Admiral T. DeVanto

‘I don’t remember siring a child. Especially a human one!’

Silver knew it was only a dream.

Not only that, it was a dream of the past. Lilia’s past.

Of course within the span of 400 years anyone’s perspective of things is bound to change somewhat. But when General Vanrouge declares that he would never start a family, it made Silver begin to wonder about his life back in Briar Valley, about all the times his father would spontaneously travel for days on end, for weeks even. At first Silver had no qualms about it, his father was an adventurous spirit and it was only natural that he shouldn’t want to be bound in one place for too long, and besides. 

Lilia would always return in the end, always with a warm welcome that even rivals young Silver’s 

‘Have fun, Papa! I love you!’ Silver would say every time his father went off on another journey, with a smile that Lilia would say could easily open a purse. He didn’t mind that his father never said ‘I love you back’ as he’d always return the sentiment with other forms of affection, a tight hug here, a little nuzzle there, maybe a little kiss. Still the meaning was there, or so Silver thought until they were all thrown into this whirlwind of a dream. He was seeing destruction everywhere, all because of these Silver Owls, it chilled his bones and Silver shuddered at the thought of sharing a name with these. These. Unpleasant people. 

Eventually he learns of the potential fate his Lord’s parents were about to face. His fury was not as loud or obvious as Sebek’s though he thought, how could anyone think to do that to an expecting couple, even though they are the enemy, that poor egg, who he knew would grow up into a lonely existence, with no parents, only a potentially distance grandmother and fleeting mentor, Silver could only mourn the loss of all the happy times his lord could’ve had had these interlopers stayed their hand. And then there was his father, in this dream they managed to save the Princess in time and rescue her spouse but that wasn’t enough for the General they soon realise. No he wanted to destroy the humans who dared attempt to kill Princess Mallenoa whilst she protects only her precious egg. 

Killing the Dawn Knight wasn’t enough. Lilia had to make sure there was no one left to lead another attack.

What came next was a flurry of Bloodshed horror, gore, screams of the dying and the furious, and the blade of a general who’d cut down anyone who got in his way. Then it came as a devastating shock to Silver when those very same people began to mistake him for another, for the one called the “Dawn Knight” oh how they thought he was there to grant them salvation only for those hopes to to be sorely crushed by the onslaught of fae following behind him, the other humans were not aware of the death of their hero. By now Silver and the rest stood inside a ravaged nursery. A beautiful cradle lay shattered to bits among torn curtains.

And in the general’s hand hung a bundle of blankets with its wailing occupant inside. 

He hadn't dwelt on it much, for how could he when everything had been so utterly horrifying and fast. But now as he glimpses a wisp of a silver lock within the bundle, events of the past age become more adamantly clear he could only put two and two together, and the truth made his knees collapse painfully as a nauseating illness overtook him. In the distance Sebek was paralysed in fear at the sight of Lilia dangling the blankets in a death like grip, glaring at the screaming child as if it were a disgusting insect he would so love to crush. 

Its just a dream. Its just a dream. Its just a dream, Silver kept telling himself, almost like a desperate prayer. That this wasn’t really what his father truly desired, a life where he still had his loved ones, a life where Silver never existed, possibly smited by the fae before him, the one who Silver has devoted his whole being to. 

Did he really love me? He thinks as he and Sebek watch in horror as the general moves towards the window, almost in slow motion with the blood of Silver’s kin dripping from every angle. It was only by the interference of Baul and Sebek that Lilia stopped with just throwing the bundle out like it was nothing more than a rubbish bag, Silver didn’t hear what was said next. He didn’t need to.

Silver’s eyes met the general’s and as soon as the recognition in his eyes gleamed, Silver was out the door, tripping over bodies and pools of fresh blood, ignoring Sebek’s cries for him. He didn’t know where he was going, he just needed to get out of there, away from what was now reality, a nightmare that he’ll never wake up from. 

In the distance there was a faint drip, drip, drip, and he blacked out.

‘Silver.’ 

A hand was stroking through his pale strands, something slimy and wet entangled in them and cooling his scalp. Fear grips his heart, with a startled yelp he smacks the hand away and throws himself in whatever direction his panicked mind fancied, all of a sudden he landed hard on a rough surface and he soon realised that he had suddenly woken up in the near comforting presence of his room. ‘Silver’ a voice murmurs hesitantly. Sliver choked back a sob. 

No, he thought miserably, please not him. The once comforting gesture of Malleus’s hand rubbing his back soothingly only filled his already shattered heart with a deadly anguish, did Malleus know any of this? ‘It must have been horrible to witness’ the prince whispers ‘I must apologise Silver, I would have conjured something else had I known any of this would happen.’ Silver says nothing, he was too afraid to turn his head, to turn and face the creature that was once his prince and beloved guardian. But a clawed finger grabbed his chin and gently tilted his head so he was staring into the cold green gaze of Malleus’s overblot ‘Silver’ Malleus repeats ‘did you forget how to greet your prince?’ There was no bite in his tone, only a knowing sadness ‘d-did he-’ Silver gasps ‘he really tri-tried to-’ he couldn’t bear the thought of finishing that sentence, everything hurts, it hurts! He crumpled to the floor in broken wails similar to the infant he had just seen, the anguish was crippling. Silver knew he shouldn’t be bawling his eyes out and choking on trapped words in front of the “enemy” but what else was he to do? He was already in Malleus’s clutches, both figuratively and literally as the overblotted prince had taken to wordlessly manoeuvring Silver into his lap and holding him close like he had done when the boy was younger ‘I don’t know’ Malleus answers at last ‘I had never really questioned why Lilia would take in and care for the child of our enemy but now I wonder…’ Silver’s breath hitched as he felt the prince’s grip tighten, was this it? Was this where Malleus takes vengeance for his parents? Silver wouldn’t blame him if he so wished for it. But then the fae reaches down to his belt and relinquishes Silver’s magic pen from it’s holster ‘fear not Silver, for how could I ever blame a child for the sins of their parents’ he coos dipping the pen to tilt up his chin. Silver is suddenly hit with a wave of utter exhaustion ‘wh-what they did was unforgivable’ he whispered hoarsely ‘how could I ever just continue as your knight after learning of the carnage they have wrought.’ How could I hope to save you from this overblot now if my family had set the path for it. The magestone was cool to the touch against his skin, he was so exhausted he curled into its cold embrace in hopes that it would lull him back into sleep. But what will that do? A voice whispers in his ear, you’ll merely end up back to Father’s dream, to a place where you are not wanted, to the reality that you can’t bear to face. 

I don’t care, he thinks back, I’m already in pain, but if I don’t help Fa-Lilia and the others wake up, and save Malleus, then what's the point?

If it brings them any solace then I will disappear from their very lives if I have too. For who will mourn the loss of a boy who was nothing but a reminder of past tragedies. ‘Oh what on earth are you thinking about dear Silver?’ Malleus says suddenly, brushing away Silver’s bangs from his face ‘don’t ever think you are like them. Don’t ever think you are like the Dawn Knight.’ Silver shivers when blot drips onto his face ‘for you are not the knight of Dawn Silver, you are the knight of dreams. My knight of dreams.’ Malleus peers down at him, a strange, gentle smile on his lips ‘do not think you are free from what your lineage has done, you have devoted your loyalty to me, yes? Your servitude shall act as atonement,’

‘Y-yes my lord, but-’

‘As you have said before, what they did was unforgivable Silver, I’ll still never blame you but for such transgressions, you’ll never be done atoning for their crimes. You’ll always be mine.’

Malleus’s words stabbed Silver in the chest, if he were in his right mind he would have protested to some degree. Though all he felt at the moment was total numbness. He’s right, What better use have I? Surely after this Lilia would be glad to be rid of me.

‘Why Silver, you have gone all pale and lifeless, you have truly been abandoned, haven’t you.’ the prince remarks, watching as the colour begins to fade from the young boy’s eyes. He begins to see the signs of what he was hoping for.

‘You feel it don’t you, Silver? The pain of abandonment and betrayal.’

‘No, you're wrong!’ 

‘Denial will only hurt you further, let it out child.’ 

Silver wanted to scream. Images of that wailing infant, the general’s cold look of disgust, watching as he was all too ready to toss the bundle out like rubbish. ‘It was only a dream, created by you! Father does love me!’ Malleus lifted an eyebrow ‘does he love you?’ he says as if already knowing the answer. The words die in Silver’s throat, he thinks back to all the times he’s said ‘I love you’ to Lilia, but never had them reciprocated.

Does he love you?

Something wet dripped from his eyes, Silver held his hand out, only to stare in shock as little drops of ink pooled between his fingers ‘how in the-’ Malleus didn’t reply, merely lifting Silver’s magestone up where he could see.

Blot. lots and lots of blot. So much blot that there was hardly a speck of colour left in the stone as it seemed to overflow, trickling down the baton ‘do you see now? It is inevitable,’ the prince explains, wrapping his arms around Silver once more, ‘just give in, child, how else are you to serve me?’

‘I-I-I can’t! I won’t!’ Silver wails, fear taking hold as he thrashes in Malleus’s grip. He can’t overblot. Not now! NOT NOW! ‘What do you have to lose Silver? Your father? You just claimed that he didn’t want you, perhaps he never did.’ the prince pinches him by the cheeks, making sure that he was staring into his eyes ‘but now there is someone who does Silver, all you need is to let go. Give in to the darkness’ Silver felt his eyes growing heavier by the second, no… he thinks, please, no more, just let this all end. ‘It will child, just let go.’

‘Embrace the darkness.’ 

Somewhere in a wonderful dream, an old general wakes up.

@serenescribe