130 | solace; our blood waters these lands

The madness snaked into the soldiers' minds like little tendrils of something sinister and slithering. They were a little group of five, trapped in the cages of stretching dark branches.

Before them, a man stood calmly with a hand in his pocket, a smile twisting and twisting on his face until it consumed the entire surface—his eyes, nose, lips, all twisting.

His hair hung loosely in pale pink strands, like a blood stain washed and faded, and a pair of silver earrings hung from his lobes.

A pulse of green throbbed in his eerie eyes, a second heartbeat of chaos buried within the gem-like pupils.

One soldier collapsed to his knee in fear, ignoring the grate of dead leaves that embedded into his skin. His eyes darted wildly, seeing shadowed figures, long and slender, looming among the trees.

Were those trees, or creatures slinking in the dark?

He could not tell the difference anymore.

Another clutched his head in immense pain, bugs and larvae squirming in dense piles at his feet and slowly wriggling up.

Eventually, one after another fell.

Only when they all were unconscious did the pink-haired man stagger, clutching his chest tightly and bunching the fabrics of his shirt.

He coughed, a wretched sound that seemed to tear at his organs, blood seeping from his lips.

The peering shadows did not leave him.

Kaden chuckled bitterly as he glanced at the shadowed creatures lurking up high in the trees, down low in the weathered bushes, all peeking at him. The eyes carved in the grooves of the bark, in the cracks that ran along the ground until they bled into every corner of his vision.

His body felt cold and his heart hammered against his chest cavity.

He hadn't expected to run into five at once—that was his bad luck. He'd threatened them at first, slicing through cuts of flesh, nimbly avoiding their attacks.

But they did not falter.

He hated to admit it, but Reed was good at finding loyal pets to fight by his side.

And yet, Kaden felt no urge to kill—not these soldiers with burning eyes, loyal to the Crown, fighting for no other reason besides duty and need.

He saw their changing gazes as determination twisted into fear and recognition, a knowing that they would die in that moment.

For some reason, he wanted to betray that assumption.

He wanted to say, in some manner, that the Chauvet's mad dog was not only capable of killing. That it was all a lie—it wasn't him, although it was.

As soon as the thought slipped into his mind, the madness seized it. And there it spilled, dripping from his fingertips into the environment.

Kaden was losing control of his ability.

He gritted his teeth and heaved, steadying his breath as he looked at the skies. His wrist throbbed, still red with bite marks and Kaden's fingers curled, pressing it to his forehead. He felt the distant pulse of pain, nearly nothing when brought beside everything else.

Was Noah watching, forced to do nothing but watch as he held these lands together?

As he thought that, a protruding root stretched towards him, snaking up his body.

He looked down with surprise but did not move.

Then, it tapped thrice on the back of his hand—the last tap more fierce, as if scolding and displeased.

It continued to climb higher, sprouting little white flowers along its root, and gently rested by his cheek. Kaden laughed and leaned into the root, closing his eyes.

It was obscure, but Kaden felt comfort in the little root that entangled with his body.

"I'm sorry, Noah." He sighed.

He wasn't sure if he could keep his promise.

The root tightened against his arm—he wasn't sure if it was fear or reassurance.

Nevertheless, Kaden smiled distantly and gently tugged the root away. It fell to the ground at his feet, curled and pitiful as he abandoned it.

Kaden laughed again, shaking his head. "How can you look pitiful even as a part of a tree?"

The root lifted and drooped in response.

Kaden smiled again, patting the root twice in a low crouch before he stood and continued down the path. Noah knew where he wanted to go—the maze continued to twist and part.

Kaden continued walking ahead, knowing where it would lead. Even if Noah was reluctant, only he could meet that man.

The branches unraveled, leading to a clearing that bloomed with small white flowers on a plane of grass. There, at the edge of the territory, before the unyielding void, stood Reed.

Tall and slender, he gazed quietly into the darkness where even the aurora's light couldn't reach.

How many years had Kaden chased after that back?

Kaden heard a collision nearing, the clatter of swords and screams as his allies fought. It was impossible for nobody to die, Kaden knew.

Selfishly, he only hoped that his companions lived. He did not want to kill and yet wouldn't blink if others died if it meant his companions living.

At some point, something in him had already cruelly twisted. No longer could he turn back.

In his youth, running along the slums, he had helped those less fortunate than the already miserable him. Because he could, because it made him feel needed.

There was a little girl who had clung to him, although she'd been withdrawn. He'd fed her, ushered her into the world, and then disappeared.

He wondered how she was.

He wondered if all those little things he'd done ever left an imprint on another, or were they other insignificant events that did nothing but satisfy his young heart?

"As expected, am I right to assume that Noah Bellamy is controlling these territories? I've heard little of it—their hierarchies, territories. But I don't believe you to be foolish enough to welcome me without a plan."

There it was, that arrogant, elusive voice that echoed in his ears.

Kaden sneered, clutching his daggers tightly. They were a gift, and he would return them to their owners. "You have so much to say when usually, you can't spare me a second of your time."

"It's a bold assumption to believe that I ever did have time."

"You didn't? Not mere seconds for the kid that adored you?"

Reed turned around, his icy gaze frightening cold. The shadows warped around him, vines curling against the ground to create a border against the edge. "No. Not even mere seconds. Not for the likes of you."

Kaden bent his head and laughed breathlessly. "Of course not. Who would?"

By the Crown Prince's side, his hands curled tightly into his palm. Reed took in a breath of the cold air, feeling it swirl in his chest as he remained impassive.

"Of course," he echoed. "What fool would give so much up for a mere stray on the streets?"

He took a step away from the edge, the hilt of his deadly sharp sword hanging at his waist. In the illusion, he had sliced off Kaden's neck cleanly.

Although it was a mere mirage, Kaden thought he felt a ghost of pain throb at his throat.

Although it was a mere mirage, Reed had held the real blade in his palms and watched Kaden's head roll.

Pale pink hair, listless and dull eyes, and streaks of blood against wood.

A raging crowd that cheered, rather than mourned.

Reed lifted his chin, calm and steady like a still lake. "I'll assume as well that you have cleared the fog in your mind. Don't tell me you blame me for that too?"

"No, I'm aware of my own weakness."

Reed raised his eyebrows. "All of them now, I hope?"

Kaden's eye twitched, frowning deeply. "Don't talk as if you're familiar with them."

"How could I not be? When you're the little fool who wears his heart on the sleeve. You never change, Kaden."

Kaden stiffened, hearing his name roll unfamiliarly on that man's vicious tongue. It was strange, foreign and he swallowed uncomfortably, resisting the urge to take a step back.

There was no seething disdain or biting cruelty in his spoken name.

Five letters that Reed always refrained from using. One syllable and everything felt foreign.

Suddenly, the man standing by the edge of the void seemed entirely unfamiliar. Kaden tightened his hand on the daggers again, a dull pain throbbing in his head.

In this moment, Reed could simply make a single demand, and the battle would end.

The Crown Prince regarded him and laughed. It was a short, breathless sound. A strange sound. "You're wondering why I don't simply order you to jump off this cliff? Perhaps I'm waiting for you to entertain me with your pointless yapping."

"That's not it," Kaden said and his voice wavered.

"Really? Do you really believe so? Do you mean to say you believe I have a deeper, emotional reason? Then you are the same fool I picked up—"

"Shut up!"

Kaden lunged, his body reacting before his mind could, hearing the familiar mocking drawl easily spill from Reed's lips. The earlier peace seemed to be an illusion.

Reed narrowed his eyes and drew his blade in a swift movement, the two metals clanging together and echoing in the space around them.

He side-stepped Kaden's next movements, predicting the line of attack and nimbly tilting his head to narrowly avoid a strike.

The one who taught Kaden was Reed.

The one who raised Kaden was Reed.

Kaden felt a burst of hopelessness bleeding in his chest, the greens in his eyes swirling wildly. Could he win here? Against the very person who made him? Against the hands that carved his existence to shape who he was today?

"That silly kid takes after you it seems," mused Reed as he calmly sliced the sword up, his shoulders relaxed. "Fierce, but full of openings. Eager to end things quickly. Perhaps that worked for all those targets of yours but against me? What do you suppose, Kaden?"

"Stop saying my name," gritted Kaden. "It's foul against your tongue."

Reed faltered and Kaden swiped his dagger forth with his left arm, drawing a line against his armour. It pierced through, cutting like butter.

Reed looked down quietly, seeing blood begin to steep out. "So you still use those daggers."

"I wouldn't want your goodwill to go to waste," sneered Kaden. The daggers were a gift, and he admitted they were of the best quality.

They could cut through most things with ease, even after all these years. Most likely, they were crafted and modified by some unknown source.

Kaden didn't understand why Reed would've given such a precious gift to a stray he despised.

But that too was wrong, wasn't it?

Kaden huffed, sweat dripping down his forehead. He lunged again, and this time, Reed's movements were a little slower, his sharp gaze darting left and right.

They collided in a flurry of exchanges, faster than what a human could perceive.

Kaden's movements only continued to grow faster and faster. The one who had always been training was him; the one who killed and killed was also him.

It was impossible for him to remain stagnant.

On occasions, Kaden's eyes would flash and the surroundings would warp. A crawling shadow with blinking, bulging white eyes would flicker in Reed's vision and he would falter. Dead creatures lay at his feet, and then they were gone.

What was real and what was false?

Could he prove the truth of anything, save for himself?

Slowly, the amount of wounds on both of them continued to increase. But it was clear that Kaden was gaining the advantage.

Kaden struck down again, drawing a deep slice into Reed's shoulders and his chest seized, a ball blocking his throat.

Because he couldn't understand.

He couldn't understand that even to this point, bleeding and injured, why Reed wasn't using his curse.

A curse of obedience.

Memories flashed in Kaden's head. Realizations often came at the worst of moments, a clarity only understood under grave circumstances.

How often did Reed use the curse against him, and how often did Kaden merely adhere to the curse out of fear? Fear of being locked up, fear of being disliked?

Was it the curse that controlled him—or was it himself? His weakness and his misery?

Right now... did he truly believe that Reed wanted to kill him?

Reed's sword plunged into Kaden's arm, and one dagger fell to the ground. It lay there, lonesome under the rippling aurora above.

A flare of emotions finally glowed in Reed's cold, unfeeling gaze. It was anger, Kaden knew and recognized. He was once all too aware of the nuances of Reed's mood, desperate to be loved.

At some point, he'd stopped looking at Reed. Stopped looking for the small expressions, hints of emotions.

He staggered, clutching his bleeding arm. The blood seeped through his fingers, spilling onto the ground. It watered the tufts of grass along the cliffside.

A wry smile ghosted on his chapped lips, and Reed's expression twisted once more. Horror, anger, irritation. Kaden's mind swayed, bleeding away, and he wondered if things would've been different.

If he had looked at Reed's face properly in these past years—would something have been different?

The sound of battle and the weight of death thickened in the air, diffusing throughout the forest maze. But all Kaden knew was Reed and him, standing by the edge.

Behind him, the trees rustled with movement, and a branch cracked on the ground.

"What are you trying to do, Reed?"

The question settled between them like a barrier neither was willing to cross.

Reed narrowed his eyes, swiping his sword slicked with blood. His gaze lingered on it for a moment.

"And why would I share the details of my plans with a mere mutt?"

"You're not going to kill me." It was foreign, the certainty on Kaden's tongue. "But others are dying here. What are aiming for, to sacrifice so much?"

"Those common blood? Ha. They're hardly a sacrifice—is it not them who idolized and followed me? What should they matter to me."

"Your soldiers."

"Pawns is the correct term. Just like you." Reed's gaze softened, mocking. "Dear little dogs, loyal to no end. Although your loyalty was my prisoner—the sinner Kaden Chauvet made by my hand."

The cold blue gaze swept along the forest behind Kaden, settling there for a breath. His pupils trembled, dilating as they focused.

A glint of metal reflected the aurora from deep within the coiling branches, a steady and wavering gaze. His gaze dropped to a thick parcel, opened. It was a parcel that had been in their camp, within his private tent.

Laughter erupted from his chest, bellowing into the air in a manner unlike him. But what was him? Reed had never known.

His very act of arrogance had already ruined his performance of nobility.

Reed lifted the sword and pointed it flat towards Kaden.

He sneered. "You foolish dog. You'll die here today a villain."

His feet pushed against the ground at an impossible speed, appearing before Kaden. The other jerked his daggers up, distantly hearing something drop to the ground behind him. Then came the scattering of footsteps, and the vibrant clang of metal.

A knight, dressed in metal with a youthful, solemn face exposed, gritted his teeth as he held the sword tightly.

Reed's smile grew more viscous. "Oh? Have to decided to betray me, Thames?"

Thames, the young soldier, trembled. "Your Highness. It can't be–everything–you are the holy light of the Kingdom. You are the hope of the citizens."

His eyes contracted, and he realized he was staring at a demon.

The beautiful, shadowed blue gaze and ethereal golden hair–a devastating and cruel creature of worship. Reed spun smoothly, disarming the soldier and slicing his blade cleanly across the flesh, revealing white bone underneath.

Thames screamed a roaring echo that transmuted throughout the space.

Reed watched him with cold disinterest, smiling. "I've promised no such things."

He lifted his blade again and a flash of pink appeared in his vision, flying blades that swept against the sword and sliced against his thigh.

Kaden pivoted on the ground, glaring at Thames. "Run! What're you standing around for? Run, or bleed out and die!"

The soldier clenched his jaw, sweat dripping down his face as he gave a curt nod, dashing into the forest. His speed wasn't slow; Reed would not chase after him. He continued to collide with Reed, their cuts deepening and the soil rich with blood.

A clamour came from deep within the trees, small whispers that built to grow louder and louder, trembling with betrayal.

Kaden blocked another swipe–and heard the faint sounds of a recording being played. They were Reed's voice from various situations. It was his evidence. Bolivia's evidence. Their efforts that had never been enough.

The tide of battle was changing at a rapid speed.

Kaden swung his head around, gazing at Reed's calm disposition, despite his wounds. He was standing, once more, at the edge of the cliff with the growing wind ripping around him.

"Can you climb your way back again, Reed?" wondered Kaden softly.

Reed tilted his head and laughed. "You've outdone yourself. You and your allies both. All these soldiers here are my most loyal—it would take decades to rebuild my reputation."

Kaden took a step forward, clutching one dagger and his bleeding arm. "You—"

"But what I care for is not their alliance. All these years, they have never been my priority. This is no betrayal."

Reed spread out his arms, the blood dripping down.

Kaden's eyes widened, and before he knew it, he was running. Running after the falling man, tipping over the edge of nothing.

For a second, they were merely two children who had found solace in each other.

They were spiraling, falling as he clung onto Reed's body. The Crown Prince let out a curse, wrestling to push him away with a sudden burst of energy, but Kaden refused to let go.

"You foolish, ignorant mutt!" snapped Reed with a roar as their clothes billowed around them. "Kaden Chauvet! You can not die with me!"

A black shadow rushed through the air in a blink of an eye, snatching the two falling bodies and soaring back to the top.

They collided back onto the ground, three bodies rolling and scattering.

The ground underneath them trembled with instability.

Kaden lifted his head with a groan, seeing the curled and shaking dragon whose body had collided with a cluster of trees. He'd transformed into his dragon state, but his body trembled uncontrollably.

Noah shouldn't have had the strength to rush down, using all of his energy to stabilize the territory.

Then, his eyes darted sideways towards Reed, who had fallen at the edge of the cliff once more. His icy blue eyes slowly blinked, his hand wrapping around his nearby sword.

Kaden's body felt splintered into pieces, pain racing up every particle of his skin. And yet his pupils constricted, watching as Reed stumbled to stand up, hovering near Noah with his sword in hand.

His body jerked up, lunging over.

His injured arm clutched onto a dagger and he slammed into Reed's body, crashing onto the ground.

In seconds, he slammed the dagger down as pain blurred his vision—straight into Reed's chest. The Crown Prince stiffened, and then his entire body went soft.

And all Kaden saw was madness.

———xxx———

Lukiyo says,

Not to ruin the mood, but I'm very sorry... I came back at midnight last night and got distracted aggressively brushing my teeth for a dentist appointment, as one does, and then passed out with sparkling teeth...

There are three chapters left.

(Will be replying to things tomorrow most likely, I think I tend to miss comments sometimes when I'm reading through so if you have any pressing questions or anything at all, shoot me a message! I will be more than happy to receive them)

After, I'll take a week off and then post the side stories (they will be three, I believe). There are no plans to write anything else upcoming, although I believe I may return at the end of this year depending (it's all so tentative, I can't make any promises) but I am irrevocably and eternally grateful to you.