Author's Notes: OMG the manga told us that Morion was a second Prince of Brodia too, just like Alcryst! :O this totally puts Alcryst's nightmares in a new light, poor boy ;_; No wonder he's so scared to lose Diamant!

He usually ran to Diamant after a nightmare, but this time the nightmare was about Diamant. And Morion blamed himself.

Ten years ago, he'd given the boys a little family history lesson. Alcryst had asked who the man in the portrait was. That, son, is your uncle Jasper. An uncle who'd lost his life to Elusia less than a month after Morion's marriage and more than a year before his first son was born. He was a great King, I respected him like nothing else, but I never imagined I'd be taking his spot.

Alcryst, usually so shy and self-deprecating, had hugged Diamant and said he'd protect him. He'd been too young at the time to really consider the gravity of things, and to be fair, King Morion had no reason to assume Elusia would ever release the Fell Dragon and start an all-out war.

Now Alcryst stood in the doorway, fists balled up in the pockets of his robe. Too old to crawl into bed with a family member, but still young enough for a nightmare to shake him. Morion slowly climbed out of his bed, instinctively making sure not to awaken his wife before remembering he'd sent her to safety a month ago.

"Diamant was killed," Alcryst whispered as Morion led him to the study. "Elusia attacked and I couldn't rescue him in time."

Alcryst was sixteen, but you were never too old to fear losing a cherished family member. They sat down on a plush sofa, Morion wrapping Alcryst up in a hug; Alcryst was trembling but he wouldn't let any tears fall. Just like Morion had refused to let himself cry after Jasper's death.

Morion was the second son. Alcryst was his second son. Jasper was a beloved King who died, and Diamant was a beloved Prince shaping up to be a just as loved future King.

That history lesson was ten years ago, but Morion hadn't considered how much it would affect Alcryst.

"I'm not strong enough," Alcryst mumbled, his face buried in Morion's shoulder. "If something happened to Diamant, I'd be the worst King ever. Everyone already hates me for not being just like Diamant, I'm completely useless in meetings and at social functions, I can't hold a blade without my hands shaking..."

Alcryst had always been shier, more sensitive than Diamant, and Morion was sick and tired a long time ago of having to tell the people at those meetings and functions to shut up about it. He's my son, I love and appreciate him the way he is, and he's a lot better than you give him credit for!

Personally, he felt Alcryst did have the makings of a good ruler should the worst happen. But as a father, Morion didn't like the thought of him having to take the throne because he knew Alcryst would struggle and be miserable and subject to even more whispers and head-shaking disapproval from fools.

He smoothed Alcryst's hair away from his face and hugged him closer.

"First of all," he said, "Diamant won't be taking the throne anytime soon because I'm not going anywhere. Jasper lost his life to a dirty trick from Elusia, but I can knock them out before they even have time to pull one out of their pockets!" Alcryst smiled a little.

"That's true. You're bigger and a lot stronger than King Hyacinth."

"Damn right I am." Morion grinned, then became serious again. "Second, when it comes time for me to retire and Diamant takes the throne, we'll have easily won this war and Elusia won't be a threat. Therefore, you'll never have to worry about taking his place."

"I guess..." Alcryst swallowed. Morion squeezed his shoulder.

"However," he said, "suppose the worst does happen, and Elusia robs Brodia of its King? Diamant will succeed me, and they'll turn their daggers on him."

"That's what I dreamed about," Alcryst said, "he was King, and Hyacinth personally killed him. I was useless, I couldn't do anything but stand there and panic."

"But if that happened in real life," Morion continued, "you would fare better. You were only six when you told your brother you would protect him." Alcryst sighed.

"I was just a kid then. I was still too young and naive to realize I was totally useless and everyone-"

"Forget everyone," Morion cut him off, gently but firmly, "you're strong, incredibly smart, and I've seen how brave you can be when you're protecting your loved ones. If worst came to worst, Diamant's life would be in the best hands." He patted Alcryst's cheek. "Never take nightmares seriously, son, they're out to destroy you."

"But-"

"You're a second son, just like I was. Your brother will be King someday, like I am. But you'll never go through what I did, because I know you'll risk life and limb to protect your brother. You were a brave child back then and you're a brave man now." Alcryst blinked.

"I'm only sixteen."

"You're a man in my eyes." Morion hugged him a third time. "Try not to worry so much, okay? Neither Diamant nor I will lose to a tricky, unpredictable Kingdom that worships a monster." Alcryst hugged him back with a shaky, small laugh of relief.

"I'll try."

"Why don't you and I stay up and read a little?" Morion offered. It was late, but Alcryst didn't look like he wanted to go back to sleep anytime soon. Alcryst smiled more, slowly getting up to retrieve one of their favorite adventure books from the shelf.

"Thank you, Father."