"You're Highness, I have a report on Saintess Rhea." Lupin's voice was high pitched with fear as his eyes were bent before the terrifying sight he was seeing. Ever since that night with the Priestess, he had been angry and more aggressive than he usually was to everyone else. He had so much pent up emotion that the only way he could think of releasing it was either sparring or hunting. Everyone in camp had grown to fear his presence for the reason, since he had no volunteers to spar he would just grab an innocent bystander and force them to spar. Both men and women weren't safe from his path. Today he had grabbed four soldiers from Cretor-- two older men and two older women-- who Lupin had just witness be completely disarmed and destroyed by his master. Sweat and water hung in the thick air. Jayce was standing over the beaten and bruised body of his final victim still trying to catch her breath. Despite being beaten and bruised, there was an unspoken agreement between everyone not to go to the saintess for minor injuries. Jayce turned to look at Lupin, out of breath and drenched in sweat. His chest was bear against the sunlight, as he had tossed his cream tunic top away during the sparring from humidity in the air. The sky was an angry grey threatening to pour as it usually did in the spring. His sword glittering silver with its black hilt and a wolf head on the end reflected the sunlight and nearly blinded bystanders. His eyes immediately lit up when he heard Lupin's words. His expression prior was dark and scary, but now it was similar to the cloudless sky above them.
"What is she up to?" He bolted over to the attendant, gold eyes sparkling with anticipation. The news that Lupin had was not a happy one, and he couldn't feel his chest tighten in fear. He was unsure whether or not Jayce would raise his sword to his throat after he told him. Jayce saw his subordinates dark and worried expression and he could feel the his heart drop to his stomach.
"A-A few days ago, she moved herself back into the infirmary to sleep." The words that fell from Lupins lips stabbed daggers into his heart. The sword he treasured to much fell from his grip and one to the grassy forest floor. He gripped his hands into fists, feeling anger and sorrow fill him like water in a glass. His mind flashed back to that fateful night only days ago, his mind foggy from alcohol. Rhea-- no Mercy-- was smiling happily, pink cheeked and giddy. He felt the insatiable urge to kiss her, to make her solely his. So much so he could feel his body quaking with such an urge, that he almost went through with it. He was so close and could feel her sweet breath fan over his face. He longed for her soft lips against his, and her skin under his fingers. When he saw the look of what appeared to be excitement in her eyes he fell harder than he already had. However the smell of the wine took over him, and the words she had told him rang through his head. She held onto so much guilt and pain for supposedly ruining his chance at love with her sister when he never even loved her sister. He didn't care for how flashy she was, instead that night at the ball he fell for the woman in a old dress that didn't suit her who wished him happiness. He would have chased her to the ends of the earth if he had to but she appeared before him like an angel descending from heaven. Even though he was a fool in love with such strong desires he couldn't bring himself to meld his mouth onto hers because of the alcohol he could smell from her. A seed of guilt planted in his heart, causing his entire body to tense with the realization so much so he cracked his table and chair under his bear hands. He used his last shred of sanity to do so, and feared that he would become savage once more in his presence unable to hold himself back. So despite everything inside him screaming at him to go to her, he kept his distance making Lupin keep an eye on her. The more he heard about her the more he wanted to see her so he only accepted a report every few days to hold back his urges. He thought he was being a gentlemen, but the fact that she moved out made it show that his actions made her uncomfortable. He couldn't tell if it was from the close kiss or his distance. As much as his heart was stinging, he needed advice from an expert in love and he most certainly was not that. Fortunately, he knew just where to go. To the only man who could talk to him as his equal.
"I am sorry, but you almost kissed her and then ignored her for about two weeks and you don't know why she left your tent?" Jayce had never seen Ignis' face twisted in such blatant disgust and annoyance. They were sitting in the now abandoned tent, ale in hand at the desk like it was a table. The fire lights danced around their heads, casting gloomy shadows on the dark oak of the glossy desk and their snowy papers. Ignis' deep purplish hair shone even more violet in the mystical light and his intricate gold earrings glittered and distracted Jayce. His subordinates eyes were filled with annoyance.
"You're lucky you haven't been slapped yet." Ignis' harsh words made Jayce sputter out his ale and sent waves of panic rolling down his nerves.
"It was that bad?"
"No, you'll probably be fine." Ignis words were cut of by him slamming his mug on the desk making it spill over a bit.
"Of course it was that bad you absolute moron!" Ignis rubbed his dry hand over his forehead as if he was trying to rub away his anxiety. If Lupin had seen this scene before him, he would probably have an aneurysm. Jayce was basically cowering as Ignis tore into him like a mother scolding a child for using profanity.
"Let me put it this way, if she didn't want you to kiss her she would have pushed you away. Although I will agree with you that is she was drunk, you may have wanted to wait until she was sober to get a proper consent. However," Ignis laced his fingers together and placed his elbows on the table eerily, "Proceeding to blatantly ignore her afterwards probably made her feel like you were disgusted with her." The very sentence itself shook Jayce to his core.
"B-But that's not true at all!" The master swordsmen started twitching with nerves-- something he never did even on the battlefield. Now, he was a writhing mess in anxiety and panic.
"Do you remember how you felt when you thought that she was intentionally avoiding you after the ball?" Ignis' words dug up old words causing Jayce to grip the rough fabric of his tunic top. At the ball, Jayce had fallen head over heels on the spot. When he saw her so ill in his arms from trying to heal her sister all he could do was try and hold her and soothe her. His magic and entire being was made for destruction not healing. He could only hold in his immense worry for three days before sending off letters and gifts under his subordinates names hoping to hear back. He never heard back and was never able to get an audience with her. It was an awful feeling that felt like he was stuck in a pit that he couldn't escape from. He heard later that her illness had become severe which is the reason why she was unavailable, but it only made him feel worse.
"That's probably how she's feeling." Ignis couldn't even finish his sentence before Jayce shot up from his seat with his hands splayed on the desk. They shared a look for a breif moment, coming to a silent understanding.
"Go." That was all he had to hear before he scrambled out of the tent and into the cold outside. The wind was quiet strong and a bit cold as well, and small droplets of water were splattering around Jayce as his boots pounded the dusty ground beneath him. Soldiers were running around as well, burlap and silk fabric being ripped through the harsh wind. The last rain storm they had caused water damage to inproperly enchanted Cretor tents and some food waste as well. Now everyone was preparing for one that was similar, typing things down and casting water enchantments. Jayce's eyes were scanning everyone, trying to find Mercy in the thickening crowd. His eyes landed on Camille and Jubilee who were enchanting Cretor tents quickly. Jubilee was making rock barriers and trenches for water flow downhill. Camille's water magic flowed like birds around the dusty burlap tents, flying and creating a blueish barrier around a tent before venturing to the next. Mercy was not with them, and he knew if he asked them they knew where she was they would insist to follow. Especially Camille, the girl stuck to Mercy's side like a magnet. The cold and dampened air was sucked into his lungs, and the cool raindrops against his skin snd clothes weren't enough to make him soaked but enough for him to notice the impact. Mercy usually was around the camp somewhere, helping with various tasks whether it be polishing armour or cooking. So trying to pinpoint her location was next to impossible. He darted to the snowy cooking tent, peering in and seeing no one amoungst the clutter of pots, pans and boxes of produce. He made his way to the armoury and saw a few stingy royal knights and amicable Cretor soldiers who were repairing and polishing armour. Jayce's lungs were starting to feel heavy from his sprinting and a few loose droplets fell from his now dampened hair.
"Does anyone here know where the Saintess is?" Jayce's sharp tone caused a few people to flinch and one royal knights to drop the shield she was polishing. It was so quiet people could hear a pin drop if it did, and Jayce's annoyance was only spiking.
"God dammit." He cursed and backed out if the tent, a smaller but burly body smacking against his chest and making him stumble back a bit.
"Watch where you're go-- oh! Your grace, I do apologize." Thea smiled coyly up at him with her single eye, adjusting her leather armour and making the droplets sticking to it roll down it and fall onto the grass blades below. Jayce didn't respond, just side stepped and tried to walk around her to continue his search. Thea's calloused hand snatched his bicep to prevent him from leaving with a very stern look on her face. Unlike the nobles from his city he knew she wouldn't scold him for his lack of manners but she seemed to have a lot on her mind.
"I haven't seen Rhea since last night." Her voice was low, barely over a whisper. He tensed, suddenly feeling more stressed then before.
"She looked a little pale last night around dinner time. I've been preoccupied today so I haven't been able to check on her. If she's not feeling well, maybe you should check the infirmary." Her words were laced with a strange emotion, and he couldn't help but feel goosebumps on his skin. Her words were comforting, but there was a darkness to them.
"Thank you Dame Thea." He said between gritted teeth.
"No need for honorifics you know I hate them." She slapped his shoulder she was just gripping and released him, ducking into the armoury behind him. He didn't even wait for her to enter to contain some sort of decency. He immediately started sprinting through the narrow gaps between people and tents to navigate to his sacred destination. The rain started to slowly get harder, actually managing to wet his shoulders just before the bright infirmary tent came into view. It was stained, but was still a shining beacon for him like a pillar of light. He shoved past people once more before violently bursting into the tent. He was met with darkness. Not a single light was on in the tent, the cots were empty and clean. His eyes scanned around, trying to look for any sign of life. The rain above his head started pounding on the fabric above, a few water droplets falling through the fabric. No one had come to the tent yet to waterproof it, and as such there was a damp chill in the air.
"Mercy?" He called out, knowing he wouldn't get a response. He cursed himself internally for revealing her true name aloud other than to Ignis. There was silence at first, then out if the corner of his eye he saw movement. In the far right corner there were sheets handing on the rafters as if to create a privacy space. The front blanket was quaking, but there was no wind inside the tent except for the front. Jayce fearlessly jogged over to the area, and the closer he got the more he could hear slight wheezing.
"Mer... Rhea?" He called out once more and there was one long sigh from behind the curtain but still no response. The breathing was erratic and seemed strained. He reached out and touched the silky partition and pulled it back a few inches to peek inside. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as much as a wave of crashing guilt. There was Mercy, sprawled on on a hardened straw bale with nothing but a thin blanket covering her. Her thin white chemise undergarments made her look even more pale. Her skin was flushed and feverish but he was certain she didn't use her power. Sweat was collecting on her forehead, her cheeks were tear stained and she was almost gasping for breath.
"Milady!" He barged in fully, kneeling on the ground before her. She was still asleep but struggling to breathe. When he reached up and touched her forehead it was slick with sweat and burning. This was an actually an illness and not mana consumption. The dampness that was hanging in the air seemed to cling to her tiny frame, her lips tinged slightly blue. She was shivering despite her warm forehead. He pushed her sweaty hair out of her face, wrapping his hand around her the back of her neck. He could feel her heart pulsating from her slender neck, almost like a jackrabbit. She was moaning in her sleep, face contorted in what appeared to be fear and agony. He started to shake her softly to try and coax her awake but her head just lulled to the side.
"Milady! Milady, are you okay?" He was almost shouting, shaking her with both hands now. Her eyes flickered open for a moment but recoiled in pain. He felt instant relief as she moved her head from side to side with eyes squeezed shut.
"What... is happening?" She groaned, reaching up and placing her hand on her probably pounding head. Just after she finished her sentence she moved her hand down to cover a wet cough in her elbow. Her breathing and voice were ragged and harsh, and her eyes were hazy and glossed over.
"Are you okay?" Jayce's manner had flown right out the window, more filled with concern than the need for formality. He partially expected to be scolded or shoved away, but she looked more relieved than anything. She didn't reply, just looked at him with almost a serenity to her despite her sickly appearance.
"I'm fine... it's just a cold." He couldn't help the scowl that graced him, but what he didn't expect was for her to suddenly recoil and flinch backwards from the sudden change of expression. Her own shifted to fearful, and she scratched her palm against the straw. It hurt him to see, but with his previous coldness he was sure she was hesitant. Why she thought he would ever strike her did hurt his heart deeply, and planted a seed of worry.
"I'm not mad at you, I just don't like you lying to me." His hands had a mind of their own, making their way to her cheeks to stroke them softly which she surprisingly leaned into.
"Why... are you... here?" She said between small coughs racking her diaphragm. He felt so helpless just being able to sit there and not help in any way.
"I was worried about you, and I-" He looked at her eyes that were almost glittering with hope but also covered in a blanket of fear.
"I wanted to apologize to you." The fear that shrouded her almost seemed to lift immediately. Jayce bowed his head a brief moment, releasing a deep sigh that shook deep in his core.
"We shouldn't speak here. You're sick and need proper care."
"I'll be fine. I can't keep hogging your tent anymore." He cringed when those words came from her. She spoke about herself like she was a burden. She had always done that and every time she did it broke him a little bit. He grabbed her shoulders gently, blowing away some specks of dust floating in the air as he tried to control his rapid breathing.
"It is okay to accept help sometimes."
"I've accepted a lot of your graces help without any proper..." She had to take a sharp intake of breath to catch it, "...compensation I could provide you." Every fiber in his being was screaming at him to embrace this woman in his arms and engulf her from the world. Her frail body shaking like a fawn, and big doe eyes glittering up at him.
"For me milady, you are compensation enough."