The IV was still dripping, each movement limited by the fresh bandages stretched taught over my chest. I had woken up marginally better and more energized today, being able to sit up and take deep breaths without wincing each time. My body still felt weak though.
The palace servants and healers had fussed over my injuries and always kept guards close-by. I was escorted everywhere – even the damn bathrooms. They had the decency to at least not follow me inside.
Mira hadn't left the room much. She'd claimed the chair by my bed like it was her post, sleeping in it curled up with a blanket one of the maids had slipped her. During the day she handled small things: refilling my cup, propping pillows when I shifted wrong, wiping sweat from my forehead when fever spiked at night.
One minute she'd hover like I might shatter if she blinked, the next she'd snap something dry like "Stop squirming, you're making it worse" and shove another pillow behind me. The shifts kept me guessing, but I didn't mind. It beat being alone with my thoughts.
My new little companion had become livelier, climbing onto the headboard, chirping at sunlight through the window, and occasionally batting at my fingers like a curious kitten. It has visibly grown slightly bigger, with glossier fur and less shaky movements.
I stretched my arms overhead, testing the limits. Pain flared sharp across my ribs. I hissed and dropped them quick.
Mira glanced over from where she sat cross-legged on the floor sorting through a small pile of bandages the healers had left. Her eyes glinted with that faint amusement I'd started recognizing. "You keep doing that despite the wounds. Are you a masochist or something?"
A snort slipped out. My lips tugged into a half-smirk. "Yeah, and what if I am?"
She rolled her eyes and pushed to her feet. "At least you're feeling well enough to joke around. One of the attendants stopped by earlier. You're cleared for a walk in the gardens, but only if you tell the guards in the hall first. They want an escort."
Before I could answer she moved to the door. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, slower than I wanted. Mira came back and offered her hand without a word. I took it, letting her steady me as I stood. Her grip stayed light on my shoulder until I found my balance.
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah. Mostly."
The narelith let out a loud chirp from its position, jumping down from the headboard and onto me, claws digging into my shirt. My free hand quickly came up to hinder it from falling, settling it properly on my shoulder.
Mira took the lead, reaching for the doorknob, but it swung open before she had the chance.
The blonde knight with the scar stood in the doorway, her spear planted like she expected trouble even in a quiet hall.
She nodded to Mira before focusing on me. "Lord Kernt, good to see you on your feet. The healers cleared you for some fresh air if you're up for it."
I glanced at Mira, who shrugged lightly, her hand still near my arm like she was ready to steady me. "Yeah, sounds good. Been cooped up too long anyway."
The knight stepped aside, gesturing down the hall. "We'll escort you to the gardens. Queen's orders, no wandering off alone."
Mira walked beside me as we headed out, the narelith perched on my shoulder like a weird living scarf. It chirped once at a passing servant, then immediately tried to nip at the edge of my collar. Little freak already picked up some of my habits.
The halls stayed quiet this time of day, sunlight slanting through high windows and casting long shadows on the stone floors. Guards nodded as we passed, but nobody said much. It felt more like a procession than a simple stroll.
Outside, the gardens hit me with a rush of color and scent, flowers blooming everywhere, paths winding through trimmed hedges, a fountain bubbling nearby. I eased down onto a bench near the water, careful not to pull anything. The knight posted up about twenty feet away, close enough to jump in, and far enough to pretend we had privacy.
Mira sat next to me without asking. Her broken horn caught sunlight and threw a tiny rainbow on the stone. The narelith hopped off my shoulder straight into the grass, rolling once before sniffing at a daisy like it might eat it.
"You look less dead today," she said, voice low but with that dry edge creeping in again.
"High praise." I leaned back a little, ignoring the twinge. "Feels good to move, even if I feel like an inmate on yard time."
She watched the narelith bat at the flower petals. "It grew again overnight. Its fur looks softer. And it's... bolder."
"Yeah. They did say that it's pulling mana from me passively. Guess I'm leaking personality into it or something." I snorted. "Hope it doesn't inherit my habit of overthinking everything."
The creature paused, single white eye flicking toward me like it heard that. Then it flopped onto its back in the grass and wriggled, legs kicking air.
We let the fountain fill the quiet for a minute. My mind kept circling back to the Queen's words, the choice hanging over everything. Stay and train under watch, become the kingdom's glorified weapon for whatever Doomsday threw next. Or leave—grab Mira, the narelith, maybe Seraya if she wanted in—and head into the wild where monsters were already stirring.
I rubbed my chest over the bandages. "That tenebrim they nabbed... the one babbling about finding someone. Queen looked right at you when she brought it up."
Mira's shoulders tightened just a fraction. She kept staring at the narelith.
"Kinda weird, right?" I went on. "If it's connected to you, even a little, maybe seeing him makes things more clear. Up to you tho. I'm not gonna pretend I know what's best here."
She exhaled slow. "I feel it too. Like pressing on something that hurts but you can't remember why it started hurting." Her fingers flexed in her lap. "Part of me wants to look. See the face. Hear the voice. Maybe then the missing pieces stop itching."
The narelith rolled back onto its feet and trotted over, bumping its head against her knee like it sensed the mood. She hesitated, then scratched behind one of its tiny ears. It purred, low and raspy.
The narelith climbed back onto my lap, curled up, and started grooming its own wing with tiny precise licks.
Mira's voice dropped quieter. "If I decide to see him... will you come with me?"
"Yeah, definitely." I met her eyes. "The guy tried to kill me on my first day. Even I want answers."
She looked away toward the flowers, jaw working like she chewed on the words. "I don't know yet. Need to think on it more."
"Fair."
We sat longer than I planned. Sun climbed higher, warmed the bench. The narelith dozed off in my lap, tiny chest rising and falling. For a stretch the weight of everything, Doomsday, heroes, choices… it all felt distant. Just me, Mira, a weird little creature, and flowers that didn't care about any of it.
The narelith wandered farther, chasing a butterfly that fluttered just out of reach. Then it froze, ears twitching forward. A low, excited chirp rolled out of it, tail flicking fast.
Before either of us could react, a black shape burst from the hedge line. Night.
The fenrir pup barreled straight for us, paws kicking up dirt, tongue lolling in a wide grin. He skidded to a stop inches from my knees, tail whipping side to side hard enough to stir leaves.
"Night?" I laughed, surprise cutting through the tension. I reached down and he shoved his head under my hand, demanding scratches. His fur felt thicker now, the white streaks brighter against the black.
Mira crouched beside me, hand extended. Night turned to her next, licking her palm once before flopping onto his back for belly rubs. She obliged, fingers working through the thick coat.
From the same hedge came frantic rustling, then a young man stumbled out, cheeks flushed bright red, curly blond hair a complete mess. He wore a dirt-streaked tunic, sleeves pushed up, a leather satchel slung across his chest stuffed with what looked like brushes, vials, and half-eaten treats. Round glasses sat crooked on his nose, one lens smudged, and fresh scratches dotted his forearms.
He stopped short when he saw us, eyes widening behind the glasses. "Oh, oh no. Lord Kernt. Miss Mira. I-I'm so sorry! He got away again. I swear I had him on the lead, but he smelled you and just… bolted!"
Night rolled over, gave the young man a single glance like "you're too slow," then went back to nudging Mira's hand.
I grinned despite myself. "No damage done. You're the one keeping him?"
The young man straightened, pushed his glasses up with a shaky finger. "Yes. Lirren. Menagerie assistant. I handle the recovering beasts, familiars, anything that needs extra care. Night's been my charge since the... incident. He's healed up strong now. Too strong, honestly. Slipped the collar twice this week already."
Mira tilted her head. "He looks happy to see us."
"He is." Lirren rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. "Fenrir pups bond hard. He kept whining toward the palace windows every evening. I figured he sensed you were close. Didn't expect him to actually break out and sprint the whole way here."
Night sat up then, ears perked, and trotted over to Lirren. He circled the assistant once, bumped his hip, then returned to us like he'd completed some important task.
Lirren let out a relieved breath. "If you're taking him back, he's cleared. Full health, good appetite, energy to spare. I'll grab his things from the stables. It's just some blanket, harness, a few chews for the road. Won't take long."
I gave small thumbs up. "Yeah. We'd like him with us."
Lirren's face lit up, anxiety easing into something brighter. "Great! I'll be quick." He gave a quick bow, then hurried off, whistling low to keep Night's attention until he disappeared around the hedge.
Mira watched him go, then looked at Night curled against my leg. "Convenient timing."
"Almost too convenient." I scratched behind Night's ear. The fenrir rumbled happily, eyes half-closed. "But I'll take it. Extra set of teeth and senses can't hurt."
The narelith wandered back over, sniffed Night cautiously, then climbed onto the fenrir's broad back like it was a horse. Night tolerated it, only flicking an ear once.
Mira let out a soft laugh, the first real one in days. "They're already getting along."
"Yeah." I leaned back against the bench, ribs quiet for once. "Like a duo. My familiar duo."
The sun kept climbing. Lirren returned soon after with a bundle: folded blanket, sturdy leather harness, a pouch of treats. He handed everything over with careful instructions: "feed twice a day, watch for overexertion, scratch here for calm". Night listened like he understood every word, tail thumping.
When Lirren finished he bowed again, glasses slipping down his nose. "Safe travels, both of you. And... thank you. For taking him. He deserves people who actually want him around."
"Anytime," I said. "And thanks for takin care of him."
Lirren flushed again, mumbled something about duties, and scurried off.
We sat a while longer, Night sprawled across our feet, narelith dozing on his back. The garden felt fuller now, less empty.
I broke the silence after he was out of earshot. "What does he mean with 'safe travels'? We haven't decided whether we should stay or not."
Mira gave a small shrug, holding out a hand for Night to lick. "It wouldn't be surprising if you decided to leave after all that has happened. The palace clearly isn't the safest place for you."
Her fingers stayed buried in Night's thick fur while he licked her palm again, slow and content. The fenrir's tail thumped once against the stone path, kicking up a tiny puff of dust.
I watched the narelith shift in its sleep on Night's back, tiny wings twitching like it dreamed of flying. "You're right about the palace. There are guards at every corner, healers checking me like I'm some kind of princess in distress. And after what happened in the yard, the whole Crimson Order deal… and the knife thing…" I trailed off, rubbing the bandage over my ribs. "Hard to feel safe when someone already tried to gut me on day one-through-now."
She nodded, eyes on the fenrir. "You forgave the commander who let it happen. Most people wouldn't."
"Didn't see the point in hanging him. Gux's a good man." I shrugged, then winced at the pull. "Besides, executing someone for an honest mistake is a bit… too much."
Mira let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh. She scratched behind Night's ear absently. "I know what it's like to be the one everyone wants punished for something they didn't choose. Feels strange... seeing someone choose mercy instead."
"Maybe I'm just soft." I glanced sideways at her. "What about you? If we stay, you get protection, food, a room that isn't a cell. If we go... back to running. Or worse."
Her hand stilled for a second in Night's fur. "Running never felt like freedom. It felt like waiting for the next leash." She met my eyes then, steady but tired. "Here, at least no one owns me. If we leave, maybe we keep it that way."
The narelith woke with a small chirp, stretched its wings, then hopped down to sniff Night's ear. The fenrir tolerated it with a patient huff, like an older sibling putting up with a hyper little brother.
I rubbed the back of my neck. "Queen's meeting us soon anyway. Midday, private spot in the gardens. We tell her what we want then."
Mira gave a small nod. "And the tenebrim? Still tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Need to see his face and hear what he says." I paused. "You sure you're ready?"
"No." She said it plainly. "But waiting won't make the memories less fuzzy. Might make them sharper, actually."
Night lifted his head suddenly, ears swiveling toward the main path. A second later the blonde knight appeared around the hedge, spear at her side but relaxed.
"Lord Kernt, Miss Mira. Her Majesty is ready whenever you are. This way, please."
Night rose with us as we stood, shaking himself off and falling in at my heel like he'd never left. The narelith scampered up to Mira's shoulder, settling in like it belonged there.
Mira glanced down at the fenrir, then at me. "Looks like the pack's growing."
"Guess so." I gave Night a quick scratch behind the ear. He leaned into it hard enough to make me stagger a step. "Just hope we don't attract too much attention out there."
The knight led us deeper into the gardens, past blooming arches and quiet ponds, to a secluded clearing where Queen Elisabeth waited alone on a stone bench. She didn't have an entourage with her and wore no crown, just that simple dark gown and tired eyes that sharpened when she saw us approach with two beasts in tow.
She rose smoothly. "Hero Kernt. Mira. And... you have more companions, I see."
Night sat politely at my feet, tail sweeping the ground once. The narelith chirped a greeting from Mira's shoulder.
Elisabeth's lips curved in the faintest smile. "The fenrir healed well. Good. You'll need strong allies soon."
She gestured to the bench. "Sit. Tell me what you've decided."
We sat. The weight of the choice settled again, heavier now with Night's warm bulk against my leg and the narelith's soft rumbling purr.
I took a breath, mind going through all the possible ways this conversation could go. "W-we're… uh, leaving soon. I mean after the visit to the tenebrim tomorrow."
Elisabeth studied us both for a long moment. I was starting to regret my words, but saw no surprise in her expression, just quiet acceptance.
"Very well," she said. "I'll have supplies ready by dawn the day after. Gold, rations, weapons, maps. An escort if you want one, or none at all. Your choice."
Mira spoke up then, voice steady. "And the tenebrim? If we learn more tomorrow... is there any chance?"
The Queen's gaze hardened a fraction, the softness vanishing like it had never been there. "No. The sentence is already set. There will be a public execution in three days. The nobles demanded it the moment he struck a summoned hero in the palace grounds. There is no appeal left. He dies at dawn on the third morning."
Mira's hand tightened on Night's fur. The fenrir let out a low whine, sensing the shift.
I swallowed. "That's... yeah."
Elisabeth's voice stayed even, almost gentle in its firmness. "A public attack on the hero summoned to save the realm? If we show mercy, the court sees weakness. And weakness invites more blades in the dark. The sentence stands."
Mira stared at the ground. "He might have answers. About me. About what happened before."
"Then hear them tomorrow," the Queen said quietly. "But know the words will not change the outcome. He attacked. He pays."
I nodded, throat tight. "We'll see what he says. Then we'll know."
Elisabeth stood. "Rest tonight. Tomorrow will be difficult enough." She paused, looking between us. "You are not bound to this kingdom, Hero Kernt. But know that if Doomsday comes and you are far away... the world will still need you."
With that she turned and walked away, guards materializing from the hedges to flank her.
Mira exhaled slow once she was gone. "She didn't even hesitate."