Radiance

Uncertainties

|Grace|

My heart pounded as I watched in horror. Light stood there, one hand holding out his cape to me while the other was burning away, a wall of fire eating him up. I step back, fearful of this gruesome scene. His face wasn't even his. It was a mask of crystals, one of each color, that twisted into his skin, replacing what should have been a smiling and caring face with a horrific scene. 

His voice echoed to me, filling my head with pain and fear. 

"G r a c e f u l   O r a n g e   S t e v e.  T a k e   m y   m a n t l e   a n d   l e a d   t h e   g u a r d."

I shake my head, holding it in pain. This was all too freaky, too absurd. The figure in front of me screeches, the crystal mask shattering into a sharp mouth. It leaps from being consumed by the fire, to towards me. I instinctively raise my arm, then feel its teeth plunge into my skin, reminding me of a time where I had gotten bitten by a wild wolf before. My mouth opens to let out a scream of pain, but I can only manage a weak and feeble whimper. The beast takes me by the arm and flings me backwards. I start falling down. When I had expected to hit the ground, I didn't. I kept on falling and falling and falling, right off of a cliff that had just appeared.

Twisting around, I see the approaching ground coming fast, covered with spikes that stretched up, ready to take my life. I cross my arms in front of my face, scared yet ready to accept my fate. I notice the dark tendrils lick up at the last second before I was impaled before it all disappears.

"Graceful?" I start awake, then turn to look at the Green Steve who was standing right beside me. My eyes were blurry as I tried to make out who it was while trying to remember where I was last. I remember... I had been at Light's bedside. Was I still here? I turn to look and see the motionless and bandaged form of my mentor and friend and feel my heart drop. I guess I must have... fell asleep on accident when I was laying by his side, quietly telling him all of my fears. It surprised me that none of the healers came and woke me up, which would have been nice... since what I had just dreamed about wasn't... Ehggg. How long was I asleep for? An hour? Two? Half of the day? I didn't know... I yawn for a moment, disoriented.

"I think you should head back to your quarters in order to rest, Graceful. You don't look so hot." I turn back to look at the Green Steve and realize that he was wearing a bandage across his head that covered his missing ear. "Leif...?" I say and clear my throat, still a bit groggy. The Green Elite sighs and nods, then kneels beside me. "Yes, It's me. I came over to check on Light and found you here..."

He looks at Light before meeting my eyes. I was confused on why he in specific was here... He doesn't usually leave the Guard Headquarters since he's head of the Healer's Core... "Graceful, please. You look like the depths of a raging ocean." His voice is filled with concern as he looks me in the eyes. I sigh and rub my face, a yawn escaping my mouth. "Do I...? Ugh... I don't even know how long I was out for." I pause a moment to rub my eyes, sitting there a moment in a space between tiredness and being awake. 

"According to the other Healers, you've been out for a day. It's nearly mid morning." Leif says and I feel shock all through my body. How in the name of creativity did I sleep an entire day off??? Ugh... 

I shake my head and sigh. I guess since I hadn't been sleeping well, I was tired enough that I just... slept. After a moment, I shift to lay my head back down on the bed, thoughts starting to swirl around in my head. I guess Leif saw something in my body language because the next moment, he was gently rubbing my back. "Didn't mean to shock you, Graceful. But come with me. You'll want a proper bed."

I shake my head and sigh. I didn't want to sleep. I didn't even know what to do after all of these events. Leif looks at me, then pauses and sighs. "Come on, you need fresh air at the very least." He was right, I guess... Leif gently helps me stand, then we both walk over to the door. I groggily look back over at Light for a moment, then follow Leif outside of the room.

"Azalia and Exos told the rest of the Elites what had happened. It's... Honestly a shock considering the situation of everything." He sighs and I look down, remembering that it was Exos who had swapped with me with that shift and told me about the considerations. "Yeah... Exos came and told me about the decision, as well as Lieu- Time..." I say quietly as Leif and I both walk, side by side, down the hall. He gives me a bit of a side look as we take a right and walk down a hall with windows on our left, illuminating the hall from the sunlight that came through the trees outside and through the windows.

Pausing a moment, I look outside, admiring the sight as through the trees you could see the rest of the kingdom and the Violet Leader's house sat upon a hill in the center of it all. The Violet Sanctuary sat on top of a hill itself, giving a relaxing view. I guess this was intentional, considering the Lilac Core worked here and had therapy sessions in this place as well.

"Graceful, could I confide with you something?" Leif says and I turn to look and him, then give him a small, 'mhm' for him to go on. "If I'm going to be honest, I have little faith that Light will wake up. Mainly because... His body being as damaged as it is and how cold it feels... I just. I don't want to believe it for sake of everyone, but I can't shake it." Leif had a look of greif in his eyes that reflected in his words. I glance off to the side, a sadness filling me again. I guess... He was right in a way.

Leif places his hand on my shoulder, causing me to look at him. "I didn't mean to distress you further, Graceful. I'm just... I'm worried myself and pained by these events. I don't want to believe that Light is gone, but my logical side just... Wants to say otherwise." The Green Steve sighs, his eyes trailing to the floor. After a moment, I move to hug Leif. He tenses a moment before he hugs me back. We sit there quietly for a bit, before I shift back.

"Leif, I know. This all is... Going to be rough on everyone. Honestly... I'm not sure what I'm going to do. Time is going to help me with the guard and all, but part of me still doesn't know what all this is going to entitle." I reach up to rub my neck under my messy ponytail and sigh. I felt partially unprepared for what was coming. All of this new responsibilities for myself and others, managing a huge force... I don't know how I was going to deal with all of it.

"Well, for starters, it's not just all paperwork and training. Of course, unless I'm wrong." A voice says from the corner and Leif and I turn. There, standing with his hands in his coat pockets...

Was the Orange Leader.