It was quiet in the tent, only the shouting of orders from the outside penetrating the solemn air. Earth was lying still in front of me, and had stayed this way since we returned to the camp. I held his right hand firmly in mine, two fingers pressed against his wrist as I monitored his steady heartbeat.

Entering the camp had been a blur as we were all but engulfed by clerics. After his healing ceremony was complete the clerics had informed me that he was in no danger, and that all he needed now was rest. Still, I didn't leave the tent.

I'm so sorry.

It had all happened in an instant. We had been sent to examine an area plagued in darkness, but had miscalculated its extent…

If I hadn't rushed ahead. If I had taken more clerics.

I'm sorry.

If I hadn't taken you along, you wouldn't have tried to protect me like you did.

In the end, I'm the useless one.

Teacher would have never let his brothers die, like I almost did. If it were him here, all the enemies would be dead. Earth would be awake, laughing and smiling like he always did.

In the end…

I jumped when I felt a soft hand shake my shoulder, accompanied by a polite but worried, "Sun Knight?"

I looked at the cleric in a daze, not even having noticed her presence. She looked relieved to have elicited a response, and I wondered idly how long she had been trying to get my attention.

"The other Knight-Captains should be arriving soon, and we were just wondering how we should proceed…?" She asked hesitantly, taking a step back and twisting the edge of her cleric uniform.

I turned the thought over in my head sluggishly, but no responsible reply came. It was like I was trying to find the answer through a veil of fog.

"Ask Vice-Captain Ellias," I said through numb lips, my tone dead even to my ears.
She looked like she was going to persist, but eventually just bit her lip and nodded curtly before leaving, carefully closing the tent flaps behind her so that the harsh wind wouldn't blow in.

Time passed and I fought the urge to sleep. The pain in my leg and head had resided to a dull ache, darts of sharp pain occasionally shooting out like lightning.

I pressed a hand against his forehead, testing for fever. It was far too warm, and I was already standing before I realized that his temperature was completely normal, and that I was merely cold. I sat with a sigh, sinking back into the steady beating of his wrist.

I'm sorry.

"Captain!" I looked up to see Ellias standing at the entrance, his face determined, but tinged with worry.

"Come in," was all I could muster. He walked over to where I sat, looking suddenly unsure of himself.

"The other Knight-Captains have arrived, and they were wondering if it was alright to see you…? B-But first…" He ducked his head, "You really should get your wounds tended to, sir."

"No need," I said softly, smiling in what I hoped was a reassuring manner, "They'll be fine."

"Pfft. Is the honorable Sun Knight trying to steal our Stone Knight's job?" a sarcastic voice called from the entrance.

"Knight-Captain Metal!" Ellias protested, "You were supposed to wait outside with-"

"Wah~!" Metal clapped his hands, looking overly impressed, "Ellias, congratulations!"

"W-What?" Ellias asked in confusion.

"I didn't know that you were promoted to a position higher than a Knight-Captain!" Metal raised an eyebrow.

"Knight-Captain Metal," Judgment said in his low voice as he stepped into the tent, black attire contrasting heavily against the white fabric, "That's enough."

"I really do have to insist you wait outside," Ellias said firmly, "The Captain isn't well at the moment-"

"Ellias," I said softly, shaking my head, "It's alright. You're dismissed. Thank you for the hard work."

"B-But Captain…" He looked torn, his eyes darting from me to the other two.

"Vice-Captain Sun," Judgment said suddenly, his dark eyes narrowed, "I believe there is the matter of our two squads to be tended to. I leave them in your capable hands. Now."

Ellias still looked reluctant, but left. He froze at the entrance of the tent, looking back and saying firmly, "If you need anything, just ask."

He closed the entrance behind himself, and we sat in silence for a few moments before Metal said, "Ellias told us the basics of what happened. How is he doing?"

"Still asleep," I replied quietly. The sounds of the platoon's outside had increased, all three conveying orders amongst themselves and talking loudly.

"Well, it doesn't look like he's waking up anytime soon," Metal said, patting my back as he did so, "We'll leave him to sleep in quiet. Until then, you really should get your wounds tended to…"

I shook my head, clenching my jaw tightly and refusing to meet their questioning gazes. I couldn't.

Metal sighed explosively, and irritation lined his words as he said reasonably, "Look, I know you feel bad but get it together. I'm sure when Earth wakes up that he'll want to see you bright and happy, not bloody and sulking."

I shook my head again, my hands shaking slightly as I tightened their grip around his hand.

"The Pope sent us personally, so we can override your authority," Judgment said quietly, "If it's in your best interest, we have the right to drag you out of here and into a healing tent."

"I can't," I said behind clenched teeth, hanging my head lower and wishing that I didn't have to explain it. These two had always been stubborn, but I could usually bluff my way past their questions. Right now, though, I was tired, sore and didn't have the energy or wits available to stall the questioning.

"It's admirable that you're so concerned for your subordinates," Judgment put one hand on my shoulder, a comforting action, "But you have more subordinates outside that need you to guide them. Earth can sleep here while you do."

"I can't," I repeated, biting down on my lip hard. Earth's sleeping face was peaceful, but I still couldn't bring myself to leave him here like this. It reminded me painfully of when we were younger.

"The brat just won't go to sleep, damn it!" The previous Earth Knight growled angrily to the previous Storm Knight. Both of them were sporting tired eyes.

Teacher had taken to dumping me with the Storm Knight, along with the paperwork he couldn't be bothered completing. The first time he had done this the Storm Knight had sighed, saying in a helpless voice, "I should have seen this coming. Still… I can't believe he's even expecting me to take care of his student…"

And so I usually spent my afternoons here. I had only arrived at the Temple a month ago, and I still got lost quite easily. I was grateful, though. Storm was usually too engrossed in his paperwork to notice me, which meant I didn't have to force myself to talk. I was still getting accustomed to talking, as well.

Today, however, it was obvious that I wasn't going to be ignored.

"Hey you!" The Earth Knight pointed a finger at me, his face dark, "You're Sun's brat, right?"

I nodded silently, feeling a small sense of foreboding. Even after only a short while at the Temple, it was obvious that my Teacher pissed off a lot of people. Earth Knight included.

"Good!" He grinned, looking every bit the devil my teacher was, "Then you can look after him! I'm going to sleep, and if anybody dares to wake me, even if it's a hot chick…"

He let his threat hang in the air, and I darted a worried glance to the Storm Knight.

"Don't worry," He said, blinking blearily, "He won't do anything sinister. He probably just wants you to get the young Earth Knight to sleep. I've heard rumors that he's… difficult to handle."

I frowned, wondering if I shouldn't decline politely. In the end though, I knew I didn't have a choice. So instead I slid off the chair, padding after the swaying Earth Knight silently. Outside the sun was beginning to set, and it bathed the halls in golden red.

"He's in here," was all the Earth Knight said as he pushed open a door, turning curtly and walking away quickly. Inside the room I thought I heard a squeal, but I couldn't be sure.

Adults are irresponsible…

Still, I obediently entered the room, closing the door softly behind me. Inside the room was almost like midday, every lamp lit brightly. I sheltered my eyes, surprised by brightness of the room.

"Hello?" I ventured quietly, stepping further into the room.

It's too bright, damn it!

I snuffed out a few of the lights quickly, immensely relieved when the brightness in the room receded to an acceptable level.

"P-Please d-don't p-p-p-put them out," A small, quivering voice asked from the bed. I jumped, looking at the mound of blankets on the bed suspiciously.

"Young Earth Knight?" I asked. A small head poked out of the blankets, accompanied by two big, watery eyes. The head nodded before darting back under the blankets, and I watched in confusion. I frowned, "I was sent by the Earth Knight, but if you would prefer that I leave…?"

"N-No!" He said quickly, sounding desperate, "D-Don't l-leave. P-P-Please."

"Is something wrong?" I asked, darting a glance around the room.

"I-I-I'm sc-sc-scared," His voice shook miserably.

Oh. Some of the kids at the orphanage would say the same thing, wouldn't they? "I'm scared! I don't like the dark!"

I stood for a moment, not sure what to do. I had never needed to deal with anything like this before, but I knew the feeling of hopeless fear. For me, it always came in the shape of fire.

I patted the blankets, hoping to imitate the comforting way Teacher would pat my head after nightmares.

"I'm s-s-sorry," He said quietly from underneath the blankets, "Y-Y-You do-don't have to s-stay i-if you d-d-don't want to."

"It's fine," I replied simply.

"R-Real-Really?" He asked, pulling the blankets back from his head and sitting up. Now that I could see him properly, I noticed that he was even younger than I was. He looked so small! His eyes were big and brown, filled to the brim with tears. With his chin trembling he asked, "Y-You re-really don't m-m-m-mind? Y-You w-won't g-g-get an-angry?"

"Why would I get angry?" I asked in confusion.

"B-B-B-Because," He looked almost angry at himself, obviously trying very hard to get the words to come out without stuttering, "I-I-I'm a bur-burden. I-I-I-I ca-can't even st-stop st-st-stuttering."

"I definitely won't get angry!" I said fiercely, feeling a sudden anger for the Earth Knight who had just abandoned this frightened little child, "And I won't leave! So you can go to sleep. I promise I'll stay here."

"M-M-My name i-is K-K-Kaden," he said softly, ducking his head and reddening in embarrassment.

"Nice to meet you!" I replied happily, grinning widely, "I'm Caelan!"

At that time, rubbing my tired eyes with small hands, I couldn't help but think that it was very nice. Having somebody to protect and comfort. When I was old enough I would have eleven brothers.

I looked forward to meeting them. To getting to know them. To protecting them.

"No," I said again, though they had yet to protest again, "I'm staying here."

"You're being too stubborn. What are we going to do when the knights and clerics see you like this?!" Metal said seriously, his brows drawn tight in an expression that would have suited the Judgment Knight much better, "Hey, don't ignore me. Are you even listening?! Caelan!"

That was the straw that broke the camels back, or rather, my control. On top of everything else, to be called by the name that I had so scarcely heard since I became Sun Knight...

I began to cry, sobs racking my whole body as I shook my head. When I spoke it was halted, my breath catching as I choked out my explanation, "The r-r-right ar-arm," I clenched my eyes shut, "It wo-won't work anymore. B-Be-Because of me it wo-won't w-work anymore."

Hi there, again! A flashback within a flashback... I should get a chater of Waking out soon. I feel like I've been neglecting it... Sorry about that =u='