Chapter 67: Helpful child

She was curled up in a ball, her rainbow-colored hair a tangled mess that seemed to writhe like living creatures. Her mismatched eyes—one glowing with intense, shifting colors and the other a deep, swirling void—stared blankly at nothing.

Her body was surrounded by a chaotic storm of emotions, flickering from joy to despair to confusion in the blink of an eye.

She muttered incoherently, her words a jumble of fragmented thoughts that made little sense.

"She's hurting so much, Papa…" Verity whispered, her voice trembling. She clutched Darius' hand even tighter as they approached.

Darius frowned, seeing his sister in such a state. Delirium had always been unpredictable, but this was worse than he'd ever seen.

Her mental turmoil was radiating out of her, affecting the very fabric of her domain.

He could feel the ripples of her distress tugging at the edges of reality itself.

"Delirium," Darius called gently, stepping closer. His voice, though soft, cut through the chaos like a beacon.

For a moment, Delirium's rambling paused, her head twitching slightly as she registered his presence. She blinked, her eyes darting around as if trying to find him but unable to focus.

"D-Darius?" she mumbled, her voice small and broken. "Everything's... wrong... so wrong… I-I can't… can't think straight… it's all… too much…"

Darius knelt beside her, his heart aching at the sight of his sister in such pain. He reached out a hand, but stopped just short of touching her. "It's alright, Delirium. I'm here. I'm sorry… for what happened."

She shook her head frantically, her hair whipping around wildly as tears spilled down her face.

"No! No, it's not… it's not your fault! It's just… everything's too much, too loud, too messy! My head… I can't… can't hold it together…!"

Verity, still holding Darius' hand, stepped forward, her eyes wide with concern. "It's okay," she said softly. "We're here to help you, Miss Delirium."

Delirium's eyes darted to Verity, her expression momentarily confused as if she didn't quite understand who the child was or how she got there. But Verity's calm presence seemed to have a grounding effect, even if only slightly.

Darius took a deep breath and finally reached out to gently place his hand on Delirium's shoulder. "We'll get through this together," he said quietly. "You're not alone."

Delirium's body shook, her chaotic emotions flickering wildly around her. But the contact with her brother—someone who understood her chaos better than most—seemed to anchor her just enough.

Her breathing became less erratic, though her mind still swirled with confusion.

"I don't… don't want it to break," Delirium whispered, her voice fragile. "I don't want… to lose control."

"You won't," Darius assured her. "Not while I'm here."

Verity knelt beside Delirium, her small hand reaching out to touch her gently. "It's okay to be sad sometimes," Verity said, her voice soft and full of understanding. "But we can help you find your happy again."

Delirium's mismatched eyes locked onto Verity, and for a moment, the storm of chaos around her seemed to still. She blinked, her mind struggling to comprehend the child's pure, innocent presence in a world so full of madness.

Yet, there was something comforting about it.

"Happy…" Delirium murmured, her lips trembling. "I… I don't remember… how to feel that…"

Verity smiled warmly, her eyes full of kindness. "That's okay. We'll help you remember."

For the first time in what felt like ages, a flicker of something gentle crossed Delirium's face. It wasn't quite a smile, but it was something close—a fragile, tentative step toward peace.

As Verity gently held Delirium's hand, her power began to surge out, unbidden but not uncontrolled.

A soft, warm light radiated from her small frame, surrounding both her and Delirium in a calming aura.

The chaotic storm that had once enveloped Delirium's mind began to fade, the swirling colors and disjointed emotions gradually dissipating.

The confusion, the pain, the tangled thoughts that had plagued Delirium for so long were washed away, replaced by a strange, quiet stillness.

Darius watched in awe as his creation worked her magic. Verity's power was unlike anything he had ever seen—not just raw energy, but something pure and beautiful, something that soothed even the most unbalanced minds.

In moments, Delirium's usual erratic movements stilled, her mismatched eyes clearing as the chaos within her settled.

The air around them felt lighter, less turbulent, and the vibrant madness that once clung to every corner of the domain softened.

Delirium blinked several times, her gaze flickering between Verity and Darius. Her eyes no longer clouded with confusion, but instead gleamed with their usual mischievous brightness. The tension that had been winding tight inside her seemed to have melted away entirely.

A wide, delighted grin spread across Delirium's face, and with a burst of energy, she lunged at Verity, enveloping the small girl in a massive, fluffy hug.

"Ohmygod! You're the bestest little thing ever!" Delirium squealed, her voice full of joy as she showered Verity with rapid, enthusiastic kisses on her cheeks and forehead.

Verity giggled, trying to squirm in the embrace, but she couldn't help laughing along with Delirium. The two of them, so alike in their unpredictability, shared a genuine moment of happiness, their laughter ringing through the domain.

Verity's eyes sparkled as she hugged Delirium back, enjoying the warmth and affection.

"You fixed it! You fixed my brain!" Delirium laughed, bouncing excitedly. "Everything's all wibbly-wobbly again, but in the fun way!"

She twirled Verity around, her mismatched eyes twinkling as she swung the little girl in circles. "I don't feel all hurty and weird anymore! You're amazing!"

Verity's giggles echoed, her little arms wrapped tightly around Delirium's neck. "I'm glad you're happy now!" she said between fits of laughter, her heart full of joy at helping her new friend. 

Darius couldn't help but smile, his heart swelling with pride as he watched them. For a moment, it was as if all the weight he had carried, all the pain he had felt, had lifted.

Seeing Verity bring peace to Delirium—someone who had always teetered on the edge of chaos—filled him with a sense of accomplishment that went beyond words. 

Delirium stopped twirling and plopped herself and Verity onto the soft, ever-shifting ground, her arms still wrapped tightly around the girl. "You're like, totally my favorite now," Delirium declared with a giggle, squeezing Verity affectionately. "We should play together all the time! Your brain's super fun, and I like it."

Verity grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "I'd love that!" she exclaimed, her curiosity and playful nature meshing perfectly with Delirium's.

Darius stepped forward, still smiling as he crouched beside them. "Looks like you've made a new friend, Verity," he said warmly, ruffling her hair.

Verity nodded eagerly, looking up at Darius with wide, happy eyes. "I like Miss Delirium! She's fun!"

Delirium gave a dramatic nod, her rainbow-colored hair bouncing with her movements. "Yep! And you're the best!" She leaned in and whispered loudly to Verity, "I'm gonna make you a crown of butterflies and *glitter when we play next."

Verity's eyes widened in wonder. "A glitter crown? Really?"

"Totally!" Delirium winked. "With rainbow sparkles!"

The two laughed together, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment, their characters delightfully in sync—both unpredictable, both filled with a boundless energy that seemed to brighten even the darkest of places.

Darius watched them, he felt a profound sense of peace. Verity had done something truly remarkable—not just for Delirium, but for him, too.

She had brought light into a moment that had felt so heavy, so unbearable.

And seeing her connect with his sister in such a pure, joyful way made him realize just how special Verity truly was. She wasn't just a creation of his power—she was a force of hope, of balance, of love. 

And in that moment, he felt that everything would be alright.

Or maybe not...

Verity clung to Delirium, laughing and playing, her gaze suddenly turned to Darius with a determined look in her eyes. She tugged at his sleeve and pouted. "Papa, remember you said I could have a kitty?"

Darius, caught off guard, blinked. "A kitty?"

Verity nodded enthusiastically, her wide, innocent eyes sparkling with excitement. "Yes, you promised! I want a kitty now, please!"

Dammit...

Darius chuckled softly. "Alright, alright. How about I make you one, hmm? I can craft the perfect one for you."

Verity shook her head furiously, puffing her cheeks out in disapproval. "Noooo, not a made one! I want a real kitty. A natural one!" She folded her arms, and with a dramatic flair, widened her eyes even more, making them shine with a mixture of hope and pleading.

Darius could only sigh, feeling utterly defeated by the powerful gaze. His resolve crumbled as he smiled softly at her. "Okay, Verity. A real kitty it is. I'll figure something out."

Before Darius could think of how to get one, Delirium suddenly bounced up, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ooooh! I have tons of kitties in my realm! I can give you one of mine!" she offered, clapping her hands excitedly. "They're super cute and fuzzy and they go 'meow-meow' a lot!"

Verity's face lit up, her excitement growing. "Really?! Can I see?"

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