Chapter 85 - Eighty-One

Unfortunately, however, there was a slight problem that slowed my research down, two actually; I was the only one who could search and read that information, upon hundreds of books scattered around and without order.

It would take longer then I wished for like this, so in the end we left the place without a concrete finding and a pile of books to read; and at this point I was as tired as hell, without proper sleep for three days, the worry for my brother giving me a constant headache and making my heart heavy.

So I dragged my steps until we reached the house, passing through all the destruction again on the woods making me say:

"We need to leave this place soon, is not hidden anymore." I point with my chin for Leonel to see the destruction around as he agrees.

"I'll have a look over the map tonight."

"I'll leave that to you then."

I was definitely done for the day.

But, well, the day wasn't done with me just yet.

When I pass over the halls I almost forget about the wounded ones, the pained m.o.a.n of one of them catching my attention and bringing my gaze towards the half-open door.

Isa was inside, looking over what was left of the arm of the older twin, the skin scaring up nicely, but the arm was lost forever.

At least the slice did not go further in, for what I could see it had been far too close to his chest for comfort, the arm probably had saved his life by staying in the way.

I realize then that the only place left to sleep was occupied with them, and the sky was starting to get cloudy on the horizon, telling me that or I had to sleep in here or out there in the rain.

I know that I'm an animal and all, but that doesn't mean I like getting soaked from head to toe, especially as a Fire creature; And getting soaked was only fun when I was swimming in hot days, not underneath a rainstorm, especially to sleep.

That's how I ended up entering the already overcrowded room where the sick were and stopping over the door to look inside.

The Templar was to the side, standing like and armor in display while Isa, looking tired and lacking sleep, only glance at my direction, not stopping what he was doing as he said:

"What?"

"There is nowhere else to sleep."

"Uhm."

He goes back to what he was doing, and as I look down and see Ragnur plump form rounding the blanket beside the twin, my mind going back to Aeglos who was on the second room, connected to this one by a hole on the wall that the goopy creatures created without care with their attacks.

I was tired, and he was too, but it would be useless to wait for a better time to ask for it may never come, plus I wanted to know as soon as possible.

"About Aeglos…"

I start to speak but I'm interrupted by Leonel entering the room with food, a dish more simple than he is used to doing, but still smelled wonderful so I take one as well, only then realizing than beyond lacking sleep I had negligence food as well.

As Leonel sits to the side and eats while rummaging the map, putting some stones and pieces of wood on the edges to keep the paper in place, I start eating, but oddly not paying attention to the taste as I use to do, instead trying not to lose track of the subject at hand.

"Leo said that he is not waking up."

"Yeah." Even Isaac's answers are shorter than they usually are for how tired he is, which was oddly well behaved.

"… He also said that you believe that it was some kind of magic… perhaps mind magic?"

He stops moving then, signing tiredly as his downturned eyes focus on me.

"Look, I know we are not in the best terms. " You bet. "But it is my duty as a healer to look after the health of others, and one thing for sure is that you need to eat, to rest, and now."

"But I-"

"Now. No discussion." At that he stands to gather more water for the wounded, allowing me to see Ragnur's face and realize that he was actually awake as he says:

"You heard the nun, time to rest." He says, munching on some leftovers of the food in his teeth, sleepy from finish to start, probably under some medicine effects. "If you are good they can even give you the good stuff…" He mumbles.

Do I even want to know what he is talking about? Or rather, does he even realize that I'm here or is he just daydreaming?

I have no time to ask as he simply falls asleep, surprising me of how carefree he manages to be; in all situations even, I remember I saw him talking with some slaves on the cage before we save him.

Too carefree… in the border of being stupid.

Though I had to admit that, by now, my mind was slow and foggy, and since Isaac wasn't here anymore I was not up to chase him for answers… today, at least, so I'm finally go find a place to rest down after this nightmare came to be, finding a corner where I would not get in the way and covering myself with a blanket from my space, pushing my head against the wall and covering my head to try and keep the light away, even though the place kept being quite loud with everyone moving about.

Though I was in no position to complain.

My mind was tired from all the information and things that keep happening one after the other so the only smart thing to do right now was to rest and talk later.

Tomorrow would be a long day.

And yet… before I fell asleep, I got an idea that finally manages to calm my nerves down a little; and as Leonel had said, I truly had given Seiroe a too big of a burden, but thinking I was out of choices I send him out.

But now I realized… I had a way to gather information on my own, a way no one was aware of.

Have you two rascals recovered yet?

I receive a deep grow in the deepest part of my mind, followed by a sneer.

'f course we are, boss took his time calling for y'!

Them you already know what to do, stop bothering me and go to work!

So meanie boss!

I painful howl follows, making me roll my eyes underneath the blanket.

Come on, is not like you haven't been waiting for it, just don't cause too much trouble you hear me?

…

You hear me?

Are they already gone? But even so they would be able to hear me just fine.

Those two… How did I manage to have those two trouble makers as my Sentient Shadows? I swallowed my prejudice against my will, knowing that even though they were rascals they were somehow part of me, and more trustworthy than anyone could ever be.

At least in the matter of not being able to hide or lie to me, because doing what they were asked for was another matter completely different…

Don't worry boss, we won't mess 't up, for our little pup.

Pup, they liked to call Hunthor like that…

Uhm, I understand.

And I really do now. I understand that, as part of me, their worry was as big as mine and that, for them, my brother was as important as he was to me; and that they would not mess things up if my brother's life was on the line.

They slipped out without anyone noticing, and as Deadbite used Darkjaw as a mount once more as they trotted out and into another city where they could gather information for us.

Though as they did not have a humanoid form, with their snouts very apparent, they would stand out between the crowd, making that they need to be smart on how they will gather information out of people.

With that settled, and nothing more I could do now beyond wait for them to call back, I'm finally able to relax enough to sleep, light and unstable sleep, but better than no sleep at all.

I just hope that our efforts are not in vain.