With a faerie, hand in hand.

After Kiffles came close and curled up beside of him, Icarus put an arm around her and nuzzled closely to her.

} “I’m fine, Kiffles… Everything’s going to be ok~… And you being here is enough for me. No need to run off and get me anything…” {

His voice was calm as he laid there. Company was all he could ask for now. He was growing rather tired though… As evident by the long yawn he gave shortly after he finished talking.

} “I hope you don’t mind if I doze off though… I have been oddly tired here lately… Whenever you’ve got to go though, feel free to do so. I’d rather you not get in trouble with Elerman, yeah?” {

The tiny closet monster snuggled up to him in turn, tail draping over him as she did. “Okay...I trust you.” She grinned. “I do not think Elerman will mind if I stay for a little while, though. At least for a nap.” She was somewhat tired as well...though, whether or not she’d be able to sleep was a different story. At least she could stay there, with him.

With a small yawn and a sigh, she closed her eyes, humming gently in a delicate, airy tone. Her hand reached up to his arm, stroking it gingerly, as her mother often had with her when she’d been hurt or sick. It was hard to tell if it was for his sake, or hers. Perhaps a combination, considering the both of them could use some peace and rest.

The prophet merely listened silently as the guardian spoke. His words seemed kind compared to the usual ones that were directed to Icarus… It was a welcomed change. And the experience shone through in his words, only grabbing the prophet’s attention further.

Then, nodding after he mentioned Kiffles, Icarus turned his attention to the cave’s entrance as his friend returned. Icarus took the crystal that was offered to him, then laid it in his lap. And soon enough, Kiffles was asking him if she could stay. The prophet’s first response was a lighthearted laugh and a wide smile.

} “I’d be more than happy to let you stay~… I might not be in the best condition, but I always welcome good company when I can have it…” {

Then he moved to lay down on the nearby pillows. Bed rest and a nice crystal are what the doctor ordered, so best to go ahead and start to relax.

Shortly after laying down though, Icarus looked to Elerman, thanking him silently for not mentioning exactly what his condition was. Icarus already felt terrible for making Kiffles worry so much… He’d have hated to see her reaction to what his true condition is.

Elerman didn’t really have much grounds to object on the matter. It would probably be beneficial for her to stay there for a while anyway, and besides. If it really was the prophet coming up on the tail end of his life, depriving him of some time with someone who cared for him would just be downright heartless.

“...Very well. If anything should happen, I trust you’ll come and find me again.”

The socktroll nodded, skittering over to plop down beside Icarus with a pout. The guardian returned his gaze, briefly, before departing from the cave.

“...Is it really bad...?”

Kiffles hesitated before curling up beside him. “...Maybe-- ...maybe I shouldn’t ask, though. N-Nevermind. If Elerman is not too worried, then it should be okay.” Her gaze flickered back up to Icarus. “Is there anything that I can do for you? I could get you more pillows, i-if you are not comfy enough.”

Icarus looked up to the guardian, too relieved to have help to even care who it’s from. Those words reminded him of when his life was simple… Just a humble prophet helping a kind king when he could.

} “Th-thank you… I-I’ll definitely be sure to try… I’m just so afraid of what might happen…” {

The prophet seemed to relax, gently holding his right arm as he looked away. So many things could go wrong so quickly… And he just couldn’t stop it.

} “If I die, then… that monster will be here to stay… But if I’m just changing, then I’m terrified by the thought I might not be able to remember Kiffles… That I will just be someone else…” {

Yet, here he sat in a cave. A cave with pillows and other decorations provided by the one he wished to remember. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard to do so after all..? Maybe he was changing for the better? Such wishful thinking.

“Darkness and shadow are terrifying things. I’ve seen it do awful things to people, if they let it control them.” The guardian slouched a bit in his posture, ears dangling. “...And even if you’re able to get the upper hand, it rots you in one way, or another. There’s no way to completely escape it.”

His voice had grown quiet, as though he were speaking from experience. He didn’t look as irritated as he usually did...just tired. Very, very tired.

“...Still, I doubt the girl would let you forget yourself as you are, so easily. She has a rather incessant habit of being an optimist, you no doubt know that.” And speak of the devil, said little lady came skittering in again, toting a bag that was half her size and twice as bulky.

“Did you figure out what might be wrong?” She hoisted the bag up to Elerman, who took it with an inky tentacle.

“Mm. Perhaps. We’ll see how things transpire, however.” He sifted through the bag, producing a dark, smokey purple crystal, smooth and spherical in shape. He gently held it out to the prophet.

“Keep this with you. Call it an emergency object - it soaks up negative energies. Should the, ah...wound, become something more sinister.” It would at least buy some time, possibly. It worked on bogeymen, anyway, so it might work on the shadow magic of another being of torment and shadows. “...And Kiffles--”

“I am going to stay here.”

Elerman blinked, once. “...There is no immediate need to. The prophet likely needs his rest, and--”

“I am not going to bother him, I promise...! I just...I am worried. And I know that something is wrong, and even if it is not something to worry about, I want to stay.” She looked over at Icarus timidly, her arms wrapped around her, ears sagging. “C-Can I...?”

The prophet held strong, keeping a smile even after Kiffles left to head to the cottage. It took all he could manage to try and stay cheerful and lighthearted at this point.

} “I can honestly say it’s never happened to me before… I wish I knew exactly what was wrong with me but… but I…” {

At this point, his head leaned down, crimson tears finally being shed and letting themselves be known. Icarus’s body was visibly trembling as he tried to speak once again. It was so painful to try and say this… His only solace was Kiffles wasn’t around to hear it.

} “I-I’ve seen it happen to other shadows… There’s only two things I know of that can be happening right now… I’m either changing, or… o-or I’m dying… I’m so scared of both… I don’t want them to happen… I don’t want to forget…” {

The prophet held his head with his hands as his body curled. He was so afraid that he couldn’t stop it. He was too scared to even beg for help.

#[wELP #RIP SINNAMON ROLLsobs]#darkgodoftorment

Elerman was indeed grateful that the prophet seemed to be truthful on the matter, but at the same time, it certainly wasn’t uplifting information. A better lead than his own theories, but still.

“...I cannot say for certainty that you will remain as you are, then. We are quite different, though we might be alike. I am a creature of shadow, myself, and such a life is...less than ideal.”

He drifted a bit closer, silently cresting the break between the light that spilled into the cave, to the oddly comforting darkness. “The troll believes you to be good, or at the very least, redeemable. While I don’t often trust her judgement fully, she cares for you a great deal. Because of that, I will do what I can to help you.” Perhaps there was a shred of empathy in the guardian’s heart, blackened and shriveled though it may be.

“I would not be so quick to give up, prophet. If you do not want to forget, then you must do what you can to remember. Shadow thrives where light is the strongest, after all.”

As Icarus waited in the cave for their return, he found the potions effects starting to kick in. It certainly dulled the pain to an extent, and worked far better than the remedy he tried making.

Once they had returned though, he looked to Elerman once he asked if he was ill. His response at first was just a faint laugh as he sat there in a lighter part of the cave.

} “Well, don’t know if I’m sick or not… but I’ve certainly got some kind of ailment… After all, people don’t just randomly get headaches that crack their skulls and cause them to bleed, yeah?” {

He found himself joking about his own predicament. This was actually a pretty normal reaction for him. Better to hide it with a joke and a laugh than to actually how you’re scared.

While Kiffles worried wrinkles into the hems of her sleeves, Elerman simply stared. Nonplussed, calm and quiet, as though he were trying to acess the situation. It was a long, lingering few moments before he spoke.

“Kiffles. I’ve left some rather important items back at the cottage. Fetch them for me, please - they’re right by the door.” He sideglanced to her. “Time is of the essence.”

With a nod, the little troll bounded off, leaving the prophet alone with the guardian. Once she was out of earshot, Elerman sighed in a slow, steady deflation.

“Tell me. Are you absolutely sure that there’s nothing that comes to mind that could be the culprit for this?” It was odd, but the guardian’s tentacles seemed far less viscous than they usually were, more like puddles of ink than malleable shadow. “I have some theories, from...personal experience, but I require you to be utterly truthful with me.”