"How long can you hold up, Liam?"
Edith looked at the captain speak to the man laying flat on the ground. His arms were spread to the side weakly and the light in his eyes only turned more dim by each passing moment.
The onslaught of the beasts last night hadn't been without aftermaths. Even through his unwavering resolve and grit, people had been injured and one was in the brink of death.
Edith felt pangs of grief grip his heart as he looked at the dying man.
He turned to loon at his surroundings. There were guards consoling each other. Some with teary eyes, bowing their heads while some holding up the emotions that begged to be let free.
Silence enveloped the forest like a shroud. The chirping of the brids was the only sign of the lively morning that had dawned upon the group.
Edith heard the man speaks. His voice shaking yet filled with confidence and hope.
"Don't worry captain. I'll survive. I have a family tool feed after all. I can't just die, can I?"
"But..."
A hesitation appeared in his voice. He struggled to bring forth the words he couldn't help but speak.
"But if something happens to me. Take care of Emilia and Sasha for me."
The captain's gaze turned dim. A frown appearing on his face. He said in a deep voice, "Yes, we'll do that."
He turned his gaze and instructed another guard to take care of Liam. The man was grievously wounded but there was still some hope to save him.
Edith saw everyone disperse. Their footsteps echoing in is sharp ears. The painful groans of Laim, though, did not escape his attention.
He saw Helix come to him, wrapping his arm around himself.
"Let's check up on Ren. She might wake up soon," said the boy in a dejected tone.
"Yeah, let's go."
Edith said, slowly retreating his gaze from Liam.
***
Edith arrived near the tent his sister had been resting in. A muddy color with signs of dust over it. There was short grass surrounding the place and yellow earth right in front of the entrance.
Tall trees towered around the tent. Their fern like leave though, failing to hide the bright sky.
Edith breathed in fresh air, his senses sharpening and his mind clearing as a consequence.
"Lemme go in alone."
Edith said to Helix. He wasn't sure what to do, so he just wanted to be alone.
He walked to the tent. His steps sliding over the coarse land beneath his feet. Soon he reached the tent.
Hesitating for a moment, he raised his arm to push aside the door veil. There he saw his sister still sleeping. Next to her, Selena had fallen asleep as well.
The green eyed girl with round glasses had clear signs of darkness underneath her eyes.
She seemed to have stayed awake the night, looking after Ren.
Edith clenched his teeth at how selflessly the girl would care for the pair.
Scroll!
He felt relieved to find his sister well and fine. A anger, though, still surged inside of himself. Directed at his own self. Selena had been exhausted. Fainted even.
'From today onwards not only Ren, I will protect Selena as well. She has done so much for us two. It is only natural that I repay her.'
A new resolve emerged in his heart. And a flame lit in his eyes.
Edith struggled a bit before he raised his voice to wake the sleeping ladies.
"Ren, wake up! Are you gonna sleep through the day?"
"Selena, wake up! We're almost to the city. You need to do finish your preparations. Quick, wake up!"
He saw Ren stretch her arms as she opened her eyes. A surprise flashed in them though, when she saw Selena next to her.
"You had been muttering in your sleep. She came in case you had a nightmare."
Edith gave her an explanation, hoping the girl would forget about last night.
He saw his sister sit up quickly and turn to kiss at the still sleeping Selena.
The green haired girl was startled awake but calmed down immediately upon seeing the silver haired anger next to her.
She said, "Ren did you have a nightmare yesterday?"
"Ehhhh. Was I really sleeptalking? Even brother mentioned such a thing!"
Edith saw the green haired girl glance at him. He gave here a subtle nod as the girl understood the sign.
She replied, "Yup Ren, are you alright now?"
"Mhm! Yes sis Selena, I'm fine now. I saw so many animals come to our camp and then I- I saw someone covered in red come to me. I was so scared that I screamed."
"Aww my poor little Ren. You must have been scared, right? Come here, let big sis give you a hug?"
Selena said as she sat up, enveloping the little girl in a soft embrace.
"Freshen up you two, we leave after having some food."
Edith said before leaving the tent. A smile was decorating his face now and his eyes hid joy. He approached Helix and said, "Everything's fine now. She's okay. No need to worry!"
"I'm really thankful to Selena."
"Yeah, she's a good girl. She has a little brother so she knows how to deal with little children. Everyone in the village loves her. Children especially like to play with her."
Helix said as the two walked to the fireplace.
Edith was a bit surprised to know this side of his fellow traveller.
He asked his friend, "Why is she going to the city though? Wasn't her father worried that something might happen to her?"
Helix was left pausing for a moment as he realised that his friend hadn't been with them for long.
He said, "She's going there to study. There's an academy in the city teaching not only fighting but other things as well. Art, science, music you name it. It isn't too expensive either. The Royal Family and many nobles fund it so the admission isn't too costly either. You just need to have a decent income and you can pretty much study there. In fact, I too am going to the city to enroll in the academy.
Edith turned silent, taking in all the information and being reminded of...Horus and Carla.
'They wanted to study too, huh.'