Kaiser of the New World

Another... day passed?

Yeah, it was a day that had passed, right?

Last night, Kai ended up having multiple strange dreams in a row that made it feel as if multiple days had passed, but in reality it had only been a day.

But to be honest, after he woke up, Kai just didn't have the energy to do anything. He just felt so tired, so unwell.

Back on Earth, it was a common occurance that he would pretend to be sick so he could skip school, but it was only the odd time that he actually got sick.

And this was one such time. He hadn't been sick in over half a year, but now he was, and it was definitely not pleasant.

Maybe it was a lingering effect from whatever beast had injured him yesterday. His ears still throbbed from time to time, and his hearing was coming and going as it pleased, much like the blizzard surrounding him.

But just because he was sure that it had only been a day, that didn't make the images in his dreams any less vivid.

He couldn't remember anything that actually happened, all he could remember was the emotions he felt.

Well, emotion.

And that emotion was overwhelming peace, right on the brink of being called lethargy.

Even though Kai was safer than he had ever been in the last couple of months, he hadn't been that peaceful. He was still on guard, just in case, and he had been putting himself in danger the last while so his life wasn't that peaceful.

And yet, that was all he felt in his dreams.

Kai mindlessly wandered the streets of Frostvale, no real destination in mind. He had his hands tucked into the pockets of the coat he had been loaned, his signature white tunic underneath the second and much needed layer.

It was only after being subjected to this unforgiving cold that Kai realised that even though his tunic gave a minor resistance to the cold, it didn't mean that it was suited for cold weather.

While the tunic was able to successfully reach the area of his legs between his knees and his ankles, and while it was made out of some beautiful fur, it was rather light. The slightest bit of wind was able to invade the outfit and make Kai chilly,

His boots were able to do their job properly though, which was a small boost.

And in those same boots he continued to walk mindlessly.

Each step he took made him think of something, but a step later he would forget what was just on his mind. Then after the third step there would be another new thought, only to be forgotten again after the fourth.

Why is it so cold...

It was cold, it was miserable, it was boring, it was definitely not the place Kai should be while sick.

And because he was sick, he kept overlooking the little things that were rather strange given the circumstances.

Less people on the streets compared to yesterday.

No footsteps in the snow despite there being people outside.

No surviving snowmen despite Kai seeing them get built yesterday. Even back on Earth when it would snow the odd time the snowmen had a decent survival time, they wouldn't just be gone the day after they were built.

But yet, they were, and Kai was too lost to notice it.

He wasn't going to go hunting today, that was just a quick way to an early grave.

... Even though he already felt like he had one foot in it with how he was currently feeling.

Snow.

Cold.

Bear.

Wind.

Rest.

Eat.

Kiss.

Gods, what is wrong with me today?

Kai's mind was lost. Random words with seemingly no significance kept popping into his mind with every step, in a sort of strange pattern. As for what that pattern was... Well, he described the pattern as strange for a reason.

It felt like he was walking in circles, always returning to the same mental point, doomed to repeat the same thought over and over again until it inevitably just became his personality.

Everything hurt. His chest, his ears, his brain, his heart, even his soul ached and he had no idea why. He felt like he was losing it, but it's not like he actually had anything to lose, right?

There was no reason to worry after all, he could simply just stay here, what reason was there to leave when he could fight for this Subdimension in the Tournament of Time.

Yes, that didn't seem like such a bad idea. Why leave when he had no idea what the outside world was like, he had no idea what dangers were out there.

Scary contracts, Main Dimensions, Soundbearers, Galaxy Eaters, apple gods, all of it was too scary for someone like Kai.

So why bother when he could stay here and be safe? Be united? Be one?

Yes, that was what he wanted.

That's what everyone around him wanted.

That's what the world wanted.

...

What was he just thinking about?

Another step was taken.

Ah, he was thinking about how badly he wanted his Molten Cocoa.

Another step.

Actually, he was thinking about wanting to to back to bed and get some more rest, maybe that would help him.

Another step.

No, he was thinking about...

Kai froze in the middle of the snow covered street, a frown visible on his face. He physically could not remember his last thought, his mind was a jumbled up mess of random nothingness that only left him feeling more confused when he actually tried to remember.

Just what was-

Then, Kai felt the gazes.

But there was no one looking at him.

Everyone that was near him was already engaged in some sort of activity. There was people talking, some people playing music in the streets while hoping to make some money, even some people selling their goods at the market.

None of them were looking at Kai.

Yet he felt all of their gazes on him, burning him like he was being branded by a hot iron.

Kai's breathing picked up as he started walking quickly, now having a destination in mind.

Actually what the fuck, am I losing it or something?

Kai was panicking. Everything felt off and completetly normal at the same time, yet he couldn't find anything that would make him feel that was.

He should be happy, no, he was happy...

So why-

Pushing open the doors to the Singing Vixen, Kai basically sprinted up to the front desk where Annie was.

"Hey Annie. Can I just get the regular, please."

Kai took a deep breath after ordering, he seriously felt as if he was losing it. Although to everyone else it probably looked like he was having withdrawals from not having his daily fix of Molten Cocoa.

After about a minute, a to go cup was placed on the desk in front of him. Kai hasn't even realised that any time had passes, he was waiting for Annie to say something to show that she heard him.

Tenderly picking the cup up, Kai flashed Annie a weak smile before taking a sip, his expression souring right after he swallowed.

Why did his drink have to taste so terrible on today of all days.

Still, be wasn't going to be impolite so he smiled again and said:

"Thanks, Annie... How is your life?"

Annie did not answer.

Her eyes followed Kai, but it was like there wasn't a single thought behind them, like she was just a shell of a human. A fragment of what she used to or could have been.

She just stared blankly at Kai, not responding or even blinking, her expression blanker than even that of Ezekial's

It was at that moment that Kai realised that maybe he wasn't just sick, maybe it was something else entirely.

Feeling his heart rate pick up, he quickly made his way outside the tavern and was instantly overwhelmed by a barrage of ever changing imagines.

One moment there would be children playing on the street having a great time, the next he would see one of the children's corpses decaying in an alleyway.

As soon as he blinked, it disappeared.

Then he would see adults joyously enjoying each others company, then he would see their faces sink as terrible black bags appeared beneath their eyes, their lips cracking from dehydration, their eyes turning just as lifeless as Annie's were.

But again, as soon as Kai blinked it all returned to normal.

Kai felt this agonising pain well up in this chest. His brain felt like it was on fire, screaming at him that something was wrong, but he didn't want to believe it.

No, he was happy here? He was just so happy here, why was he seeing these things?

He was happy.

Happy.

Happy.

Happy.

Happy.

...Happy?

Feeling as if he was about to throw up, Kai ignored the constantly changing imagines that assaulted his mind and broke out in a sprint, aiming for the castle.

Everywhere he looked he would see some horrifying, grotesque, traumatising image, but it would be gone as soon as it appeared.

The cycle repeated endlessly, the images never stopping and only worsening Kai's mental state.

Not stopping for a single moment, Kai nearly slipped as he dashed up the stairs of the castle. The whole way to his bedroom he didn't meet anyone, he was uninterrupted.

That gave him a moment of solace, no more horrible images to torment him.

But that didn't make the situation any better.

As soon as Kai reached his bathroom he practically fell onto the ground, keeling over the toilet and spewing his guts out.

It was like every bad emotion was excreted in one go, but he didn't feel any better, in fact, he only felt worse after vomiting.

What the fuck!

Kai was panicking.

No, he was happy, there was no reason to panic.

Right, he was happy.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Kai carefully stood up and made his way to the sink.

He gave his face a quick clean before looking in the mirror and smiling.

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

Why was he so happy?