Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Cough, cough!” 

Kishiar coughed into his gloved hand, trying to be as quiet as possible. Nathan noticed either way, narrowing his eyes with a concerned frown. 

“Your grace.” 

“I’m fine, Nathan. Keep moving.” 

It was cold. And snowing. They were both expecting a storm to approach, so they needed to find shelter quickly. 

Kishiar never meant for this to happen, but once they got separated from the Paletta knights because of the ambush, they lost their way back. The snow had begun to appear, erasing any footsteps back to camp. 

He just hoped the remaining knights managed to set up the tents before nightfall. 

Nathan remained by his side as they walked through the white land of snow, only the crunch from their footsteps and the wind blowing through the trees echoed in the woods. 

A sharp breeze dusted Kishiar’s pinked cheeks and he pushed the scarf further up. The irritating cough threatened to escape him again, but Kishiar was determined to not worry Nathan any more than he already has, so he swallowed it down. 

It’s been a year since the Red Stone fell and Kishiar’s condition improved. Yet, even if he awakened and was no longer threatened by death every day, he was prone to illness. 

It didn’t happen very often anymore, but there were unfortunate times where he was simply unlucky. An ambush of assassins, an overexertion of effort to get rid of them, and then the harsh weather to combine it all caused Kishiar to receive a cold. 

He just hoped it wouldn’t get worse, for the sake of both his and Nathan’s safety. 

“Cough—“ Another one escaped him nonetheless, a suppressed cough. Nathan eyed him silently, a deep furrow on his face. 

They didn’t even have any supplies, having left the camp for a short moment when they sensed they were being followed. Both Kishiar and Nathan agreed to fight the assassins away from the knights, so they had walked a distance away. However, during the ambush that turned into a chase, they lost their sense of direction. 

Kishiar only faults himself. It was his idea and order to chase the last assassin that managed to slip away when the enemies realized they were at a disadvantage. They had both expected to be able to go back to camp immediately, which is why they only had winter clothes to keep them warm and a sword by their waists. 

“Keep close.” Kishiar ordered once the falling snow became thicker, obscuring their vision. 

“Yes.” 

However, as Nathan was stepping closer, something caught both of their attention in the distance. Immediately, they froze in their steps. 

‘Huh…?’ 

A few meters away, a dark figure sat silently in the snow. From afar, Kishiar had to squint to see what it was, but the moment he did, a fascinated breath escaped him. 

It was a panther. A beautiful, exotic creature with fur as black as the night, a stark contrast to the blinding white snow. 

And in front of it laid a body. A bloody, ruined corpse. 

In an instant, Nathan pulled out his sword and stepped in front of Kishiar. The noise drew the animal’s attention, and they both stiffened as the panther turned around. 

The feline peeked over its shoulder, swishing his tail against the snow. Two, piercing, violet eyes locked on them the moment it saw them, latching onto Kishiar’s heart, freezing him in place. The eyes were deep with something else, Kishiar felt an unexplainable pull inside his chest. 

‘How…’

He closed his mouth with a hum in his mind. Wondering what such a creature was doing here. 

“…fascinating…” 

“It’s a wild animal, your grace.” Nathan warmed him when Kishiar took a step closer. 

“A wild animal that is not in his habitat.” Kishiar pointed out instead. “Let alone all the way here in the cold mountains.” 

The panther continued to stare at them, this time completely standing up to turn its full body. The action caused more of the corpse to show, and Kishiar immediately recognized the uniform. 

‘…!’ 

It was a woman, one of the assassins, the single one who managed to escape them, leading to this entire chase. Did the panther attack her before she could get away? They were already far from camp, because Kishiar was sure they had been walking in the wrong direction. He didn’t know whether to feel lucky or confused. 

“That… is odd.” Nathan agreed with him, but remained in his stance. The bloody scene hinted at aggression, and Nathan wouldn’t risk anything in this already problematic situation. 

“Hmm… I think ‘interesting’ is a more fitting word.” 

Truly. Airic was already a cold environment, not giving enough warmth during the summer for an exotic animal like a panther. It had no reason to be here. 

The panther blinked at them. Deep purple eyes with two black slits studied them closely. Kishiar felt observed, but not the one that hinted at danger, but one that felt pleasing to his heart. 

The sight was beautiful. It was the simplest way to describe the rare animal. A coat of shimmery black fur, the white snow painting it a lighter shade like a cape. Two fluffy ears sat atop of his head, flicking in the cold breeze, and a long, elegant tail swished from side to side. 

Kishiar has never encountered a panther before, only read about them in books. Even as an imperial family member, the animal was too bothersome to move from the southern parts of the world only for the sake of living in the Empire. 

Suddenly, Kishiar wondered if Nathan has ever seen one before. 

However, in the next moment, the panther began to move, a slow, majestic walk towards them. Nathan’s grip on his sword tightened, but Kishiar immediately whispered to him. 

“Still.” 

His adjutant obeyed, standing completely still as the predatory feline crept closer. The panther appeared to be unbothered by the sword, and once he neared, Kishiar noticed the lack of blood on him. 

Another cough built up within his throat, but Kishiar forcefully pushed it down, feeling his head heat up, probably from an oncoming fever. The worst thing that could happen was to spook the panther, perhaps endangering him and Nathan in the process. 

It was painful, but Kishiar remained unmoving. 

Nathan’s shoulders were stiff when the panther walked past them and momentarily stopped to stare at Kishar’s gloved hand. Neither understood his behavior, Kishiar simply let him sniff if he wished to. 

Luckily, the panther shortly continued walking after another moment, and Kishiar breathed out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. 

It was surprising. A creature that had just supposedly killed an assassin meant for Kishiar simply walked past them? Despite the scene, it didn’t seem to be aggressive, and Kishiar found his gaze lingering. 

The black figure stalked away only to suddenly stop in his tracks. 

“…?” 

Then, he looked over his shoulder, once again locking eyes with them. He stared straight at Kishiar and Nathan with a deep, calculating, violet look. 

The fur cast a shadow over the snow, creating an eerie image. Kishiar frowned, feeling an odd sensation within his chest. 

It felt like the panther wanted something. The violet eyes spoke to him, luring him in, as of to say something, almost like— 

Then, the panther’s tail swished from side to side, and nudged his head in the direction forward. The action was weirdly human-like. 

“Does he want us to follow him?” Kishiar asked, a bit surprised by his own conclusion, but the relaxed look on the feline’s face told him otherwise. 

“It could be leading us to more predatory animals.” 

“Even when panthers travel alone?” Kishiar turned to his adjutant, who had lowered his sword with a frown. 

Truth be told, the rational part of Kishiar was still skeptical, but the other part of him trusted the panther. It was an odd feeling, one that told him to follow, to keep close. 

Besides, what did they have to lose? 

“The snow is picking up. Perhaps he found shelter and was willing to share.” Kishiar knew it was wishful thinking, but they didn’t have many options to choose from. 

All they could do was hope.

***

It was only when they began to walk towards the panther that the creature resumed walking, confirming he truly wanted them to follow. 

Just like Kishiar had said, the wind was now hitting more harshly and the snow covered almost their entire vision. Nathan kept close, never stepping too far away. 

The falling snowflakes flew more violently, blinding them, but the panther’s black coat made it easy to follow. Kishiar wondered if there truly was a god out there who took mercy upon them and sent this precious guide. 

His condition was getting worse, though. Kishiar was suspecting a fever, Nathan could probably tell, too. His movements were getting slower, and despite the cold, Kishiar felt his face heating up dizzily. 

After another 10 minutes of walking, Nathan eventually had to support him with an arm around his torso. Kishiar coughed painfully but forced his legs to move, they couldn’t afford to stop. 

But then, like a blessing from above, they saw a house. A small cottage surrounded by bushes and trees, looking out of place in the empty but close woods. 

Kishiar breathed out a quick exhale, feeling his body finally relax after all the tension. They found shelter, the panther had led them here, it would be okay. 

Nathan didn’t waste any time approaching the house with Kishiar. Even if they did find shelter, a miracle in itself, they weren’t sure if someone was already living there. However, his lord was sick and Nathan was desperate, so he was prepared to do anything to make it work. 

Weirdly enough, neither got a chance to knock on the door before the panther pawed at the doorknob and naturally pushed it open. 

“…” 

It almost looked like a practiced move, one that was done way too casually and easily for an animal. The panther walked inside like he owned the place, and Kishiar was beginning to doubt if the original owner was still alive. 

Either way, they quickly followed the large cat, instantly noticing the lit fireplace once they entered, but they couldn’t stop. 

Nathan easily got to work, helping his lord sit down in an armchair in front of the fireplace, hoping he would receive some warmth. At this point, Kishiar was breathing heavily, his skin twitching from the cold while his face glistened with sweat. 

“Cough! Cough!” The coughs came easily now, forcing him into a coughing fit until it temporarily calmed down. They needed food and water. 

“Your grace, I will be back shortly.” 

He needed to work quickly. Nathan immediately stood up and began to search the house. There was no one here, that much he was sure of. It was odd how the fireplace was already lit by the time they got inside, but he brushed it aside for now. 

However, as he moved around in search for anything helpful, he couldn’t help but notice how lived-in the cottage was. In the worst case scenario, the owner would come back before they managed to leave, and demand they got out. 

Nathan’s gaze darkened at the thought and swore he wouldn’t let such a thing happen. Manners be damned, he couldn’t risk his lord’s condition worsening. Not after he just got healthy. 

Loud rustling came from the kitchen as Nathan rummaged through cupboards. He found a few plates and utensils, barely enough for two people. 

There was almost no food, water even less. 

He wanted to sigh in irritation, feeling the urge of misfortune despite the blessing of finding a house right before the storm arrived. 

Tug.

Suddenly, something tugged on the hem of his coat and Nathan instinctively pulled away, a guarded expression turning to the panther looking up at him. 

‘When did it…?’ 

He hadn’t heard it approach. How? The old house was creaking with every step. 

Nathan couldn’t help but pause his movements. It still unsettled him to be so close to an animal known for not being tame, yet the eyes showed no hostility. 

The panther then butted its head against his hip and a rumble escaped it. Nathan stiffened with the risk of accidentally upsetting it, but slowly realized it wanted to tell him something, just like earlier. 

“What?” he chose to ask, eyes narrowing with suspicion. 

Instead of lingering, the panther began to walk into a seperate room. Nathan remained still for another moment before following. Once he got inside, he quickly recognized it as a small bedroom. It was a tight space, only enough for a bed, a nightstand and a few items scattered in the corners, but his gaze instantly locked on the panther that was pawing at a few blankets. 

Feeling stunned, Nathan’s expression faltered. This was no normal animal, it had a conscience, he was sure of it. Perhaps his lord had realized it earlier from the way he always addressed the panther as ‘he’ or ‘him’ instead of ‘it’. 

‘It doesn’t matter.’ 

Even if the panther was different, it hasn’t threatened them yet. If it were to happen, Nathan was confident in his ability to kill it either way, it’s no different from a small monster. 

“Thank you.” He still chose to say, feeling a bit odd at thanking an animal for showing him this room, but he brushed it off. 

Nathan gathered the blankets in his arms, momentarily apologizing to the real owner before walking back to his lord. 

Kishiar’s forehead dripped with sweat, his golden hair beginning to cling to the skin. His eyes were tired when they met Nathan’s, probably resisting the urge to sleep. 

“Your grace.” 

“Ah, Nathan you…” Kishiar trailed off when his adjutant started laying layers of blankets on him. He didn’t protest, knowing it would be more efficient to warm up, but a question lingered in the air. 

“I couldn’t find any water. My apologies. The panther did lead me into a room where I found the blankets.” 

“Really? Cough— cough… It’s alright, Nathan. We’ll make it work. All we need to do is get through the night until the storm calms.” 

Kishiar spoke through coughs, reassuring him that it’ll work out. Nathan didn’t feel very reassured, knowing how much was lacking for his lord to get better and be comfortable. However, they had found shelter, which was the most important part.

“Mrrow.” 

Then, a cute, curious sound came from behind Kishiar as he opened his eyes. He watched his adjutant turn his face to the kitchen and his expression morphing into one in disbelief. 

Nathan was never that expressive, but Kishiar has learned how to read his mind. “What is it?” 

“There…” The frown replaced his surprise, and Nathan straightened his back. “There’s food. And water.” 

“What?” 

“It wasn’t there before…” 

“…” 

Food and water appearing out of nowhere? Kishiar didn’t doubt Nathan when he said he searched through everything, and while Kishiar couldn't see behind him, the food must be in plain sight for his adjutant to react that way. 

Their eyes met, and Kishiar gave an approving nod. Nathan disappeared from his view, silently moving into the kitchen again. Kishiar let himself relax as he listened to the crackling from the fireplace and Nathan’s movements. His adjutant was probably checking to see if the food was safe to eat, and hopefully enough for both of them. 

Well, all three of them. 

He shortly felt another presence approach him. Kishiar has always been more sensitive to sensing other people and beings. It was an additional part of his heritage bloodline, which made it almost impossible to sneak up on him or Keilusa. 

This is why he didn’t startle when the panther circled around the armchair. His movements were slow, but not cautious. The beautiful amethyst eyes warmed in the glow from the fire, creating a soft look on the dangerous animal. 

The panther stopped beside him, close enough for him to touch if he wanted to. The two stared at each other for a silent moment, Kishiar admiring the majestic beast in front of him. 

A genuine smile grew on his lips. “Hello.” 

An ear flicked at his soft tone. Kishiar tested the waters by reaching his hand out towards his face, but stopped when the panther visibly jerked away. 

“…” 

He retreated his hand, letting it fall onto the arm of the chair, he continued smiling. “Thank you for leading us here. You saved my life.” 

The panther only remained silent, his gaze flickering from his face to his hand. Perhaps it was thinking, contemplating something. Kishiar would love to study the animal more, there was something different about him. 

No creature would act like this. It seemed to be too familiar, too intelligent, too calculative. Kishiar suspected it was truly human, disguised as a panther. If that were the case, he would make sure to thank his savior properly no matter the form they’ve taken. 

Kishiar did flinch, however, when soft fur lightly brushed against his fingers. The panther stroked his face against him just once before lying down on the floor by his feet. 

“…” 

A giddy feeling enveloped his heart. Despite his drowsiness, a beaming smile blossomed on Kishiar’s face. Slowly, he moved his hand up to his face, feeling the way they still tingled from the touch. How he regretted wearing his gloves even inside the house. He would have loved to feel the soft fur without the additional layer of fabric. 

When Nathan returned, his adjutant eyed the animal resting dangerously close to Kishair’s feet, but seeing Kishiar’s smile, he let go of it. Instead, he carefully gave Kishiar a bowl of soup, holding a glass of water for when he needed it. 

Even with a panther lying right beside him, Kishiar felt more safe than ever. All his years he’s lived in a palace, a cold and empty space despite the many servants. He grew used to it, after all, it was the only thing he knew. 

Yet, right here, relaxed as he was in the presence of his friend and the new addition, Kishiar felt like he could stay for an extra day or two. 

Chapter Text

It took two days for Kishiar to get well enough for them to go back to camp. The other paletta knights were frantic when they saw them, immediately providing anything necessary. Kishiar apologized to the knights who had been plagued with worry, and they swiftly resumed their journey to meet up with General Gino. 

The main reason for their trip was because there had been a sudden wave of power coming from the Red Stone a few days ago. Originally, Keilusa planned for Kishiar to inspect and retrieve the Red Stone once the Cavalry had been established, even if it was a year left before his suggestion would go through. 

“Hm.” 

Standing in front of the pit created by the stone, Kishiar actually felt lighter than during the entire trip. It was almost like his lingering fever had vanished completely, but he didn’t near go any closer. 

While the entire mountain was covered with deep snow from the storm, but the area around the stone lacked the white texture. Almost as if the energy radiating off of it melted the snowflakes before it could land on it. 

According to General Gino, the stone’s power had weakened during the fluctuation of energy, even to the point that he, a non-awakener, could stand relatively close without feeling on the verge of passing out. 

Nathan also stood on Kishiar’s other side, not showing any signs of strain except for the small bead of sweat running down his forehead. 

“Do you have any idea what could have caused it?” He spoke up, directing his question to the general. 

“No, your grace. We have refrained from approaching because of how the energy is affecting us, but we do regularly patrol around the area.” 

“And no intruder was detected? You didn’t happen to spot anyone living near?” 

Nathan noticed the underlying meaning behind Kishiar’s words, remembering the cottage they found the other day. However, General Gino, undeterred by the question, continued. 

“Our presence is the only civilised one in the Rik Mountains this close to the stone. The nearest village would take a full day to travel to.” 

“I see…” 

Kishiar remained quiet after that, deep in thought. There was a chance that someone managed to evade the patrolling knights and encounter the Red Stone. Kishiar was aware that many other nobles, although pretending to be disinterested, had their eyes on the stone. However, no one had dared to get close in fear of what would happen. 

That is how a whole year has gone by without any change. 

“Let’s not linger any longer. I will inform you when his majesty plans for us to move the Red Stone.” Noticing how both Gino and Nathan’s movements began to get sluggish, he figured it was about time they returned. 

The three men walked alone in the thick forest, planning for a swift return before the sun set in the distance. Yet, they didn’t get very far until they all stopped. 

“...” 

In a small opening, a spring appeared in front of them. An ordinary spring, one they walked past on the journey up the mountain, but as Kishiar crouched in front of it, a different color stuck out in the blue river. 

“Blood.” Nathan spoke up, eyes narrowing at the red color mixing in the water. 

“it appears there’s been a fight.” Kishiar stood up as he looked in the direction the blood was coming from. “A recent one too.” 

“Should I send my men to investigate?” 

“And risk a person possibly bleeding out?” 

They hadn’t confirmed what or who was injured, but Kishiar wouldn’t take any risks if there was someone, perhaps a certain person living in a small cottage, who was bleeding to death at this moment. Even if it weren’t them, he wouldn’t leave someone like this. 

And so, the two swordsmen followed Kishiar as they walked beside the river. It didn’t take long before a large monstrous figure could be seen. 

“It’s a monster?” 

“Seems like someone was unfortunate enough to encounter one.” Kishiar added. Nathan approached to inspect it as Kishiar stayed a few steps away. “General Gino, what are the statistics of monster appearances here?” 

The older man crossed his arms, grasping his chin. “Although there are few of them, monsters do appear in the Rik Mountains more often than other places thanks to its lack of civilization.” 

“So the people here would have to know how to defend themselves?” 

“...Monsters attacking villages are rare. This type doesn't travel in groups. Yet, they do avoid being near the Red Stone, which makes this confusing.” Gino spoke with a frown as Nathan finally stood up. 

“Your grace.” 

He called out to Kishiar, urging him to take a look. Just as Kishiar rounded the monster, he noticed a long trail of blood that was hiding behind the large figure, disappearing into the woods. To make it worse, the clear footprints of a bloodied paw settled his suspicions. 

“There are bite and claw marks on the monster.” Nathan spoke with a serious look on his face, the weight of his words tugging on Kishiar’s heart. 

Seems like his new friend was in danger. He would need to find him immediately. 

“Monster blood is highly poisonous. Judging from the gruesome sight of ripped flesh and open wounds, he must have been desperate to kill it.” 

General Gino, who did not understand part of their conversation, had his eyes focused on the monster. “An animal attacked and managed to kill it? How?” 

“…” 

Yeah, how? 

No ordinary animal would be able to take down such a large beast, but there was an exception if the animal was highly skilled and intelligent. 

“General Gino, go back to the division and prepare a healer.” 

“A healer for the animal?” 

“No.” Kishiar’s gaze slowly moved to the trail of blood, his expression souring. “For a person.” 

Following the red pawprints, an uneasy feeling pooled in Kishiar’s gut. He couldn’t explain it, but for some reason, he felt more worried than he thought he should be. 

Sure, the panther had saved them, led them to a house and even helped them with food and water, something Kishiar was still confused over how it got there. But it was only an animal, a feline used to the constant risk of kill or be killed. 

Yet, something within him told him it wasn’t an ordinary panther, but a person. 

If it truly was the panther that killed the monster, it would mean it consumed the blood through bites, and scratched into its flesh with its claws, infecting his own skin. 

He needed divine healing, preferably fast. Kishiar hoped he was fast enough considering the fight must have taken place recently. 

Then, like his prayers got answered, a low, distant, pained gruff reached his ears. Both Kishiar and Nathan snapped their heads up. 

Far away, almost far enough for them to not see, a small black figure walked in the snow. Blood dripped from a wet patch on the side of the panther’s abdomen, and every staggering step dug into Kishiar’s heart. 

The panther swayed, barely regaining his footing. The poison was taking place. 

Then, the panther stopped altogether and roughly collapsed on his side, and suddenly, Kishiar couldn’t afford to stand and watch. 

An urge to say something filled Kishiar the moment he saw it all, and he immediately moved his legs. Nathan was quick behind him, they instantly closed the distance between them and the exhausted panther. 

Yet… when they got close enough, Kishiar didn’t see the black fur he was expecting. 

“……” 

It was a human, a young man with pitch-black hair, wearing a dark cape to attempt to keep himself warm. Kishiar automatically slowed down, staring at the person in front of him in disbelief. He had suspected it from the beginning, but seeing him up close caused a different feeling to resurface. 

“It… He’s human.” Nathan said with his own surprise in his voice. 

It was understandable. After all, they had just seen a panther fall, the same panther that led them to a house, sheltered them from the storm, helped Kishiar recover and provided food for them… They had seen him injured, collapsing to the ground, but the moment they got close, there was no longer a panther there. 

The young man’s expression was blank with his eyes closed. The only thing hinting at him being in pain was the shallow, raspy and frequent breaths, moving his chest in a pace worrying for anyone. 

Wordlessly, Kishiar crouched down in front of him, letting his knees fall onto the snow. 

“A shifter,” he mumbled, recalling the ancient species of a being part animal and part human, one that could shapeshift into the animal representing their fated personality. Kishiar thought there were no left, but here he was, watching possibly the last of their kind fade away. 

He felt dizzy. 

“Nathan, take out the cloth.” 

Nathan moved immediately upon his orders, they needed to stop the bleeding and cleanse the wound. Kishiar let him work and felt the ache from his eyebrows furrowing deeply on his face. 

A slow, gloved hand reached out to the man, just like he had done to the panther. The difference being this time, the beautiful being couldn’t shy away as he gently rested his hand on the soft black hair. 

To Kishiar’s surprise, two dark eyes cracked open. With exhaustion filling them, they moved to meet Kishiar’s, locking on him with an indifferent gaze. Instead of staying quiet, Kishiar put a reassuring smile on his face, letting his hand gently pat his head. 

“Hello there. How lucky I am to meet you again, although under rather unfortunate circumstances.” 

The man remained silent as they stared at each other, briefly closing his eyes to focus on his laboured breathing. Just then, Nathan managed to find the cloth from the bag they had taken with them. 

With a mumbled apology, Kishiar carefully turned the man over to his back and Nathan pressed on the open wound with the fabric. 

The only thing the man gave away was a hitched breath before immediately falling silent, resorting to holding the air in his lungs to tense his muscles from the pain. 

“Breathe.” Kishiar reminded him, feeling relieved when the person actually inhaled rather shakily. 

“P… Poison..” Through a raspy throat, the young man managed to get the word out. 

“I know, it’s okay.” 

A long moment of silence remained as Kishiar and Nathan worked. At some point, Kishiar began to infuse the wound with divine energy, just for the sake of it to stop bleeding as they moved back to camp. 

He wasn’t sure if the man noticed. 

With a complicated expression, Kishiar watched the unconscious person as Nathan cleaned up the supplies that had been scattered around them. He had passed out before the blood stopped flowing, but Kishiar was sure that might’ve been for the better. 

Wordlessly, he snuck his arms around the smaller body and lifted him up. Immediately, Nathan noticed. 

“Your grace, you shouldn’t overexert yourself.” 

Kishiar only laughed. “Don’t worry, Nathan. Shouldn’t I return the favor since he’s already saved me once?” 

And so, they made their way back to camp, urgent to heal the one in Kishiar’s arms. 

Chapter Text

Yuder was nauseous, his consciousness slowly coming back to him. 

His throat felt clogged, and he swallowed desperately to get rid of the lump, but the walls of his throat scratched painfully. 

He felt like he was floating. Head dizzy without being able to comprehend what was up and down. Another wave of nausea crashed into him, and Yuder’s face scrunched up in response. 

Blinking open his eyes, nothing helped him focus. His sight was swimming, only noticing the lumps of colors and light. 

“Ugh…” 

Yuder groaned, attempting to move when a sudden pain stabbed into his gut. His breath caught in his throat with a gasp, canceling any noise from escaping. 

‘..damn it.’ 

With his mind barely lucid, Yuder recalled his recent fight. 

‘The… poison.’ 

He’ll die if he doesn’t move. Yuder can’t afford to go yet, at least not before warning him of the future. 

An arm, filled with exhaustion, clumsily moved, trying to feel for anything on the soft surface beneath him. 

‘I need.. to get rid of it.’ 

The poison was spreading. Another few minutes and he’ll be paralyzed. 

Just then, his fingers brushed against something sharp. His dagger. 

Yuder closed his grip around it, feeling the sting of the blade digging into his palm. He tried to lift his head, propelling himself up on a shaky elbow, and bringing the trembling knife to hover right above the poisoned wound. 

“…!”

But then something grabbed his wrist, Yuder flinched. Strong fingers wretched the knife away from his hand, bringing it away from the cut in his stomach, and Yuder struggled. 

His senses screamed of an intruder, someone who was trying to stop him, someone who was trying to kill him. 

In a weak attempt, Yuder tried turning over and summon his wind to push them away, but with a spinning vision and exhausted body, nothing happened. 

Another pair of hands pushed at his shoulders, gentle and stern at the same time. They were trying to hold him down. 

“….hey…...down…..you’re…kay…..” 

A voice, disoriented and distant barely reached his ears. Yuder closed his eyes, and it was only how he heard how loud his ragged breaths were. 

The person kept speaking to him, keeping him grounded with two warm hands resting in his shoulders, making sure he stayed lying down. 

It was calm, resonating, with a rumble hidden in it. 

“…..sleep……l…be here…..wake up.” 

Yuder had no strength to protest. He felt it, the pulsating pain in his stomach, the nausea stuck in his throat, and the strong arms pushing him down. It was pointless to fight. 

So what could he do other than listen to the distant voice? 

Yuder’s breathing didn’t steady even when his consciousness drifted to the back of his mind. 

*****

Kishiar stared at the sleeping man before him, his hands still settled on his shoulders. A deep, displeased frown overwrote any other emotion on his face as he recalled the tense moments just before they got the man to calm down. 

Beside him, Nathan was holding a bloody dagger, one they somehow missed to remove when they stripped him of any weapon that could cause him harm. Kishiar doesn’t understand where he hid it. 

He sighed, long and deep, before finally rising. His fingers slowly left the man’s shoulders, a lingering burning feeling tingled. 

His heart was still pounding, not having calmed down yet. No one had expected the young man to wake up after just a couple hours, especially not after the injuries he sustained along with the poison. 

So imagine his surprise when he and Nathan returned to the man’s room to find him awake with a dagger in his hands, hovering it dangerously close over his bandaged wound as if he was any second away from stabbing himself. 

They both reacted instantly, Nathan managing to pry the knife out of his hands while Kishiar pushed the young man down again. It was impressive how, despite being drugged with poison that should’ve knocked him out for the rest of the next few days, he had fought with such determination. 

Still, he was no match in his condition, and Kishiar noticed how influenced the man still was by the poison, perhaps in pain too, but was the poison so bad to the point he urged to harm himself? 

The thought brought a bitter taste in Kishiar’s mouth. He didn’t know what he would’ve done if they walked into the room a minute too late. 

“Did he get injured?” He asked his adjutant, who inspected the blade in his hand. 

“He might have cut himself when he grabbed the dagger.” 

Just as he said, Kishiar spotted the bleeding gap in the young man’s palm, the crimson color almost covered the entirety of the odd bruise on his hand. It wasn’t deep by any means, but it was regrettable that it happened. 

A deep frown took over his displeased expression. 

“Tell them to hurry with the delivery.” 

There were priests here, but the poison had spread too much. Unfortunately, no priest had enough energy to completely heal the man Kishiar brought, exhausting themselves after focusing too much on the deep wound and monster blood affecting his veins, let alone the dark discoloration on his hand that didn’t seem to disappear. 

So Kishiar had to do it, which is why he asked Gino and his subordinates to find as many purification stones as possible. He couldn’t let the man, who saved Kishiar’s life, suffer like this. 

Yuder didn’t know how much time had passed when he finally stirred again. His body ached, but not in the sharp and stinging pain from before. It was manageable, calmed down without the fury running through his blood. 

He breathed out a light sigh, exhaustion pushing down his every limp. Yuder cracked his eyes open, only to meet an unfamiliar ceiling. The room was warm, contrary to the cold outside, and the sheets were comfortable and soft compared to the worn blankets Yuder used to keep himself warm in the precious winters. 

Memories slowly trickled back to him. He remembered the pain, the monster, and the poison he failed to notice until it was too late. Yuder remembered collapsing, feeling on the brink of passing out until he felt a gentle hand on his hair. 

At the time, Yuder’s vision was swimming too much to notice, but slowly recalling everything, he came to a realization. 

It was Kishiar. Again. 

“You’re awake? I was beginning to think you preferred our company while unconscious.” 

Suddenly, a humorous voice echoed through the room. Yuder turned his head, his stiff neck protesting, but he eventually caught sight of a man walking towards him. He couldn’t help but stare silently as Kishiar la Orr smiled prettily and sat down in the chair beside the bed. 

Yuder has already recovered from the shock of seeing him again when they met a few days ago. While wondering what the duke was doing in the Rik Mountains during such a time, especially when he himself has no memories of meeting him like this during the first timeline, Yuder couldn’t question him. 

He had been caught in his panther form. It’s always belonged to him, even before the Red Stone fell, but Yuder let himself be hidden. For years, he never let himself change into his second form until he lost the ability before his execution. 

Finding himself in the past felt like a fresh breath combined with the lump in his throat, so for the first time in years, he let himself morph. 

But then, a few weeks later, Kishiar appeared. It had been unexpected, but Yuder frowned. He wasn’t sure what had happened, but a snowstorm was approaching, and based on Kishiar’s weak complexion, they might not survive it without shelter. 

Yuder kept his distance during the days they stayed at his house, not wanting to risk anything. When they left, he thought that would be it. He doesn’t truly understand why he never let himself be shown, but perhaps it was the urge to not reveal himself. 

Yet, here he was. Yuder shouldn’t have left his house that morning. 

“How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?” Kishiar spoke in a calm and low voice, a beautiful smile on his face. 

Yuder didn’t answer, the lingering effects of sleep blurring his vision. He didn’t know how to answer. The first proper conversation he had with the man after almost a decade was in such a situation. 

He licked his dry lips, feeling the incoming pain in his throat as he opened his mouth. “…no.” 

His voice rasped, scratching the walls of his throat. Kishiar blinked, suddenly reminded of something. “Ah, my apologies. Here.” 

Black eyes followed the other’s movements as Kishiar brought a mug with water to his face. Yuder hadn’t even noticed it before, but the sight of it urged him to drink. He slowly tried to push himself up on his elbows, only getting a bit of help from Kishiar as he settled against the pillows on the headboard. 

But Kishiar didn’t let go of the mug as he pushed it against Yuder’s lips. Yuder paused, feeling how ridiculous the scene was. A duke was helping a commoner sit up and drink from a mug. Anyone watching would’ve probably fainted from the sight. 

“Go on, your throat must be hurting.” Despite the embarrassing situation, Kishiar only smiled, encouraging him to drink. Yuder felt helpless and eventually gave up, holding the mug together with the future Cavalry Commander as he drank. 

The water, having lost its refreshing warmth from how long it’s been sitting beside him, still soothed his sore throat. When Yuder finished, Kishiar put down the mug and began to speak. 

“Your body was poisoned, but most of it has been taken care of. You might need to be bedridden for a few days to recover your strength, but there shouldn’t be any other problems.” 

So the poison was gone. Yuder wondered how it was removed so quickly, considering he hoped he hadn't been unconscious for days. Although, he did have an idea of where he was. He couldn’t help but glance around and out the window. They were on the second floor, and not much could be seen besides snow and rooftops. 

Yuder let his tired head moved down, bringing a hand up to rub his eyes with the heel of his palm. A headache was still present, but it wasn’t that bothersome. He pulled it away, only to pause once he looked down at his hand. 

“…” 

He hadn’t noticed at first, but the mark on his hand had decreased. It didn’t hurt in the beginning when he got it, but Yuder noticed the ache whenever he used his powers. He tried not to use his ability too much, but the mark eventually spread to his wrist. Yet, now it was almost gone, looking like it did when he first noticed it. 

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t heal it completely,” Kishiar admitted, having noticed Yuder’s stare. “Although, if it’s alright with you, we can continue to try.” 

Still, it’s only polite to be thankful. They didn’t know each other like before, and even if the feeling felt foreign yet familiar, Yuder was currently in front of a duke. 

“Thank you..” He spoke as clearly as he could, his voice still not completely healed. 

“Of course. It’s the least I could do to repay you after saving my life.” 

Yuder fell silent, staring straight at the other man. 

“…” 

He hoped he hadn’t been found out. Their first meeting had been accidental and he couldn’t risk transforming back into a human. Yuder had also turned back before Kishiar approached once he found him injured. But it seemed like Kishiar figured it out either way. 

Yuder didn’t know how to feel. He was uncomfortable knowing someone else was aware of his second form when no one in the first timeline had ever seen it, but what could be done about it? He couldn’t afford to let such emotions cloud his mind. Yuder still had a goal after finding himself in the past. 

But Kishiar seemed to notice his tense muscles, and a gentle gaze returned. 

“Please do not worry. If you wish that I keep it a secret, then no one will know. I wouldn’t want such a beauty as yourself to point such a guarded expression at me.” 

Yuder quickly schooled his expression, not having noticed his furrowed eyebrows. Kishiar chuckled. 

“Had it not been for you, I don’t know what we would’ve done in such a storm. My rising fever hadn’t helped either, but you were kind enough to let us in your home. I am indebted to you.” 

“No, it’s alright.” Yuder quickly shook his head, the headache increasing slightly from the movements. “You have already helped me enough, there is no need for anything else.” 

The blond man’s expression remained as it was, forever unmoving despite Yuder’s quick reaction. “Then, may I ask a question?” 

Black eyes slowly found red as their gazes met. The air seemed to hold for a moment, but not with hostility. Yuder regarded him with calmness as he gave a subtle nod. 

Kishiar parted his lips. “The fallen beast was caused by you, wasn’t it? Even if I didn’t witness the fight, I could tell you are skilled. You fought it alone, knew where to strike, and its weakness.” 

He let the words continue as Yuder remained indifferent. Kishiar’s tone wasn’t accusing, but there was a deep look in his eyes that spoke of him having thought deeply about it before Yuder woke up. 

“Are you an awakener?” 

“Yes.” 

Yuder didn’t sugarcoat his words, letting the truth out. It wouldn’t matter later on since Yuder planned on going to the Capital soon enough, either way. He needed to meet Enon too. 

Kishiar hummed, mildly amused with obvious curiosity in his eyes. He let himself lean forward, face coming closer to Yuder’s own. Neither shied away. 

“I’ve been… assembling something. It will be a place, a force for people like you and me. I wish to move forward with this sudden change in the world with as much efficiency as possible.” 

Yuder didn’t expect Kishiar to bring up the Cavalry, but remained quiet in the calm silence. The man didn’t meet his eyes, pondering his next words, Yuder let him think. 

“It’s not finished yet, but it will be. And when it is, I’ll need people who know how to think, how to fight, just like you.” Kishiar finally looked back at him, a blinding and convincing smile on his face. 

“You don’t know me.” Yuder watched him, not letting his sharp eyes soften. The words weren’t harsh, just honest. For a moment, he doesn’t know what answer he wanted back. 

He didn’t know how to respond to the offer. They weren’t supposed to meet now, the timeline has already changed from one single interaction. And still, Kishiar doesn’t falter. He simply meets Yuder’s gaze with a quiet ease. 

“Not yet, but I’d like to.” Kishiar tilted his head, still leaning forward on his elbows. “So why not start now? 

He paused, letting Yuder watch him. Their eyes tangled, observing each other with hidden intensity. Yuder felt his breath caught in his throat. 

“My name is Kishiar la Orr, it is a pleasure to properly meet you. May I know the name of my beloved savior?” 

A moment slowly passed, Yuder’s fingers shifted on the blanket as he breathed, steady and calm. There was no push in Kishiar’s voice, only invitation. 

And that somehow made it harder to ignore. Yuder let himself give in to the feeling in his heart. 

“…Yuder.” 

Kishiar smiled.