He's Looking Out

From The War That's Inside

He's Screaming Out

'Cause No One Survived

But When You're All Alone

You Wait And You Hide

'Cause It's The Story Of A King

Whose Castle Has Fallen To The Sea

Knowing There's No One Who Will Be

A Queen Who Will Come And Save Her King

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Seven years have passed since that incident, and Aoi is still plagued with nightmares. He sought out shelter in Shakadera's kingdom and quickly rose through the ranks as a strong fighter and soldier as a whole. Shirosagi had tried, on several occasions, to kill him, each and every time failing greatly, which irritated him. Aoi should be in his weakest state, mourning for his losses, so why is he still so hard to kill?

Aoi was once again royalty - the Shakadera's had accepted him as one of their own when his name grew throughout the kingdom, and when what happened to his kingdom got out. One night, Aoi sat in the palace garden with his guitar. Once again plagued by nightmares from that dreadful incident, Aoi decided to sing a song of his own creation.

"The stars are very beautiful, above the palace walls,

They shine with equal splendour, still above far humbler halls.

I watch them from my window, but their bright entrancing glow,

Reminds me of the freedom I gave up so long ago.

The royal circlet of bright gold rests lightly on my brow,

I once thought only of the rights this circlet would endow.

But once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred,

I found it heavy on the heart, though light upon the head.

Although I am the head of state, in truth I am the least,

The true King knows his people fed before he sits to feast.

The good King knows his people safe before he takes her rest,

Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before he makes request.

For they are all my children, all that I swore to defend,

It is my duty to become both King and trusted friend--

And of my children high and low, from beggar to above,

The dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love.

The dearest are my Heralds, swift to spring to my command.

Who give me aid and fellowship, who always understand

That land and people first have needs that I may not deny--

So, I must send my dearest friends to danger -- and to die.

A friend, a love, a child--it matters not, I know indeed,

That I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need

They know, and they forgive me--doing more than I require,

With willing minds and loving hearts, they go straight to grasp the fire.

These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the King can't shed,

The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead.

Oh gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry--

And if you have compassion--let me send no more to die."

Aoi put his guitar down and sighed, wiping away his tears. He has to stay strong, no matter how much it hurts him. What else is he supposed to do? He can't just break. But you get used to it, whether or not you want to. Aoi looked up at the sky, watching the stars sparkle. Something he was always grateful for. The sky was with him through his best and his worst, and it never judged him. But it seemed to haunt him. A clear sky when something goes wrong. A foggy night when something went right. Maybe it was some sort of omen?

"You have a beautiful voice. And you are so strong. Let yourself break every once in a while." Shakadera said, walking up next to Aoi. "You look beautiful, whatever you do if that's what you're worried about."

Aoi smiled and let out a small chuckle, trying to play off his feelings. "Thank you, Xander."

Shakadera sat down next to Aoi and smiled at him. "No problem."

They sat in comfortable silence and Aoi started humming. They did this every time Aoi suffered from nightmares. Aoi rested his head on Shakadera's shoulder and yawned. His eyelids grew heavy as he fell into a dreamless slumber. Shakadera carried Aoi back to his chambers and rested him on his bed. Shakadera slept on the floor, staying close to Aoi just in case he woke.

He stared at Aoi, who had a peaceful look on his face. When Aoi first came to Shakadera's kingdom he would scream at the sight of darkness or flames and the nightmares would affect him so much that he couldn't sleep for several nights at a time. And whenever he could sleep, he would wake up screaming and shouting, then wouldn't sleep for the rest of the night. He's improved - being able to sleep for a couple of hours a night without suffering from the terrors of that night. It's a shame how short lived this improvement will be.

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"Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end."