BAM!
Killian kicked the Knight's head to the tree.
"I don't care for that shit. Next time we meet, I will definitely keep my promise of killing you."
The Knight held his cheeks. A grin grew on his lips, as his eyes rolled back. He passed out.
Silence reigned within the surroundings.
The fire around Killian's body slowly burned out and the tendrils returned under his legs, hiding perfectly.
"Inventory." Killian returned the Void-Bat and dagger. He took healing strips and carefully placed them on Juda's tilted reddened neck.
There were burnt and dark wounds across his arms, face, and body from the Void and Fire.
"Sorry," Killian muttered. He felt guilty that all those wounds were caused by him, even if it was to protect them both. He shook his body lightly.
But there was no response.
When he tried to raise his arms, they stiffened.
Muscle pull.
The tendrils that had been keeping a hold of him weakened as his body fell to the grass. A sharp pain went through his spine and neck, when he landed.
He winced and stayed stiff on the ground.
I bet I will take a week to recover from this.
His eyes remained on the clouds, enjoying the peace and tranquility after a long time.
Should I use the emergency on-demand healing mage?
"Status." He tried to raise his hand, but there was no strength left in them. "Where is that darn George when I actually need him?"
A shadow loomed over him almost instantly.
Killian's body tensed. Despite his survival instincts wanting him to run, he couldn't move. The smallest movement hurt.
He locked eyes with George who stood above him. And His heartbeat quickened under George's dismissive gaze.
"Darn George? Rude." George narrowed his eyes on him. Killian said nothing.
"Did you guys fight?" George turned to Juda.
There was no worry or urgency in his eyes even if Juda looked like that, and that pissed Killian. "Do you think I will do that to my own teammate?"
He hesitated, before adding. "Juda got possessed by a Rogue Knight, and was acting strange. Did you truly never notice?"
George's brows straightened. "I don't know any of you that well." He knelt beside Juda and touched his forehead. "Is that why he killed the Orcs?"
Doubt flickered in Killian. He bent his neck slightly to watch their leader. "Did you really not know?"
George lifted Juda from the ground.
"Are you accusing me of something? All I heard was an explosion while on my way to see why you two took so long."
George tapped the earth gently, and a part of it lifted off the ground staying afloat. He rested Juda's body there.
Killian grabbed a handful of his hair. He couldn't really believe that George was clueless?
Why did he have to act so suspicious all the time?
Well, if he really didn't notice anything, then I can turn this around.
George's shadow loomed over him again. "So a Rogue Knight possessed him? They never let their victims live, you know?"
Killian frowned at him. Does he doubt me when he didn't realize one of his students was possessed?
"The Knight's goal was to kill me, and impede my potential. I did my best but Juda and I… we need care as soon as possible. As you can see."
That should sell.
But George looked at him like he grew horns. His lips curled up in disbelief. "You stopped a Knight by yourself?"
"I said that I did my best." Killian said. "Stop asking questions and take me to the hospital."
George kept watching him.
Killian's frown deepened. What else does he want from me?
I took a lot of hits. None fatal, thanks to the tendrils.
Even got emotional damage.
Do I look like it was easy for me?
The earth under him rose. Killian didn't react.
"I will report this to the organization. You will give a detailed explanation to the board." George said. "And you used only your Fire Element?"
Killian paused, before rolling to his side despite the pain in his back. "Obviously."
The raised ground floated away. George walked in the middle, still wearing a suspecting expression.
Killian tried to relax but his closed eyes always opened since he knew George was beside him.
"You can sleep if you want to." George added.
He received a glare from Killian immediately.
I can't even if I want to.
"Don't glare at me," George snapped. "If you didn't even apologize for what you said."
"What did I say—"
"
The ground submerged Killian's body under it.
.
.
'There have been media agencies and corporate therapists outside the Warden organization for a week.
The news of a Rogue Knight attacking two newbie Wardens has been a buzz with the news outlets.
The victims of the attack are still in a coma but—'
Quara turned the TV off. She turned to her younger brother on the hospital bed.
Keith. He was pale and had bandages over his body and drips connected to him.
"You two really know how to look for trouble."
Killian stiffly raised his head from the comic book he read. He also had bandages around his head, and a cast on his spine, neck, and leg.
"Me? Trouble came to look for me. I really planned to lay low throughout that first mission."
Quara reached for her phone that beeped. "You could've sat it out after the simulations. You shouldn't have gone."
"Tell Keith that." Killian returned his eyes to the book. "Why go to a B-tier realm when he's a newbie? Did he think panthers would just lick him?"
Quara pursed her lips, reading her messages. She forced herself out of the seat. "I have a new mission. Stay with your brother—"
Before she finished, Killian was already limping out of the room.
"C'mon? Just stay. You are his older brother."
Killian clicked his tongue. "I stayed because you stayed. Do I look like I have nothing better to do?"
He left the door, heading to Juda's ward.
There was a lady seated besides Juda, rubbing his fingers gently. Killian recognized her as his Uncle's wife, and Juda's mom.
She had been visiting all through the week according to Quara.
Meanwhile I woke up five days later to no one, but a Quara's letter and Evelyn's get-well-soon flowers, by my side.
He laughed softly, remembering the Knight's words. It shouldn't matter anymore. Or those words of the Knight would be true.
He didn't need to try to be important to anyone. Only victors get celebrated anyway.
"Status." He spoke, and then clutched the cast on his neck.
He couldn't even massage his throat to get rid of the itch that never left since he used the Sound Bead.
[WLog Updated!]
[Name: Grim Warden] [Rank: C Lower]
[Element: Void] [Affinity: 45%]
[Capacity: 31%]
[Element: Fire] [Affinity: 17%]
[Objective: Increase Body's Temperature]
[Element: Anomaly] [Affinity: 100%]
[Objective: Unstable. Sync Failed]
I had tried to create Void with Fire, but it was totally unsuccessful and only worked for a short time.
Worth the shot. I can always try again.
But it's impossible to regulate my body's temperature.
The Fire Element's objective was keeping his body temperature warm, but it would be impossible with the coldness of the Void.
The new element's objective was also impossible to handle because he couldn't undo it.
Its adverse effect was his flinching reaction towards light.
I should've known that the Holy Fire was a variant of the Fire mixed with Light Element.
The Knight weakened the Void greatly.
It was a Knight now but soon, it could be a squad of Knights. Or clergy of Priests. Or if the Goddess wishes, she sends an Angel to kill him. They wouldn't yap and go straight to action.
I should get stronger fast. So I'll stand a modicum of chance against all these.
He walked into his ward room and leaned on the door behind him.
But the part that worries me more… since I woke up.
"Hey? Are you there?"
He has been quiet.
Hey? Do you need to feed? Are you alright?
Silence. Nothing. Except for the feeling of guilt Killian felt inside his head and chest. There was nothing else.
It is almost as if he swallowed himself.