"Hm. . . My Lupin. . ."
". . . My Little Gale. . ."
In the Krystal castle's catacombs, there was a special room called the Crystal Spring. It was a shallow pool of water with vibrant crystals. The walls were made of pink marble, and Mandeville vines which trailed up the statues of deities covered with silk and holding vases that poured the water that filled the spring.
At the center of this room was a rose quartz table on which Leo rested, his bare chest covered by pink see-through silk. The room was tranquil, and full of natural healing magic that treated the wound on Leo's stomach. The atmosphere was soft and calming, and Leo's dark skin casted a faint glow.
The smell of herbal incense drifted through the air, and a gentle breeze flowed through the room. Leo shifted in his sleep, muttering under his breath as he rolled over on his side. Once he rolled over, he jolted awake with a wince, feeling the wound on his stomach throb in pain.
Leo gripped his stomach before slowly opening his eyes to look at the wound, he winced again, feeling a jolt of pain run through him. A fresh scar was all that remained of the wound, but blood was clearly visible. The witch looked around the room, trying to make sense of where he was and how he ended up here.
As he took in his surroundings, he realized he was in the Crystal Spring, a place of unstable yet natural healing. It was a magical place only accessible to those permitted, for only the king held control over the spring's vast powers.
Thinking back to how he was wounded, Leo vividly remembered a cloaked witch, smiling maliciously as they said a common Latin saying before creating the crystal spike which nearly killed Leo.
'May Autumn and Endor curse you to the underworld dear star'
Except for the 'dear star,' this phrase was often used by witches during the dark ages. It was said as an insult to humans, as back in the dark ages, humans had a distinct hatred for witches.
Yet this left Leo confused, he wasn't a human, and this phrase hasn't been used for a thousand years. Why would a stranger say this to him and then add 'dear star' to the end? It was all so strange. . .
Leo sighed in frustration, running his hand through his naturally coily hair, which he usually straightens. As he groaned at his hair's tangles, the twin stained glass doors of the healing spring slid open and a dark skinned man with short black hair, purple eyes covered by blue rimmed glasses ran in. He wore black pants and a maroon turtleneck, and was followed by King Lupin and a pink and purple haired healer.
"Leo! Are you OK!? A-are you hurt!?" The man asked, looking over Leo's body with a worried expression as he made sure Leo was OK. "I'm fine, dad. . ." Leo mumbled, turning away as he used the pink silk to cover his chest, as he got closer, King Lupin looked away from Leo, wanting to be respectful.
The healer smirked at King Lupin in amusement as she stepped forward and tied up her curly faded pink to purple hair. "Don't worry Mr. Gale, your son's wound should be mostly healed by now" she reassured, making the man step aside as she addressed Leo. "So, Leo are you feeling any pain in your abdomen? Any dizziness or breathing problems?" The healer asked as she made Leo sit up straight and take a deep breath.
As he inhaled deeply, Leo answered the healer, "my stomach hurts when I move but other than that, I just feel tired." The healer nodded at this, opening a black bag Leo hadn't noticed to pull out some bandages, "it's normal to experience exhaust after being in the Healing Spring, and as for the pain, I suggest you just don't overexert yourself for a few days."
As the healer explained this, she lifted Leo's arms to properly bandage his chest. Leo's dad, Absence Gale, stimmed as he watched Leo with concern, "so he's gonna be ok, r-right?" He asked, to which the healer smiled and reassured him, "yep, just a few days of rest and he'll be better in no time. Now Leo, I understand you're trans but please refrain from using your binder, just until you get better."
Leo groaned at this but nodded in understanding as the healer finished bandaging him up. "Alright, if you feel any other pain, breathing problems or dizziness, let me know, but other than that you're good to go Leo" The healer explained as King Lupin handed Leo a black over-sized coat to cover his chest.
"Thank you ma'am, and your h- Lupin" Leo replied, blushing as he saw King Lupin smile sweetly. As Leo slowly stood up, he winced as his stomach throbbed in pain again, but Leo held up his hand to stop Absence and King Lupin from helping him. "I-I'm fine, just give me a minute" Leo said, inhaling deeply before standing up straight.
Absence sighed as him and Leo began walking out of the spring, King Lupin watched as Leo walked out, his smile fading once the two left. King Lupin sat down on the table with a huff, which worried the healer, "hey, why the long face old friend?" The healer asked, sitting next to the king.
"Endor. . . He's remembering. . . Everything. . ."
The healer, Endor, remained silent, her rainbow eyes narrowing in understanding as she sat by King Lupin. As she sat there, she placed her hand on King Lupin's board shoulder as he slowly broke down. He sobbed uncontrollably as his white hair covered his face and his wolf ears fell to the sides of his head.
Endor remained quiet, her face filled with compassion, as King Lupin's grief poured out. She didn't try to stop his cry, she knew he needed it, instead she rubbed his shoulder and back, while repeating the same phrase, "I know my dear. . . I know. . ." Her voice was filled with sorrow as she comforted the crying king, who was desperate for the touch of his lovely star.
"She was my life. . ." King Lupin whispered through sobs as Endor brought him closer to her chest. "And you'll be his. . ." Endor said, running her tan hand through the crying wolf's soft hair.