Chapter Text
“Let’s go Kris!”
Susie had just unfortunately left the party. Ralsei wasn’t expecting her to be so…against them? He isn’t too worried though, they can find her later! Plus it gives Ralsei an excuse to teach Kris the mechanics of this world.
He’s thrilled to finally see both of them face to face. Even if things started rocky.
“Ah Kris! I actually made a dummy for you to practice! Try interacting with it,”
Kris started the fight with the dummy.
Ralsei was about to explain mechanics but then…
“Use Fireshock Ralsei,”
Ralsei blinked in confusion, “Fireshock? Kris I’m a healer, I shouldn’t be using those types of spells,”
“Fireshock,”
Ralsei was perplexed. He has to listen to the player but…what they were suggesting…
“Do we really need to? I mean it’s just a dummy,”
The player wouldn’t stop.
“Fireshock,”
He can’t say no. It’s against the rules to go against Kris…against the angel.
Besides, it is a dummy right? Not an actual darkner.
Ralsei casted Fireshock. It completely burned the dummy.
Ralsei awkwardly smiled, “I guess…you didn’t want a tutorial. Hah,”
Ralsei handed a book. It was the manual he made.
“If you need to just read this! Sorry I didn’t put…my fire spells in there. I didn’t even know they were accessible….to you….,”
Kris took the manual.
Then tossed it.
“….Ah! Sorry if it was boring Kris! I can make a replacement,”
They continued forward but then stopped at the door.
“Um, Kris? There’s something important I have to tell you,”
They stopped.
Ralsei continued, “It’s just….I believe it’s important that we make the right decisions. Our choices matter after all, especially yours. So, I know you told me to use that spell earlier but…can we avoid it? You see, certain spells can permanently kill a Darkner. That spell can be really harmful. I-I don’t even know how you have access to it-,”
Ralsei shook his head, “Anyway, I would recommend not using it but…of course I can’t say no to you! So whatever you choose to do…I just hope you make the right choice,”
They enter the door, leading to the next area. The field of hopes and dreams. Ralsei sighed, hoping his talk would convince them.
When they encountered their first enemy, “Kris” repeated the same words.
“Fireshock,”
Ralsei hesitated, “You…if you want to battle so much Kris you can use your sword! There’s a way to-,”
“Fireshock,”
He…he can’t defy the angel. He can’t defy that. Even…if this is extremely strange, maybe it’s for a reason? It has to be. It wouldn’t kill for no reason.
Ralsei used Fireshock.
Ralsei’s chest hurt, “This…this is wrong. We can’t keep-,”
“They’re not real,”
Ralsei looked up, “Well…yes they aren’t real but…,”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Ralsei fiddled with his hands. That…is true. None of the Darkners hurt would affect the Light world but…still! What if it changes things?
But, he can’t refuse. His purpose is to satisfy it.
“I…I don’t…have an argument against that I guess,”
This repeated for a while. Kris would hunt down a darkner and Ralsei would burn them. It…started to blur. Ralsei couldn’t even remember some of the actions. Just that he had to listen.
That voice, he knows it isn’t Kris. He knows what it is…it’s a strange one but one that is important.
In a strange, horrific way, the voice that seemed unsettling seems to comfort him a bit.
They stopped and found a box.
Inside was something interesting…it’s not supposed to be there.
A ring.
Kris grabbed the ring, looking empty.
They then turned around and pointed to Ralsei.
Ralsei blushed a bit, “M…me? You want to give the ring to me?”
Kris nodded as they took his hand and put the ring on Ralsei’s ring finger.
Ralsei stared at it. It…was a little hot. It was metal that glowed orange and if it was overheated.
Is it wrong that he enjoyed the exchange? That’s selfish considering everything that’s been going on.
He shouldn’t…be divulging in a fantasy while everyone’s burning. This ring is dangerous, heck he isn’t even supposed to equip rings-
But Kris gave it to him, like a proposal.
Focus Ralsei, this is wrong. This whole situation is wrong. This isn’t even actually Kris…
Ralsei continued to follow Kris until they reached a puzzle.
“Ah, looks like will need Susie for this puzzle,”
Kris took a step closer to Ralsei, “We don’t need Susie,”
That voice again…terrifying, but comforting.
Ralsei shook those disgusting thoughts, “How would we be able to solve it without her?”
“Burn it,”
Ralsei backed up, “All we have to do is step on the squares…it’s not a big deal to bring Susie-,”
“No. Just. Us,”
Ralsei whispered underneath his breath, “Just…us?”
Ralsei didn’t even know what he was doing. Before he realized it he burned the timer of the puzzle. Completely breaking it and letting them through the spikes.
“I…I don’t even remember doing that…,”
They continued on as Ralsei’s mind was spiraling.
Ralsei didn’t even notice the fact that they found Susie.
“Yeah sweet! The door opened,”
Ralsei looked up, “Oh…Susie! Let’s…,”
“See ya punks!”
She immediately left out of the door.
How…can she be so stubborn?
Ralsei huffed. Then, the voice echoed in his head.
‘Just…us…’
It sounds so selfish, but he’s glad Susie left. Then it can be…
N-NO! He shouldn’t think like that! Susie is one of the main heroes and they HAVE to find her! They followed Kris to see Susie and Lancer hanging out.
Apparently they made friends when he wasn’t paying attention.
He…hasn’t been thinking about Susie at all.
That’s a problem! She’s important to the story!
“Kris we…we can’t just have us. We need Susie for the prophecy-,”
The voice spoke.
“Do you want her?”
Ralsei felt his face turn pale, “It…it doesn’t matter what I want. What matters is we need her-,”
“Do you want me?”
Ralsei felt himself shiver, “It…doesn’t matter what I want,”
What’s wrong with him? These thoughts…not only are they selfish but they’re possessive. It’s three heroes, not two.
As they continued forward, it was the same thing. Fireshock. Stronger. Fireshock. Stronger…..
Fireshock
Fireshock
Fireshock
Time felt irrelevant, it was hard to even put a name on the people he was burning.
Well…they aren’t people. They’re just Darkners. Their death wouldn’t affect anything in the grand scheme of things. It's strange. A part of himself wants to bite his tongue. A part of himself wants to stop the chaos.
But…something else…is overtaking his morals.
This is selfish. He’s disgusting.
“It’s natural,”
Ralsei looked up, “K-Kris? You…I f-forgot it could…,”
Read minds.
The scarlet forest was deserted.
Everyone was trying to either run away or…left.
Are they scared of Ralsei? No…no that can’t be it.
They traversed the area. They then paused at an area. Lancer was there.
No….
“Kris…were not…,”
Lancer looked over, “Hey weird people! I got separated from Susie and Dads ordered an emergency evacuation. Honestly you two should get the heckie out of here!”
“Proceed,”
Ralsei paused, “K-Kris…Lancer is important to Susie. Important to the prophecy…,”
“Proceed,”
Lancer was confused, “Proceed where?”
Kris seemed to be shaking.
“Proceed,”
They entered a battle. Ralsei didn’t know what to do.
“Fireshock,”
Ralsei shook his head, “I-I CAN’T! Lancer is…,”
“Fireshock,”
“Listen we…we can find another way…,”
The voice whispered.
“They aren’t real,”
They….aren’t real.
They aren’t.
They’re objects.
If Lancer disappeared, it wouldn’t matter.
And the voice…the angel.
The angel told him to do this.
Before he could even blink.
He used Fireshock.
He ignored the screams. He ignored the smell of a burnt card.
Because the only thing he needs to listen to.
Is Kris.
Is the voice.
Just them…
Ralsei opened his eyes. He gasped at the sight he saw. Nothing but ash.
“Kris….did….did I…?”
Suddenly they heard familiar footsteps.
“Hey losers, where’s Lancer? I’ve been looking for him. Said something about evacuating people. Apparently someone's even crazier than I am,”
Both Ralsei and Kris were silent.
Ralsei stared at the floor, “He…he left. He’s up ahead I think,”
Susie smirked, “Damn, guess that means I gotta join you idiots,”
She walked forward and stepped on the black soot.
“Ugh what is this stuff? Smells burnt,”
Ralsei wanted to vomit.
He stared at the ground the entire time in silence.
Susie looked at Kris and Ralsei, “Are you two ok? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost,”
She pushed Ralsei slightly but his shoulder burned her hand.
“GAH! JESUS WHAT WAS THAT!?”
Ralsei just hummed, not paying attention.
Because everyone was missing, or burned, it was a straight shot to the castle.
Susie coughed when they entered, “Look uhhh you two. I…ever since I’ve been hanging out with Lancer. HAH I can’t believe I’m saying this but, the soft guy made me reflect a bit. Basically…if I was a jerk…I’ll try to like not be one,”
Susie continued as they entered the elevator, “Who knows I might even listen when you-,”
Ralsei interrupted, “That’s fine Susie, I like being the only one who listens,”
Susie raised an eyebrow, “Really? I thought you wanted me to listen to Kris’s lame orders and stuff,”
Ralsei shook his head, “No…I want it to be…just me,”
Kris shook in the elevator.
Susie looked at both of them strangely, “Okay….weird,”
They reached the top of the elevator.
Where they fight King.
As Susie left the elevator, Ralsei stayed with Kris.
“Kris…I wanted to ask…can we keep this between us? Lancer…the burns…everything and everyone. It feels…special to us, and only us. I couldn’t bear to see Susie’s reaction and…
I don’t want her to replace me.
I haha…know that sounds selfish but, I want it to be…
Just us,”
Kris’s hands shook as they continued forward.