2. Introductions

Asthar sat in the mess hall where most (if not all patients) and staff ate for their meals. Most patients, however, ate breakfast in their rooms, but Therius did not have to. It was best to not have Therius stuck in his room all the time, to keep him in a better mood than he was the previous day when they first reunited.

Asthar didn't feel too hungry at the moment, so he just helped himself to some cereal. Meanwhile, Therius was eating away at a plate of breakfast sausage and eggs with some fruit and toast at the side.

Therius looked up from his food. "General?" He spoke up quietly. No matter how many times earlier Asthar had tried to request him to be less formal when it was just the two of them, Therius did it anyway (just like what he did when he was still right in the head and both of them were real knights). "You're not hungry?"

Asthar shook his head. "No, Therius." He admitted. "Not really."

Before Therius could respond, the two heard a loud yell.

"DAGRAN!" A young man, with blue eyes and brown hair (wearing the uniform of a patient, Asthar noticed), rushed across the mess hall, nearly tackling another man who looked slightly older than him as he hugged him tightly. "Y-you came to visit! How are you!?"

Dagran smiled, chuckling slightly and hugging the younger man in return. "I'm fine, Zael. Just got back from some mercenary work outside this place. What about you?"

Zael smiled, looking up at him excitedly, the expression on his face similar to a sugar-high five-year old. "I-I'm well, thanks! I've been drawing lots lately! Mirania really liked the drawing I gave her—I tried to draw a bird for her. And then I tried to draw Syrenne and Lowell together, but I forgot Lowell doesn't have a moustache but has stubble, and..."

As the two kept talking, Asthar looked to Therius. "Therius?"

Therius blinked, looking to him. "Yes, General?"

"Is the one called Zael live here, too?"

Therius nodded. "Yes. He hit his head in an accident and now believes he's a five year old and reliving his childhood, believing that his entire village was burnt down and that he was the only survivor. He thinks he got here because Calista found him and took him in, so he respects her even when she is cold to him at times."

Asthar frowned. "Did Calista truly find him and take him in? Is that how he actually got here?"

Therius shook his head. "No, General. Dagran brought him here, hoping that Zael would find peace and happiness at this place. Although it has helped his mood significantly, he's shown no sign of recovering from his injury and escaping that delusion." He looked around, wincing as he noticed two Gurak men (who looked rather like twins, Asthar noticed) that were wearing staff uniforms. "Th-the Gurak..."

Asthar gently took his hand in his. "Therius, it's alright. I'm here with you. They won't hurt you."

Therius shook his head. "I-I'm not afraid of that. I just...wonder about the people outside...I don't want them to be harmed, but as long as I'm in here..." Worry laced his voice at that.

Asthar raised one of his hands, stroking Therius' hair quietly, remembering how fluffy it was back then. It was still fluffy now, but back then it felt like he was petting an energetic cat, bundles of excitement within. Now he felt like he was petting a fluffy but sad little puppy. He took a deep breath, looking into his eyes.

"Therius." He spoke quietly. "They're in a better state than you think. They're...the Gurak that is, they're not going around attacking people, last time I was outside."

He knew this was against Calista telling him not to reinforce Therius' delusion, but sometimes you had no choice but to play along. Now was one of those times.

Therius' eyes immediately lit wtih hope, and he hugged the former General tightly, suddenly.

"Thank you." Therius whispered, voice nearly hoarse. "Thank you."

Asthar smiled, hugging him back gently. "You're welcome, Therius. You should eat the rest of your breakfast now, so it doesn't get cold. It's warm for a reason!"

Therius smiled slightly, nodding and returning to the task of eating, just as Dagran and Zael approached them.

"Hiiii!" Zael nearly shrieked, hugging Asthar. Asthar gasped (he had NOT been expecting this) and hugged him gently in return. "I-I'm Zael! Nice to meet you, sir!"

"N-nice to meet you too, Zael—I'm Asthar, I just started working here yesterday." Asthar managed. "C-could you let go a little bit? I like hugs, but would prefer not being choked."

Zael nodded, letting go of him. "Okay, Asthar." He still had a smile on his face, but seemed slightly calmer about that.

Dagran chuckled, grinning. "Sorry about that. Zael gets pretty curious about new people that end up here. I'm Dagran, Zael's friend. I work here at the Asylum part time, when I'm not doing mercenary stuff on the side. Nice to meet you, Asthar."

Asthar smiled. Thank goodness there were others that were friendly (Calista hadn't helped much with that)! "Nice to meet you too, Dagran." He blinked. "Erm, so, what do you do here? You said you were only here part-time..."

Dagran nodded. "Yeah, I am. I help Horace, another one of the staff here, take care of Zael. Horace got all worn out yesterday apparently so I thought it would be good for me to drop in since I already finished some mercenary stuff." He winced. "Wish I could come here full-time but Calista won't let me. Dunno why."

"Sorry to hear that."

Dagran grinned a little, shrugging. "It's fine. I still get to be with Zael more often than visitors, at least." He looked to the clock. "Ah, Zael, we should get going for now."

Zael grinned nodding. "Okay!" He started walking off, but then turned and waved at Asthar and Therius. "See you later, Asthar! Good morning, Therius!"

Therius smiled, looking up from his finished breakfast and looking to Zael. "Morning, Zael."

Asthar waved. "See you later, Dagran and Zael!"

As the two walked off, Asthar looked to Therius. "You know them well, Therius?"

Therius nodded, standing and picking up his empty tray and Asthar followed suite, the two putting them away on a rack nearby. "Yes, General, I do..." He smiled slightly. "Zael wants to be a knight. A true knight. So we've talked a lot about knighthood..." He then frowned. "Lady Calista has forbidden him from getting any knight armor or even a real sword, though, just like me. I believe it's due to the Gurak truly running this place in the shadows...making sure no one starts a rebellion and tries to break out of the castle."

Asthar frowned, nodding. "I see." It probably wasn't due to Gurak controlling the place, because in reality Calista controlled this place, this asylum. But Asthar had a pretty good theory why Calista wouldn't give them real swords—out of fear of endangering other patients and staff. "Therius, I should tell you this. You don't necessarily need the best armor or a real sword to be a knight. A knight's duty lies above that, the duty to protect. As long as you have that in your heart, you are knight already inside. The outside doesn't matter when it comes to that."

Therius nodded, smiling gently again. "Thank you for reminding me, General. I will remember it."

Asthar smiled. "You're welcome, Therius."

That was when a young, black-haired woman came rushing over to them.

"E-excuse me?" She spoke, worry covering her expression. "My name is Mirania...H-have you seen a patient, with wavy blond hair? His name is Lucius Argan—"

"Arganan?" Asthar finished in a heartbeat.

Mirania nodded. "Yes. I've been looking for him, but it seems that he's escaped his room last night!"

Asthar looked to Therius. "Therius..."

Therius nodded. "We should find him, General. Quickly."