CHAPTER 11

The first thing Nuri noticed as he woke up was an aura. It was grey, authoritative, and no doubt belonged to a Sovereign Knight. Despite the fact that Aziel had drained his energy mere hours ago, he bolted up and watched the Knights eyes, which were as grey as his aura, widen in surprise as Nuri's hands lit up in fire. The guard didn't seem to ready himself for battle, because their caretaker pranced in.

"I thought you lot were dead!" Professor Juvia exclaimed, patting Nuri on the shoulder, his flames still burnt bright as he kept his gaze steady on the Sovereign Knight, ready to strike at any moment, even though he could feel the adrenaline draining out of his system and he knew his legs would give out soon.

"Calm down," said Professor Juvia, "and you, get out of here! They are my patients, not your prisoners!" She rolled her eyes, and pushed him out of the room. She adjusted her glasses and swept a wisp of hair out of her eyes. When she turned around, Nuri legs had given way, and from his hand came small billows of smoke. His breathing was heavy, as if his body couldn't muster up the energy to control his lungs.

"You need to take it slow. What Aziel Aro did to you back there wasn't anything normal. He practically stole your blood, so right now, you need a blood transfusion but since you're Aurean, I can't do anything about it." She told him, and helped him up.

"I can barely remember anything." He said, shaking his head, "is Aziel dead?"

"They found his corpse on the side of the road. Whomever killed him really did a number on him!" She said almost in delight, "I'm doing the autopsy tonight!"

"What about everyone else?" Nuri asked.

"They're fine, kid. Ignis is sleeping like a baby and Vayu's up drinking all my damn tea. The kid drinks like a fish! But on the bright side, at least he's not badly hurt. The same cannot be said for your lady friend." She told him.

"Avani? What's wrong with her?" His eyes went wide, and he shot up once again, trying to dart out of the room.

"She fine. Just a concussion, she can't remember anything about the battle. The amnesia will wear off." Juvia grabbed him by the collar and put him back to sleep, muttering something about how stupid they were.

When his eyes went back open, the aura was back, except it wasn't grey this time. It was blue, calm, and hovering over him like a guardian angel. The aura came into focus, and held a calm smile.

"You talk in your sleep." Ignis remarked softly.

"Only when I'm worried." Nuri replied without thinking about it.

"What's got you worried then?" Ignis asked as if he didn't know anything. Nuri wished he could sleep forever.

"The whole thing, Aziel knew we were coming, and he almost killed you." He said, sighing.

"I'm fine, it's Avani you should be worried about, she hasn't said a word since she woke up." Ignis replied, holding a glass of water and a plate of some or other food out to Nuri, who sat up.

"Thank you." He said politely, and drunk up the water, when he was finished he looked up to Ignis, "when I saw how that ice dart turned black I almost thought it was you."

"When I saw that ice dart turn black, I almost stopped breathing." Ignis admitted, "it feels like he's watching my every move now. How did he even know Aziel was trying to kill me?"

"Maybe because he's from your clan he received training in light magic. He could be following us everywhere and we wouldn't even know." Nuri said mindlessly.

"That does not help our predicament." Ignis said sternly, "it just makes it worse. Can't you detect his aura?"

"Aziel couldn't detect ours when you distorted the light, and neither can I his when he disappears. Vayu might be able to, however." Nuri suggested, "but I doubt he's got that much free time, honestly. To be following us everywhere we go is a little over the top."

"Hades is over the top." Ignis replied, "he's always been one for theatrics."

"We're in luck then." Nuri said with a sarcastic laugh as he stood up, and waited for the stars to clear from his vision. The food Ignis had brought had given him a little strength but his bones still felt like jelly, so he hurried to a seat in the middle of a foreign room.

Vayu perked up as he walked in, "sleeping beauty! We thought you'd never wake up."

Nuri laughed half-heartedly, the world sort of spinning, "I'm awake now, aren't I?"

"Thank the Gods for that." Vayu said with a smile, his golden aura prominently pulsating around him.

"How's Vani?" Nuri asked.

"Sleeping, and confused." Vayu bit his lip, "when she woke up she didn't even know who I was. It was like being in prison all over again."

"But now she remembers you, right?" Nuri asked desperately.

"She remembers everything up until the battle with Aziel." Vayu said, "she should be waking up soon and the Professor is going to do the daily routine with her if you want to see her." Nuri gave a silent nod and excused himself, walking haphazardly toward the distant sound of Professor Juvia's voice. Avani sat on the bed with a bandage wrapped around her head.

"My name is Humaira Avani Sai, I'm seventeen years old, and I am in the Sovereign Capital, that's Professor Juvia. I was in a fight with Aziel Aro, I live in the City of Gold. My name is Humaira Avani Sai. I can control an element. Milo Aro is my caretaker. I'm Aurean. I killed two hundred and forty-five people." She said robotically.

"Hey." Nuri said in the doorway and her jade eyes darted upwards.

"Hey, Nuri." She said, and the name sounded foreign on her tongue.

Professor Juvia smiled at him briefly before departing. He sat down on the bed next to her.

"You almost cracked your head open when he knocked you out." Nuri said, and she managed a laugh.

She did something strange next, she laid her head on Nuri's shoulder and closed her eyes, then said, "I hate not being able to remember I feel like there's something important I need to be telling you all and my brain is being an arse."

"Don't worry, Vani," he said, "it'll come back to you when you're ready to tell us."

"Can you tell me what happened? Maybe I'll remember if someone actually tells me what happened?" She looked up at him with expectant eyes.

"I don't know, Vani... Maybe I shouldn't." Nuri chewed on his bottom lip.

"Please." She asked, almost sincerely. It was different; she was almost vulnerable, there in the crook of his neck. It felt like they were friends there, not just strangers sharing a house together. It made Nuri realise that this was his family now, Avani and Meri his baby sisters, and Vayu his younger brother and he needed to protect them. He couldn't let what happened that day happen again, he couldn't lose another family.

"Okay..." He agreed hesitantly, "do you remember the plan?"

"Some of it. It's hazy but it's mostly there." She admitted shamefully.

"Well, you spotted Aziel, and then you came down and had a dagger to his jugular. He looked around and then he knocked you out and Vayu fell to the floor, my legs gave way and Ignis was the last man standing but Aziel used his ability on him. He was frozen as Aziel aimed an ice dart at his heart. The weirdest thing happened then, the dart turned black and multiplied. Aziel died. And then Hades appeared, you said something before you blacked out again. I don't remember what, though, sorry." He smiled apologetically. She let out a cry of frustration.

"I can't remember any of that! I just remember Aziel hitting me upside the damn head!" She buried her face in her hands and Nuri heard soft sounds of sobbing resonating through the room.

"Take it easy, Vani. It'll come back to you, I promise." Nuri smiled as he traced patterns onto her back soothingly.

Soon she looked back up with tear-stained cheeks and red eyes, "promise?"

"Promise." He said with a smile, and she nodded.

"You better keep your promise, Bachmann." She said softly, and buried her head in the crook his neck again. They sat in silence for a while, Avani drinking in Nuri's smell, hoping it would soothe her. And it did, strangely. She'd never felt safe with anyone after... after what? She couldn't remember what had happened to make her feel unsafe with men, or even why she had this awful ache in her chest. She sucked it up, and told herself to be brave, because if she wasn't going to be, then who the hell was?

Eventually they returned to the City of Gold, once more. Milo was in hysterics when he saw them coming home, as he was convinced they'd all perished in battle somewhere and were lying a ditch waiting to be cremated by the Sovereign Capital. He threw his arms around everyone who could fit in his arm span and praised Mother for returning them to him.

"What were you thinking?" He asked as he ushered them inside, his accent prominent as ever, "fighting Aziel? Are you crazy?"

"We had a plan, Milo." Avani tried, "it would've worked."

"I heard the news, apparently you were successful." Milo mused, looking to Nuri.

"Aziel is dead." He announced. There should have been cheers, and there should have been smiles, but the dread hung over them like a dark cloud, ready to rain down on them. Nuri tried to be happy, but when he knew Hades was getting closer and closer to killing Ignis, it was hard to even crack a smile. It was as if everything attempted to go back to normal when they returned. For the first few days they just slept, trying to get rid of the dark cloud of dread hanging over them. Then Ignis became fired up, he began almost obsessing over Hades, never not mentioning him a conversation, so much so that even Milo wanted to know who this Hades character was. Ignis told him and practically demanded that Milo train him, because if he didn't, he'd never be able to beat Hades. The cloud of dread began to feel like a noose around Nuri's neck as he watched Ignis suffer through training. It was as if Hades were trying to suffocate him, purely by existing. He knew Ignis' days were numbered, but something inside him wouldn't accept it, something inside of him still had hope the noose wouldn't choke him to death.

After his embarrassing stunt at the Magic Academy, no one took William Atthill's Aurean Force seriously. Magister completely refused to provide soldiers, and William was almost losing hope. That was of course until he heard the news.

"Your Highness," Percival shivered into the room, shaking like a small dog, "I have some news regarding the Aureans. Your uncle instructed I tell you."

"Go ahead, Percival." William replied half-heartedly, gazing down at the picture of his mother and father. They had taken it while they were in town, and in the back there was a mirage of a girl, someone Sein had picked up on the side of the street, half-dead. William still remembered how she punched him in the face and he cried for a while because it felt like she had taken her fingers and stuffed his eye backward into the socket.

"It concerns Aziel Aro. It has just been confirmed that he has perished. Your uncle fears that the Aureans might be planning to rally up forces and attack the Capital." Percival's shaky voice snapped William back to reality and his smile picked up.

"Percival, you're a Godsend!" William exclaimed, "where is my uncle?"

"He is in his study, conversing with Lady Magister. They are discussing a Royal Force, he is trying to convince her to provide you with Magi Soldiers." Percival explained.

"I could kiss him." William said happily, "finally, Magister will understand the need of an Aurean Force. They need to be eradicated from this planet, their mere existence is wretched." He almost spat.

"I agree wholeheartedly, Your Majesty." Percival nodded slowly, and looked over to William with a trace of a smile on his thin lips.