Chapter Text
“S-seam? Yes, of course. Come in. ” Ralsei says with a cheerful tone while desperately wiping away his tears. He should known Seam would come, Lancer did say so! He always ends up forgetting things when he is worrying.
How did Seam know of his room in the first place? Ralsei did try to keep his room hidden so no one would bother him when he wanted to be left with his thoughs. Or rather so he would bother anyone else with his whining…
“Hmm… This is not what I expected from someone so dedicated to making everyone nice rooms.”
Seam says as he inspects the empty room.
Ralsei frowns at that comment. Of course he should have known Seam would react like this, considering that Susie did so too. Why does he just repeat the same mistakes over and over again?
“W-well, we are working on it. Look, I already have… a trashcan…” Ralsei replies blushing while retreating in his scarf. He knows he should be happy about this generous gift, but in the end, it is just a reminder of the failure that is the manual thrown away by Kris.
“Ah Yes, I can see how the we trashcan makes all the difference.” Seam replies with a chuckle.
“But perhaps you still want to come to my shop? I imagine you will find my pillows to be more comfortable than the cold floor of your room.”
Ralsei thinks for a moment. It does sound nice. But… can he really accept such a generous offer?
“Thanks Seam, but the tea you brought me is already more than I could ask for.”
At that Seam’s smile grew bigger. “Ha, you can’t fool me with that smile. I can see something is bothering you.” He really can’t stop making other people worry, can he? But maybe Seam can make him feel better?
“Alright, I accept” Ralsei says with a small but this time genuine smile.
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“Now little prince, tell me what’s bothering you.” Seam was making another tea. Mince flavour, a gift from the Addisons for the prince to show their thanks to the fluffy boy.
Ralsei was sitting on a remarkably soft chair. He could have used the sofa, but it wouldn’t really make a difference considering that all of Seam’s furniture was made out of soft fabric. Ralsei just thought a modest chair would be more polite.
“Well, it’s no big deal, really.” Ralsei says with his eyes cast down to the just as soft floor.
“Then it wouldn’t be a bother to tell me, no?” Seam says while giving him the new tea.
“Well, if you insist I…” Ralsei says reluctantly while trying to find a way to sugarcoat his worries.
“I… am worried about the future” he continues. He really doesn’t want to tell more; this is already more than he ever swore himself to tell anyone.
“I see… you want to avoid the last tragedy of the prophecy I presume? You know, I did seek to do the same once, after listening to the twisted words of Jevil. But these were twisted words of truth, sadly. Then I came to accept it. It was almost freeing knowing that nothing I did would matter in the end, for better or worse. But recently… when you first defeated Jevil I was surprised, I thought it impossible. Then that Mailman. And then even the Knight itself, even though I never gave you the ShadowMantle. You already managed what I believed impossible, you gave me HOPE and for that I wanted to thank you. You have proven that you can change fate. So, don’t worry that much about your future. Perhaps there is another ending to the prophecy.” Seam speaks with a voice that sound both more genuine than what Ralsei is used to from him.
But instead of giving him hope, it just reinforces his worries. A change of fate is very much a reason to worry about for someone who is burdened with knowledge as Ralsei is.
As an attempt to calm his breathing he takes a sip from his tea, but his shaking hands won’t listen.
“Huh… Now this doesn’t seem like relief. Talk to me. At this point there is hardly anything that could make me worry as much as I once did.
“You… really want me to tell?” Ralsei is still surprised Seam cared so much about his worries. He didn’t think that others would genuinely be interested in him beyond the cheerful façade, besides perhaps Susie and Kris. Was he even worthy of such attention? What was he if not the cheerful guide?
“This should be obvious by now, no? Now, speak before your tea gets cold” Seam replied warmly.
Ralsei paused for a moment, contemplating how to word his fears without sounding insane. He really only got a few unclear signs and a vague prophecy to go off.
“Well… if I must tell…” Ralsei speaks while hugging himself. It does little to sooth him.
“The prophecy contains a few parts that seem… off, hardly related to the foreseen path. ‘Who will call the girl who snows?’ ‘Cold water fell from the sky’ and even stranger words… I suspect they describe another path- I… I dread that they are warnings of another path!” Ralsei’s words begin to become increasingly frantic. “I-I want to prevent the foreseen ending so SO badly, but how… how… without dooming us to an even greater tragedy? With the way the Darkners of the Cyber Word act I probably already have! When I failed to make Kris think of Noelle, when I failed to make Susie tell what happened in that room. I failed. I really have failed my friends so easily and carelessly, haven’t I. Am I really that-t… pathetic? I…I’m..” Ralsei’s words turn into tearful mumbling.
Seam’s face for once does not show his seemingly eternal smile but a deeply thoughtful and concerned look. “Ralsei…” He says as he puts some more sugar into Ralsei’s tea. Ralsei allows himself to peak at Seam.
“If what you say is true, then this means that your fate is not predetermined, for worse and for the better. HOPE is the power to change fate. If there is a brighter future that can be reached, it will need someone who believes it’s there to reach it.”
“H-How? I- sniff tried my best already and yet…” Ralsei’s eyes begin to tear up again.
“And yet the world hasn’t ended yet. Not to long ago I asked myself ‘Why try if the world doesn’t hold a future for me anyway?’ But the actions of your team showed a different question: ‘Why not try till the end, just in case that I was actually wrong?’ Don’t give up HOPE, young hero. Perhaps you just have to continue trying. If your plan hasn’t worked out, try a different one.”
Ralsei’s sobs pause for a moment has he considers Seam’s words. “M-Maybe you are right. Perhaps I can still…” And then his eyes open. “I think I might know what to do! Thank Seam, thank you!” he says as he jumps into Seam and attacks him with a hug.
“Ehh… O-of course, young prince. Anytime” Seam says with a smile.
But just as quickly as the hug has begun Ralsei breaks it in a hurry. “Sorry, I must go immediately. Thank you for your kind words and tea, greet Lancer for me. Byeeee.”
“Anytime, my prince. And don’t be afraid to come again, should you need advice. Me and my tea are not going anywhere.”
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Once again is Ralsei rushing down the street of Castle Town with a smile, but this time a genuine one. There is still hope. Hope to protect the people the cares about. The people that he loves. He can still prove his worth. He still hasn’t failed his duty as the bringer of a better future.
He just has to try harder. He can’t believe he almost gave up like that. Maybe is really is almost as bad as he feared, just giving up like that, when there is still work to be done. But only almost. He can still bring a better ending.
He just has to try and try and try and try. Now matter how much effort he has to put into it.
…..And from within the darkness of his shadows, unseen, a dark creature with an orange smile asks itself: “Haha, I wonder how much longer he can try? How much more he can sacrifice of himself for his friends until there is nothing left?