Dawn

Conrad woke. It was nearing dawn. He felt bandages on his skin, near the areas where the arrows pierced him. He then felt traces of the warmth that filled him when Yuri healed him with his maryoku.

Yuri...

"You're awake," said a familiar voice. Conrad turned his head towards the door of his room. A thin figure stood at the door, in his hands was a first aid kit. In the moonlight, Conrad could see that the figure had black hair and black eyes.

"Yuri, you should be asleep," said Conrad, "You used a lot of maryoku to heal me, particularly since you're in a human country."

"I'm taking care of you," said the young king, taking out fresh bandages from the first aid kit, "You can't get well quickly enough if those arrow wounds are left unintended."

Conrad sighed at the boy's stubbornness.

"I never saw myself as your master."

"Huh?"

He then saw tears trailing down Yuri's cheeks. "Yuri..." he began, but was cut off as Yuri hugged him. Conrad sat there, surprised by the embrace. What surprised the calm man even more was how gentle Yuri was with his embrace.

"You're my godfather..." the teenager murmured, "Even if I am the Maoh, with you, I see myself as your godson. Nothing more."

"Yuri..." the soldier began again but was cut off as Yuri broke away from the embrace and looking at his godfather squarely in the eyes.

"These are not sad tears," Yuri explained, trying to wipe his tears away, "They're happy tears."

"Eh?" Conrad murmured. "I'm happy to know that you're alive," Yuri explained, "to know that you haven't betrayed me at all." The young king paused momentarily, "And to know I can trust you with the decisions you make..."

The sun rose even as silence rang between them.

"Is it true, though?" Yuri asked after a long moment. Conrad frowned at the question.

"What is, Yuri?" he replied.

"That my soul is Julia's."

Conrad sighed then and brought his good arm up to dry the boy's tears.

"I would not lie about something like that," he told his godson gently.

"I didn't think you would."

Conrad gently stroked his thumb over the boy's cheek.

"I know you said you would never leave me alone," Yuri began, "but..." he could not continue.

"I'm sorry I caused this much pain in your heart," said Conrad, "I had wished at the time to do anything to else prevent it, if there was anything I could do to reverse it..."

"At least I know now that I can always trust you to do what you think is right..." Yuri repeated gently.

"You really are naïve," the captain said gently.

"Don't I know it?" said Yuri, grinning sheepishly.

"But a good king, just the same."

All Yuri could do was smile.