Whispers in the Dark
Chapter 25
Strength in Pieces
At the table with everyone together, the smell of caramel waffles in the air, things felt a bit more normal. There was no tension from the threat of Belar. No looks of pity towards Wolfram and Yuri for their conditions. Everyone was smiling and joking together like before. Even Gwendal seemed less grumpy than usual.
Wolfram wasn't talking much though, he was focused on the waffles that were in front of him. They were fresh out of the iron, coated with a bit of sugar powder and drizzled with syrup. Every bite seemed to melt in his mouth. It made him feel like he hasn't eaten real food in weeks. But it was actually true, he hasn't eaten much of anything since the day he was captured. He's survived on nutrients in his IV's.
And yet, while Wolfram indulged in his waffles, Yuri couldn't help but watch his daughter, laughing and eating together with Anissina. They looked so happy together, like their was a stronger bond between them now. A bond that he and Greta used to have. He felt a bit jealous of Anissina in this moment. He wanted to have his daughter at his side, laughing with her and feeding her waffles like a papa should. But like he said before, she was getting older. They were drifting apart and she was becoming more independent now.
"Yuri," Wolfram says, putting a hand on his arm. "What's wrong? You haven't touched your breakfast."
Yuri shook his head to try and clear his mind. "I'm fine, Wolfram. I just...have a lot on my mind."
Wolfram nods. He knows how Yuri feels. He too has a lot on his mind, about everything that's happening around them. But he doesn't want Yuri to worry about such things. He needs to eat! They both haven't eaten solid food in weeks. They need to keep their strength up, to recover in a timely matter. Drifting off into dream space would do Yuri no good!
So Wolfram reached for Yuri's fork and knife and cut a piece of waffle up for him and held it up to Yuri's mouth like a mother would a child, like how Yuri had pictured doing for Greta. "Open wide, Yuri." Wolfram says with a smile. He did this as to somewhat tease his fiance, but to also look out for him.
But Yuri, blush and all burning on his face, moved away from Wolfram's attempts at feeding him. He looks away, practically pouting. "I'm not a child, Wolfram! I can eat by myself!" Yuri complains.
"Then you have a terrible way of showing it since your waffles are getting cold." Wolfram replies. "Don't let Effe's efforts go to waste."
Yuri sighs and runs his hand over his face. He needs to stop over thinking this. He was thinking about things that don't matter. He clears his head completely, no thoughts of Greta becoming a woman, no thoughts of Belar, nothing. He picks up the fork and takes a bite of the lukewarm waffles, and his taste buds skyrocket. Warm caramel oozes onto his tongue causing an explosion of flavor to take over his consciousness, the sugar powder adds a bit of sweetness to the caramel and the waffles, warm but not cold, eases into his mouth, practically melting away the second he begins to chew. He feels as if he's died and gone to caramel waffle heaven. A truly wonderful and heavenly experience was occurring at this very moment inside of his mouth, he wanted to savor it.
"Oh my god!" Yuri moans in absolute delight. He takes another bite. "These waffles are amazing!"
Effe blushes and bows to Yuri. "Thank you, Your Majesty! It's a pleasure to know that you like them so much."
Yuri nods and continues to stuff his face with waffles. "They're perfect Effe!" He says, his mouth full, his words jumbled and almost incoherent.
Wolfram slaps his arm, a look of disgust on his face. "It's common decency not to speak with your mouth full."
"And its common decency to allow someone to enjoy their breakfast, Wolfram." Yuri says, a snarky look on his face as he looks at Wolfram and takes another bite of his waffle.
Greta laughs, her voice circulating the room, warming Yuri and Wolfram's hearts like a fiery sun. "Papa Wolfram and Papa Yuri are so funny!" She giggles profusely, her shoulders jumping up and down with each beautiful laugh that leaves her lips, a small hand over his mouth to hide her smile.
Wolfram's earlier anger has subsided, and Yuri was just watching Greta, a soft and caring smile spread on his lips as he watched his daughter laugh. Her joy filled with him with happiness, as if her laughter was healing him from the inside.
"We're so lucky to have you, Greta." Yuri says softly to himself. He closes his eyes and smiles, listening to her giggle, her laughter from moments ago finally beginning to die down. He feels Wolfram's hand on his arm again, but he does pull away or move it. He allows it to stay there, to bask in the moment together.
This was what they needed, time spent together in laughter and smiles; a perfect moment. The world only gives you so many moments like this.
Unfortunately, not all perfect moments end on a perfect note.
"Yuri," Shouri says from across the table a few chairs down from Greta. "I need to talk to you for a moment."
"What is it, Shouri?" Yuri asks.
"Not here." He replies. He stands up from the table, wiping his face with the napkin and then leaving it on the plate. "Outside."
Yuri hesitates for a moment but soon follows after his brother into the hall outside of the dining area. All of his former calm has been replaced with anxiousness and worry. He leans against the wall for comfort and support, the walking stick only helping so much with his balance.
"What's going on? Why are you suddenly calling me out like this?" Yuri asks.
"This is important, little brother, so I need your full attention." Shouri says. He crosses his arms over his chest and leans against the wall beside his brother. "It's about mom and dad."
"What about them?" Yuri asks.
Shouri is silent for a passing moment before continuing, his heart hammering in his chest. "I have reason to believe that they know about what happened, your kidnapping."
Yuri went silent this time, his throat running dry and any ounce of sound seems to have left his body save for the sound of his heart beating in his ears. He had completely forgotten about Earth, about his parent while captured and while in recovery. He didn't want them to know about it, about any of the things he does while Maou of the Demon Kingdom simply because it was all too crazy for them, something they shouldn't have to hear about, worry about him getting hurt or worse. They shouldn't have to worry about their youngest son dying at the hands on an ex-king of the humans. They shouldn't have to worry at all! But parents will always worry about their children. But it's not every day you have sons who are maou's!
"How?"
"Your little friend showed up to see me shortly after you were captured and a letter came from here a few minutes after he arrived. It mentioned Wolfram, how he had been captured too. I'm sure mother has her suspicions," He stops and lowers his head. "And I think I forgot to bring the message with us back here. I'm almost sure she found it in my room, maybe while cleaning up, by now."
Yuri's fingers clench tightly around his arms, now crossed over his chest, his nails digging into his skin, his teeth biting into his bottom lip. He lowers his head and closes his eyes.
"Dammit." Yuri swears under his breath. His shoulders begin to shake and his knuckles start to go white. "Dammit!" He swears again, louder this time.
"Relax, little brother." Shouri says, putting a hand on Yuri's shoulder. "What we need to do now is go home and assure mother that everything is okay, that you're home and that you're okay."
"But I'm not okay!" Yuri yanks his arm away from Shouri's touch. His eyes are blazing with anger, his body still shaking. "Do I look okay to you? Does this honestly look like someone whose fit to call themselves well? Because I'm not! I'm not okay at all! I'm a mess! My body is constantly hurting, always hot like the fire is inside of me. I get headaches constantly from the arrow to my head. And worst of all, I can't even use my Maryoku! Not a single ounce! None of it! I can't do anything!"
Yuri hadn't realized he was shouting. That everyone in the dining hall could hear him, feel him through the door, through the walls. That Shouri was filled with shock at his little brother's outburst. He hadn't realized that Greta was crying, tears fell from her eyes, hidden away by her small hands that once hid smiles. He didn't notice Wolfram standing just behind the door, listening in to their conversation, his eyes wide with sadness and grief. He didn't notice anything, only his own anger, the red that he saw in front of him. Yuri grabs the walking stick and walks as quickly as he can away from the dining area, back to his room. His good mood now turned sour.
Wolfram opens the door and walks out slowly. He looks to Shouri who was still standing where he was before, but his head down in regret. He hadn't meant for that reaction to happen. He didn't know that Yuri was hurting that much inside. He didn't know.
He felt he didn't know much of anything these days.
Wolfram started slowly making his way after Yuri, his burnt soles only taking him so far, so quickly. Greta came running after him, grabbing his arm as softly as she could, but still much too quickly for his own good, yanking the limb a bit as she came to stop, burying her face in it as they walked together.
They found Yuri a few minutes later in their room, sitting on the bed with his head hung low, his body still shaking. He was crying. Greta ran over to her papa and wrapped her arms around his neck, crying with him. She didn't like seeing her papa this way, suffering and hurting, crying alone when he should be with them. Yuri wraps his good arm around her and holds her close. They stay like that, embraced and crying together. Wolfram watches from a few feet away, uneasiness settling in his stomach, unsure of what to do next. Usually he would run up and hold Yuri, try and reassure him that everything was going to be okay, that he was here for him, always would be. But for some reason this time was different. This time he was hesitant, that doing this would be like lying to Yuri, that reassuring him that everything would be okay would only hurt him more.
Wolfram bows his head, bringing a hand to his face, letting the tears roll down his cheeks. He didn't know what to do. For the first time in a long time he didn't know what to do. He was in complete helplessness. He was unsure of himself, about Yuri, about their entire situation as a whole. He felt useless, helpless and completely lost. Nothing was making sense.
How do you reassure the one you love that everything will be okay when things are only going to get worse?!
Arms wrap around him, suddenly but tenderly, and pull him in close. Wolfram wraps his arms around him. He could smell Yuri's scent of tree bark, now mixed in with a hint of caramel from breakfast.
"Don't cry Wolfram," Yuri says to him. The hug becomes awkward, Yuri's bad arm beginning to ache and slowly begin to come back to Yuri's side again. "It doesn't suit you at all."
Wolfram doesn't say anything and continues to allow the tears to fall. Yuri uses his good hand to run his fingers through Wolfram's hair, his fingertips caressing the soft blonde locks. Wolfram smiles, a warm feeling builds up in his chest at Yuri's touch.
Greta hugs their legs, her arms wrap themselves as best she can around both Wolfram and Yuri's legs and she holds them tight. Nothing was going to bring them apart now. All they needed was each other to get through this.
Wolfram pulls away first and wipes his eyes with the back of his thumb. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asks. "Why didn't you tell me that you couldn't use your Maryoku?"
Yuri drops his gaze to the floor, a frown setting in on his lips again. "I didn't want you to worry. I just thought...maybe it was like before. When I used up all of my power when I fought against Janus my Maryoku took a bit of time to regenerate. I figured that...maybe it was like that now too. But it's been weeks since I used my Maryoku and it hurts to use it. It's like a burning sensation in my body when I try. I barely get a spark. I can't even feel it in my body anymore. Like its vanished. But I know it's still there since the Demon King can still use it inside the mind-scape."
Wolfram doesn't speak a word. He wants to say something, he wants to pour his heart out to Yuri about his own struggles with his Maryoku. That he experiences the same pain that he does. That he feels the same way he does, the helplessness and the worry.
"What about you, Wolfram?" Yuri asks. He looks at Wolfram and sees him holding his arm and rubbing it, holding his arm close to his body, protectively. He was nervous. "Do you feel the same way? Do you have the same struggle as I do?"
Even though he already knew the answer, he still asks. He can still sense Wolfram's Maryoku, it was growing stronger by the day, finally beginning to strengthen to its old power level. But even so, something felt off with it. It didn't feel the same to him, sense wise. It felt as if something was blocking the flow of it.
"No." Wolfram responds. His voice was frail, soft, unsure. "My magic is fine. Maybe you should talk with Gisela about it. She may be able to help you." Lies. Lies packed down onto more lies. Yuri knew this and yet still couldn't help but wonder why? Why did Wolfram feel like he needed to lie to him?
"I'll see if she can help me then." 'Maybe she can help us both.' "After all Gisela can do almost anything."
"She's an incredible healer." Wolfram replies.
Silence fills the air. Uneasy, almost tangible silence. Greta steps away, the tension building so thick it was almost hard to breathe.
"Why are you lying to me?" Yuri asks.
"I'm not lying to you." Wolfram presses.
"But you are. You aren't fine. We're both in the same boat, Wolfram, admit it." Yuri starts. "You're Maryoku won't work either. Just admit it!"
"I don't have to admit anything." Wolfram replies. "I'm okay, really."
"But you aren't." Yuri shouts. "Why is it so hard to admit it? Why are you lying to me?!"
"Because I can't protect you like this!" Wolfram shouts back.
The silence fills the air again, tangible, built up lego blocks of silence. Greta watches her papas talk, her heart racing ecstatically.
"What are you talking about?" Yuri asks. "You don't need your Maryoku to do that, Wolfram. You're strong, so strong, all on your own."
"Even if that's true, my Maryoku is the only thing that can save us from immediate danger if the time came." Wolfram argues. "Without my fire I'm just a foot soldier, practically another human."
"What's wrong with being human?" Yuri asks.
Wolfram bites his bottom lip and tries to respond, but nothing could be said. Every answer he had would only offend Yuri more, which he didn't want.
"Humans have begun to redeem themselves since the time you became Maou. I have grown to respect them even. However, even though they have shown that they are not simply all just killers with a need for blood and war, they are still weak. They die much easier. They are fragile. I can't live like that, in a fragile body with fragile hopes. I need my Maryoku, to have that strength over them."
"But what would you do if you lost your power?" Yuri asks. "What would you do if you became a demon with no power?"
"I'd basically be dead. A weak demon doesn't survive long. It's common knowledge." He replies like it means nothing.
"Why can't you understand that you're strong all on your own? Even if your Maryoku never heals, that you're swordsmanship alone is incredible." Yuri says, becoming lost in his words. "Your strength comes from your pride and your heart. Not your magic. But even I can't deny that we need to get it back. I can't argue with you over that. So we'll talk to Gisela, and together we'll get our Maryoku's back in control."
Wolfram nods his head, no longer trying to hide his fear. Everything was out in the open now. There was nothing left to hide. All that was left was to come together and heal, get stronger and work hard to conquer what was to come.