Stifling the pain was crucial for anyone but as part of the militia, he also needed to remember his duty. Protecting the village and its people -- even if they were criminals or had hurt him -- was paramount. If he couldn't do that then Theokritos was a failure just as his parents deemed years ago. He touched the headwrap, feeling the dampness of his own blood; a quick check confirmed his bleeding wasn't too bad despite the searing, mind-splitting pain throbbing along the wound. Diaras' attention was mixed between the two but finally, his partner met his gaze and Theokritos tapped his pinky and thumb together to affirm him that he was fine.
"Euria needs medical attention and fast. I'll worry about my wound after. Help me get her up." Theokritos pulled away entirely from the support of the nearby wall and took Euria by one of her arms. Diaras secured the other and the pair hoisted the coughing, spluttering ex-adventurer. Thankfully her impoverished state meant that the once-strong woman was no doubt far lighter; they didn't need a stretcher even with Theokritos wounded to walk her out of the home. Theokritos recovered his spear before both took up position on either side of her, using their weapons as balancing poles and support to strengthen their stances. Euria smelled of smoke, sweat and dirt with every breath roiling across the pair's faces as she realized they were taking her away.
"Please... please kill me... kuh-kuh.... please..."
Theokritos felt terrible knowing she was suffering but neither of them was going to kill her. The walk back didn't offer much for either to get a word in that broke through her mania. Euria's mind was in a dark place but she was strong and could be brought back. Even if she was alone, she always had Burolo to have her back. Theokritos wasn't interested in whether or not she turned her life around but he wanted to give her the chance. It was more than either of his parents had truly cared to give him since his dynasty title was all but worthless without others of its parents' dynasties around to confirm its legitimacy.
Many minutes of scuffling their way into the village later, Theokritos' vision had cleared up only to be blinded with blood dripping through the soaked bandage. Diaras spared a look but didn't seem too worried -- it was likely that the material of the torn hood had just been poor at absorption, letting excess drip and slide down his face. Yet the familiar faces of the villagers seeing them made him wonder if it was worse than he thought. Many ceased their work to watch the trio and many women seemed horrified with him. Euria's ceaseless yelling had at least stopped before they entered the village properly but this wasn't exactly how they showed Burolo was safe. All everyone was seeing was a wounded militiaman dragging someone along who had one of the worst coughs many would hear in their life.
"Up ahead is the healer's hut." Diaras pointed to one of the few buildings that had been rush-repaired with planks, looking to Theokritos. "Hold her and I'll run up ahead to get help."
Theokritos stayed silent and nodded, pulling Euria tightly to his side while Diaras rushed ahead and through the doorway. Theokritos couldn't do anything beyond hold still and wait. Every time Euria coughed he could feel it wrack her body, his arm wreathing around her back and pulling her closer. When he thought about it, it was actually the first time he had ever been close to a woman aside from his mother. Comparing the two felt strange to do but it was hard to help himself; Euria may have smelled worse and wasn't particularly well-endowed for a woman but even in her wiry state she had hand-filling hips and a beautiful face. Face-to-face like they were, he could see small scratches blemishing it but considering the wear and tear of an adventurer it hadn't left any scar that wasn't apparent from a few inches away.
Euria coughed harder and turned her head, nearly brushing the tips of their noses against each other as she looked him in the eye. "Why... are you staring?"
Like a deer caught in the light of a hunter's torch, Theokritos stared into her green gaze as he fumbled for an answer. "Sorry, I just didn't expect to be the one saving you."
Whether it was her mania returning or she had embraced a sense of humor, her lips twisted into a smile. "Oh how fates can be cruel, saved by Theokritos the Fool."
"I outgrew that nickname when we started having to take academy lessons." Theokritos turned his attention toward the hut, seeing Diaras and a pair of women emerge before he chuckled. "But I guess I am the fool since you hurt me and I still saved you. I'll never learn, will I?"
Euria's face contorted with confusion, reaching out with her free hand and taking his chin between her fingers. She wrestled his head to face her, looking at the bandage as if realizing for the first time he was hurt. The smile on her face disappeared entirely, exchanged for a distraught frown. Diaras and the two women arrived, ferrying Euria from Theokritos and leaving him to watch her. One of the women looked at Theokritos and seemed ready to ask if he was fine, forcing him to raise a hand dismissively. Watching the women head inside while Diaras circled around and grabbed his shoulder, Theokritos felt a lot better about helping Euria now. Some of her fire still burned inside of her.
"They're going to be a while tending to her." Diaras squeezed his hand reassuringly. "But they said it should be treatable if she's able to hurt someone in her current state. Are you feeling okay? Not too woozy?"
Theokritos nodded, hugging his spear to his chest. He wiped the back of his hand along his blood-obscured eye, marginally cleaning it. "I'll be alright once I can see. I didn't expect the blunt end of a spear to hurt so much."
Diaras laughed and let go, trailing just behind Theokritos as they made their way to the hut. "I wouldn't have expected my partner to be scrawny but all we get these days is surprises. Even the edge or the right angle from a club can break the skin. We're just lucky you didn't pass out. You don't feel sleepy do you?"
If it wasn't for the fact he felt like his head might explode, Theokritos probably wouldn't mind a nap but telling Diaras might ruin his good mood. Both of the two had helped someone on their first true patrol out of training. If there were good and bad days then even with his wound this would be a good day. Plopping down and resting his back against the wall, Theokritos relaxed and waited. He could hear Euria's coughing amidst Diaras' prattling, turning his discussion from their work to more enthusiasm for his marriage. Perhaps once his wound healed, Theokritos would have to pursue a relationship of his own. There were many women in the village who were either widows or bachelorettes in need of someone with a solid job. Even Euria was part of that pool of potential wives for those better-off seeking an ex-adventurer's strengths to improve their family line.
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The healer and their aides took their sweet time tending to Euria. It was nearly an hour before one of the aides came outside to help the half-conscious Martell to his feet. Diaras stuck around long enough to help the women ferry him into a bed before departing. Their job had been to investigate Euria and now he was going to report their situation -- as well as Euria's apprehension -- but had assured Theokritos that he would withhold what happened in the scuffle. Asserting Euria's guilt immediately wouldn't help her nor them.
Unfortunately for Theokritos, his bed had been placed beside Euria's bed so he had little rest while the healer stitched his numbed wound. Villages like his barely had enough herbs in good conditions so they had to use half the recommended application of numbing ointment. Theokritos could feel each pinch of the needle and when they tugged the stitch tight it forced him to dig his nails into the bedding he rested on.
Healer Manda carefully pulled the last stitch into place, gently pressing a swab of dried cotton to the wound before wreathing a new bandage around his head. Manda had been fortunate enough that her husband and son weren't killed in the raid despite having participated in the fighting. With both of them wounded as they were -- her husband losing his leg and her son riding out an infection that had already claimed some fingers -- she wasn't beyond a bad mood. It soured modest expression and meant her hand was a bit heavier during her treatments. Yet the woman had always done right by everyone and had already handled the arranged treatments for countless villagers. Her hut was filled with bedding and mats from wall-to-wall yet she kept focused and diligently assigned work to her apprentices. It was likely that in a few years, Manda would be able to retire her craft and float out the remainder of her family's years on goodwill alone.
"You're lucky you weren't stuck much harder." Manda jerked the bandage tight, watching Theokritos with disappointment. "If you had gone into a coma, we wouldn't have been able to keep you alive."
"Comas are for nobles, not militiamen." Theokritos slowly sat himself up, pressing his hand tentatively to the headwrap. The cotton felt itchy but it was the only way to comfortably staunch the bleeding without impeding his sight with a thick bandage. "Thank you regardless, Healer Manda. I'll try to be careful in the future. How is Euria?"
Manda remained silent but gestured to the woman. Two of the aides were holding Euria still while a third chanted in the murmuring tongue of spellcasting. A scroll had been placed on her chest and its emblem burned bright white, smoke and soot coming out every few coughs and struggling cries Euria made. Treating smoke damage as she'd endured was something the empire could do but only through the use of magic. Even with painkillers, it was perhaps one of the most excruciating experiences to endure magical healing even when using scrolls -- the bodies of humans were simply never built to have magic course through them. Humans had always drawn on magic from their surroundings because unlike elves or magical beings they lacked the ability to channel it within themselves. Each mage called a human's internal supply an "emergency supply" because using it hurt them severely.
Euria was having magic pushed into her and then having a spell cast within her body. It was akin to getting both ends of a double-edged sword.
"I'm glad she's at least going to survive. This won't break someone as strong as Euria." Theokritos grimaced, watching Euria thrash in agony. Manda nodded but turned her attention to helping Theokritos stand. She clasped his shoulders and forced him to face her.
"Theokritos, when she recovers she will need someone to watch over her. You and Diaras meant well but how will she elude more harm without friends?"
Theokritos felt his face grow hot with embarrassment. "I get it, I'll watch her. But calling us friends would be a bit much." The healer's seriousness made him waver beneath the scrutiny, eventually forcing him to sigh.
"I understand."
She left Theokritos in his resigned defeat, turning her attention to the many others in need of help. Theokritos recovered his spear from the side of the door on his way out, knowing that she was right. Saving Euria meant that Theokritos had to take responsibility to keep her out of trouble. For now, he planned to go and report everything to the Captain and Elder. Euria's state would be enough to keep them from doing anything rash -- perhaps even view her treatment as a fitting punishment -- so there wasn't any need to delay inevitably filling them in.
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One month later, Theokritos started his day with a bit more pep to his step. Diaras wasn't in the lower bunk bed anymore; his family held the wedding two days ago and now he was soundly in his own small home on the outskirts of the village. All the bragging about his woman had been a bit more restrained after that first night together; Diaras actually seemed a bit afraid of heading back at the end of their patrol yesterday. Apparently, she was a bit harder to wrangle than he had hoped. Theokritos didn't blame him but actually felt that their relationship might be good for the village if his charm was somehow handed down to children with stronger wills and senses of duty.
Theokritos gently slipped the bandage off and looked at his reflection in the barracks mirror, touching the sensitive hook-like scar. Manda had assured him he didn't need to wear the bandage after the first week but it kept him at ease. Initially, the skin had been soft and seemed ready to tear at the slightest ill-placed touch; now it was starting to thicken and turn dark, almost like he had been branded. Diaras was right about it doing a lot for making him look tougher.
Two quick knocks on the barrack door reminded Theokritos that he had places to be. Today both he and Diaras were on light duty so they didn't need to patrol as partners; it was the closest to having a day off that the militia was allowed given the state of the village. Rather than carrying his spear and dressing in armor, Theokritos was only required to wear his duty tunic and carry a knife. That way if someone needed assistance from the militia they only had to look for his outfit. Theokritos left his hood down, turning and making his way to the door. When he pushed it open, he smiled and nodded his head in greetings at Euria.
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"Good morning Euria. I didn't expect you to come and wake me for a change."
The blonde woman blushed, crossed her arms and scowled to try and intimidate him but failed. "Yes, well, it would be uncouth for you to be seen constantly approaching my house wouldn't it? If you'd come for the fifth day in a row, I'm sure the missus the next field over would have been nagging me."
Theokritos wouldn't have believed it if anyone told him that Euria would be on friendly terms with him one day. It had taken an entire day before the healing was done but two days more before Euria was able to move. Captain Theben had agreed that the punishment was enough after Theokritos ensured him that he was okay; when he insisted that she be put under watch, the other members had defaulted the role to him.
Considering Diaras wanted to spend time with his fiancee and now-wife, it had been a blessing for everyone. Theokritos helped finish burying her family, cleaned up Euria's home and took care of her for nearly a week before she pulled herself together. There were a few gloomy days -- particularly the first when she saw the graves -- but the old Euria the village had known. With his salary, he was able to get some of the other men to help wash out her home, mend some damage and get her off her feet.
Euria's new tunic was a bold red, signifying herself as the village's most prominent warrior. Theben was the only one who had nearly as much combat experience and being part of the militia kept him from such honors. She'd been given a sword to play the part and so far the other villagers were all increasingly more confident. Theokritos had sparred with her last week and hadn't lasted more than a minute before she'd dropped him with one solid sheathed strike.
"Since I'm on light duty today, I figured we could relax at the square." Theokritos stepped out and shut the door behind him. "Unless you have other ideas?"
Euria's face darkened a deeper shade of red. "I do. We're going to my place."
Theokritos questioningly raised a brow but Euria turned her head away in refusal to give any further replies. It didn't make much sense to him why she was inviting him over if her neighbors were questioning their relationship but the outskirts meant he was likely to not have too much work. With how well things have been going, it wasn't likely that there'd be any real trouble either if he left the heart of the village. Theokritos waved his hand for her to lead, taking up a nice spot at her right side as they walked.
She turned her head and whispered as they walked, letting her blush fade. "You have been practicing, haven't you? Like I showed you?"
Theokritos nodded, tapping the hilt of his dagger. "Yeah, though the captain said to avoid using swordsmanship with a short blade. Real swords like yours aren't going to be available anytime soon though, so-"
"He's right, you know." She interrupted, raising a finger and pressing it against the bottom of his chin. Theokritos was the one who reddened this time, particularly as they passed a group of civilians. "I was referring to your stance training. Copying my swordplay is flattering but the only thing you should try to pick-up is a proper fighting stance. Wielding a spear or dagger is completely different compared to a sword but all of them share a lot of the same footwork."
"W-Well, I guess you have a point so I'll think about it," Theokritos grumbled. He waited for her finger to fall before turning his attention toward the road and their walk.
Neither of them felt used to their familiarity but it was hard to ignore the things that they'd done together in the last month. Theokritos knew well that her home had originally been for a family far larger than his but now was nothing more than a smaller abode that Euria lived in alone. Even after her probationary assignment had ended last week, they still had been actively talking and working together. Diaras had complained vehemently when she went on patrol with them earlier in the week because she scared everyone into running the instant they saw her. Despite his well-intent, it was precisely why Euria was a good person to have at their side. If it was doable, Theokritos would have insisted Euria join the militia. Theben and Ronias had been staunchly against it given her crimes, despite giving her the status of the village's elite warrior. Maybe they were worried the adventurous side of her would show its head and she'd run off again.
If they knew what had happened to the others, they wouldn't be so worried.
Euria took the lead and rushed out ahead, following a dividend walkway between her fields that led to her centralized home. All of her family's graves had been given stone markers, the largest of their towers carved with their names. Theokritos slowed down so he could watch her kneel before all of them, closing her eyes tight in prayer. It had been Euria's religious beliefs that brought her back to Burolo and precisely why Theokritos knew she wouldn't leave. All of the others who had left the village with her perished and had been cremated; Euria brought their ashes back out of duty to their families and the village. And now that her family was buried here, it was unlikely she would ever dream of leaving again.
Theokritos approached her flank, helping her up once she finished. The distant face of her prying neighbor watching the pair made Theokritos frown, quickly forcing him to release Euria's hand and arm. The warrior's mood soured instantly, turning and getting in Theokritos' face.
"What's the big idea of letting go of me so suddenly? I might have fallen!"
Theokritos frowned and raised his hands, crossing his fingers with one and showing her the palm of the other. "I didn't mean to insult you or anything! It's just you complained about your neighbor and they're watching us!"
Euria hunched a brow and turned to check. The nosy neighbor quickly shut their shutters but not fast enough to not make Euria groan.
"Well, there's no helping it. I guess if people are going to say we're together, then we might as well be together."
Theokritos laughed and let his hands fall. "Really? I guess you-"
He paused as her words sank in, letting his jaw drop while Euria spun around to face him. The blonde radiated confidence and took his hands, leaning in and looking up at him with those same green eyes. Theokritos could see every little mark and she could no doubt see his, yet he was so average in comparison that he shied away. Euria pulled his hands to her hips refusing to let him think, slipping his fingers along her belt until they sat in the space between it and her back just above her pert derriere.
"Come on... you can't be that daft, can you? These few weeks alone I've spent so much time with you and you haven't any interest yourself?" She released him yet Theokritos' fear kept his hands where they were, allowing her to guide his head with both of her hands against his face. "I gave you that scar yet you still helped me. I'd still be homeless and on my way to death if not already meeting the abyss without your help."
"I-I get that but me?" Theokritos' question didn't make her waver, his bafflement only growing by the instant. "Y-You're an adventurer who could have anyone! We always fought and argued before you came back. We've cleaned things, I've helped you and I do think we're friends but-"
Euria silenced him with a hasty peck on the lips to steal his first kiss. Theokritos instinctively slid his fingers further through her tunic's belt, brushing his fingers down her covered butt as he wrestled with the growing tension. The ex-adventurer smiled and waited like a huntress who'd baited her prey flawlessly. When Theokritos really thought about it, who was there that was better than Euria for him? As children, they had been rivals but their true difference was his lack of skill letting him become great. Both grew up with the same ambitions but his physical and magical limitations had kept him from amounting to what she dreamed of.
Yet his normality gave her the stability she now desired; ending her adventuring without the skills of surviving, work and labor he had would only hinder any chance of her getting to have a life outside of all the hassle. Their relationship had been progressing to this point rapidly because their knowledge of one another's dislikes meant they also knew what the other liked. An entire week of helping build her home had educated Theokritos on just how many similarities they had in a simple lifestyle. Euria was the perfect woman for him and now -- kissing and goading him on -- she wanted him.
"Well?" She asked, sliding her hands down his face, neck and settling on his tunic. "If we're friends... why not lovers? Why not... more?"
Theokritos lunged forward and kissed her, taking a firm hold of her ass and lifting her up into his arms. Euria hooked her arms under his and grabbed his shoulders, closing her eyes and returning his affection as he stumbled their way toward the door. The pair thunked against it and Theokritos almost tried kicking it in until Euria pressed into the kiss and turned them around. Both of their dancing tongues didn't stop her from creatively grabbing the door and opening it, pushing him and guiding him through it. Euria had experience lovemaking and had clearly planned all of this out. The cleaned out and whitewashed interior of her house had its furniture moved to the sides to create a path to her bed. Theokritos broke the kiss long enough to look back, slipping his hands out from her belt and giving her a quick look.
"I've not done this before, s-so what do I... do?"
Euria smiled, letting him go and stepping back before taking his cheek in her right hand. "Since you're on light duty, lift your tunic and pull down your shorts. You need to go in a hurry if someone needs help, don't you?"
"G-Good idea." Theokritos stepped back and fumbled with his belt, cursing and turning his attention fully onto it. It took two tries but he eventually slid the belt loose and let it clunk to the floor, reaching beneath it and squirming his shorts down. As far as his manhood was concerned, Theokritos had never imagined himself being too particularly well-endowed. Once he was ready, he turned his attention upward in time for Euria's tunic to hit him in the face. Theokritos stumbled and tripped, landing on the bed and cursing as he wrestled with the garb. Euria's hands grabbed it and pulled, tossing it away and shoving him onto his back. She was leaned over him and laid bare, letting him devour her looks and almost growing excited from it. Euria's toned body had been filling back out with their meals, her small chest heaving while her nipples grew harder with excitement. She'd taken some time to trim her body hair, too; Euria climbed over him, guiding his hands to her smooth armpits before brushing her fuzzy pubic mound atop his shaft's head.
"I can have anyone you said; so now that I've chosen you, you have a responsibility, don't you?" Euria set one of her palms on his chest and let the other drift downward, grabbing his shaft in the crook of three fingers. "I think Diaras mentioned you had a dynasty of your own; how about we see if we can make an heir or two?”
Sex came easier in dire straights from an innate desire to leave others behind but Euria’s forwardness left Theokritos rigid in more ways than one. Having someone like her lusting after and touching him had never been in his wildest dreams. Her smell was intoxicating but the blood rushing to his prick was leaving him hard-tacked for words.
“Euria, you look so beautiful. I don’t know where I'm supposed to touch you.” Theokritos slid his right hand around and over her meager mammary, nervously brushing his fingers around the sides of her nipple.
“Nnngh,” Euria moaned. She pushed into his palm, slipping her hips side-to-side to continue teasing the top of his eager cock. ”More of that, for starters. Touch me and I’ll touch you... we’ll work and strive to learn one another’s bodies.”
Their lips and tongues messily mashed together, allowing Euria to straddle higher up his body. Warm, slick lips pressed against his dick to testify her pleasure. Theokritos’ other hand finally tracked around and down, squeezing her firm behind. It was growing hard to not lose himself in the sensory rush of her body but Theokritos wasn’t going to yield too easily. She had experience and he needed to make it as great for her as it was for him. Their bodies seemed to melt into one, grinding his member against her pussy only to have her fingers edge its angle off-center. Euria wasn’t letting him penetrate; she was demanding his tongue and hand-play while using her hot box as a reward. Theokritos moaned into their kiss but earned one back with a gentle pinch. His shaft’s alignment was deviating less with every sweet cry and slipping its tip with more friction every pass.
Until at last, Euria’s pleasure addled her enough for Theokritos to plunge deep inside. Her nails dug into his chest even though the tunic before she broke their lip-lock, both ecstatically moaning. The penetration wasn’t deep but Euria was tight, twisting her hips to get him deeper into her eager cunt. She was soaked with excitement and it hadn’t hit Theokritos until now that she had only shed her tunic getting ready. Had it mattered that they came back here? Would she have pounced, confessed and thrown her skirt up even if he had been forced to stay in town? Her lewd preparation enticed Theokritos further to grab her ass and push her deeper.
“Fuck!” Euria exclaimed. “We're not even halfway in!”
His woman looked over her shoulder with an annoyed scowl before abruptly sitting up. It forced Theokritos to grab her hip but let him see her full body as she rode him. Euria released his dick and grabbed his shoulder, panting as she pressed back into him. The last few inches warranted their unanimous teeth-grinding but at last, his sack was flush to her and they were fully linked. No more hesitation came from Euria after that; she bucked her hips hard with a little rise, riding him deep and seeming to be learning his shape with every vaginal squeeze.
“Damn you’re so hard Theokritos... fuck me... you’re only a virgin but you’re making me feel good!”
Theokritos squeezes her breast and tightened his hold on her hip, grunting as he fought his body’s desire to cum. “E-Euria, if we keep going... I’ll cum and you... gruh... w-will get pregnant!”
Euria didn’t reply but she didn’t seem against it. As far as they were concerned the house could get expanded easily on his pay with how cheap labor was in the state of repair Burolo was in. To her, getting pregnant almost seemed the plan with how she was wringing his member. Theokritos had no choice than to hope destiny was on his side. Getting Euria pregnant and not marrying her would not only shame but wrong her. Even if they didn’t have a child, he could take more time to know her. This was his first experience with love and it was being thrust upon him; Theokritos could only let his heart — and seed — determine his fate now.