The other, however, remembered the day clearly.
It was a hazy, blurred afternoon in the rundown park a few miles South of where he lived. It was somewhat noisy from dialogue, but he couldn't see quite where it was coming from. A young boy, a few years older than him, had started to walk around with him due to the lack of satiable company he could find amoungst the others. They didn't speak each-other's languages, so they refrained from talking. No words were needed, anyway.
They'd been enjoying each-other's company for a few hours when they decided to make things out of the natural surroundings. They'd been in a patch of flowers when the young Italian boy had made a ring from a small white flower of Earthly origin called a daisy, and had slipped it onto the finger of the other.
Said other would never forget that day.
It was a little awkward.
They'd been standing there, taking-in the sight before them for around a minute. Then, one broke the ice.
"So... Are you one of Bowser's minions?"
It took the other a few seconds to muster a stuttering reply.
"Y-yes."
"I have a feeling I've seen you before, but I can't remember where."
"W-well, I'm sure i-it doesn't matter."
"So... Are we going to fight or will you give-up the key?"
He didn't want to hurt the boy, bu he didn't want to betray the people who'd saved his life, either.
So he chose the former with the intention of giving-up any position as winner.
He sat on the ground with only minor injuries, but held a facade of being badly hurt for the sake of the situation. The other boy approached him with something held in his hand.
"Here, have this."
He opened his hand and outstretched it to the other, revealing a bandage and plaster. The other looked surprised at the kindness, but accepted nonetheless.
"Thank-you."
"You're welcome."
The boy turned to leave and collect the key, but stopped to ask the other another question.
"By the way, I never asked your name."
"I-its Ludwig. It's Ludwig."
"Mine's Mario. Heh, excuse my alliteration."
"It's no problem."
And with that, he left.
And with that, he was left with his own thoughts.
It was darkness inside the castle.
But not all was quite yet still.
The boy looked a his reflection;
Soft, slightly unkempt dark teal hair,
youthful, excited brown eyes,
and a childish yet emotional smile.
Such happiness would lead to other things, surely.
But there is always a calm before and after the storm.
Day one on Mitisenzak:
Drowsiness experienced. Prominent sensation of nausea. Patient says to feel emotionally drained entirely on medication. Considering dropping Mitisenzak after a few days.
Day five on Mitisenzak:
Patient has dropped medications of all kinds altogether due to various side-effects. Reportedly improved already.
Lies.
Dirty, filthy lies.
Fabricated to look like beauty.
But hiding the painfully bitter truth.
Auto-cannibalism of one's soul must be a distressing thing, certainly.
Certainly.
Certainly.
Certainly.