Chapter Text
“What did he mean Asch?”
Asch turned slowly, his head to the ground, but he could hear the way Rhys said it. They weren’t dumb, Asch knew this but for one second he wishes they were. That they could forget so easily Zex had revealed.
“That’s not important,” he grumbled, “We need to look for the prisoner.”
“No,” Pierce said stepping forward.
“We deserve to know,” Leif declared with a touch of softness.
Something they all had learned to have little more of, something that they needed just for this moment. Earth had made them soft but not in a way that felt bad. Ava had made them soft. Asch gritted his teeth, his headache was growing and his heart wouldn’t stop pounding in his ears.
“Fine,” his voice was low and his gaze finally travelled upwards to look his loyal knights in the eyes.
They waited expectedly, as much as they all felt the need to hurry and find Ava, none of them felt compelled to rush the statement Asch kept on his tongue.
It was something none of them wanted to hear.
“The prophecy has been revealed,” Asch swallowed hard, “Kin to king must have blood spilt to gain back the magic.”
The forest air felt heavy, especially in comparison to how Earth’s air was. Or was it the confession that drove everyone's gaze to the ground, that made everything just a little harder to swallow.
It was unnervingly silent before Leif spoke out, “I…”
His voice was hesitant, “We won’t let it happen.”
Asch’s eyes widened, since the day Leif had been knighted he’d liked him the least out of his knights. Whether it was jealousy of how easily he spoke or frustration with the way he carried out each assignment, everything dissipated all in that moment.
“Yes,” Pierce spoke, and that’s all he needed to say.
“We won’t let you get hurt,” Noi ushered confidently.
“There’s always another way,” Rhys agreed.
It was worthless hope, at least that’s how Asch thought of it but in this moment when all felt hopeless he had to let something feel like it was worth fighting for.
He knew there was no other way, at least none revealed, but he had to believe.
He had to believe or his fear would swallow him whole.
***
Muffled voices echoed in the chamber, “Shhh she’s waking up!”
The girl opened her eyes and before her were three figures with wide eyes staring as she opened hers for what felt like the first time in ages.
It wasn’t even a second after she’d opened them that the man of the three began asking questions.
“Who are you? Why do you have pink eyes? Where did you come from? What kind of lineage gave you horns like that?”
The bombardment earned him scolding from the other two, particularly the pretty blonde who shut him up pretty quick.
“Quiet Rhal! Let her gather her thoughts,” Even while yelling her voice was like honey.
The girl groaned, what she laid on was far from comfortable and everything in her body ached as though someone had thrown her in a barrel and sent her flying down a waterfall.
“What-” her voice was hoarse and despite all she sat up.
The room surrounding her was barren, the walls were made of a gray brick, or stone? And what she laid on was not much different, what seemed like a table that had chains connected to the top and bottom. Luckily she found herself unchained.
“You must be confused but wary not, we mean you no harm,” Said the third girl.
Her hair was jet black and unruly but she at least tried to keep it pinned back with small pins that contrasted against her dark blue horns.
“I- where am I?” the girl asked.
“The palace of course,” Rhal beamed, “I was the one to find you, Prince Rhal.”
His chest puffed up with pride at the title but to a girl with no memory it meant hardly anything.
“I’m his wife, Lady Bish.”
“And I’m just the palace medic,” The other girl snorted, “And by the looks of it you aren’t dead.”
“What is your name?” Lady Bish asked.
The girl looked dazed, did she really not know her name?
“I-I don’t remember.”
It was panic that flooded the girls chest next, suffocating panic, could she really remember nothing? It was awful, her breathing was starting to go shaky, and her eyes couldn’t stop on one place.
“Calm down,” The medic said and put her hands on her hips, “You probably just had a terrible battle and your heads a little wobbled, your memories will come back eventually.”
“There is no spell to fix this?” Rhal asked the medic.
“None that I deem necessary, besides I fixed up all her cuts and bruises, she’ll be fine.”
Rhal looked disappointed, the medic seemed satisfied with their work but Lady Bish’s eyes watched the girl’s intently. Lady Bish was a woman who could hide the most passionate of emotions under her clear skin, but something seemed to break through behind her eyes.
Lady Bish turned to Rhal, “My love, I am in need of a new handmaiden.”
The message was not received and Rhal quickly lit up, “Then I will find you one!” He declared before Lady Bish sighed.
“No, no, what if I take in this poor girl and have her be my handmaiden?”
“Are you sure?” Rhal moved his eyes between Lady Bish and the girl carefully.
Lady Bish nodded and Rhal shifted his posture, “Whatever my love wants.”