''Berlin was a wise mage. Not too wise, but far enough to be called 'wise'. You see, billions of years ago— nobody knows how many, that's for sure— humans, creatures that lived on Earth and looks decently close to us were, in fact, the actual Gods.
-Where did they live?'' Leyla ask curiously.
''They all lived on Earth.'' She shrugs. ''Legend says that all of them had pretty much all powers, but instead of using them to be cruel, they used them for justice. No one knows if they created, well, everything, but it's highly believed.'' She pinches her chin in thought. ''They were feared by many but worshipped by all.''
The more Silver talked, the more Leyla's eyes brightened with childlike innocence and curiosity.
But then, Leyla asked the wrong question…
''What happened to them?''
Silver froze.
Adam pauses in his tracks, he wasn't one to listen behind closed doors, but—
Actually, never mind…
He leaned over Silver's shoulder and rested his chin on it.
Her tired eyes fell to the ground as she was about to speak up, until Adam's hand rested on her other shoulder.
''They died!'' He laughs heartily.
At those words, Silver glares up at him as if he had committed murderer… which happened a lot, really.
''Basically,'' he clears his throat. ''Berlin walked in one day and created the atmosphere. He thought he was a savior, but he didn't actually do anything… except from blocking all signs of magic in that solar system, of course.''
Leyla's eyes widen.
''W-what?''
-That's right… Berlin was a powerful mage, but even now, there are still mysteries surrounding him.'' Adam straightens up. ''Like, ''how did he do it?'' Or ''Why did he do it?'' But the most important question is…'' a dramatic pause. ''How was he able to throw such a strong spell while not even being the strongest of his kind?''
Leyla's eyes widened.
''He wasn't…?'' She gaped at Adam.
Silver slowly nods.
''Indeed. Berlin was more or less average in terms of human magic— or as we like to call it, 'divine' magic.''
As Leyla saws trying to gauge in the information, Adam discreetly glanced at Silver, a subtle question: 'Do I keep going?'. Silver's stern look gave him the answer he needed.
Adam's lips curved as he closed his eyes.
'Alright, no need to reveal more…' he thought.
He turned to Leyla and (finally) pulled away from Silver. A hand ran through his hair with a clear of his throat.
''We should probably keep going…''
Leyla raised tilted her head to the side and asked curiously.
''But where should we go?''
Silver raises en eyebrow.
''What do you mean?
-Should we go to the circus or go search for William?''
Silver's eyes pop out of their sockets at that.
She had to admit… she had completely forgotten about Coco, Rico and Anne…
With a clear of her throat, she starts thinking out loud.
''If the three of them are in the circus, I don't think they're in great danger…'' she hums. ''And the more we'll lose time, the further William will possibly be.
-So, we need to find the crystal ball.'' Adam concludes.
With a light nod of her head, Silver closes her eyes.
''Blue Berry… I know you're somewhere in there…'' but there was no trace of her in her mind.
Noticing Silver's concentration, Adam raises an eyebrow.
''Are you trying to keep Blue Berry away from me, Silver…?''
She cracks an eye open to glance at him.
''What are you talking about? We need her to find William. Why would you even ask that?''
Adam shrugs.
''I don't know. All I'm saying is that it's weird that you didn't sense her presence when she possessed William, nor the fact that you're the one in control right now…'' his eyes narrowed, his voice dangerously calm.
She frowns softly, her eyes narrow into sharp slits as she searches his face.
''Excuse me?''
He crosses his arms.
''Don't play innocent here… I know you, Silver, and not just a little. You've been out way longer than usual… Not that I don't like it, that is.
-So, where's the problem?
-The problem is that we both know Capricorn is way too chaotic to just sit back and let you do whatever you want, while she's stuck in there!'' He harshly points a finger at her forehead. ''And Blue Berry is probably begging you not to let me know about one of your stupid plans!''
She grits her teeth and speaks through them.
''Last time I checked, I thought you believed me.
-I trust you, that doesn't mean I believe what you're saying.''
She gapes at him.
''That's literally what it means—!!''
He silences her with a finger and glances at Leyla, lowering this voice to make sure she doesn't listen to what he'll say.
''If you submit,'' his eyes narrow. ''I promise I won't hurt her.''
Silver's eyes widen, then she her gaze drops to the ground.
She was tired of this bickering. The arguments that went back and forth between them. Then she slowly nods:
''Understood…''
He smirks and pats her head. Then he walks past her over to Leyla.
''Now, want me to buy you a treat~?''
Her eyes light up as Silver speaks up.
''She's not a dog, you know.''
Adam rolls his eyes.
''I am aware of that fact… it's a figure of speech.
-A hurtful figure of speech.'' She corrects.
He frowns and turns to her.
''I thought you said you'd submit.''
Silver rolls her eyes.
''And I thought you said you wouldn't hurt her.''
Adam laughs dryly.
His eyes darkened as he slowly stepped towards her. He gave her that horrible, horrible look. The same one he gave her when she pushed his buttons too far. The same one he gave her when he would punish her if she kept going…
''Do I have to remind you who you're working for?'' His dark smirk widens. ''Who owns you? Besides, I didn't do anything that could hurt her…
-Your tongue did.''
A vein popped up at his temple as his eyebrow twitched.
''Fine.'' He snarled, ''I'll watch my tongue… for now at least…''
Silver nods in agreement.
Meanwhile, near the ruins of the castle…
William was sitting on a chair
William was sitting on a chair made of cotton candy as the old man ruffled his hair affectionately.
''How do you like your sweets, pumpkin ?
-Thank you, sir, but I think I ate enough candy for a year…'' he nods towards the table with a sheepish laugh, referring to the already eaten candy sitting on it.
He was starting to feel sick and dizzy. He had to physically hold back from gagging all over the table…
The man laughed softly and pushed a spoonful of sugar in his mouth.
''Don't hold back, kid! You're allowed to eat all the candy you want.
-But—
-Eat.''
The man pushed another spoonful into his mouth.
William choked over it and raised an eyebrow.
''What are you doing, sir—?''
The old man's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
''But I thought you wanted to be cared for?
-Yes, but giving me what I want doesn't mean it's what I need—''
William cuts himself off and slowly tilts his head to the side, side-eyeing him in the process.
''But how would you know what I wanted in the first place…?''
The old man opened his mouth to speak, but his granddaughter cut him off with a laugh.
''Do not mind my grandpa…'' her green eyes glistened with playfulness. ''He thinks that all kids like sugar.''
William was about to nod, but her crossed fingers at her side told him a different story. His gaze traveled over the small family, a detail made him feel horrible… A detail he couldn't put his finger on what it was—
They seemed too happy.
Too green-eyed.
Just like him.
Well, the old him. The one who felt love, and thought it was reciprocated. The one who cared, but didn't really know how to show it.
Something didn't feel right.
Something unsettling, in fact.
His eyes travelled over the pair then at the table. Fairies poured tea in their cups, a sight pretty sweet, that he would have probably loved in other circumstances. But not in these ones.
He abruptly stood up and left that house.
He ran away as fast as he could. This place didn't feel real at all.
It somehow even felt twisted.
———
Once he ran far enough, William sat at the edge of the hill and gripped his arms.
His arms— no, his whole body started shaking, and then… he just broke down.
What did he do to deserve this suffering? He tried so many times.
Tears rolled down his cheeks as he sobbed. If Leyla was here, she'd probably hold him…
But if Leyla wasn't here in the first place…
He wouldn't be here, wouldn't be victim of his own parents. He would've never needed to be strong, never needed to hide his tears.
He tilted his head back and gazed at the stars through a blurry vision.
''Whoever is up there…'' his voice cracks, hiccuping between sobs as a fresh wave of tears form in his eyes. ''Please,'' he begs. ''Make it stop…!''
His head falls back down.
He knows he will have a big headache if he keeps going… but he couldn't bring himself to care. It might be the last time he'd ever have this opportunity.
Just as he was about to cry harder, glass shattered next to him.
His eyes cracked open as he turned his head towards the noise… was it a mirror?
He stood up with shaky legs and slowly walked up to it. The mirror was surrounded with beautiful crystals that were slowly turning blue.
His green eyes widened as he hurried his movements, wiping away all the tears. He had no intention to looks at his reflection, he already knew what he looked like anyway. Pathetic. And with red scleras, of course.
He slowly crouched down and poked at the mirror with a finger, and then…
The crystals turned back into their original, white and purple colors.
His head cocked to the side.
What just happened..?
''Hello, William.'' A gentle voice cut through the darkness.