He awoke in the late hours of night. The perfect azure sky had been covered in an obsidian drape. However it was eerie, not one star could be spotted amongst the dark. Remembering how many stars appeared each night on Expel caused him pain. The ground here felt so false, so wrong. A cold win passed, and he drew his cloak around him as a feeble attempt to provide heat.
As he stood up, his legs felt like lead, and his head pounded in pain. Dias didn't want to return to the Inn, as everyone would be against him. Especially the blonde, he'd probably tackle him the minute he stepped through the door. But he felt so bad for what he had done; his heart wouldn't let him stay in that field all night. He slowly made his way towards the Inn, his mind racing to select words of apologies, his heart heavy with regret.
As he pushed the door open, he saw Claude pacing the lobby, his hands in his pockets. Surely enough he turned his head and within a split second, had Dias pinned against the wall. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!" he shouted in the older swordsman's face. Dias' eyes blazed as if a fire had been lit inside the normally calm chestnut. "She's in such a bad way, she came in crying her eyes out, ran up to her room, and locked the door. She hasn't come out at all. You fucking bastard I can't believe you. UNLESS YOU HAVENT NOTICED SHES HAVING A BAD TIME AS IT IS, SHE DOENST NEED YOU MAKING THINGS WORSE!" By the time those last words fell, Dias' pupils had been reduced to pin pricks. He lowered his face so he and Claude met eye-to-eye, and said in a dangerously low and calm voice: "Stay out of her way, stay out of our way" With that he threw Claude to the floor as if he were lighter than a feather.
As he ascended the steep staircases that led to Rena's room, his heartbeat quickened. All he wanted to do was tell her he was sorry for everything, and that if she wished it he would be gone by first light. He finally reached the door and drawing a large breath, knocked and waited. There was no answer. Dias reached for the handle and turned it slowly. To his surprise the door fell open with a small creak. The room was covered in darkness, apart from a small ray of moonlight that crept it's way up the bed, illuminating the small figure who lay curled up upon it. He approached the bed with caution, and made his way towards the window.
There, she lay, tears trickling down her face, holding a wilted chain of daisies that resembled a tiara. Oh my god, she's kept it all these years, what did I do to deserve her? Dias sat down on the side of the bed and gently gathered her frail body into his arms. She clung to his shirt as if a monster was going to jump into the room and kidnap him that very moment. He cleared his throat, and in a deep voice said "I am sorry Rena. I'm sorry for everything I have put you through. You mean so much to me, although sometimes I may not show it. If it weren't for you I would stop breathing, because I wouldn't have anything left to live for. I can understand if you hate me, and I promise you I'll be gone by the time everyone wakes up." She shifted slightly in his arms, and wiped away a few tears.
"Dias…on my first night travelling with Claude we stayed at the Inn in Cross. It was very late, and I remember the sky. It was such a deep blue; so familiar I could almost reach out and touch it. Aunt Rachel was at the reception desk and showed us to our rooms, and as I was stepping through the door she held me back. She said that you had stayed here the night prior. As I lay down to sleep, my mind was suddenly engulfed in memories, thoughts, feelings. All about you. Obviously the maids hadn't washed the sheets yet, and I could actually smell you. For the first time in weeks I slept soundly, just like I used to when you stayed at my house. The thought of you watching over me was so comforting. It felt like you were beside me, just like you are now..."
