[temehika] dyed blue

The red fabric donned by his erstwhile friend fluttered in the wind, dimly lit by the flames in the distance. The sands, stained crimson with the blood his blade rent from his opponents. 

 

The town he had called home crumbles in a sea of fire, while his friend breathes her last in his arms, still more fallen in every corner of the streets. But he can hardly see them; the only thing remaining was red. 

 

Mugen’s armour gleamed red in the moonlight, the pristine throne room tarnished with a splatter of blood atop of which their father laid murdered. His last remaining blood relation did nothing but look down at him coldly through that expressionless mask—

 

Red . It blurred his vision, filled his ears with a deafening heartbeat. His grip tensed around the hilt of his blade. Tightly enough to hurt. He could hear every breath he made, painfully exhaling as if it were his last. Vaguely, he heard a voice that felt unfamiliar amidst the memories. 

 

“...Hikari? Hikari!” 

 

He jolted awake with a start, acutely aware of the gentle hand on his shoulder and the eyes right in front of him. They were blue. 

 

The pounding in his ears was replaced by the snoring echoing throughout the room; the louder one Partitio’s, while Osvald's was deep and slower. Slowly, Hikari’s breathing returned to a steady rhythm, guided by the reassuring presence of his friends. 

 

“Temenos.” The name was unfamiliar on his tongue. Having only met each other a few days prior, Hikari realised it was the first time he had spoken it. 

 

“Are you alright?” 

 

“My apologies, I… didn't mean to wake you.” The other man’s hand slipped off his shoulder, as tender as it came. 

 

“Wake me? It's a wonder you didn't rouse the other two, with your thrashing about,” Temenos murmured. “It must have been quite the nightmare.” 

 

“Indeed… but you need not worry on my account. If it becomes a bothersome arrangement, I can pay for personal accommodation…”

 

Temenos shook his head. “That’s hardly the issue here, Hikari. I won't pretend to know what's on your mind nor do I intend to pry, but…” His voice softened. “I would advise you to confide in others when you are troubled. Before it's too late, might I add.”

 

There was a touch of concern in his expression that Hikari was surprised to see in one he was so unacquainted with. Were all clerics like this, or was there something else that made Temenos look at him that way? Perhaps it was the relative quiet of the night, or the soft darkness that hung in the room, but Hikari could feel himself let his guard down in a way he scarcely allowed himself to. Unclenching his hands, he peered into Temenos’ gaze; they were a shade he had never seen before venturing outside of Ku. 

 

“...Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind.” A pause before he added, “you’re a kind man, Temenos.” 

 

“Why, did you expect otherwise from me?” When Hikari opened his mouth to protest, Temenos simply laughed. “Heh, I’m only teasing you. Let us hope you can get some rest before the sun rises.”

 

Hikari nodded, settling back into bed. “The same goes for you, my friend.” The word came to him naturally, but for the first time in a while, he considered his intent behind it. Everyone in his life until now had been his countrymen, family and comrades alike. For the first time, he considered a relationship outside of those bounds. 

 

His eyes moved away from Temenos’ back as he stared at the ceiling of the inn room, awash with a gentle blue light from the moon. He closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.