Song: Lovely by Billie Eilish with Khalid
Thought I found a way
But you never go away (never go away)
So I guess I gotta stay now
Oh, I hope someday I'll make it out of here
Even if it takes all night or a hundred years
Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near
Wanna feel alive, outside I can fight my fear
Isn't it lovely, all alone
Heart made of glass, my mind of stone
Tear me to pieces, skin and bone
Hello, welcome home

Glacia was frighteningly silent, which made her grieving state all the more heartbreaking to see.

Now there was someone else running into the ward. Luke ran to Glacia's side and take in her unconscious state. His desperate sadness soon turned into anger, and he strode over to where Asher stood, yanking him up by the collar. Asher folded his arms.

Luke's eyes were filled with despicable rage and fury. "You bastard, what the heck have you done?"

Luke slammed Asher into the wall but the other boy didn't wince. It disrupted the eerie silence that had become of Glacia's ward. "You demon, you brought her back to see her own mother die..."

Asher pushed him away, yanking his collar in return. Asher felt his blood boil, he was seething at the devil who had once been his best friend. "You're an idiot. You're the one who's throwing support to the man who ordered her mother's death."

Luke hesitated for a moment, his eyes widening with true shock. "You mean... Dante's the one who did this? And not your father?"

"Huh. You really don't know." Asher snarled, "That makes you even more pathetic."

Luke raised his fist to strike Asher, but realised with a start that they were in Glacia's ward, and that they shouldn't be fighting. Asher didn't even wince, his eyes were challenging instead. Do it, if you dare. After a charged silence, Luke let his hand come down.

"I'm holding back only for her."

Yes, Asher would have gladly taken Luke on if not for the fact that they Glacia was lying unconscious in the hospital, and if not for the fact that he was mourning along with Glacia.
Asher smirked, holding in his fury for Luke. "You couldn't hit me if you tried."

This angered Luke yet again, he looked as if he would really punch Asher this time. However, he had to let go when he saw that Glacia's friends were coming into the room.

He hissed, "I don't know what made Gracia think it was sensible enough to tell you about who her mother was, but you better remember that no one else can know."

Asher couldn't stand the look on Luke's face. He should be the one that was mad. He pushed Luke away, the momentum throwing the boy off a little. "Get away from me."

Glacia's friends entered the room now. Savannah was crying hopelessly, more so than Glacia had did. She went over and held Glacia's hand, praying silently. Jo stood beside Savannah, gazing at Glacia solemnly. Never had he seen Jo's face look so bleak too. "If she hurt very badly? Why is she unconscious?"

She's not hurt physically, she was hurt from a broken heart. Asher watched as Luke hastily replied. "It's just shock." He cast Asher a sideways glance, making sure that Asher did not let the secret out.

Rose narrowed her eyes at Asher. "You brought her out again. What did you do?"

All three girls looked to Asher now. Even greater tension fell over the room, they now sent accusatory looks to the boy. Asher didn't feel like defending himself, he kept quiet as Luke walked over to the door.

Luke continued to blame Asher as if it was him who sinned. "I'm warning you, don't ever go near Glacia again, or I will rip you apart. Understand?"

Luke held the door open and sent Asher out of the door with a big shove.

The door slammed in Asher's face. He turned his back and left.

***

Asher practically stormed into the dark room. Over the years, the Prophetic Regiis had used purple sheets to form some sort of cave, only to be illuminated by some flickering candle lights. These people had more secrecy than ever. They were strange Royalliers who seldom showed themselves to the rest of the Realm. If they did, it was to fetch someone who they could see the future of.

Asher knew he looked like a mess, he hadn't had time to clean himself up after the fight. Still, he strode in daringly. "Nadia, you read my future last time. It said that I was going to —"

"Oh, I remember." The woman at the end of the hall replied coolly. She lifted her hood and arched her head up so she appeared taller than the Crown Prince at once.

Asher stopped in front of her. "Can... can your future be changed?"

"You've asked me this before, little prince. And I will tell you the same as I did the last time. No, it cannot, and your best hope at preserving your life would be to kill the girl you saw in your future."

"What if you're wrong? You have read the future of someone, but when that happened it was different."

When Livia had come to seen Asher, she had told him about her Vision. She said that she would die one day, and it was up to him to pave the way for the Royalliers then. And she wanted him to protect Glacia, which he refused to at first.

But one way or another, he desired to protect her too.

Despite his attempts to avoid her, he was finding that she was creeping up his skin...

"In Livia's vision, she died not because of a bomb. She said that she would die because someone would put the Red Ruby in what she ate. That was why I went back to tell her about it. She wasn't supposed to die that day."

That was why Asher had thought to bring Glacia back. He never expected her death to be today. If he had known, he would have done everything to keep her away.

Nadia's brows furrowed. "Perhaps it's possible to change some little details, but the gist will always be there. Why? Are you still reluctant to kill her?"

"I will avoid the situation where such a battle will happen, then." He said vaguely.

Nadia shook her head in a knowing manner. "I don't blame you, I know that you love her too much to want to kill her."

Asher nearly laughed. "I just met her. I don't —"

Nadia's eyes widened. "I don't understand. Wait, who was the girl you think you saw in the Vision?"

Asher answered, confused. "Glacia, my socius."

Nadia closed her eyes.

"Hmm."

She got up and vanished.

***

Nothing made sense. That night, he spent hours sitting in the study, just thinking. It was already 4am — where had the time gone? Now that Callum was responsible for many of the duties that had been his, he was surprisingly free. However, he would much rather keep himself busy at a time like this.

He decided to go to the Night Garden, which was only steps away from his room. When he entered, he knew instinctively he wasn't alone. There was a strange pulse at his hand, as if it was inviting him to come closer to his socius.

He never had visitors in his garden. It was his place. Only royalty should have been allowed to be here. Normally, he would be ticked off at the idea of someone coming to his garden. But now, he didn't mind at all.

Asher always seemed to have to remember to breathe these days. When he trod on the velvet grass, a girl had come into view. She was dangling dangerously on the top of the tree. Her eyes were closed, her cheeks stained with tears that must have been shed long ago. She looked so very still, her face angled to capture the iridescent blue light around her. From that height, she could have passed off for an angel.

In two steps, he managed to climb to her position. He did it gingerly but quickly, afraid that the branch she was on would crumble.

He wasn't really sure how to comfort someone. He had assumed that Luke or one of her friends would stay with her.

But of all people, Asher was the one Glacia wanted to find.

"I shouldn't have brought you back." Asher spoke, his shoulders brushing against hers. She was strong enough to hold herself upright, but her calm and quiet was her veil of grief, he knew that.

"No. It would have pained me more if I had learnt that she died alone. At least I got to say goodbye."

Asher thought to the words Glacia and Livia had said to each other again and again. I love you. It was the words that held much more meaning to it -- it carried the future years that they could not share, the pain and grief but happiness that they had over the years. He closed his eyes too, matching his breathing with hers.

"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise."

She stirred, opening her eyes now. When she turned to Asher, they were a sea-glass blue. She was strong, but strength didn't make you immune. "You don't actually believe in that."

"I don't believe that there will only be one dark night. But I know that the sun will rise, it always does."

"And what if I can't bear another night of darkness?" Her voice broke.

"You will learn to make do. I know you will. You're strong, Glacia. I know if anyone, you'd be able to get through it."

She made a soft noise, and fell against his shoulder. Asher reached out his arms, abandoning the thoughts of him having to be wary of her, having to wear his mask, having to do anything. In this moment, he felt the pain of the light fading in a girl that had always been so bright, the first time she had been introduced to the corrupted and horrible Realm of the Royalliers. He felt the pain as if it were his.

She went into his arms and he stroked her back. Asher was whispering, it's okay. Let it all out. No one else is here now, it's okay. Let it all out.

And she did. Silent heaving of breaths, then tears spilling onto her cheeks so she looked like a crystal in the moonlight. At first it was as though she had forgotten the mechanisms of crying. Then the grief came and she shook and shivered.

He couldn't understand why he desperately wanted to comfort her. He never felt this way before. Never had his heart been in such a turmoil...

Something in her was broken and could never be repaired. But he hoped that she would not be lost forever. He couldn't stand the thought of her becoming just another Royallier.

At some point, fire and ice were brimming against where they touched again. He looked down, seeing how his own virtus had intertwined with hers in ways he had never seen before.

His grip was firm around her. Wordlessly, Asher sat next to Glacia. All he could do is wait, wait for her to speak, wait for her to at least heal from some of the pain, even if the damage could never be fully taken away.

She didn't speak for a while. When she finally stopped crying, she surprisingly stayed in Asher's arms. He hadn't exactly wanted to chase her away either.

Glacia was staring at where there was a silver waterfall ahead, thinking. The water could drown out her crying, if it weren't for the fact that she was right against him.

Then, she stirred and bit her bottom lip down. "I will kill Dante. I will fight the Insurgents."

She was no fragile girl. She was grieving, and she had reached a point of no return. Her heart was broken, and she would turn these pieces into her weapon.

"I will fight with you, Asher. I will stand with you. Tell me what to do."

Asher's breathing hitched. He couldn't trust himself enough to look at her in this moment.

"I don't have anything to instruct you. You're my socius, Glacia. Whatever it is, we'll fight it together."

"Okay. Listen to me, then."

Glacia turned to him, her blue eyes an electric blue, with slips of icy silver tinged in them. She was beautiful, fearsome and fearless all at once.

"I'm going to get revenge."