Robert was surprised about the flare that called them. Imagine he was more surprised when he saw a familiar face, though worn and weary, was certainly the face of the Doctor of Milostiv. What surprised Robert the most was how the elven-kin named Mana treated him friendly, not even bothering to hide how she treated Doctor Gabrio.

“Did you throw away my things?”

“No.”

Robert somehow knew that the Doctor would ask that.

“Lady Zyra took over the clinic after your passing, she kept most of your things intact, Doctor.”

“That’s good, thought you’d throw it away.”

“We cannot do that.”

Explosion rang. The mounted beast unit hurried to the direction of the fleet. They had been able to acquire permission to leave the front to escort them back to the fleet where they would be kept safe.

“Looks like we choose the route of going to war.”

“That we do, Doctor,” Robert said. “Lord Seiko provided the maps, the rest of clans supports us, and we intend to take the gate of Brampi if they deny our righteous passage.”

“So have we gone that path?”

Our crusade against the Icean Spine was righteous. Not only that the Reconnoiter Company had implored the clan-heads to open the gates, they also refused any more communication. Their reason was understandable, for once that gate is open, it would flood most of the settlements near the river, and there would be casualties. Honestly, Robert wondered how they could have convinced the clan-heads if it wasn’t for the blinder of light acting as herald for them, convincing them that if they cannot reach the thousand islands, and blind the eye of the world, then it would lead to the end of it all.

“That would cost a lot of deaths, and if I heard right, most of the farmlands of the Icean Spine are near the banks of the River. The channels would break the irrigations and what’s worse is we would be causing untold destruction. Not to mention what sort of hell spawn we will unleash on the land.”

Beyond the Icean Spine lies untold creatures, and even the great walls that holds the water had been in constant watch against nefarious creatures. If it wasn’t for their constant vigil, the Icean Spine would have been a land of death and suffering. The ‘peace’ of the land alone was proof of the successful vigil.

Now a fleet armed with the will and the army was planning to open the gates.

“And it looks like you got a new upgrades, how did that happen?”

“We converted old models into this,” Robert loaded a paper cartridge and fired a round.

“Looks like the paper is being blasted alongside the shot. We must have extra parts in our fleet.”

“We do carry storage ships, Doctor. We need to maintain our rifles in the long run. Besides, we were close to this design, and most of our rifles were meant to be this way from the start.”

“That so?” Gabrio said, tapping on his pistol. “My pistols saved my life, and if anything it convinced me to bring more pistols than this.”

“Were you thrown somewhere? Six months was a lot, Doctor.”

“Six months, we took our time. Honestly, I don’t know how I am still alive. Anyway, you don’t look surprise.”

“We heard news that a spirit informed that the Doctor and the Miss was alive.”

Gabrio turned to Mana. “Did you?”

“I sent a spirit ahead, told them that we are still breathing.”

“That makes sense,” Gabrio replied, clinging to the mounted beast.

“We had heard that you might try to cross the bridge, and we had thought it was merely a jest, to think that you would be alive, Doctor.”

“Should I be dead?”

“Goodness no,” Robert said hurriedly. “Who else would worry so much about us Milostivians other than you? We were a mess without you, Doctor. Who spoil the lads without you?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“We can fight without worry, knowing that you’d patch it up with a few nags, Doc!”

The group escorting them said. The grins on their faces showed how they appreciate the Doctor. Within the months that they spent, the Doctor had treated everyone, cared for everyone, and had spent time. Some may call his actions as boredom, but it didn’t change the fact that he was helping. There was no person in the world who would refuse a man who would beg the patient to let him help him.

“Hey, don’t get carried away. If you hurt yourself deliberately, I won’t be helping you. If you don’t accept that, you can always forget that I exist, since no way I am wasting precious medicine.”

“Refreshing, ain’t it lads?”

“That’s right!”

“Doc! When will you create those alcoholic candies for us?”

Gabrio shook his head. Robert found the scene comforting. Lately, all they thought about was war, positioning, finding cover and focusing on whatever place they needed to attack next. So hearing some good news brought some life to these lads. The fleet didn’t lose many soldiers in the recent skirmishes. Death was unavoidable, and though they were professionals who had fought wars, it was something that could not be avoided no matter how good their arms were. It was likely that the other side they have their own good soldiers, and even if they didn’t have the professionalism of the soldiers of Aon. Death was likely when faced with an exchange of guns. The enemies have cannons, and though are inferior to the master-crafted arms of the Fleet. There are chances that a loose shot could kill their fellows.

“I feel estranged,” he heard the Doctor said. Robert couldn’t refute the Doctor, only nod at his words. He had been away for too long, and though he could tell that a lot happened. The Doctor’s thoughts were turning back to the people of Milostiv. That weariness and tiredness, replaced with that single-minded desire to fulfill his duties once again.

The war camp that was established on the beaches of the Icean Spine had been mostly filled with Captains. Most of the Captains and the leader stayed in Arkshelled or in their ships. The camp was crowded, and there were many soldiers going in and out of the Camp. Bannermen, rifle squads, and marksmen who work in pairs were using the mounted beast that they had gotten from the clan-heads for transport.

Most of the crowd parted when they got close to foot of the Ark-shelled Island where they requested audience. Robert was allowed to accompany the Doctor to the top of Arkshelled where they were told to report. When they arrived on Perlshaw, the first thing to welcome them was Madam Ristina who had practically jumped on Mana. She had scolded the Doctor and Miss Mana, calling them fools for their actions.

“Fools! If you want to save then you must save yourself first! This is the oath that we swore! How can we save lives if we do not care for our lives!? How many of those who practice medicine would survive if have such reckless abandon? I want you two to reflect on this matter!”

There were many more words that the Miss want to spare, but there was a glance that made it impossible for Robert to ask. “Robert, wasn’t it?”

“Madam.”

“Please leave us for a moment, I shall lead them.”

“Understood.”

Robert was a soldier of Milostiv, and even he understood that there was more to the situation. He didn’t dare to know any secrets, and especially if it belonged to the elven-kin.

*****

They took Gabrio and Mana to the Council, on the human seat there was Commander Magnus, seated next to Eletha Roan. But what truly made them nervous was the appearance of the head of the elven-kin of this fleet. She was a beautiful ageless woman who was watching the two of them closely.

“The earth mother had told us,” she began. “Calm kind child of man, you have been blessed with the treeheart, an honor that you must not sully. Everyone here can tell that your heart had been changed by the earth mother. There has been who was given the honor of having blessed by the earth mother, tell us the detail child.”

Gabrio told what happened, what he knew, and what they had experienced. Gabrio’s recollection of the events was met with curiosity. He spoke with a calm temperance and there was even the bold truth that he spoke. Of what he had to do in order to ensure Mana’s life. It was demeanor that one would expect of out a physician. To tell lies in front of a council of the wise was foolish. Gabrio didn’t think that he had enough wisdom to fool them. Of course, he had to tell them without mentioning the rather sensitive details, in which Mana appreciated dearly. Gabrio had told them what had happened, though he spared them his sufferings.

When Mana came forward to what she had observed. It was little compared to what Gabrio spoke. However, as she reached her conclusion, there was a silent that came to the council. Commander Magnus was here to listen to Gabrio, and Lady Mirthal was here to listen on Mana’s side.

“Seedling, you come to this council to tell, not hide. The Doctor of Milostiv spoke most of his truth. You may hide the details that you cannot bear out of your soul, but this ‘truth’ that you dare to hide concerns the Doctor with the treeheart. Or does the earth mother forbid you to tell this ‘truth’?”

Gabrio looked at her. Mana saw the stare of the Council and she felt the pressure. It was hard to lie to those who had power, and those who are wiser and knowledgeable than her. Her face crumpled, she took a knee for a moment for beginning again.

“The Doctor was wrought with the curse of ‘Silence’, his life ebbing away. If it wasn’t for the willpower and the duty of the Doctor, then he would have surely perished, and I would succumbed to the creatures of that forest. The Doctor had saved my life, and I cannot dare to allow him to perish after what he had done for me. And so I have given the Doctor half of my life.”

Lady Mirthal opened her eyes. “I heard that the ‘Silence’s’ curse erodes the life. Is this what you desired?”

“It was,” Mana said firmly, “I’ve given half of my life to honor what he had done for me. The mother of earth, the earth mother herself had approved of my desire.”

“Then shall I tell the Doctor of what this means for him.”

She turned his attention to the Doctor and began, “The mother of earth had been able to peer through the hearts of men. There are only a few who the Mistress had allowed to have a treeheart, and as you have surely gathered. The means is to have the lifespan of those who have given it halve, and those who do not have time left in this world would perish if it was done by older. Doctor, you are fortunate that you have been given this treeheart. You must understand what this means, no?”

“I do, as a man of medicine, I really do.”

“The method on how you got this heart, it will be kept secret, and though the methods for it is not strictly hidden from the words of men, we cannot allow it to be spread. Do you speak the tongue?”

“No, milady.”

“Then you can only see them. Doctor Gabrio, half of your life now belongs to our kin, and so you must cherish it. However, you must understand that your heart has changed, and it would mean that you are part of our conclave. The bestowal of the mother earth alone is enough to warrant you for someone who deserve our trust. Do not betray our trust, and cherish what had been given.”

It was a weight on Gabrio’s shoulders, a weight that was heavier than his duties.