Richtofen looked to his comrades, vial of blood in his nimble fingers, before he sipped it all down. Dempsey pulled a face as he watched, his own vial clenched in his hand. Takeo looked at the capped vial rolling on his palm, wondering why now they had to drink. The Shadowman had been destroyed and everything was right again. He looked to Nikolai for support, before drinking the blood in the vial. Nikolai and Dempsey followed suit after much encouragement and explanation from Richtofen.
They didn't have a choice anymore.
This world was a lie.
It had been a god damn, fucking lie.
Once they had all drunken the blood and gagged and complained, Richtofen led them to confront the mysterious Dr. Monty. Dr. Monty was no man, but a Keeper, an ancient being with powers like the Apothicons and The Shadowman. Richtofen had known, or suspected, that and the true plan since The Giant, but now... now he had to confront him in person.
"I thought you would all melt away by now" Monty said, turning with curiousity in his eyes. "Like snowflakes. How are you not?"
The four were silent, and the only thing to speak was Dempsey clutching the empty vial closer to his chest, as if it were a charm. Montys' face contorted in anger. Nikolai went to step in, Takeo by his side, when Richtofen put up a hand.
"You bloody idiots! You'll ruin this world! I should wipe you from existence!"
"What about a place where we are no bother to you?"
"Oh no~"
In no time, their was a sudden rush of wind and the feeling of lightness made the four stumble and stare in shock as they began to fade away. Richtofen kept reasonably composed, looking to Monty with sadness. The Keeper suddenly seemed to have an idea and they stopped fading for the moment. Nikolai felt his heart sink and it continued to when he looked to Takeo and saw he was transparent and almost gone completely.
"I have a better idea! How about I send you away? Somewhere I put everything I don't need~"
With that, they all were gone from the Perfect World of Dr. Monty. They were in a space of light and dark that spun and danced like starry twilight. There was nothing to feel, nothing to see of each other, until they were 'somewhere'.
'Somewhere' happened to be a dark time of knights and ferocious monsters.
'Somewhere' happened to be the beginning.
'Somewhere' was Primis.
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Nikolai tugged on his uniform, looking at himself in the dirty, cracked mirror. It had been a few days since he and his comrades had come to Primis, but it was still odd to wake up here. He felt cheated and angry and unhappy, but he could not complain too bitterly for he was not alone. He had Richtofen and Dempsey and Takeo. Most importantly, Takeo.
He took a deep breath, before stepping out into the dim world outside his tent. Soldiers greeted him as they passed, looking up from mending or eating. To them, Nikolai was a God among men, as were all of them. When the four had entered Primis, they were dressed as Knights, the Staffs from France in their hands, and people all around them. The people had gaped and cried out in hopeful joy to these men who had suddenly appeared before them at their moment of greatest sorrow and need. They were Heaven Sent, but in reality, they were cursed.
Nikolais hook his head, ridding himself of the sorrow, as he looked around for Takeo. When his eyes could not see him in camp, he looked towards the trees and hills around the camp and spied a figure at the top of one of the hills, kneeling before a dark tree with scarlet and black leaves. With a flame in his chest, Nikolai ran for the hill and stood at the top behind Takeo, gazing upon the scene before him.
Takeo sat motionless before the tree, some leaves gently twirling in the air around him, dancing as the pink petals had once done, creating an ethereal picture. Nikolai quickly closed the gap between them, wrapping his arms around Takeo, who just smiled.
"Take, I have to tell you something" Nikolai placed a kiss on Takeos' head. "I was meant to at the House, but Nikolai is terrible at timing and I--"
"What is it, Nikki?" Takeo looked up a little.
"I love you."
Takeo spun around in the embrace and kissed Nikolai with all his love. He knew he loved Nikolai with all his heart, and he knew Nikolai loved him in return, but to hear the words were more sweet and beautiful than anything any dimension could ever offer. He gently pulled away, tears falling and a large smile on his face.
"I love you!"
With a smile so soft and hearts full, they took each others' hands and danced amid the dark leaves, under the dark sky that could never dim their light.
