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Airi's POV
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Crouching on the ground, Ryu was clutching his left hand as a faint purple glow was emitted from it.

He was trembling slightly and gasping for breath.

"Ryu! What's happening? What's that light?" (Airi)

His mouth seemed to move as if he was responding, but no noise came through.

I hesitate for a second before grabbing his hand to get a better look at the light.

A burn mark covered the top of his hand, a circular pattern with many intersecting lines.

The glow seemed to emanate from this symbol, though it seemed to be getting duller by the second.

"This... Ryu, why the hell do you have this?" (Captain)

Once again, Ryu doesn't manage to make a noise in response, only small gasps.

I trace my hand over the symbol, before pulling away quickly.

"Captain, this thing is boiling!" (Airi)

"What?" (Captain)

"Feel it! It'll burn your hand if you hold it there long enough!" (Airi)

Captain seemed to not believe me as he placed his hand on the symbol before pulling away much like I did.

"What the... Oh, I see. Airi, were going back to the barracks. Now." (Captain)

"Huh? Oh, uh, ok!" (Airi)

Without hesitation, Captain picked Ryu up and ran off, with me following behind.

Before long, we reached the barracks and Captain kicked open the door.

"Find me Astrid! Now!" (Captain)

Every soldier seemed to stand stunned for a second before scrambling to their feet to begin the search.

Captain pushed forward, making his way towards the infirmary.

Not long after we reached it, Astrid walked through, slightly confused.

"What's wrong?" (Astrid)

"Ease the pain." (Captain)

He points towards Ryu, who still clutched his hand.

"Ease the pain? Not heal it?" (Astrid)

"It's not something you'd be able to heal." (Captain)

"Is that you doubting my abilities?" (Astrid)

"It's not an injury." (Captain)

"... Oh. I see." (Astrid)

She doesn't tease any further and starts casting magic on Ryu, a small green glow appearing from her hand.

Ryu trembles for a few more seconds before letting go of his hand, the glow still there.

"Good. Now, Ryu. Where the hell did you get that mark?" (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

"I'm not going to let you be silent with this one. That thing you have there? That's a slave brand. And you know what? I saw that exact same symbol in the Baron's estate in Serti. Now answer me." (Captain)

I'm a little taken aback by this sudden information, but I don't cut in.

"... What can I say? You've already seen it." (Ryu)

He spoke in a hushed voice, just a little louder than a whisper, but enough in the silent infirmary.

"... Haah, so you were... Is that why you spoke about the Count that way a few days ago." (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

Not responding with words, Ryu simply drops his head forward.

"Why didn't you say anything? You couldn't've been completely in the dark with everything that was happening. You knew about the slave trade between the Count and the Baron. Why didn't you say anything?" (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

"Why didn't you say anything?" (Captain)

"..." (Ryu)

"RYU! WHY THE HELL DID YOU STAY SILENT?!" (Captain)

Captain slams his fist against the wall, breaking it slightly.

"... Why would I?" (Ryu)

"BECAUSE IT WAS A SLAVE TRADE! THE PEOPLE THERE WERE TREATED LESS THAN HUMAN!" (Captain)

"You think I didn't know that?! You think I didn't understand what happened to them?! Of course I did! This thing right here is the proof! I know what they went through! I went through the same damn thing!" (Ryu)

"ALL THE MORE REASON TO SPEAK UP!" (Captain)

"No it's not! Why would I want to relive those times of my life?! Do you even know what I went through?!" (Ryu)

With Ryu raising his voice, it also trembled slightly.

"Do you know how it feels to be starved for days on end?! Do you know how it feels to be beaten for every single damn mistake?! There wasn't a single day that went by that I didn't have cuts over my body! There wasn't a single day that I didn't get a fist in my stomach because of some stupid mistake!" (Ryu)

Tears were pouring out of Ryu's eyes now, but Captain didn't seem to be phased by them.

"Every single day was hell! I'd wake up and be beaten! I'd do work and be beaten! I'd wince from pain and I'd be beaten! I'd ask for food and be beaten and beaten and beaten! And you know what? When that scum died, I felt relieved! I was free! And you want me to think back on that time when everything was out to make me miserable?!" (Ryu)

"... You weren't the only one to go through that." (Captain)

"I know. I've seen people I could call friends die because they couldn't be treated. I watched other slaves died as soon as the fist hit them. I know I wasn't the only one." (Ryu)

"Then why didn't you speak up?" (Captain)

"What, you want an actual answer? One that you'd be happy with? It's because I'm selfish! It's because I'm scum that let people die in front of me! It's because I'm a coward for being afraid! Afraid of having to relive what happened to me! Afraid of meeting my sister! I'm a coward! Is that what you wanted?!" (Ryu)

"..." (Captain)

"What? Are you silent now because you got the answer you wanted? Or because my words have hurt your conscience?" (Ryu)

"... Ryu, do you value your own life over hundreds of others?" (Captain)

"I do." (Ryu)

"... Why?" (Captain)

"Because I need to protect something that only I can protect." (Ryu)

"... I see... Ryu?" (Captain)

"What?" (Ryu)

"You aren't a knight." (Captain)

"I know. I never intended to be. I never will be. After all, you still think of me as a No-Name." (Ryu)

"..." (Captain)

Captain didn't say another word as he left the infirmary, Astrid and I followed close behind.

"Hey Captain, don't you think you were too harsh? I mean, he's 12." (Astrid)

"I think so too. I mean, just hearing what he went through kind of hurt my heart." (Airi)

"I know... But--" (Captain)

"Captain! It's the slaves! Something's happening to them!" (Soldier)

As we were walking, a soldier ran around the corner and cut Captain off mid-sentence.

"What? What's happening?" (Captain)

"I'm not sure! They all suddenly started gasping and these symbols appeared on them!" (Soldier)

"That's the branding symbol! Gather all the healers available and send them to ease their pain, we can't heal it! Send word to soldiers across the Kingdom, if they see someone in pain with a purple glow, take them to these barracks immediately!" (Captain)

"Yes sir!" (Soldier)

The soldier ran back down the hallway he came from, and Captain stood still.

"Captain? Aren't you going to check in them?" (Astrid)

"... No, I can't do anything there. Tell Ryu to rest, and rest yourselves. We're heading to Greif tomorrow morning." (Captain)

"Yes sir!" (Astrid + Airi)

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Author Notes
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Wow, I managed to do a chapter before it was supposed to be published. I'm proud of myself.

And this chapter was super fun to write. We got some Ryu back story, I managed to make Ryu talk a lot more.

Though, I do fear that you guys are going to see Captain as an asshole for how he acted during this chapter. His character that I have in my head fits this scene perfectly, and it fits the character, but I don't know if they are the same as the ones I've shown you.

There isn't much I can do, but I just hope that whoever reads this knows that Captain is extremely patriotic, and his actions will only ever hold the intent of benefitting the Kingdom.

But anyways, thank you for reading, please continue doing so!