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Airi's POV
---------------------

Slumping against my body, Ryu falls unconscious.

He has a habit of giving me a hard time, doesn't he?

Well, it should be about time now anyways.

Let's bring him outside, he needs medical attention.

Walking through the cell door, I see several guards rushing into the secret bar, all adopting battle stances.

"Hey, hey. There's no need for that. It's just the one guy in the cell here. He's already knocked out though." (Airi)

Easing their bodies slightly, two of the guards approach the cell and enter, only coming out seconds later with the man between their shoulders.

"Anyway, do you guys have any healers anywhere? Anyone who can use healing magic?" (Airi)

"Yeah, we do, but..." (Guard 1)

Letting his sentence trail off, the guard glances down at Ryu in my arms with a look of disdain.

"But what? Are you going to refuse a child medical care?" (Airi)

"Not on purpose! It's not our fault! It's just that... The entire village don't seem to like him, so it's hard for him to do anything here." (Guard 2)

The entire village? Not just this group?

"And? What did he do to receive such hate?" (Airi)

"What do you think?! He helped those damn outlaws is what he did!" (Guard 3)

"Y-yeah! You must know them Knight! The damn No-Names!" (Guard 1)

The No-Names, huh. Did he really help them? He might've done. His parents might have pressured him into it.

"So? What did he do with the outlaws?" (Airi)

"He just stood there and watched while those vile humans destroyed families!" (Guard 3)

"How long ago was this?" (Airi)

"4 years ago." (Guard 2)

...

"This 'damned child' was 8 years old when that happened. What did you want him to do? Did you want to make an 8 year old child kill someone? Did you want an 8 year old child to put their life on the line to save some people who couldn't protect the people they were supposed to?" (Airi)

Obviously lacking a response to the questions spoken with cold violence, the guards walk past me, but not before shooting a glare at Ryu.

I should leave. I need to find Ryu someone who can heal him.

There must be someone in this village. Someone.

Anyone who doesn't hate him.

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

"Please! Please help him!" (Airi)

"I-I'm sorry, I can't." (Shop Keeper)

There isn't anyone.

Absolutely no one.

Damn it! And here I was assuming that there was someone here who could help him!

His wounds are too serious for a trip to another village!

Wait, no. I might be able to get him to the Capital.

I need to go back to the Inn. Ryu had a healing ointment on him.

Did he make it because he knew this was going to happen? No, now's not the time to think about that. I just need to apply it on him.

Racing to the Inn, I burst through the doors before sprinting up the stairs, down to Ryu's room.

His bag.

Where is it?

There. In the corner.

Where's the ointment? Where?

There, found it.

I just need to apply it. Then he might be able to survive a trip to the Capital. Astrid'll be able to help him when he's there.

Carefully. I can't rush this. This has to be perfect.

I spend several minutes applying all of Ryu's healing ointment on to his wounds.

I'm done. Now, I need to leave and race to the Capital.

I need a horse. A carriage as well. That'll probably amount to 1 gold coin.

I have enough.

Hoisting Ryu onto my back, I once again race out of the Inn, looking for the stables.

I find it in a few minutes and manage to buy a horse and carriage for 80 silver.

That's good. I should have enough time to make it to the Capital.

Ryu, don't you dare die on me.

---------------------
Ryu's POV
---------------------

Its cold.

I'm cold.

Its dark.

I can't see.

But I'm not scared.

It feels... Peaceful.

Like I'm floating across a lake.

I feel calm.

But the darkness. Its unsettling.

I'm calm, but nervous.

Its strange.

I'd try to focus, but I can't.

Its like there's nothing.

No cold.

No darkness.

No calmness.

No nervousness.

No strangeness.

Just... Nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

But I hate it.

I hate nothing.

I hate the feeling of having nothing.

I hate the feeling of losing something.

And now I'm surrounded by it.

Taken by it.

Being controlled by it.

So why can't I do anything?

Why can't I move my body?

Why can't I take something?

Why can't I get rid of this nothingness?

I'm scared.

No.

I'm terrified.

I'm terrified of taking something, and losing it.

I'm scared of nothing, but I'm more scared of loss.

So why do I cling to normality?

Why do I cling to the feeling of relationships?

After all, they're both filled with loss.

"Be happy." (???)

Ah, I see.

It's my attempt at being happy.

I want to be normal so I can be happy.

That must be why I feel a hint of warmth at my back.

I want to be normal.

I want to have friends.

I want to fall in love.

I want to be happy.

I want to be happy.

"I--" (Ryu)

---------------------
Airi's POV
---------------------

He's groaning again.

Its all he's been doing since we started heading to the Capital.

He hasn't woken up once. Not a single time in 4 days.

He's breathing fine, he's eating fine, he's drinking fine, but he just doesn't wake up.

Please, Ryu, don't die.

"We're almost there Ryu, hold on a little longer." (Airi)

Its just a few more hours. A few more hours, then his life is safe.

Please, just last until then.

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

Presenting my sword hilt to the gate keeper, I race through the streets of the Capital with one place in mind.

"I'm sorry! Please make way!" (Airi)

I weave in between crowds with Ryu on my back, squeeze through alleys.

Almost there.

Come on.

...

I'm there.

Bursting through the doors of the barracks, I release my voice.

"Where's Astrid?!" (Airi)

---------------------
Author Notes
---------------------

Hey, thanks for reading another chapter! This is probably the chapter I've had most fun in writing. The look we had into Ryu's psyche was a bunch of fun to write and let me be kind of creative.

Also, I changed 'city' to 'Capital' because I felt that it was more appropriate for what it is. I'll be referring to it as Capital from now on.

Also, healing magic is very rare in this society, so many just use healing ointments or herbs, like Ryu did, but there are a few healing mages that are commonly found in the high ranking areas of a Kingdom.