Unending Options [MCD x Reader] !Book 2!

Entry No. 41

When I woke up, Vylad laid in front of me asleep still. I got up slowly and made my way outside. I made my way to the old dock to find Garroth working. I came up beside him.

"Garroth," I called.

"Lady Y/n," he smiled.

"I'm sorry I didn't show you around. You must be so lost... I'm.. I'm so sorry," I said, the tears welling up in my eyes.

"Y/n, don't worry about it. Yesterday was rough for everyone," he said.

"Did Dante give you the lay of the land?" I asked.

"He showed me to his home for the night. Kawaii Chan, Nekoette... Things really have changed," he said.

I chuckled, "That is the least of it."

"Tell me about it?" He asked.

I smiled, sotting down beside the dock and telling him of everything. I told him of Dmirti, and all of chaos of Dante's relationships. I told him of Donna and all of her kids. I told him of how I was almost married, and how Levin and Malachi grew up. I told him of what they had become. I told him of the new settlement. When I looked back, there was Vylad up the hill. I smiled to him, and pat the ground beside me, welcoming him and signaling him to come over. He made his way down the steps.

"G-Garroth," he called.

Garroth turned around, and they met each other's eyes.

"Vylad... Is that really you?" He asked.

"Yes... It's really me," he smiled, a tear escaping from his eye.

"I thought you were dead. I can't believe you are here."

Garroth ran up and hugged Vylad. He was overjoyed to have his brother back. I could barely hold myself back from tears. It was so sweet to see their reunion. I left them, makin my way back to the settlement to continue the search for Laurance.... with no luck. Garroth and I spent the next several days fixing up parts of the old town.. Awaiting Aphmau's recovery... At least... Enough to speak to us. I was so happy to have him back. Even in times like this. Garroth was able to get hold of Aphmau. As they met at the far edge of the crater I watched. I watched as Ivy, the member of the Jury of Nine Katelyn had warned me about, tried to fight Aphmau and Garroth. Even through Aphmau had used her powers to transform, Ivy still had some kind of hold on her. Garroth tried to fight the were-man, but was quickly taken down.

"Stay here," Vylad said.

He rushed past me and to the man who had taken down Garroth, and met his sword. It was only then I noticed he was in his Shadow Knight form... Even further, I realized I had NEVER seen Vylad in his Shadow Knight form... Ivy and the man rushed off and I rushed toward Garroth to help him up.

"We haven't seen you in days," Aphmau said.

Though I was starting to becoke familiar with Vylad coming and going as he pleased, I did find it strange he disappeared.

"It's Laurance... I think he's in trouble," Vylad explained.

We found safer ground to discuss what was going on with Laurance.

"Its the Calling," Vylad said. "

"What?" Garroth quetioned.

"Let me start from the beginning. The Calling is something thag happens to all Shadow Knights. We're born in the Nether... or reborn, really. Each of us. That is where we're from. It's in our blood. While some Shadow Knighgs walk into the fold, there are others like Laurance that rebel against their new life, and run away, but never truly escape."

"Is that what you did?" Garroth asked.

"Let Vylad finish," Aphmau said.

"Staying out of the Nether can be dangerous for a newer Shadow Knight. If you stay out for too long, the Nether will start calling you back. And for those Knighgs afraid to cut off their emotions, they start to feel the pull, it creeps into your thoughgs, and slowly, it'll become the only thing you think about, uts the answer to all your problems."

"So Laurance is... homesick?" Garroth asked.

"In a way, yes," Vylad answered.

"What do we do then?" I asked.

"No. He needs to work this out on his own. Right now, he's his worst enemy. Any involvement and he might think you're to blame. It's why I've been following him in the shadows. His mind and emotions are playing tricks against him."

"Laurance jas been there for each of us through our problems... adn we can't help him through this? I just.." I trailed off.

I knew I shouldn't interfere. I knew logically I couldn't do anything. Just wait for him... But I felt horrible for that fact. If I needed to wait, I had to. That was the end of the story, even if it hurt.

"There must be something," Garroth said.

"There isn't," I said sorrowfully.

"Trust me. I don't think you know what being a Shadow Knight means.. We exist in between worlds. You have to transcend this world in order to be reborn a Shadow Knight," Vylad explained.

It suddenly made sense how Vylad could make a connection to my realm... He wasn't alive. He wasn't dead, but his spirit could still transcend barriers.

"You mean dead. You have to die," Garroth explained.

"Yes. But as a Shadow Knight we aren't wholly dead, and never really alive. We're walking contradictions. Laurance refuses to accept this. He believes he is still alive," Vylad commented.

It was so sad to hear. To realize you are no longer truly alive...

"What's so wrong with wanting to be alive?" Aph asked.

"It's this desire that will ultimately destroy him," Vylad explained. "You've seen him, he inconsistent.. His mood canchanhe in an instant. His emotions are what control him. In order to survive as a Shadow Knight you don't control your emotions, you cut them out. Laurance still thinks he's human. He needs to learn that he isn't."

I looked into Vlyad's eyes.. They were so sorrowful for me now. The beautiful grass green now felt like pain they had seen.

"I'm going to keep watch on him. That's the only choice. I'll report back with any developments. I need to go," Vylad said, starting to walk off.

"Vylad, wait," I said.

I followed after him. Garrot and Aphmau walked back towards her home. I looked Vylad in the eye. I reached a hand up and unwrapped his scarf from his face. I pulled him close and kissed him. I wanted to remind him of his emotions. That he loved and he was loved. He pulled away.

"Y/n," he said.

"You feel. Everyone feels. Living or dead. Don't ever let that go. When you do, you let go of hope," I pleaded.

He smiled and kissed me again. His love was the purest of all. His was the love of a friend. He pulled away, and my hand slipped out of his as he stepped away, to help, like he always did.