Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
With that statement, Tartaglia figured that Heidi wasn't present when he got lost in the snowstorm, yet it didn't explain how M/n found him that day, now that he thought about it. "Nikolas, did the prince ever leave the palace at random back then?"
"On multiple occasions, I never concerned myself with his comings and goings from the palace because he'd always come back-"
"Yeah because the Tsaritsa would order you to drag him back if he did run away...Now it makes sense. The day he found me and what he said makes sense..."Tartgalia runs his hand across an exposed Layline branch. Capitano stops just as Diluc did, both waiting to see if the ginger would continue, sensing their want to know he continues. "His Majesty once said that the Layline was consuming this place and destroying it from the inside out... Leaking memories."
"Huh!? Why didn't he do it?"
"He found me stumbling around in the snowstorm. He looked so tired and lifeless but there was some hope but not enough in his eyes. Maybe...Maybe if he didn't see me that day...He'd probably be off somewhere no one can find him. M/n would have escaped from his mother's grasp, he would have been free."Tartgalia angrily punches a Layline branch that was exposed, doing this causes a memory to play before them. ❝UGH! FOR FUCKS SAKE! Why is it that I find myself in danger doing normal shit!❞It was M/n, he was angry about his situation he stormed off. Tartaglia watched in awe as the recorded version of M/n rants to himself. ❝Man...Am I doing things right? So much is happening yet I feel like I'm messing up somehow..❞A dark expression overtakes M/n's face as he drags his fingers across the branches to his left.
The men follow closely as the afterimage continues to walk further in until it vanishes at a fork. "Which way?"
"This is as far as my memory takes me but if we wind another Layline branch maybe it'll have something for us to see."Capitano thumps a branch but nothing happens, so he keeps going, causing Tartgalia and Diluc to do the same, eventually, Diluc hits the right one. They watch as M/n heads to the right. They could hear him humming to himself only to stop a few times to mutter incoherently. ❝Ah...I remember now, I came here one last time to destroy this place knowing full well that I would be punished if I did but I was ready to run away...Ha, she threatened to seal me away for four hundred years if I ran. Was there really no way out besides this?❞The somber tone made the area seem colder than before.
This was the first time Capitano had taken a genuine interest in the prince. He didn't expect the man to be so sorrowful but it was to be expected with who his mother is.
They keep advancing until Diluc suddenly stumbles into Capitano's back triggering another memory but this time, light crying and whimpering could be heard. "What do I do?! There's no exit and I've been walking for so long...I just...I just want to return home and pretend that this day never happened." M/n staggers to his feet and keeps walking, he was showing signs of mental fatigue at that moment but something seems to snap him out of it. "Whew, I lost myself for a second. I can't drop that far again or I'll cry myself to sleep. Keep it together and ball my eyes out later....Huh?" M/n's eyes brightened up for a moment as he struck forward causing the men to stumble after the memory. "Whoa...this is beautiful. Huh? Is that a bird's nest?"
They too marvel at the beautiful opening with crystals everywhere! Though Tartaglia was first to find M/n curled up next in front of the nest, sleeping peacefully. He rushes over and gently shakes M/n awake and sighs when the prince opens his eyes. "T-Taglia...Take me home please.."M/n tearfully asked while pulling his most loyal dog into a hug. "Yes yes, your majesty. I'm sorry it took so long for us to find you, I hope you weren't too lonely without us."
"I was, it's entirely too quiet here. No silly little arguments, no scolding, not even laughter...I hate these mines, let go home."Tartaglia lifts M/n from the ground, bridal style with a smile. "I'll run you a hot bath and we'll all pamper you until you're sick of us!"
"I look forward to it!"
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
