badass. She could give less of a frap now.
So then, why..? Why couldn’t she..
“..Susie?”
Ralsei’s voice, hushed and quiet, but just about audible to hear, rang out next to her, as the prince sat just a hand’s reach away, his knees huddled close as his eyes peered in the girl’s direction. It was too dark to see everything, but she could note the thoughtful gaze that lingered on her, and a twinge of concern that peeked through his tired and worn out facade.
“..Crap.” She muttered under her breath? Was she too loud? Did she fidget a little too much or groaned out loud without realizing it? “Sorry, did I wake you up? I-”
“It’s okay. I… I couldn’t sleep either.” Ralsei admitted, his eyes dropping a little as his expression shifted into something more dejected than before. Even though the bloodstain was no longer smeared on his face, there were still bags hanging just underneath and perhaps some light, faded stains that weren’t blood, most likely from crying.
“Is it.. because of the prophecy?” He asked after a moment of silence, a twinkle of guilt flashing on his face. “I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have-”
“Nah, don’t sweat it, man.” Susie cut him off, as she sat herself and shifted closer to the boy. Now, it was her lost in thought for a second, as if reflecting on what happened on this day. “Y’know.. I might’ve messed up too.” Something lit up in Ralsei, as his gaze changed and leaned more towards confusion, albeit he didn’t say anything. “I got so excited when the Old Man showed up, and then we beat up that titan.. I guess I wanted to talk to him one more time so I ran after him and.. I guess I didn’t really think about what I was doing.” She admitted.
“I.. I suppose I got a little excited there, too, haha..” Ralsei mused to himself outloud. “But still, I should’ve stopped you before you saw it.. and I got too carried away with everything else that I..”
“And I told you I didn’t need to see it.” The girl interjected again. “And I went to look at it anyway. If you’re not gonna drop that stupid idea that it’s not your fault, then let me share the blame for that, okay? I shouldn’t have left you two back there either.” Susie inched closer, before slumping her arm over Ralsei’s shoulder, bringing the prince closer.
Ralsei remained perplexed and lost in thoughts. Could he really do that..? The idea that he could completely absolve himself of all blame and guilt didn’t seem fair to him. After all, it was his task to keep the lightners happy, and now that both Kris and Susie knew the end.. it wasn’t easy to feel like he had failed, completely, and utterly.
But, hearing Susie piece it together like this… It still felt wrong, yes, to think that he didn’t have to carry that burden alone. At the same time, there was something gnawing in him, the selfish, greedy thought that nudged him to step out of the line and lean into that support. Letting someone else take a little bit of that burden… it did feel better, feeling a little lighter than he reasonably should.
Maybe he can let himself have this.
“..Okay, Susie. I.. I think I can do that.” Ralsei, although his face betrayed a faint, leftover trace of conflict, finally conceded, something akin to a sight of relief leaving and exhaling through his lips, as he leaned into Susie’s touch a bit more than before.
“You know… you’re not alone in this mess, okay?” Susie mused, before she herself pulled the prince closer. “Not anymore, at least. Maybe.. maybe trying to change that stupid prophecy didn’t work for now, but now that all of us are in the loop, we can do it together. Me, you and Kris… none of us are gonna let that shit happen.”
If Ralsei didn’t feel so down, he might have spared a laugh to all of this, though even with how everything weighed down upon him, he did allow his lips to curl up into a small smile, as something, a little spark or light crept into his heart.
Perhaps there was no point in dwelling in it. The end of the prophecy was no longer a secret, a burden that he could carry on his own. There was no way to turn back time, or to wipe it away from Kris and Susie’s memory. Not that he would do that if that was possible - it no longer… felt right. Especially after he promised to be more honest, no less.
And… having someone to share that burden with, as selfish as it seemed, made whatever lay ahead of them - whether what was laid in that glass or something new - a little less scary. Not to mention that Susie and Kris didn’t seem to have any qualms against it. Now that it was a reality, he wasn’t sure if he could ever go back to holding it all on his own again - not if he wanted to regain even a sliver of hope he had before.
A quiet settled across the room as the girl and the prince sat close, huddled together, only their breaths permeating the silence, no more words needed to be spared between each other. In that very moment, in the midst of everything that loomed on the horizon, it felt that maybe everything was going to turn out okay.
“...Susie? Are you still awake?’
“Huh? Yeah, yeah..”
Ralsei only nodded in acknowledgement as acknowledged him, before, as if not breaking the silence but weaving and blending into the tranquility, from the prince’s being, something else grew.
“Tsk. Clever little bastard…”
Susie thought to herself as a smile adorned her face, closing her eyes as she let a tune of a familiar melody fill her ears and lull her in. It brought out memories of nicer, simpler times, at least compared to what they were dealing with now. Even though it was days before, it already felt like a distant, fleeting past.
She should’ve figured he’d use this against her. Back then, they tapped her out to gang up on Lancer and coerced him to their side and now… Well, it wasn’t like she minded - at least she was getting some rest, at last.
So, letting the magic of the lullaby work, she allowed herself to be pulled and drawn into peaceful, deep slumber, finally drifting out of consciousness into the world of dreams. Her form went limp as it slumped and leaned into Ralsei, and not long after, loud snores began to permeate across the bedroom.
Ralsei only smiled, bringing an end to his song as he too leaned into the girl’s hold, closing his eyes and allowing himself to fall asleep as well.
“Good night, Susie. Thank you for making me hope again.