Popping a cork off a potion, Kaen drank it, letting the injuries that were overwhelming him go away in the silent yell that always came.

We should consider that we have done enough and go.

Kaen glanced at the field. The sun was up, and there were countless corpses in piles surrounding him. The creature he had just killed was nothing he had ever heard of before, and as he drew closer to the castle, two more stood near the gate, chained and appearing ready to come at him.

What are these things? They disappear from my sight and then appear so close… if it wasn’t for your vision, I would have no idea where they were.

They are nothing we have ever seen, and the fact that one almost tore your arm off should give you caution to continue to press this attack. We have dealt a major blow, and we need to go.

Am I being an eggling if I say I want to stay and fight and push to the King of the orcs?

He sliced down two more ogres that rushed at him, both tier two but no match for his power and speed.

I mean, I did hit forty with my sword in that fight. Should I try my bow against them?

We need to go. We may be at our limits. If Stioks hasn’t pushed against these… LOOK OUT!

Pammon’s cry rattled his head, but Kaen saw the massive cloud of green coming at him and started to run as fast as he could away from the cloud that rolled across the sky.

I’m not sure I can outrun this…

Panic began to flood their connection as Pammon swooped down where Kaen was.

Running through his mind was the memory of a spell resembling the one Stioks had cast the day they first fought.

I’m coming. Keep running!

Pammon was swooping down, corkscrewing as he tried to get to Kaen as quickly as possible.

Glancing over his shoulder as he ran, Kaen saw the cloud sweeping over the orcs and goblins, watching them drop and start to choke, none standing back up after having fallen down.

Pammon was too far away, and he knew it. He had been foolish, allowing his anger to cloud his thinking, and now he was about to possibly be killed because of it.

I’m almost there!

Speeding past the horde that ran away, having seen death approaching, Kaen realized just what kind of magic he wasn’t aware of.

Pammon was so close, but the cloud was almost upon him, stretching across the ground like a cloud.

Hold your breath and run!

Filling his lungs once more, Kaen felt the cloud wash over him, and his skin immediately began to itch and hurt. His eyes watered, and everything inside him wanted him to scream in pain, sending out the breath that he held so dearly in his lungs.

Jump!

Knowing what Pammon wanted, Kaen leaped into the air, driving with all his power as he felt the talons gently grasp him before they swept into the air.

Trails of the magic swirled around him as Pammon flew higher, his wings sending out the green gas that seemed to kill so many without concern for who it was.

Almost out of it! Hold it!

Only now did Kaen realize how high the cloud had risen- it was well over a quarter mile high.

His chest heaved as his body wanted him to start retching. He wanted to scratch at his face. Mucus was dripping from his nose and eyes.

It was hard to see as his vision started to go white.

Breathe!

His lungs rattled and shook as he pushed out the air inside him and quickly gulped down more breaths. Each breath burnt. Even though they were out of the cloud, it was as if somehow the magic had penetrated him.

[ Disease Resistance Skill Acquired ]

[ Disease Resistance Skill Increased x10 ]

The pain and feeling he felt began to subside for a moment, but it was still there, crawling along his skin.

Talk to me! Kaen!

Blinking back the tears and mucus, Kaen used his hands to wipe away his eyes.

It took a few times, blinking and trying to look around, for Kaen to realize what was wrong.

I can’t see…

Pammon roared, his voice thundering across the land as he flew to the west.

At all?!

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Concern and worry hit Kaen harder than any weapon ever had. He felt the fear inside Pammon.

I cannot see from my eyes. I can see from yours, though. I… I’m sorry, Pammon… I didn’t –

No! Do not give up. Be ready. Use my eyes. I’m going to send you up into the air, and you will get on your saddle. We will fly home. Someone there can help you.

Had Kaen not been able to feel the doubt in Pammon’s voice, he might have believed this was possible. Right now, all he could think of was how his stupidity had possibly crippled him for life.

Pammon ignored Kaen’s plea, pushing himself to his limit and keeping his Flight Burst skill activated for as long as possible.

Had he seen the speed at which the cloud passed beneath them, Kaen would have understood what concern and worry can allow one to do.

Pammon's fear dripped off him every second they were in the air. No matter how much he tried to convince Kaen that everything would be ok, underneath it all was the lingering doubt.

Over this time, Kaen gained seven more points of disease resistance.

In less than a full day, Pammon reached the border of the Ebonmount and aimed for the cave with Amaranth.

I need you!

What is wrong?

Kaen is injured, and I need you to try to heal him. It may be like what Elies had.

When Pammon spoke those words as he flew toward the cave entrance, Amaranth was up, moving from both eggs and darting toward the open space.

Hurry. Every second counts!

Kaen groaned as he lay on the ground. He had got off Pammon, who immediately left, flying to find Ava.

You are a fool. I know Pammon is worried, but I am not sure I can heal this.

Nodding, Kaen lay still, feeling the magical power of Amaranth flowing through him.

What is different? Was it too late?

There is dark magic in this. I have only seen magic once, but it was not this evil. It has a taint to it.

Had Kaen been able to see, he would have noticed the look of concern that Amaranth’s eyes had, her eyelids almost closed as she concentrated on trying to heal the rider of the dragon she cared for.

How many of their own did they kill with this?

If I had to guess between them and my actions, at least two-thirds of their army is now gone. Once the cloud came over me, I couldn’t see how much further it spread. All I know is that they considered me worth that cost.

Of course, they did, scoffed Amaranth. You are worth more than their entire army. If you died, Pammon would have raged, and Glynnis and I would have left with our eggs, leaving you and the others to deal with everything that came after.

You would abandon the kingdom?

A grumble came from Amaranth, and Kaen could sense the frustration from her.

What do I have here without Pammon? He is my mate. You are his rider. Together, you both give Glynnis and me a reason to stay. Without you two, no reason exists for us here. Staying would only put our eggs at risk, and we all know that giving those to Stioks is not a wise decision.

Kaen started to move when he felt a talon push against his chest.

Lie still and stop talking. It is hard enough to see if I can do anything without the distractions of conversing, and it is harder when you move.

Kaen lay still, sighing, doing his best to hope for something he realized might never happen.

“Kaen!”

Ava’s voice carried across the stone walls and floors as he heard Pammon’s talons slide across the floor.

The sound of footsteps approaching him told Kaen there was more than just Ava there.

I brought Ava and her father. I need to rest, but I won’t leave. Is there any change?

No… Amaranth isn’t–

Do not worry. No matter what happens, I will be here.

“What did you do?” Ava asked, her hand touching his side as she knelt beside him.

Letting his lifestone burn, Kaen looked through Pammon’s eyes and saw Ava leaning over him. He could see tears falling from her face. Next to her was her father, carrying a bag over his shoulder and getting ready to kneel next to him.

“I tried to end the fight… I…”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Kaen felt the weight of what his choice had caused. A blind dragon rider and a pregnant wife. A kingdom that needed him, and now, once word got out, they would be even more vulnerable.

“Tell me what it was,” Lord Hurem said as he began to open his bag. “Ava told me Pammon said it was a could of green. What other effects did you have?”

Watching himself from Pammon’s perspective felt weird. He saw his father-in-law pulling out a book and lying it on the floor beside him. Kaen could hear the sound of it, see it, and feel overwhelmed by it all.

“My skin itched like I wanted to scrape it off of me. My eyes burned, and mucus ran from them and my nose. Everything felt on fire, I guess. The orcs and goblins I saw who breathed it didn’t make it more than a few steps before they fell to the ground.”

The older man nodded, flipping through the book after he handed Ava a small notepad and pen. She took it, and Kaen saw her writing on it.

“Do you feel the effects of it still?”

Shaking his head, Kaen reached up with his hand and tapped his chest. “I gained Disease Resistance. I’m currently at a level seventeen.”

A smile broke through his concern as Lord Hurem and Ava looked at each other in shock at that revelation.

“A seventeen… well, that explains why it no longer seems to be bothering you, but still…” the older man trailed off as he flipped through a few more pages. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a jar of something yellow.

“This might sting, but are you okay with me trying something?”

Holding back a snappy reply, Kaen nodded. He felt the man opening up his eyelids, watching it through Pammon.

This is very weird… seeing what you see and feeling it.

Be quiet and focus. I’m tired and would close my eyes if you weren’t using them.

Surprised by the short, snappy reply, Kaen could feel Pammon's exhaustion. He had pushed himself to make sure they got to Ebonmount safely.

Lord Hurem filled a dropper with some of the yellow liquid inside the jar and moved it over Kaen’s open eye. Dropping a few drops in, Kaen tried to not react as pain erupted through his eyes, burning all the way to the center of his head.

“Holy mother of goblin humpin'! That shite burns!”

“It’s good that it does,” replied his father-in-law as he put the remaining liquid back in the jar and closed it. “If it didn’t, we would be in trouble.”

“Does that mean–”

Her father cut Ava off as he held up his hand and gave a sharp shake of his head. “For now, I will put a poultice on his eyes and wrap them up. We need to get with the adventurers guild and see what they might have to help with this. For now, Kaen, you need to rest. Judging from how Pammon jerked while flying, you can stay here.”

I’m going to close my eyes. I need to sleep.

Not waiting for a reply, Kaen felt the world go black.

Fear gripped him at that moment when he realized that he was blind without Pammon.

A hand squeezed his shoulder, and Kaen felt a pair of lips against his forehead.

“It’s ok, my love. I’m here. Rest.”