The blonde man, Kylor, stood at the threshold, his heart heavy with sorrow. As he knocked on the wooden door, a young lady, her eyes red and swollen from crying, opened it. "Kylor? Do you want to visit Damian now?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's really hard right now. I'm sorry if I look this way," she added, tears streaming down her face as she rubbed her eyes with a cloth.
With a deep breath, Kylor extended a bouquet of dark, mournful flowers to the young lady. "This for me? Thank you, Kylor. You've really helped our family every time. You can visit Damian; he's in his bedroom," she said, managing a warm smile through her tears.
As Kylor stepped into the house, his eyes swept across the room, taking in the sight of everyone in tears. The weight of their collective grief hung heavy in the air, and tears streamed down their faces.
With a heavy heart, he made his way forward, his gaze falling upon Damian's parents. His mother was bent over, her sobs echoing through the room as she mourned the loss of her son. His father stood by her side, his own eyes brimming with unshed tears as he offered his support.
With a somber expression, Kylor ascended the staircase, each step feeling like a burden. Upon reaching the second floor, he found all the doors locked. Undeterred, he pressed on, his footsteps echoing in the silence. Finally, he reached a door adorned with a drawing of a man with blue hair and a man with blonde hair.
"Damian, it's me, Kylor," he called softly, his voice heavy with sorrow. He hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door. The seconds ticked by, each one filled with aching anticipation, until the door creaked open to reveal Damian. His weary eyes and pallid complexion spoke volumes, and his blue hair hung limply around his face.
"Please, go inside," Damian muttered wearily, his voice heavy with emotion. Kylor reached out and placed a black flower in Damian's hand. Shock and confusion filled Damian as he hugged Kylor gently, whispering, "Thank you, Kylor."
Kylor enveloped Damian in a warm embrace, a bittersweet smile gracing his lips. As the hug ended, Damian accepted the black flowers, tears of guilt and sorrow streaming down his cheeks as he sank against the wall on his bed. Kylor settled into a nearby chair, a solemn expression on his face.
"Why didn't you accompany Lancelot to search for the Grimiore in the district, Kylor?" Damian's voice trembled with emotion, tears still flowing. "I did, but I chose to come to you instead," Kylor replied softly. "It may not be the typical duty of a royal knight, but I felt it was more important to speak with you first."
Damian wiped away his tears and gazed at Kylor with a heavy heart. "Thank you as always, Kylor," he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "Damian, did your brother really pass away?" Kylor asked with a mournful tone.
"Yes, he was brutally murdered by someone we have yet to identify; the perpetrator is still being pursued. His life was taken, and his body was cruelly covered in wax, with his left hand severed," Damian replied with profound sadness.
"But he was the best brother. So much has changed since our childhood, but you have remained by my side. I am deeply grateful for that," Damian added, his voice filled with sorrow and nostalgia.
Kylor nodded, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's been too long since we had a real conversation," he murmured. "I miss those carefree days, running around the city without a care in the world."
As memories flooded back, Damian's tears flowed even more freely. "I remember," he whispered. "Those endless games of hide and seek, the laughter that seemed to never end."
"And the mischief we got up to," Kylor added, a bittersweet smile tugging at his lips. "Like the time we snuck into the farmlands and caused chaos, only to be scolded by your sister." Kylor let out tears in his eyes. "And getting chased by your sister through the district," he said. "Those were the days, weren't they?"
"My dear brother, you and I were truly the best trio to ever grace this planet. Our time together was more precious than anything else," he said, his voice breaking with emotion. "Kylor, I've been wondering since we were kids: What was the purpose behind all the things we did?"
"Perhaps it was simply to seek joy and happiness," Kylor murmured softly, his words reaching Damian's ears. "But now, as adults, that pursuit seems to lose its significance. It's no longer a goal but merely a fleeting emotion and experience for us," Damian replied.
"Since I joined the royal knights, I've felt lost without a clear purpose. It's as if I'm just a small, insignificant part of this vast world, with no real meaning or direction. Kylor, I fear that I'm merely existing in this moment."
"What I carry inside me right now is an overwhelming sense of guilt, sadness, and regret. Although I still experience fleeting moments of happiness and joy, they seem to pale in comparison. If this emotional burden persists, then perhaps the peace of death would be preferable. Feeling nothing seems better than enduring this sadness," Damian confessed, wiping away his tears with his sleeve.
"Please don't say that, Damian. Your presence in this world means so much to me." Kylor choked back tears, his own eyes welling up. "Don't worry, I won't do anything to harm myself. I don't want to leave this world," Damian replied, his voice heavy with sorrow.
"Kylor, there's something I need to share with you," Damian began, taking a deep breath as tears streamed down his face. "Do you know Ragnar?" he asked, as Kylor nodded silently in response.
"Yes," Kylor whispered, his tears slowly drying up as he rubbed his hands, clad in white gloves. "I can't help but feel envious of him. Even though I know he's struggling, he still seems so happy," Damian murmured, his eyes filled with a deep sense of frustration.
"And his connection with Lady Ana seems stronger than anyone else in the Royal Knights, despite only meeting her yesterday. He's incredibly fortunate, and I believe all his troubles will vanish, leaving him eternally happy. I even think he'll marry Lady Ana; they just seem perfect for each other," Damian continued with a tinge of hopelessness.
"Do you still have feelings for her?" Kylor asked softly, gazing down at the floor. "Not really, but I envy him for having a more fulfilling and enjoyable relationship than most of us in the Royal Knights," Damian admitted with a heavy heart.
The room fell into a heavy silence, minutes passing without a single word being spoken. A palpable sense of sadness and sorrow hung in the air, filling every corner of the room. Damian's heart ached with guilt and regret, his own sorrow and disappointment etched on his face. But his emotions ran deeper than anyone could comprehend.
Meanwhile, Kylor's tears continued to fall, each one carrying the weight of his overwhelming emotions. With a heavy heart, Damian found the strength to speak; his voice was tired and rough with emotion. "Just sadness, it is all I feel, all I have known. There is no light, no hope, nothing but a vast abyss of despair and gloom that stretches into eternity. The tears fall to the ground, and I feel nothing but an immeasurable emptiness inside."
He whispered to Kylor, knowing that his words would not reach his friend's ears. Kylor continued to weep, paying no heed to Damian's futile attempt to communicate. "Kylor, despite my circumstances, I will strive to return to the royal knight tomorrow, or perhaps even this evening, for Apollo's new title," Damian said, his voice filled with sorrow and determination.
Kylor rose from his seat, his heart heavy with sorrow. He gently wiped away the tears from his eyes and spoke softly, "Damian, I can't bear to see you like this. Please promise me that you'll find your way back to happiness. I long to see your joyful spirit again, to hear your laughter, and to have you back as your true self. Damian, remember that you are not alone; I am here for you."
Damian met Kylor's gaze, and a faint, melancholic smile graced his lips as he replied with warmth, "I will return, Kylor. I won't let you down. Let's be friends for eternity, bringing solace to each other's hearts throughout the ages."