Fires
The second the man walked into the room, Yuki's eyes snapped open. The second she got the message about the bridge, she bolted. Yet again, everyone was left in her dust. She even outran a couple horses.
"They can create fire, too?" Yuki groaned. She turned back to the group that'd run in behind her. "We need water. Create a line of people from the river to up here to fire-line the water buckets. They're trying to burn the bridge." She grimaced slightly, realizing that they weren't trying to burn it down. They were. It'd likely have to be redone to make it safe for people to use.
"The village!" Someone yelled. "The village is on fire, too!"
"Both of them are." Someone else mumbled in shock. "The spirits of the dead have cursed us. We shouldn't have built this bridge after all."
Yuri bolted down to get the Demon Flute he'd dropped, Yuki bolting to create a distraction for him. All of the spirits had converted into one giant wolf. Adlabert, Keenan, and Velma helped her. Though as the spirits bolted to attack Yuri as he started to play the flute, Yuki bolted to be a shield for her brother. Luckily, he had his eyes closed and didn't see.
"You really need to learn some cooler songs." Yuki stated when the rain was pouring, the fires were out, and the spirit wolves were gone.
Yuri chuckled, pocketing the flute. He walked over to his sister and helped her up. "And you've gotta stop getting hurt." He retorted.
"I will when you stop getting into trouble." Yuki stated.
"I don't do it on purpose!" Yuri complained.
Yuki grinned, looking up as the people cheered. "But, these stupid risks of yours show the people that you're willing to risk your life for them." She stated. "They see that their king is willing to go so far and will respect you for that alone. Kings are supposed to be pampered and protected spoiled brats, after all. You're not supposed to put anyone's lives above your own."
"Not my style." Yuri grinned. Then he sighed, looking at the badly damaged bridge. "But what's gonna happen to the bridge? It's so damaged."
"It'll likely have to be completely redone. And the village will need a lot of repairs as well." Yuki stated honestly. "But those things are gone now. It'll be easier. Now that they know how to build it, it'll be done in no time."
"But then did we really save anything?" Yuri asked sadly.
"We got rid of those things. We got rid of the things that were making these people live in fear." Yuki stated. "We've given them hope. And they now know that their king is a man worth fighting for. This is a distant land, far from the capital. Do you think they ever expected to meet you in their lifetimes?"
"Guess you're right." Yuri sighed. He smiled, looking up at the cheering people. "And there's a shipment of wood heading this direction, too. Well, let's head u-"
A large cracking sound from above interrupted what he was about to say. He froze and looked up, saw a large crack in one of the support beams, and tried to run. An even louder cracking sound followed, followed by several others and the sound of screaming people. Upon seeing the sight of the large beam falling towards them, Yuri's reaction was expected of a teenage boy.
"Damn it." Yuki ground out, crouching over Yuri. The beam fell onto her back and her knees nearly buckled. Instantly, the fire-damaged and smoldering wood burned through her clothes and started to burn the middle of her back like a brand, splinters digging into the flesh. The rain made the ground loose and hard to stand in, causing her feet to slip a little.
"Yuki!" Adlabert yelled as he bolted under the beam and started to support it. "Take him and go. I've got this." But the second he said that, another beam fell and it took them both to hold up the massive weight. "Damn it to hell…" Adlabert seethed as the wood started to burn through his clothes.
"Shit!" A worker cursed as he skidded down, instantly trying to help. "We need help down here!"
"Majesty! Majesty, are you alright? Yuki-sama?" Gunter called as he and Gisela ran up with several others to help.
"He just fainted." Yuki stated. "Get him."
"Gisela, get His Majesty to safety." Gunter commanded, joining Yuki and Adlabert as yet another beam decided to join the pile on top of them.
A couple dozen workers all rushed forward to help with the beams. After about an hour, the four of them were freed and at a safe distance from the unstable bridge. The sun was rising by that time.
"That was quite an ordeal." Adlabert stated. He grinned slightly, looking to Gunter who held the unconscious king in his arms. "The Royal Adviser should be more vigilant in protecting his king."
Gunter didn't have any room to argue. Adlabert and Yuki had been the first to save Yuri. Not him. He'd been safe while his king was in mortal danger.
"Are you hurt, Father?" Gisela asked carefully.
"I am fine." Gunter answered truthfully. A little sore but unharmed. "Adlabert, thank you for protecting His Majesty."
"Please allow me to treat your shoulder." Gisela requested as she walked forward. Though she then quickly got to work, meaning it wasn't a request at all. Her hand instantly started to glow green with healing magic. "Just strained muscles and surface burns." She stated. "That should do it. Just try to take it easy."
Gisela then moved to Yuki, who by that point had been relieved of all back-splinters and bandaged up. She remained lying on her stomach as her back cooled. "Same goes for you, though your burns are slightly worse because you were there longer. Though, I can't do anything for the pain brought by the spirit wolves. I'm sorry."
"No wonder she's got a high pain tolerance with how often she gets hurt." One of the wives chuckled. "I'll make a special batch of tea for you again, Yuki-sama. Got ya through the gut again, didn't it?"
"I don't think they liked me very much." Yuki muttered, still lying on the ground with her arms as a pillow. She got up slowly, wearing the over-shirt of one of the workers to cover the bandages a bit. "Doesn't look like anyone is going to get anymore sleep. The shipment of wood is almost here. They're a mile away, if even that."
"Really? How can you know that?" A worker asked, confused.
"I can sense the location of those I spend a lot of time with pretty easily. Conrad and Wolfram are whelping with the shipment." Yuki stated. "It feels like they've brought half an army with them."
Sure enough, Conrad and Wolfram showed up a few minute later. With them were dozens of wagons piled high with wood and building materials.
"We'll be able to finish the construction AND repair the villages with all of this." One of the wives cheered as she helped unload the wagons.
"We were able to gain the support from many aristocrats to build this bridge. They sent their blessings." Conrad reported to explain the overabundance of supplies. "Looks like it was a good thing, too. We may not even need to do a second shipment to finish everything."
"That's good." Yuri smiled. "I guess the villagers won't have to abandon anything, then."
"I hope you didn't make any 'mistakes' just because I wasn't here." Wolfram huffed as he walked up.
"As if there was any time for that." Yuri chuckled. He looked over to his sister. "I was a 'good boy' right, Yuki?"
"'Mistakes' as in cheating or as in putting his life in danger for stupid reasons?" Yuki grinned.
"He does that second one no matter if I'm there or not." Wolfram muttered. "When are you going to get it through your head that you're a king, Yuri?"
"Eh, where's Gisela?" Yuri asked, looking around.
"She's probably off gathering herbs again." Gunter answered. "The wives told her of herbs that help with the effects of being hurt by the spirit-wolves."
"What are these spirit-wolves you keep talking about?" Wolfram questioned.
"No idea." Yuri shrugged. "But they're gone now, so…"
"What, you didn't even catch one? You wimp." Wolfram huffed.
"'Catch one'?" Yuri echoed. "How do you catch a spirit? We couldn't even touch them. Ask anyone."
"Says the guy that likes to do the impossible." Yuki chuckled.
"Why are you wearing that, anyway?" Wolfram asked her. "Mother will throw a fit if she hears you were wearing a man's shirt. She hates you wearing anything but fancy dresses as it is, you know." Then upon looking closer, he saw that parts of the shirt underneath was burned. "Are you hurt? What hap-" He froze, looking back to the bridge. "Are you injured? Yuri, are you injured as well?"
Conrad went rigid, bolting over to his godson and goddaughter. "Gisela is gathering herbs for the two of you, isn't she?"
"No, just Yuki." Yuri sighed. "The spirit-wolves got to her and then her back got burned a bit. Gisela has healed the burns, though."
"What effect do these things have?" Conrad asked Gunter.
"Not to worry, Sir Weller." One of the workers stated. "She got hit yesterday, too. There's no wound – it just feels like it."
"Gunter, your job isn't to protect only Yuri anymore!" Wolfram shouted, glaring acidly at the advisor.
"It's my fault as much as his, Wolfram." Yuri sighed. "She was hurt because she was protecting me."
"Of course, she was protecting you, you wimp." Wolfram huffed. "But I'm here now so there's no more need for that. So, Yuki can take it easy."
"The day I leave protecting my brother to anyone else is the day Sabo rolls over in his watery grave." Yuki stated, rolling her eyes. "I'll be the one protecting the both of you."
"While injured?" Wolfram scoffed.
"Wanna find out?" Yuki grinned, a hand on one of her swords.
"That's enough out of both of you." Gunter sighed. "Wolfram, I will not have you dueling Yuki over the right to protect His Majesty."
"Because I'd win." Yuki grinned, walking away.
"When hell freezes over!" Wolfram yelled back.
"Hell must be a rather cold place, then." Yuki grinned.