From the darkness Aron awakes. What he finds though is even more darkness and the feeling of a wet cloth going around his head covering up his eyes. Aron was thinking that he must have passed out and that he was in some sort of infirmary?
Given the smell of disinfectants such as alcohol. But that possibility seemed unlikely since he was just at camp, and he doubted that the priests would order the construction of an infirmary the last day of the purging. Plus, the priests had healing powers which was under the category of divine magic. Thinking of magic Aron shuddered.
Aron was laying on what seemed to be a hard bed. When he tried to get to a sitting position two pair of hands touched his back and helped his ascension. This startled Aron for he could not visibly perceive that someone was close to him. Seeing that Aron became startled the nurse in attendance spoke.
"Forgive my inconsideration oh holy knight!" She said with deep worry lacing her every word.
"I shall immediately call for priest Jacob."
Following these words were the scurrying of footsteps sounding farther and farther away, until they were no more.
Aron was now supporting his back with the cold wall of what he assumed to be stone.
'Stone?', Aron thought.
'How come there is a facility made of stone in camp? How long have I been out? Priest Martin must have helped me to the nearest village then. But the nearest village from camp, besides the one that was purged, are days away. I must thank priest Martin for what he did. Had it not been for him I would have been no more.'
Upon pondering these considerations and questions Aron began to cry. Tears were flowing like endless streams of water. This was peculiar since Aron had not cried since he was around 12. He was now 28. As much as he willed them to stop it was to no avail. He had no control. He was scared. Terrified of what he had seen, what he had felt.
The tears were making his eyes feel sore. As if they had been training for months without stop. A feeling Aron was familiar with.
Remembering the creature from that night caused him to curl into a ball. Trying to feel safe and secure. This feeling of false security was soon broken when footsteps suddenly approached. This made Aron quickly regain his composure somewhat and change his position to something more appropriate, he was a holy knight after all.
The footsteps stopped and a voice rang out.
"Aron Von Maximus?"
The voice was powerful and stern. It would make novice knights tremble. It had some sort of power behind it.
"Y-yes that is I", Aron replied with formality not knowing who he was speaking with.
"I am priest Jacob the leading physician at saint Henry's infirmary. I regret to inform you, that you have sustained considerable damage to your eyes impairing your vision indefinitely. On the account of the condition of blindness you have been honourably discharged."
"If you have any further inquiries about your future, I ask that you seek out priest Hans in the ministry."
"Farewell soldier"
And with that he walked off. Leaving only silence and despair in his wake.
Aron simply sat there like he did that night. Not moving an inch. It was one terrible event after another.
'Discharged?' Aron thought.
'I was the best knight in my regiment. How can they simply discharge me like I am nothing? I gave my sweat, blood, and tears away for the order. And they coldly discharge me like i'm just some sort of soldier belonging to the infantry?'
Aron was questioning everything. Every thought, action, and word he produced for the order. For the Holy Father. How could the Holy Father simply leave him alone? Was there no divine magic that could heal his wounds?
'Blind. What a joke!' Aron thought.
How did they even know? Had they asked him if he could, see? No. They just thought of themselves as better knowing individuals, that didn't need the perspective of the patient. Such arrogance infuriated Aron and with on swift movement of his hands he took of his wrappings.
"I see nothing...", Aron said in a low whisper.
Aron was on the verge of tears making his eyes glossed over. But he couldn't lose control, not again.
Saying it was complete blindness would not be true. Aron could make out faint shadows of darkness. He did not know if the room was alight or not, but he could with much caution navigate his way to the entry. Passing what seemed like the edges of multiple beds.
He took a break from moving supporting himself on the entry to the room he was in.
The Priest had told him that he resided in Saint Henry's infirmary and if he was not mistaken, that would mean that Aron was currently in the capital. But that seemed nigh impossible. The capital was weeks away from the camp and that would mean Aron had been asleep for that whole time. He also wouldn't have had the opportunity to eat or drink.
Putting these thoughts aside he continued walking. Wearing what could only be some sort of gown . The ones people sick people usually wear. After walking aimlessly for what felt like a minute Aron felt a cold breeze. It was cold and varm at the same time. Aron the walked towards where the breeze came from and suddenly felt his bare feet touch the warm grass of summer.
'This must be some sort of yard where patients idly walk around', Aron thought.
He looked around and saw the shadowy form of what he presumed was a bench. Aron slowly made his way towards the bench, traversing through grass and cobblestone dirtying the soles of his feet as a result. Aron sat down and let out a deep breath.
He could feel the breeze ones more and the varm rays of the sun, confirming it to be daytime.
'What's gonna happen to me? How will I support my wife without any income? I can do nothing if I cannot see. My wife and I are gonna end up on the streets .', pondering his future Aron doesn't notice someone sitting down beside him.
"Why me?" he pondered out loud.
"Why anybody?", a voice replied making Aron jump. The voice was loud and proud. It oozed a certain power. It was sweet like honey but venomous at the same time. The power behind the voice was the same as the priest he had meet before.
Aron looked to his right side and what he saw astonished him. He did not only see shadow, but he also saw a system of sorts. The body he saw was of shadow, but inside of it he could se something like tubes going around in circulation. From the core of the body, branching out to the neck, brain and arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet, and toes. Connecting every part of the body to a core.
From the core came a orange colour. It was bright, strong, and fiery. Almost bursting with energy. Aron's mouth was agape.
The woman who spoke suddenly laughed.
"Ahahahaa! Good sir, I know my beauty knows no bounds, but never have I seen such an expression. You really make me feel special", she says in a playful tone. Aron can see a small smile of shadow form on her lips.
Realising what he was doing he quickly closed his mouth. Gaping at a lady was improper, especially of a holy knight. But then again, he wasn't a knight anymore. Aron frowned at the realisation, that not only did his work change, but with it his status as well.
"Why do you bare such a sad frown?", she asks with worry engulfing her voice. Making her intentions obvious. Aron had never noticed such things before. The way people spoke mattered little to him.
"It is nothing my lady. I have simply been discharged and must think upon it for a while. Do not concern yourself with the likes of me." Aron spoke formally realising he was in the presence of someone noble. The way she spoke was that of someone of noble birth.
"I ask that you forgive me", Aron began.
"But what is that?" Aron asked while pointing to her core.
The lady looked at where Aron was pointing in confusion.
"M-my chest?", she said shyly.
"A-ah forgive my lady I did not realise.", Aron spoke hurriedly a varm sensation creeping up his neck. He had done something indecent towards a lady of noble birth.
"I-I don't mind sir. You were inquiring about my pendant, correct?"
Aron not being great at subterfuge, just nodded.
"Right, this is my mother's pendant. It's all she left me before passing away." She said with sadness. Her voice had changed into something more sincere.
"I'm sorry my lady. I did not mean to pry into your private life", Aron said apologetically.
"It's fine. You knew not of its significants, but I thank you for taking an interest."
The lady stood up and bowed courteously to Aron. He in return did the same. Facing each other the lady spoke.
"Farewell good sir. I hope that whichever ails you, may be removed."
She turned around to leave but Aron intercepted her by making it apparent that he did not know what name she went by.
"I did not catch your name!" Aron says making her turn around.
With a playful smile she responds
"I did not give it!" She says while chuckling.
"But if you must know, then it is Esmerelda".
"I am Aron".
"Nice to met you Aron", she said with a smile on her lips and turned around again walking out of his shadowy vision. Aron could not see her clearly, but he saw what she had inside. He saw what he assumed to be magic.
Seeing magic is something only mages can see and even they cannot see other people's cores. At a great cost Aron had gained something. Something otherworldly. Something evil no doubt, considering its origin. Aron found no solace in this new ability. It was not something he asked for. On that day he decided, that he would learn to live with his new condition and hone his newfound ability somehow.