°Himmelvoll

What if I told you of a boy who had forgotten how to cry? All pain deeply etched into skin and bone so harshly, it could have never been conveyed by tears. All he had suffered. His body felt so hot, yet his skin so vulnerable and cold. His slowly opening, teary eyes saw a slight, gentle smile bestowed upon on him. Ray was carefully moving away tears with his hand which flowed slowly over Leo's face. His lukewarm eyes watched him as his face drew closer toward his own. The nose's tips touched and the two were looking silently at each other. Ears red. Ray's eyes began tearing up as well. We don't know what love is, let alone do we know what people understand when they try to talk about 'true love'. But Ray figured it was this, right here: to have met someone. To have met someone you can share your self with. A someone who understands you and will abandon their reality to create one with you in it.

The hour hand carefully stepped forward as the day was beginning to bring light to the capital. You could smell the scent of roses which was tiptoeing all around the bedroom, into its smaller bathroom in which Ray was washing his face with cold, yet fresh tap water. The bathroom carried on the traditional rustic but royal looks of the mansion but Ray's mind was rather focused on something else. The intimacy he was sharing with Leo was something very novel to him, thus he would only even more look forward to having his confidant show him around Londinium. After the battle, there just had to be downtime to get a chance to use your five and more senses for something else, rather than combat, right? The valve let itself turn off with a cutesy squeak and Ray was finished. His emerald-green eyes were guided to the mirror in which they witnessed the reflexion of the smiling brunette standing in his black off-shoulder top and denim jeans. "You done, yet?", Leo asked closing in on Ray from behind with a loose hug and bright smile. Ray grabbed his hands:"Let's go."

Outside, all silence was broken by noise. The shimmering brick-roads were given a beautiful hue and its talkative crowds of people filled all corners with life. If one were to follow where palms led, they'd get to the bright and blue sparkling river which divided Londinium into its nothern and southern parts. It seemed alike a tropical island, when in fact, it was just a sophisticated place brimming with a domestic comfort. "Ah." "B.", said Leo walking next to Ray. "I know haven't been here, ever. But it does feel homey somehow..", Ray continued eating his ice cream. "I know, right? But maybe that's also your sleepy side talking..", Leo waved his hand in response to being greeted,"It's been so long but nothing here's changed." "I honestly thought everyone here would hate you, after what you told me went down yesterday." "Ah-" "B.", Ray made. "I guess my father did help them understand yesterday's situation. To be honest, it got more emotional than I wanted, but yeah.." "Ah, well. As long as we can roam around together freely-" "I'm happy.", Leo cut off Ray. "Same here.", he moved the ice cream towards Leo, for they shared one. "Ah." "B.", Leo poked out his tongue. "Your tongue's all blue." "Oh, is it? Wait is that bad?", Leo went near to a shop's window to check the colour of his tongue. A brief glimpse inside revealed the view of a mother and father sitting together with their daughter, enjoying brunch. Ray rested his chin on Leo's right shoulder so he saw what Leo had seen. "Hm.", Leo made. "We both never had that, huh.", Ray whispered. "A blue tongue?", Leo asked. "Huh? Haha.", Ray chuckled. "Nah, but really, it's different for everyone. I'm happy for that girl. You know-" "That she's able to grow up, having parents.", Ray completed the sentence. "Yea." "Yeah." "Yeah, by the way, let me show you the bakery I used to go to after school all the time.", Leo said. Ray's smile formed slowly: "So I was right. You do have a sweet tooth." His content stemmed from seeing Leo being excited to eat real food again and not what Leo had told him on the train to Pandemonium. "I guess you can say that, or rather.. you reawakened it.", Leo said, also with a smile. Ray came closer. Leo watched Ray close in even more. "Ray?" "Your smile is worth keep being alive.", Ray gently took the ice-cream cone from Leo's hands. "Huh?", a sudden prickle tingled Leo's nose. The people around them stopped walking to watch the scene unfold before them. Leo's sweet magenta eyes only grew bigger:"Ugh, wait. Don't make me tear up in public-", he dried his eyes with Ray's white tee. Leo let out a sigh and a small 'thank you' which only was loud enough for the blonde to hear. "However, you saved me first.", Leo whispered additionally.

He continued leading the way to his favourite bakery in town and on their way, a lot of town folk seemed to recognize Leo, although having seen him last ten years ago, it didn't matter to them. The way they've taken was one of the quieter parts, nevertheless accompanied by street musicians who were well known by the people of Londinium. Gently swinging in with instrumental music, those quieter parts had gotten a new vibrant flavour. The air tasted like sweet wood you wanted to eat. "Even their music feels so nostalgic.", Ray said passing one palm tree after another which were lined afore the shining railing. If near enough, the wind would provide for a refreshing sprinkle of the river's water. It ruly felt alike a summer's dream. He looked at the shops and houses, all of which had a neatly cut vines climbing up their walls, adding to their already welcoming charm. "They're dead ghosts.", Leo pointed at them. "What?" "At least, that's what I've been told. I don't know anything besides them making music." "Yeah..", he watched attentively as one of the players picked the strings on a guitar, while walking by. "Yay!", Leo's expression gave it away that they were at their destination, "Ray, can you-" Leo looked up to the blonde's facial expression. Alike relieved from all pain and suffering, his nose took in the scent of wholesome sweetness. It was almost eerie. Ray felt so nostalgic, albeit never having come here before but this smell was something he felt hugged by. And so was the bakeress' atmosphere as she welcomed the two boys into her bakery. She was an older lady with full beige hair and a gentle expression which her sweets were able to resemble. She ran the shop whilst being in retirement but the ones helping her with the actual service were her two middle-aged grandchildren who also, were trained by their grandmother in the art of baking. "Leo, my dear. I've been waiting for you-", she curiously glanced over to the blonde next to him. "Ah-", Leo made. "B.", Ray said reflexively. "-This is-" "'B'?", the bakeress asked. "No.", Leo chuckled the tension away, "This is Ray Blackwood, my.." "Your boyfriend?", the bakeress went on. "Whatever it's called, I just want to be by his side.", Ray said in a calm voice. "That was very well said of you Ray." "Thank you, Ms. Bakeress." "Despite your looks, that is.", she laughed. "Wait, what." "Naw, there's nothing to worry about a slight joke, my dear. Well, now come have a seat already, I hope you brought an empty stomach with you." Poking him, Leo assured there was nothing about Ray's looks. "But you do have that sleepy look in your eyes. It adds to your calmness, though." "I feel different in general." "Better or worse?", a cup of straberry milk was put in front of Leo. "Definitely better. Uh, could I please get that as well?", the bakeress gave Ray's order to her grandchildren. "Thank you." "You know, there's like an open hole in reality now. Now, that I've torn it open, I mean. I also think, that there's been a lot set free as a consequence.", Leo gently took a sip. The sun shone brightly into the bakery for it was a large window wall they sat next to where one was able to observe the crossing people on top of the bridge above the Londinum river. "Reality is vulnerable, in other words. Does that make us vulnerable, as well?", Ray took his cup from one of the grandchildren. "Uh, I honestly don't know how this works or what it means, neither am I sure what'll happen to us.", Leo ordered two slices of strawberry pie and a couple of Éclairs. "Just the two of us." "Yess." "Also, Daniel only taught us basic stuff, I swear.", Ray pouted. "He really did, though." "Life has no absolute route, after all, you two.", the bakeress commented, "It is made up of endless possibilities..", her words were spoken softly but carried heavy truth. "Make sure to enjoy your youth to the fullest, you too and I have to say, I'm very happy to see you smiling again, Leo. Don't let anyone's words get to you, you hear?" "Don't worry, I gained a new strength which can help me through all-", Leo said. "The King's Will.", Ray cut him off. "Ray, I was talking about love." "Ah, I see... perhaps, I should have slept more, after all." "I mean, you only had like 1 hour of rest after coming back to life and coming here." "True, that.", Ray took a bite off of the Éclair. "Excuse, me?", she said. "Yes? "I'm looking for a person, uhh girlish-looking, brunette-boy? He's prolly with a blonde dude.", Leigh stated. The woman she had asked for was amused: "Do you mean Leo Roseblood?" Leigh wouldn't have ever guessed the woman to know about them, so their conversation resulted in her explaining the events of yesterday to Leigh who had come to Londinium without being able to recall the reason why.

Reality had truly been twisted and turned.

Leigh had been making her way to the bakery while her mind wandered off somewhere else. There was a yesterday she seemed to be forgetting about. But she was sure to remember being able to defend herself with.."Lightning?", she stared into the river, standing betwixt large palm trees. Smoke escaped her mouth and faded in a twirl together with the slight breeze. Did she fit in? From her looks, down to her behaviour one could surely say: No. But did she mind? "Maybe, I mean you get judged for basically anything and hell, I don't even know how to behave in the first place. I feel out of place.", inhale, exhale. She tried to remember something, someone told her just yesterday. "Fuck!", she almost let her cigarette drop because of her flinching to which Leo only responded with his tongue. "Want me to beat you up, already?", Leigh provoked him. "I'm glad you're doing fine, Leigh.", Ray said in a calm tone of voice. She looked at him, then she looked at Leo and her gaze went back to Ray. "Uhh, this ain't right, is it? We were all the same height, i thought?", her confusion was visible. "Well, we were. Up to yesterday, at least. We don't know too much either", Ray spoke and imitated playing drums by tapping hos index fingers on Leo's shoulders. "I broke reality.", the brunette said. "I died.", the blonde said. "I don't remember shit.", the white-haired said, "But damn, know I feel kinda bad for picking on a girl", she flicked her finger on Leo's forehead as she too, was taller than him right now. Leo just closed his eyes, exhausted: "Oh, I love this group's dynamic." "Anyway, why are you here, Leigh?", Ray asked. "Can't tell ya. I'm just here-" "Please, leave-", Leo whispered and clinged onto Ray arms. "But for real, I feel like something has been altered, like a change in reality?", her gaze went up to the split sky. Black birds and white doves flew synchronously. Then, she finished her smoke and went for a walk with the two boys, her sword attached to her left hip. She didn't realize but she was wearing unfamiliar clothes as well. A ,nevertheless, comfortable black hoodie, paired with stretchy denim jeans which were ripped open to expose her knees to the warm air. Her hair wasn't torn in a all directions anymore, but was carried a healed scalp, too. Strangely enough it seemed alike all signs of her abuse had been perished and hair waved in slight hops in synch with her steps. Asymmetrical, it was shorter on her right and longer on her left. The trio stood out very much from all the other people. "Ray, I can feel your uncle", Leo told him. "Wording..", Leigh added. "Charles is here?" "I think so, yeah. But my father kinda left? My hometown is weird." "What?", Leigh was again, confused. "Leigh, Leo became the King, so right now, he holds the strongest Will, officially." For a second, Leigh was speechless, she felt unhappy to hear about that. But her hearing felt as if it had become clogged at that time, followed by a loud ringing which was becoming louder and louder, so that it started hurting. A snap. The blur blended with clearness and she came to again and found herself kneeling, having Leo's concerned face right in front of her. She was mute and with her golden eyes examining Leo's facial features she grew frustrated. "Don't pull.", the brunette told her calmingly and Ray placed his hands gently on top of her grip which had found itself wrapped around the Katana's handle. "Sorry."

The sun shined onto them, the busy people were walking past , the water sparkling in a beautiful blue- Charles had finally arrived in the crown city. Leo waited for him in his bedroom whilst Leigh and Ray were off wandering about in this magnificent work of architecture Jack Roseblood had been chained to.. but was that the case as of now, as well?

*Thud*

"Excuse me, Ladies.", he tipped his hat in a careless way.

The two servants were looking at the man who had just pushed in the doors and ran up the stairs,

leaving behind yet again he warning shout not to run.

"Who even was that, this time?"

"Uhh, give it up, dear. These people have no manners."

"Do you mean to tell me-?"

"Precisely, both the blonde and the man just now are Blackwoods."

"They have no manners!"

"Surely they do but choose not to use them, unless it's for amusing themselves."

"Horrible, nonetheless."

"Indeed, admittedly we are expecting someone, but that person has yet to arrive."

*Thud*

Loud steps, coming from a tall man in a black three-piece, echoed through the hall.

Charles looked at Leo and he looked back at him. "You didn't knock."

"No, I haven't."

"Why, though?"

"Because we more urgent matters to attend, don't you think so, man?"

"If you're talking about how I broke reality, then yes, you're more than right." "To think my hunch about you back at Shanna's tavern was right all along. Did you figure anything out yet?

"If I'm being honest, the only thing I figured out was that all this was hand-made. Like-" "I would-" Their memory started fading. "You're feeling this shit, too, right, Leo?" "It's like my head is being pressed from the inside.." "That means you figured it out, well kinda." "We're on the right track. So keep thinking, we use Will to make our cognition real." A loud ringing resounded in their ears. Leo and Charles clapped their hands, amplifying their own created sound to overpower the foreign one.""Good thinking, Leo." "Ow, this hurts, actually", Leo said. "I'm kinda exhausted myself, actually."

"Holy shit." "Leo?" "Charles. Do you actually know why you're here?" "Ah, you're acting like you're father when he's lecturing me, right now. Because..as we said before reality was made this way?"

Leo poked out his tongue. Charles was astonished. It hit him like cold water straight to the face.

It took too long to understand, but they had grasped the meaning of the situation.

"You're the one, who willed it, right? Then, that means we have a chance of breaking out, out of this forced cage- Now, what's the plan, my King?"

"No plan." "No plan?"

"The plan makes itself over time."

*Thud*

Leo and Charles aimed with hardened blood and fire at the door's entrance. And holding up his hands was a postman. Leo hid behind Charles,

forcing him to speak. "What?" The postman was starring at the things which could have been the end of his life. "I- ehh. I have a bottle."

"Nice, but please use toilets when you're already inside a building." "Uh no, I meant- I have a bottle of red wine for the King?" "For the King?

By Whom?" "By someone called 'Shanna'.."

"Alright, throw it, boy, throw it and leave and don't come back to Londinium until it's safe."

The postman grabbed the bottle out of his satchel and threw it over to Charles,

still being confused and most likely mentally scarred for rest of his life.

"Alright, good day..", he said, closed the door and left. Charles let out a sigh and lowered his hand,

killing the sharp flame. "Damn. Did you feel him entering the house?", he bend his head to the side to ask Leo who had been standing behind him. "Leigh was right, it does sound wrong, but no I didn't. You?" "Nah."

"We're both still exhausted, then. Well now, look at this, Leo."

He showed Leo the wine. "What's up?" "Man,

it's Shanna's own. She made this, her own brew, it's special and tastes like heaven on Earth."

"We'll drink when we've won.", Charles added, "Londinium's going to be a battlefield, right?"

"Hate to say it, but most likely, yes. Also, I think-", Leo stopped for a second,"No, it's fine." "What is it?" "Ugh. I want this gone. This whole form of captivit should be gone. Children forced to clean up after the older generation blaming us." Charles had his view fixed on Leo and spoke: "What do you want, then? Tell me." "I want the fire of rebellion to never perish, I want the air to breathe freely, the water to calm us and take us far away and the earth to keep us a comforting footing. I want everything and nothing.", Leo's magenta eyes shined brightly, they brimmed with passion to which Charles couldn't help himself but see the resemblance to Jack. He chose not speak out the similarity, for he feared Leo would get upset but instead gave him a smile of reassurance. "We're gonna make it, promise", Leo said to Ray and Leigh as they entered his bedroom. "I just want to find my mother, that is all, really." "That's not true, Leigh.", Leo said bluntly. "Fuck you." "Calm it, Leigh", Charles said. Leo pointed his index finger and explained: "With the breaking of reality, I kinda caught a glimpse of the future-", a piercing pain in his heart arose, suddenly. After a quick shock, Ray immediately acted with his Will to help Leo get rid of the pain. "Leo.." "It's fine. We're banned from speaking about this, it seems.", Leo whispered. "Fuck.", Leigh was getting concerned about herself. She didn't want to turn into a killer, not again. "Okay, so with all eyes on us, we can assume that the WM will try to come for our heads."

"To bring this curse to an end I need to crush, everything.", Leo stated, "And to do that, I will be in need of your protection, basically. Leigh? You listenin?" "Ugh, yeah, kinda. I just, I think it was too much today, don't count me in for sure, though." "It's okay, if you can't fight, no pressure", Ray talked in a yawning way and sat next to Leo on his bed, "Point is, we gotta defend Londinium, because there is no way, we're letting civilians get dragged into this." "I'm glad you were able to overcome your father's manipulation, Ray.", Charles said alike a proud father with a smile. "Thanks, uncle.", Ray smiled back but then realized Leo blacked out on his shoulder. "He better be alive, if there's someone who's killing him, it's gonna be me and no one else.", Leigh said in a provoking way. Her emotions were a mess right now but the urge to mess with Leo remained undefeated. "Leigh, please." She looked at Leo's unconscious face. "Ugh, whatever, I need to go to the toilet.", she walked out and Charles jumped out of the window to keep a lookout from on top of the roof.

"Why can't we be alone for once?", Leo's voice was halfway drunken in deep sleep.

"I hope this is over fast, I want to travel with you.", Ray whispered back.

"Same."

The scent of roses reemerged and it made feel Ray relaxed and less tense, he closed his eyes and tried to enjoy the calm before the storm.

Thus the sky mirrored conflict and grudge, split and undefined.

"What a sky he made."

End of "°Himmelvoll"