Belen began tending to Teal’s wounds. He managed to accelerate part of her natural healing process with his Essence but her situation was dire. “I don’t know what else I can do, Your Highness. I used most of my Essence in battle. Without any supplies, we simply have to pray she survives. Your wound also looks-”

Kieran stopped him.

His fists were shaking and his nails bit into his palm. Although Alexandra had killed the majority of the defenders, a few still remained. They fled from the scene. “Catch them,” Kieran ordered. “Bring someone to me alive. Alexandra,” he didn’t care about hiding who she was right now. Maybe they didn’t even remember her anymore. “Put pressure on her wound.”

Alexandra didn’t argue. She rested Teal’s head on a folded cloak and started pressing down on her back.

Kieran could only watch as she struggled for breath, as sweat ran down her pale face. When three men were dragged back to them, Kieran looked them in the eye and said. “If you show me where your medical supplies are, I’ll let you all go.”

They exchanged glances. “I-It’s further back in the fortress,” one of the men said. “I-I can show you!”

Kieran lifted his chin, gesturing for the man to lead. “Me’dun, make sure to secure this place.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

They were led to a large two story building in the back of the fortress made of stone and clay tiles. The door was left open. Of the ten people inside, eight were wounded, victims of either fires or battle, while the remaining two tended to them. Their entrance was met with shock and panic. The demons’ blessings were out in full display causing the two healers to turn for their weapons. Kieran ignored them and ordered Teal put onto a bed. As the people inside the building were restrained, Belen dug through the supplies and rushed to Teal’s side. Kieran stood watch over her.

“Your injury,” Belen said as he laid out the things he needed. There was a crystal, a vial of blue liquid, and a few herbs. “We should treat it.”

“It’s fine. I don’t feel it,” he responded. It was a lie. His shoulder throbbed and his Flow distorted. The arrow was made of Essence and it disappeared seconds after it hit him, meaning nothing blocked his blood from flowing out. He didn’t care. Alexandra took the bandages from the hands of the enemy healers and started wrapping his shoulder. He paid her no attention. Belen’s efforts were more important to him.

“What should we do with them, Your Highness?” one soldier asked.

He cast a glance filled with indifference their way. This was a waste of time. Rounded up, curled in the corner were likely some of the last survivors of the fortress. They seemed younger than he remembered as if getting away from the battle had given their lifespan back years of time. Their eyes turned to him, filled with fear and pleading. Did he have any space to worry about an enemy when his people were fighting for their lives right now? “Let the three who brought us here go,” Kieran decided.

“Y-Your Highness!” one of the soldiers extended his claws. “We should-”

“I told you to let them go,” his voice boomed. The soldier seemed to shake. While a battle may still be taking place outside of the building, they were safe and away from harm. His actions just now amounted to treason should Kieran care. The soldier obeyed and let them loose from their restraints.

“As for the rest of you,” The faces of the others turned pale as Kieran looked at them. “If you two help save her then I’ll also let everyone here go.”

Whether it was because he kept his word with the other three or because they didn’t want to die for refusing, they assisted Belen. Kieran’s hand rested on his sword. His eyes followed every movement of the two healers who seemed to shrink whenever their gazes met. A whiff of sabotage and the bloodlust of his soldiers would be sated.

In her back was a hole the size of a quarter. The arrow of conjured Essence had gone deep enough to almost penetrate her thin frame completely. Deep, dark red blood pooled inside and he felt his insides stir. She was dying in front of him. Belen gestured for the vial of blue liquid and poured it in. One of the assistants grinded a mixture of herbs while the other prepared a fresh roll of bandages. Belen grabbed one of the ungrinded herbs and ate it. His mouth contorted in disgust but he continued, placing his hand over her wound and channeling his Essence.

At some point, Kieran could no longer stand. Overtaken by an overwhelming sense of lightheadedness, he sat in a chair Alexandra forced upon him. She pressed down firm on his shoulders to keep him from moving. The treatment went on for what felt like hours and after a while, hallucinations, memories of the past began to play as he drifted in and out of consciousness.

They arrived in Melak Castle for the first time a month ago. Although he welcomed the change of scenery, the dreary stone halls devoid of decorations, the walls that seemed more intent on keeping him in than keeping dangers out, and the lack of people he could interact with took a toll on his psyche. The intensity of his training ramped up as Alexandra extended the time and shortened the rests. Essence training, sword fighting, barehanded combat, sparring sessions using both Essence and a sword...

It was after a rough day of more training and studying where every little struggle, every little ache and pain added up. He decided a walk at night would clear his head. The spring breeze contained that bit of biting cold still lingering from a winter only recently passed, and it charged him with life. Moving to the top of the walls for a view of the world beyond the stone prison, he saw Teal with her legs dangling over the edge. She kicked her feet like a child would and hummed her quiet tune until she began singing.

He hid and listened from the stairway. Her soothing, gentle voice lulled him as if he were a child again. A part of him wanted for those days to return. Somewhere in the middle of her tune, her voice cracked, tinged with sadness and regret. He almost went up there to ask why. Why did she feel that way? But he didn’t. He knew why.

“Nahariundvass, the three begin to break. A warm cobbled house is a memory of the past, floating down you, oh, Nahariundvass.”

Kieran’s eyes fluttered open. He was on a bed next to Teal’s and sitting between them was Belen, asleep on the chair he had sat in last night. Kieran burst out of bed, stumbling as he did, and checked on her condition. Alexandra stopped him, “She has survived. They were able to stop her bleeding and most of the wound has closed due to Belen’s healing abilities. Disturbing her sleep will slow her recovery. Come, you are needed elsewhere.” His eyes lingered on Teal as Alexandra dragged him out.

Me’dun organized the men and women as they moved in supplies from the outpost. A group of people stripped last night’s casualties of their weapons and armors, throwing them into a cart before tossing their bodies into a pile. The carnage that was obscured by the darkness was now on full display, coupled with the smell of burned flesh and feces. He gagged, tears welling in his eyes. Kieran tried distracting his mind but the meaty thud as more bodies were thrown in caused him to puke. Alexandra waited for him to regain his composure.

Fuck… I didn’t think it would be this bad.

Kieran positioned himself so he wouldn’t have to look at the bodies. With a crystal in hand, Me’dun walked over. “Your Highness,” he started. “I have reported our success in capturing the fortress. His Highness, Crown Prince Drastan, wishes to speak with you.”

He snorted as his lips twisted in disgust. What other kind of hell-like mission did his ‘brother’ want him to take on? He grabbed the crystal, “What is it?”

“Hmph, I will admit, I did not expect you to succeed.”

“Wow, thanks for believing in me.”

“No one does,” his brother replied curtly. The words stung. He knew it was true. Instead of being sent to the north or eastern front, he was sent to the southern part of Rathladan where the fighting was the least fierce. The people of Mist Mountain were a neutral party that controlled parts of the Vayson Mountain Range that separated the Maharden Empire and Kheonyth Kingdom. Neither were willing to risk provoking them.

“Did you call just to mock me?”

“No, it was impossible for you to fail, as you are accompanied by The Blood Demon, but you completed your mission nonetheless. Congratulations are due, I suppose.”

He had half a mind to drop the crystal and stomp it into fine dust. “Your words are too kind.”

“Be honored,” he said, either missing the sarcasm or not caring. “I have spoken with Overlord Kaal’un and he seems to have made a blunder. Protect the fortress until reinforcements consisting of both our forces arrive within a week.”

“If you’re going to tell me to go and attack another fortress or raid some villages, I’m not gonna do that.”

“No, you will rendezvous with Overlord Kaal’un’s army in Shawlis Forest and then join us in Telash Castle.”

“What? Why?” Shawls Forest made sense but the castle? Telash Castle wasn’t an outpost castle like Melak was. If he went there, he’d be days away from any of the fighting. Not that he minded, it just made no sense.

“Brother Akeron has passed away.”

“...”

Kieran almost dropped the crystal. Akeron was the third prince. From what he heard, Akeron was skilled in battle and a decent commander. He recently obtained the rank of High Demon too and was gifted armor from Overlord Kallistos of Yathmarra.

“Such are the ways of war. Be grateful Father and Mother have assigned you The Blood Demon. We shall be waiting.”

Throughout the day, Kieran had gotten his wound redressed multiple times. It was the obvious thing to do to keep himself on the path to full recovery but each time he got it treated, he was given an excuse to go back to the infirmary. Once again, as the blood soaked through his old bandage, he walked through the first floor filled with a dozen other wounded and went on upstairs. On the bed, Teal still slept, quiet and unmoving.

Me’dun and Alexandra had tagged along, Me’dun because he wished to check in on the injured and Alexandra because she was his bodyguard. Her hood was thrown up, covering her red hair. No one suspected her of anything yet, although rumors of last night had been spreading around.

“Sit here,” Belen tapped the seat of a chair as he brought out a bucket of water and bandages with herbs already on them. “If you’re worried about her, don’t be. The worst of it has passed. We can’t do much else than wait for her to awaken.”

As Kieran sat down and had his wound treated, Teal stirred. He almost jumped out of his chair but Alexandra’s firm hand once again kept him in place. Teal looked at her hands and around the room until her eyes fell on him.

Her lips quivered a bit, “W-We did it…” Her voice was filled with shock and awe. “Are you alright, Young Master?” She tried to get out of bed but the pain stunned her.

His face twitched with a sudden anger. He tried to control his voice, “Stop moving before you open up your wounds. Belen has his hands full.”

“I was thinking about your health…”

“I don’t need you to do that.”

“I-I, I don’t know what-” her voice cracked. “I was only trying to help...”

“You think getting yourself killed is going to help anyone!?” Kieran screamed. Alexandra’s grip on him tightened.

Teal’s eyes were downcast. Between his seething breaths and heated words, his anger started to subside. She spoke, “I’m sorry… I don’t know what else someone like me can do. If I could give my life for yours, then I would gladly do so…”

He grit his teeth. The moment Belen finished dressing his wound, he shot up, “What don’t you understand? I don’t need you doing something so stupid and useless again!” he stomped out of the room before he could hear her reply. Whenever he was around her, it was like someone kept stirring his emotions, making him burst in rage. Outside, sounds of distant ebbing waters stoked his anger. A cool breeze brushed past his face and breathed new life into him. Outside where the moon was his source of light, he found a sense of calm in the veil of darkness. It would hide, conceal, what he didn’t want to see, what he didn’t want to feel.

A familiar gaze locked onto him from the doorway.

“What is it? I don’t want to hear any excuses this time.”

Me’dun chuckled. A strange response considering his usual demeanor. “You are different from what the rumors say.”

“How so?” he asked.

“Well, they say you are lazy, incompetent, foolish, and spiteful. Of those four, only one seems to fit what I have seen.”

Well, they all could fit actually. I didn’t do much for the first ten years and I kind of avoided some lessons and training.

“Which one?”

“May I speak freely?”

“Go ahead. I want your honest thoughts.”

“Foolish,” Me’dun answered.

Kieran gave a dry laugh, “I can’t say I’m the smartest guy around but wouldn’t spiteful fit better?”

Me’dun shook his head, “No, it does not. While your words do hurt your northern-blood attendant, I do not think it is out of any malice. It is clear to me that she cares deeply about you, yet why do you push her away?”

Kieran’s hands tightened into fists.

“I do not mean to pry, Your Highness. If you do not wish to answer then I will not press the matter. It simply struck me as strange. Why keep an attendant around whose presence brings discomfort or annoyance? Most nobles I’ve known would throw them away.”

“I’m not a noble.”

“Of course,” Me’dun ran his finger across his scar on his drooping eye, “You are royalty. Tasked with giving your life for this country in a war that may not change anything, over land that has little meaning to our people. You do not have the luxury of deciding new attendants on the battlefield. What you need are ones who are loyal above all else.”

“Loyal, huh?”

Could someone who betrayed his trust be called loyal after the fact?

“What I say may not matter. However, I know loyalty when I see it, and your northern-blood attendant is just so. We may never be able to forget what happened in the past but we can choose to forgive it,”

Can I forgive her, though?

He didn’t know if he could. Even now, three and a half years later, he still got annoyed or angry whenever she was too kind to him. A part of him couldn’t accept it.

“There is much in this world we may never be able to forgive, much more that we will never understand, but we may always try,” Me’dun said as he gazed up at the moon. “Who knows? Perhaps that act alone will bring the dawn.”