Once upon a time, the hospital was packed with wounded in the war on a daily basis. It was the largest medical centre in the capitol where patients from every surrounding district would be brought to when their respective healers were overwhelmed. The Citadel had its own medical wing, which was were the Guard would be treated so they wouldn’t affect the civilian treatment.
As High-Princess of the Realm, Emelia Knight had the opportunity to visit the hospital to see the patients. Visits from the royal family was said to lift the spirits of the wounded. Her father used to make it an annual occurrence, bringing his daughter and wife with him. Her mother was a saint and would volunteer here until the day she died. Since the war broke out, Emma hadn’t gotten to visit the hospital since. So once her dad lifted the restrictions now the war was over, she made sure to show her face and continue the tradition. The staff welcomed her with open arms. She was glad to be able to bring a smile to the patients.
She walked through the halls, guided by the head administrator, showing her how much had changed since their last royal visit. She wore a regal robe with her white gold diadem on her head, the metal glistening under the lights in the ceiling. She wore elegant clothes under her robe, with her wand holstered on her thigh and her dagger sheathed on her belt behind her back. Her mother’s ring was wore proudly on her finger, humming with power passed on to her. She was escorted by a pair of Royal Guard, hand-picked by Brunhilde, who strode behind the princess obediently. She didn’t think she needed the escort, but it was part of the tradition. And despite the peace forged between the Guard and the Death-Hunters, there were still some individuals who resented the peace. The captain worries attempts on her life may still be out there.
Emma chose to put the threat to her safety out of her mind and focused on following the administrator as he led her from one ward to the next. The Guards would wait by the doors while she circled the room, smiling and talking with the patients, recalling how her mother would cheer them up if they were down. Many of the mages were glad to see her, gratified to have a visit from the royal family. Some even asked about her father, and she’d tell them he’ll visit soon. She left each ward feeling like she could do more. “Seeing a member of your family has done more than you can imagine” one of the doctors assured her. “It might not seem like it, but it gives them hope.”
“Will they recover?” she asked.
“Most of them, yes. The war has taken its toll on many. Our long term treatment rooms are still overcrowded. But we’ve been able to secure transport for many back to their home provinces now.”
“So they’ll get to return home” she smiled.
She paused by a corridor leading to a segregated wing. She furrowed her brow when she failed to sense any auras from these wards. “Our mortal wing” the administrator explained.
“I didn’t realise the mortals had their own ward” she said, walking forward to explore.
The hospital staff followed her. “Some of our patients prefer not to share a room with the…erm…” the administrator faltered, searching for the words.
She read between the lines and scoffed. “Mages don’t want to associate with mortals?”
“Or vice versa” the doctor replied gently, nodding to some of the private rooms. “We do have shared wards for if the space is needed, but sometimes they request to have their open rooms. We have mortal healers to tend to their care, and mages are permitted to tend to the extreme cases.”
“Do mortal healers also look after mages” she enquired.
She shrugged. “It’s not common. Very few mortals are given the opportunity to study medicine.” She turned to the Princess curiously. “Forgive me, my princess, but why the fascination with mortals?”
She cast an eye to Brunhilde, smiling. “I’ve recently had the pleasure of being in the company of mortals. I’ve learnt a lot about what they might be capable of. Shall we visit them?”
“Of course” she smiled, leading the way.
“I’m not sure that’s wise” the administrator said cautiously.
“They are servants of this realm like the rest. I won’t exclude them” Emma told him. She caught sight of Brunhilde’s smirk behind her as the man bowed his head.
She stepped into the ward and was introduced to the mortals. She smiled when they turned to greet her. But unlike the other wards, this time she sensed an air of tension as she witnessed many avert their eyes. She tilted her head and looked at the staff. “Few mortals get a chance to lay eyes on the royal family” the doctor told her. “You shouldn’t be surprised if they come off a little shy.” She nodded, circling the room slowly.
She scanned the patients one by one, most of which avoided her gaze. She said hello to a few. Some even replied back. But the further she walked, the more she realised it wasn’t just shyness that was forcing them to look away. She saw glimpses in their faces, which confused her as she walked by. She passed by one young man and reached out to him, but he pulled away and curled under the sheets. She backed off, glancing at the others before returning to her escort. “They’re afraid of me” she whispered.
“I’m sure it’s nothing personal. Like I said, it’s rare for a mortal to meet a royal” the doctor replied. “Mortals are easily intimidated.”
“Not in my experience” Brunhilde muttered.
Emma heard her, sharing a look. The captain straighten up, quietly apologising. They moved on, continuing the tour of the hospital. “Why would the mortals be afraid of me” she asked her captain quietly.
“Perhaps it’s not you they are afraid of” Brunhilde suggested quietly.
She narrowed her eyes. “You mean my father? Or mages in general?”
She glanced at the staff leading the way before lowering her voice. “The administrator was being kind when they told you mortals and mages would share medical wards. The truth is, mortals have never been permitted to go outside the designated wing of this building.”
Emma blinked in surprise. “I never realised.”
“It’s not discussed. It’s simply how it’s always been. The royal family never used to visit this wing before either.”
“We didn’t?” she found that hard to believe. She searched through their memory and recalled her family would walk all over this hospital. But she was little then. She may not have realised they were skipping a whole wing of the hospital.
An hour later they completed their tour and was leaving the hospital into the streets. Brunhilde secured their ride back to the Citadel, which towered over the city imposingly. “This was a productive visit, High-Princess” Brunhilde said as she helped her into the carriage.
“You think so? It feels like all I did was walk around and smile” she sighed as she took a seat.
Brunhilde stood by the door, smiling at the young woman. “Your visit made a lot of patients happy today. After three years of fighting, it was good to do something mundane and ordinary again.”
“You tell me you weren’t bored out of your mind too?” she asked. The captain chuckled, quickly composing herself when one of her soldiers walked by. Emma smirked, acting all regal until they were alone again. “I am glad I came” she admitted. “If only so I can explore outside the Citadel for a while.”
“So we can expect more audacious excursions from you in the future. Your father won’t be happy about that” she said.
Emma sat back scoffing. “I’m not a kid anymore. If I want to go out and explore the Realm, who’s going to stop me?”
Brunhilde grinned. She didn’t say it, but she was proud to see the High-Princess all grown up. She stepped back asking if they were ready to set off before climbing up next to the driver.
Emma waited until they were moving before letting her thoughts drift to matters she had put aside. She thought about the meeting she had overheard yesterday and the story she heard. She leant forward and knocked on the wood of the carriage. Brunhilde slid a curtain by the driver’s seat aside to address her. “I want to pay a visit to the medical wing in the citadel” she said. “I wish to see the Spell-Caster who returned from the Unknown Region.”
Brunhilde sighed. She had anticipated such a request. “Your father has decreed the survivor should have no visitors” she warned. Emma stared at the captain intently, so she grumbled and nodded her head.
***
They approached the medical wing at a more casual pace. The captain was more assured of the High-Princess’s safety here, so she dismissed her guards and continued alone. They arrived to hear a commotion as someone was trying to talk his way past a stubborn soldier. Emma followed the increasingly frustrated voices until she came upon a young Spell-Caster the same age as her pacing in front of the private room. His blue robes dragged behind him as he walked back and forth, his black hair falling over his hooded eyes. “David?” she called out, recognising him on sight.
David spun around, surprised to see his best friend jogging up to meet him. “Emma? What are you doing here?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing” she said, pulling him into a hug. “How have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t been around lately.”
“That’s fine. Ramous has been keeping me busy” he shrugged. He nodded respectfully to the captain before glaring at the solider in front of him. “I came to see a patient, but this Guard won’t let me in.”
“I’m under orders. No visitors” he growled. He caught his tone when he saw the High-Princess, bowing his head.
“Is this the room where the Spell-Caster is being treated?” Emma asked. The soldier nodded. She turned to David. “Do you know him?”
“His name is Holus. We shared some classes and studied together before we became apprentices” he replied. “He was a friend. Matrious knew his mentor, so we collaborated quite a bit. When I heard what happened…I want to see him.”
She nodded, squeezing his hand. She turned back to the soldier. “Let us pass. I wish to see the patient.”
The guard hesitated, glancing at the captain of the royal guard. “The High-King expressly ordered no-one was to see the patient without his permission” he said.
Emma stood her ground, nervous about pulling rank. Brunhilde stepped in on her behalf, speaking quietly to the soldier. “Surely the High-King’s daughter can be allowed special privilege. It would save any awkwardness should she need to make her request a decree” she added ominously.
The guard considered it for a moment before nodding. He stepped aside, bowing his head. “Thank you” Emma replied in gratitude, nodding David on first. She followed him inside, thanking Brunhilde too. The captain nodded, following her into the private room.
The room was small, clean, and perfectly comfortable for the Spell-Caster sitting up on the bed. His eyes lit up when he saw David walking in. the young man rushed forward to examine him. “I heard what happened to your mentor. I’m so sorry” he said.
“Thank you” Holus replied, his cheeks streaked with tears. “I guess that’s another thing we both have in common now” he muttered.
David sighed. He too had lost his mentor. “It’ll get easier” he promised.
“She was a good mentor. She was kind and smart. She didn’t deserve what happened.” His eyes darted behind David and he gasped when he saw Emma waiting patiently by the bed. “High-Princess” he yelped, wiping his face and straightening up.
“At ease” she said quickly, not wanting him to exert himself on ceremony. She stepped forward to join her best friend. “How are you feeling?” she asked
He let out an exhausted breath. “Tired. I haven’t been able to sleep” he confessed.
“Have the healers given you anything?” David asked, looking for his medical notes.
“They told me my injuries are superficial. They gave me a potion to help sleep, but I keep having dreams” he said.
“The dreams will linger, for a while” Emma told him. He looked at her curiously and she lowered her head. “I know what it’s like to see people you care about die” she explained.
He sighed, forgetting himself. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
“Is it okay if I ask you about what happened?” she inquired gently. She felt Brunhilde’s gaze on her, so she looked back and silently dismissed her. She stepped outside to wait, leaving the young people alone. "Only if you’re up to it” she said.
He took a drink of water from the bedside table, composing himself. “I’ll try. But I already explained everything to the High-King, and the General, and the Elders when they came to question me. Sorry, former Elders” he corrected.
“Karen and Ramous were here?” David asked.
“They were. Ramous was kind. I heard you’re his apprentice now” he remarked, looking at his old friend. “Can’t say I’m not jealous.”
“He’s not an Elder anymore” David shrugged.
“He’s advising my father” Emma noted with a proud smirk.
“Still, you must’ve impressed him to get the position” Holus said with envy.
“Well, Balthazar might have a vacancy open” David joked.
Emma watched the pair of them. It was strange. David never spoke of Holus. She always thought she was his only friend. She was glad to see he had someone of his own kind to talk to. She didn’t interrupt the banter until the pleasantries seemed to be over. “So this mission into the Unknown Region…what can you tell us about it?”
Holus shrugged. “Not much. We were sent out to look for something. Special assignment for the High-King, we were told. When we got out there, my mentor was instructed to track these coordinates on a parchment. We got there and started tracking a path through the wasteland. Why would the High-King want to expand the Realm to somewhere so barren?”
“It wasn’t always barren” David explained. “There was a civilisation there once. First ruled by mages. Then by mortals.”
“Is that why the mortals keep attacking out jump points?” he asked.
Emma narrowed her eyes. “Jump points?”
David bristled. “I’ve been helping the Elders map out the Unknown Region the best we can, using data from other trips to build up a network of jump points so we can teleport past the Storm-Line.”
“That’s how we got over there” Holus nodded. “But while we were establishing a position, we tracked activity to another jump point that had been disconnected. The apparatus had been destroyed.”
“Could the mutations have done that?” Emma asked.
Holus shook his head. “My mentor was sure it was deliberate.”
“There’s been murmuring about our network being sabotaged” David noted, looking at Emma. “The Elders are worried the Mortals are dismantling our network to prevent us from crossing over.”
Emma inhaled hollowly. To prevent an invasion. That’s what they called her dad’s plan to liberate the Unknown Region. An invasion. She brought the conversation back to the topic. “What happened when your crew was attacked?”
He hesitated, drawing a deep breath, his lower lip shaking. “I know it sounds crazy, but it was the Bedrock Phantasm” he repeated. “Or at least…something like it.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t just mortals? We can’t sense them and they know how to fight mages” David asked.
“I’m positive” he insisted, getting agitated. “It was one man. I saw him. His hands were on fire and he subdued everyone and killed my mentor.” He shook his head fighting back tears. “I keep replaying that moment whether I want to or not. Trust me, I remember everything. It was not a mortal, it was not a monster and it was not a Death-Hunter. It was a mage, a sorcerer, who I couldn’t sense.”
Emma felt an uneasy knot in her gut as she gently pressed him, making sure her suspicion was correct. “Has anyone who spoke to you asked what the mage looked like?”
“Of course” he yelled. Then he dialled back the volume and apologised. “Nobody believes me. They either think I’m lying or I’m crazy.”
“Please” she said, reaching over to squeeze his hand. “Tell me what he looked like.”
He met her gaze, glancing to David who sat beside him supportively. “You can trust us” he said.
Holus swallowed and closed his eyes reluctantly. “It was dark. He had a hood covering his face. I think he had black hair. I saw one of his eyes. It was white…no, grey. Grey like the clouds that hung in the sky. He was dressed in black. Clothes I’ve never seen before. There were no robes. There was something on his back…a weapon. A sword, maybe.”
Emma’s heart quickened as she listened to this description, which made the knot in her gut clench. “What about his hand?” she asked.
“What?”
“His right hand” she said gesturing to her palm. “Was there a scar on it?”
“I don’t know. They were engulfed in fire. I couldn’t…wait” he said, his eyes opening, staring ahead as he replayed the memory. “There was a moment, after he threw the fireball at the metal object that made the screeching sound. There was a mark on his hand. It glowed for a moment just before he turned around.” His eyes widened. “I didn’t see that before. I never told the Elders about that.” He turned back to the High-Princess in amazement. “How did you know?”
She had already turned away, her heart beating against her ribcage. The knot in her gut clenched and she began to hyperventilate. He’s alive!
David appeared next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “You knew” he whispered.
“I overheard everything when he spoke to my dad” she explained. “I suspected. They all suspected. I needed to be sure.”
He lowered his gaze thoughtfully, chewing his bottom lip. “Is that a good thing? It means you didn’t kill anyone. But he attacked us and threatened the High-King.”
“David?” Holus called, watching the pair of them whisper to each other. They two of them turned back to see the young man staring at them. “You believe me, don’t you” he said.
Emma nodded hesitantly. “You’re not crazy” she told him.
He exhaled heavily, a tear falling down his cheek. “Thank you” he gasped, collapsing onto the bed.
David ran over and found the mage had fallen asleep. “The doubt must’ve been what kept him awake” he guessed, pulling the covers over him. “I wish I could say it was a phantasm that did this. You know the Elders will need to be informed” he said to her.
She nodded. “They already know, but yes” she agreed.
David walked over to take her hand in his. “Are you okay?”
“I thought I had killed him” she whispered, her own long breath escaping her lungs in relief.
David clenched his jaw nervously. “If you had, Holus’s mentor would still be alive” he noted. He looked at her compassionately, patting her shoulder. “He’s chosen his side now. They’ll have to treat him like an enemy.”
“He shouldn’t be” she whispered. “None of them should be.”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Emma composed herself and straightened her robes. She stepped out to be greeted by Brunhilde, the Guard, and another young man in a formal tunic. “I hope I’m not interrupting” he said, casting a suspicious glance to David. “They told me you would be here.”
“Kaleb. I was just visiting some of the patients” she explained, stepping forward and embracing him with a kiss.
Kaleb Ferndale kissed her back, putting his arm around her waist. “Did you forget we made lunch plans?” he asked.
She groaned, slapping her head. “I forgot. I’m sorry.”
“Good think my family knows the restaurant well. They’ll have reserved our table” he grinned. He looked at David curtly. “Private invitation, I’m afraid.”
“I have other business to attend to” David replied with a disapproving scowl. “Some of us work for a living.”
“Guys, please can we not fight” Emma pleaded, stepping between them.
Kaleb and David shared one last loaded glance before the enchanter smiled. “Of course. For you, anything” he said, kissing his girlfriend. “Shall we, my dear?” he asked, presenting his arm. She hooked an arm into his elbow and followed him down the corridor, saying goodbye to David.
He waved her off while the Guard was left to watch her go on her date. “I really hate that guy” he muttered once they were out of earshot. Then he realised Brunhilde was still there, blushing when he caught her looking down at him. “Sorry, I meant to say…”
“That Master Ferndale is the son of our Elder and should be treated with the upmost respect” she replied. He sighed, nodding his head. But then she leaned in and whispered “I don’t like him either. But we have to tolerate him and his father.”
He smiled, glad to know he wasn’t the only one to see through the bullshit.
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