"Why do you keep defending him? When you are more broken by what he did that I am?" Sseraphis asked as he brewed medicine for Aeltharion. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Sseraphis wished to flatten Aeltharion’s hopes before they can bloom. The three of them had just reunited and there was no telling how their relationship will unfold but one thing he was certain of was that, they were better off looking out for each other than letting Nytherael back in their midst.

"Perhaps I am a fool."

"That you are." That was one thing Sseraphis agreed on, Aeltharion was indeed a fool for sparing Nytherael. "It’s only a fool that will allow a blade that has already cut him once to be close enough to cut him again."

Aeltharion didn’t disagree but he also didn’t fully agree. "Hearts can change, Ssese."

"Yes, they can. But Aelthie, there is no need to drink the whole sea to realise it’s salty," he said, twirling the mixtures of herbs and Ilyrien’s fur in the bath. "I, for one, I’ve had my fair share of that fox. I have no intentions of sampling any more parts of him to realize that he messed up... and given the chance, he’ll mess up even more."

"Or he could treasure a second chance and not..."

"Not get swayed with another furry beastfolk that looks in his direction with false affection?" Sseraphis asked, making a slight cut on his palm. Deep violet blood streamed out of the wound and onto the bath herbal water.

The violet poison of the nine-headed serpent mixed with the fur from a three-tailed ice fox ajd along with the different herbs he added in created a pool of fiery and icy bath.

Twirling his fingers in the water, he raised and lowered the temperature so that the heat was just high enough to stabilize Aeltharion core and the ice was cool enough to repair the dragon’s damaged spirit ways.

"The bath is ready. Come, constant. We must begin your treatment."

Aeltharion made haste and approached the bath. He had on a loose light tunic that was had slid halfly down his left shoulder, exposing half his back. His hair was untied, flowing loosely down his ink marked back full of pattern in the shape of scales.

"Why are you still standing here. Get in," Sseraphis gave him a little nudge. He sounded like a smothering mother. But Sseraphis cared not for how he sounded, his utmost concern was to ensure Aeltharion’s health didn’t deteriorate any further.

Deep down, he understood that the treatments were a temporary precaution against losing Aeltharion to death. Until they find the source of his illness, Aeltharion will always have one foot at death’s door.

Every search, every test he had run on Aeltharion on known diseases all turned out negative. His dragon was ailing from something yet discovered. Which meant that there was no cure, they could only use Ilyrien’s fur to undo damages done by the ailment every two weeks to keep him alive.

"Perhaps you should let Nytherael in. He could help you with your burdens," Aeltharion said, incase he didn’t make it, he wished Sseraphis wouldn’t be alone.

Sseraphis paused, caught off guard by Aeltharion’s words. They sounded like a final wish from a beast who was ready to throw in the towel, accept defeat and slowly drift into the light.

He inhaled deeply. Filling his lungs wiry poison from the air to ease his aching heart. "You are not allowed to talk like that. I forbid it."

"Ssese," Aeltharion called out, heavily. "You need to come to terms with this incase..."

"There is no incase between us. You live. That’s it!"

"There is a chance I won’t and..."

"The bath is ready, Aelthie," Sseraphis cut in. He ushered him in and didn’t back away until Aeltharion was submerged in the bath completely.

He stepped back, walked slowly to the table beside the bed, picked up one of the candle lighting the room and returned.

He tilted the candle over the bath. When the flame came into contact with the bath mixture, it instantly caught fire. The black flame released frosty steam.

The flame danced on top of the bath mixture, unrelenting and the frosty steam made it hard to see through.

’I will not rest until I find the cure. No matter what, I will ensure you live, Aeltharion because I can’t live when we are two worlds apart,’ he thought, violet tears trickling down his eyes and staining his cheeks. ’If I fail...we will go through death... together.’

His heart felt heavy. His shadow started moving, his snake headed, all nine of them shaking frantically as though drowning in a pool of madness.

The more chaotic and troubled Sseraphis felt, the harder they shook and the lower the temperature in the room got. But no matter how freezing the room became, the pool remained undisturbed.

Sseraphis walked over to his dressing table. He opened a drawer and pulled out a small wooden box.

He bit his lip, staring hard at the box like he was holding back his demons from breaking down. He forced his fingers to open the box and pushed the lid off.

Inside, there was an ornament. A necklace to be specific, in the shape of a butterfly in the colour purple with a silver chain.

Drops of his violet-coloured tears fell onto the necklace. The colour of his tears blended perfectly well with the colour of the butterfly that he could barely see it.

Sseraphis picked up the necklace. He brushed his fingers against the butterfly. The silver felt cold under his even colder finger.

Feeling his touch, the necklace glowed and inside the body of the butterfly, the image of a nine-tailed fox appeared with the word, ’Nytherael’ flashing over the image of the fox.

His cold heart started beating rapidly. "Snakes are memory keepers. And I know, little truth, hoelw dear memories are to you. So with this memory butterfly necklace, I want to preserve the memory of me to always carry with you. And know, sweet truth, that when you raise you head... in any direction while looking for me, I will be there. I’ll be there for you, come night or day...heaven or hell."

With a tingle of his essence, he brought the image out of the necklace and into the room. Sseraphis dropped to the floor, clutching the empty butterfly necklace close to his chest as he stared at the familiar yet foreign nine-tailed fox playing around.

"If the treatment fails..." he choked, unable to bear the weight of his words. They cut through his throat like a million sharp poisoned shards. "When Aeltharion and I die, you’ll get your wish and finally get to marry the one you love," he said.

Each word burnt through his insides. That wasn’t the ending he had envisioned for them the day they were united and he, willing left behind the abyss to exist on ground for Nytherael and Aeltharion, but it was one he was forced to accept.

He closed his eyes tightly shut. Flood of violet tears streamed out, wetting his eyelashes and his face. His face lost its usually beautiful appeal when hidden behind the lines of violets tracks of his tears.

With much struggle, he pulled out a whisp of his soul from between his eyes and placed it into the butterfly necklace.

He placed the necklace back in the box and sealed it with a rune. A rune meant to transport the box to Nytherael in the case that he’s no longer breathing.

He opened his eyes, stared straight into the fox’s eyes as though he was looking at Nytherael, "When I die, this necklace will come to you and with it, directions on where to find Ilyrien," he whispered, chewing at his lips. "If that time ever comes... I hope... he’ll love you better than we ever could... and you never break him in the way you... broke us."

When he finished speaking, the fox vanished from the room and seeped back into the butterfly necklace in the box.

"Consider this my final gift to you, beloved."