I lifted up my shirt, expecting blood. Torn flesh.
What I saw, felt worse.
"T-There are no open wounds." Cira said.
"What do you mean there's no wound?" Eimira asked. "His shirt is still covered in dry blood."
Cira moved aside. "Come take a look at it yourself…"
My skin had stitched itself together, leaving a scar, where the wound is supposed to be.
She turned to me. "How's that possible?"
I didn't respond.
My focus was on something else. The scar itself.
Something remained, shifting beneath my skin.
A black blot.
Twisting. Crawling.
Alive.
Each movement sent a ripple of unease through my body, as if the thing beneath my flesh tested the limits of its prison.
The blot pulsed faintly.
In rhythm with my heartbeat.
"Zandren?" Eimira called out.
No response.
My heart began to race.
The black pulse quickened with it.
Faster.
Faster.
"Cira what's happening?" Feona asked.
"I-I don't know. I think his adrenaline's worn off." Cira replied.
The rhythm broke.
The blot stopped. Pain spread through my body like ice.
My strength drained away.
My eyes closed.
"I wondered how he managed to stay that long without passing out at first." Ryona folded her arms. "I guess he's just like us then."
"Not quiet." Chichi said. "His wound was fully healed, and that could only mean one thing…"
Tabbi exhaled. "Self heal…"
"Isn't that one of the rare abilities?" Cira asked.
"Yeah, it is." Tabbi answered. "But, there are still some who have the ability."
"And I think Zandren is one of them." Feona added,turning to Eimira.
"Is he alright though?" Eimira asked Cira.
"Y-Yeah, he's fine. He lost a lot of blood, and self healed maybe. It takes a lot of energy." She replied. "He'll be fine with a bit of rest."
Eimira gently laid Zandren down. "Let's take him to the room, continue our discussion there. People are starting to come out."
"Ok, Ei." Feona stepped forward. "Hey, Ryona, come help me out."
"What, why?"
"This dude's heavy."
"So? Chichi is stronger than me." Ryona replied.
"Yeah, I know. She's strong enough to hurt him if she grips too tightly."
Ryona rolled her eyes. "Fine."
****
It was dark.
No sound.
Then a voice.
A woman's voice.
Soft. Familiar.
I began walking without knowing where my feet were taking me.
She was singing.
A lullaby.
One I had never heard.
Somehow… I knew it.
"My head is a mess." I whispered before breaking down.
I sobbed.
"Why is this song making me feel this way?"
The song continued.
The words drifted through the darkness.
"The light and dark in love,
But they never met,
One shone with longing,
The other yearned in silence....
They chased one another,
But forever they fell apart,
They wanted each other so bad,
But fate kept them apart...
Then one day, they flee..
To live the life they dreamt
Good times, Good times,
It never lasts…
Bad times, Bad times,
Seems to last a lifetime.
In the moonlit forest,
The streams lead you to me
The light shall guard you
Please
Come back to me"
I walked closer to the source of the song, and a bright light shone ahead.
I moved aside the branches blocking my way, pushing through the dense bushes.
The light got brighter.
I got through.
The woman the voice belonged to.
Her entire body glowed with a bright golden light.
She continued singing.
I walked closer, wiping my tears.
She stopped then turned.
She stood, as if shocked to see me. She also had no face, so I couldn't tell what she looked like.
The woman stepped forward.
As she did the world began to fade.
She got closer, spreading her arms wide.
I couldn't move.
I tried to tell her to stop.
But no words came.
"####, vael na'theri?"
"What?"
She stretched her hands.
"Please… don't." I sobbed, trying to move away but couldn't.
The musical faded.
The world faded.
She faded.
****
My eyes opened slowly.
The ceiling above me swayed in and out of focus.
Then everything went dark again.
Soft.
Warm darkness.
It took me a moment to realize why.
I was lying on my back.
My head rested on Eimira's lap.
Her cloak covered my face like a blanket. Her head laid back on the seat, chin tilted upwards, eyes closed.
She slept peacefully.
The gentle rhythms of the carriage wheels echoed around us.
We were moving.
"Why are we going though?" I whispered. "And why am I on Eimira's lap?"
"You enjoy blacking out a lot, don't you?" Feona said.
She sat across from where I was.
Chichi and Tabbi slept against her shoulders.
"S-Sorry…" I said quietly. "I had done nothing but cause trouble for the group."
"It's alright," She replied.
Silence. The wheel noises filled the carriage again.
"I couldn't help but notice tears rolling down your face as you slept." Feona took a deep breath, then asked softly. "If I may ask, why?"
I shifted slightly but stopped. Moving might wake Eimira.
I turned my face away. "I-I don't think I wanna talk about it."
She leaned forward. "But, what was that?"
"What?"
"I heard the increase in your heartbeat before you passed out." She paused. "But there was something else…"
My eyes narrowed. "How could you tell?"
She chuckled, slightly. "Just like your ability to self heal. I have one that makes me more capable of hearing better than others."
She moved her hair aside, flicking her ear.
The carriage went silent.
"Zandren," Feona folded her arms. "I don't know what that is, and I would also love to trust that you mean no harm to either us or Eimira."
"I would never." I replied quickly.
Feona smiled. "Good. I'm rooting for you both, hehe."
Knock!
A knock came from the coachman's seat.
Ryona's voice followed.
"Hey, Feona…" She poked her head through the little window. "Wake up everyone. We're almost at the palace."
Her eyes landed on me.
"Oh look.." She laughed. "The sleeping prince is awake, I'm glad you're fine though. Thought you died from blood loss."
"Haha, thanks for the concern." I replied.
"Don't mention it." She grinned, waving her hand playfully.
Chichi yawned. "You also had the best pillow in all of Terraka."
I chuckled. "Not gonna say I didn't."
"I'm glad you're fine." Eimira said.
I turned to face her.
Our eyes met.
"Did you sleep well?" I asked.
"N-Not sure…"
We stared at each other.
"If you two are going to kiss," Chichi smirked. "Just do it already. No need to be shy."
Ryona laughed. "Yeah, we are all adults here." "They should just stop staring at each other like that." Feona groaned. "It's a bit oppressive."
Tabbi leaned toward Feona.
"What about that crafty carpenter from Sylphaeris,hmm?"
Feona's face flushed instantly.
"W-what are you talking about?" She asked, avoiding eye contact with Tabbi.
Tabbi rubbed her chin thoughtfully.
"Daerier, was it?" She giggled. "Does he still write you letters?"
"How do you even know his name?" Feona asked.
"So, she's not lying." Ryona said.
Laughter filled the carriage.
"So, Feona has a man. Wow." Chichi laughed.
The three went back and forth, teasing Feona.
In the middle of the chaos, Eimira placed a hand on my forehead.
Her fingers moved gently through my hair.
"You've gotten your colour back. And your fever is down." She whispered.
"Hmm, thanks for always caring for me." I whispered back.
She blushed. "Let's talk later."
I nodded slightly. "Okay."
****
The carriage slowed, wheels grinding softly over polished stone as sunlight spilled through the windows in blinding streaks.
And then I saw it.
The Royal Palace of Terraka.
It rose like a monument to power.
White marble towers stretched toward the sky, each crowned with sapphire ornaments that scattered sunlights across the courtyard.
At the centre stood a massive golden dome that shone like a second sun.
Massive walls of pale stone surrounded the keep, etched with veins of lapis lazuli that traced ancient runes along the battlements. Guard towers crowned each corner.
Their banners snapping in the wind, deep blue silk and the Terraka emblem burned across them.
A flaming spear in before a golden shield.
"Wow," I said, astonished.
"Why so surprised?" Chichi asked. "You were here during the night of Elruka."
"Yeah, but during that time it was at night and you know…" I turned to her. "The whole attack thing"
She nodded. "Hmm, Fair point."
***
We approached the gates on foot.
No carriages were allowed inside anymore after the attack.
No one, except Vanguards and Knights, were allowed in also.
The palace gates stood thirty feet tall.
Ebony wood. Silver filigree.
Carvings of kings, queens, and battle history covered the surface.
Rows of armoured guards lined the path as we entered.
Inside, the palace grounds stretched endlessly.
Crystal fountains. Surrounded by the silver-leaf trees, named by how they secrete a silver fluid when cut.
White stone path branching in every direction.
At the centre stood the door to the throne hall. Gleamed with gold, silver and other rare crystals.
Two massive lines of halberd-bearing knights stood watch.
Beyond them waited the King of Terraka.
And answers.
Maybe.
The knights raised their halberds, then struck the ground with the base.
Stones groaned.
The massive doors opened slowly.
Inside the throne hall stood the vanguard captains.
All kneeling.
Their elite members behind them. In Eimira's case that's Feona, Ryona, Chichi and Tabbi.
We walked in.
The chamber glowed with towering statues carved from Bezelet crystals.
Colored light scattered across the marvel floor.
Then a voice thundered through the hall.
Deep.
Commanding.
"Eimira… you're late.