—
Waking up was a genuine surprise for Loqi. As soon as he'd seen the bloody hole through his torso, he'd expected that to be it.
Yet it appeared he hadn't taken his last breaths in Fleuret's arms.
Did he feel like he'd been run over by one of the trucks they were bringing back? Yes. Was that infinitely better than being out of the picture for good? Also yes.
…By the Six, did he feel awful, though. Very stiff. And there was a chill under his skin that he knew wasn't due to the weather.
He had a fever, no doubt.
There was a rattling noise close by.
He shivered faintly, prying his eyes fully open to find a human-shaped blur sitting in a strange position in a chair at the end of his bed.
Oh. It was the feral Argentum shadow child. Who was wolfing down some sort of rations like a beast.
"We tried to get him to go somewhere else, but he kept trying to bite us," said an amused voice.
Loqi's throbbing mind vaguely recognized that voice, and he summoned the energy to turn his head to find the source.
Ah. The crossbow Glaive. Right. He'd seen her tossing about healing magic.
"I…" Loqi stopped to cough and clear his throat. Six, his throat felt like hell. "I take it you're the reason I'm still here?" He gently maneuvered himself, trying to sit up.
"Easy." She adjusted the pillows behind him, helping him lean back before offering a cup of water with a straw in it. "And yeah – me, the Oracle, and a decent number of other medical personnel around here."
Loqi frowned. "The Oracle?"
The Glaive nodded, and Loqi realized she looked as exhausted as he felt. "I sealed up the wound before we got back to the city, but ronins don't exactly clean their weapons. You came down with an infection. Which then spawned into the Scourge. You've been out for six days total."
Well, hell. He hadn't thought they'd go that far to save him given all the trouble he'd already caused.
"What of Evan?" he found himself asking.
"Up and about." She smiled. "Worried about you. He dropped by several times."
Really? It was a wonder Highwind hadn't snuck in and suffocated him in his sleep.
The Glaive stood. "I'll let the Marshal know you're awake."
…And now he died.
The way in which the Marshal tried to kill him was a surprise.
"Can you walk yet?"
"…I believe so."
"Then do so and follow me."
Not what Loqi was expecting, but he wasn't about to pathetically stay in bed and give his former rival the satisfaction of seeing him so weak.
And so – with a terrible amount of effort – Loqi managed to get himself to his feet and shrug on a donated shirt from one of the nurses before hobbling after the Immortal.
At least the Immortal has a slow walking pace as well. Had he not been relying on a cane to walk, Loqi might have fallen flat on his face trying to keep up with him.
"Not too long, sir," the crossbow Glaive said. "He needs rest."
The Marshal only grunted at her in reply.
Well, there it was. The plan was to walk him to death. He was going to be walked to death… by a man with a cane.
They'd scarcely reached the outside of the hospital when someone else hobbled over to them, yelling. Was the whole city going crippled?
"Hey! Imperial kid!" said the old man gruffly.
Loqi scowled. "I am far from a child."
The man waved him off. "All you youngin's are kids to me."
"Did you need something, Cid?" The Immortal's tone was one of mild irritation.
"Yeah, from him." Cid jabbed a finger at Loqi. "You used to own one of them fancier magitek armors, right?"
"That's correct," Loqi answered cautiously.
The old man looked pleased. "I'd like a word with you. Stop by my spot later. Cor can tell you where it is."
And with that, the man walked off.
Loqi raised an eyebrow at the Immortal.
He said, "Cid likely has a good reason for wanting to speak with you. We owe much of the running machinery around her to him."
Very well. If he was still living later, he'd do that. He still wasn't so certain that he would be, though, given that the Immortal seemed to be leading him to the edge of the city.
…Something was different now. Loqi couldn't pin it down given his unfamiliarity with the city, but something had changed.
…The light levels, Loqi realized after a few more moments. it was getting brighter the closer they got to the edge of the city. That didn't make any sense.
"Do you like our new security measures?" the Immortal asked, stopped on an inclined street that let them clearly see beyond the walls of the city. The physical walls, that was.
"What is that?" Loqi asked staring in awe at the high golden barrier of pure golden light that sat between the city and the darkness.
"That," the Immortal leaned heavily on his cane, "is hope. The Oracle's powers have taken quite a jump since she first left the city."
"She created a new Wall…" Loqi breathed. This one was different from the one that had guarded Insomnia – it didn't cover the sky – but the resemblance was unmistakable.
"Yes," the Immortal confirmed. "She modified it as to not harm the infected that she hasn't healed yet as well as our… newest citizens." His gaze flicked over Loqi's shoulder, and Loqi nearly jumped out of his skin.
He hadn't even noticed that his Argentum had been following this whole time. He was just… lurking there.
Loqi shook his head, turning back to the Immortal. "I assume there was a point to this walk other than briefing me on the state of your security?"
The Immortal grunted. "The point is that without you, we would likely have no Oracle any longer, or her bother either. The Fleuret line might very well have ended already. That said, your actions taken to save them do not excuse you from the laws of Lestallum." He straightened his spine, glaring down at Loqi with his one working eye. "We are both aware that our people need each other, and us working together is key for everyone's survival. But while you are in my city, you follow my rules. Am I clear?"
"As Insomnia's Wall."
The Immortal's glare grew harder.
Six, even barely able to walk this man was more than intimidating. Loqi probably would be better off not prodding him.
Loqi held his hands up in a peace gesture. "Your city, your rules. I will abide. And I expect you to abide by my rules should you ever make it to Crestholm."
The Immortal nodded. "Naturally."
The tension seemed to ease a bit. The Immortal was suddenly looking tired. Loqi couldn't blame him.
"I've avoided making a real decision about that boy for too long." Cor shook his head. "What he does now is his choice. But the other clones can't do that for themselves yet."
Loqi snorted. "Clearly not."
"They'll need care. To learn. Evan's come a long way, and we don't even know if they'll pick up things like he does. You should speak with Talcott. He's the one who's had the most involvement with Evan's education that's still alive."
Loqi had to think on that for a moment before he spoke again. "Does this mean you're giving me full… custody over them with no qualms?"
Another glare, but less hostile this time. "For their education. I expect you'll honor their wishes if they don't wish to be part of your squad?"
How low did this lot truly expect him to go?
"Of course. I hope for them to become the force we need – I admit, that's why I initially wanted to rescue them – but they're not servants. If they wish to pursue another path, then so be it, but at least now they have a chance at life."
The Immortal hummed. "An old friend of mine is visiting from Caem tomorrow. He might be able to help you with your transportation issue."
Caem. Right. That was where the chocobos were being kept.
Loqi rubbed his eyes. "Then I supposed I'd ought to get some sleep so your medical team doesn't tie me to a bed for forced medical rest."
"There's much more to discuss, but it's less pressing. I'll drop by in a few hours."
Loqi nodded.
"Cid, Talcott, and Weskum," the Immortal reminded.
"Right."
And so they parted ways, Loqi trudging back to his hospital room as he mentally swore at how out of breath he was. This was pathetic compared to his usual stamina.
The white-coated Glaive – Delilah, wasn't it? – was waiting outside the door, looking at her watch. She dropped her arm as he approached. "Cutting it close, but looks like I won't have to send out a search party after all."
He found himself observing her as she helped him settle back into his hospital bed and checked him over.
A medic and Glaive. A stealthy Glaive.
He wondered how much he'd have to buddy up with the Immortal and Fleuret for them to let him draft her.
His team was coming together bit by bit. If only things went well…
Six, please let them go well…
No one could afford failure these days.
But the Immortal was right. For the first time in a long while, some true rays of hope had shone on them all.
—
