Prologue

    Cold

    It was so cold that Youkai could barely feel his limbs at all; it felt like he was moving through molasses. And it was dark, so dark, pressing against his body cruelly. He couldn’t tell if his eyes were opened or closed. He couldn’t hear anything. All his senses were so numb.

    Suddenly, he felt warmth, such a gentle and reassuring sensation. He felt hands on his shoulders, small arms hugging his neck, a sweet and familiar scent tickling his nose. Roses, in full bloom, that scent that came when the crimson petals opened to their fullest and most beautiful.

    “Is this real?” He whispered, barely hearing his own voice. “Sora...? Are you...?” He received no reply, except for the receding warmth. He started to panic, trying to turn around desperately. But the cruel darkness would not allow it. “No..! Wait! Please, don’t go!”

    He felt the ghost of a caress across his cheek before a jolt rocked through his body. Opening his ice blue eyes, gasping for breath, he cried out in shock. His eyes scanned the room fearfully, confused, taking in his surroundings and slowly calming down.

    “..A...dream,” Youkai whispered, sitting up in his bed. He untwisted the sheets from his body and walked over to the open window. Rubbing his eyes, he closed the window, hesitatingly, eyeing the lights of Paradox City. “...It was just a dream...”

    He clenched his fist and blinked, feeling something within it. He brought it up and opened it, leaning against the window. It was a small crystal rose hanging on a silver chain. Inside was a dark red liquid, the perfume of the flower. Almost tenderly, he ran a finger over the glass petals and looked up, spotting his reflection in the nearby mirror.

    The mirror showed a Halfling who had lost all happiness, all hope, and all reason. His silver hair was unruly, the small dog ears at the top of his head drooping. His pale blue eyes were dull and lost. His skin was almost deathly pale, only the remnants of muscle remaining on his body. He clenched his fist suddenly, baring his fangs as tears dripped onto his hand.

    “It’s...always...just a dream,” He whispered in a choked voice, tightening his grip around the small rose. The scent of roses exploded into the air as the crystal started to crack, the perfume streaming down Youkai’s wrist like rivulets of blood. “It’s never...anything...more!”

    In a sudden fit of rage, he hurled the crystal rose at the mirror with all his might. It hit the glass and exploded as did the glass, shattering into a thousand glistening shards. The shards bounced onto the floor, coated with the red perfume like blood. Youkai stared with wide eyes at the mirror frame as he sank to his knees, tears flowing freely down his cheeks.

    “...Sora...” He sobbed, suddenly hugging his shoulders tightly, trying to hold back a sob. “..Where are you..?!”