The Chalk Prince (Kaebedo)

Chapter VIII: Nightmare

The boy woke up screaming.

He pushed Kaeya off of him, kicked the covers off of himself frantically and tried to get off the bed to get into a corner.

The boy fell, landing on his arms that collapsed on impact, brushing his elbows and face. The pain didn't hurt him though, or slow him down from his frantic panic.

He could see images of hot fire and smell burning flesh. Images of his creator — his mother — flashed through his mind. She had abandoned him, but he still loved her.

Tears blurred his vision as he finally made it to one corner in the bedroom. He pressed his back to it and wrapped his arms around himself, a position that reminded himself of the cell he was thrown in when he was younger and kept there until just recently. The cell they always put him in whenever his presence wasn't needed, or if he was to get beaten for not doing something correctly (even when he did exactly as they asked).

Those thoughts made him cry harder. He missed his mother so much. He missed her stare, even if most times the look she gave him was cold.

He wanted to crawl back in bed with her once more and absorb her warmth and cuddle with her like a good son would. That is, until she turned away or kicked him out. He wouldn't need to sleep, but it felt so good to have arms wrapped around him. Securing him, grounding him, making him feel safe. Steering his mind away from what he was created to do.

He was suddenly pulled into an embrace and sat on someone's lap. It was warm and these arms were strong and capable. Much different from his mothers. He was instantly calm.

The boy looked up at Kaeya before having his head tucked back. He cried and cried, and the captain never let go. He held the small boy and rocked him gently, whispering sweet nothings into his ear.

To Kaeya, the boy looked so scared and broken, holding onto him so tightly, almost squeezing him.

The captain didn't really know what to do. He had babysat Klee a multitude of times for the weeks or months Alice had been away traveling. When the child ever felt lonely, Kaeya would do exactly as he was now. Holding her and telling her everything would be alright. That her mother would come home soon. Or that they could bake a cake in the morning.

But this was different somehow. Kaeya knew what this boy was capable of (not that Klee couldn't do the same thing), and the fact that this boy was older than Klee by what seemed many years.

Maybe Kaeya could read a book to distract him. Yeah! The one that Lisa had given him. He stood up with the boy still in his arms, now quiet aside from the odd sniffle.

He walked over to the dresser and picked up the book with one arm. "Want me to read you a story?" Kaeya asked and felt a nod against his chest.

"Then, how about the one Lisa gave to us, hm" the captain asked softly. He sat down on the bed and the boy curled into him immediately, tucking his head into Kaeya's chest.

(This man making me jealous and I'm the one writing the story 🥲)

The bluenette wrapped an arm around the smaller boy and opened the book.

"The Chalk Prince.

Once upon a time, there was a kingdom named Celestia, ruled by a kind queen. She was loving and cared for her people, often going out into the village to socialize and gather with them.

She had one secret though. She was very, very lonely. Her husband had died long ago and the queen had sworn to never marry again.

She did not have any children either. But one day, as she was walking through the village, she stumbled upon a powerful wizard..."

Kaeya heard the boy giggle with happiness at the mention of a wizard. The captain smiled and kissed his head before reading again.

"The wizard told her he had a book. A magic book. That could give her the powers to create and destroy. The wizard told the queen that she was the only person able to guard this book because she had a good heart.

The queen took the magic book with her back to her castle and set it down on her desk.

As she woke up in the morning, she decided to look through the book out of pure curiosity. What she found out was that she could create life! Oh, she thought of all the possibilities. She could create a kitten to accompany her through her travels in the village, or she could create a tree that was always fruitful.

Or... She could create a child. Her very own, to cure her loneliness. She could teach him how to read, how to write, how to rule over her kingdom with a kind heart, like hers.

What she also found out is that she had the power to destroy things, like the wizard had told her. She could get rid of the evil within her kingdom's walls and make a thriving one with peace and love.

The queen closed the book and tried to forget the information in fear that she would do something bad.

But the loneliness got to her eventually, and she decided to create a child.

She hid away in her room and got out the book..."

The boy gasped slightly and looked up at the story. He hugged Kaeya closer and settled again.

"The queen flipped through the pages and found a creation spell.

At first, she was nervous, but she pushed through and began collecting the necessary things to begin creating.

Once she was ready, she drew a circle on the floor with chalk, placing it beside her once she was finished.

She gathered the crystals and herbs and spices she would need. She followed a picture in the book on where to place them.

Then, with the chalk, she wrote words down and then crushed it, sprinkling the dust around the circle, holding the rest in her hands.

Reciting the words in the book, the queen closed her eyes and envisioned a boy.

He would have long, blond hair like hers, blue eyes, and was smart and calm. He was handsome and generous, and wouldn't become spoiled.

The queen allowed herself to vision what kind of son she wanted while repeating the words.

And suddenly, there was a bright light. It shocked the queen and she stumbled back. The light shaped itself into the shape of a small figure. It slowly began to fade, leaving a boy in its place.

He was beautiful! The queen got up and hugged him tightly, saying "oh, my beautiful boy. My loneliness will be no more!"

Kaeya sighed. The chapter was finished so he decided to mark the page and close the book.

The boy in his arms was sleeping soundly, chest rising up and down slowly as he breathed. He must have enjoyed the story.

The captain smiled and placed the book on the side table before turning over and pulling the boy to his chest.

A peaceful silence washed over the two as Kaeya fell asleep.

-

Ahhh another chapter finally done! Sorry for not updating in a while idk why but this chapter said NOPE and writers block came. Anyways, I have no idea how the actual "chalk prince" thing/story goes, so I'm making it up.

Any comments, questions, and concerns can be put here>>>>>

Have a good day/night/afternoon! I love you all ❤️