rising, falling tragically

He visited you every single day.

Those green eyes that usually held such fondness and warmth when they landed on you, now dimmed at the sight of your bandaged and bruised body. Those dark lips that usually curled into a gentle smile when you were around, now quivered as he saw how exhausted and pained you were.

Burns on your arms from the heat of his flames now bandaged and treated, scratches and cuts from his thorns stitched and sutured. Even the gash on your forehead- from his dragon transformation causing rocks and rubble to fall in the diasomnia lounge, one of which knocked you out- now to scar you forever under your fluffy bangs.

He'd hurt you. Terribly.

You were fidgeting with a puzzle cube Riddle had brought for you during your stay in the medical wing, not noticing your dark companions distress- that is, until he spoke. 

“…Child of man”

He called, his voice holding a wobble. Your eyes shot up at the sound, meeting his pained gaze. Malleus Draconia, the prince of briar valley, was holding back tears right now just looking at you. It sounded like just calling that nickname took courage beyond comprehension. Like he felt like he didn’t deserve to call it anymore.

“I…I am deeply sorry. For everything.”

He choked out the apology, his gloved fingers curled tight in his lap, digging into the fabric of his pants. He was looking down now, as if you were the one in the room who required such a respectful gesture. The sight of him so…unlike his usual self, stilled you completely.

Because despite everything that has happened, despite every problem he’d caused…you didn’t quite blame him. Perhaps it was because he didn’t land the blows with his own hands, but you separated his overblotted and over emotional descisions to be…not malleus. 

Similarly to the other overblotters, it was hard to hold grudges over a mental breakdown. you had received injuries from them somewhat, and while malleus’s overblot caused the most damage, you treated it the same way- a moment of weakness, a breakdown- nothing he should be ashamed of.

So while the apology was appreciated- these wounds were still incredibly sore and you were trapped in a bed for days- you didn’t find it to be completely necessary. You didn’t find it necessary for the other overblotters either. All these kids apologizing for their mental health…Crowley should really invest in a guidance counselor or in-school therapist.

Regardless, malleus was practically quivering in front of you right now, as if your forgiveness would be his salvation. You’d never seen him this emotional before, perhaps it was because of the loss of his horn. He didn’t need to mask his feelings anymore, he didn’t need to bottle up, and thus, this raw moment became even more important. 

it became clear that he was waiting for forgiveness like salvation because to him that’s precisely what it was 

So you reached over to his lap, resting your hand atop one of his. He gasped softly, his eyes lingering on your soft fingers as they curled around his, pulling his hand to your lap instead so you could clasp it between both your hands as you offered a gentle squeeze. 

“I forgive you, Hornton”

you said quietly, watching his eyes finally shoot up to yours, widening as they became a bit glassy. He let out a shaky sigh, resting his other hand atop both of yours, his tone hesitant. 

“You say it so simply, as if…”

He paused, huffing softly as he screwed his eyes shut and tilted his head away. 

“As if I didn’t almost kill you too…”

he whispered, but just as he choked it out, you were already cupping his cheek and tilting his head back to face you.

“Look at me, Malleus”

You ordered softly, your eyes flicking over his face, taking in his surprised expression at your quiet demand as he looked back to you. You’d never seen the dragon so vulnerable.

“I forgive you. That’s all there is to it. I know i’m hurt, I know ill have scars…but i forgive you...”

You trailed off before you could say anything stupid- like ‘I adore you anyways’ or ‘you’re the dearest person to me in this entire school’ or ‘I love you’…

He blinked, eyes searching your face as if trying to find deceit. But before he could, you reached down and curled your fingers around his nape, pulling him closer. 

“now gimme a hug”

you said simply, smiling just enough to reassure. He didn’t object. He let you guide him to sit on the edge of the bed, the chair he’d been in squeaking against the floor as he moved off of it. And with quiet relief, he wrapped his arms around you as gingerly as he could, listening to your every breath, watching your expressions, making sure he wasn’t hurting you. 

You only smiled and tugged him closer, and with a quiet sigh he nuzzled into the crook of your neck, hugging you tightly as he could without injuring you as you stroked his hair.

After a long moment of this, you heard a sniffle. And felt globby wet tears soaking your shirt. 

“Oh malleus…”

You murmured, just as he let out a choked sob- almost sounding like a whimper- as his arms curled tighter around you, his nose brushing your pulse, nuzzling close as if to ensure you were really alive, really okay. 

“I'm sorry…i’m so sorry…”

You carded your fingers through his hair as he cried, hesitating before pressing a gentle kiss to his temple in reassurance. He’d given you forehead kisses as ‘blessings’ before, so surely this would soothe-

he froze. You blinked. He gasped softly and then pressed a teary kiss to your pulse and the underside of your jaw and cried some more.

And even when he finally did stop crying, even when you’d dried his tears with your thumbs and teased and whispered little stories till he finally smiled a bit, he still stayed curled up in that bed with you, fingers and limbs intertwined. Till Professor crewel returned of course.

But he still visited you every single day afterwards. 

✦••······················••✦•······················•✦••······················••✦

𓅨 Crowley 𓅨

"Hey, Crowley. Do you think you can help me study? I know you've been trying to find a way to send me back to my world, but it doesn't seem like that's gonna happen anytime soon — if ever — so I want to at least good my diploma so I can get a good job here in the future."

Oh, Seven does Crowley feel absolutely terrible.

In all honesty, he hasn't been trying all that hard to send you back home. He's a busy man — or so he claims — and doesn't have the time to pour over hundreds and thousands of ancient tomes for some magical solution to your situation. Yes, Crowley would love to send you back home, but it's becoming more and more likely that you'll be stuck here in Twisted Wonderland for the foreseeable future.

Still, he very rightfully feels bad for his part in all this.

"Yes, yes, of course, prefect! Don't worry your little head, I'll talk to all your professors and arrange for them to put together some special lessons to help you catch up to your peers! You're a smart cookie, but some extra tutoring and the like surely won't hurt!”

"Really? Thanks, I'm really grateful for everything. To be honest, I've been really worried about building a future here. I don't have any magic or much knowledge about Twisted Wonderland, but hopefully a good education can get me a decent job after I graduate."

"Oh, prefect. Please, don't worry. While you may not be from this world, you have carved yourself a place in it and I couldn't be more proud of your resilience. Whatever may happen in the future — be it here in Twisted Wonderland, or back in your world — I know that you are destined for great things."

This was exactly the kick in the ass that Crowley needed to lock in and double down on his efforts to send you home. A part of him has grown rather attached to you, but he doesn't want to deprive you of the opportunity to go back to your world if that's what you want. Either way, Crowley will support your decision and do all he can to give you a bright future.

𓃡 Crewel 𓃡

"Excuse me, Professor? Do you think you can put together a study guide, or assign me a tutor? I'm starting to think that Crowley isn't gonna find a way to send me home, so I wanna study hard to get a good job here in the future."

Crewel has never felt paternal instincts this strong for anyone but his two beloved Dalmatians, yet here you are making him want to call up his lawyers and tell them to draft some adoption papers. He cares about all his students, of course, but you're a special case; a lost little pup in a big world you know next to nothing about. 

Pity isn't the right word to describe what Crewel feels. Well, maybe there is some pity in the mix, but there's also a genuine concern for you and your wellbeing too. There's just something about a pup in need that makes Crewel shed his strict — and quite frankly, harsh — facade and step up to provide some modicum of comfort and support.

"Don't worry, dear pup. You've done well with your studies this far, and I am endlessly proud of your progress. I'll see what I can do to help you out, but don't push yourself too hard, alright?"

"Will do, Professor Crewel. Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it."

"You're thanks are not necessary, pup. I'm merely doing my job as your educator. Allow me to thank you for coming to me about this. I'll be sure to have a talk with our lousy Headmage about his efforts to send you back to your world. In the meantime, keep up the good work, and I'll do all I can to support you along the way."

True to his promise, Crewel does everything he possibly can to give you the future you deserve. No thanks to Crowley, of course.

ᓚᘏᗢ Trein ᓚᘏᗢ

"Professor? I'm sorry to bother you, but do you think you can help me study? I don't think Crowley's gonna be able to find a way to send me home, so I wanna do my best to get a good education, so I can get a nice job here after graduating."

Now, Trein has dealt with many students throughout his rather lengthy tenure as a Professor at NRC, but none have presented as unique a case as you. He wants all his students to do well and succeed in life, but he wants you, in particular, to excel despite the odds being stacked against you. Perhaps it's wrong of him to have this sort of favoritism towards you, but he can't help but want the best for you.

"Of course, prefect. Though I trust that the Headmage is doing all he can to send you back home, it would be wise for you to begin thinking about your future here. I'll do what I can to ensure you're just as well-educated as your peers native to Twisted Wonderland. Whatever you shall need to further your education, I shall provide — you need only ask."

"Thank you, Professor Trein. I've been worried about this for a while now, so your assistance means a lot."

"I'm only doing my responsibility as your educator, you needn't thank me. You're a bright student and I believe in you and your abilities. I'll be here to support you however you may need, but I'll start off with compiling some materials for you and scheduling for you to meet with a tutor."

Isekai animes make the whole 'stranded in another world' thing look way too easy.

Unlike the boring and frankly irritating protagonists of the genre, you can't just walk around wearing the same thing every day. Luckily for you, the staff here at NRC — minus Crowley — are here not only to teach, but to lend a hand to a student in need.

"You mean to tell me that good-for-nothing Headmage won't even give you an extra uniform?"

"He said I'd have to pay for it. That he can't just give it away because of some rules with the school board or whatever."

"Worry not, dear pup. I'll pay for your extra uniform myself. Now that I think about it, I have some clothes lying around that might fit you. I'll bring them in tomorrow, and you can take what you what."

"Thank you, Professor!"

"Think nothing of it, pup. Someone around here has to take care of you lot, since Crowley doesn't seem to even think about doing so. Ugh, honesty, I have no idea how that man manages to run an entire school when he can't even care for one little pup properly."

Just as he promised, Crewel comes in the very next day with your extra uniform and bags upon bags of clothing for you to sift through. He's quite pleased with the items you picked out and even offers to make you some custom pieces to match your aesthetic. In fact, he insisted, takes your measurements and started sketching out a whole collection right then and there. 

Before you know it, both your dresser and closet back at Ramshackle are filled to the brim.

Unfortunately, your good luck doesn't last very long. 

"Might I ask what you're doing searching through the lost and found when you should be in class, prefect?"

"Oh, sorry, Professor Trein! It's just… my shoes fell apart and this is the only pair I have, so I'm trying to see if I can find a pair in here."

"I see. Here, allow me." With a wave of his magic pen, your shoe is mended. Damn, things really would be easier if you had magic — or some superglue, that would have helped too.

"Oh, thanks, Professor! I'm super sorry about being late. It won't happen again."

"Good. Off you go, prefect."

With that, your shoe problems are over. Well, not really, because the very next day, Professor Trein held you back after class to present you with three pairs of brand-new shoes.

"I'm not the most knowledgeable when it comes to what you young people wear, so I had my daughters help me. There's one pair of dress shoes to go with your uniform, a pair of sneakers for P.E., and a standard pair to wear day-to-day."

"Ah, t-thank you, Professor! You didn't have to do all this for me, but I really do appreciate it!"

"Neither you nor any child should have to forgo their education because they don't have a pair of shoes, prefect. I am simply doing my job as your educator by ensuring you don't miss out on any class time because you're too busy digging through the lost and found."

Once again, your wardrobe expands. You've got plenty of clothes thanks to Professor Crewel and now three new pairs of shoes to match. Now all you need is some accessories to tie it all together, which is why you now find yourself perusing the discounts at Sam's store.

"Hey, hey, hey, little imp! Are you searching for something in particular? I assure you that whatever you need is IN STOCK NOW!"

"Oh, I'm just looking for some accessories. Do you have any gothic stuff? I can't really afford a lot right now, so the cheaper, the better, if you don't mind."

Sam thinks for a moment before telling you to wait right where you're at. So, you stand there waiting while he disappears into the store's backroom to search for anything that might meet your needs. You expect him to emerge with either nothing, or a few small things, but not a huge box overflowing with just about every accessory imaginable.

"Here you are, little imp! The whole goth thing was trending a while back, so I bought a bunch of stuff with the hopes of capitalizing on its popularity, but the buzz died down and left me with all this on my hands. I've been trying to get rid of it, so you can have it all for an extra special low price!"

"Oh, wow, are you sure?"

"Of course, of course! Like I said, I've been needing to get rid of this stuff, so it's no problem at all! In fact, it warms my heart to know it's going to such good hands!"

"Thanks, Sam! How much do you want for all this?"

"Oh, I don't know. Ten, maybe fifteen dollars? Something along those lines."

"Really, that's all?"

"I'm desperate to get this stuff off my hands, so I'll take just about anything at this point."

"Here, take twenty. I really appreciate it, Sam!"

"No problem! It was a pleasure doing business with you, prefect!"

Finally, your new and improved wardrobe is complete! That doesn't stop Crewel from giving you more clothes, or Trein from making sure your shoes are in tip-top shape, nor does it keep Sam from pawning off whatever extra stock he has that matches your gothic aesthetic at a heavily discounted price.

You often lent Deuce your notes to copy for those class periods he just couldn't keep his eyes open: exhausted from a long night of studying. At first he didn't notice anything, too busy frantically taking notes. It wasn't until he was staying in Ramshackle and he no longer had to worry about getting your notebook to you before day's end when you'd head off to your dorm and he to his that he saw it. As he was studying your notes he saw a little doodle on the edge of the page. The doodle was of Grim stirring a cauldron while standing on a stool, his goggles falling off his head. As he continued through your notes he saw ones of Epel carving an apple, Rook shooting a bow, and Vil looking studying rehearsal footage. Flipping back through the book and starting from the beginning he noticed the doodles seemed to be telling the story of your time at NRC. Early in the book, before there were notes on classes, there were doodles of the dark mirror, Crowley, and Grim. About the time you were officially enrolled there were drawings of the great 7, Ace with a smug look on his face, and even Deuce summoning a cauldron. He's asking to borrow your notes again? You could have sworn he was awake all class period (he just wants to see any new doodles).

Kalim noticed the walls, or more specifically: what was on them. It wasn't the boarded-up holes that drew his attention, nor was it the dust that you never could seem to get rid of completely. What got Kalim's attention were the drawings. In the kitchen, in your room, and on various doors there were drawings taped to the wood. Some were colorful while other were monochrome. Big, small, detailed, simple; he loved all of them! In your room you had an entire wall covered in pieces of your art, many of said pieces being of your friends and your various adventures. Your door was basically an extension of that wall just with a prominent sign in the middle reading 'Prefect and Grim.' Grim's name seemed to be written in his own handwriting (pawwriting?) and at the bottom of the sign laid a pawprint and a handprint. The other doors that had signs were rooms like the bathroom, laundry room, and the rooms each of the boys stayed in. The first few signs were put there by yourself to help the guys more easily navigate the sometimes-confusing building while the ones on each of their doors was to make them feel like they too belonged there. The kitchen had various drawings or little doodles your friends made for you. No matter how simple or detailed the drawing, you had every single thing anyone had drawn for your here displayed on the wall. All but Grim's art. He had his own pedestal (the fridge) for that. Kalim made sure to make his fair share of contributions to your display wall.

Jamil was in charge of the kitchen during the VDC and found some things rather unusual from the moment he stepped foot in there. Nearly all of your upper shelves were completely empty and when he pulled out a drawer he assumed would be a utensil drawer all he found was towels. That would be fine on its own, but none of the drawers had utensils. The upper cabinets that did have things in them held cleaning supplies, items that are commonly agreed to go below the sink. Just when he thought he was going to have to go back to Scarabia to get any kitchenware, he checked the lower cabinets. That's where he found pots, pans, cups, plates, and any other kitchen item you'd need all organized nicely as if they weren't in the most bizarre of places. Just as he was about to resign to silently judging you for your dishware placement, Grim came up beside him and opened one of the lower cabinets to grab a cup before scampering over to a step ladder placed next to the counter so he could reach the faucet and fill his cup with water. After seeing that he supposed your placement of things made sense. And after much time cooking in your kitchen as well as having to bend down to grab items he also realized that you must be even kinder than he originally thought (or just plain stupid, but he's keeping that thought to himself).

Vil is a man of beauty. He believes in not only you as a person looking your best at all times but also making sure your surrounding look their best. He understood most of Ramshackle's 'quirks' were unfixable as things were, and you did seem to keep the place remarkably clean all things considered, but there was something that caught his scrutinous eye. Clothes hung up to dry in the laundry room and bathroom (it was too cold to dry them outside) splattered in paint and a door that had matching patterns. At one point he grew curious as to what could possibly possess a person to leave a door in such a state and decided to open it. He almost fainted when he saw inside. The walls, ceiling, floor, and any furniture unlucky enough to be in the room was covered in layers of paint. The only thing that seemed to be kept clean was the window with a view of the forest beside the dorm. He left that day deciding that how you kept that room didn't affect him. As long as your mess didn't encroach into his space he would leave you to your mayhem. However, something odd began to happen. On a day Vil felt especially stressed, he went to do his laundry. When he closed the washer door and turned it on he looked up to see a row of paint splattered clothes hung up to dry, and before he knew it he was opening the door to what he assumed to be your art studio. He closed the door gently behind him and simply stood there in the room as the evening sun cast warm rays of light in through the window. It was as he stood there that he realized just how comforting the room's atmosphere was. It was hectic with all the paint everywhere and yet calming and homely at the same time. Now whenever he got too stressed during the VDC he went to that room to simply take a moment to breathe and forget about the stresses of being perfect. To look around at the remnants of pieces you put your heart and soul in splattered across the walls: telling a story only you know but that anyone who takes the time to observe can feel. Now, he may even see your paint splattered clothes and face to be rather endearing (not that he'll admit it).

Ever the hunter of Beauty, Rook notices a lot of ways in which you leave your mark on this world. The stickers on the covers of your notebooks, the patched sewn a bit sloppily onto your clothes, and even the spots on your front doorstep that have been ever so slightly worn down from scraping off mud and/or snow every time you come inside are all glorious examples of how you make the world more beautiful by being here. However, he does have a favorite. Out of every way you show that you've been here in this world, that you existed, his favorite by far is yours and Grim's height charts lightly scratched into the wall in a corner of the kitchen in a nook between the fridge and the wall. You wouldn't see it unless you really looked, but as we all know, he looks. Seemingly etched into the wall with a fork, butterknife, or something of the sort as not to be erased or easily covered up by paint are two separate sets of dashes. One is low to the floor while the other is about where the top of your head would be were you to stand with your back to the wall. Each chart has initials below the lowest mark and each dash has a date next to it. However, what really gets Rook's heart soaring is the initials and how after the letter of each of your first names there is an R. Now, Rook knows Grim doesn't have a last name and that you haven't uttered a word about what yours is (whether it be because you forgot or just simply don't want to tell people). Overwhelmed with curiosity he hunts down the ghosts to ask them the meaning of the R to which they tell him it stands for Ramshackle. You and Grim saw each other as family and so you decided to unofficially create a last name to share. When you were unable to agree on a good one you suggested Ramshackle so as to always remember your roots in this world. Rook won't encroach on the memory by asking to put a height chart of his own next to the two of yours, but you do notice that suddenly any official paperwork you or Grim gets has 'Ramshackle' after your first names.

What Epel notices are the big tape Xs in various places within the dorm. On the stairs, on the a spot in the hallway on the 2nd floor, there're even parts of the banister wrapped in blue tape. At some point he gets curious and prods at the banister only for it to sway and nearly fall off. This catches his attention so he goes through the dorm looking for places with tape on them to see if his hypothesis was correct, and, wouldn't ya know it, it was. All the places with tape are areas that could be considered hazardous for one reason or another. At first he wonders if you were just really dumb and put tape there to try and fix it, but when he sees you avoiding the areas too he decided that's not it. Then the idea comes up that perhaps they're there for an inspector that's going to come to fix up ramshackle, but it becomes apparent that's not the case when you come back one evening: exhausted from trying to convince Crowley to do something about the water damage in the attic only to be shut down. It isn't until he sees you yank Kalim back by the collar of his shirt as he was about to step on one of the Xs that he realizes you put them there to keep people safe. Epel tried pulling up a piece of tape at one pint in his inspection to get a better idea of what was underneath it and for the life of him he couldn't get it unstuck. At least he know for sure that it will stay there for generations to come acting as a kind reminder to anyone else who ventures into the dorm to avoid those areas and keep themselves safe.

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Sebek didn't want anything to do with you, but you soon began to show up everywhere he was. Silver invited you to the Equestrian Club. Lilia thought it was a great idea to bring you to Diasomnia. At lunch, you were now sitting across from him. And everything about you annoyed Sebek. So much so that he found himself thinking about you when he was lying in his bed at night instead of Malleus's greatness. 

Everyone loved you, but Sebek could only see someone unremarkable with the tendency to cause trouble. He was surprised when he found himself laughing at something you said. Genuinely laughing. He did not expect you to be funny at all. Seems that even humans could make good jokes. 

Eventually, Sebek had grown used to your presence. Which did not mean he liked having you around! But then you did something that completely caught him by surprise again. You gifted him a present for his birthday. Not only was he surprised that you actually remembered and got him something, but that your present was a most thoughtful one, he liked very much. 

After that, something within him changed. He felt strange when you were near. There was a warmth that both confused and unsettled him. Sebek wasn’t used to feeling vulnerable, and yet your presence stirred a softness he hadn’t anticipated. Whenever you spoke, his guard momentarily dropped, revealing a part of himself he rarely showed to anyone.

Now, instead of being annoyed with Silver for inviting you to the Equestrian Club, he felt himself looking forward to seeing your face when he rounded the corner to the stables. And felt his heart drop when you weren't there. During lunch, he made sure to save you one of the egg sandwiches you liked so much and that were always gone, even if it meant scaring a few other students away.

He even looked after Grim for you. It wasn’t even that Sebek was simply tolerating the task. No, he put his everything into keeping your cat companion safe and behaved. Because no matter how irritating Grim was, it was still clear to everyone that there was a strong bond between the two of you. So it was a great honor that you entrusted him with something so close to your heart. 

Sebek didn’t fully understand what was happening to him. The cold certainty with which he had dismissed you before was now replaced by a quiet, persistent pull he couldn’t deny. An urge to be near you, to protect you, to make you smile. Yet, embarrassment clenched his chest every time those feelings surfaced. It was confounding and, frankly, infuriating. 

So, in conflict with his emotions, he one day asked Silver what all of this meant and what he was supposed to do now. But Silver just told him that if it felt good to be with you, then he should just spend more time with you. Sebek was sure that Silver was also half asleep during that time. 

But by the time Sebek decided what to do, it was too late.

Sebek could still remember that one night vividly. And how his heart shattered into a million pieces. 

The night began not too differently from many others. While it was his and Silver's knightly duty to stay close to Malleus and protect him, the fae prince often sneaked off alone. 

Sebek followed the hint he got from someone, who claimed they thought they saw Malleus near one of the old ruins on campus. Sebek was very offended that the person could not answer his question with certainty. After all, everyone should be able to detect Malleus regal presence from miles away. 

But what Sebek saw, after entering the ruin, made him forget everything about his outrage towards the student. 

Sebek’s breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening as he stepped quietly into the shadowed corridor of the ruin. The soft glow of Malleus’s presence was unmistakable, yet what truly stole Sebek’s focus was the sight of you, standing close to the prince. A closeness so intimate and natural that it sent a pang of something unfamiliar twisting through him.

Malleus’s hand was resting gently on your shoulder, his eyes fixed on you with a softness that Sebek had never seen before. The usual grandeur and unyielding authority melted away in this private moment, replaced by a quiet tenderness that made Sebek’s heart ache in a way he couldn’t understand. You smiled up at Malleus, and the prince’s smile in return was like a secret gift, meant only for you.

For a long while, Sebek had wished to be as close to Malleus as you were. But now he realized in that moment he wanted to be in Malleus's place. To be the person you looked up to like this, like he was your entire world. To be the person who gets to see your vulnerability and protect it from ever being hurt again. 

But it wasn’t him. It was Malleus. It was always Malleus. 

Sebek lingered in the shadows, every breath weighted like lead in his chest. He should have turned away the moment he realized what he was witnessing. It felt wrong to stay, to intrude on something sacred and fleeting. But his feet were rooted to the moss-covered floor. He couldn’t look away.

Sebek’s breath caught again, just as you gently reached up and touched Malleus’s cheek. The fae prince leaned into your hand with a softness so uncharacteristic of the regal, composed figure Sebek knew. There was a glow in Malleus’s eyes. Not from his magic, but from something warmer, eternally gentler.

Then, Malleus lowered his head just slightly, lips brushing yours in a kiss that was achingly slow and reverent, as though he feared you might vanish if he wasn’t careful. His hand slid from your shoulder to the curve of your jaw, holding you close like you were treasure. His fingers trembled, barely perceptible, but Sebek saw it. Felt it like a blow.

When Malleus pulled away, he lingered near your face, forehead resting against yours as he whispered something so low, Sebek almost didn’t hear it.

"You have a light that brightens even the darkest places. To be near you is to feel the threads of fate weaving a beautiful tale. One I hope will never end," he murmured. "With you, I am whole. Where you go, I follow. Always."

"You don’t have to follow. Because I plan to stay by your side. Always," you answered, with that beautiful smile and blushing cheeks, that would have made even the most cynical person melt. 

Sebek’s insides twisted painfully. That smile. He’d seen it before. It brought warmth to even the coldest Diasomnia mornings. He'd caught himself thinking, foolishly, naively, that perhaps, someday, you would smile like that… for him.

His fists clenched uselessly against his sides, trembling with the effort of holding himself together.

The ruins felt suddenly suffocating, as if centuries of stone and moss had closed in on him. Sebek’s pride, his knightly devotion, all the certainty that had sustained him, splintered beneath the weight of a feeling he could barely name: heartbreak.

Sebek finally found it in himself to tear his gaze away. He turned to leave but then accidentally kicked a stone away, causing a noise that alerted both Malleus and you to his presence. 

 Sebek’s heart stopped for a moment as both of you turned toward the sounds of the disturbance. The tender, intimate moment shattered like fragile glass. He felt like all of this wasn’t real until Malleus's voice cut through the darkness, reminding Sebek that everything was in fact real. 

"Sebek," Malleus said. His voice was firm but not unkind. "What are you doing here?"

Sebek bowed his head slightly, swallowing hard. "My apologies, my Liege. I... I thought you might be in danger. Someone said they saw you here."

Before Sebek could make things worse, Silver came rushing into ruin. "Sebek, wait. Malleus is-" Silver stopped mid-sentence when he saw that he was too late. "I told you we aren’t needed tonight."

Silver might have said something like that when Sebek stormed off. Did that mean Silver knew? Did everyone know? Was it only lost on him how close his Liege and you were? 

Sebek felt a wave of shame crashing down on him, paired with the hurt and jealousy he felt; his heart might actually rip in two. He could only hear faintly when Silver apologized on his behalf for the disturbance, to which Malleus simply said that it was fine. Sebek's eyes fell onto you. You were standing there still close to Malleus, but no longer touching him. Your eyes were wide and filled with embarrassment. 

Silver approached him. "Sebek, let’s-"

Sebek didn’t wait for Silver to finish his sentence. He just ran off into the woods. The forest was thick with shadows, and Sebek stumbled through it, not caring where he was going. The sting in his eyes blurred his vision, and he hardly noticed the way the brambles tugged at his uniform or the wetness that seeped into his sleeves as he pushed past ferns and branches. 

He couldn’t even wish for a chance to have realized his feelings sooner and confess to you before Malleus, because that would mean he would steal away his Liege's chance of happiness. Malleus was his Liege, his prince, and Sebek’s duty was to protect him, not to compete with him for affections he could not fight for.

And, of course, given the chance, who wouldn’t choose Malleus Draconia as their partner? Sebek knew how great Malleus was.

Yet now, here he was, faced with a painful truth: the very person he had come to care for had already given their heart to Malleus. A heart that Sebek never could steal.

Even if Sebek dared to hope, dared to imagine himself standing alongside you, he knew in his bones that it would be a betrayal of Malleus. The very person he had sworn unwavering loyalty to and to protect.

What right did he have, really? To take from Malleus even a sliver of happiness, when it was clear the prince’s light shone brightest with you? Sebek clenched his fists, the weight of loyalty and love pressing in on him from all sides. How could he let himself want something that Malleus had already claimed?