This is the longest chapter so far, and also the one that introduces one of the major plot points. Please everyone, review! I really love writing this story and hearing opinions. And any Yuuri and Wolfram shippers, I do support it and it will be a side plot in this story. I am not a fan of shipping in general normally and this is not that sort of story (romance isn't usually my genre) but these two are so genuine and sweet and them being with each other doesn't take over the entire story fro me. Also it's canon as of latest novels Based on the novels, I personally view Yuuri as bisexual due to his interest in Flynn, Wolfram and Sara. That's just my opinion. I am bisexual myself, so I'm using my experiences to write anything regarding that that may or may not come up in the story.
Well, onto the story!
Conrart was frozen in fear as Yuuri let out a gasp, trying to suck in the breath that was swept away from him as the dagger pierced his chest. Conrart's hand fell from his arm in shock. For a moment, Yuuri seemed relatively fine. He backed away from the furious man, who had taken up a defensive stance with his bloodied hands in front of his chest, as if that would prevent a fatal blow to the chest. His eyes widened as he took a closer look at the young man whom he had just dealt a serious blow to. Conrart could see the rising panic in his eyes as he took in the black hair and unseeing black eyes of his victim and realized what he had done. Yuuri would always have his maryoku even if he didn't sit on the throne of this country, and many people had seen the majestic and terrifying bursts of elemental power on display. Those who hadn't all knew the tales.
Yuuri stumbled and righted himself, gasping for air again, struggling to steady his breathing. The dagger was still lodged in his chest and he stared down at it in wonder.
"Conrad, this really hurts," He managed to say, wincing at the effort it took. There was a darker colored spot that had appeared on the front of his shirt.
"Yuuri, try not to move-" Conrart started to say, but then the boy crumpled to the ground and let out one of the most heart wrenching sounds he had ever heard. It was a cross between a whimper and a scream, the kind of sound that could petrify the most hardened soldier. Yuuri should never make a sound like that.
Conrart snapped himself out the shock that had him rooted to his spot on the ground and rushed over, paying no mind to the man that still stood over Yuuri astonished and trying to stutter out some sort of coherent response to save himself from the maryoku related demise he was sure was coming to him. Conrart didn't feel the cold anymore. His silent anger made him feel as if his blood was boiling. That man was a fool if he thought his death would come from Yuuri. Yuuri was so gentle, and while there were occasions when his maryoku overwhelmed him and he felt fatal retribution was necessary, he was always able to see reason. Yuuri would be guilt ridden once he came to his senses. Conrart was not so gentle. You had to be careful who you showed compassion to, especially in the heat of battle. Yuuri would not want anyone to die because of him. But if Yuuri died, he wasn't sure he'd be able to control himself.
He heard Adalbert running towards them, shouting something urgently. Conrart wasn't paying attention. The whole world was nothing but the white snow and the boy in front of him, curled up into a ball with hot tears leaking down his face. They went from crystal clear to a murky red as they landed on his chest. Conrart supposed shouldn't tune everything out, what if the man attacked again while he was distracted, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the horrible sight. He'd seen wounds this bad in war on the battlefield. The men who had them usually never left.
He could see a dark red spot near the middle of Yuuri's sweater that was growing slowly wider like a blossoming rose. Luckily he hadn't landed on his chest and embedded the dagger any deeper in the wound.
The low moan of the man standing over him broke him out of his daze. His eyes were unfocused, and he looked up at the cloudy sky for a second before falling over unconscious. Conrart saw Adablert with the hilt of his sword raised over him.
Adalbert sheathed his sword and glared down at the comatose thug on the ground. "He wouldn't shut up."
He kneeled down over Yuuri and gently placed a hand on his wrist. He was struck by how small Yuuri's wrist looked in Adalbert's huge hand. "His pulse is still strong." Adalbert announced. His determined blue eyes met Conrart's brown. It may not stay like that though. We need to go. Now."
Conrart shot Yuuri a panicked look. He looked down at his hands to find they were a near solid red, and his eyes widened as he realized that had come from holding Yuuri. How much time did they have? The logical part of him knew it was not long. Maybe an hour at best.
"We need to get him to Gisella. She's the best healer in the country." Adalbert sheathed his own sword and took off his cloak. He took the thick wool fabric of the cloak, the blood on his hands staining the edges. He handed it to Adalbert. "Wrap him in this but try not to disturb the dagger. That's a lot of blood, and it may have ripped a hole in an artery or something else vital."
"Gisella's on a trip to Francia. She won't be back for at least another week," Conrart cursed himself for encouraging her to go. She had been working hard as of late and was beginning to lose sleep over her work. A reprieve seemed ideal at the time. Now his stupid decision might be the thing that killed Yuuri.
"We'll have to find help elsewhere. I can't heal a wound that serious on my own. Not even with Houseki. We need an expert."
Yuuri was whimpering and grabbing at the dagger still sticking out of his chest. Conrart could feel him beginning to shiver from the cold too. He grabbed his hand and put it back at his side. "I know it hurts but taking it out now could prove fatal. If not that, you'll be in far more pain than you already are."
Conrart ran his hand over his black hair comfortingly and started to wrap him tightly in Adalbert's cloak, being careful to leave a small opening for the dagger. He should have insisted he wear more layers before going out this morning. Maybe then he wouldn't be so cold. He should have insisted that they go out another day in the first place. They could have stayed at the castle and caught up with each other, maybe even repaired some burned bridges. Conrart couldn't help but feel that he commited some terrible wrong.
I'm taking you back to the castle," He reassured Yuuri. "Anissa knows some healing maryoku. She's very skilled and should be able to fix you right up. Just stay with me, okay?"
He tried not to notice the way that the cloak was already starting to feel wet and heavy in his hands. The dagger was supposed to help control the bleeding for a little while. Even if it was this bad now, he didn't want to think about what would happen when they had to take it out.
It was about a fifteen-minute walk back to the castle. It felt like an eternity, even while running. He was careful not to jostle Yuuri, who was breathing had begun to sound shallower over the past few minutes.
"You doing alright?" Conrart asked, relieved to see that Yuuri eyes were still open, looking up at the source of his voice. He saw him force a small smile and raise his hand in a thumbs up. His had broken out into a cold sweat and his hair was plastered to his forehead. His face was paler than usual, but the cold had dyed his cheeks a light red. He had stopped shaking. Conrart wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
Yuuri let out a weak cough against his chest, and Conrad was horrified to find a red splatter on the front of his jacket. His lung may have been punctured form the attack, he concluded, and told himself that that could be fixed too, with the right dose of healing maryoku. Julia had healed many soldiers that were predicted to die within the hour. Who was to say that Anissina couldn't do the same? She had some of the most powerful maryoku in existence right now.
They could see the castle looming over them in the distance now with its snow-capped towers and the noises of yelling and swords clashing from the soldiers training session coming from inside. The gates were shut, but two guards were posted out front. They hadn't spotted them yet. They both were wrapped in thick wool jackets and hats, with their swords hanging awkwardly form their sides. Armor that produced heat was not something that Anissina had gotten around to inventing yet, much to the military's chagrin.
"Conrad?" Yuuri asked. It was so soft he barely heard it. It must have been painful for him to speak.
"Yuuri, you don't have to talk. Nothing's going to happen to you, I promise. Adalbert is here too."
"That's g-good. Y-you guys need to work together more often." He coughed again and this time a thick red stream came from between his lips. He wiped it away with his sleeve. "Greta needs you, and Wolfram and Gwendal. A lot of people do."
"Yuuri I told you that-"
"N-no. stop. You don't need to give me your life. There are people who need it more than me right now. If I have to leave, fine. But don't leave them too, Conrad. You said that we'd meet again in another place if the unthinkable happened, right? That doesn't have to be now."
He couldn't lose Yuuri. Not again. Yuuri was his reason for living, his second chance at life. He'd lost Julia, he couldn't lose him too! Most demons in Shin Makoku believed in reincarnation. There had always been evidence of it, and of its existence Conrart was certain after being directed to deliver the next maoh's soul to a new body on earth.
He'd met Yuuri in every lifetime, he was certain of it, even if he couldn't remember anything beyond Julia. Ulrike had once told him that history tends to repeat itself, and that his assigned duty to deliver the next maoh's soul to earth was no accident. Many years ago he wasn't sure what that meant, but now he understood it all too well. He didn't care why they always had to meet, or what they were to each other, only that they did meet. As a comrade in the heat of battle, as the target of his unrequited love, as what he considered his own child. Even if they couldn't remember, that familiarity had been there from the start for them both.
He was still afraid though. No one knew the mechanics behind reincarnation. What if this was the last time they would know each other, or be reincarnated at all? Conrart knew that if he was reincarnated without Yuuri he would survive, but there would always be a Yuuri shaped emptiness, a hole deep within himself that nothing could ever truly fill. He had to save him. The harsh reality of losing him today was more than he could bear.
There was a flurry of frantic activity as Conrart rushed in through the castle doors and into the main reception hall of the castle, Adalbert following close behind. They had to get to the infirmary immediately. He hoped Anissina was close by.
The sight of them stumbling in and searching the area for any qualified help caused the small familiar group of people gathered with drinks in their hands to stare. They instantly focused on Conrart holding Yuuri, who was by now drifting in and out of awareness. The boy whimpered.
They were Wolfram and the castle's three head maids, and they all gasped as they noticed the blood.
Sangria screamed and yelled that she was going to find help. Lasagna and Doria followed close behind.
Wolfram was standing in a puddle of the red wine he'd been drinking just a moment before. The glass lay shattered beneath him. He nearly slipped on the fragments as he pushed the rest of the crowd aside and made his way to the front. He took in the sight of his older brother holding the still form of his fiancé in his arms.
"Yuuri! There's so…much blood. What happened brother? He looks half dead!" He reached a shaking hand to stroke Yuuri,s smooth black hair. Yuuri's eyes flickered in his direction briefly, but there was otherwise no response. He was fading. This wasn't good.
Adalbert carefully took Yuuri from Conrart and laid him out on the stone floor. He began unwrapping Conrart's damp cloak. "He got involved with some local thugs and got on the wrong end of their blade. I'll be going to pay them a visit at a later date." The malicious look that tightened his features and created deep shadows over his eyes normally would have given even Conrart chills if the situation had not been so dire. "He's losing too much blood. We can't wait the ten minutes to get him to the infirmary. That dagger has to come out soon and we have to stop the bleeding or he's going to die. We need an expert healer on the scene when we do it."
"Gisella is gone." Wolfram moaned, the grave reality of the situation hitting him full force. "Those wounds are serious. Is that the dagger?"
Conrart nodded, his reply stuck in his throat. They'd have to pull the dagger out to heal Yuuri. He was a seasoned soldier, but the sight of this much blood coming from Yuuri of all people made his stomach twist into knots. He was glad he hadn't eaten for a few hours.
"I know a bit about stopping the blood flow. I'll do as much as I can for now Adalbert. Run and find Anissina. She should be up in her laboratory, It's up the stairs and down the hall, last door on the right. Inform any guards you find quickly that someone's been hurt badly and that you need to know her whereabouts immediately. We don't have much time."
He nodded and ran off up the nearby staircase and disappeared. His heavy boots pounded in the distance.
Wolfram sat by Yuuri's side, whispering words Conrart couldn't make out to him. His emerald eyes were clouded with a mix of hot anger, anger that anyone dare hurt Yuuri, and worry that this would be the last moment he had with him. He rarely saw such tenderness in him.
Conrart felt a stab of pity for his youngest brother. Wolfram wanted to marry Yuuri more than anything. Yuuri was so new to the ways of this world. He could be so easily taken advantage of. Saralegui had tried and may have even taken Yuuri's life in the end, if he had not interfered. Since then there had been a silent thank you on Yuuri's lips whenever the country of small Shimaron was brought up in conversation. They had never sat down and had a proper conversation about the events of that week in the catacombs with the other young king. It was a taboo subject for Yuuri. Conrart doubted he'd ever hear the full story.
He thought back to when Yuuri first came to this world and the idea of his beloved king taking a queen or prince consort had crossed his mind. Yuuri being able to find a truly honest and caring partner that wasn't in it for his high social status was difficult to imagine. The fact that Conrart's own brother became such a suitable match baffled him. The two were so different, and they used to fight with each other (Or Wolfram fought with Yuuri) all the time. They soon settled into a tolerance for each other though, and what that had turned into Conrart couldn't quite name.
Back in Seisoku, after he and Yuuri had a serious argument over his own values and the boy had stormed off to his room to cool down. Conrart had taken his time to cool down too, but he had still wanted to check on Yuuri's safety throughout the night. Seisoku so far had proven to be and laden with dangers.
He had found his younger brothers arms wrapped around Yuuri, both of them cocooned in blankets to protect them from the cold desert nights. Yuuri looked comfortable, and the most peaceful he had in months.
Seeing Wolfram now, shaking and holding Yuuri unmoving hand in his own reminded him of that time. He would not be the only one broken today if Anissina didn't get to Yuuri in time.
A small high scream startled Conrart from across the room. Wolfram's eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet.
Greta stood at the edge of the room, barefoot with a badly sewn toy rabbit in her arms. She gripped it tightly and whimpered, unable to draw her eyes away from the horrific scene.
Conrart forced himself to stay focused and methodically cut open the front of Yuuri's shirt to see the source of the wound. Of all the things for the poor girl to walk in on. As if she hadn't experienced enough traumatizing experiences in her life. He couldn't let himself be distracted though. Yuuri's life depended on it.
"What happened to Yuuri?" She yelled, her eyes moistening. "He's hurt really bad. Wolfram, you have to help him!" She ducked under Wolframs outstretched arm and stood in front of Conrart, who was ripping a piece off the bottom of his shirt to try and stop the bleeding. She was crying, and her face was growing red and blotchy.
"I can't lose my father Conrad! Not even one of them! I don't want to be alone again."
"Greta, you won't." He tried to console her while he continued to work. Adalbert should be back soon with Anissina. His work was almost done. This was no place for a little girl though. "I need you to do something very important for me. I need you to go to Gwendal. Tell him that I said we have a situation and that now would be a great time for another sewing lesson. Everything will be fine, Greta. Wouldn't you like Gwendal to teach you more about sewing?"
She nodded reluctantly. She was a smart girl. She knew she shouldn't be here, that she couldn't help the situation. When Yuuri was better she could be by his side and smile for him. Yuiri always said that was how she helped best. She had her rabbit in a death grip now. "I-I'll go. Just take good care of Yuuri, please."
Conrart smiled warmly. "Well, of course." He hoped he could keep his promise to her. She was a special little girl, both to him and to Yuuri.
A few minutes after Greta had run for help, Annisina had charged down the stairs with Adalbert and to the front of the room, pushing Conrart out of the way. Adalbert was carrying a large brown box. He placed it on the floor and open it to reveal an assortment of small glass bottles, bandages and cloths. A first aid kit.
As usual Anissina was all business as she examined Yuuri's wound closely. She cursed under her breath.
"This is deep. He's barely breathing at all now, and I fear this beyond my magical ability. Sewing the wound shut won't do much. By the way he's breathing I'd bet there's an internal injury. Sewing the wound shut won't do any good. He's also lost a lot of blood."
Conrart silently pled with the Shinou to do what she could not. He had never liked the god that his country worshiped. The Shinou said this, the Shinou wanted that. All his wants and needs had done was take everything away from. And now they would take Yuuri too.
"I may be able to be of assistance," a voice chimed in from the doorway.
A young woman with long pale blond hair and a priestess gown gestured for them to follow. Her face was solemn.
"Lady Ulrike wishes to speak with you. Please bring his majesty."
Conrart's heart fluttered with a new hope.
Ulrike had no tears in her eyes, but perhaps after 800 years one grew used to seeing tragedy.
The way that she met Conrart's eager gaze when he entered the shrine carrying Yuuri told him that this was not to be a miracle visit. His heart fell.
Adalbert growled in frustration at the lack of progress in fixing Yuuri. So many makoku but so few skilled healers!
Anissina stood at the back of the small group. She had her arms folded across her chest, frustrated at her own lack of maryoku ability. Healing had never been her specialty. She may wish for a future where a woman could rule this country just as well as any man, but looking down at its dying most recent ruler, she stifled that wish. It would be too soon, a consequence too great. She still considered Yuuri their monarch. He had done much good for this country, and he had earned her respect.
Murata had joined them upon arrival, his mouth set in a permanent frown. He had been leaning against the wall, playing with his glasses and deep in thought. The Daikenja was always a strategist, eager to find the best way to solve a problem. He tried not to look directly at Yuuri. He may have been a strategist, but he was not immune to the emotional impact of seeing his best friend in such a vulnerable state.
Conrart was trying to remain calm. His eminence had the right approach. Panicking would get him nowhere. Though he had lost consciousness a few minutes before on the way to the shrine, Conrart swore he felt Yuuri squeeze his hand.
"Can you do anything for him?" Adalbert stepped up to bow at Ulrike's feet. Though he had never had much respect for Shin Makoku's religious beliefs regarding the Shinou, Ulrike had proven to be a kind women many years before, and much wiser than her young appearance might suggest. She was a close friend of Julia's.
Ulrike shook her head. "Possibly, if it is not too late. I can only stave off the inevitable if it is however. My magic is great, but that sort of healing is beyond my ability. It is beyond everyone's, except for Lady Julia. If death truly wishes to claim him, even she could not stop his life force from draining completely."
"There must be something more you can do!" Conrart yelled. Having placed Yuuri down on the stone floor, he kicked the wall. "With all your magical expertise, there must be something you can do to help!"
Ulrike lowered her head. "I have called you here so that I may help the best I am able to. That is all I can promise."
Murata sighed and moved to stand next to her. "Magic does have its limits. We can try a few things however, and see if we can restore some of his lost blood and heal the internal wounds. But seeing the state of him… I doubt it will succeed."
Adalbert growled. "There is something more isn't there? You both look conflicted. You, Daikenja, have been silent the entire time."
"Lord Van Grantz, not all magic should ever be used. There are consequences when messing with things like souls and life and death, some of them too great to hear."
"It can save him if done right though."
"In a sense, yes. This kind of spell though-"
"Do it." Conrart spoke up. He had Yuuri draped across his lap. "Please. There's not much time. You two are experts and can be trusted with this."
The high priestess and Murata Ken exchanged worried looks before both nodding.
"I suppose I've done worse." Murara ran a hand through his hair. "I'm unsure about the consequences of this however. But we can try."
Ulrike spoke up. "I know the process." She kneeled over Yuuri and lifted his blue necklace over his neck. She held it out in front of her. "Remarkable. I feel her, like a distant memory. This may work." She motioned for everyone to move away.
She whispered something that none of them could make out, the necklace clutched in her hand. Her hands and the necklace glowed a faint purple that cast dancing shadows over the walls.
She placed a palm on Yuuri's chest and winced. "There is a wound. Thoughts and memories trickle from it like a slow leak. They are not his but they come from him. I must first seal it."
The glow became so bright everyone was momentarily blinded. Yuuri choked, jolted awake by the sudden rush of pure maryoku being poured into him. He own blue maryoku collided with Ulrike's. It was quickly smothered, and suddenly both lights died. The dagger that had been imbedded in Yuuri's chest lay to the side.
Yuuri sat up panting. The blue necklace was back around his neck. The unbearable pain in his chest and lungs had faded to a sharp stabbing that came and went. But his breathing was still uneven, as if he'd run a marathon in only a few minutes.
Ulrike wrapped an arm around him. Her white robe draped itself over his chest, a thin barrier against the chill of the stone room. "Calm yourself. You're reacting to an overload of maryoku. Nice, deep breaths. There you go."
"Yuuri!" Wolfram wept tears of relief as he squeezed his fiance tightly. His normally perfect outfit was getting stained with blood, but he didn't notice. He gave Yuuri a quick kiss and both of them blushed, unused to expressing affection in public.
"Wolfram...what happened?" Yuuri rubbed his eyes as if waking up from a long sleep. "I was stabbed and then Conrad was carrying me. What came after that?"
Conrart joined Wolfram in hugging Yuuri. "Thank goodness you're okay. We almost lost you, your majesty."
"Conrad, it's Yuuri. You haven't done that in months. I thought we were over this."
Conrart held Yuuri at arms length. The wound on his chest was gone. The leftover blood still remained and a thick scar that ran over the left side of his ribs, but the wound itself had closed.
"I'm afraid he was lost for a while." Ulrike gazed down at the blue necklace, bright and shining in the shadowy room. "I managed to hold him here with the power of this." She grabbed the blue pendant in her hand and held it gingerly, smiling nostalgically. "He is tied to it now however. His life exists not in himself, but in this. Julia Von Wincott had truly powerful magic. She holds him here. Seperate the two and it will be undone."
She looked uneasy. "There is more. There is a wound, a slash cut in the surface of your soul that grows deeper by the day. I have narrowed it, but not sealed it. Please do not be frightened by what I say, but understand that you have lived many lives. Do not forget this one. I have more I can do about this issue, but it will take time. You are a lucky young man, Yuuri Shibuya."
Yuuri's hands took the pendant back and stroked it. His calm black eyes were filled with wonder. He held it close to his heart.
A tall man in a thick black cloak watched the temple of the Shinou from outside the castle walls. His face was wrinkled with age. He had managed to evade capture in the nearby villages but was having more trouble this close to the castle. Even with no official maoh, security was tight.
He had been gazing into his round crystal ball for a while now, viewing the scene happening inside the temple with renewed interest. He hadn't realized any knowledge of that forbidden spell still existed. Although he supposed when you were dealing with high priestess's and people who remembered four thousand years worth of past lives anything could happen.
He ran his hand over the glass and the image of Shin Makoku's former maoh, alive and surrounded by his joyful companions, disappeared. He would have to ponder how to deal with this new development. He'd have to be careful with how he made his next move. The boy's friends and family would be on high alert from now on.
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