Fading in and out of consciousness, I was unaware of where I was. I was either dead and in limbo, or somehow I had survived.
The yammering of a man's voice constantly broke me out of my slumber. He reminded me of my nagging mother, and I was immediately annoyed. I wanted to argue back, but I felt no strength within me as I soon fainted again.
I knew not how much time had passed.
The whole experience felt like a blur. I could hear Calvin's voice like an echo in the distance, but I could not make sense of what he was saying.
I awoke in cold sweat as I recalled the figure in a black mask stabbing my abdomen from behind. In a surprise attack, we were caught off guard and suffered heavy damage.
Fighting back as we ran, all I remembered was the flowing blood down my side before I lost consciousness.
I desperately looked around and prayed that the old general and all the other knights were safe.
A some-what familiar voice broke my frantic search, "You're finally awake."
I cared not for myself. I looked at the young man and was only concerned about the well-being of the men of my platoon. "Samuel. Where is Samuel and the others?" I demanded.
The man needlessly jeered at my request. "Of course. Nobles. Expected as much. Stuck up and always dictating orders." I needed to know that my men were safe. That was all that mattered to me at this moment.
Angry, I growled at the young man. "Tell me where Samuel is!!!"
"Young Master!" Calvin cried out from behind me.
I knew that voice. I eagerly turned to the young knight. "Calvin!!! You're safe!! Where is Samuel and the others?" I was met with a cast down look.
"Calvin…Tell me. Where are the others?" The young knight didn't look up for a long time.
I understood.
"Tell me what happened." I despondently requested.
I saw the sorrow and loss in his eyes. "Master Alistar… I'm sorry master. There was no other way."
I could imply what had happened by his few words. It was the last resort that the family had prepared for the knights during a worst case scenario. I knew Calvin didn't want to burden me, but that burden was mine to bear.
"I need the truth Calvin. Do not disrespect the sacrifices of your brothers."
Calvin shuddered and showed deep remorse.
"Master. After you fell, your pulse stopped. General Sam fed you the Samsara Pill to keep you alive. Sid carried you as we retreated deep into the Alcove woods hoping they would cease their pursuit."
I was shocked.
So many things happened after I lost consciousness. I remember running, but I was surprised we ran deeper into the forbidden forest and survived, but I didn't interrupt Calvin.
"However, they followed. Everyone was exhausted from running and the rain. It was then that General Sam made the call. I wanted to fight with them and have someone else take my place, but I was not allowed to."
His voice was shaking from recounting his horrid memories. Calvin held back his tears. "They fought valiantly, master. Right until the end. They lured in all the masked figures and took them all down. They smashed Vatale's exploding potion, and all I remember was trying to maintain the barrier from bright light before waking up here."
I quietly let Calvin's story settle in.
"Master Alistar! The masked man told General Sam that they had set up the ambush. Someone is behind this!"
Looking at the window across from me I had a feeling who was behind the attack, but there were many others capable as well. Lost in thought, I was snapped back to my current situation with Calvin's next remark.
"Sir, if it wasn't for Mr. Ansel here, we would probably be dead from the beasts that roamed the woods."
I had forgotten about the man I angrily yelled at upon awakening. I had treated the man that was our savior unfairly and ignored him. However, I was unapologetic.
The people closer to me than my real blood had died, and I was unjustly berated as a the low-class nobles who knew nothing but the safety of the inner walls of the city. How many of the aristocracy has he seen venture into peril knowing the dangers of the Alcove region?
The man knew nothing about my circumstances, yet he had already created some low image of me. And I viewed him lowly the same.
With my back straight, I held off my contempt at the young man's hypocrisy as best I could. "Mr. Ansel, correct?"
"Oh you're finally aware of this lowly presence, your greatness?"
I did not understand where the man's aggression at me came from. Even if he was mad at society, he was too open with his hostility. I was still mourning over my underlings, so I snapped back at his cynical question.
"I am thankful you saved us, lowly one. I shall impart to you some advice to someone such as yourself. Basic etiquette would do you good."
I could feel the heavy tension in the room emitting from the man before me. Truly, I did not want to antagonize the person who saved us, but I was not in the mood for his antics.
Good people had died. My people. Did he not hear Calvin's story?
Calvin stepped in an attempt to alleviate the building pressure. "Mr. Ansel, we are grateful for saving us. Please believe me. My young master is not like the other nobles. He has always treated all of us serving him and others with dignity and respect."
The young man called Ansel made a scoffing noise and looked at me as if I was a liar. "Funny. I didn't seem to hear anything like that just now."
My composure broke. An explosion of all my anger blasted at the ridiculing young man.
"Are you playing dumb?! Did you not just hear that everyone died but the two of us!! They were good men!! Men with wife and children!! Even a newborn on the way!! They all died!!! Died to save me! Why?!! I don't care if you hate me. You can kill me for all I care, but don't you dare disrespect the sacrifices of the lives of my men!!!"
The young man was rattled. I saw the guilt and shame on his dejected face. Honestly, he never disrespected anyone but me. In an outburst I took out my anger on him. He was my savior, but in the heat of the moment I didn't care.
He went quiet for a long time. He was a simple straightforward man as his emotions could be read from the guilt contorting on his face. The young man simply got up and walked to the door. He knocked a few times and it opened out.
"Rest. I need a moment," he morosely said as he exited the room.