𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹, wmmap

𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜: chapter 5

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 5

"What is it like?" Achlys says and looks up from were he is lied down on the grass, head in Felix's lap. It is such a warm day and his world feels at peace, quiet for the first time in a while, and he is the one who gets to decide whether he wants to make it loud or not. It's refreshing considering that these days it barely happens.

Felix smiles mischievously, "What is what like, my empress?"

Achlys scoffs, "Oh, would you stop that?"

Felix rests his hand in Achlys' hair —like the sun— and starts to softly stroke it, "Sorry, sorry... But seriously, what is what like?"

Achlys closes his eyes and relaxes, the gentle strokes of Felix's hand feeling heavenly, "Oh, you know, what is it like fighting in a war, on a battlefield?"

Felix's hand stops for a moment, but proceeds to start caressing right away, "It has been too long, Achlys. Too long. And it better stay that way. I pray to the Sun of the Obelian Empire that we will see times of peace for many years to come. A war is far too cruel and nobody ever wins. I have seen too many things and have forgotten none."

There should be tension in the air where, instead, is a comfortable silence. Felix decides to interrupt the contentment, "Why ask? What is on the mind of an empress once prince of one of the strongest kingdoms there are?"

Achlys chews on his bottom lip, "I do not know exactly... I guess I am asking because I remember my father telling me something. That is all."

The sky looks so beautiful and so vast, it is sort of overwhelming. It is too blue, too infinite. What is a human supposed to do against such eternity? Does it even matter that Achlys is an empress now? That he lives a life of luxury and grand details? Oh, but how can it even matter when, in the end, he would be in the same place as everybody else? Achlys will not be spared the meeting with death and its cold eyes that put souls to sleep forevermore.

The sun feels so bright and so warm against his skin. There is no comfort other than Felix who is even warmer, pleasantly so, and, in a moment of clearance, Achlys will say even refreshing. He knows deep down that whatever peace has stumbled upon into his life at this moment does not match the turmoil in his heart, a turmoil that has been around for a while and will be around a little longer. Achlys knows it will be over soon, has planned it, and he can only hope that, as he stares at Felix's softened expression, the knight won't miss him too much. The last thing he wants is to hurt him, his only companion in the hassle and bustle of his life. There is Claude too, but... where is he now, huh? Probably hurting in silence, refusing to let his wife in on his suffering.

Achlys' eyes are heavy with sleep. Even after resting, he feels tired. But it doesn't matter, does it? He needs to get up. His body is restless and the room is too hot and he needs to see the sky from his dream because he will die if he doesn't, he surely will.

Rubbing the fatigue from his eyes, he looks to his side to notice that Felix is sleeping soundly, a light snore coming out at times. He looks peaceful and for some reason that brings a smile to Achlys' face. What is the time anyway? The clock from his wall says it's past midnight. The blonde turns to stare at the soft pillows on his bed, then at Felix, and decides that —you know what?—he can sleep some other time.

Maybe the sky that overlooks the garden will bring some clarity to his foggy memories.

Even though he has been spending the past days in the garden, he has to be there now. Maybe it will show him something that will bring him closer to who he was before. The dream he just had spoke to that.