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Failure is followed by punishment. That was an unavoidable fact of life.
Especially when you are supposed to be the right-hand man of the Emperor of the Boiling Isles.
Hunter wasn't in a position to fail a mission - any mission, be it big or small. From rounding up wild witches and hunting down criminals, or gathering specific ingredients, he was expected to succeed. No matter the odds.
So how could it be that the Golden Guard returned empty-handed with his head hanging low and kneeling before the throne?
Well, there was only one explanation. He failed.
He let the wild witches escape.
It was the first failed mission in a long line of successes. But that didn't matter, not when he was supposed to be able to handle everything he was tasked with. So when they arrived back he sent the dejected scouts away, fully aware that they would have their own captain's wrath to contend with, and after making himself presentable, he went to the throne room.
Emperor Belos was already waiting for him. Hunter knew that he had already been informed of his failure. Courtesy of Kikimora no doubt.
The other scouts standing guard were sent away. They gave Hunter some pitying looks but they all but fled.
"Welcome back, Golden Guard," the Emperor's voice was even and controlled. But Hunter could already feel the rumbling of anger underneath it.
"My liege," he said kneeling before the throne.
"I was already informed of the... unfortunate outcome of your mission," he said not leaving any space for the moment to linger between them. "Would you care to elaborate?"
Any other time, he would have called him nephew by now.
Hunter knew he didn't deserve that affection, not after how he screwed up.
So he took a deep breath, accepted his fate, and gave his Emperor the detailed report he expected. Halfway through he could already feel his Uncle's curse acting up. It made him stutter for a minute, but Hunter quickly got a hold of himself. He just had to finish, take his punishment, then he could be out of here.
"I am disappointed in you, Nephew," he said, his voice sounding strained. "How many missions have you completed successfully? And to fail something so simple. Hunter, this is not what I expect from you."
"I am truly sorry, Unc-"
"You are addressing your Emperor now."
"Yes, my liege," he quickly corrected himself. "I apologize for my tardiness. But given more time, I can track down the wild witches and bring them in."
The Emperor sighed with disappointment. "So you are begging for more time?"
Hunter hung his head lower. "If you judge that my time is better utilized somewhere else."
The Emperor bubbled over then, hand clasping at his chest. A horrible growl escaped through gritted teeth.
Hunter jumped up, he knew the signs by heart now and didn't need to be told what to do. He rushed to the door and pulled it open wide enough to poke his head out.
"Go get a palisman!" he ordered the closest scout, his tone demanded obedience.
The scout, already on edge, stumbled over himself but he ran down the hall.
A couple of minutes, he told himself. The scout should be back in a couple of minutes, then everything would be alright. He turned around, cautious of what he would find.
His Uncle got on his feet and staggered off the steps. It was a miracle that he didn't fall. But Hunter could already see the curse sludge dripping down his arms and under the mask.
He gurgled with a horrible pained noise.
Hunter only hesitated for a minute before rushing over.
"Uncle?" he asked. "Are you alright? The scout will be here soon, just hold-"
He must have made a mistake, some sudden move, some misstep.
It happened in a flash. Hunter didn't have time to react.
A green tendril lashed out in his direction. Hunter felt his mask rip off of his head where it connected. He felt the blood rush down his neck before he felt the pain. Hunter tentatively touched the spot, but he was too scared to press down.
Belos fell to his knees then.
No time to think. There was a knock on the door at that minute, and the scout asked in a shaky voice if anybody was still there. Hunter had the forethought to grab his mask and press it against his face while he ran over. He all but tore the staff out of the scout's hands, then ordered him to stand by, just in case.
The door slammed behind him leaving the scout to take a couple of steps back.
Hunter envied him a lot. But he couldn't waste time on self-pity, his Uncle needed him.
He handed the staff over, jumping back just in time to avoid his, now talon-like fingers.
The staff broke as if it was a twig in his hands. Hunter was often reminded just how strong and dangerous his Uncle's curse could be. Then he consumes the wild magic of the palisman and breathes as if he was drowning.
Everything calmed down finally.
Uncle Belos needed a few minutes to gather himself, and when he finally got back on his feet Hunter allowed himself a sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Nephew," he said, voice still wavering. "That was unfortunate."
Hunter tried to cover up his injury. He didn't know if his Uncle remembered hurting him, and he was unsure if he should call attention to it.
But his Uncle must have noticed either way. "Let me take a better look at that."
He took the mask and pulled it away from Hunter's face, revealing the gash on his face. Belos frowned. Could it be that bad? Hunter tried his best not to squirm under his Uncle's inspection.
"It's deep," he said. "But nothing to bother the Healing Coven over for. I trust that you can take care of it on your own?"
Hunter nodded.
"Use your voice, Hunter," Belos chided.
"Of course," he stammered. "I mean. Of course, Sir."
"No need for that, Nephew," he said and Hunter could hear some fondness in his tone. That set him at ease.
"Go and patch yourself up. Unfortunately, it seems that it's going to leave a scar."
It definitely would. "Of course, I will take my leave now, Uncle."
"Take the evening off," Uncle Belos said. "And Hunter?"
"Yes, Uncle?" Hunter turned back. He didn't want to say it, but he was eager to get out of here.
"I trust we won't have an incident like this in the future."
Hunter shook his head. "No, no. Of course not."
If he meant him getting into the curses way, or failing a mission, he wasn't sure. But it was needless to say that neither should happen.
Uncle Belos nodded. He could feel his piercing blue eyes see into his very soul, looking for any weakness within him.
"Take care, Hunter."
With that, Hunter bowed and left. Getting the blood out of his uniform is going to be a pain. But he couldn't be happier for the unspoken second chance he was granted. He will be sure not to squander it.
As expected the wound scared.
Hunter sometimes caught himself staring at it in the mirror, or absent-mindedly running a finger over it.
It's a reminder, - he told himself. It might have been an accident, but he will never allow himself to fail like that again.