ＣＨＡＰＴＥＲ １： ＡＣＴ Ｖ
𝑭𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝑳𝒂𝒅𝒚

Everyone in the barracks was in a state of panic when the general arrived with blood painted on her white dress.

"Lady General!" Rune rushed towards her with horror in his eyes. He had never seen her bleeding this much.

"What happened?" May diin na tanong ni Theo sa ibang kawal na unang nakakita sa heneral. Umiling ang mga ito, senyales na hindi rin nila alam kung ano ang nangyari rito.

"Zaki! Zaki, help! The general's life is in danger!" Rune shouted as she carried her in his arms and ran towards the barrack's clinic.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Deus nang makasalubong niya si Rune na buhat-buhat ang heneral na nasa bingit ng pagkawalan ng ulirat. "What hap-" Napalunok ito nang makita ang panlilisik ng mata ni Theo.

"Surround the nearby village, and do not let a single ant escape from your eyes! Find the assailant as soon as possible!" Dumagungdong ang boses nito. The soldiers immediately left the barracks with swords and marched to the nearby village.

Deus looked at Theo's cold and stern face. He may find every slight change of the general suspicious, nags a lot, and sometimes acts irrationally—but he cares for her just by seeing his expression when he sees her get hurt.

"Zaki!"

"What are you shouting in broad day-" Nanlaki ang mata ni Zaki nang makita ang kalagayan ng heneral sa bisig ni Rune.

He quickly took his medicinal box for the tools and medicines to mend her wound. "What happened to her?" He asked.

"She refused to be followed by me and wanted to stroll in the village for fresh air. I dared not defy her orders, so I stayed. And then I saw her. . .barely having the strength to walk with blood all over her dress," kwento nito sa nangyari.

Zaki bit his bottom lip seeing how much blood she was losing. He needs to stitch her wound. Akmang hahawakan na niya ang damit nito nang pigilan siya ni Rune. "What do you think you're doing?" Kapwa natigilan ang mga ito. Saka lang na-realize ni Zaki na babae nga pala ang heneral.

He sighed. "Don't worry, I will blindfold my eyes. Just keep watch outside." Hindi kumibo si Rune kaya naman walang pag-aalinlangang kumuha ng blindfold si Zaki upang takpan ang mata niya.

With that, Rune left without a word and stood outside. Napabuga naman ng hininga si Zaki bago dahan-dahang gupitin ang tela ng suot nitong damit kung saan naroon ang sugat na natamo nito mula sa pagkakasaksak.

With shivering hands, he traced the wound with his fingers and slightly pushed it with his thumb to determine its depth by the reaction of her body. Naramdaman niya ang pagkislot nito nang idiin niya ang hintuturo niya sa sugat nito.

He carefully disinfected her wound and scattered the healing powder before bandaging her. He could do that even with a blindfold because aside from being a commander, he was also a medical prodigy with a rare spatial perception talent.

He removed the fabric in his eyes and called Rune. Maya-maya ay pumasok na rin si Deus sa loob upang kamustahin ang kalagayan ng heneral.

"How is she?" tanong ni Deus rito.

She was lying on the bed; her body looked so frail and delicate. Her face complexion has become pale.

"She's fine for now. I will have to recheck her if she is poisoned," he answered.

"Fetch these herbs for me. She needs to rest and recover blood." May inabot siyang listahan kay Rune. Only a few medicinal herbs and spices on the list were found in the nearby apothecary shops. He might have to collect the others personally on the mountain.

"I will be back before the sun sets." Rune took a last glance at her before leaving the clinic.

"Nasaan si Ti—I mean, Theo?" Deus pulled a chair and sat on it before crossing his legs.

"He went to the village for an investigation." Sabay na napabuntong-hininha ang mga ito bago tingnan ang walang malay na heneral.

Whoever dared to harm her will not live in one piece.

***

"What do you mean she was poisoned?" Halos malukot na ang papel na hawak ni Theo nang mabasa ang diagnosis ni Zaki.

"As far as I can remember, it was only sold on the black market. Only assassins, slave traders, and illegal merchants and alchemists frequently go there for their business. Civilians are allowed to enter only when endorsed by a VIP," Zaki explained. "It's not a place you can come and go whenever you want."

"Go straight to the point, Zaki." Tila ba'y naiinip na wika ni Rune.

"This poison is not deadly, nor does it cause hysteria or damage to her internal organs. But it causes her muscles to weaken, so she won't be able to hold a sword. She will become frail and sick." Napasinghap naman ang mga ito.

A general who can't wield a sword and fight is like a tiger without fangs and claws. They could only imagine how devastated she would be after hearing this.

"Is there a cure?" Deus couldn't help but ask. They can't lose their general. If Crocus Empire found out the Vermillion Caped General's martial art foundation got crippled, they would take it as a chance to make movements in the frontier.

"There is, but we need to infiltrate the Black Market." Napasapo ng noo si Theo. They don't even know where it is. Besides, the Emperor was already rushing her back to the capital. They won't have much time.

"Leave it to me." Napalingon ang mga ito kay Rune nang marinig ang determinado nitong tono.

Rune isn't a commander in the Vermillion Army, but he is in charge of the stealth armies that act as spies and assassins in their missions. And considering he was once a runaway slave, he must've been sold by traders in the Black Market.

"Hmmm. . ." Their eyes diverted to the general's direction when they heard her faint groan.

As her eyelids slowly parted, the blurriness faded to reveal the anxious faces of four men encircling her.

"Lady General, do you remember the face of the person who hurt you?" The first person she saw was Theo with his knees bent down; his expression was firm as if the moment she uttered her assailant's features, he was ready to spring into action at the slightest indication of need.

"How are you feeling?" Rune gently helped her rise from the bed with his piercing blue eyes searching for signs of awareness, his body becoming tense.

"Naalala mo pa naman kung sino kami 'di ba?" Deus hovered slightly behind. His gentle demeanor softened when she saw confusion in her eyes.  His tousled dark hair and furrowed brow showed expressions of concern and relief.

"She was stabbed, not hit her head, Deus. Don't confuse her." Zaki leaned forward, his presence commanding yet protective, a promising trait of a doctor towards his patient.

The intensity of their combined gazes wrapped around her like a warm blanket, which made Coeur look at them in a different light. Despite all the negative feelings they must have for her because of her past actions, they still care for her.

"Deus, deliver a message in the capital that I am assassinated." Tumalima ang mga ito.

"But Lady General, the enemies will—" Akmang tututol pa si Theo nang magsalita muli ang heneral.

"That's why we need to inform the Emperor so he can appoint another general in my absence." She coughed. Hindi na nakareklamo ang mga ito dahil mabilis na inabutan ni Zaki ng iinuming gamot ang heneral nang marinig ang pag-ubo nito.

While they were busy caring for her and asking about the suspect's physical appearance for information, Coeur deliberately gave them confusing details. Because she can't let them know she hired an assassin to hurt herself for the sake of her grand plan.

And now that she has become a frail young lady, everything will be easy.