As I see more and more of his beautiful skin return, it makes my heart ache that he got into this shape in the first place. He shouldn't have been put into the position of killing him. It should have been me! It couldn't be helped, though I wouldn't have noticed his light without his tirades. As I try to mutter the incantation quietly, I feel the ether leaving my system, an icy feeling. It's a feeling I have hated since the day of my birth.
The unique cold can't be fixed by more clothes or a roaring fire, but if your veins run dry, you feel a searing pain no torture could compare. My debt is what keeps it flowing through the feelings. That's all I need to think about as the pain of being void of ether returns. Zandral has been staring down the door, but we both can hear what's going on right on the other side.
They haven't been loud enough to wake him and interrupt my healing. That's probably because they don't have anyone else who can use ether or strong enough ether to blast it open. What they were doing instead was having a group try to get in by digging at the doorway for the past hour and still going. Zandral went and grabbed the sword off of the first guy just to sit back in front of the door.
While keeping an ear on the door, I let myself stare at him resting on my tail. Him snuggling into it unconsciously almost makes me forget about the where and when. Until I hear the people on the other side of the wall strike the bars that are in the middle of the ice wall. With a sigh, turning into a deep breath, I force another healing incantation. The feeling of being empty is less intense this time since my body is getting used to taking in ether again and taking it in faster.
He should be at a point where standing on his own is possible, but I wouldn't want him doing anything strenuous since even if I fix him to how he was before, it doesn't change how frail and weak his body is. When he got rid of the door and the guard, it was entirely on the card. The issue is compatibility with artifacts is rare and they kill unworthy users if they are strong enough. As well, artifacts have their own personalities, so what they find being worthy varies.
Hopefully, he can use it again if they have any powerful people left in this place. Most of us were captured by third parties, so I have faith it's mostly average people here, but the off chance there isn't. We're going to need everyone in top fighting condition. A rustling comes from my tail that changes my focus. It's our savior, turning over in his sleep and letting out a low grunt. Feeling my ether is at a decent level, I heal him slightly more and at this point, I'm improving at it.
That wasn't my intention, he just needs to get better as quickly as possible. While my ether slowly replenishes, my mind wanders again back to our savior. I'm mad at myself since I didn't catch his name while he was awake. Then it goes from wondering what his favorite foods are to how he likes to relax. Any way to repay for what he did for us.
I know my funds are safe back in the bank in Kangble, but would that even be enough? No, it isn't. That'd be like offering pocket change for my life. Guarding him and helping him will be good for now since I don't have a read on what he'd want, anyway.
Moving one of my other tails near him, since it's way better than those blankets and comfort, is also something I should be considering. The biggest obstacle to his comfort is the group of trash still trying to get through those bars slowly getting louder and louder with their attempts. Still not enough to wake him up, but with Zandral and me, we hear them loud and clear, but our hearing is better than our savior's, probably by a lot.
Without ether, it'll probably take an explosion to get in. That's risky due to us most likely being underground. It is risky to be on the surface without skilled ether users who specialize in fortification, which is an expensive precaution for just a slave camp. Now that I think of it, our savior probably isn't competent at survival outside cities, outposts, and hollows.
Back when he used to scribble on the walls, the slaver used to allude to him being a fallen noble. They rarely leave the city they run, unless they get overrun by them. That's not the only reason he could've ended up here. Some nobles like to fool around and end up with a couple of bastards. In the best-case scenario they get sold into slavery, the worse one is to dump them out into the barrens.
My blood boils thinking that they threw him out, but I wouldn't have met him without that…
So we can call it even unless he wants revenge, then consider them gone.
Again, I don't have a read on what he wants, but I'll help him survive on the surface and teach him how to protect himself from those things. All those vile things that could hurt him. Hopefully, we will make it to Kangble quickly so I can make it home. My "sister" is there that'll help with repaying my savior.
A deep breath leaves my lips after I quietly mutter the incantation and he's healed some more, maybe two more till he's done and we'll start planning our way out. Most likely Zandral and I will bust open the door, then hold down the fort to try to see if we can cut their numbers down. If we could wipe them out, we could train him slightly here, which would be better than nothing, especially with that artifact as a backup.
The chances of us getting to prepare him for the danger are probably low.
Author's Note: I hope ya'll enjoy! Feedback is appreciated :)