Timeline 01 - Nearing midnight
[He takes his time returning from the shrine and his necessary visit with Ulrike. The day has been long and his body aches with his need for sleep. But still, he pauses. A breeze feathers the hair back from his brow as he tips his head up to stare at the hard glitter of long familiar stars that spark the darkness high above.]
[He finds himself wondering if there was anything he could have done differently.]
[It is the encounter with the other Shibuya Yuuri that morning that pains him most. Had he not dismissed the other's behavior as childish frivolity, much heartache could have been avoided.
When Conrad arrived with the body there was nothing he could do for the child. There was nothing he could say to diffuse the venomous words of the stricken man, which wounded him more deeply than he cares to admit. Releasing some of his guilt and pain in the arms of Edwyn was all he could allow himself.
The chance at salvation is offered by Edwyn, and in desperation he grasped the idea and took Shibuya's body to the abandoned lab.
Refusing aid proves to be a mistake. Still new to the limitation of being once again given physical form, his collapse was inevitable. He knows now that Edwyn carried on with the help of their doubles, but then he knew only darkness, until a voice breaks his peace and he lashes out to sunder the spells being woven to restore a soul unwilling to be saved.
Sending everyone away, he struggled to contain energies that could have easily killed every maryoku user in the castle. Even the small amounts that slipped his grasp caused havoc. Exhausted and heart-sore, he takes Shibuya's body to the infirmary to rest until what life remains has faded. It is there that he feels the disturbance that threatens Khrennikov. Unable to do anything else, he alerts Edwyn and leaves the choice of who to send up to the Sage.
The choice made, he waits for Weller-kyo outside, their parting words bitter with anger remaining from their earlier encounter. As Conrad leaves him, he receives news from Edwyn concerning the effect the maryoken backlash has had on Shibuya Yuuri and others. It is another burden that weighs heavily on him as he goes to see Ulrike. Their discussion sets some necessary events in motion, and yet there is still more he must do.]
[When his stomach suddenly growls, he realizes he has not eaten since a hastily snatched breakfast that morning. The day has come nearly to an end, and for now he must eat and rest.
It is not much longer before he is back in the castle, walking halls wrapped in clinging silence. Though he knows the reason for the reduced guard, he cannot help but be uneasy at the empty passages.
In the kitchen, coals are banked to a low, orange glow that cause small, flickering shadows to dance at the edge of his vision. Bread, fruit and cheese are placed on a tray balanced on one hand. On his way out, he catches a carafe of cool water with his other hand and kicks the door closed with one foot.
He sees nothing on his way back to the room he shares with Edwyn, and it is with relief that he sets down the tray and carafe on a table and closes the door gently. His beloved is curled in the blankets, breath soft in sleep and he can't stop the small smile that curves his lips. Nor can he prevent himself from leaning over the edge of the bed and placing a delicate kiss at the corner of the sleeping Sage's mouth. It is nearing the midpoint of the night, and he should let his beloved rest but he cannot move away so quickly. After such a short time together again, he could have lost Edwyn once more today, and his hand cups Edwyn's warm cheek in reverent gratitude.]
[He finds himself wondering if there was anything he could have done differently.]
[It is the encounter with the other Shibuya Yuuri that morning that pains him most. Had he not dismissed the other's behavior as childish frivolity, much heartache could have been avoided.
When Conrad arrived with the body there was nothing he could do for the child. There was nothing he could say to diffuse the venomous words of the stricken man, which wounded him more deeply than he cares to admit. Releasing some of his guilt and pain in the arms of Edwyn was all he could allow himself.
The chance at salvation is offered by Edwyn, and in desperation he grasped the idea and took Shibuya's body to the abandoned lab.
Refusing aid proves to be a mistake. Still new to the limitation of being once again given physical form, his collapse was inevitable. He knows now that Edwyn carried on with the help of their doubles, but then he knew only darkness, until a voice breaks his peace and he lashes out to sunder the spells being woven to restore a soul unwilling to be saved.
Sending everyone away, he struggled to contain energies that could have easily killed every maryoku user in the castle. Even the small amounts that slipped his grasp caused havoc. Exhausted and heart-sore, he takes Shibuya's body to the infirmary to rest until what life remains has faded. It is there that he feels the disturbance that threatens Khrennikov. Unable to do anything else, he alerts Edwyn and leaves the choice of who to send up to the Sage.
The choice made, he waits for Weller-kyo outside, their parting words bitter with anger remaining from their earlier encounter. As Conrad leaves him, he receives news from Edwyn concerning the effect the maryoken backlash has had on Shibuya Yuuri and others. It is another burden that weighs heavily on him as he goes to see Ulrike. Their discussion sets some necessary events in motion, and yet there is still more he must do.]
[When his stomach suddenly growls, he realizes he has not eaten since a hastily snatched breakfast that morning. The day has come nearly to an end, and for now he must eat and rest.
It is not much longer before he is back in the castle, walking halls wrapped in clinging silence. Though he knows the reason for the reduced guard, he cannot help but be uneasy at the empty passages.
In the kitchen, coals are banked to a low, orange glow that cause small, flickering shadows to dance at the edge of his vision. Bread, fruit and cheese are placed on a tray balanced on one hand. On his way out, he catches a carafe of cool water with his other hand and kicks the door closed with one foot.
He sees nothing on his way back to the room he shares with Edwyn, and it is with relief that he sets down the tray and carafe on a table and closes the door gently. His beloved is curled in the blankets, breath soft in sleep and he can't stop the small smile that curves his lips. Nor can he prevent himself from leaning over the edge of the bed and placing a delicate kiss at the corner of the sleeping Sage's mouth. It is nearing the midpoint of the night, and he should let his beloved rest but he cannot move away so quickly. After such a short time together again, he could have lost Edwyn once more today, and his hand cups Edwyn's warm cheek in reverent gratitude.]