#mine: runaways | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

violetlunette · 1 month

Text

Runaway Chapter 7: A World Shaken

Summary: Malleus continues to sort through his emotions while Lilia finally receives news...

Previous Chapter

Master List

Ao3

Notes: *Twst spoilers for Chapter/Book 7

Lilia’s heart pounded in his ears as hurried to the office of the headmaster. This was one of many moments that he missed his magical abilities, as, in the past, Lilia could have been there the instant he heard the news. Whether or not it was good news had yet to be determined, but at least it was something.

It had been a week since Silver ran away and nothing had changed, except that he and Malleus weren’t speaking, something that agonized Lilia. He wanted to work things out with the Prince as he was just as dear to him as his lost son, however, every attempt was rebuffed. And to be honest, that may have been for the best as Lilia had no idea what he would say to the boy and, with his emotional state, his attempts to reconcile may just lead to another a fight, or overwhelm Malleus again.

Thus, Lilia chose to do nothing at this time, as he felt that was all he could do without making the situation worse.

Thankfully, Sebek took the opposite approach;

While just as upset, Sebek decided that taking action was the best course. He worked with Azul and Carter to make “lost” posters of Silver, which the latter posted on social media, while Azul had Jade and Floyd hand out fliers around town. (Both who paid Ruggie to do it in their stead.)

This all turned to be fortuitous as thanks to Sebek efforts, they struck something:

A sailor had some items floating in the sea and, thanks to the fliers, guessed the items were connected to Silver and so contacted the school.

Upon arriving, the sailor had been brought to Crowley’s office to discuss things while Lilia was summoned.

Despite losing his ability to transport, Lilia arrived quickly, running over any unfortunate soul that happened to get in his way. (Thankfully the loss of his magic didn’t hamper his physical abilities.)

He burst into the office, demanding what the man knew between breaths.

“Not sure if it belongs to yer kid, but we found these,” The sailor answered in a gruff voice after Lilia’s barrage of questions.

He placed a broom on the table first, its wood and bristles torn apart by the tides. The headmaster hummed beside Lilia.

“Hm, well, this is ours, without a doubt. Though, usually, our brooms are in better condition.” Crowley pointed at the NRC graving on the wood, confirming to Lilia that this was the broom used to carry his son away.

“Was it just a broom you found?” the fae inquired. The sailor shook his head.

“No, we found this as well.” The sailor then opened a sack and dumped a few items on Crowley’s desk.

“I recognized the hat being something I’ve seen the NRC kids wear, so I figured there was some connection.” Said hat was a Diasomnia hat, exactly like the one Lilia usually wore atop his head before he turned his uniform in.

If the hat wasn’t enough of a clue that this stuff belonged to Silver, then the baton was.

Lilia picked that item up and stared at the key chain. This was definitely the baton he gifted Silver during his first year at school.

As he looked at it, Lilia couldn’t help but recall how Silver, despite his best efforts, had dozed off before the cake was served and had to be shaken awake as Lilia and Malleus watched in amusement.

Silver had been glad to receive the wand, seeing it as an acknowledgment of his efforts in training.

Lilia hadn’t the heart to tell the lad that Lilia gave it to him for another reason.

There was an incident the year before when a brave fool tried to sneak into the school to get at Malleus. He didn't make it far, thanks to Lilia. However, the father was worried about his son getting hurt, so he decided to provide a weapon with more—kick if needed—to defend Malleus and himself.

However, the item that held his gaze like a cobra was the ring.

The gold ring glimmered in the light as Lilia stared at the stones that reflected Silver’s eyes.

Lilia’s heart tightened as he plucked it from the table, reading the engraving.

“May my child’s eyes remain as clear as these jewels and never cloud with sadness.”

Lilia’s entire being was filled with emotions that he was only barely able to hold back.

“Where did you get these?” he asked, keeping his voice even.

The sailor shrugged, shoving his hands in his pocket.

“A mermaid I work with found them at the bottom of the ocean, along with a body.”

The world shook then came to a stop.

~*~

In the courtyard below, Malleus wandered lost in thought. The wind tasseled his hair around his black horns and across his face. He lifted a hand to brush it away from his eyes, laden with dark sacks from several sleepless nights.

Things were starting to settle down again after the traumatic event.

The STYX officers were on standby while investigators searched the school for the cause of all the blot outbreaks. However, the guards of Briar Valley returned to their homeland with the Queen, who had duties to attend to. She promised to spend time with him and talk to him when he returned for the next school break.

Malleus understood and was grateful that she took the time to come in the first place. However, now he felt like he truly had no one to talk to. Especially since he and Lilia still weren’t talking.

The thought of his guardian made Malleus’ whole body tense, the leather of his gloves groaning as he tightened them into fists.

Lilia made attempts to talk, but Malleus rejected him every time. This was partly because of how furious he was at the other but, more than that, Malleus didn’t know how to talk to Lilia anymore.

The fae had always been his support. Someone Malleus could trust and count on when everything became too much. But now things were different.

Lilia’s lies shattered his perception of everything, and, in an instant, all Malleus thought he knew had come into question. What did he believe anymore? What could he believe if he couldn’t believe Lilia? Lilia, who was always there, taught him magic and self-defense. Who protected him from visible and invisible foes, who had been there for him since he hatched...

What other secrets did his guardian keep from him all these years? What other lies had he told? If Malleus couldn’t trust him, then there was no one he could trust.

Malleus hugged himself, and his head fell forward as he realized something he wished he didn’t: Lilia just wasn’t “Lilia” anymore.

He was not the person Malleus thought he knew better than anyone else. He was no longer the person Malleus could put his faith in when the world was against him.

Lilia wasn’t...Lilia.

‘All because of Silver...’ Malleus’ jaw clenched as his emotions swirled like poison once more: despair and anger in equal measure. The feeling was so overwhelming that he fell against one of the many apple trees that covered Night Raven College, using the trunk to steady himself.

Silver was the son of the man who killed his mother. While a part of Malleus knew it was unfair to blame the other, the prince could never forget that fact.

He could never forget that, if not for Silver’s father, Malleus have had a family with her.

He could have gotten to know her. To see how she felt about gargoyles and learn what she liked, what her favorite treats were. She could have taught him things in his dragon form that Lilia, despite his efforts, could not, and more.

But all those moments that Malleus could have had… were impossible now.

All because of the humans that invaded their land. Because of Silver’s humans.

The dragon's brow furrowed in anger.

It wasn’t just Malleus who suffered. His grandmother lost her daughter, and his people lost their homes and were forced to fight in a war for centuries. They all suffered as well.

Malleus couldn’t forget that. Nor could he forgive it.

‘Even so…’ He released a breath as he tilting his head toward the sky for answers to the troubles plaguing him only to be blinded by sunlight. However, he did catch the gaze of something.

A raven gargoyle.

“Behold its artistry; don't you feel as though it could take flight at any moment? It is no doubt the work of a famous artisan.”

“So there are raven gargoyles? I thought they were modeled after demons and such.”

Malleus’ expression pinched as his eyes shined at the memory.

He hated this. He hated this feeling. And he hated Silver.

Silver was the reason for all this. The loss and hollowing of Fae lands, the death of his mother, Lilia’s betrayal—it was all because of him!!

Malleus folded his arms and bowed slightly, his hair hiding his face.

“Tch! That human. That…” He was glad Silver was gone. Had he been there, there’s no telling how Malleus would have reacted. And having the boy there saved him the trouble of finding out.

He only wished he had taken all the memories they made together as well, so he had to think of the human ever again.

The time Malleus taught Silver magic, Silver’s first steps, their first meeting...

“…What is that? It looks like a hairless simian.” The memory of that day came unbidden into his mind, causing a sharp pain in his heart.

Lilia hadn’t seen him for some time, so Malleus decided to visit him.

Once he entered the forest, he was overwhelmed with the flutters of the woodland fairies’ gossip about the strangest news he ever heard: Lilia, the feared General of Briar Valley, had adopted a baby. A HUMAN baby. It was so ridiculous that Malleus hadn’t believed it until he saw it himself.

The sight was shocking in more ways than one.

Malleus had never seen a baby before, much less a human one, and to be frank, he wasn’t impressed. Lilia, on the other hand, was smitten. Smitten, a word the prince never thought he’d use to describe the other.

“He’s the baby in question, and his name is Silver. So, what do you think? Isn’t he just adorable?” Malleus had scrunched his face in disgust.

“Adorable? This thing…?” Seeing the general coo over the thing did nothing to appeal him to the child. If anything, it annoyed the dragon as bits of jealousy filled his eyes. But then Lilia did the unthinkable; he shoved the human into his arms!

What was the madman thinking? Even one wrong move and Malleus would shatter it like he had so many toys over the years.

But the baby didn’t break. Instead, it grew into a young man who became Malleus’ knight. Someone Malleus could depend on.

Or rather, someone Malleus THOUGHT he could depend on. Now…

Malleus tightened his grip on his arms.

When Silver was just a human Lilia found in the woods, there was no doubt he could put his faith in the boy. Now that Silver was the son of the foe who slew his mother, however…

The corners of his lips trembled as his eyes narrowed.

“Dammit..!” He hated this. He hated Lilia. He hated Silver. He hated both. If it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be in this pain.

How could Lilia do this to him? He claimed it was for Malleus' father, but did he have to betray his mother to honor the other? And why in the world did it have to be THAT human?

But even as he thought about it, Malleus knew the answer.

“I want to see if I really can love a human from the bottom of my heart.”

Malleus pressed his lips as Lilia’s words rang in his ears.

Lilia wanted to know if he could truly live in peace with humans and forgive them for their crimes. So, he chose the human he hated most to test himself.

Apparently, he passed, considering how much Lilia adored the boy now. Malleus, on the other hand…

Malleus pressed his lips tight.

The bat fae hadn’t said it back then, but Lilia wondered if Malleus could do the same. And, despite everything, he did.

Malleus did love that sleepy human baby dearly. So much so that the dragon prince was willing to attend a human school and meet other humans.

But now the question was different; now the question was, could Malleus forgive the sins of the past and love the son of his enemy? And the answer to THAT…

Words tumbled through clenched teeth, each low and shaking.

“I’ll never forgive him,’ he said, not knowing if he was referring to Lilia or Silver. “Never!”

Behind him, the tree withered. Then, an apple fell before decaying as well.

~end~

A/n:

*I’m sad that this story has been mainly about the others as this was originally supposed to be Silver’s story. Oh, well. I’ll make up for that in future stories.

*Ahh, it’s hard to sort through Malleus’ emotions. I want his to get from “a” to “c,” but I know I have to deal with “b” first, which is a pain.

25 notes · View notes