The scent of cherry blossoms drifted through the open windows of the small house in Nihon, a stark contrast to the sterile, metal-clad world Raven had left behind in Freedonia. Three years. Three years since he walked away, hand-in-hand with Shu, and never looked back. Pride, perhaps, but also a deep-seated conviction that his place was here, now, with her.
Jihu and Fang, ever the loyal friends, had tried countless times to coax him back. "Just for a visit, Raven," they'd plead. "Your father misses you." He'd always refused, a muscle twitching in his jaw, his eyes fixed on the motionless figure in the nearby room. He knew Jihu and Fang relayed news of him and Shu to the Vampire King. It was enough.
Ri and Jihu were now bonded, their love a comforting constant. Ash and Fang, living next door, were inseparable, their playful banter a familiar soundtrack to life. The recent marriage of Jihu and Ri, a joyous explosion of fox-clan tradition, was a bittersweet ache in Raven's chest. He couldn't leave Shu, not even for that.
Shu. The focus of his existence. Since she had fallen into that seemingly endless sleep, her last words hanging unspoken in the air of the battlefield, Raven was a different man. He was a spectre haunting his own life, his days consumed by work, his nights by vigil. Gone were the sharp wit and sardonic smiles. Now, he was a man obsessed, his fingers constantly tracing the delicate lines of Shu's hand, his eyes searching her face for the faintest sign of awakening.
He worked from home, pouring over documents, attending virtual meetings, his mind a whirlwind of strategies and deadlines. But the moment a call ended, a report was submitted, he would be by Shu's side. Sometimes, he would have Ri or Ash stay with Shu if he had to go to the office. He couldn't shake the feeling that if he looked away, even for a second, he would miss the moment she came back to him. And when he sat next to Shu, he looked with so much surprise as if counting every second she would wake up, as if looking at the face of the person who left him with a question.
One day, Jihu and Fang returned from a trip to Freedonia, their faces grave. They'd gone to see the Vampire King.
"How is Raven?" the Vampire King had asked, his voice heavy with a paternal longing that resonated even through the portal's distortion. "Okay, won't he come here again?"
Jihu's heart ached. He saw past the regal façade, the years of stoicism, and glimpsed the vulnerable father beneath. "Master, we've tried. He won't come. He's changed, completely. He works like crazy, then sits with Shu. He's… unrecognizable."
The Vampire King, a formidable figure even in his hologram, looked stricken. "How is Shu? Is she undergoing treatment?"
"The head of the African tribe comes. But there's no improvement. She's just… breathing."
Silence descended, thick and suffocating.
Jihu cleared his throat. "Master, we actually came about Melody. It's been three years. There's still no sign of her. Any news? Is she plotting something?"
The Vampire King's features hardened. "No. But there's unrest in the western mountains. I've sent soldiers. We'll see what they discover." He sighed, the sound filled with weariness. "Tell me, Jihu. How are things with Ri? You're like a son to me. My own son left out of pride. But you and Fang have cared for me these past three years."
Jihu blushed. "Everything is going well, Master. How are you? And Auntie?"
"We're fine," the Vampire King said. "Fang, when are you getting married?" He chuckled, a pale imitation of his former jovial self. "I know everything, I have all the reports."
Fang stammered, "We haven't set a date, Master. My parents agreed. You know Ash…"
A wave of melancholic understanding washed over the Vampire King's face. "Maybe I wasn't a good father. You all chose human girls as your life partners, and none of your parents objected. I may have gone too far in my pride. That's why my son crushed my pride and left. After he left, I realized that the person I loved is important, not what species they are. It's not important how long I stay in front of that person or how strong that person is. What's important is how much I love that person, do I want to be with that person?"
He paused, his gaze distant. "I understand now why Raven left that day without saying anything, just by taking a slap from me. Regardless of Shu's condition, he wanted to be with her, which I could not understand even after living with my wife for so many years. He understood it from a few moments with Shu. I am truly proud of my son. He loved a person, not her power."
Back in Nihon, Raven remained oblivious to his father's revelation. He sat by Shu's side, his fingers intertwined with hers, whispering stories of the cherry blossoms blooming outside, hoping, praying, that one day, she'd open her eyes and tell him the story she never finished. He might have left Freedonia, but he hadn't left her. He would stay right there, in the quiet room filled with the scent of cherry blossoms and unyielding love, until she finally woke up. He was Raven, the exiled prince, the heartbroken lover, and he wouldn't have it any other way .The echoing farewell of the Vampire King still bounced in Jihu's head. "Wish Raven a happy birthday from me," he had said. The portal shimmered shut behind them, dumping them back into the familiar, chaotic normalcy of their home.
"It's Raven's birthday tomorrow," Jihu announced to Ri, already pacing. "We should celebrate it."
Ri's brow furrowed with concern. "Will he even want to? Will he really have fun with us?"
"I don't know," Jihu admitted, his restless energy palpable. "But what's wrong with trying?"
Just then, Fang and Ash walked in, drawn by the rising tension. Fang held up a hand. "Don't make it too big. Just a small cake, a bottle of champagne. A quick party, then we get out."
Their plan was simple, respectful, and hopefully, not too overwhelming for Raven.
The next morning, armed with a chocolate cake and a bottle of good champagne, they stood nervously before Raven's door. As usual, Raven was not happy to have visitors. The door creaked open, revealing Raven, his dark hair dishevelled, his eyes holding a familiar weariness.
Before he could protest, Jihu threw his arms around him in a bear hug. "Happy Birthday, brother!" He clapped Raven on the shoulder, steering him inside.
"What are you doing here, everybody?" Raven grumbled, pulling away. "Don't you know I don't celebrate birthdays anymore?"
Fang chuckled wryly. "Brother, it's been three years. Time to celebrate."
Ri, ever the peacemaker, stepped forward. "Let's cut the cake, Raven. With Shu watching."
They all gathered around Shu, who lay still and silent in her bed. Three years. Three years since the war stole her voice and her strength, leaving her trapped within her own body. No flicker of recognition showed on her face.
Raven's jovial façade crumbled. "Everyone," he said softly. "Let Shu rest. Please, you can celebrate outside."
After they left, Raven sat on the edge of Shu's bed and took her hand. "Won't you wish me happy birthday, Shu?" His voice cracked slightly. "I know you are, in your heart. Thank you, my love." He gently kissed her forehead.
Unseen by Raven, two teardrops escaped his eyes, landing on Shu's hair. He fought to control himself, the weight of her silence a crushing presence on a day meant for joy. He forced himself to re-join his friends, the champagne popping offering a false spark of happiness.
The forced merriment continued until Jihu, loosened by the alcohol, broached a forbidden subject. "How long will you stay like this, Raven? How long will you stay angry with the Vampire King, your father? Will you ever return to our kingdom?"
Raven's face hardened. "I've told you never to talk to me about this."
Fang, trying to salvage the situation, intervened. "What mistake did the Vampire King make, brother, that you're punishing him like this? He's still your father. Three years, Raven. You're his only heir. Who else will manage Freedonia?"
"You can take care of Shu even if you go back to Freedonia, right?" Jihu pressed, oblivious to the danger simmering in Raven's eyes.
Raven exploded. "Yes! And my father will kill Shu for his heir and force me to marry someone else! Is that what you want?"
Jihu snapped. He punched Raven hard, sending him stumbling backward. "I won't listen to you speak badly of the Vampire King! He's our master!"
Blood trickled from Raven's lip. He didn't retaliate. He just looked exhausted, his eyes filled with a deep, unyielding grief. "The party's over. You can all leave. I'm going to sleep." He turned and walked back toward Shu, his shoulders slumped.
Ri, horrified, rounded on Jihu. "What did you do? We came to lift his spirits, and you made it worse!"
Fang nodded grimly. "You know how he is, Jihu. He might say things he doesn't mean, but you shouldn't lose your own control. He might have talked to us, even angrily. Now, he probably won't talk to us at all." With a sigh, he added "Let's go"
Raven, oblivious to their departure, lay down next to Shu, pulling her close. "You are mine, and I am yours," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I have no one in this world except you. As long as you're by my side, I'll never be truly alone. Stay with me for the rest of my life. You'll get well soon, baby. I just… I hope that one day, you'll tell me that you love me, that you miss me. Good night, sweet dreams." His body relaxed, and he drifted into a troubled sleep, clinging to the only constant in his shattered world.