---------------------
Astrid's POV
---------------------

"Airi's calling for you, Astrid." (Etsu)

"Oh oh?! She's back?!" (Astrid)

"Quite suddenly too, she burst through the door with a kid on her back." (Etsu)

"What?! She's had a kid?!" (Astrid)

"Where do you even-? She hasn't been gone for long enough to have a kid, you dunce." (Etsu)

"Hey hey, Etsusu, that's mean!" (Astrid)

I complained while hopping to the main barrack's room.

Bursting through the large wooden door, I release my voice out to Airi.

"Hey hey, Airiri! I heard you had a kid!" (Astrid)

...

"You idiot, this isn't the main barracks." (Etsu)

Paying no attention to the rude remark behind me, I continue through the large, open room.

The training room. It's filled with practice dummies for soldiers to train their swordsmanship on. There're also targets on the wall to the far right for archers and mages to practice their aim.

Having been around all of this for a few years, I didn't even bat an eye, instead heading straight towards a normal wooden door that led to the main barracks.

"Hey hey, Airiri!" (Astrid)

"Astrid! I need you to heal him! Now!" (Airi)

I stand there confused for a moment before recalling that Etsusu had said that she had a kid on her back.

"Ehhh? You sound pretty agitated, Airiri? If it's just a kid, it can't be such a huge wound right?" (Astrid)

"It wouldn't be if he had medical attention right away! He's been asleep for 4 days! We've come from Siqema Village!" (Airi)

"How did you get here from Siqema in 4 days?" (Etsu)

"I'll tell you later! Astrid, please just heal him!" (Airi)

Having fallen to her knees, Airi begs me with tears welling up in her eyes.

"Fine fine. Lay him down" (Astrid)

Airi does as I say, laying the boy down in front of me.

He's pretty damaged. There must be hundreds of cuts all over his body. It's honestly a surprise he hadn't died of shock or blood loss yet.

Not only the cuts, but his entire body is red from what looks like whip burns.

He shouldn't be alive.

Its incredible that he is.

"Etsu, change of plans. Get me bandages and alcohol." (Astrid)

"Ok, anything else?" (Etsu)

"Some mana potions and healing ointment too, highest quality." (Astrid)

"On it." (Etsu)

Etsusu bolts out of the still open door, going to look for the supplies I asked for.

"Airiri, I'm taking him to a medical room, follow me and find some healers." (Astrid)

"Sure!" (Airi)

Running back through the door I had once entered, I take several turns before ending up at a solid white door.

The infirmary door. My special place.

Not caring for the paint on the door, I kick it open before making a right turn and placing the boy on a bed.

At the same time, Airi appears at the door with several others.

"All of you, I need to to keep him somewhat stable with low level healing magic. Buy me some time until Etsusu comes back."

And so they start. A warming green glow emanates from their hands as they all concentrate on the wounds of the boy who should be dead.

"Airiri, I need you to tell me everything that happened at Siqema." (Astrid)

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

"-so I bought a carriage and a horse, started riding here, and made it in 4 days." (Airi)

"I see. That's worse than I thought." (Astrid)

"Can you heal him?!" (Airi)

"I don't usually say this, but luck doesn't seem to be on our side this time, but I'll do my best." (Astrid)

Having finished my spiel, Etsusu crashes through the infirmary door, also not giving a care to the paint.

"I've got everything!" (Etsu)

I point over to a empty table beside the Boy's bed.

Etsusu recognises what I meant and places everything he bought onto it.

"Right, time to work." (Astrid)

Gathering my motivation, I move over to the bed surrounded by low level mages.

With a wave of my hand, they all disperse, having done their job.

"Hey Etsusu, hold him down." (Astrid)

Nodding his head, Etsusu places his hands on the Boy's shoulders and pushes.

At the same time, I grab the alcohol and pour it over his body.

His body wrenches upwards, alongside a blood curdling scream.

I don't have time to look over to Airi, but I know how she is feeling, having to cover her ears.

Without wasting a second, I grab the bandages and healing ointment and start to spread them together.

"Etsusu, get ready. This is going to be worse than the last." (Astrid)

"Mm." (Etsu)

Counting from 3, I slowly lower the bandages covered in healing ointment over the Boy's body.

On 3, I place them and hold. As if in sync, the boy wrenches upwards again, but without making a sound, despite his mouth being pried open.

I continue wrapping the bandages around the boy, despite his body protesting.

When I'm done, he starts to settle down, having not opened his eyes once during that entire thing.

"Alright, all of you, leave. I need all my concentration for this." (Astrid)

Seeing Etsusu nod and guide Airi out of the room, I turn to face the boy, with the magic potions to my right.

This is going to be a long night.

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

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

Everywhere.

I'm in pain.

I'm in pain everywhere.

Please make it stop.

Please make it stop.

Make it stop.

Make it stop.

Please.

Please.

...

Please.

...

And as if answering my request, a warmth envelops me.

What is this?

I can feel it.

I can feel it, but I can't see it.

I want to see it.

I want to see the warmth.

Please. Please.

Please let me see the warmth.

Please.

Is it my mum?

Is that why I can't see it?

Or is it my dad?

Is that why it came at my request?

Or is it both of them?

Or is it none of them?

I want to see.

I want to see it.

I want to see the warmth.

I want to see them.

I want to see them.

Please let me see them.

"I-- See-- Pleas--" (Ryu)

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

Hey, it's another chapter. I'm not super happy about how this one went, but maybe that's because I had a slight case of writers block.

Anyway, all those Airiri and Etsusu's were not typos! Imagine it like a nickname of sorts that Astrid gave everyone.

There's not much for me to write here. This was mostly a chapter that I thought was needed, instead of skipping straight to Ryu up and recovered.

Although, I do wonder what Ryu's nickname will be. Even I haven't thought that far ahead.