Chapter 1 - Infirmary

753 M.E.

Eira Heallint placed her book on the desk, letting out a sigh before stretching both of her arms to the air. She had just finished reading another book this week, spending her free time in the empty infirmary by drowning into another fairy tale. But, since the tale had met its happily ever after kind of ending, she should return back to reality—a tedious daily shift.

Of course, it was better if she didn't work because it meant that no one got injured. That was a good thing. However, Eira had nothing to do anymore. She had finished the book and couldn't borrow another one since it was impossible for her to leave the infirmary in her shift. She already brewed the curative that was asked by her seniors. She had organized the documents, sorted the medical equipment that arrived this morning, and even cleaned up the room. There was nothing she could do anymore.

It was a quiet Friday night when the crownsguard who trained in the training ground left earlier than usual. They left the training ground safe and sound, without any injuries. Thus, Eira didn't need to use her healing skill today. Those men mostly ignored scratches and grazes anyway. Unless the pain was unbearable, they wouldn't waste their time visiting infirmary and get any treatment.

She looked at the window, watching the red leaves as they fell to the ground. The trees were swaying gently and the moonlight slipped between their leaves.

"It's night already, huh?" Blinking in surprise, she muttered then glanced at the clock on the wall, catching the shortest needle of it pointing at seven while the longest one at nine. Fifteen minutes before her shift was over. Good, she didn't need to find something to do then, unless she wanted to stay there for a bit longer.

Usually she would stay late in the infirmary. Until ten or eleven, because there was something she waited there. Well, to be exact, because there was someone she waited there.

It was Cor Leonis. The marshal of the crownsguard. The Immortal. The man who sometimes passed by in front of the infirmary when he was going to the training ground or when he was returning back from there.

She just wanted to see a glimpse of his tall figure as he walked in the hallway. Only for a slight second to admire the man.

However, Cor was not in Insomnia for a few weeks. She wouldn't see him today or tomorrow, and she didn't even know when he would return here. She missed him, but she should accept the fact that she wouldn't see him for a while. Well, even when Cor was here in Insomnia, she could only see him for a few seconds.

Actually, Eira didn't know whether she liked him as a figure she admired or liked him in a romantic way. The latest one was unlikely, because the man was twenty four years older than her. It would be an unfunny joke to love someone who was five years younger than her own father.

She turned off her computer before organizing the documents on her table, deciding that it was better to go home early today. There was nothing she could do. Everyone had left the training ground. Also, it had been a long time since the last time she had dinner at her home anyway.

However, just right before she zipped her clutch bag, the familiar treads reached her ears. She stopped her movement right away, listening at the footsteps that were getting closer and closer. Her heart started to beat loudly, harshly knocking the inside of her chest as her mind created dozens of speculations. She knew these heavy treads, this footsteps, this rhythm.

It was Cor Leonis.

Eira bit her lower lips as she waited for the man to pass by. And when she could see his entire figure, the throbbing in her heart got harder than before. She could even feel the pulsating throbs in her neck.

Cor was there, standing at the entrance and not passing by the hallway to the training ground. The marshal turned his head to look at her, not staring straight at the end of the hallway as he walked there.

"Is it still open?"

When the brown-haired man opened his lips to ask that question, Eira blinked, realizing that she wasn't daydreaming. She didn't understand how the man was here in Insomnia. Wasn't he supposed to be in Leide or Duscae or wherever it was? Right, he had left the city two weeks ago. Perhaps, he just arrived today. If only Eira could have the information about his schedule...

"Ah, yes. Can I help you, Sir?" She quickly straightened her back and scurried toward the marshal who made his way into the infirmary.

"Can I have an adhesive bandage?" he asked, eyes scanning the room until he stopped his gaze at the cabinet where the medics stored their medical kit.

"Are you wounded?" Surely, her heart was still beating in tumultuous thud. But, she couldn't let it hinder her job.

"Just a little graze," he replied.

"I'll treat your wound. Would you please show me?" Eira tried to be professional even though she was currently struggling to hold her voice not to quiver. The heart inside her chest still thudding harshly, perhaps it would take hours to calm it down. Moreover, the cause of her loud heartbeat was right in front of her. Unless Cor left the room, she was sure that she couldn't prevent the uproar in her chest.

"Fine." Cor sighed, it seemed he didn't want it. Yet, he took off his black coat and placed it on one of the infirmary's beds.

Oh the Astral. Eira could clearly feel the throbs in her vein getting louder when she saw the man taking off his coat and revealing the sturdy arms which were usually covered by its long sleeves. He was only in his grey shirt now, which covered his well-built body perfectly but not too loose to hide the muscle behind it.

"Here." Cor gave his arm to the medic who was almost drowned in her reverie. Blinking, Eira found a long and thin wound on his lower arm. It was still bleeding, even though it wasn't a deep wound. She wondered what happened to him until he was injured there, but she didn't want to ask. Maybe he blocked an attack with his arms? Not quick enough to leap backward to avoid it? Or not fast enough to draw his blade to block the attack? Also, weren't there a few medics who accompanied him and his squad to their mission? Why didn't he ask them to heal him?

"Okay. Please have a seat." Stopping herself from making dozens of questions in her head, Eira pointed at the bed before dashing to the cabinet and took her medical kit. She bit her lower lips as she walked, wishing that she wasn't blushing right now. The heat already crept her face though, from the cheeks to the ears. If only there was a magic spell to stop her face from blushing, surely Eira had already cast it. Good thing that she needed to use her mask, so that Cor wouldn't find it out even if her face turned red right now.

"Please excuse me." The young medic softly touched his hand and began to clean his wound. She was wearing her gloves right now, but even so, his warmth still sipped into her fingers that were touching his skin. Oh no, her hands were slightly trembling. She hoped that Cor wouldn't notice it.

None of them were talking as she treated his wound. The only sound that reached her ears were the ticking clock and his soft breathing. She gulped, anxious because she rarely had the chance to be with the marshal like this. Of course, it wasn't her first time treating his wounds. However, whenever she should face him and heal him like this, she couldn't stop herself from being nervous.

None of her fellow medics wanted to treat the marshal. They were too afraid of him. Perhaps because of the stern expression he usually made on his face. Cor rarely smiled and he rarely talked, unlike the other crownsguard members who liked to chatter with the medics while sometimes flirting with them. Therefore, as long as she was there when Cor visited the infirmary, they would ask Eira to treat him.

But, if they didn't ask Eira to heal him, she would never have the chance to be this closer to the man. And she would never know that Cor had such beautiful blue eyes even though she could only gaze at it for a split second. A split second, because more than that she couldn't hold the clamor inside her chest. A split second, because more than that the owner of those lustrous blue eyes would notice her gaze and look at her.

She glanced at him in the eyes, admiring those alluring eyes in haste and quickly looking at his wound again before he realized it. Eira bit her lower lips while covering his wound with the bandage. Trying to calm the clamor inside her chest, she hoped that she could maintain her composure.

"It's done. I'll cast the spell." She tried hard not to stumble at her words as she uttered those sentences.

Eira placed the tip of her forefinger on his skin which had been covered by the bandage then drew a circle on it. By that simple movement, a magic circle was drawn and emitted a dim white light. She closed her eyes while murmuring an incantation, and when she finished, the magic circle permeated into his skin and disappeared.

She had peculiar magic ability, being inherited by her mother who also had the same unique magic skill. They were capable of healing people with their magic, with different types of magic like what was used by the King. Their magic was not from the crystal. And their technique was ancient, because the magic circle and incantation was necessary to do the spell.

"Thank you."

She slightly flinched when Cor's hoarse voice broke the silence between them. With slightly quivering lips she replied, "You're welcome."

The young medic raised her head to see the man who was staring at her. Soon after their eyes met, she quickly looked down and took her medical kit. Moving her feet in haste, she walked toward the sink and washed them.

Through the corner of her eyes, she watched the man get up from the bed and wear his coat. She actually wanted to watch him longer, but of course it was impossible. It was impolite to stare at someone for a long time.

"Your shift is only until eight, right?"

She almost dropped her steel basin when Cor asked her suddenly. Turning off the faucet, Eira turned her head to look at the man who unexpectedly initiated the conversation.

"Y-yes," she was stuttered.

"Don't stay too late."

"Yes, Sir."

She could only watch him as Cor moved his long legs to the entrance, filling the room with his heavy footsteps before disappearing into the hallway as he went to the main lobby. Meanwhile, she was still frozen at her position, not returning back to her job to wash the equipment she used, not even moving her limbs even for the slightest.

Her heart was still beating in thunderous thudding. Even when she could no longer see the figure she loved.

Still, she didn't know for sure whether this feeling toward Cor Leonis was only a pure admiration or not. She was sure that she saw him as someone she respected, not someone she liked in a romantic way.

However, his eyes pulled her toward another feeling. Perhaps, it was his charm that was being emitted through his gaze. Perhaps, because they were simply beautiful so that she couldn't help but stare at them. However, she had seen hundreds of blue eyes, and his were the most enchanting one. If only someone asked her to write a poem about his eyes, probably it would take more than thousands words. Or worse, no words were beautiful enough to tell the world how alluring his eyes were.

She still remembered how their eyes met, how she wanted to delve inside the steel blue eyes of him. It was like a deep ocean which could drown her inside his enthralling charm. They trapped her inside the spell which couldn't be broken even by the witch herself. They were dazzling, entrancing, she wouldn't mind to gaze at them forever.

She still remembered how soft his breathing was, or how hoarse his voice was. She wanted to hear them over and over while admiring how enchanting his eyes were.

Even, the warmth of him still lingered on her fingertips. Even though her gloved hands now had already wet as she cleaned the equipment.

Author's Note:

English is not my first language. Please pardon me if there's wrong grammar and wrong usage of vocabulary. (I'm still learning! Yeay~) Feel free to give review/concrit! Will be happy to receive some!

Also, I'm not sure about the title... Probably will change it? Idk... Hehehe

Additional Note:

For anyone who read Reminiscence and Trampled: Relax~ I don't plan to add any tragedy to this one. This will be pure Cor x Eira romance~