••●••
It was always the same place as it was always the same dream.
"My prince!" The master shouted, holding the young prince down as he was swinging his axe here and there, bashing the curtains and the wooden ornaments in his chamber. The maidens were quick to arrive. "Summon the Princess Yeji to the Prince's chamber, now!"
Riki was the strongest that night. His palms were bleeding and so was the master's graze on one cheek. There were enemies everywhere. They were just there, laughing. He knew it. They were all laughing at him. Even trying to end him as he slept. He made a mistake in sleeping. He shouldn't have. Now, they were everywhere.
"Riki!" Yeji stormed in the chamber as the master was finally able to take the axe from his grip. From then on, he hated to fall into his sister's arms. He was shivering. Cold sweat streamed from his forehead. All the shame and fear had their claws on his neck and chest it was difficult for him to breathe.
"Riki, Riki! Look at me!" Yeji called worriedly, pressing his face with her palms. She could see the tears welling on his eyes and she could only do so little as to bury his head in her embrace. And it was only then she felt the warmth of his tears on the bodice of her nightgown.
"Nightmares." She was sure of it as she rested her chin on the top of his head. "They are only nightmares." He slowly released himself from her arms, seemingly wanting to say something but knew he would only look like a fool.
"Oh come on, Riki, speak!" Yeji muttered desperately, squeezing his shoulders.
"They are all laughing at me." Finally, he said with his hands. "They're coming for me... They're going to chain me again... They're going to cut my tongue again—"
"No, no. No." She answered, stroking his hair. "You're home now. You're safe. They're all dead."
It was even harder to speak. Only the tears came. He never wanted to use his fucking hands to say something. Yet he knew Yeji could never read his message just by gazing at his two fearful eyes. Not everyone is dead. I want everyone dead. Crucified in the dry fields. I want them all to crumble. I want the Isles of Val vanished in every maps. I want the demons living there destroyed. But now, it wouldn't matter because they destroyed him first. Captured him, made him their pawn and took his tongue. Led him home not as an honorable prince, but as a dog chained in the neck.
"I still want my revenge, Yeji." He said. "I want my voice back." But by the looks of his sister, he knew it was never going to happen. It was even stupid to say those things. It would never make sense.
"I'm sorry." Yeji said. "Not everyone in the Isles of Val are demons, only those houses we destroyed—"
Riki frustratedly shook his head. Every house is a wild card. We will never know how many evil people the Isles of Val shelter.
