43. Of Grief and Recovering

Arganan let himself rest upstairs, in the Clinic, for the next few days. Though he couldn't go outside of the Clinic, given how he was stuck on bed-rest for the third or fourth time at this point, he was very aware that the entire town mourned Ventuswill's death. They were thankful and optimistic about Selphia being saved from the Sechs Empire, which fell apart shortly after Ethelberd's demise, but it was clear that there was a damper on their joy, now that the Divine Wind was gone. Eventually, a new dragon would appear, but no one really knew how soon that would happen.

Dolce and Pico would keep Arganan company, most of the time, though it was mainly Pico. The ghost girl, usually cheerful and mischievous, also seemed a little low in spirits. Arganan didn't blame her for feeling that way, given how close she and Dolce were to Ventuswill in the past. He, too, felt sad that Ventuswill was gone.

Zael and Therius theorized that Ventuswill likely died due to an overuse of runes. It hadn't helped that Ethelberd fused himself with her and constantly fought for control over her, during the entire fight. According to Zael, only two days after Ventuswill's death, Calista would be coming back to Selphia to check in on Princess Frey and the rest of Selphia, as well as Arganan himself. Arganan wasn't sure what to think of it. He didn't care, at this point. Zael and Therius would, meanwhile, stay in Selphia to spend some time both recovering from the fight against Ethelberd, as well as just survey how the town was doing. Arganan supposed it would do both of them some good to get to know the townspeople, so he didn't mind.

Zael visited him the first day after the death of Ventuswill. In fact, his nephew-in-law checked in on him at least once a day, if only briefly. Arganan appreciated it. Perhaps it was a sign of some sort of reconciliation for things in the past.

"I'm still surprised you threw yourself in my way." Zael admitted, during one of the visits. "I didn't think you'd do that."

Arganan sighed from where he sat in bed, looking up at Zael. "I thought about summoning a shield, or letting you take the hit to buy time to summon Mitra, but I wouldn't have enough time for either of those. Besides, Calista would be mad if I let you get hurt so easily."

Zael chuckled slightly, shaking his head. "I think I would have survived. You did, for sure. I do think Calista would be mad, though."

"Is she mad?"

"Hm?" The younger man blinked. "About what?"

"Running off and trying to help you, Frey, and everyone battle Ethelberd."

"I'm sure she's glad that we're all alive…or at least, most of us are." Zael swallowed a bit. "I sent her a letter as soon as we got back to Selphia, so she probably knows about all of what happened by now."

"How soon is Calista visiting?"

"A week and a half from now." Zael pushed some messy bangs out of his face. "I miss her."

"I'm not surprised. You two are madly in love." Arganan remarked, and he noticed his nephew-in-law smile.

"We still are."

Therius also visited, during Arganan's recovery. His visits were even briefer than Zael's own, and Arganan knew it was likely due to Therius doing more actual surveying of Selphia, learning about how its military forces worked compared to Lazulis and the rest of the Empire it was a part of, especially now that the war with the Sechs was over.

"I'm surprised at your resilience." Therius admitted, during one short visit. "You're recovering faster than I thought."

This was during the third day into bedrest. Arganan couldn't help but shrug, looking down at himself, and then up at Therius. "Given that I've been Clinic-bound about three or four times, now, I'm not surprised. Perhaps it's due to the Outsider's power, being part of me?"

"It could be the case. Zael had a similar ability where he could recover energy, upon counterattacking enemies. Your abilities focus on defending and countering, so that likely explains why you didn't pass out until after the battle with Ethelberd was over. Zael was also able to revive people if they were knocked unconscious…"

The former Count looked down at his right hand, and then up at Therius. "Do you think I could revive Ventuswill? Arthur had a theory, back when Ventuswill was initially sick and before we found the Rune Spheres, that I could maybe use my magic to restore her energy."

The white knight shook his head. "I don't think you could achieve a full resurrection. And if her runes are back in the Forest of Beginnings, that means that a new Wind Dragon will be created, at some point. It's best if we respect that cycle, since that's how it works here in Selphia. The last thing we want is an attempted resurrection and then the entire land falls apart."

Arganan grimaced at imagining that. "That's a fair point." He thought of Frey, and sighed. "It must be tough on Frey, right now. Ventuswill was her first friend, upon coming here. And she hasn't recovered from her amnesia yet, either."

"Frey was here earlier." Therius noted. "I overheard her and Jones, and…it's likely that if she hasn't recovered her amnesia at this point, she probably will never recover it."

Stuck without memories, and losing your first friend… Arganan couldn't help but frown. Frey fought so hard for Ventuswill, only to lose her.

"Therius?"

"Yes?"

He looked Therius in the eye, taking a deep breath. "Can you let Frey know, if you run into her, that I'd like to speak with her? Please?"

"Of course." Therius moved to leave the room. The former Count gripped the bedsheets, before calling after him.

"And Therius?"

Therius turned to face him one more time. "Yes?"

"Thank you." Arganan managed. "For doing this. It really means a lot to me."

He thought he saw a slight smile on Therius' face before he left.

Frey soon came, by the fourth day into Arganan's recovery. The Princess looked mostly well, but it was clear she didn't quite have the same pep in her step like she used to. Arganan hoped it would come back. He missed seeing her be so optimistic and cheery, like when she first met him when they were both newcomers in Selphia, trying to make the most of their time in a seemingly-strange new town.

"I miss Venti."

"I know you do." Arganan gestured for her to sit on the chair beside his bed, and she did so. "Are you okay?"

"I'm just…sad." A sigh left Frey, and she looked up with him. She wasn't crying, but her reddened eyes indicated that she did so earlier today. "I wanted to make things right. And I know we defeated the Sechs and saved Selphia, but…I feel like I failed. Is that bad?"

"I don't think that's a bad thing to feel." Arganan wished he could hug her properly right now, but he also didn't want to damage his own ribs too much all over again. "You wanted her back. She's your first friend here, and…losing a friend can be hard."

He still remembered the day he lost his own older brother. The death was sudden. He hadn't let it fully register in his mind while taking over as the new Count of Lazulis, all those years ago, but he knew that Calista certainly grieved over the loss of her parents; first her mother, then her father. And Arganan knew, deep down, that the way he treated her hadn't helped things, either. Even if Calista was open to reconciliation now, seemingly so, if it didn't work out…the former Count wanted to do right by someone, especially if that someone was his best friend.

"If you need someone to talk to," Arganan managed, looking Frey in the eye, "I'm right here."

"Thank you." Frey's voice went low, likely swallowing back tears, and Arganan could only close his good eye for a moment, pained at seeing her so forlorn.

He hoped that grief did not take Frey down with it, and that she'd one day be her cheerful self again. Then again, it was too clear that it would take some time to process Ventuswill's death. How much time, Arganan did not know, but he also hoped that it didn't hold Frey back from living her life. Ventuswill wouldn't want her to be sad, after all.