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"If you're the type of person who doesn't judge people based on looks. Why do you do it to yourself? You're beautiful."
~Adam Dahlberg~
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Ty woke up with a start, expecting for his shoulder to be useless and numb like it has been, he was shocked when he was able to move it with somewhat ease. His eyes blinked a few times, clearing his obscured vision. He stared at a ceiling, he was laying on a cold floor, blankets layered under him and on him, trying to keep him warm. His hand raised up, touching his head, feeling a bandage around it. He groaned as he forced himself to sit up.

"Someone is finally awake." A voice said. Ty's eyes flicker up, seeing his crew hurry joyously over to him, looking excited and relieved. Ty smiled a bit as they crowded around him.

"You gave us a right good scare, Captain. Don't do that ever again." Noah said. Ty nods a bit.

"Noted." He mumbled. His hand left his head.

"Alright, break it up. He just woke up, give him some room to breathe." Linda said coming over with a smile as well. The crew back away from their captain a bit, letting Linda come down beside him. "You feeling better? You've been out for two days." Ty looked at her, he nodded.

"Y-Yeah...I feel a lot better." Ty said to her making them all smile. He did feel better, compared to what he did before, he could barely move without pain stopped him before and could barely stay conscious, now his dizzy spells and exhaustion were gone, he didn't feel 100% but a lot closer to it compared to before.

"Good, that's good. Well, Mac and they haven't left you alone, they were constantly checking up on you." She said making him smile. 'Of course, they were, I'm not surprised they did.' He thought as the crew spoke.

"Hey! He was in really bad shape, and this place isn't exactly sterile or fit for treating the wounded. We were just worried about his health is all." Mac defended. Ty looks over to Sky who was sat up, talking with Falicia, Ian, and Vega who was removing the bandages on his leg. His eyes then moved over to Jordan, who had the doctor talking to him by fire. Ty's eyes soften seeing Jordan glancing at Linda and seem upset. He looked at Linda, who was following his eyes too.

"Something wrong with the general?" He asked. Linda shrugs her shoulders.

"How am I suppose to know?" She asked making him turn more to her, Noah speaking.

"They got into a fight and aren't talking to each other anymore," Noah explained. Ty glanced at Noah, shocked a bit.

"Linda—"

"Don't give me that, prince. Jordan—"

"I wasn't done talking," Ty interjected quickly quieting her. "If you two want to shun each other, fine, but t-think about how t-that would a-affect everyone else." Ty groaned, touching his head, his head throbbing. Mac touched Ty's arm as he swayed. The doctor came over, leaving Jordan alone. He falls to his knees, his hands steadying the dizzy prince.

"Whoa. Whoa there. That's enough talking for tonight." The doctor said as he gently pushed Ty back down. The doctor touched his arm, moving Ty's shirt and inspecting the bandages. Red spots decorated the once clean white bandages making him frown. "His bandages need changing." Ty coughs, his head throbbing more.

"Arghhh...my head is k-killing me," Ty mumbled painfully.

"You have a concussion, so headaches are included in them whether you like it or not." He said making the crew chuckle. The doctor puts his hand on Ty's cheek, forcing his eyes open wider, looking at them. After a few moments, he pulls his hands away. "Pupils look fine, you can clearly hold a conversation. I don't want you walking yet as you are still recovering from the blood you lost, so just rest, we'll see how you are feeling in the morning." The doctor then gets up, going over to Sky, Linda shooing the crew away to let Ty rest. The doctor went down on his knees beside Vega. "How is his leg?" He asked Vega. Vega smiled a bit.

"Looks great. It is basically healed." She said. The doctor nods, he looks at Sky.

"Alright, time for you to start walking." He said. Sky's eyes looked away from the doctor, the doctor losing his smile. "I'm not expecting you to be perfect at first, Sky, so calm down. Come on, Ian helps him up." Ian put Sky's arm around his neck, grabbing his waist, Sky put his good foot under him, pushing against the floor with his arms, but grabbed onto Ian when his balance almost failed him. Ian keeping him upright.

"I gotcha, you're fine," Ian told him. Sky's right foot hovering over the floor, not touching it. Ian looked at his leg. "Sky, I will let go of you if you don't put your foot down." Falicia stood up, going in front of Sky.

"Come on, you got it, Sky." She said smiling at him. She let him grab her shoulder as he pushes his foot down, pain pulsated up his leg, he gritted his teeth, Falicia grabbing his arm as his hand gripped her shoulder. Vega stood up.

"There you go, great job, Sky," Vega said. The doctor stood.

"How does that feel?" He asked. Sky's eyes flickered up to the doctor.

"P-Painful." Sky stuttered making the doctor smile, nodding.

"Well, your foot was burned as well of your shin. So it will hurt." The doctor said making Falicia smile. "This also means that this won't fix your walking right away, it is gonna take a day or two before you can walk normally again, so take it slow." Falicia gripped Sky's arm.

"He can walk for a bit and then take a break. How badly does your foot hurt?" She asked. Sky's eyes looked at her. 'It doesn't hurt that badly, the pain is just annoying.' He thought. She looks at Ian, she touches Sky's other arm. "Here, I can help him walk, Ian." Falicia took Sky's arm from Ian's shoulders, letting Sky almost fall into her when the support he got from Ian was taken away, he grips her shoulders in almost a death grip that softens quickly. "Sorry, should have warned you." Sky nods.

"N-No sh*t, Falicia," Sky mumbled. The doctor looked over at some villagers.

"The prince's bandages need to be changed, can you all handle it for me?" The doctor said. They nod and walk over to the prince, while Sky was struggling, depending on Falicia for balance because of the pain.

"Does your foot hurt?" Falicia asked. Sky nodded, wincing when he took a step.

"Sit him back down." The doctor said. Falicia and Ian both help Sky sit back down. Jordan watching them, his eyes looking back over at Linda, seeing her and two other women change the bandages on Ty's injured shoulder. 'It's nice to know that even with Hazia burnt to the ground, the villagers are still willing to help us.' Jordan thought. His thoughts interrupted but Mac sitting beside him.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Mac asked smiling. Jordan looked at him, saying nothing, Mac loses his smile. "Just trying to cheer you up, stop looking at me like you want to strangle me or something."

"I'm fine." Jordan lied. Mac frowns instantly.

"Well that's a lie," Mac said. Jordan looked back at the fire, the sense of calm washing over him, it was turning night and it usually doesn't get too cold at night, but places like Shivoa and Avalon do get cold so the warm breeze and the chirping of crickets calmed him like it always did. Mac sighed, clearly seeing he wasn't gonna get through to Jordan no matter how hard he tried. "So, you think Shivoa can last? I mean...we aren't exactly rushing to go help them." Jordan looked at Mac.

"Have you ever met Shivoa's General?" Jordan asked. Mac shakes his head.

"Actually no, I've seen him before, been in the same room with him plenty of times, but I've never actually had a conversation with him," Mac said honestly. Jordan nods.

"Like you are like most people, his name is Rob Wolfe, he may be on the quiet side but he doesn't give up. He's stubborn, he's also an ice mage, but the Council doesn't deem him as....a wizard because of his alliance to Shivoa and to King Mitchell." Jordan explained. The rest of the crew, as well as some of the villagers, had gathered around the fire, listening to the general. Mac looked at him confused.

"Okay, this is something I've always been confused about. Wasn't Laenadur allies with Estron and Shivoa at one point? Why are have they been acting like this recently?" Mac asked. Jordan looked at Mac, thinking and then spoke.

"Actually that isn't entirely true. The mages have always been neutral, they've never placed alliance to any kingdom because of the war that is going on with the dark mages." Jordan said before a villager interjected.

"But didn't the Magic Council send light mages to protect Shivoa recently?" He asked. Jordan looked at them. Jordan nodded.

"Yes, they did, but they only did that because they accidentally shifted the dark mages towards Shivoa, they steered them towards Shivoa and that's why Shivoa is under attack right now. The Council needs Shivoa's trust, so them steering danger straight towards Shivoa is straining that relationship." Jordan said.

"So Shivoa isn't safe anymore?" A citizen asked making Jordan look at her. He shakes his head but also nods a bit.

"I mean...I don't recommend going there right now with all the dark mages attacking it, but the only safe place is Avalon." Jordan said. Mac shakes his head.

"No, Isora is safe too—"

"Depending on who you ask," Jordan interjected.

"What's General Wolfe like? And King Mitchell?" A citizen asked. Linda smiled a bit hearing Jordan talk to the citizens about Shivoa. 'Shivoa is one of Jordan's favorite places to be in. A large scale kingdom like Estron wasn't ever Jordan's cup of tea. But Shivoa is more...polite and open then Estron is...or was.' Linda thought. Linda's eyes shifted to Ty, Vega finished the new bandage, Ty fast asleep, but with blood staining his skin from his shoulder bleeding. Linda looks at Vega.

"How is he? He gonna live?" She asked. Vega smiles, nodding.

"Yeah, he'll be fine, Linda. He just needs some time to recover his strength and heal up and he'll be okay. You can't recover from injuries like this in a day, these take at least two weeks at the minimum to recover from." Vega said. Linda nods a bit, Vega gets up, going back over to check on Sky. Linda moved Ty's sleeve back up, pulling the blankets up as well to cover him up to his chest.

"How's the Captain doing?" A voice asked. Linda looked at Noah who sits across from her.

"He'll be fine in a few days. So we all are gonna have to protect him, we are leaving in a day or two for Avalon—"

"Why not Isora? Isora City is closer than Avalon—"

"Jordan doesn't trust Isora City..." Linda said. Noah paused for a second, staring at her.

"I thought you and the general weren't getting along right now—"

"I don't trust that city either, Noah. That city has a dark history, we don't need Sky or Prince Ty going in there at all." Linda said. Noah shifted in his spot a bit, looking away from her. She stares at him. "What's wrong now?" Noah paused, he shifted again, looking at Ty.

"And what history do you think that city has?" Noah asked catching her off guard. His eyes flicker to Linda. "Are you and the general saying that the people who come from there aren't trustworthy?" Linda was about to answer when Jordan interjects, standing behind Noah.

"You're from Isora aren't you?" Jordan asked making Noah stand up, looking at him.

"Yeah, I am. And the way you treat Isora city compared to Avalon isn't fair or nice." Noah said. Jordan's eyes look at Linda, moving back to Noah.

"You don't seem to understand what really goes on within that city at all," Jordan said.

"Neither do you." Noah snapped stepping towards Jordan. Linda stood up, Jordan looked at Ty, who still slept and looked back at Noah, sensing the hostility this conversation now has.

"I'm gonna have to ask you to move away from Prince Tyler, now," Jordan stated. He didn't want to escalate the situation but he also felt like Noah was becoming a danger to the already injured prince. Noah narrowed his eyes, the room was silent, watching the two, the crew feeling the tense pressure had moved closer but at a distant.

"You honestly think I would hurt him?" Noah asked Jordan. Jordan shakes his head.

"I don't know you well enough to be able to tell if you would or not, I'm just being cautious here. So step away willingly or be forcibly moved away." Jordan warned. Noah stepped aside, Jordan going in between them, but more in between Linda and him. Noah chuckled, looking away.

"Nice to know you have so much confidence in me, general. Blaming my hometown for—"

"Don't put words in my mouth, Noah—"

"You're thinking it, don't act like you aren't. You asked me to move away from the captain, my captain, you don't trust me? I've worked with him longer than you, just because you are a Maron doesn't mean you are granted immunity from everything." Noah said. Linda stood up, watching Jordan's hands clench into tight fists. "Besides it isn't like you actually know what being a soldier is like when you went straight to a general because of your father, being a Maron must be great, you get everything—" Jordan stepped at Noah, Linda's eyes widen.

"Jordan! No!" Linda shouted as she grabbed Jordan, pulling him back when Jordan was about to punch Noah, Noah stumbling back from the shock, Mac grabbing Noah. Linda had moved in front of Jordan, pushing against his chest, talking quietly to him. "Don't listen to him, calm down. Calm down."

"N-Noah." A voice stuttered painfully. They looked at Ty, Linda instantly going down to grab him as he sat up.

"Ty, no--"

"Y-You don't talk to J-Jordan like that...ever. He--ah! He's e-earned h-his title, w-without his f-family h-help--ah!" Ty winced, touching his head as he gritted his teeth. The doctor had hurried over, holding Ty up like Linda is.

"You need to lay down and rest, your highness. You are straining yourself." The doctor stated as he gently pushed Ty back down. Noah looked at Jordan. Linda touched Ty's arm, looking down at him. The doctor removed his hand from Ty's forehead. "He's warm," The doctor moved Ty's shirt to look at his bandages, which were stained in blood.

"Prince," Linda said as Jordan went down on his knees beside Linda.

"He's getting sick—" The doctor nods a bit.

"It's this place. He needs to be indoors and in a bed, not in a crumbling building laying on the cold ground." The doctor said.

"Citis," Linda said. Jordan glances at her and nods, his eyes looked back at Ty.

"Citis is an Estron town, they are just on the other side of Elder Heights," Jordan said. The doctor looks at Jordan, staring at him for a few moments and then nods.

"He's okay for travel, but be careful." The doctor said. Jordan overlooks his should over at Sky and them.

"Sky, how you feeling? Can you walk yet?" Jordan asked. They looked at him, Falicia shrugs her shoulders.

"Umm...maybe--"

"Good enough, you're coming with me. Ian and Falicia are staying here--"

"What?!"

"No!" Ian shouted at him. Jordan sighed, standing up. He turns to the three, walking over.

"Okay, it's my job to protect him, Sky, not the rest of you. You--" Ian stood up, meeting Ian's eye level.

"I go where Sky goes and you aren't his bodyguard--" Jordan chuckles.

"Oh please, Ian, you don't have combat experience, if Sky's identity ever got out, no place would be safe for him," Jordan said.

"And what's his identity?" Ian asked. Jordan turned half on his heels, looking at Linda.

"You were supposed to tell them, Linda," Jordan said. Linda didn't answer him, so Jordan turned back to Ian, his arms crossed. "Actually this works better, the less you know, the better--"

"I'm Sky's best friend--"

"And I'm Jordan, nice to meet you," Jordan said smiling, Falicia and the others smile as well.

"...This isn't your decision to make, Sky should make it."  Ian said. Ian looked at Sky, Sky tensed up, he looked up at Ian and Jordan. Sky's eyes averted Ian's, not speaking. Ian stared at him.

"Ian, we don't have the time to train you in combat, you would better serve remaining here, rebuilding Haiza. Falicia is remaining here as well, I'm taking Sky with me because that's my job, nothing is gonna happen to him while he's on my watch." Jordan said. Ian motioned towards Ty.

"Aren't you suppose to be protecting that prince?" Ian asked. Jordan nods a bit.

"Yes and no, his crew are his bodyguards, including Linda. So it isn't like I'm exactly required to protect him when he has his crew. I know you're worried, but don't be. You can trust me." Jordan said before he walked back over to the prince. Ian sits back down beside Falicia. Ian looked at Sky.

"You were no help," Ian said. Falicia looked at him.

"What do you expect him to say? It isn't like anything he can say with upholding. Besides, the general is right--" Ian scoffed at her, looking back over at Jordan. Falicia stopped talking, she sighed before looking at Sky. "You wanna practice walking some more?" She asked. Sky nods.