Chapter 38: Hero

The doctor did not die. 

That much was sure as soon as I woke up. My surroundings were kind of similar to the ones I had blacked out in, but at the same time, vastly different. For starters, there were no windows in this damn room, nor was I stuck to a bed in one of the cubicles. No. This was a cell. I knew it from just the smell of dank metal alone. 

I tried to get up on my elbows, only to find that my hands and feet were tied down to the bed. I had some mobility left, but I was in no condition to mount any resistance. 

Pain wracked my body. My ears still rang with a shrill pitch. Each source of light sent prickling sensations to my eyes. Every smell burnt in my nose. Worst of all was my entire right side. I glanced down, it was badly burned and marred with wounds. A particularly grisly one revealed parts of my ribcage through broken patches of skin. A few lazily made stitches with a thin black thread had been used in an attempt to sew me up, but it looked like my physician had given up halfway.

Bubble filled blood trickled out as my breathing grew laboured from the stress. I groaned and turned away. Worrying about it wouldn’t help. 

For a welcome change, the room wasn’t entirely disgusting and broken. It was well kept and sanitary. White and unstained walls encapsulated me along with a thick door of steel with thin bars for a window. 

A sudden wave of nausea fell over me. I leaned back on the pillow, and desperately fought to stay conscious. For naught. 

The next couple of hours were a blur. At some point, I remember the doctor returning to take a look at me. His face had certainly seen better days. His entire left side had practically been blown off, revealing the white of his skull beneath sinew and burned ends of skin. His doll-smooth skin was gone with the wind. It was a miracle he was even standing, or a curse in my case. 

The next time I woke up, I was alone. 

And the one after that, I faintly remember hearing a loud scuffle take place somewhere in the vicinity. The explosions of the fight made my bed shake, and the glass vials on the table nearby rattle against each other. 

“This way!” someone shouted with a disgustingly posh accent. Then came more explosions. 

If only I could get some more sleep, I might be able to regain my strength. 

I closed my eyes again. 

Just as I was falling into the sweet embrace of sleep, the door to the room burst open with a large bang.

“… Samara?” I muttered, eyes half closed. 

She rushed to me, her lips moving as if shouting something. I couldn’t hear her. But I was damn glad she was here. 

Then I fell asleep again. 

***

I woke up with a startle, bouncing out of bed with my hands fumbling around my shoulder, trying to feel the security of the wand settle in my hands. My breathing was ragged, and came quick. I looked around. The white walls around me had turned brown and were adorned with windows and curtains of beautiful auburn. 

The amphitheatre. 

I heaved a sigh of relief, and sat down on the soft bed. It was warm, and tempted me to spend the rest of the day in it. But it had been a long time since I was last lucid. I wouldn’t let it go to waste. 

I carefully ran my fingers against my right side. The stitched wound had been healed. Only a pale spot remained where my ribs had been poking out the last time I was awake. “Thank you Joanna,” I muttered. My voice was hoarse. 

Everything ached, even parts that didn’t even hurt after the explosion. It wasn’t painful, just unpleasant, like when you sat in the car for a very long time and finally got out to stretch your legs. 

Name: Caleb Kane

Race: Human (90%) ??? (10%) 

Title: One of reviled flesh, Outsider’s mark, 

Blessing: Shaper

Acclaim: Whisper 

That’s not right, I scratched my head. The weaver blessing had disappeared, and my humanity had decreased again. 

I fought my aching head to remember. Everything was blurry. I remembered fighting the doctor and something changing. The increased unknown was probably what initiated the change, giving me access to the red threads. To the old threads.  

My chest still felt like someone was pressing down on it. Still, I let the magic flow throughout me, oddly enough it didn’t gather only around my arm like usual. It flowed through my entire body like a serene river, my charred hands and eyes were violent currents where it focused, and intensified. 

The many colours of the veil flashed into sight, the violet mist, the pale blue threads, the deep crimson. Last time I pulled on one of the crimson, things went bad quickly. I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake just as I woke up again. 

I groaned and rubbed my eyes. There was a hand mirror laying on the table that wasn’t here the last time. 

I picked it up and was faced by my reflection. It mirrored me perfectly, an oddly unwelcome change.“Sera…?” I whispered. 

She didn’t answer. 

I laid my head against the pillow, and groaned. “Fuck.” 

I pulled my hair back, and exhaled loudly. Without realising it, I grew dependent on her being there when others weren’t. Someone who could never leave me… A part of me had been secretly happy that we fused together. That same part now despaired. 

“Still here.” Her weak voice came slow, “but I’m tired. I need to rest… Don’t call me unless necessary.” 

She didn’t say more. My reflection mirrored me again. I sighed a breath of relief and pulled the mirror close to my face. My eyes grew wide, I pressed closer and exclaimed “What the hell…?” 

My eyes had taken on the same violet shade as the veil. It looked completely unnatural and tacky, as if I was walking around with coloured contacts to look edgy. I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn’t just seeing things and groaned when I realised I wasn’t. 

To my side, the door creaked open slowly. Joanna startled when she saw me sitting up. 

“Cal! You’re up?” Her gaze lingered on my eyes, but she didn’t say anything. 

“Obviously,” I mumbled without thinking things through. It couldn’t have taken more than a millisecond before she was upon me, hand grasping my collar. 

“Maybe I didn’t heal your head correctly… should I re-injure it and try again?” She balanced a tray in her other hand, I could smell the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and some sort of stew heated up can-stew. My mouth watered. 

“Sorry. Just slipped out.” 

She let go, leaving me to fall down on the pillow with a thud. 

“I got you something to eat.” She said and handed me the tray. Her eyes studiously moved around my body. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” I said meekly and took a deep breath, filling my nose with the smell of food. 

“That’s surprising, considering the state they found you in.” 

I pulled off a part of the bread and dipped it in the stew. “What about the doctor?”

“The scourge beast?” She raised an eyebrow and sat down next to me. 

The rich flavour danced on my palate. I nodded.

“He’s still out there, somewhere. I don’t know what you did to him, but the others didn’t fare as well. When they realized they couldn’t kill him, they diverted his attention to get you out.” 

“How did you find me?” 

“You weren’t exactly quiet. The explosions could heard in the entire city. John happened to be passing through just as the last one went off. He helped Samara and her team get you out.” 

That was surprising, considering our previous encounters. I thought he hated me. I had to thank him for this. Joanna patted me on the back with a sweet smile. “Eat before it gets cold.” She watched on in silence as I devoured the rest of the food.

A good meal really did make all the difference. I got up and stretched my body, feeling like a new man. “That hit the spot.”

“Glad you liked it. It was supposed to be my dinner.” 

“Oh.” Obviously she hadn’t brought food to the guy she thought was unconscious in bed. I scratched my neck with a sheepish smile. “How long was I out?” 

“Three days.” 

I froze, mouth going dry. “That long?” 

“That long. Honestly, recovering after only three days is much faster than expected.” She sighed and looked out the window. “The kids were really beside themselves when you came back like that. You should spend some time with them when you get the chance.” 

I moved to get up, but she stopped me with a gentle touch. “But not yet. Rest a bit more. I’ll leave you alone.” Her tone made it clear that there was no room for compromise.

She left, closing the door softly behind her. 

“Not much else to do, I suppose.” I sighed and laid down on the silken pillow. Sleep took me in mere moments. 

***

When I woke up, there was a tray of steaming food waiting for me on the bedside table. Nothing as extravagant as the last meal, but still pretty nice. Porridge and bread got you going for a long time. I finished it in a few minutes, taking my time. I felt less sore today, almost completely recovered. My eyes still had that dull ache to them, but that would probably pass in time too. 

I got up from the bed, pulled on some clothes and summoned my armour. It was a shame that Sera was resting. I would very much like to ask her about the new blessing, but there was no need to rush. I still had access to the threads, and we still had a few weeks worth of food stored in the amphitheatre… Unless something had happened while I was out. 

I left the room and almost bumped into Samuel, he grew pale as if he saw a ghost. 

“Good to see you,” I said. 

He nodded silently and composed himself, then left without saying a word. I found it a little strange he didn’t want to say anything when he was usually such a talkative guy. 

The corridor was abuzz with movement. I brushed shoulders with plenty of people I’d gotten to know over the days. Everyone greeted me with a large smile and pats on my shoulders, complimenting me for my bravery. It felt nice, like I belonged. They had always been friendly, almost partial to me as I did most of Yusuf’s scouting along with my own. 

A bit further down, I met the old healer, Esme. She pulled me into a bear hug.

“Good heavens Caleb, you gave us a fright!” she exclaimed and released me from the embrace. She made sure to keep me at an arms length from her, so that she could study my condition, with appreciative nods, “She really does know how to heal, that Joanna.”

“Yeah she sure does. I’m sure you’ve seen it plenty of times though,” I chuckled and scratched my ear. 

The old woman shook her head slowly, making her grey top knot bob back and forth. She had a soft smile on her lips. “She doesn’t just heal anyone, my boy.” She spoke slowly with her hand resting on my shoulder. She smelled just like old women did. Homey, like Dorothea. 

That was the only part about Esme that I didn’t like.

She looked me deep into my eyes, then sighed and gave me a pat on the cheek, turning away to do her own thing. I hadn’t met her many times, she was always busy, the poor woman. There was always someone in need of healing in a place like this. Her task of healing had only grown since we started the skirmishing campaign. 

In the courtyard, the pale glow of the crystals shone, illuminating every inch. Charlie and Adam plummeted into my side almost as soon as I stepped out.

“Cal!” They blurted in unison. Charlie sniffled wetly, a string of snot ran down his upper lip and onto my armour. I clenched my teeth to not say anything uncalled for. Gross. 

“Where have you been?” Adam asked, his brows tied together. 

I smiled. “Business.” 

Charlie stomped his foot in protest. “We know that’s not true!” 

Adam nodded along, showing his support. 

“Nothing gets past you. Well, you see. The truth is; lean in close… I was on a secret mission…” I lied with a whisper and paused long enough that I thought their eyes would pop out. I burst out laughing. “Just kidding. I just messed up while on patrol. No biggie.” 

“Stupid!” Charlie said and kicked my shin before running away with his lackey. 

“Fu- Ouch!” I exclaimed with only a little exaggeration. The little prick had toes of steel. I thought he could only speak to animals? 

Maybe there was more to it. All blessed received a small physical boost, but the larger boost came as they progressed; hence why Yusuf was still sick. 

In any case, his kick sure packed more punch than I’d have imagined. 

I chased after them to the others, and played with the children for an hour or so. Charlie hit me with yet another barrage of poultry facts while Adam offered his stalwart support. Things barely changed even as the other children joined in.

It was a nice change of pace to laugh with them like before. They were still so innocent, despite becoming superhumans. If they had a leader other than Joanna, I wasn’t so sure they would be exempt from the fighting. That didn’t sit right with me. I was glad they were where they were. 

The kids quieted down, and turned to the building. I followed their gazes. 

“Cal,” Hugo shouted as he walked down the stone steps to the courtyard. The young progenitor of the order dodged a sprinting child without even looking. His eyes bore into mine, and widened with confusion. He seemed at a loss for words for a second, before composing himself. “We request your presence in the map room.”