“Thanks for helping me with the stairs,” I say, sitting down.

“No problem,” Axel says after ordering his drink. “Have more good dreams last night Rai? You look much healthier each time you wake up. If you slept more, I honestly think you’d have been all better by now. There’s still time. If you sleep the rest of the day off you’ll be healed by tomorrow.”

“If it all it took was sleep to heal someone then we wouldn’t still be here.” I place my order and lean back in the booth. “How was Sio doing the last time you saw him?”

“Right, you were out for another walk yesterday,” Axel sighs, “He’s not doing much better. The infection hasn’t spread so that’s good if that’s what you’re asking.”

At least there’s a silver lining… Dammit. If only I were by myself, I’d catch up to him in no time. I’ve broken a second taboo already. Was it really the wisest choice to pull out the sword rather than let it take over?

No… I have no way of knowing how long it would have taken control of me for. It’s possible that if I did let that happen, Axel and the rest wouldn’t have run into me. They would have run into the demon. They would have all died.

“Heads up. Our orders are here.”

“Oh.” I stare down at the bowl of fresh soup.

“Not hungry?” Axel asks, glancing over at my soup. “If you’re not up to the task, I’ll help you out you know? What are friends for if not to help finish some soup?” He reaches over and scoops up a spoonful.

“Did I make the right choice?” I end up asking aloud.

Axel slurps up the soup, “Hmm? it’s pretty good. I’d say it was worth the money. Probably should have ordered one myself…” Axel watches me for my reaction. “I’m sure you made the right choice Rai.”

I nod. “The soup is pretty good.”

Istruan, Kat, and Emile file down the stairs. They greet us as we finish our food and drinks, choosing to take seats near us. Kat orders a fruity drink and pushes back her messy hair. She rests her head in her hand and stares at the table with glazed eyes.

Emile orders something as well but his lips thin as he does so. Istruan is the only one without a request. He sits back quietly, eyes downcast and hands in his lap as the other two await the delivery of their food. With his heel planted on the ground, he moves his foot back and forth, something for the body to during a time of idleness.

“He’s not getting any better,” Emile finally says. “I know we were all hoping for it but his condition won’t improve anytime soon if we don’t get him some better medicine. If only we found that net earlier. We could have started treatment right away or prevented this altogether.”

“No use in moping around,” Istruan stands, “Rainen. As soon as you’re done with your meal, meet me outside. I want to talk about our plans.”

I nod. Suddenly, my soup starts to look more and more appetizing. Like a tongue-scorching food item dropping to edible temperatures. I gently blow on it once or twice before wolfing it down and head outside to speak with Istruan. As soon as I’m out of the door, he pulls me to the side.

“Rainen, as it is, we’ll have to wait for a couple more days at the least until Sio is able to walk again.”

“A couple more days…”

It’s not a decision I want to make. If I weigh our current situation there’s really no rush but I can never tell when it will rear again. It’s strange the more I think about it. I’ve released part of the seal but it hasn’t made much noise since then. I can’t understand how these things think. I won’t ever give in to them. I’ll never let it take over completely again.

“Is that not possible? If so, then the apothecary the village elder told us about should be a day away. We might be able to carry Sio there, although, I was hoping we could have him rest."

“No, that’s what we should do. It’s what we will do. There’s no rush. Our health comes first. If one of us is injured, then we have to do what’s best for that person. We bet on his injuries healing but they haven't yet. Taking him out of bed will only make it worse. The medicine we have now isn't so bad."

Istruan smiles, “I know that you’re eager to leave but thank you. Since uhh… he’s in our party, we’ll be the ones watching over him so there’s no need for you to worry. Fia is taking care of him right now. I’ll ask Iris if she can look at his wounds again when she wakes up.”

Istruan and I return to the inn. Aisha greets me by my seat and, although I’m better than before, insists I get back to bed and rest. I calmly tell her no, calling on Axel as a witness of my improving health. Although I continue to protest she doesn’t ease up. It eventually ends with an agreement, she stops pestering me about going back to bed if I don’t leave the inn without someone with me in the case I collapse because of my wounds.

The hours pass without much incident. The village is quiet without the constant fear of Vormar hanging around now. Villagers, especially the market vendors, are especially thankful. They offer us goods at discounted prices and happily tell us about life before the increase in monster activity. Apparently, due to this village’s close location to the river along with the forest they had a lot of visitors who weren’t just adventurers.

Listening to gossip around the village, I catch wind of something that makes me stop in my tracks. Two boys around my age enjoy a casual chat while watching their siblings play in the snow. The words recruitment and soldiers pop up in their conversation. I jump in on their little talk and ask them a few questions.

“What’s this about a recruitment?”

“Oh, officers from the army are supposedly coming here tomorrow to look for volunteers for the army. They say it’s because the army is spread thin right now trying to protect all the major cities and surrounding towns and villages from monster attacks that they’re looking for new people. We’re going to join, right?”

“Yeah, we are! There’ll be no more of this little village life. My dad won’t say nothin’ neither if I tell’em I’m enlisting. Hell, it might be the only time I hear a good word out of his mouth about me. And,” he glances at Aisha. “It’ll be a good way for us to get girls.”

“Good luck with that.” I manage to spit out, grabbing Aisha by the hand and leading her away. The one boy stands and follows us. His friend looks confused by his actions. Aisha gives me an incredulous look.

“Hey, you there. Whas your name?” It’s clear he’s asking Aisha.

“Rainen.”

“Not you, I meant your girly friend.”

Annoying. “Her name is none of your business. We’re busy so good day to you.”

“Hold on now. I just wanna get her name. Not every day you see a beauty with red hair. I can understand when a woman is taken. She’s all yours. Just be happy to know, you know?” He responds.

“I’d love to but we really do need to go.”

“Now you-”

“Wait. I think they’re the ones, the adventurers who killed Vormar. Look closely, he’s got some gauze on his hands.”

“That doesn’t mean a goddamned thing.”

“But what other outsiders would come around here during this monster epidemic? Anyway, it’s not good to pick fights with outsiders. You never know how crazy they could be,” his friend says. He apologizes to me as soon as he realizes I can hear him.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

With some persuasion from his friend, he backs down. He looks at me in a state of fear and awe. Fear in the sense that he may have offended me with his rude attitude and awe because of our successful takedown of Vormar. He doesn’t try to stop us when we leave. He doesn’t even utter a word.

Once we arrive back at the inn I explain the news to the others. While I’m very bothered, the others’ reactions are much tamer. Axel barely bats an eye at the news, instead choosing to listen carefully. Iris and Elis are the same. Istruan and his crew hold frowns, obviously understanding the issue but unsure of what to do.

“We’ll just have to stay inside tomorrow then,” Istruan says. “It’s unlikely they’ll check inside of inns for soldiers. There’s a chance they’ll run across people who can’t and most likely won’t work for the empire as a soldier.”

Iris throws in her two cents, “Right. It’s recruitment, not conscription. What’s most likely to happen is an announcement in the middle of town and those who want to join will go. We’ll be alright if we stay inside and ignore what they say out there. And if this did somehow turn into a conscription, it’s highly unlikely they’ll target adventurers since there are many who aren’t part of the empire like Ellar.”

“We have Sio to take care of too, remember?” Fia says, leaning back in her seat and rubbing her eyes. She recently came back from watching over him for the past couple of hours. She and Emile switched right before Aisha and I returned. “Don’t be so eager.”

“Right.” Everyone is right. I shouldn’t be getting so worked up about this. Maybe I am eager to leave. But that’s not thinking about the group. I didn’t kill Vormar because it was in my best interest, it was in the group’s. “I was overreacting. Tomorrow… maybe I’ll just rest a bit and clear my head.”

“I think that’s also for the best,” Aisha says, squeezing my hand. “You’ve been a little more restless haven’t you?”

“A little bit. I’ll take your advice from this morning seriously and get more rest. Promise.”

Aisha smiles. “Good.”

“With that cleared, we should still watch out for any guards or soldiers who get too close and keep a close eye on them when they come here tomorrow. They shouldn’t know our identities well so I can have Emile out in the village.”

“I’ll be with him too,” Axel says. “Always better to be with a buddy.”

I nod, leaving the inn for another breath. Outside, evening draws nearer as the sky’s blue is gradually edged out by the orange light of the sun. I sit down on a nearby bench and take the little flower out of my pocket and hold it out for the setting sun. Normally this would be the only time it gets any sunlight. So, as a futile attempt to perhaps strengthen the supposed effects of the flower, I let it soak up the last light of the day, the flower’s namesake, twilight. I close my eyes for a moment also taking in the remnants of the day. The flower seems to almost shimmer in my hands.

Too many things have been getting to me lately. There are so many things I never expected. Things I weren’t prepared for. Four years of traveling and training with two other people and I can hardly handle a bigger group.

“How did things end up this way?”

“End up what way?”

My ears strain.

“Don’t see you for a few years and you’re a mess. How long have you been traveling together with them? A few days? Weeks? Months? Don’t get so down, it’s only been a little bit. Everyone needs some time to get used to things, right?”

I turn to the voice. My eyes widen. “B-but-”

“But what?” Another, sterner voice, comes from behind. “It’s good to see you again. I heard about the chaos in Aurora City. Carlyle told me that you left. I knew you’d go after my trail right away. And if you’re wondering, of course I would know where you’d be headed. A good master knows his students and I’m the best there is. Isn’t that right Sander?”

“It certainly is,” Sander responds.

“Uh huh.” I exaggeratedly nod. “Like how you were so knowledgeable about what was going to happen to me two years ago.”

“Wow. Throwing some harsh things on me right when I show up to help? Didn’t that incident make you more humble or anything?” My master rests his elbow on my shoulder. “Aren’t you happy to see us, though?”

“I…”

“Am.” Sander finishes. “We’ll, even if you’re not happy to see us, I’m sure you’d like our help wouldn’t you?”

“Yeah, I would. Honestly, I thought this would be harder. I thought it would take longer. I never expected to be the one found. I also never expected you to be with master, Sander. Where were you all this time?”

“Obviously training so I could catch up to you. You’re not the strongest guy around but we’re still rivals and apprentices under the same master. Also, before you get mad that I didn’t tell you I was leaving, I did at least say sorry.”

My ears ring at his words, “You did.”

“Oh. Since it’s been a while, did your magic get any stronger? I heard you went to go train at a fancy school.”

“More like abandoned there.” I glare at my master.

“I had business to attend to.” He shrugs. “At least I’m back now and ready to help. That demon inside of you, I figured out a way to exorcise it without many repercussions. A dream come true for you eh?”

“I would have beaten it back eventually,” I retort. “And you, Sander, better watch out. My magic isn’t the same joke it used to be.” Though, it’s not anything near good.

“Bet you still can’t even singe a single hair on my head.”

“Oh you’re on,” I say with a smile.

It’s been a long time since I felt so relaxed. So many things happened all at once, almost none of them good. Now this, finding my master and Sander...  what a blessing. I should tell the others after I finish catching up.

---------------------------------------

My eyes burst open. I look around in a frenzy.

“H-hey.”

My attention goes to the soft voice.

“I’m s-sorry if I woke you from a good dream.”

“Woke me up?”

I was sleeping? How long was I out for? I look to the sky for the answer. It’s dark, lit only by the strong light of the moon. The people living in the village have retreated to their homes for the night. The flower still rests in my hand.

“Y-You were gone for awhile s-so I came to get you. Your sister insisted so…  And Axel says you h-haven’t been getting much sleep lately…” Blue Hair’s eyes wander off “I wasn’t sure if I should haven woken you or not but I did anyway… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, is that so? Thanks, I guess. Hey, did you happen to see anyone else when you came to wake me up?”

She shakes her head, “No? I-I think it was just you.”

So it was just a dream after all. I knew it was too easy. I close my hand around the flower. “You should head back inside before you get too cold.”

“A-are you not coming?” Blue Hair looks panicked. “I-I don’t know if your sister would want you to be out here any longer… It’s been at least an hour.”

“Right. You’re right. Let’s head back inside before she comes out here herself.”

Blue Hair nods and walks back to the inn. I stare up at the moon and bring out the flower. The white petals seem to change color the longer I look at them but they don’t shimmer. I pocket the flower and go after Blue Hair.

I guess that was also in my head.