Sarah heard a heavy knock. She looked at the time, and grew worried that somehow she had forgotten a visit from a villager, or that Kaim had mentioned he was coming around in a letter. No, he's off fighting for a small village in the west. Who could this be?
Sarah rushed to put some items back in place when the knock came again, "I'm sorry, one moment!" Looking around and giving up on cleaning, she prepared an apology speech in her head as she went to her front door.
Outside of it stood a very tall man with a very clean goatee. He was dressed in traveling robes, though somehow the white linen was brighter than her bleached sheets on her own bed. She wondered if he really was doing any traveling on foot at all. He carried with him a golden staff, which told Sarah that he knew magic, but she could practically feel the energy oozing off him even as she was opening her door. There was a power coming from him she had never felt before, and she would be lying if she said it didn't intimidate her a little bit. She took in a deep breath through the nose, centering her own energy as not to appear weak and uncontrolled, before opening her mouth to speak.
"Sarah Sisulart, I presume?" Sarah let the air out in a little hiss and stared. The man's dark brow furrowed, as he bowed low. "Do forgive my intrusion."
"I'm sorry." Sarah couldn't pinpoint him. He looked vaguely familiar, but she could not recall his name. "You are?"
"Gongora, a lowly mage from Uhra." He stood up tall. "Though in our would I could have been a high priest."
"Our world?" Sarah could only assume two things: this Gongora was the immortal they hadn't met yet, and that he was lying about being a lowly mage. Sarah pushed the frame of her glasses up from her nose. "Well, I must apologize again. I can see that you are not lying about what you are, but I do not know what you mean about our world."
Gongora frowned. "You don't remember?"
Sarah gave a little smile and shrug of shoulder. "Can't say that I recall anything before waking up here."
"Don't you think it mysterious?" It was almost like he was speaking to himself. Sarah almost answered, but he jumped onto the next topic. "Ah, well, Miss Sisulart I've traveled a long way to invite you to my studies. I was on my way back to Uhra when I heard the curious rumor of a mountain witch." He gave her a toothy smile that did more to send a chill down her back than reassure her of his nature. "One that has lived an extended life."
"I'm sorry, Gongora, was it? I have my own studies here. And even if we are immortal kin, we have only just met." Sarah gave him her most regrettable smile. "I cannot travel with you."
Gongora tipped his head a little. "May I ask what could convince you?"
"I don't think you have anything to offer that would sway me, sir." Sarah inched herself into her doorway a little more. "So, I am sorry you traveled all this way. There's an inn not even five houses from here if you need a rest. The only way to go from there is by sea, or north to Gohtza." Sarah gave the man a little curtsy, and Gongora returned his bow with a frown. "Have a good rest."
Sarah shut the door, leaving her hand on the wood. In an instant a barrier surrounded her home and she felt a marginal safer behind the closed door. I'm sure if he really wanted to he could break this wall down. I've never felt such strange power, she thought to herself.
She glanced out the small window that sat to the left of the door. Gongora was walking, head held high, down the dirt road towards the Inn. She frowned again. "What was that all about?"
. . .
Sarah was just testing the water that was coming from the waterfall the following day when she bumped into the immortal stranger. He bowed, though this time Sarah didn't reciprocate. "Hello, Miss Sisulart."
"Did you sleep well?" Sarah didn't move from her spot on the ground. She held her hand in the water for a moment more before pulling her hand from it. She looked up at the man and realized how terrifyingly towering he truly was. He seemed to look down on her, as if she was lesser, despite the smile he wore on his face. The man hummed, and Sarah stood up to cut the distance between their heads.
"The Inn was comfortable. I've come to ask again—"
"Sir, we still don't know each other. You can't expect me to just leave with you—"
"Haven't you ever been curious?" he interrupted. Sarah allowed him to continue, sure that he would have interrupted her again anyway. "Where we come from, why we were sent here? Don't you want to remember why we were brought upon this world?"
Sarah couldn't lie. She had been researching everything there was to know about this earth but came no closer to her origins. All she knew was of a glittering space, a mirror, and four distant faces. She could fill the faces of Kaim, Seth, and now this Gongora; the Immortal Queen she hadn't had the chance to see yet. She did often wonder where they came from. "It is a little bit peculiar."
"Then I have the answer for you." Sarah twisted her mouth, feeling her objection bubble just underneath the surface. "All you need to do is come with me to Uhra."
"I'm sorry—"
"Would it help if you had Argonar here with you?"
Sarah's ears perked up at that. But how did he know of Kaim?
"You're probably wondering why I asked? Well, these past centuries I have been working on my magic and found I have a natural knack in knowing."
Sarah didn't find that answer to be very impressive. Gongora could see it. "I know that it's not a thrilling explanation, but I can guarantee you will be able to see him in our travels. In fact, we would be heading his way."
It had been a year since she had seen her stubborn Kaim. She missed his presence and touch more than she thought was possible. The last letter she received from him was a little worrying, and the battle he was fighting was not near finished. That letter also happened six months ago, and there hasn't been a word from him since. But she also knew that she shouldn't go to him as that would be even more of a distraction. She shook her head. "I can't get into Kaim's way. What he fights for is very important."
"But what if I tell you that the battle is not swaying in his favor?" Sarah's eyes met his, and she was not going to look away. "What could an opposing enemy do to an undying prisoner? I don't mean to sound…devious, but I'm sure he could use our help."
Sarah knew he was being just that, and made note of Gongora's manipulative behavior, though the worry for Kaim was giving her that pull that he wanted. "How can I really trust you knowing that? I haven't heard from Kaim in months!"
"And why is that?" he asked her with eyes dancing. He had a point and she did not like it. "How can I know? Well, there really is only one way to find out." Sarah narrowed her eyes. His words were working, and she did not appreciate where this was going. Gongora shrugged and continued with a chuckle, "besides what's the worst I could do? Kill you? I'll give you my word I won't. I would really like your company and thoughts on our homeland. We'll save your lover along the way."
Sarah, with a tight nod, gave her assent. She was sure if she didn't he would be back the next day with a new scheme.
. . .
Traveling with this tall immortal was a lot more pleasant than Sarah thought it would be. He was very respectful of her and her comfort, and paid for all accommodations, but Sarah was still wary. She couldn't figure him out. Was it his arrogance? His thoughts on mortal life? His presumptions on her or anything around them?
He was an interesting traveling companion, if anything. He had a lot to say, too, leaving Sarah quiet longer than she had ever been with another person in the vicinity. He was an inventor, creating magic and potions Sarah could only dream about. While he did admire her knowledge of healing and barrier spells, one that he even admitted to having less experience with, she had a feeling he still thought himself above all her skill. She had to admire his power, too, though with an edge of caution. He could use his knowledge for personal gain, and that's not what this world needed. Now, she could only figure that his interests lay in learning more about this world and why it connects to their home world, and she prayed to whatever gods were listening that it stayed that way.
Sarah can say she learned a lot about him and herself on the two-week journey west.
But all thoughts left when they reached their destination.
The village was desecrated. Fires burned down half of the buildings and the other half were used by the soldiers. Sarah held onto her staff as she made her way into the streets. The smell of devastation was one that Sarah had never experienced before. Rot and smoke seemed to be baked into the wood and stone streets by the unwavering sun. Men lay dying, moaning, hurt, bleeding all around her, and there didn't seem to be an end to it. Her healer-mode kicked into full gear as she stepped more into the village, and the healing spells were tumbling out of her mouth as she burst from her spot on the street to the first soldier she could reach.
"M-Miss, thank…thank you." The soldier was watching as his wound slowed in bleeding and stitched itself together with her zephyr.
"You'll be okay. Where are your medics?"
"Um. There's one…she's in that building just over there." The soldier lifted himself off the ground, looking like he had never been able to before in his life. "She's…swamped."
Sarah took her staff, thanked the gods she wore her traveling trousers, and made her way into the building that was pointed out to her. She opened the door, and the smell stopped her in her tracks.
The war took a toll on these men and women. She had never seen so many people hurt in one setting. Soldiers lay bandaged and unmoving. She wondered if half of them were even breathing. Her eyes scanned the crowd, and she felt the tears run down her face. The dense force of misery was just as unending as her life. Were there more people out there fighting? Were there to be more mortals throwing their lives away? She took in a staggering breath and steeled herself. She maneuvered around the cots and found one woman at the front, moving from person to person. She was barking out orders to what looked to be normal villagers, and she could tell they too had never seen the outcome of war this close as they jumped from assignment to assignment.
"Are you the medic?"
She twisted her head around to the sound of Sarah's voice, hands still rubbing antiseptic on the soldier's forehead before her. "Yes?"
"Point me to those who need healing most."
The woman gave her a confused look, but then glanced at Sarah's staff. Making a swift decision, and without any more hesitation, she pointed to a corner. Sarah made her way.
She didn't need her staff for this part, so she set it by the wall, and instead placed her hands over the mortals' chests. Within a moment their labored breathing evened, and she was moving onto the next two. Sarah didn't know how long she kept it up, but eventually a gentle hand stopped her. She looked into the wide eyes of the medic. "Ma'am! You've gone around the whole room!"
Sarah looked around. Indeed, she had placed her hands above every man and woman in the building, and most were already sitting up and staring back at her in wonder. No one had seen the healing spell before, and she thought that maybe this little place had never seen a mage in their lifetime. It was only a simple spell she was casting, and it almost made her laugh at how silly the thought was. Instead of humor and relief, Sarah looked at her own hands that shook. She didn't even realize how much energy it took to remedy the dozens of people she just cured. Sarah pulled her traveling pack off her back and searched around for something to help stop the buzzing.
She dug around until she finally felt a cool cylinder. She pulled it out and remembered what Gongora had said. "It will restore your magical energy in an instant! Can help you keep going for another few hours, and I've created some that will let me—us—not tire for days if we need it," she remembered. She popped off the cork and drank every drop. She felt herself recharge, the feeling starting in her stomach and moving across her body in dazzling sparks. She looked at the drink and turned to compliment its creator. "Gongora, this medicine is spectacular. How did you—?"
But Gongora wasn't there. She glanced around the room and tried to think back to when they arrived. Did he even step foot into the village? All she could remember was jumping at the chance to help. She felt a heat of anger flash onto her mind, and her hands curled into fists. I can't believe he would just leave! That he would just disappear! The bitter thought rattled her as she stuffed the empty canister back into her bag. She was just about to swing it onto her back and go look for the bastard when the door opened. "Another one down! He's bled a lot."
Kaim was laid down on the first available cot. Sarah was over to him without another thought wasted. He was sweating and pale, breathing was wet, and she was crying. Her hands moved to pull off his armor. She had no idea how it worked and found that her panic rising was not helping her shaking fingers. "Help me!" she ordered with a shout and a sniffle. The men jumped into action and together they had the armor off in seconds. The sword that pierced through his chest plate had broken off into him. Enough of it stuck out that it could be pulled out, but it could kill him if not done right. With tears running down her cheeks, she looked down to the rest of him. There were multiple deep cuts running along his arms and legs, though Sarah noted that they were healing slowly to her trained eye. It meant that his immortal body wasn't giving up yet, and that gave her the courage to try and save his life. Then all she needed to worry about was the broken sword in his chest.
She waved the medic over. "I'm going to ask that you pull this out as I am casting my spell." Sarah wiped her at her eyes, but saw the medic nod stoically. Sarah knew this lady had steady hands, and should be able to pull this out with ease. Hopefully, if Kaim died no one would notice. She didn't want to explain that one to the people around her. She nodded to the medic and placed her hands on Kaim's chest. The blood began to soak through her sleeves, but she kept her hands in place. She felt the healing warmth of zephyr roll out from her fingertips and when she felt Kaim's breathing become less labored, Sarah gave her the signal.
With both hands, the woman carefully and quickly pulled the sword out of Kaim. Kaim gasped, eyes blinking open. The wound was healed as quickly as it was made, but Kaim's thrashing was not helping the spell to keep the wounds closed. Sarah threw herself on top of him to keep him from moving, hands firmly rooted onto his chest to keep the zephyr connection live. She could see his eyes burning with war before turning to confusion, and—when he finally looked down to Sarah still on top of him; still casting her spell—settling on surprise. "Sarah?"
She could only smile and lean her head into his shoulder. Kaim's fingers came to rest on the back of her head and that's when she finally stopped the spell to enfold him into her own arms. She couldn't stop the tears from flowing, though they were from relief to not see him die. He didn't say anything else, instead just holding her still as she lay on top of him.
. . .
Sarah quietly listened to negotiations Kaim was having with the general of the opposing army. The war was on a standstill, neither side winning or losing, just dying. Casualties from both sides were great, and both sides were tired. Kaim was trying to find any kind of middle ground to keep them on, and the enemy general was doing the same.
Sarah watched as their talk finally settled on an end. She held her tongue on the matter, and waited until Kaim tiredly sat in the chair next to her. "All that for a sheep farm? A farm!"
"Wars have been fought for sillier things," Kaim said, without a hint of amusement. He rubbed his face and Sarah found herself holding her tongue again, as she placed a hand on his shoulder. She rubbed her palm in a circular motion, letting a little magic energy transfer to him. It was enough to keep him awake more than healing. "Thanks,"
"How are you feeling?"
"Better."
But not the best, she reminded herself. The less words he used the more emotionally drained he was. Sarah knew. She had known this for the three hundred years they have been in contact with each other. She pulled herself out of the chair holding her hand for him to join her. He accepted it, and held it as they walked out of the tent and into the campsite.
Sarah looked around at the once enemy's troop. Just like Kaim's side, men lay around waiting their mortal death. Sarah looked over at Kaim, and without a word he nodded. She set to work healing those she could save while he went to inform the general of what she would do.
Helping those in need came naturally for Sarah. She hated the thought of another person dying and the sadness that went down the line. People would be losing sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and that pain was unbearable. At least that's what she had learned from those who were willing to speak of it.
"Aren't you from the other side?" The soldier looked warry of the immortal woman, but Sarah laid a hand on him anyway. He gasped as his wounds stitched themselves together.
"Rest. You've earned it." Sarah patted his shoulder. "Go home after all of this is over."
"Y-yes." And Sarah walked on to the next.
. . .
"You met him? Gongora?" Sarah nodded, sipping her tea. She was feeling even more wore out than before, and refused to drink another one of those magical remedies.
It was the second day inside of the village and Kaim was taking a break from helping the mortals prepare for what the outcome of the war was going to bring. He was feeling recharged physically, and was attempting to get out of the habit of isolation that war always brought to him. Sarah was his first victim, and he was not playing nice. "And you just left the safety of Tosca and walked with him over here? Sarah, you don't—"
"I don't even know him," she finished for him, setting her cup down. "I know."
"He could have hurt you!" She watched as he pinched the bridge of his nose, and knew that he was trying to calm down. "If he had done anything to you."
"He didn't."
"It doesn't matter that he didn't!" Kaim was losing his own battle, and all the weariness and edge was coming back to his tone. "From the sounds of it he could have overpowered you very easily! You don't just agree to walk a week—"
"It took two." Sarah watched Kaim's eyes narrowed and set a glare on her. She rolled her own, and bit into the dry, hard bread that was offered to her before this conversation started. "Nothing happened! And if had killed me, it wouldn't of matter anyway!" It wasn't the best thing to say, and she knew it as soon as the words left her mouth; but she found herself wanting to fight this battle. She was not a weak person, and Kaim knew that. Even though she recognized he couldn't see that now. Not through his anger.
Kaim sat forward in his seat, and said voice low and dark, "there are worse things than death, Sarah."
She swallowed the bread with a cringe. She didn't think of that. Not exactly. "You're right," she admitted with another swig of tea to help the bread go down. Everything about war was terrible. Even the food.
Kaim sat back, and he could see in the way his shoulders raised up and his arms crossed that he was ready for another spat, but Sarah was going to let him win. Though, not without a few more words of her own. "Kaim, he knew you were going to be hurt. He knew that you and these mortals would need help. I don't know how he knew, but he did. He had me worried about you."
Kaim sighed, uncrossing his arms. The battle was over, he had won, though victory did not ease him out of his apprehension. He reached for her hand across the table, calloused thumb smoothing over her skin. "You know I would have been fine."
"I know." Sarah looked away from his hand, and looked out into the street through the window. "But if I didn't come what about these lives?"
"Sarah, by now you know how war works."
"It doesn't make it any easier." She frowned and rubbed at her eyes with her free hand. The past few days put her world in another perspective, one that she had never experienced. Before, she was just the healer who would help from a far distance. Those who were suffering after they had come home she would cure. Never had she seen the destruction of war so close, and hoped to never have to live through it again. She didn't have the heart for it.
Kaim squeezed her hand and she looked over at him. "Everyone is thankful for what you did. Because of you, this village won't be abandoned. Both sides were just about wiped out, and with it the village would have been deserted for a new town to immigrate to. But now there's a chance, and it was because of your healing."
Sarah sighed. "But if I had not come it wouldn't have been that cheery."
"Death will never be cheery no matter who wins or loses." Kaim leaned his head into his hand, looking out the same window. "Mortals might parade around if they have won the war, but who wins when even one death occurs because of a disagreement?"
"No one wins. Not really," Sarah agreed. "I guess at least there's some life left living."
Kaim gave her a small smile. "And it was because of your help."
Sarah laughed. "Why are you cheering me up? I should be helping you."
Kaim shook his head, the smile still on his face. "I'm a lost cause. A tired old soul that's seen too much. I'll be fine. You on the other hand? Who knows."
Sarah playfully hit his arm. Kaim chuckled.
. . .
They stayed in the village for another month. Sarah set out to make her muscle's stronger by helping Kaim and the village remake their homes. By the time the middle of fall had swept through the small place, they had a few new homes built, and families sharing whatever they had with each other. Sarah watched as the mortals took care of one another, and it made her smile. She won't ever forget the kindness that presents itself after tragedy, and it helped renew her vigor in building.
Kaim looked up into the setting sun. "It'll take some time to move back towards Tosca. It'll be colder and probably snowing."
Sarah hummed in agreement. While neither of them had any heavy winter clothing on them, there would be plenty of stops to purchase some. She continued to walk, Kaim following. "Should we be thinking of leaving?"
Kaim only nodded. "I think they can handle themselves from here on out."
They made it to where they were staying, thanking the kind couple again for their generosity. They moved to the room at the top floor of the home. Sarah fell into the small bed she managed to fit in with Kaim, and closed her eyes. "I'm not ready for winter."
Kaim agreed, sitting on the bed next to her. "Not ready for all that cold mountain air?"
"Not at all," Sarah said with a sigh. She rubbed her arms thinking of the weather they were too experience in the next few weeks. If only we could go someplace warmer, she thought to herself. She opened her eyes, an idea hitting her. "How about Uhra?"
"How about it?"
"Let's go see what that Gongora is up to."
Kaim's mouth twisted into a grimace. "From your interactions with him, I don't think I really want to meet him."
"Why not? He knows a lot of information, and I am still a little curious about where we have come from. His magical power is awe inspiring, I hate to admit, but he might be coming close to a breakthrough in his study of it. So?"
"I'm afraid I might lose my temper and give him a taste of my hands." Kaim lay back with her, meeting Sarah's blinking eyes. "He traveled all this way with you only to leave you to the dogs."
"You know." Sarah lifted a hand to Kaim's cheek, a delirious smile spreading across her face. His brow knitted together, trying and failing to anticipate her next sentence. "I would really love it if you broke his nose."
It was the first time she heard Kaim laugh, really laugh, in a long year, and Sarah found it was exactly what she needed to hear.