Hey there! I wrote this about a year ago, and still think it's one of my favorite stories! I have it all typed up, so updates should be fast. However, they are based on reviews! Feel free to offer constructive criticism! I hope you like it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-JUDE'S POV-

"Jude, look out!" Alvin shouted. I suddenly felt myself being grabbed from behind and dragged to the right. I felt Alvin at my back, shielding me from the sylphid as it charged and missed us by mere inches. We had been heading to Sharilton to check on Driselle and possibly give Elize a new home. The plan was interrupted when we ran into the sylphid.

I felt Alvin's left hand let go of my arm and I heard three shots fire off from his gun. The sylphid dropped dead instantly. Alvin's aim had been perfect.

"You okay, kid?" he turned me around to face him.

I nodded, "Yeah. Thanks Alvin."

"No problem!" he pat me on the back, and the force almost made me face-plant.

"Is everyone all right?" Leah shouted to no one and yet everyone.

"That was so cool!" Teepo interrupted, "Elize wants a gun too!"

"Teepo!" Elize grabbed the floating plush and clamped his mouth shut.

Milla finished sheathing her sword a few yards away. "Well done everyone! Now where were we?"

Rowen bowed, "Heading to Sharilton, my lady."

"Ah yes! Come on everyone, it's not much farther."

Everyone turned away from the sylphid and started heading for the city again with Milla and Rowen in the lead, Elize, Teepo, and Leia following after, leaving me and Alvin behind.

I took a step forward to join them, but immediately felt Alvin put his arm around my shoulders, yanking me to a halt.

"Fine, thanks again for rescuing me," I started without looking at his face, " - but if we don't move we'll be left behi - "

It was then that I noticed. His breathing was heavy. He was shaking, and more and more weight was being forced onto my shoulders. When I looked at him, his eyes were shut tight against some form of pain.

"Alvin?" I asked concerned. "Alvin! What's wrong?"

"Ugh...I guess that call was closer than I thought..." he was holding his left side. The same side the sylphid had charged past.

"Guys, stop!" I shouted ahead. I turned back to Alvin, "Let me help you down, okay?"

It was fairly easy to get him to the ground since most of his weight was on me. Though instead of a sitting position, he went straight to laying down.

His hand was still clutching his wound. "Alvin, I have to look at it..." I tried to move his hand, but it hardly budged. "Alvin..." I prodded gently.

"Sorry kid..." he hesitantly let go, as if the action pained him.

The first thing I noticed was that his favorite jacket had been torn right through. He won't be too happy about that later...I thought.

"What's wrong, Jude?"

I looked up to see everyone crowding around. It was Milla that had spoken.

"Alvin got hurt..."

Rowen uttered an "Oh dear..." and gently ushered Elize out of view.

I moved the flap of Alvin's jacket out of the way, and saw his usually crisp white shirt start to stain red at a rather alarming rate.

"How bad is it?" he groaned, a hand to his head.

I immediately placed my hands over it and started channeling artes.

"You'll be fine," I responded calmly, hoping my voice didn't sound as unsure as I felt. I was still only a student after all...could I do this?

After a few seconds passed, Alvin spoke again. "As a mercenary, I can tell when people lie...you don't know, do you?" it almost wasn't a question.

"We should hurry to Sharilton," Rowen's calm voice saved me from answering. "I will help you carry him, Jude."

I nodded, " - but first we need something to slow the bleeding..." I looked to each person, hoping someone would speak up with an idea, an extra cloth, or anything of the like.

"Use this..." Alvin's voice was weakening. I looked at him to see him start to take off his scarf. I helped him get it off, and used it to firmly bandage his wound. When I tightened it, he grunted.

"Sorry, Alvin. I didn't mean to - "

"S'okay, kid..."

Rowen moved to Alvin's other side and we both lifted him up until he was between us, each under an arm. Alvin was trying to stand, but it looked both painful and energy consuming.

"Alvin...let us help you," I softly prompted.

"I am..." his breath hitched and I looked at him worriedly. He smiled to try to lighten the mood, "I was just trying not to put too much strain on the old man's back."

I shook my head in disbelief.

"Oh, don't worry about me," Rowen chuckled. " - but let's do hurry up before my back really does go out."

We continued at an almost pleasant pace, though it was still slow enough for Alvin. He would wince every now and then, but that was it.

Until he stumbled a bit.

Then again.

His breathing was getting harder, and I knew we should hurry to get him back, but I knew he couldn't go faster.

I reached over and channeled more healing artes, which I had begun to do more frequently.

"Thanks, kid..." his head was starting to droop. He couldn't hold out much longer.

"Rowen, how much farther?" I asked urgently.

"Not long now..." his voice was strained. The journey was taking its toll on him too.

"Jude?" Teepo's worried voice sounded. I turned my head towards it. He was being hugged tightly by a crying Elize.

"Will Alvin be all right?" his voice quivered as Elize sniffed. I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out.

"I'll be fine, Elize," Alvin smiled towards her. "It's just a scratch, after all..."

She smiled back, though it didn't seem genuine.

"How is he, Jude?" Milla called back over her shoulder.

"How much farther?" was all I gave.

-ALVIN'S POV-

It was agony.

I couldn't concentrate.

Left foot, right foot, left, right, left...right, right?

And then I stumbled. A wave of fresh pain shot through my side. I gasped and my knees buckled. Thank goodness I was being held up or I would have fallen on my face. I felt what I believed was Jude's arm sliding from under mine to my injury. I gasped again when he touched it.

What was he doing?

Then I felt it. Instant relief flooded me. He was channeling artes.

He moved his hand back to where it was, but...was he saying something?

I realized I was gasping for air I didn't know how desperately I needed. It was painful, but it was air.

"Alvin!?"

I think it was Jude. I opened my eyes, and realized we had stopped. I noticed Jude's hand on my side again. My feet were dragging too. I suddenly saw spots, so I shut my eyes and concentrated on breathing.

"What's happening? Is Alvin okay?" Elize's voice broke through my loud gasping.

"Alvin, relax. Just rest, okay?" Jude instructed. He said something else, but I didn't catch it.

I suddenly felt something against my back, and my head fell back to rest on something warm.

"Just rest..." Jude repeated. The sound was above me though. I looked around and noticed I was on the ground leaning against Jude. When did that happen?

"Thanks, kid..." I sounded weak, but I didn't care. Air was my top priority.

"Alvin? I felt a hand wrap around mine.

"Hey, Elize..." my eyelids were so heavy, but I dragged them open anyway. "You...okay?"

I didn't hear or see a response. I was suddenly too tired, and my eyes shut against my will. My side was on fire, and it burned to breath. It was getting harder to by the second.

"J - Jude..." I gasped.

"What's wrong, Alvin?" there was obvious concern in his voice.

"I...I can't...can't..." I coughed and gasped at the pain that followed.

"Alvin?"

Please understand, Jude!

"Bre -...ea - " I coughed again. I can't breathe! I wanted to shout, but it just wouldn't come out.

I felt myself being resituated, and a hand was on my side once again.

Please understand...I silently pleaded.

Air suddenly flooded my lungs. It was better than the best drink at my favorite pub.

Thank you, Jude. I wanted to say, but I couldn't get a word out through my gasping.

I inhaled the sweet air again as pain and exhaustion dragged me into unconsciousness

-JUDE'S POV-

Alvin went limp against me.

"Alvin? Alvin!" I shouted, but he was out.

I looked up to Rowen who was helping to support Alvin even as he sat.

That's not good...

I could tell he was thinking that too.

"I can see Sharilton!" Leah screamed.

I looked up to see her running toward us.

"Sharilton is up ahead!" she stopped just short of us. Her eyes widened when she took in the situation. "Is Alvin okay?!"

"We need to hurry," I quickly replied. The calmness in my voice surprised me. "Rowen? Can you help?"

"Of course! I will always help a friend in need."

We picked Alvin up as carefully as possible, though a moan still escaped him.

"Sorry, Alvin. We're almost there. Just hang on." I soothed, even though he probably couldn't hear me.

The walk was harder since Alvin was unconscious, but we still made excellent time all the same. Soon we were on the bustling streets of Sharilton. Shouts of 'Fresh Mutton!' and small talk about the weather collided together in the warm spring air. But this wasn't a time to enjoy the breeze. Alvin emitted a low moan, and his head flopped onto my shoulder as if to remind me why.

Another thing I noticed was that it was crowded. We probably wouldn't be able to get Alvin through without bumping into someone, and that wouldn't help his condition. Fortunately, we had the Lord of Spirits with us.

"Make way! Please move! Emergency!" Milla started shoving people not to gently out of our way. Leia followed her lead and together they made a path to Driselle's house.

Life seemed to stop when enough people noticed us. Mouths were agape, gasps could be heard, and every eye was on us. Alvin groaned again. I moved my hand down to channel artes again, but when I placed my hand over the wound, Alvin flinched and gave a small cry, startling me. I looked toward his injury and my eyes widened. The trip had definitely taken its toll. The scarf that was acting as a bandage was completely bled through with crimson coating the left leg of his pants and nearly touching his boots. There was so much of it, and he looked ghostly pale.

Realization hit me. There was so much blood spilled for me. Alvin had sacrificed his safety, maybe even his life, to save mine. He had taken my place, and my pain. It was my fault.

"Driselle!" Elize was running up to the door as fast as she could, Teepo in hot pursuit. She knocked and a moment later, Driselle appeared, all smiles and giggles. She started greeting us happily, but when Elize pointed to Alvin, her cheerful mayoral facade dropped. She beckoned us inside, quickly pointing to a bedroom on the first floor, then ran off to a deeper section of the house.

We placed Alvin, who had now fallen silent, on the bed within the room. Rowen immediately sat down on a chair to rest his aching back. I suddenly felt exhausted as well. The multiple day journey, and the rush to get Alvin to Sharilton had worn me out. I tried to cast more artes to heal Alvin, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. I was just too tired.

Then it happened. Two people in white entered with Driselle and approached me and Rowen. From the looks of them, they must have been Sharilton doctors.

"What happened?" one of them asked while the other checked Alvin over.

"Sylphid attack," I answered, hoping that would be enough. I could barely keep my eyes open now, though I didn't miss the concerned glance between the two of them. "Is anyone else injured?"

I shook my head.

"We'll take care of him from here. You should get some rest. You look exhausted," he smiled at me warmly then turned to assist his companion. Rowen approached me and placed his hands on my shoulders.

"Come on, Jude," he started leading me toward the door. "I'm sure Alvin will be fine now. Let's get some rest."

He leads me to a couch in the main hall, where a circle of seats is surrounding a coffee table. Everyone else was sitting within the circle already. They all looked nervous and concerned. Rowen sat me down and I instantly stretched along the cushions and fell asleep.

So how was it? I'll post the next chapter soon if it's received well! Thanks so much for reading! Love to all who read it! 3 See you next chapter!