𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹, wmmap

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜: chapter 4

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 4

He hasn't left the bed all day. He doesn't feel particularly safe in this room that should feel like his. It was strange trying to see it as anything more than a cold chamber filled with the sadness of the person he once was.

Since Achlys almost collapsed two days ago, he has been staying in this cold room. Why is the room so cold?

He can't get up because he is scared of the hurting and the pain and the confusion. Every time he tried to get up he felt incredibly sick and the room was spinning with him and he saw black spots and he wanted to fall into a void.

At least the blanket brings some warmth.

KNOCK

KNOCK

KNOCK

The knocking comes as a complete surprise and Achlys almost jumps.

"Your Imperial—," the voice coming from beyond the doors stops for a second and Achlys can already tell it is Felix, "I'm sorry. Achlys?"

There is silence and the sapphire eyes open and stare at the ceiling.

"May I come in? I am concerned and I would like to see you, not as an imperial knight, but as your friend."

Achlys does not, in any way, want Felix to come in, but he also doesn't want to be alone. Alone with himself, that is. When you have nothing but the present situation to think of, it can get quite overwhelming.

"Ah...Is this a dream? Maybe it is. And maybe I will wake up." Achlys whispers to himself, then raises his volume so that anybody beyond the doors of it doesn't feel like his room can hear him, "Come in then."

"I have to call for the Imperial Palace's best doctor. This is serious, Achlys!"

Felix is distraught at the sight of his empress and friend so sick looking. Achlys is definitely not alright and that is clear as day though days haven't been so clear.

"No, please, no doctors..." Achlys whispers and Felix almost misses it. It angers the redhead how he waited two days to see those sapphire eyes again. He is furious at himself because that voice sounds so weak.

And so the knight tries again, "But, you—"

"Please, Felix, no doctors... I don't like doctors..."

Felix's eyes widen and his heart skips a bit, "...What?"

"I simply do not want to be near a doctor. I cannot explain why."

Is that—Is that the old Achlys speaking? It must be. Felix doesn't know why the old Achlys hated doctors, they never talked about it. The only one in Obelia that probably knows is Claude.

Some things never go away, right?

"Alright then. I hope you won't mind me staying here with you because I am not leaving." Felix smiles at Achlys and his heart aches when the sapphire eyes struggle to look up at him, his lips forcing a smile.

Felix does not know what to say other than what he has already told his used to be friend.

Felix walks over to the bed and sits himself down on the soft mattress. It almost swallows him, then brings him back up.

The redhead looks at Achlys like he would at a painting. The sapphire eyes are hidden behind closed lids. After seconds of a bit too awkward silence, Achlys turns on his left side, his back to Felix.

The knight thinks this might be a form of rejection.

It must be. He is not Achlys anymore...

...but he could be.

The quietness of the room might have been, once upon a time, calming and peaceful, but now it is so much more stressful. Should Felix leave? Maybe he should.

Or maybe he should talk?

Silence. Silence. Silence. Someone break the silence. It is too much.

His eyes aren't on Achlys anymore, but on the walls of the room and the mirror in front of the bed and that big clock that was a gift from the house of Alpheus.

"I'm cold again." Achlys says a bit too loudly to be talking to himself and Felix's attention is immediately back to the one facing away from him.

It takes a few moments before Felix realizes what Achlys wants, what he means to say.

He wants....He wants me to....

The mattress shifts under the crimson knight as he lies down on the bed, next to Achlys. And with a bit of reluctance...

he wraps his arm around the cold warm body of his once friend.