Didn't Think This Would Ever Happen...

Chapter 15: Pleasant Dreams

Lilia had been attending Night Raven College for... many years. And when Malleus got an invitation letter, of course he wanted Silver to come along, too (when he was old enough, of course).
Naturally, they were all placed in the same dorm. Where else would this group of weirdos belong?!
They had literally the most powerful fae, who was none other than the heir to the throne, his narcoleptic body guard, and Lilia. He cannot be described in a way that meets the grammatical standards of a sentence. Therefore, "weirdo" shall suffice.
Lilia was all well and glad with his situation. He got to see Silver and Malleus grow up even more now. And he got to distract himself with studying whatever he wanted.
He was honestly happy. Though he and Silver had to pretend they weren't father and son, he still doted on his child whenever he could. Silver was already 17... Lilia frowned at the thought. How dare he grow up so quickly!
Lilia wasn't ready to let him go yet. He didn't think he ever would be... but that's just the way life is. An endless give and take.
Still, Lilia had become a much less gloomy person as he raised Silver, and Malleus certainly appreciated it.
Silver and his silly little human brain didn't like having to call his father by his first name, but did his best anyways. He would always catch himself a little bit too late and he was sure a few people had to have figured it out by now. Lilia assured him that it didn't matter, he'd just gaslight them later if he needed to/j.
Silver's natural sleepiness tended to get him into trouble. He was always falling asleep in the strangest places. Lilia didn't mind hunting him down every once in a while but he didn't think human's needed to sleep that much? This couldn't be normal, right? Not when all the other students seemed to be free of this problem.
Lilia wondered if he had kept Silver awake too much as a child or something. Either way, there wasn't much he could do about it now other than make sure Silver didn't faint or anything.
One afternoon there was quite the excitement at the academy. The Spelldrive tournament was just around the corner and there was plenty of commotion.
Silver happened to find a quiet spot in the courtyard and promptly took an accidental nap.
Lilia shook his head with a smile as he placed his hands on his hips. "What am I going to do with you?"
He chuckled as he sat down beside his son. He frowned, "why do you have to be so much bigger than me... I cant hold you anymore..." He raked his fingers through Silver's hair.
Malleus smiled, "he's still young by human standards. He might get even bigger."
"Oh stop that!" Lilia stuck his tongue out.
Malleus sighed through his nose, "shall we wake him up and go see what the competition looks like?"
Lilia repeatedly smacked Silver's cheeks until his eyes open.
Silver wasn't the least bit surprised to find a malicious, yet somehow innocent smile right in his face when he woke up. "Oh. Had I fallen asleep?..."
"When aren't you napping?" Lilia laughed as he stood up.
Silver rubbed his eyes as he sat up, "what time is it?"
"Time to go see who Royal Sword Academy sent to beat us this time," Lilia put his hands behind his head as he started walking.
Silver quickly stood and the three went to go see just who was going to kill them at Spelldrive this year.
"With Malleus and I, we should be winning! Honestly, what do they have that we don't?!" Lilia sighed.
Malleus hummed as he thought, "I don't know... you and I are incredibly athletic, but they have their fair share of athletes, too... I really don't know what it is that makes them win every year..."
Silver was still trying to wake up all the way, "is there really anything different between the teams?"
"Well, I suppose their aesthetic? But I think ours is better, anyways!" Lilia huffed.
Malleus tapped his hand against his lips, "Hm... I've noticed that they always have an oddly placed motivational speech about friendship... but how would that help them win?"
"Yeah! We have great teamwork!" Lilia waved his hand as if dismissing the conversation. "Anyways, let's go greet our murderers."
Malleus chuckled as they entered the main hall.
The room was filled with so many students and teachers it seemed about to burst.
Lilia felt outnumbered by all the young people. Back in his day, Spelldrive was to the death. People had grown soft/j.
As always, the second Malleus entered the room, a crowd came and accosted him. Lilia and Silver broke off from him. Well, Lilia dragged Silver away. His son was not happy to leave his post.
"Come on, Malleus can take care of himself for five minutes." Lilia smiled.
Silver, of course, had to listen to him. Just as they were about to approach the larger crowd, it started moving. And in an orderly fashion.
A professor or counselor from RSA had started leading the students out. Lilia pulled silver along so they could get a good look at everyone's faces. He did this by running out the door in front of everyone and waiting as they walked by.
Silver felt like throwing up from how quickly Lilia had dashed out with him. Lilia was surprised by how many students were here just for Spelldrive... why come to watch if the result is obvious?...
Eventually Malleus materialized beside his colleagues. He sighed heavily as he dusted himself off.
Silver profusely apologized to Malleus for leaving him, but Lilia wasn't listening to them at all. He didn't understand why so many of RSA's students were here. There were way too many first years, and they weren't even allowed to play! Where they really here just to watch?...
Just as the line of people was slowing down, Lilia's ears caught something. A familiar laugh.
He searched through the crowd for the owner of that voice. He didn't think he knew anyone from Royal Sword Academy, so who was it?
Then, his eyes widened. Because of his height, all Lilia saw first was a black ribbon, messily tied in someone's bright blonde hair, acting as a makeshift headband. Next, bright blue eyes, rose red lips, and glowing skin.
The blue of his uniform was the same color as his eyes and Lilia couldn't tear his own eyes away.
Lilia grabbed onto Malleus' arm with a murderous grip, "that's..."
They seemed to shimmer as he walked with whoever the heck was next to him. They didn't matter. Lilia couldn't understand. This couldn't be...
Sure reincarnation was feasible, but this... this was impossible...
Malleus tried to figure out what Lilia was trying to say, while also trying to get Lilia's claws off of him. "What is it?" He asked calmly.
Silver looked through the crowd, "do you know someone from RSA?"
Lilia was staring intently, as if he would instantly die if he so much as blinked or looked away. Like they would disappear if Lilia wasn't looking at them.
Lilia felt his stomach churn. He felt sick. What kind of trick was this?!
Malleus followed Lilia's line of sight, still rather confused. "Hm? They don't look familiar to me. Is this a recent acquaintance of yours?"
"No." Lilia managed to speak, though his throat was dry and his words were hardly audible. "An old one... very old. You know them- er, of them..."
Malleus stared for a moment, racking his brain. Then it hit him. "Oh. Wait, what? How would they still be alive?..."
"I don't know..."
"Are you sure? I mean, it was so long ago. Maybe you're remembering wrong?"
"No. That's exactly... what he looked like..."
"He really does look like the princess from the stories," Malleus mused.
Silver was very confused, but could tell that Lilia was going through something. He gently placed his hand on his father's shoulder, "is something wrong?..."
"Yes..? No? I- I don't know," his voice was shaking. "This doesn't make any sense..."
Silver had never seen Lilia looked distressed in his entire life. Was the world ending, because it felt like it was?!
Then, Lilia stopped breathing entirely.
Their eyes met. Lilia's striking red against this lookalike's blinding blue.
Lilia felt emotions bubbling inside him like he was a volcano or something. He held onto Malleus tighter, "I think I'm gonna throw up-"
Silver was on the verge of hyperventilating. Malleus seemed about ready to freak out as well, "Lilia, get ahold of yourself. We cannot allow any accidents."
"I know," he said through his clenched teeth. "I-"
The lookalike noticed the apparent chaos ensuing, and their smile faded as they stopped walking. The person beside them gave them a weird look. The lookalike grew incredibly worried and moved to approach. Only, someone beside them took their arm and started hauling them along.
The lookalike motioned over toward the group, but was drowned in the crowd.
Lilia finally loosed his breath, pressing his hands firmly over his chest. "I..." he croaked, "Something's wrong with me... I think I'm dying..."
Malleus smiled, "Isn't this a good thing?"
"I don't know..." Lilia slowly sat down in the grass. "I don't know..."
Silver sat down beside him, "what? What's going on?"
"That was..." Lilia's face was rather flushed as his lips lifted slightly, "someone I used to know..."
"Really?" Silver looked to Malleus for answers.
He chuckled as he sat down as well, "someone who shouldn't be alive. Otherwise, they would be much older than my mother."
Silver looked back at his father, "so...they've been reborn?"
"But so... perfectly?..." Lilia was still breathless, "it shouldn't be possible..."
"But it's happened, hasn't it?" Malleus was rather happy, it seemed. He looked at Silver with a big smile. "Your father used to be in love with him."
"I-" Lilia looked at him abruptly.
"Hey, you said it, not me!" Malleus laughed.
"That does explain the blushing," Silver nodded to himself.
Lilia slapped his hands again his cheeks, "I am not-"
"You are." Malleus leaned back on his hands.
"It doesn't matter," Lilia went back to staring at his hands, "it'd never work anyways... the age gap is too much..."
"Who cares about age?" Malleus laughed again.
"I do!" Lilia exclaimed as he fell backwards into the grass. "I'm super old and gross! All yucky like a shriveled up craisin! He's... he's all fresh and pretty..."
Silver smiled, "I never thought that you-"
"Of course I've liked someone!" Lilia put his hands over his eyes. "Do I really seem that emotionless?!"
"No," Malleus chuckled, "I'm sure that it's just difficult for Silver to imagine because you're his father."
"Why are feelings so hard..." Lilia grumbled.
Silver put his hand on his father's arm, "but you're okay now, right?"
"Yes..." Lilia sighed. "I just... freaked out a little bit. I promise I'm not gonna try to eat anyone, or something..."
Malleus sighed with a smile, "well? What now?"
"What now?..." Lilia let his arms fall. He paused to think for a long moment. "Now, we get ready to beat RSA at Spelldrive!"
"What? No, I meant-"
"I know," Lilia smiled. "Now nothing. You aren't going to believe me, but that's not the Aubade I loved... Yes, it very could be him reborn in a new life... but the Aubade I loved is dead. ... does that make sense?"
"Yes," Malleus smiled warmly, "it makes perfect sense. You've moved on..."
Silver decided not to say anything. Or maybe he had just fallen asleep sitting up... his eyes were closed...
"Your feelings died with him," Malleus looked up at the clouds, "and I think that's a beautiful thing..."
Lilia's eyes were far away. He may never find someone like Aubade again, but he was fine with that. He didn't want to find someone like him.
Silver and Malleus were enough for Lilia. He didn't need anyone else's love or approval anymore. After all this time, he had finally learned to let go. And he wasn't about to go back.
Lilia took Malleus and Silver's hands and squeezed them tightly. He smiled up at the sky, "this is all I need."
...
But that didn't mean he could escape remembering him. Well, escape is a harsh word. More like... avoid. Not all memories are happy, of course. No one wants to relive getting their heart torn to pieces, stomped on, and sent through a trash compactor.
Lilia was, again, tutting to himself as he stood near Silver, who was fast asleep. This time he was slumped against a tree and a little bird had decided to use him as a perch.
Lilia smiled as he crouched down, "and what do we have here?" He held his hand out, "a blue jay, perhaps?"
The bird trilled at him before examining Lilia's hand and deciding that he was peaceful. It hopped onto his fingers and looked up at him curiously.
Lilia stood up slowly, "such a handsome little fellow," he rubbed under its beak. He smiled at the thought that this creature had no idea he used to eat its kind.
Then, his ears caught a sound. Humming. He instantly recognized the voice.
The blue jay chirped back the tune at the singer.
What was an RSA student doing on campus so late in the day? He tuned halfway around when the humming abruptly stopped.
The bird shifted on its feet and took off from Lilia's hand, headed towards the lookalike.
They blinked at Lilia, "it's you."
Lilia smiled his usual, impish smile, "why yes, it is me."
He grew a little flustered as the bird landed on his arm, "oh, sorry. That was rude of me. I don't even know your name yet..."
Lilia clasped his hands behind his back, "and what's a spoiled child from Royal Sword Academy doing in our humble school?"
"Little?..." he didn't seem to pick up on any of the poison in Lilia's words.
Lilia laughed, bringing a hand to his mouth, "everyone is little to me."
The lookalike tilted his head as he walked over, "but I'm taller than you?"
"No, you're not-" Lilia's words stopped and he began to frown. Lilia was shorter than him... how rude...
He only laughed, "sorry, sorry. I'm glad I ran into you. Yesterday you... Do I know you?... it seemed like you recognized me?..." the lookalike seemed very confused and curious.
Lilia chuckled, "no. You don't know me."
He blinked at how strangely Lilia had worded that.
"And I apologize for staring. I don't mean to scare you with my charm~" Lilia flicked his hair with a giggle.
The lookalike laughed, "sorry, sorry. I'm just relieved that we haven't met. I don't have the best memory, so I was worried I had forgotten you or something!"
Lilia smiled, "no, it's all good. I assure you, I am not easy to forget." He winked, sticking the tip of his tongue out at the end of his sentence.
The lookalike seemed utterly thrilled by how Lilia acted. He was thoroughly entertained, to say the least. He held his hand out, "Oh, I just realized that I never introduced myself! How silly of me! I'm Aubade."
Lilia smiled softly for just a second before responding. "Lilia Vanrouge," he took their hand, "at your service." He bowed slightly, flaring out his jacket like a cape.
Aubade giggled, "and who is your sleepy friend?" He drew back to step around Lilia.
"Ah, this is Silver," he sighed, shaking his head, "he's always falling asleep. I'm just lucky he hasn't hurt himself yet."
Aubade braced his hands on his knees as he leaned over Silver, "does he not get enough sleep? From how it looks, it seems like he'll sleep through anything..."
Lilia chuckled, "he is sleeping almost 50% of the time. He sleeps enough for the both of us, I'd say."
"Do you not get enough sleep?" He looked over and the bird on his shoulder did the same.
"Well," Lilia chuckled nervously. He really just called himself out, didn't he? "Someone has to make sure everyone else is sleeping, right?"
Aubade shook his head with a smile, "you should take better care of yourself. Oh, I should head back before I get yelled at!"
Lilia nodded, "good luck beating us this year."
He laughed, "I don't know how we do it! Good luck to you as well! It was great meeting you!!"
Lilia sat down beside Silver, "mind if I join you? I think I could spend a few minute's dreaming..."
This lookalike was so much like Lilia's Aubade. It was quite adorable. It was also... nicer than he thought.
Lilia assumed that having a reminder of Aubade's existence would be horrible, torturous even. But speaking with this lookalike made him remember all the good things he had forgotten...
Simply sitting beside Aubade in the evening and watching the stars... Devouring desserts and learning what they tasted like... laughing together...
Lilia sighed as he smiled down at his son. "I do miss him... just not as much as I thought I would."
He closed his eyes as he placed his hand on Silver's head, remembering all of his happiest moments of life.
Learning how to Smile with Aubade... Learning how to Live with Sylvie... and leaning how to Love with Silver...
He'd had such a full life. What could possibly be next?
He opened his eyes to spot Yuu and Grim passing by.
Lilia's eyes narrowed mischievously, "what indeed..."