Chapter Text
Ah, my dear esteemed benefactor…
Cale Henituse lay sleeping on a couch after a long cycle of Chaos. He didn't know what headache would pop up next so he determined it to be a good plan to get some rest before the severe inevitable happened — another fool interrupting his slacking schedule.
My proud, beautiful flower of evil.
Cale frowned as there was a whisper in the room, his face scrunching as he didn't want to pay attention to the words that seemed to be echoing around within his head. He refused to acknowledge it — something he would certainly likely regret later — as he chose to just roll onto his side where his front faced the back of the couch, keeping his eyes shut tight.
You are truly the fairest one of all.
Cale held back from whimpering as he heard that part, utterly despairing what could be happening next as he wished that they could have dealt with all the Hunters in one fell swoop but the interference within the Dream Realm which brought out the First Emperor led to them being unable to fully prepare for the location of the Omnipotent God Candidate; that being now someplace else entirely rather than within New World, the redhead resting in the 7th Evil.
O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat…
The words mentioning “mirror” made Cale pop his eyes wide open, the redhead moving immediately to roll off the couch and search for that damned Divine Item that he wished he had bashed with a hammer a long time ago — forget useful Death is like a toddler within god clothing begging for the slightest amount of praise which only brought him more headaches — his face etching into a frown as he couldn't find the darned thing anywhere on the floor.
Reveal unto me the visage I seek…
“Oh, fuck no…”
Cale stopped searching when he heard those words, wondering if not finding the mirror would stop whatever is occurring now instead of searching for it and shattering it, Cale Henituse clenching his hands around the carpeted floor as he had a feeling that his brief wishes would be too good to be true as he kept flickering his gaze back forth, as though looking for any sign of an unwanted appearance or demonstration of transportation to another world.
You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth…
Cale jumped and pressed his back against the seat of the couch when the dresser within the room shook once roughly, the redhead having his gaze steady on the object while feeling his heart beat rapidly in his chest. He wondered if he could call for help, if anyone would be able to hear him, as he couldn't halt the small tremble in his hands as he thought of the three worst case scenarios that immediately entered his mind.
1. He was about to be transported to another place alone.
If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.
2. He was about to have to deal with another annoying god wanting to mess with him.
As flame reduces even the stars to ash.
3. The Hunters were plotting something in taking him away from his family to do them harm.
As ice seals away even time itself.
Cale let out a shaking breath as the dresser rattled again, the sounds of it getting louder and louder as he remembered that the children hid that silly mirror of Death within that dresser under the belief that it meant the god would stop messing with the exhausted redhead.
As great trees swallow even the sky.
“Cale-nim?”
Cale gasped at the voice of Choi Han on the other side of the door, flinching again when the dresser made another loud bang as though what was inside was just struggling and begging to break free of the confines that held it within. Cale wondered if Death was playing a trick next as, despite not liking the god, he had proven time and again to actually at least somewhat cherish the redhead's safety even with his irritating behaviour otherwise.
Fear not the power of darkness.
“Cale-nim?!”
There were two different kinds of banging now, one being Choi Han against the door, trying to desperately get in, while the other was from the dresser, trying to desperately get out. Cale covered his ears with his hands as a ringing erupted within them, feeling dizzy as he heard his panicking ancient powers,
“Hey, what the fuck?!”
“Cale!”
Their voices were incredibly muffled, the redhead realizing that he hadn't heard their voices until this moment as his vision was slowly blurring with the next words.
Now—demostrate your power.
He could feel his ancient powers roaring around him — the crackling of lightning, the rushing of water, a torrent of wind, the rumbling of earth and the creaking of wood — his body aching with every flurry of power used as he could only hear Crybaby's sobs and Dominating Aura’s curses.
The banging getting louder on both sides as one side gave way, Cale weakly looking up in hopes that it was Choi Han as he couldn't hear the echoes of loud voices outside of the room, asking him to open the door — something he would do if he could move!
To me. To them. To yourself.
The mirror he had been dreading to see rose from the dresser on its own, a light emanating from it that gave Cale the chills as it just got brighter and brighter until Cale had to cover his eyes with arm as he felt like it was blinding him,
“Cale! We have to—!”
Crybaby's voice flickered in and out with the ringing in Cale's ears, the redhead unable to even hear Dominating Aura even more as he felt his consciousness flickering out.
The hour grows long, and time is scarce.
The door finally gave way to the ones banging on it from the outside, Choi Han taking the lead and followed by Eruhaben as they tried to push back the light that was consuming Cale. They could barely see him, as Eruhaben shouted,
“Stay away from my child!”
He attempted to use his Dust against the mirror but it just reflected off and whizzled out, the mirror soon clattering down to the ground as the light disappeared…alongside the redhead they were trying to get to.
Keep steady, your grip, no matter what may come…
“Cale-nim!”
“Human!”
“Young Master!”
“...dad…”
They heard the echoing final words throughout the room, the shouts coming from each family member with the final word being softly whimpered out by the three youngest children as they went to the floor, Eden being present as he lowered himself to the floor and hoped his willingness to be clung to for once would help the kittens and his brother find comfort with their human's disappearance.