It was surprising how little it hurt.

The last week had been one unpleasant surprise after another. The battle with Fendel was desperate, but it wasn't hopeless. They were able to keep the fighting away from town, and they had sent request to the king and the other lords to send aid. But then lord Aston had fallen, and everything seemed to fall apart. Without there leader, the mood in Lhant grew darker. Lady Keri and Frederick were inconsolable. Everyone sensed the encroaching doom. And so Cheria had been given that errand.

Find Asbel.

She didn't know what to expect from the meeting. She hadn't expected to actually see Asbel again. She reunited with him outside the Knight Academy. He was different now, calmer and seemingly more humble. He seemed happy to see her. She knew the other shoe would fall soon. He couldn't really want her around, a little voice seemed to say. So she tried to stay aloof and focus on Lhant. But deep down, through all the fear and trepidation, some part of her was happy as well.

And then came the attack, and Asbel's gambit. She didn't stop to think if it could really work. There were invaders attacking her home. And if Asbel was heading into danger, she wanted to be with him.

It turned out to be an awful idea. One weapon fell, a half dozen others continued their attack. Both she and Asbel were too busy trying to survive to counterattack. One shell landed too close and blew the two of them in opposite directions. Her ears were ringing, but she could faintly hear someone yelling.

"Cheria!" It was Asbel. And she had never heard him sound so distraught.

Asbel was hurt, but he tried to drag himself to her. The cannons where training on him, ready to fire.

"Asbel, look out!" Cheria shouted. But Asbel didn't seem to care about anything else. "Asbel, don't worry about me, just-"

She had put her hand to her chest, just an idle gesture as she spoke. But the warm, sticky feeling gave her pause. She pulled her hand away, realizing that it was covered in blood. She looked at the gash on her chest. Had it been the last explosion?

It was surprising how little it had hurt.

Her strength seemed to leave her, and she collapsed to the ground. She heard more cannon fire, but now it sounded so far away. She was going. There was nothing for it. She wanted to do something, curse their assailants and her own weakness, but could barely muster the energy for passion. There wasn't anything she could do.

Wasn't there? Just another idle thought, but something came with it. An awareness. Something warm and soothing, just out of reach. She wanted to grab, call out to it, beckon it. She still didn't have the energy.

But it came to her anyways. The feeling slowly returned to her limbs, her sight grew clear again. She had the strength to stand once more.

And then she remembered clearly what had happened. Her mind focused around one thing; They hurt Asbel

Asbel was in dire straights. He was out numbered and on the defensive. Cheria was down (only down, she'll be okay once he got to her, she'll be okay...).

And then it came. A bright red flash, an overwhelming roar, a feeling of intense heat everywhere. Asbel lost his footing. He head swam. His ears rang. It seemed like an eternity before he finally registered something; a scent.

Smoke.

His heart started thudding again, fear washing away his confusion. He was able to get a good look at his surroundings. One glassy crater sat at the middle of the meadow. The weapons had been reduced to molten piles of slag. Almost everything else was gone. The ground was torn up, the few remaining plants seemed to be ablaze. Only the large tree seemed to have escaped devastation. And over it all, one sound rang out. A horrible, spiteful laugh. Asbel looked to see who it was.

Cheria.

Fear and confusion struck him, mixed with a sense of relief. She was on her feet, at least. She didn't appear to be bleeding anymore. Perhaps he had misjudged her injuries? But had she done this? It seemed far beyond what her artes were capable of. And the look on her face... Asbel never knew she could look so bitter.

The laughter abruptly stopped. Cheria ran to his side, wearing her familiar look of concern. "Asbel, are you okay?"

"I... think. What happened?"

Cheria didn't answer. She just helped him to his feet, looking nervous. "C'mon, let's go."