-Back at Krugi-
Sky Beasts and Siege Weavers arrived at Krugi. Everyone rode on the back of a Sky Beast, if they rode on a Siege Weaver it would kill them.
The first thing Jakery did after dismounting was looking for the Sky Beast that brought Pearl and Ether back from Digon. He frantically looked around for them, hoping Pearl didn't fly away from the group.
But she followed them back, with the seriously wounded Ether. Pearl forced Ether's armor to join together as a cast to seal the open wound.
"You, get down from the Sky Beast!" Jakery called out to her.
Pearl looked down at Jakery. "If you wish to have your brother beside you again, I suggest you bring him home and ask your Sherpa to fix him," she sharply responded.
Jakery was taken back by her response. It was as if Pearl wasn't afraid of stumbling into an enemy Legion unannounced. But in a way, it sounded like she was trying to stop Ether's death from happening.
"I... sure, he's a bit heavy. Please be careful," Jakery agreed to help Pearl.
She made the Sky Beast lower its top set of wings, then slid down with Ether in her arms. "Heavy? He's pretty lightweight to me," she replied.
Jakery kept his gaze on Ether. "Well, it must be a personal thing. He's heavy to me. Anyway, follow me, let's bring him to his room quickly."
Pearl nodded, then followed Jakery. Infinus Legion warriors surrounded the Sky Beast, while others surrounded the visitor. If it wasn't for Jakery leading her, the warriors would have tried killing her.
Seeing a new face with armor and symbols that belong to another Legion inside Krugi would have made them believe Pearl killed Ether. Since she was holding him in her arms.
"In here," Jakery opened the door to their home. "Go down the hall and turn left, the first door is his bedroom."
Their home was dead silent, other than the quick footsteps moving all around. Normally, the fireplace would be turned on, the gentle crackles were background noise for anyone in the room.
But this time the home wasn't exactly welcoming. Candles and fireplaces weren't burning, the windows were closed, and the inside kept the autumn cool air inside from the night before.
Pearl turned left and then opened a white wooden door, the handle turned and allowed her to walk inside. She located the bed and placed Ether on it.
"Quick, help me take his armor off," she asked Jakery.
But she didn't need to ask, Jakery was already planning on doing so. He got on the bed with Ether, then began taking his armor off bit by bit.
"This is going to take a bit, can't you just do whatever you did to those Light Legion warriors earlier?" Jakery asked her.
She stopped taking off the stomach plates and sat idle. "My Third Rule is very delicate. I am still learning how to completely utilize it. I'd rather take our time than to risk his death."
"Wait, when did you earn it?"
Pearl continued working on removing the plates. "The Light Legion has been busy lately, they've had bigger threats to worry about. They are planning on expanding past Imbushko and into Yarno, but many Legions have risen against them."
"So, it's like an all out war around there, isn't it?" her response interested Jakery.
"You can imagine - hey can you give me your dagger?" Pearl suddenly asked.
Jakery didn't ask why, he instinctively handed her his dagger. She picked it up and brought it down to a leather strap tying two plates together.
"Wow, you trusted me so easily. Why?"
"You're saving my only brother. I want him to survive, even if it means trusting an enemy," Jakery calmly responded.
Pearl softly smiled. "It's weird how 'two enemies' are helping each other save a life, it's oddly comforting. But the others won't see it this way. I bet that big guy would have killed me."
Jakery tore off a plate from the chest, then tossed it aside. "You mean Hizentre? He's a good guy, has some interesting stories to tell. He would be wise enough not to attack you if you had his leader in your hands."
After removing two more straps, Pearl lifted Ether's shirt. "Deep wound, very deep. Get your sherpa, right now. Hurry!"
He stopped what he was doing and leapt off the bed. Jakery ran outside to search for Valentine. He looked around the Sky Beast group, but Valentine wasn't there.
"Where's Valentine?" Jakery asked Hizentre.
"He walked off with the other two guests. Look for him by the pens, that's where they walked off to," Hizentre replied.
Jakery took off sprinting, make sure to avoid anyone standing in front of him. When he came into view of the pen, he saw the three Thawed were standing there talking to one another.
"VALENTINE! COME WITH ME, ETHER IS VERY CLOSE TO DYING!" Jakery called out to him.
"What? Oh. Pardon," Valentine stopped talking to Suth.
He followed Jakery back to their home, and led him into Ether's bedroom. Valentine opened the window to let some fresh air in and some more light inside.
"What an odd guest, Pearl, is that right?" Valentine asked her.
She got up from the bed and grabbed Valentine by the arm. "You're not here to interview me, go save your leader!" Pearl said while dragging Valentine to Ether.
He understood the situation and examined the wound before doing anything else. Valentine saw the wound had two openings and if one side wasn't patched fast enough, that could dry up the blood.
Instead of patching the other side with a piece of cloth, Valentine took out his heart-shaped towel and swept any snow or blood from his hands. Then he took his index finger, and put it into the wound.
"What the hell are you doing??" Pearl frowned.
"Relax, little student. I've done this before and it has worked. I'm a reason why Solice lived for as long as he did. Each time he got a wound this deep," Valentine softly chuckled.
"I would just shove a finger inside the wound, and allowed the blood to flow into it. Then manipulate the blood to run around the edges into the other side," he explained.
Pearl walked over to examine the rest of Ether's body, and realized he wasn't breathing anymore. "Dammit, he isn't breathing... please don't judge!"
She placed one hand over Ether's chin, then took a deep breath and closed her eyes. After mentally preparing herself for what was about to happen next, she quickly opened her eyes and balled her other hand into a fist.
Pearl struck Ether's chest hard enough to start his lungs again. His chest starting moving on its own, Ether took in as much air as he could with each breath.
"That's impressive, he survived that. At least for now. If he recovers," Pearl looked at Valentine. "Then I can imagine he would unlock a Third Rule."
Valentine kept his gaze down on Ether's beaten body. "Looking at his condition now, probably not. Everything about him looks and feels the same. Usually, a Third Rule would make itself present the second they achieved it."
He readjusted his arm. "But right now, the blood fells the same. The body functions the same, everything is normal. Even if he does make a full recovery, it would be too late for the Third Rule to show itself."
Jakery looked outside the window, he noticed there was something odd about the home next to theirs. Then he realized what it is.