Interlude - Cracks

The campaign moves forward, from Evans to Genoa. On a map, it looks like a simple distance, but each sliver of ground was paid for in blood and corpses. I worry about losing track of the number of dead. I couldn't. Each one was a testament of my incompetence, and each one was another reason to study more. Yes, losing patients was inevitable, but I could not take that as an excuse to shirk. I would not.

Though, I suppose such things are the least complicated parts of my life now. Despite Grannvale's campaign against Isaach, Lord Sigurd has granted sanctuary to two of their royal family, Crown Prince Shanan and his aunt, Princess Ayra. Many are aghast by it, while others worry Grannvale will retaliate for the potential 'betrayal'. Lord Sigurd ignores them all, however, and truthfully, I do as well. I was a healer, and Lord Shanan was my patient. I would tend to him, no matter what wars and politics dared dictate.

"Yes, it seems as if the last of the irritation has faded," I murmured, gently running my fingers through Lord Shanan's hair to check his scalp. He held still while I worked, only a little tense from me leaning over him as I was. "Certainly, the last of the lice and nits are gone. I believe one more bath with the medicated shampoo will be enough to ensure it." Carefully, I tilted his head down so I could examine behind his ears and the back of his neck for any signs of a lingering rash. Thankfully, there were none, though I could see the fading but still swollen bruises from where he'd attempted to scratch the lice and rash with the wall down in the dungeons. It had been his only reprieve, given how his hand had been bound. "I am going to apply some bruise balm again."

"The nice smelling kind, right?" Lord Shanan asked, almost tilting his head back to look at me. I nudged him to keep his head down, and left his side briefly to fetch the balm and to check on how his tea was steeping. It was… almost done. "The one that smells like rain?"

"That is the only kind I have for now." I returned and helped him sit up in his chair. He was startling to slump and teeter forward. "Are you tired? I can apply this while you rest in bed."

"No, I don't want to go back yet…" He frowned, sulking even, and I couldn't help but smile sympathetically. His ordeals had taken quite the toll on him, and it became more apparent by the day now that he no longer had to focus so much on surviving. Lady Ayra had blunted the worst of it, of course, but all that meant was that Lord Shanan had a chance to make a full recovery. As it was, he spent most of his waking hours, few as they were, abed. "Please?"

"So long as you do not push yourself, then we can continue." I crouched down to look him in the eye. I had to wait for him to meet my gaze. "However, if you push, then you will only injure yourself further. So, you must promise to tell me as soon as you are tired."

"I promise."

"I shall hold you to it." I smiled and stood behind him to set the jar on the table and pop it open. Lord Shanan flinched at the noise. "Are you ready?"

"I…" He took a deep breath, held it, and breathed it out shakily. "Yes. I'm sorry…"

"There's no need to apologize." As gently as I could, I applied the balm to the bruising. I would have to add more to the ones on the rest of his body later, but I did not want him to feel pushed. He still had a lot of adapting to do, sadly. "Is it too cold?"

"No, you're really warm." That did not necessarily mean the balm was warm, but I would not correct him. "It smells nice too, much better than the ones used back home. What makes it smell nice?"

"That would be the vlisis blossoms. They commonly grow in the more southern and southwestern parts of Jugdral, where it is warmer. They fare poorly in the cold."

"That'll explain why they're not used in Isaach then. It gets very cold there."

"Does it?" The conversation was becoming more stilted. I had never talked to so many people for so long before. How did I…?

"May I come in?" It didn't matter, thankfully. Lord Sigurd arrived in Shanan's room for his daily check-in. He could handle any continued conversations. "Good morning, Shanan," he greeted, smiling warmly. Lord Shanan hesitantly smiled back, and visibly relaxed with Lord Sigurd knelt in front of him and, thus, was not looming over. I finished applying the balm and returned to the table to set the jar down and finish making up the tea. "How did you sleep? Did the nightmare monsters return?"

"No, not last night," Lord Shanan answered, smile softening with shyness. Apparently in Isaach, nightmares were attributed to malicious spirits. Two nights ago, Lord Shanan's nightmares had been particularly bad and he absolutely refused to return to sleep. Since I had not wanted to force him to take sleeping medicine, Lord Sigurd had offered to 'fight' any spirits who tried to hurt him, an offer Lord Shanan had tentatively accepted. In actuality, Lord Sigurd had simply stayed up through the night and held his hand, but perhaps that was enough. I knew little of spirits, after all. "Um… thank you."

"It was no trouble at all."

"Lord Shanan, here," I murmured, handing Lord Shanan the teacup. His hands shook, but I knew he desperately wanted to drink it on his own, so I casually turned his chair towards the table so that he could use it as a 'crutch'. "Sip on that. It should ease your throat." His cough was much better, thankfully, but it was still there and still strained his throat. "Let me know if it needs to be sweetened more."

Lord Shanan mumbled some sort of assent and leaned forward to make it less obvious he was using the table to support the mug. I pretended to not notice, as did Lord Sigurd. That is, until Lord Shanan was firmly distracted by the tea. Then Lord Sigurd stepped closer to me and whispered, "Is he truly improving?"

"Slowly, he is." Though I could not blame him for questioning. Lord Shanan was still far too thin, especially for a child his age, and he lacked the strength to even dress himself. "Lady Ayra is as well." She, too, was more or less confined to bed for the time being, though her discomfort at her current circumstances and her lingering hyper-awareness led to her resting in the room next Lord Shanan's, instead of sharing. She simply would not sleep enough, and her body desperately needed the rest to have any chance of recovering. "I am surprised she was able to fight at all in her condition."

"I think my soldiers are lucky she wasn't fighting fit." He said the words lightly, as if they were a joke, but there was a thread of seriousness to it. There was also worry, no doubt for just how much Lady Ayra and Lord Shanan had suffered in their mad escape from Isaach. "She insists on fighting for us. To repay us for sanctuary."

"I know. She has said as much to me." Truthfully, she more 'snapped' it at me, while she was protesting the bedrest. "The former owner of the castle ensured she was in better conditions than Lord Shanan, so her recovery should be much shorter. Yet, she still suffered from lack of rest and food, among other things, so it shall be some time before I would safely say she can fight at full strength."

"If we are ambushed, mayhaps we can have her guard you as a compromise? As we did with Midir?"

"Yes, I think that would suffice." I smiled slightly. "Given how Lord Shanan would also be with me, I imagine she'd prefer it."

"I'll bring up the topic when I next speak with her then." He watched Lord Shanan struggle to drink his tea on his own. I was torn between letting him continue on his own for his peace of mind or helping him so that he could actually drink it. "I know the answer is obvious, but can he not go outside? Get out of the castle for a little while?"

"I will not deny it would be good for his mental health, if nothing else." However, he was more than correct; the answer was obvious. "Sadly, he does not have the physical strength yet to walk on his own."

"Right, of course." Lord Sigurd frowned, fussing with his cufflinks while he thought. I ducked my head to hide my sudden little smile; Arvis had the same habit. "What about… if I carried him? Would that be enough?"

"I think you would need a destination, if only for his pride." Still, Lord Shanan had been stuck inside these four walls since we brought him up from the dungeons. While the conditions were much better, I had little doubts he felt just as trapped. No doubt Lord Sigurd thought the same. Why else would he bring it up? "Ah, I do need to visit the apothecary here and it is my understanding that I will need an escort."

"While the townsfolk appear to welcome us, it's better for none to venture alone. No matter how much they may or may not have hated their prince, we are technically an invading force." He smiled brightly, and it almost hid the pain in his eyes. He disliked this sort of circumstances, and he knew as well as I did that the soldiers our own had killed… they had been the loved ones of the people here. Neither of us would say it, though. "If you do not mind the company, then I believe it would be our honor to escort you, Miss Alicia."

"I suppose I could do worse." The teasing words were spoken before I could bite my tongue, and mortification flooded me at being so unprofessional to him. His easy grin hinted he did not mind, but I shouldn't shirk like that. "Let me wash my hands and gather my things. That should buy him some time to finish his tea."

Lord Shanan looked quite confused when Lord Sigurd explained we were heading into the market and would like it if he came with us, but he cautiously agreed to let Lord Sigurd carry him. Once we were certain he was secure, and was not too nervous, Lord Sigurd led the way out of the castle, stopping only to borrow a basket to carry any purchases we would make. Once in the market proper, Lord Shanan openly stared at everything from the wares to the merchants, his head turning this way and that with such speed I worried he might hurt himself. I also worried the noise, and the accompanying crowd, might overwhelm him with how pale he turned. But Lord Sigurd whispered reassuringly to him, and did not complain about Lord Shanan's tight grip around his shoulders and neck. So, I simply kept close, walking nearer to Lord Sigurd than I would otherwise, and absently looked about the market square for the apothecary.

"Um… Lord Sigurd?" Lord Shanan hesitantly began at some point during the walk. He bit his lip, clearly uncertain about continuing. "Um…"

"Yes?" Lord Sigurd, however, was perfectly patient and smiled at him, gently and warmly. "I fear Miss Alicia will have my head if I let you walk," he teased. "However, was there something in particular which caught your eye?"

"Oh, no, not yet. Everything is so… everything." That was certainly one way to describe it. "I just… I heard you invaded to rescue your friend."

"I crossed the border to rescue Edain, yes." It was a slight correction, spoken with the same gentle warmth as his smile. I could see the discomfort in his eyes, though. Lord Shanan was not wrong to say they invaded. "I had hoped to catch them prior, but alas… fate was not on my side then."

"Right, but Edain is with us now, isn't she?"

"She is. It seems the legendary luck the Goddess of Fate blessed Ulir with protected her once more."

"...Luck?" Lord Shanan frowned. "Tiamat, Guardian of Beasts, blessed Od with divine skill, which was further augmented by her attendants in later generations." What did he mean by 'augmented'? "Why give someone luck?"

"Luck has just as much importance in battle as strength and skill, and unlike those, it is completely and utterly unpredictable." Lord Sigurd chuckled. "Trust me on that one. Ah, memories…"

"I see." Lord Shanan frowned more, clearly still confused. However, he decided not to pursue the question and, instead, continue his original point. "She's with us, so what… is the army going to do?"

"That is a good question." Lord Sigurd readjusted his grip on Lord Shanan to hold him more securely; Lord Shanan stiffened at first, but slowly relaxed. "I cannot simply retreat, despite securing Edain's safety. This began due to Verdane violating the peace treaty it signed with Grannvale and it will be difficult to push it aside as an outlier, since their crown prince led the assault on Yngvi."

"So, are you… going to keep fighting?"

"Ideally, no." He laughed softly at Lord Shanan's openly confused and skeptical look. "As I said, the primary objectives of this campaign have been fulfilled. We rescued all those who were captured. While I have no doubts there are many who wish to burn Verdane to the ground for its betrayal, I believe such actions will only lead to a false 'peace'. So, instead, I have sent messengers to Crown Prince Munnir in the hopes of negotiating a surrender."

"Such a thing might be rebuffed," I warned without thinking about it. Thankfully, I found an excuse for the words quickly enough to make them seem professional. "Should I prepare for wounded messengers?"

"It might be a good idea, though I shall hope otherwise," Lord Sigurd sighed, smiling bitterly. At least he was aware. "I wish to avoid more war. Eldigan is right in that it is the people who bear the brunt of it, and in this particular instance, it is Verdane's people who suffer the most. I also wish to provide a more peaceful environment for the injured to recover, and it can be difficult to have proper services for the dead when the threat of battle looms. So, I must try. I owe it to those who risk and sacrifice their lives for my decisions."

"...Well, I support it." I wasn't sure if I had a right to say that, but his smile brightened, so I hoped he at least did not mind. "Speaking of services, however, we should purchase some incense. I believe our stocks are low."

"Incense?" Lord Shanan repeated, resting his head on Lord Sigurd's shoulder. He looked tired, yet not to the point he was actively fighting to stay awake. "Why incense?"

"In Grannvale, we burn incense for the dead," I explained, wondering if this was too morbid of a topic for him, considering everything. Yet he looked so attentive and curious; I could not help but explain. "Traditionally, it is done for three reasons. The first is as a physical representation of prayers, rising to the heavens where the gods watch over us." Supposedly. "The second is to help guide any lost souls who may be lingering near, again because smoke rises."

"What's the third?"

"The third is due to a very old belief. It is said the spirits of the dead are able to recognize scents they experienced during life. So, the third is for 'remembrance', for the dead are never forgotten." Though, some truly should be, such as my father.

"Oh." Lord Shanan yawned, and curled a little into Lord Sigurd. Lord Sigurd adjusted his grip to keep his hold secure. "We should get some ribbons, too…"

"Is that what they use in Isaach?"

"Yeah…" He yawned once more, this time with a little squeak at the end. "They represent bonds… the ties between us, which even death cannot server..."

"Incense and ribbons, then," Lord Sigurd decided, with a smile. He glanced at me, silently asking if we should wait, but I smiled and shook my head. Though he was clearly tired, I did not think it detrimental for him to remain outside a little longer. "Let's ask the locals where to grab both."

Lord Shanan remained awake just long enough to pick out the ribbons from a merchant, but fell asleep while we lingered over the incense. He did not wake even when we finally visited the apothecary, so when we returned to the castle at last, Lord Sigurd tucked him into bed, and I prepared his next dose of medicines for when he woke while keeping watch in case of nightmares. Surprisingly (yet thankfully), he had none and I thought it might be because of how deeply he slept, tired as he was from the walk. Perhaps we should make them a regular thing; I would discuss it with Lord Sigurd later.

Lord Shanan was not my only patient. Though I was his only healer for now (as he simply could not relax around Lady Ethlyn or Lady Edain yet), there were others in my care. There were many, many others. Lady Ethlyn and Lady Edain both assisted me in the infirmaries (as there were still so many wounded that a single room simply could not comfortably fit all of them), yet some days, it felt as if nothing we did was enough.

"I just can't figure it out!" Lady Ethlyn snapped, frustrated tears gathering in her eyes. She held them back through sheer will and stubbornness, and perhaps all her flailing. She gestured sharply with each word, adding more weight to the words. I glanced at the door to the side room, worried the patients in the main part could hear her. The one she had been tending to earlier couldn't, at least; he'd been in a coma for the past two days. "I can't determine what's wrong!"

"The issue is that he's dying," I answered, unhelpfully. Worse, the words were far drier than I wanted, more bitter. It was completely and reprehensibly improper for a healer. Caring for so many patients constantly when I was not used to it grated my nerves and wore on my spirit, but that was no excuse. I had to be calm. "To be more specific, however, it is the sepsis. It's devouring him more quickly than we can clear the infection and replenish the lost blood."

"Then what am I doing wrong?!" Lady Ethlyn whirled to face me, the tears making her eyes as glassy as a corpse's. Again, I glanced to the door, glad Lady Edain could watch over our patients while I spoke with Lady Ethlyn. "What do I…?!"

"As far as I am aware, you are not doing anything incorrectly." The problem was as I said. The infection progressed faster than we could heal. It hurt. Despite the magic which flowed through my veins, despite the one positive trait of heritage (aside from it tying me to Arvis and Azelle) being the power I could use to heal, it was too fast. I was too weak. All of us were, and no combination of medicines had thus far made up for our lack of strength. "There are more potent medicines we can try, though we must be cautious." Powerful the medicines may be, the potential side effects were terrible. When you considered this patient already had his organs failing due to the sepsis…

"...Miss Alicia?" Lady Edain stepped into the room then, with that told me one of the patients had taken a turn for the worst, again. "One of the soldiers just vomited blood," she explained. I closed my eyes, gathering my strength. I felt shaky, but the patients needed me. "It was… quite a bit."

"How much?" I asked, even as I followed her into the main part of the infirmary. The answer was 'enough to form a large puddle underneath their bed'. "Does he have an upper gastrointestinal bleed?" I strode to their side and noticed blood trickling from their nose. Prying open their mouth revealed bleeding gums. No, this was so much worse. If there was a gastrointestinal bleed, then it had been worsened by an underlying condition. "Lady Edain, take over Lady Ethlyn's patient and inform her she must tend to the rest while you and I focus. Her patient needs our strongest medicines to have a chance of surviving."

"Understood."

The patient ended up dying. Based on my magic, I found they suffered from cirrhosis of the liver, which explained the bleeding. One of the soldiers bore the body away to the church for proper services, and I had to task Lady Ethlyn to check on the other infirmaries to ensure she would not crack under the weight of yet another death. Lady Edain also left, but in her case, it was because it was time for her break and we knew from experience that if she did not take it, Sir Midir would come to check on her. Thankfully, there was not much to do once that patient passed. Lady Edain had administered the more potent medicines to Lady Ethlyn's former patient, so all we could do was watch and wait, and the others in the room were stable. I simply… had to clean. There had been a lot of blood. Even the mattress was soaked.

"Well, someone wasn't having a good day." With those strangely blithe words, Mister Dew slipped into the main infirmary, staring right at the puddle of blood under the bed. I had not yet had the time to mop the floor; I'd barely stripped the bed of the blankets and sheets. "Or maybe they're not having any sort of day anymore," he continued, surprisingly blase about the idea of someone being dead for his age. I had not heard an exact number yet, but overheard a mention that he was younger than Lord Oifey. "Want help cleaning up or is someone already assigned to it?"

"I shall not refuse the assistance," I answered slowly, looking him over. I saw no sign of injury; even the bruises he'd had when he first arrived in Evans had healed. "However, may I ask what brought you here?"

"Uh… well…" For some reason, he seemed hesitant, and he glanced to the side. Then he stiffened, eyes widening in horror as he stared at a particular patient. "Is… is he growing mold? In his arm?"

"Yes, he developed a fungal infection." An axe's blow had removed a large portion of his skin, and unfortunately, the fertile lands of Verdane also led to copious amounts of fungal spores in the air and soil. He was far from the only patient who suffered from such, though his was perhaps the most visually dramatic. "Mister Dew, are you unwell?"

"From seeing mold in a person? It's a new one, to be sure, but… oh, wait, you mean for why I'm here." He tore his eyes away from that patient, and looked to the floor. "I… uh… I found these!" He held out a sack I had not noticed him carrying; inside were various medical kits. "They were just… um… sitting around! Yeah, that's it."

"They were?" Tired as I was, I almost took him at his word. However, when I reached inside to pull one of the kits out, I noticed the faint bloodstain in the corner. When I opened one of the jars within, the scent was similar to the local blend for numbing balms. A glance at the scrawled letters on the jar itself confirmed it was exactly that. No one would simply leave anything like this. "Mister Dew."

"Yeeeees?" He smiled innocently, though I saw him fidget with his hands. "What is it?"

"..." I looked at the medicine again. While I was in the process of replenishing the medicines used during the march on Genoa, it would still be some time before they were ready. This, however, could be used now. "You do not think someone will miss these?"

"Nope." It was a quick answer, but there was weight to the word. My eyes were drawn to the faint bloodstain on the kit. If that was the case...

"Well, we're rather lucky then, aren't we?" I wouldn't ask. So long as these were not taken from those who needed them, I would not ask. While the possibility of these being taken from the dead left me uncomfortable, I could not refuse something that would help my patients.

"I've always been on the luckier side!" He grinned now, and finally looked me in the eye. I hoped he caught my unspoken request. I rather thought he had. "Oh, while I'm thinking about it, I've always been good at finding and getting bargains in the market. I know there's no budget and all for everything you need, but do you want me to handle buying those things? I convinced Lord Sigurd to let me handle things like getting our supplies repaired and whatnot."

"That's kind of you, Mister Dew, but unless you have an encyclopedic knowledge of the medicinal uses for various flora and fauna, I think it's best for someone with training to handle that portion of the shopping." I was surprised he offered at all. I always took care of it personally.

"Mmm… yeah, that sounds like a better idea. I mean; if I could read, I could learn. I'm not bad with learning." He shrugged, and smiled. "Okay. I'll keep an eye out for more medicines that happen to be laying about. Those weird cane things you use too!"

"You mean my staves?" I supposed someone of a smaller stature like Mister Dew might be able to use one as a cane, but I certainly couldn't! "Be certain no one will miss them, please." I hesitated briefly, but the next words came before I could truly think them over. "Also, if you wish to learn how to read, I do not mind giving you lessons."

"With everything else you do?" Mister Dew frowned skeptically, but after a moment, he nodded. "Well, I'll think about it. Might be hard while this campaign is still going and all." He had a point there. "I'll see you later, Miss Alicia!" He dashed off, delivery complete, and part of me was amused he left without helping. Yet I had no time to be amused for long.

"Miss Alicia?" Sir Naoise appeared, lingering in the doorway, and beckoned me to join him in the hall once he had my attention. Confused, I set the sack on the table and followed him out. "Forgive me, but I did not wish for those recovering to hear," he explained quietly. I clasped my hands in front of me, waiting for him to continue. "There has been…" He glanced at the patients who rested closest to the door, attempting to discern whether or not they could still hear him. "There is a soldier who has not… taken well to surviving the recent battles when those around him did not. He sought to… change that."

"Is that so?" I asked, exhaustion once again making my thoughts slow. The pieces thunked into place eventually. "Let me fetch my things. Might you tell me more about his method?"

"I fear I know little, but gladly will I share what pieces I know." When he followed me back inside the infirmary, his gaze immediately fell on the puddle of blood. "I'll handle mopping this too."

"Thank you."

Thankfully, due to the haste of his fellows and Naoise's quickness in fetching me, that soldier survived. The next one didn't.

I knew I would regret giving Lady Ayra permission to leave her room. It had been on the condition that she'd return at a specific time for a check-up and now, she was late. She was very late. Normally, I would simply wait patiently; it would not be the first time I had been kept waiting after requesting (or being requested) to check on someone. However, given Lady Ayra's condition and pride, I worried she might be curled up somewhere, unable to walk and unwilling to request assistance. There was also… I did not care about politics, particularly when it came to those I treated, and Lord Sigurd was clearly the same. However, no matter how much respect the soldiers had for Lord Sigurd, they no doubt would define Lady Ayra as the 'Princess of Isaach' first and foremost. Given the bloodthirsty fury the slaughter in Darna had stirred, it was all too likely for one or more to vent their anger on her directly. I knew well how people would leap for the first scapegoat they could find when their emotions ran high. I knew that very, very well.

Thus, I went looking for her, though I ran into a complication immediately. I had little idea of just where she might be. I would hope she had not gone to train or, worse, spar in the arena. I thought she might have wanted to check on Lord Shanan, but there were no signs of her there, only Lord Shanan talking shyly with Lord Oifey and Mister Finn. The kitchens proved equally devoid of the stubborn princess, and if she was in the courtyard gardens, I missed her completely. With no other ideas, I slowly returned to the infirmary, checking the nearby rooms to see if she had dragged herself in there. To my surprise, I did find her in one, though I could not confront her on missing her check-up.

"Princess Ayra, I apologize for my bluntness." After all, she and Lord Quan were in the middle of a conversation or, rather, what appeared to be an interrogation. "Yet I feel it is best to simply cut to the heart of the matter," he continued, sitting very straight and proper. If not for the impassive, almost cold expression on his face, and the small room with an equally small table, one might think he were sitting for a banquet. "If I may?"

"You didn't give me much of a choice," Lady Ayra replied dryly. In contrast to Lord Quan's cold poise, she sat stiffly with her eyes darting everywhere at once. Without thinking, I flinched away, barely peeking inside to try and determine if it was safe to pass. However, both Lord Quan and Lady Ayra kept an eye on the door; I could not move without being seen. "Get to the point."

"Darna." Well, that was blunt. "I wish to know about the massacre there."

"...Is that so?" Lady Ayra scowled. I worried she'd take it as a threat and would try to strike, but thankfully, she remained seated. "Why badger me now with this?"

"Sigurd is busy." The words held a strange weight to them and rang with an even stranger tone. There was nonchalance, exasperation, and genuine fondness all stitched together. "As such, he is not here to protest an interrogation, as he has the previous times it has come up." Lord Quan smiled wryly, more of a quirk to his mouth than a true smile, at Lady Ayra's surprise. "Did you think us uninterested? No, there are some very interested parties. However, you are under Sigurd's protection. Politically speaking, as the heir to a Crusader, he wields a lot of power in Grannvale. He rarely uses it, of course, as he has little patience for such a thing and, really, his inability to lie makes him terribly ill-suited for Grannvale's intricate manipulations. When he does choose to utilize it, however, then none but his father and the king himself may overrule him."

"And…" Lady Ayra's voice shook slightly; her fists clenched in her lap. "And he has chosen to use it. For Shanan."

"For both of you. Shanan's youth provides some protection, but as the princess of Isaach, you normally wouldn't have such." Lord Quan sighed gustily. "'Political suicide' is an understatement, but Sigurd has always done what he thought was right, regardless of what politics dictated."

"Yet you question me. Behind his back."

"I do. Because Sigurd is my dear friend, and I am more pragmatic than him." Lord Quan rested his arms on the table and leaned forward. "So, in the interest of dampening the storm that brews on the horizon, I ask again. Why attack Darna?"

"..." Lady Ayra was silent for a long while before she slowly sighed. "If Miss Alicia is angered by my being late for my check-up, I will pin the blame entirely on you. I should do so anyway, to see how you fare when the fire in her eyes blazes." Lord Quan barely bit back a quiet laugh. "To answer your question, the former ruler of Rivough acted independently of the Crown."

"As I understand it, Lord-"

"We gave his name to the Spirits." Lady Ayra's words were clipped. "We do not speak it. We do not acknowledge any ties. For such an atrocity, his body is left unburied, so that his ghost may forever remain trapped between the realms." She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply before exhaling. "But, in the interest of addressing that concern, yes, he was married to Neira, my sister. Yes, he was connected to the royal family. No, that does not change the fact that he was unauthorized. The connection only made it easier for people to believe the 'barbaric' Isaachians showed their true selves."

"I see." Lord Quan sat back in his chair, closing his eyes. "That… does make more sense. King Mananan and Prince Mariccle were not the sort of men to condone such an atrocity, let alone order one."

"You…" Lady Ayra frowned. "You speak as if you met them."

"I had that pleasure, a couple of times. And before you say anything, yes, I am well aware of Leonster's isolationistic tendencies and how they make such meetings sound implausible." He briefly made a face, and Lady Ayra actually relaxed a little. "However, as I'm sure you know, they would make trips to Darna to ensure relations between it and Isaach were well. Sometimes, those trips intersected with my journeys to Grannvale. There is safety in numbers."

"Yes, Mariccle would always insist on accompanying Father. He said it would be good for the future, but he also delighted in having that time with Father. That time where they did not necessarily have to be king and heir, but simply father and son. He cherished such times…" Lady Ayra closed her eyes to will back tears. It did nothing to hide how her voice cracked and broke around the lump in her throat. "When we heard what had happened, we immediately marched out with our full forces to Rivough. From there, Father… he left for Grannvale, knowing they would be the first to hear. He wanted to explain what had happened, show justice had been done, so that we could all focus on helping Darna heal."

"...Strange." Lord Quan opened his eyes and frowned, but not from disbelief. No, it was merely thoughtful. "There are no reports of King Mananan riding anywhere, much less to the border. I know well that Prince Kurth would have heard him out, at the very least."

"Yes, we thought so too. No, more than that. We knew it, from previous interactions. So, Mariccle and I did not think twice about letting him leave. We did not think twice about not going with him. We should've, though. We should've." Her voice cracked again. My heart keened at the raw pain that saturated her words. "All that remained of him when he returned was a blackened corpse!"

"He… what…?" Lord Quan's jaw went slack, though he quickly regained his poise. "He was killed?"

"Assassinated on the road. His guards remembered thunder magic, though there were no mages among the forces who fell on us in Rivough. Only axe wielders who killed without mercy or regrets." Lady Ayra's head dropped, her hair falling over one shoulder as if to hide her face. It did nothing to hide her trembling. "Once word reached our people, they demanded retaliation. They would not accept anything less for such a betrayal. To try and reason with them would only turn their anger on us, and while Mariccle and I could defend ourselves, we worried for Shanan. He worried for Shanan. So, he took up the crown and answer the call with war."

"He had to have known it was a losing fight. Grannvale is home to the most Crusader heirs, and though power is won mostly through political manipulations, none shirk their perceived duty in maintaining an active force. It's the largest army on the continent."

"He did. Yet he knew Grannvale's army was marching, or would be soon. He did not believe any would hear him, and with our people's fury rising, he believed the only way forward was in battle. While he fought, I could escape with Shanan. I could escape with his hope."

"...So, go to war, bleed both sides enough for the anger to abate, and then ideally, talks can open…" Lord Quan frowned. "A dangerous game to play…"

"He could see nothing else, and I could not come up with anything. So, I listened. I listened and ran. I took Shanan as far as I could from the fighting, only…" She fell silent, taking deep breaths to slowly calm down. "That's… the truth of it all. I know you have only my words to counter the evidence of corpses, but I swear it is the truth."

"..." Lord Quan did not respond immediately. Instead, he took the time to think through it all and process it before replying. "I believe I already know the answer, but to be certain… you have not told any of this to Sigurd, yes?" Lady Ayra shook her head. "Good. Don't." Lord Quan sighed and leaned back in his chair, relaxing at last. "I love him dearly, but if he heard, he'd be on the fastest horse to the other side of the continent to demand answers before anyone could stop him. Last thing the continent needs right now is a third official war, and good intentioned as he would be, I have no doubts he'd spark one with his insistence on doing the right thing."

"Right now…" Lady Ayra's voice caught, and she coughed to clear it. "Right now, the 'right thing' is… is to keep Shanan safe."

"It is. It is, so that the truth may become known. Yet though Sigurd's patience for people is far greater than it has any right to be, his patience on seeing justice through and protecting those who cannot protect themselves is… not nearly as vast." Lord Quan chuckled and Lady Ayra lifted her head hesitantly. "I believe you, though. For what it is worth, I believe you. One day, we will right this wrong and you may count on Leonster's assistance when it comes."

"I… thank you." Lady Ayra bowed her head again. "Thank you."

There was a few seconds of silence, and Lord Quan made to rise. Panic immediately flooded me when I realized why. He was about to leave. He was about to leave Lady Ayra to compose herself, and he would find me here and he'd be so, so angry at me eavesdropping. They both would be. I had to come up with a story. If I didn't, they'd…!

"Lady Ayra, are you in here?" Keeping my voice even and calm, I peered inside the room, pretending I had just passed. Both Lord Quan and Lady Ayra stiffened in their seats at first, before relaxing when they realized it was just me. "You were late for your check-up," I explained, weaving a truth into the act. It would make it far more believable. I knew this from Arvis. "I grew worried."

"My apologies, Miss Alicia," Lady Ayra mumbled, looking down. Her eyes were red, no doubt from holding back tears. "I…"

"Let's get you to the infirmary." I held out my hand to her, and after a brief moment of hesitation, she lurched out of her chair to take it. "Lord Quan, forgive us, but she is quite late and I fear she overexerted herself."

"There's nothing to forgive," Lord Quan reassured, relaxing a little more. I suppose he was relieved at his secret interrogation apparently remaining a secret. "Do you need assistance?"

"I believe we shall make it," I refused, shifting my weight as Lady Ayra leaned on me. I thought it might be more emotional exhaustion than physical which made her unable to stand up straight. I wished I could do more for her… "You have my thanks, however."

Slowly, we returned to Lady Ayra's room, and she sat heavily on the bed while I tended to her. She did not speak, and I let her have the silence, speaking only to ask if any balms were too cold. I thought it better for her, so that she could try to reprocess her grief and guilt. She would likely go through this many times, and I wish there was an easy medicine to ease the pain of the spirit. The best I could do was support her as much as possible while she physically healed, and give her less to worry about so that she had the time.

"There you two are!" Right around the time I'd finished Lady Ayra's check up, Lady Ethlyn crashed into Lady Ayra's room with all the manic energy of a tornado. "I swung by earlier, but neither of you were here!" she 'explained', huffing a little. Behind her Lady Edain stepped into the room with much more calm, yet with clear excitement in her sparkling eyes and silly smile. "Come on! Let's go shopping!" What would we shop for? Was inventory so low already? "A few merchants have followed in our wake to sell their wares to the people here at discounted prices! We should take advantage of that!"

"I'm sorry, but I fear I need a little more clarification," Lady Ayra began dryly, her expression flattening in unamusement. Neither Lady Ethlyn nor Lady Edain appeared deterred by it. I mentally debated whether it was a good thing or bad thing that she was able to react at all. "You wish to go to t he market?"

"Yes, Dew told us there's cute ribbons and pretty dresses and so much more~!" Lady Ethlyn squealed in delight; Lady Ayra almost looked horrified by the prospect. I glanced at Lady Edain, certain I was mishearing or misinterpreting, but she looked just as gleeful about all of this. "Come on! Edain was telling me about the apple fairy who comforted her while she was locked up in Marpha!"

Neither seemed to even consider Lady Ayra or I might refuse. They simply snagged us by the arms and dragged us out into the hallway, despite Lady Ayra's very vocal protests. I remained quiet until I could slip away, and did so as soon as the opportunity arose. I was here only for my skill as a healer. If the others saw me being frivolous, then they'd surely think me a burden. No, I had to work. I would not be like my father. I would not.

"But how did they escape?" Lord Shanan asked, eyes wide with curiosity. It was the seventh time, or more, he had interrupted the story. "Surely they did, right?"

"Yep, and it's all thanks to a little trained bird," Lord Lex explained, not minding the interruption in the slightest. To my surprise, Lord Lex was an animated and skilled storyteller, and with Lord Shanan still abed most of the day and not able to read long due to fatigue, Lord Lex had taken it upon himself to swing by every day to tell Lord Shanan at least one story, if not more. All of them were popular children's tales from all across Grannvale, and though I did not know many myself, I could not help but be impressed by how many he had memorized. "That's getting a little ahead of ourselves, though. First, we need to speak of the conversation our heroes had while in dungeons."

Lord Lex continued spinning the tale, gesturing at key points to emphasize the words. Briefly, I glanced up from measuring Lord Shanan's medicines to watch them and, more importantly, watch Lord Shanan lean forward eagerly, hanging on every word. Once, he almost fell off the bed entirely, but Lord Lex caught him and settled him back against the pillows before continuing on. I let the words wash over me, instead taking comfort at seeing Lord Shanan's liveliness. Given how many soldiers seemed to either remain 'stable yet wounded' or took a turn for the worse, it was heartening to see him improve, little by little.

Just around the time Lord Lex finished the story, Azelle swung by, bearing a tray ladened with steaming mugs. "By the sound of it, we should toast the heroes' victory and happy ending," he teased, setting the tray down on the table. He glanced at me worriedly, no doubt wondering if he should have waited to set the tray, but relaxed at my slight smile. "No alcohol is allowed in the infirmary, of course, but apple cider is better anyway."

"Well, I suppose if we must," Lex 'complained', making a face. Azelle simply rolled his eyes, and passed me the first mug, careful to set it away from the medicines. I gently touched his hand, worried, but relaxed at his smile and nod. I knew Azelle avoided alcohol at all cost, for the same reason I did. "Toasts are a good way to end a tale, though."

"Which one did you tell him today?"

"Robin and his vigilantes."

"Ah, of course. You always did particularly like that one." Azelle brought two mugs over, one for Lord Lex and one for Lord Shanan. He handed Lord Lex's to him first before helping Lord Shanan take his. "Here you go."

"...This doesn't look like apple cider?" Lord Shanan commented in confusion, looking down at it. He was right, of course, as it wasn't apple cider at all. "It looks like… milk?"

"Warm milk with honey," Azelle confirmed with a smile. Lord Shanan's confusion immediately dropped for the brightest smile I'd ever seen him wear. "Arden hopes he made it properly."

"I can have it? Really?" His eyes sparkled in delight, though he hesitantly glanced at me to be certain. "Super really?"

"I'm the one who asked if anyone could make it for you, so yes, 'super really'," I reassured with a smile. It was hard to not smile at him, especially like this. "You've waited very patiently, after all."

"Thank you!" Based on how he was all but vibrating in sheer delight, I half-expected him to down it all, burning his tongue in the process. However, he was careful to sip it slowly, to make it last, for which I was grateful. "Maybe I did end up in Hestia's Castle…"

"Hestia's Castle?" Lord Lex repeated, nursing his own cider. Azelle returned for his mug and then took a chair from the table to sit next to Lord Lex by Lord Shanan's bed. "Don't think I've heard of that one."

"It's a place you hear of in a lot of Isaachian legends," Lord Shanan explained, wrapping both hands around the mug. It almost hid their trembling; he was tired. "The concept of warm milk with honey comes from those stories, though."

"Really?"

"Yes." Lord Shanan nodded almost solemnly. The effect was ruined, however, when he took another sip of his milk, and gained a 'mustache'. "Even heroes get weary and feel lost. Often, when all seems lost, Hestia of the Hearth guides them to her abode in between the realms so that they may rest and recuperate. Always, she serves them warm milk with honey to ease their rattled nerves and shattered hearts."

"Is that so?" Azelle asked, leaning forward. His eyes sparkled, and I remembered his letters telling me of the stories he loved to read. "Grannvale does not have tales like that. Might I ask what fairies are?"

"Huh? Uh…" Lord Shanan began. He frowned in thought, taking a large gulp of his milk. "Fairies are… they were once people, according to the stories. People who lived, and died, and in death, were elevated by the gods to serve as their attendants. Each one has some worldly or elemental association because of that, and they are able to reach between realms because they are both divine and not."

"Elevated by the gods?" Azelle tilted his head curiously. Lord Lex attempted to steal his mug, his own already empty, but Azelle pulled away with practiced ease. "What for?"

"It depends on the god, and what duty they hold after becoming a fairy."

"Interesting… I wonder…" Azelle sipped his cider, and once again dodged Lord Lex's attempt to steal it. "Verdane has a lot of folklore about fairies and spirits as well. The most infamous is the Spirit Forest to the west, but there are many."

"Which you know because you've stolen basically every book in the library on the subject," Lord Lex teased, suddenly. When Azelle squawked in protest, Lord Lex took advantage of his surprise to successfully steal the mug. "Works every time. Shanan, if you ever need anything from him, tease him first."

"Don't teach him weird things!" Azelle snapped with a scowl. Lord Lex grinned and leaned back in his chair, holding the mug up like a trophy. "Urgh… anyway, Shanan, what sort of fairies are there? Lady Edain claims an 'apple fairy' cheered her up."

"An apple fairy? Really?" Lord Lex frowned, raising a brow skeptically. Lord Shanan simply looked intrigued. "Are we sure she wasn't just hungry or something?"

"I don't think even hunger would literally drop an apple into your lap, or tell you stories about knights and sorcerers."

"Wait, what now? I have to hear this, and Shanan looks up for another story." Indeed, Lord Shanan did. "Come on! Share the gossip!"

"It's not gossip!"

Their talk turned to what Lady Edain had told Azelle of her capture and imprisonment in Marpha. I let the sound drift over me, not paying attention to anything but the medicines and the door in case someone arrived. Eventually, someone did peek inside: Sir Alec. Once he was certain he had my attention, he waved me into the hallway, expression uncharacteristically serious. I finished the last of my measuring and stepped out, wondering if I would deal with another wave of those who tried to 'fix' their survival. "Sorry, I know you have a lot to do already," he whispered, stepping a little further from the door. Though I was uneasy, I followed. "I was gathering information in town and came across an older man who insists he's fine, but…"

"You think he is hiding an injury?" I prompted, already mentally running through all the medicines we had on hand. I would need to stay up late tonight to prep more, clearly. "What sort of symptoms are there?"

"There's a pain in his back and abdominal area, which wouldn't be enough for me to come directly to you, but…" He hesitated before continuing. "I might have imagined it, but when I helped him up, I thought I felt a pulse on his belly. Last time I saw someone experience that, some important blood vessel ruptured and they died fast."

"That… is not good." If he could feel a pulse in the abdominal area, then was it an aneurysm? That would… "Where is he?"

"Sadly, still in town. I tried to convince him to come up to the castle, but he said he couldn't. Had to watch his brother's kids, after…" Sir Alec hesitated once more, but this time it was only to lead me a little further down the hall. "Sorry, I don't want the kid to hear. He will in time, of course, but if we can pretend things are safe for a little longer." I nodded, my mind more focused on what surgery we might have to perform. "Crown Prince Munnir and Second Prince Whatever-His-Name-Was were not kind to the people here. I'm sure you already know that. What wasn't immediately apparent, though, were the conscriptions. Every able bodied man within four days travel of both Genoa and Marpha was snatched up."

"Thus, the only ones left are the women, children, elderly, and those with conditions that prevent them from fighting."

"Yeah, and they even grabbed some of them, laughing about how they'd be good enough 'shields'." Sir Alec leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "I was wondering why the people did not seem to mind our invasion, yet each day, the answer becomes clearer and clearer. Though, it leads to more questions besides."

"That… sounds outside of my knowledge." Perhaps it should be. I was not so foolish as to say politics did not affect people's lives. However… "For now, we should look into their health, specifically of the one you're worried about. Let me gather my things, and send for Lord Sigurd or Lady Ayra." Lord Shanan would not be able to relax without one of us three near.

"I'll get them, and meet you back here."

It was lucky Sir Alec decided to trust his instincts. The man did indeed have an aneurysm, one of the aorta, and worse, it was but seconds away from rupturing. Lady Edain and I had to work through the night to perform the proper surgery and healing, but thankfully, he lived.

Bright laughter drew my attention from my mending, and I looked up to smile at the source: Mister Finn, Lord Oifey, and Lord Shanan. The three were playing cards or, rather, Lord Oifey and Mister Finn were teaching Lord Shanan a popular card game played among the knights, and some comment from Mister Finn sparked the cheer. Lord Oifey's laugh was loud and bright, far more so than you would expect from a child who so often acted wise beyond his years, while Mister Finn's was quieter yet warm, fitting his more serious mien and kind heart. Lord Shanan's was the most surprising, not the least because it was the first time I had heard him laugh. His laugh itself seemed startled and confused, as if he had forgotten the sound, but it was still bright and accompanied by a matching smile.

"Ah, Miss Alicia!" Lord Oifey stepped away from the bed to join me at the table. Originally, he and Mister Finn had been here for lessons, but when we finished for the day, they had chosen to spend time with Lord Shanan. "Is something wrong?" he asked, peering at me curiously. "Is it time for his next dose?"

"No, that isn't it," I reassured, looking down to continue my mending. These would be more clothes for Lord Shanan, so I wanted to finish them quickly. "I was simply watching."

"We're doing our best to keep an eye on how tired Shanan is."

"I know." I glanced up briefly. "I am glad you two have taken to including him. He's blossoming under your care."

"Oh, that's more because of you and Lord Sigurd." Still, Lord Oifey flushed from the indirect praise. "Still, I am… part of it is that I want to make up for pointing out the more... politically wise choice."

"You are, by no means, the only one." I may spend most of my time in the infirmaries, but I knew of the grumblings. They were almost as loud as the grumblings from Lord Sigurd's attempts at negotiating a peaceful surrender with Crown Prince Munnir. "What is another part?"

"Oh, well…" Lord Oifey smiled softly and ducked his head. "When I was younger, my parents died to illness. I don't know what, exactly. It felt like one day they were fine and the next, they were gone." An illness that killed so quickly… I vaguely remembered hearing of such while studying a few years ago. The fatality rate ensured it remained 'localized', but it killed nearly all who contracted it. I probably still had my notes on it, actually. "My grandfather was the brother of Lord Sigurd's grandfather, so they came to the funeral to pay their respects. Everyone was arguing over my head about where I should go, since I was now an orphan."

"Did they decide on Lord Sigurd?"

"Yes, and no." He closed his eyes, his smile warming. "He was the only one who looked at me, truly looked at me, and saw how scared I was. How confused, and how desperately I wanted to cry but not around so many people. He knelt in front of me and ruffled my hair before asking me where I wanted to go. He was the only one to ask me, to take my feelings into account." That certainly sounded like him. "I didn't know, of course. When I told him that, he smiled and asked if I would like to come live with him."

"You, of course, agreed."

"Yes. In the middle of all the dark anxiety, he was a light. Even now, after I know of his copious flaws and irritating habits…" He suddenly made a face, clearly remembering something. I ducked my head to hide my smile. "He is… he is my inspiration. My lodestar." Ah, I understood now. He wished to make Lord Shanan comfortable amidst all the chaos of his current circumstances, just as Lord Sigurd had done for him. "R-regardless…" His cheeks pinkened, embarrassed no doubt by such an earnest admission. "Is he well? Shanan, I mean. Finn and I have been keeping an eye, but…"

"Hmm…" I looked up again to study Lord Shanan, noting the slight trembling in his hands when he picked up the cards, but otherwise… "It might be a good idea to at least finish this round of the game, but I don't see why you two can't..." I trailed off when Mister Finn suddenly looked to the door. "Is someone there?" I had not heard anything yet, but Mister Finn's hearing was keener than mine.

"My pardon, Miss Alicia." Indeed, Mister Finn's ears proved true. Sir Arden was here, and though he spoke calmly, his tone made his simple greeting fall heavily on my ears. When I saw him looming in the doorway with such a grim expression, fully armed and armored, I stood up, already anticipating the next words. "Crown Prince Munnir has refused peace negotiations," he explained. Both Lord Oifey and Mister Finn closed their eyes at the words. Lord Shanan tried his best to not shake, but failed miserably. "He is marching as we speak, and taking retribution on those who supported us."

"I had best prepare a new room to receive them," I murmured, thinking rapidly. What sort of 'retribution' were we talking about here? What would he do? "Where are Lady Ethlyn and Lady Edain?"

"They felt they would serve best in the field. Lord Sigurd is leading rescue efforts, of course."

"Yes, Lady Ethlyn for certain would be best in the field, mounted as she is." Lady Edain… well, if she rode with Sir Midir, then she would best be there as well. The triage would be viciously strict; I had no doubts about that. "Sir Arden, inform Lady Ayra that she needs to remain as a guard and to assist the wounded." Her condition would not let her do anything more strenuous. "Mister Finn, you should assist the rescuers. I have some medicines you can carry." Mister Finn stood up and bowed to me, gracefully accepting the order despite how I truly did not have any authority. "Lord Shanan…" Though he would not be near the wounded, if I had anything to say about it, I was not sure he should be alone. Yet I…

"If Shanan doesn't mind, then he can stay with me," Lord Oifey offered. He smiled bitterly when I looked at him. "As much as I would like to assist, I believe I will only hinder your efforts. I'm better suited drafting strategies and tactics to face our foe, and assist in coordinating the rescue efforts. All of which will keep me far away from the wounded." That was… it only occurred to me after a moment of thought just why he thought he would be a hindrance; he remembered when he had frozen at the church. "I will not say it won't be chaotic, of course, but…"

"Very few places will have a moment's peace until all are accounted for." I crouched by Lord Shanan's bed and rested my hands on his. "Will that be all right with you? I would rather you not be alone, especially when your movements would be very limited."

"To keep from being underfoot, right?" Lord Shanan mumbled. He clenched his fists into the blankets, as if he could tear them and make some sense of the world again. "I…" His eyes wavered, and his fear was almost palpable. Without thinking about it, I gently slipped my fingers under his hands to pry them from the blankets and hold them properly. "Okay. I'll do that."

"I have just the room where you two can stay," Sir Arden noted, bowing slightly despite the heavy armor. He made no move to step closer. "Can you walk on your own or will you need to be carried?"

"If… it's not too far, I think I can walk?" Lord Shanan looked to me to confirm, and I nodded. He should have strength enough for that. "I'll rest once I'm there. Promise."

"This way, then."

I helped Lord Shanan out of bed, and saw him off along with Sir Arden and Lord Oifey before gathering those medicines for Mister Finn to take to the rescuers. When he left, I found an empty room to use nearby, tied a strip of cloth too threadbare to use as a bandage to the doorknob to help it stand out against the others, and quickly turned it into a triage-initial treatment room. I was glad Sir Arden had warned me; barely had I moved all the medicines I'd potentially need into the room when Lord Lex burst in with the first of the wounded: a child who had been gutted. That alone told me just what sort of injuries I would need to expect. It didn't make it easier.

Children made up the bulk of the initial waves. A toddler bled out under my fingertips while their twin clung to their arm and screamed in fright and pain as they bled from their own wounds. Another lost their arm, but kept their life. A different one technically lived, but remained in a coma no matter what I did. I wished I had more time to tend to them, but I couldn't. There were others to treat, others to tend, others to fail.

That wasn't to say all of the initial patients were children. I had teens and young adults, just barely too young to be conscripted, all bleeding copiously from so many wounds I could not even begin to guess how they were inflicted. One or two had their limbs crushed to pieces, as if trampled into the mud. Perhaps they had. With each new patient, it became clear just how Crown Prince Munnir 'retaliated': utter annihilation.

At some point during the triage and healing, Lady Ethlyn and Lady Edain joined me, returned from the rescue efforts. Sadly, that did not mean more wounded did not arrive after them. Sadly, it did not mean the dead did not pile higher.

"Mama…" one patient mewled, only half-conscious. They were a child, perhaps ten or so, and had no less than seven stab wounds to the chest. "Mama… where…?" I struggled to save them, struggled to heal all the wounds as quickly as possible so that they might live. "Oh… there you are…" But it wasn't enough. They bled out despite my best efforts.

At the realization, I closed my eyes, added another to the count of the dead, and stepped back to move to the next. However, when I noticed we were in a rare moment of calm, I… I did something completely and utterly selfish. I shouldn't have. It was terrible of me. But I walked into one of the side rooms, shut the door behind me, and collapsed in tears. I made sure to cover my mouth so that I would not be heard, and bit back the worst of the sobs as I shook. There were just so many dead, so many I failed. Even though it was nothing but selfish, I could not hold back the tears any longer.

So, I stole a moment to cry. I stole a moment to fall apart. Then, I would be right back to it all, saving as many as I could. Then, I would be a proper healer again.

Alec

Class: Cavalier

Skills: Pursuit, Nihil

Holy Blood: None

The second son of a local baron who was 'born on the wrong side of the bed', most would be surprised by the good relationship he has with his family, particularly his stepmother, his father's legal wife. He regularly visits them whenever his duties permit, and delights in spoiling his niece and nephew.

While fast and skilled, his primary duties for Sigurd have him prioritize stealth and accuracy and neutralization of an opponent's techniques, meaning he is not as strong as his fellow knights. He hides this weakness well due to being mounted and always working in tandem with others, but that is more to cover his true duties than out of any sort of embarrassment.

While it was always expected he would be a knight, he had originally planned on being a knight for his family's house. However, his infrequent meetings with Sigurd over the years and seeing the sort of man he was led him instead to become Sigurd's knight instead. He admires his kindness and loyalty, and prides himself on doing his part to ensure his lord's safety.

Author's notes: If you're wondering about some of the patients, let's just say it's been a rough couple of weeks at the hospital where I work. And that's all I will say on the matter. (Save to mention that the liver is where most [or maybe it was all] of your coagulation factors are made in the body. If your liver is messed up for whatever reason [such as cirrhosis], then your ability to make said coagulation factors is SEVERELY impaired. Meaning your blood doesn't clot as it should and can lead you to bleeding everywhere.)

The conversation between Ayra and Quan is based off of their in-game conversation, though there's nothing more than a vague mention of Ayra's relation to the lord of Rivough. All we know is that his son has Minor Od blood, but I went with 'related by marriage' to add more weight to the idea that it had been 'officially sanctioned'. Added in the stories about the fairies to simply add a little more color to the world of Jugdral, and highlight some differences between the countries. (Same about the ribbons and incense for the dead.) Think you only find out about how Oifey ended up in Sigurd's care during the epilogue of Gen2, though even then, it's rather vague, so I added to it. There's absolutely nothing on Alec's life history other than him being a knight of Chalphy, so I made something up.

Oh, and to clarify, in the US, 'cider' is actually a non-alcoholic drink, with 'hard cider' being used for the alcoholic version that I think the rest of the world uses just 'cider' for. Yes, weird Americans strike again.