Chapter Text
Something was wrong with Silver.
Lilia had noticed Silver being a lot more fidgety lately. Ever since them, Malleus and Sebek had taken a week off from school to go back to the Briar Valley after Malleus’ overblot.
Not only this, but Silver had started constantly looking over his shoulder, as if expecting something to jump out of the shadows at him. (Which was kind of rude, the only thing that would jump out of the shadows at him was Lilia.)
Silver seemed jumpy even around him and Malleus, unlike usual. Usually, Silver was the calmest around Lilia and Malleus. Not only that, but Silver had started flinching almost every time Sebek suddenly yelled, unlike before how he would simply sigh fondly.
And what concerned Lilia the most…
Silver’s sleep.
Silver constantly seemed tired now. Falling asleep randomly more than before. It concerned Lilia to no end.
What was going on? What was going on in his precious son’s mind to make him act like this? Something had clearly happened while they’d been at the Briar Valley. But what? What could’ve happened to make his usually unshakeable son act as if someone was going to hurt him at a minute’s notice?
Had someone hurt him?
Lilia felt his newly replenished magic bubble to the surface, coating his fingers in a desperate attempt to be released at the mere thought. Lilia took a deep breath, forcing his anger and magic down to a calmer level.
No one in the Briar Valley would be so stupid as to touch Silver, the general of the right’s son, the prince’s retainer, and the queen’s godson. And if they were, then Lilia would’ve noticed. Seen the evidence long before it got bad enough to scare Silver this badly.
Right?
~*------------------*~
Silver wasn’t okay.
This was something that had been bothering Malleus since they had returned from the Briar Valley.
Most think Malleus is oblivious to changes in someone’s mood or how they act. But that was wrong. Malleus had learned to be very entuned to how the people he cared about usually acted.
And right now, Silver was acting off. In a way that made Malleus worried. Usually when Silver acted off Malleus was able to play it off as a bad dream or him being extra tired for some reason.
But Malleus couldn’t play this off.
It had been going on too long. Too much. Silver was acting scared. Like something – or someone – had scared him badly enough that he saw even Malleus and Lilia as a threat.
Malleus sighed for the umpteenth time since he had laid down for the night. He needed to stop thinking about this, he couldn’t help Silver if he was exhausted.
Malleus closed his eyes and let himself slip into unconsciousness.
~*---------------------*~
Malleus opened his eyes, only to quickly shield them with his arms against the sheer brightness of… Wherever he was. Where was he?
Malleus slowly lowered his arms and opened his eyes, letting them adjust to the brightness of the area.
Malleus looked around, feeling almost a sense of awe at his surroundings. Everything everywhere was mixes of white, light greys, and pastel colors, mostly light blue and pinks, and soft lavenders. It was almost like being inside Silver’s eyes.
Small orbs of light floated around the area, a few of them seeming to be almost dancing with each other, as weird as that sounded. And there were stars, glass stars hanging from whatever sort of ceiling this place had.
What… What was this place?
Malleus took a few steps, looking around at his surroundings. He’d never seen anything like this.
Malleus approached one of the orbs, a magenta looking one. Malleus gently cupped the orb, intending to get a closer look, only to freeze at the sound of giggling. A child’s giggling. Not just any child… Was that… Silver?
Malleus let go of the orb instantly and looked around frantically, before his eyes caught onto something. Malleus looked to his side, seeing the light blue, ethereal silhouette of a child version of Silver. The silhouette had pure light blue eyes that stared up at him.
“Silver?” Malleus asked. “What happened? Are you okay? What is this place?” Malleus asked, worried. Malleus didn’t know where they were or what was going? What had gotten Silver into this state? Was this even Silver or just some sort of manifestation of him? Malleus took a few steps towards the silhouette, only for it to turn around and start running away.
“Wha- Hey! Silver, come back!” Malleus called out, chasing after it.
Malleus was honestly reminded of the many times he had played chase with Silver, running after the small human in the clearing of the cottage. Malleus could’ve easily caught him each time, but he always let the small human evade him for at least a few moments, if for no other reason than to see that proud grin on the child’s face.
But this time the silhouette was actually outrunning him, perhaps because the child seemed to be an expert at how to dodge the orbs floating around them while Malleus kept nearly running into them.
Suddenly, the silhouette stopped, just in front of one of the low-hanging glass stars. Malleus stilled as well, looking at both the silhouette and the star in confusion.
The silhouette pointed to the star before vanishing in a puff of stars.
Malleus stood still for a moment, stunned by what had happened, before slowly approaching the glass star. Malleus gently placed his hand on the back of the star and tilted it towards him.
Malleus looked inside, freezing at the image.
The image that was held inside of the star showed Silver knelt on the ground, hugging his ribs and his face contorted in pain, one of the fae council members stood over him. Malleus felt rage bubble inside of him.
What was this? Why was this here? What did this mean? Had he hurt Silver? Was this the reason, or part of the reason, why Silver was acting strange?
He needed to get back to Silver. Now.
~*-------------------*~
Silver walked through the training yard of Diasomnia. It was Saturday and he and Sebek were planning on training together. Sebek hadn’t gotten here yet, but Silver could at least warm up while waiting for him.
Silver drew out his training sword, when something wet landed on his nose. Silver let out a startled noise, looking up to see a light storm forming far to quickly to be normal.
Silver’s eyes widened in realization. Something had upset Malleus. What had happened? Silver was sure Malleus was safe in his room, what could have happened?
“Silver.”
Silver turned quickly to where Malleus’ voice bellowed from, seeing the dragon fae appear in the training yard in a flurry of green fireflies. Had Silver done something to make the prince mad?
Drip…
“Lord Malleus! What happened?” Silver asked, worriedly.
Just then, Lilia and Sebek walked out of the building, both looking confused and concerned by the storm. “Lord Malleus? Silver? What happened?” Lilia spoke up first, looking between the two, concerned.
Malleus didn’t even turn to look at them, his emerald green eyes trained solely on Silver. “What happened? What did the fae council do to you?” Malleus asked, and Silver’s blood ran cold.
The fae council had done several things to Silver, mainly in the form of nasty comments. But that wouldn’t make Malleus react like this to Silver. Malleus had somehow found out about what happened during their break to the Briar Valley when one of the fae council members had broken a couple of his ribs. The council member had immediately healed him, not wanting Malleus or Lilia to find out about the incident.
But how could Malleus know? Silver hadn’t told anyone about that. He never told anyone anything like that.
Drip…
The only way he could know is if-
“You… You were in my dreamscape?!” Silver asked, his voice louder than he had intended it due to shock, and perhaps a hint of anger. He had made that place to have somewhere to go to be alone, away from everyone else and be safe. Safe with his secrets.
Malleus’ eyes softened for just a moment before hardening again. “So that’s what that place was… What were all of those stars? Were they all from times where you were hurt?” Malleus demanded, stepping closer to Silver.
“What? Hurt? What’s going on? What happened?” Lilia asked, his expression turning serious as his gaze snapped to Silver.
This wasn’t good.
Silver took a step back.
This wasn’t good. They couldn’t know about this. They couldn’t know. They were never supposed to find out. This wasn’t supposed to happen. No, no, no.
“Human! Answer them!” Sebek yelled, but there was a hint of worry in his voice.
Silver’s vision blurred with tears, and he felt something in him snap. Malleus already knew, possibly looked at every one of his secrets, and even he didn’t he knew how to get into Silver’s dreamscape. Silver’s secrets weren’t safe anywhere, so what was the point in keeping them?
Drip.
“What was that noise?” Lilia whispered, worried.
“You want to know what happened?” Silver asked, his voice cold as he stared right at Malleus.
Malleus looked caught of guard by the coldness in Silver’s voice, but Silver dismissed it.
“He broke a couple of my ribs, not much of a big deal, he immediately healed me afterwards for the sake of no one knowing.” Silver said, chuckling slightly after he finished his explanation.
Silver heard a distinct snap of rope in his ears before a harsh shattering. The star that held that secret shattering on his dreamscape’s floor.
Silver barely even realized how horrified the three were by that statement, before Lilia’s face contorted in rage. “He what!?” Lilia screamed, anger brewing.
Silver descended into a fit of laughter, catching the three off guard. Silver felt something wet drip down his face, before a drop of something black hit the ground. Blot.
“Silver-“ Malleus tried to say, reaching out for the human in shock and worry.
Silver swiftly slapped Malleus’ hand away and took several steps back. “Don’t touch me!” Silver yelled defensively.
Silver saw the hurt that flashed in Malleus’ eyes at the action, but he didn’t care.
Silver saw the panic written in Lilia’s expression, seemingly trying to figure out what to do, but he didn’t care.
Silver saw Sebek making a call on his phone, heard Sebek telling Yuu to get people and come to Diasomnia quickly, but he didn’t care.
He didn’t care.
Not right now.
“Do you have any idea how many secrets I have kept from you all!?” Silver yelled, staring at Malleus, he was the one who’d seen his dreamscape after all.
Malleus’ eyes widened in realization.
“Was… Was that what all those glass stars were? Secrets?” Malleus asked, shocked.
Silver laughed, the sound maniacal. “Of course they were! I couldn’t just tell you about all of the shit that people have put me through! About everything I’ve endured for the sake of repaying you and father for taking me in despite knowing what, who I was! I was already burden enough!” Silver said, smiling maniacally.
Drip, drip, drip.
“Silver, you have to calm down, if you don’t you’ll overblot!” Lilia yelled, clearly desperate to stop another overblot from happening.
Silver ignored him, he didn’t care what happened anymore. “I have hidden so much from you… I knew that the knight of dawn was my father since your first year here.” Silver said, glancing at Lilia who’s eyes widened impossibly further at that revelation.
Snap.
Crash!
“I managed to hide that you called me a filthy iron blood that night you came home from drinking with Baur!” Silver yelled.
Snap.
Crash!
“I didn’t tell anyone about all of those comments fae at BlackScale palace would make about me, about me being human. I hid that, that was why I started hiding my ears from everyone!”
Snap.
Crash!
“I hid how much it hurt when you asked me to avoid you last year!” Silver yelled, looking at Lilia, who’s expression simply screamed horrified.
Snap.
Crash!
“I hid it when I cut myself for comfort with that dagger you gave me out of pride when I told you I wanted to become a knight!”
Snap.
Crash!
By now, Silver could see the second years – his friends – the first years, housewardens, and teachers coming through the Diasomnia mirror and to the training yard.
“Draconia! Zigvolt! Vanrouge! What’s going on!?” Professor Crewel asked, looking between them all.
Silver chuckled softly, tears of blot now freely trailing down his face. He was tired. So, so tired. Of everything. Of fighting the suddenly incessant urge to let himself go into darkness.
“I’m tired.” Silver confessed, his voice suddenly small and meek, scared. What would happen if he gave into that darkness? Would he end up like the night prince? Like Malleus and his friends? Overblot? Was he going overblot? Father said he might just a few moments ago…
Huh…
It didn’t feel as bad as he thought it would. It felt… nice. Like letting go. Like finally laying down to enter his sanctuary after a horrible day. He could feel the darkness beckoning him in gently.
So, so gently.
Just like his father used to beckon him into sleep through soft lullabies. The lullabies that Silver used to beg for on the few nights where he didn’t fall asleep from Lilia’s reading.
It felt so nice.
So warm.
So comforting.
So familiar.
Silver let himself go into that darkness.