Leondre had nightmares before, but none so vivid as the one now. He was traveling with Lannus and Cendric at night, to the Ruman ruins near Crestwood. His friend, Lannus, had panicked and ran in the tower they were to wait at. Of course, he chased after him and caught up. Not before a horned abomination got the drop on them and cracked Lannus's face in like an egg.
He ran up a staircase and ended up in a chamber. Leondre wasn't alone, however, there was a prisoner behind a door to another room, trapped within the confines of a transparent wall. Inside, was a snow-white maiden of indescribable beauty. Just staring into her exotic, golden eyes, made him forget the horrors he witnessed minutes ago. Leondre had thought his father's story came true, here within the ancient tower, was a damsel in distress.
And so he freed her, without a second thought. One which nearly cost him his life. Humans didn't have canines as elongated and sharp as hers were. They usually had strength equal to their size and build, and yet she, about a foot shorter, overpowered him instantly. The last thing he remembered as the room fell apart was a kiss, scarlet eyes, and darkness.
Nevra-Dumahn-Gorsa.
Leondre opened his eyes, gradually coming back to senses until he was able to see his surroundings clearly now.
White sheets rested over him, and a pillow was firmly tucked behind his head. He laid on a marble slab, in what looked like a prayer room, lit by soft candlelight. His mouth was extremely dry, lips were cracked, and felt himself delirious, soaked with sweat. There was a cup beside him atop a table, feebly, he tried to sit up and get his bearings. But immediately, several points of pain lanced through him. He flopped back to the soft pillow cushion, lolling to the side, as acid rose in the back of his throat, thankfully someone had placed a bucket next to the marble slab.
Wiping his mouth, he stared blankly at the ceiling above. It was real, the nightmare. The abomination, the girl, Lannus, all of it. His life at the academy seemed like a distant memory, compared to what he saw, the constant isolation and loneliness were much preferable. He had only spent three days in Crestwood, and yet, it changed the foundations of his world entirely. Monsters existed, not only in the confines of a book. The night seemed a lot scarier, and adventuring wasn't appealing as it once had been.
Leondre heard footsteps outside, and the door opened, Cendric walked in, pulling a stool beside him. "The good Sister said you took a couple of blows to the head," He prodded the bucket below, "Now, what the hell happened?"
"Cendric I..." Leondre choked. What was he supposed to say? He failed and did not follow the plan. Released a supernatural predator disguised as a girl into the world? That Lannus was dead, killed by some horned monster lurking in the tower, with no idea how he even survived. Tears threatened to well up, but Leondre would not allow them to fall. He needed to be strong for Lannus and those he swore an oath to protect. Not weak, and disgrace himself by crying, especially in front of the man next to him.
Cendric signed as he leaned back, pinching his forehead. "Stop holding back and cry already. Men twice your age have done the same, it's human. There is no shame."
"No, you're wrong." Leondre faced away from him before the tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down his face. He wept for his friend, whose blood stained him in ways water could not wash off. He cried because, no matter how hard he tried, the abomination never seemed to disappear in his head. He wanted the memories erased, for everything to return as it once was. So that this guilt he felt from; releasing the girl, being happy to stay alive. And the helplessness, succumbing to fear, and inability to protect against forces beyond his understanding.
All just...went away.
"I–I, have no right!"
He was shaking now, with long, heart-wrenching sobs. The sound bounced throughout the room, echoing into the hallways. If anyone heard his wailing, they prayed for the Holy Daughters' mercy and went on their way. But Cendric remained with him the entire time, chin propped on a fist, sitting quietly.
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Leondre woke up again, Cendric had left, and someone was gently tapping him. An elderly woman in white, gold-threaded robes, and steely grey hair, stood over him. She was a priestess, the same one that had greeted him and Cedric before.
"Child, you must wake." Despite the stern tone, her concern was genuine. She helped Leondre rise up the bed, holding his back, and pushed a cup to his lips. "Drink." She need not say more, Leondre acutely became aware of his parched throat, and greedily started sipping the water. The cool liquid trickled down in a stream, revitalizing the desert that was his throat. Leondre teared up a bit, the water tasted like a divine drink of the gods.
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The priestess removed the cup and grabbed a wood bowl atop the table near him. She stirred its contents with a spoon, before scooping a lump of oatmeal and raising it to his lips. She stared at Leondre expectantly, who refused to open his mouth. He wanted to protest being fed this way, like a newborn, but his stomach made it clear he would not refuse. Grudgingly, he parted the entrance and let the food in. The oatmeal was mushy and sweet, but also warm. His stomach roared in approval and growled for more, which he gladly obliged.
Eventually, she put the bowl on the side and left the room. She returned with an attendant carrying a small straw basket. Leondre watched them curiously as the attendant reached into the basket and pulled out a roll of linen and a couple of murky glass bottles. "Forgive me, Priestess, but what is your name?" He asked, eyeing the murky paste she began smearing on the linen rolls.
"I believe it is time I corrected you, child. Priestess I am, address me by my official title, Mother Elisa. The young lady helping me today is Sister Audi. We are devout followers of Mithra, but serve the All-Mother as all do in the end." She said, checking the bottles one by one before selecting one and passing the rest to the attendant. "Lie still child. I need to take a look at your wounds and remove the bandages, while Sister Audi applies burn salve."
"Maybe I can–um, do this myself," Leondre said, trying to sit upright. After a moment of exerting, his body gave out. It was futile, there was no chance he was going to remove one bandage that required the least amount of effort. Not with how drained he felt. Mother Elisa pursed her lips, 'Boys will be boys'. She moved over and briskly pulled the sheets covering him down. As she did so, he glanced down to see that he was naked to his undergarment, a plethora of bandages covered his shoulders, torso, and hand.
He turned pink and instinctively dove to cover himself, but Mother Elisa gently stopped him and shook her head. "If it helps, close your eyes. Rest assured, anything we see today will stay in the confines of this room. Sister Audi and I have done this more times than we can remember."
What happened next was neither pleasant nor comfortable, to say the least. The priestess worked efficiently as she changed his dressings, checking his wounds, while Sister Audi applied generous amounts of the salve, mostly behind his neck and upper back. It was all done quickly for Leondre's benefit, to have the whole procedure over as soon as possible.
The salve had cooled the itchiness and stinging he felt on his back and neck. By far the worst pain came from his hand, it was red and slightly swollen, painfully throbbing in areas where the glass shards had been. The priestess had also explained the healing ritual took a lot of energy to mend most of his injuries, which was why he felt so weak.
"Child, you were at the brink of death, had we healed all of your wounds; the process would have drained what little life you had left. Let this be a lesson of caution to you, for next time the Holy Daughter may not be so merciful."
"I will, thank you, both of you." Since he could not crouch down onto the floor, Leondre bowed his head instead. They didn't have to save him or provide a shelter he could recover in. This little show of gratitude would suffice. He owed them a debt and planned to repay them in full someday. "Please, if there is anything I can do, what you have done-"
"It is unnecessary." Mother Elisa got up and turned to leave with her attendant. The exit was held open for them as they left, Cendric went in shortly after, closing the door behind him.
"She's right you know, apart from being thankful, and maybe some respect. You owe her or anyone else in this shrine nothing." Now that they were alone, Cendric spoke freely.
"How can you say that? Cendric, they saved my life." Leondre leaned on the wall with his arms crossed. He was happy to see Cendric again, but his casual remark ruined any chances of a warm reunion.
"No, I brought you here on your damned horse, he nearly killed me by the way. And used all my coin and some of your own to pay for their services."
Leondre realized his mistake. He didn't know what happened after losing consciousness, but Cendric must have found him somehow and rescued him. [How could I be so ignorant, he fought off those thieves then realized something was wrong and came back for us. Had he not, we would not be having this conversation.] "I'm sorry Cendric, I-I didn't know." He cast his head down, unwilling to meet the man's eye.
"Mithra, stop apologizing, this isn't the point. The Mother was paid, and did the job she was supposed to do. It wasn't a charity or an act of kindness. I even paid for the accommodations."
"I understand that, but still." A look from Cendric shut him up, 'Not the time' is what it conveyed. Reluctantly, he backed down.
Cendric nodded his thanks. "I didn't come here to argue, the healers say it'll take a day or two to get back on your feet. In the meanwhile, both of us have some explaining to do.
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