I'm dead. . . No, wait. . . I was dead. . . found amongst the garden of the dead. . .

I don't know what happened. The pens were destroyed and our enemy had amassed their forces. The tides shifted, and I couldn't see them. Me and countless others were transported away from Edinmire, they didn't want to burden themselves with us so they took us away from the fight. Where were we? _. The most peaceful place I've been in so long, it softens the blow of the fact that the broken were brought here. Still, couldn't complain really: the food was good, the country was beautiful, and the women? The nurses all have a soft touch, the sweetest smiles and manners that would my grandmother seem like a sinner in comparison. No one wanted to leave, but when we were patched up some of us were itching for pay back, more than rest.

We all were roaring for a fight, Edinmire was still on fire and we knew they needed help. With the magic of the Templar Healers we were on our feet, me among the first. When I was found, my wounds were tended with. . . primitive techniques, but I don't. . . remember. Everything was hazy, but I was well enough to go back. Three days into the fight. Injured, Day one. Evacuated, Day two. Ready to die, Day three. I wasn't so lucky. . .

'You gotta be kidding me, one more guy!' I contested, as he jumped on to the back of the carriage, 'Luthen, please, I'm good.'

'I know that, but they aren't gonna let you go with the blanks.' He assured me.

'Please, it's a few hours memory, nothing basically-'

'It's not nothing if they say so.' He cut me off, with his tone it was clear he wanted to end it, 'Look, take your time, get better. You'll come out with the second unit.'

'That's a week away.' I moaned.

'Then don't have too much fun then.' He laughed as the carriage moved off, back to Edinmire.

I watched as it passed through the town, out the main gate and across the hill. With that, I turned back to the Healing Barracks and headed inside. I joined the rest of my brothers in arms to lunch before I had a meeting with a Healer. I walked up to her door and knocked.

'Come in.' I heard, and I pushed open the door, 'Rolland, come in.'

'Thanks Ma'am.' I took a seat across from her, the desk between us was littered with documents and parchments.

'Did you know, that before I join this. . . Merry guild of healers I was working in the Publishing office, within the Templar organisation. It made sense to assume this position, I listened and I evaluated the injured.' She said, putting down the parchment she was reading.

'I think you mean broken.' I joked.

'Never broken, only. . . adapting.' She said, she picked up another piece and looked it over, 'Rolland, what is your first name?'

'. . . Sucre.' I told her, she just laughed.

'Isn't that. . . sugar?' she asked.

'Afraid so, the pain of growing up on a rural farm.' She laughed, but she placed down the parchment.

'Tell me, was it only sugar you grew up north? sorry the town you listed, its hard to pinpoint what else you could farm.' She asked.

'Well, we tried pumpkin for a bit, and wheat, but it didn't seem to work out with the seasons and timing.' I told her.

'I see.' She hummed, she sounded so. . . harmonious.

'Why, did you like to know something?' I asked.

'I just wanted to see what your like when your not lying.' She said making me tense, she stood up and tossed the parchment this way, 'I wanted to see. . . your story had some gaps and now I see that you weren't lying.'

She got up from her chair and walked up to me. She put her hands on my shoulders and started to rub them.

'Relax, I just wanted to be sure.' I looked at the parchment she tossed me, it had everything I was talking about: where I was from, enlistment dates, weather patterns and so much more, 'I found a few soldiers who lied to me, they didn't cooperate and they paid for it. You however are simply. . . blind to the truth, so I recommend a trip to the baths. Relax, you deserve it.'

I sat there for a moment, but I left in a hurry. The staff here are kind, humans and domesticated Keidran working for the betterment of others, but I feel she. . . was terrifying. I told the truth as best I knew it, but. . . if it comes back. . .

No, your fine. Just. . . go to the baths. . . breath.

I gave into the doctor's recommendations and I visited the baths. I disrobed in the stone corridor outside the baths and I entered the main chamber. The room was massive, stone pillars holding the arched roof stood out in the rising mists. The ground had large holes of pale blue pools of water, you couldn't see the bottom in each pool, but they did give off a reassuring feeling. I wandered into the centre of the room and picked a large size pool. I lowered myself into the warm pool and gave way to all thought. I tried to remember the night, but I didn't-no couldn't. . . it all was hazy. Things felt dark, like a great downfall of a hero in a story. But in the midst of darkness: comfort, affection. . .. peace. A bright figure amidst the flame, something seemingly. . . pure. I couldn't remember, but it was. . . a pleasant. . . broken piece.

'Sir?' I heard someone ask, I honestly couldn't see who it was, 'Towel?'

'Yeah, I. . .' I held a hand out to where I thought she was.

I felt what I thought to be the towel in my hand, but I felt it wasn't. . . a towel. It was fur: soft, fuzzy and. . . very warm. I opened my eyes to see I was grabbing the white furred wrist of a Keidran.

'Sorry. . .' I said, for a moment I was lost in her eyes, but I eventually let go.

A turned away from her, but I saw her place down the towel beside me in the pool. I heard her walk away, almost in a hurry.

'Sorry. . .' I found myself repeating, 'sorry. . .'