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lucathiaTitle: New Horizons -That Person Now Returned- (8/9)
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1,483
Summary: Not long after Grisia assumes the position of the 38th Sun Knight, he spots a familiar face among the crowds—Roland, who has become a royal knight captain after disappearing from Grisia's life. However, trouble brews among the palace. This time around, is it Grisia's turn to look after Roland?
Notes: I'm on track to finish, whoot! Enjoy~. Decided to add a short epilogue'ish ending to Part 9 (it won't be a separate part since the epilogue itself is so short). It does make Part 9 the longest part though! Warning for non-graphic mention of torture in this part.
When I finally found my voice, I whispered, "Is this the pride of the royal family? Is it?"
The prince didn't respond. The king fell to his knees, holding his head with his hands, a string of "no, no, no" tumbling endlessly out of his damn mouth. I pushed past the prince, meeting no resistance. I felt no joy at my suspicions getting proven true.
I shouldn't have even given them any courtesy. I should have just blasted that trap door apart, consequences be damned. But I had to do this with witnesses, to make sure that we could hold him accountable, but damn it all. Just damn it!
"Father..." The prince whispered in a strangled voice, yet it still echoed in the room, enough to reach my ears. "How could you?"
I wanted to ask the same. How could anyone be so cruel? How could this have been happening under our noses? If Roland hadn't taken notice of the maids, how long would we have let it go on? How many more people would have gotten hurt?
For once, I thought I might take a page out of Judgment's book and rush to the toilet near the Judge's Complex and throw up all that I had eaten today. But that particular toilet was much too far, and I would pass through too many corridors before I could reach the sanctuary, so it definitely wasn't an option.
Besides, I was needed here.
Why did I, Grisia Sun, who has never flinched at the sight of criminals getting flayed, felt the need to copy Judgment?
The room I had stepped into could barely be called that. It reeked of blood, so much that it was suffocating. Someone behind us actually began retching. It wasn't Foot though, as he was the one who gasped, "C-Captain...?"
There, inside the hidden chamber, strapped to the wooden bed with nails hammered into his arms and hands, dried blood caking his skin, was Roland.
Roland, who had been hale just the other day. Yet now...
Were we too late? Had I wasted too much time finding a way to arrest the king in daylight?
There—it was almost impossible to tell, but his chest had risen a tiny bit. He was still breathing. I shook myself out of my stupor and rushed forward.
"Roland! Don't you dare die on me!" I shouted. Don't you dare! "Ultimate Heal!"
Though I tried, no magic gathered to form the crucial healing spell that could mean life or death for Roland.
"What...?"
I tried again, this time calling out, "Minor Heal!"
Still, nothing happened.
Not giving a damn that our audience might think it weird that the Sun Knight knew other magic, when Roland was quite literally on his deathbed, I called out, "Wind Blade!"
No breeze blew through the room.
Are you freaking kidding me? Roland is dying here, and I can't do anything?
Judgment was more clear-headed than me, barking at the royal knights to remove Roland from the chamber. Right, we should get him out of here.
It had to be this chamber, after all. The chamber itself must be blocking me from gathering the elements, just like how it was shrouded from my sensing.
Several royal knights moved forward as commanded, their faces green. All they had at hand were their swords, which proved fine for cutting through the belts, but were much too large for removing the rusty nails. While they were still at a loss as to how to proceed, I could not bear to watch any longer, moving forward to snatch a pair of pliers off of the wall. There was no time to waste here.
All sorts of tools lined the walls. They were obviously all torture devices, polished until they were sparkling clean, even though they must have been used to render Roland into such a state, with bruises, cuts, and burns spanning across his skin, his clothes ripped and stained beyond salvation. Torture devices or not, whatever we had at hand, I would use.
The royal knights followed my lead, grimly grabbing those distasteful tools that hung lovingly on the wall in display of the king's disgusting hobby.
As we pried the nails out of the bed one rusty nail at a time, Roland grunted from the pain.
Good, if you can still make noise, you can get through this. Hang in there, Roland. I won't let you die on this stupid wooden bed hidden away in this perverse pig of a king's torture chamber.
The nails were only partially out, but that would have to be good enough, as long as he could be moved. Judgment even had us move aside. He bent down to scoop Roland up himself, careful not to jostle him too much, but Roland still curled up in pain.
The moment Judgment stepped through the threshold, I called out once again, "Ultimate Heal!"
I poured everything I had into the healing spell, practically blinding myself with how bright the room abruptly became. Holy element rushed in to answer my command all at once, enveloping Roland in its embrace.
It was too early to feel relief, but I could feel my eyes stinging.
It's working. I can gather magic out here. I can save him.
I kept the spell going.
There's no way I'd let you die like this, Roland. We've barely reunited. We haven't even spoken a word to each other after all these years. Laughing at me from afar doesn't count!
I clenched my teeth and barged on.
Roland, don't you know? You're my very first friend.
The selections had been fun, thanks to Roland. He had been such a serious kid and rarely smiled, but that made the chuckles I got out of him all the more rewarding. Us orphans should stick together, I had told him. We had none of the fancy clothes or armor that the other candidates had, but what did it matter? We had each other, and that was what I wanted the most from joining the Twelve Holy Knights. Family. Brothers. I had wanted Roland to be part of that, too.
Judgment gently placed Roland down on the plush carpet, so that I could heal him more easily.
Damn it. Why are you making me remember all of this, Roland? Why were you so foolishly righteous that you stuck your nose in business way over your head?
As the holy element surged around us, I could not help recalling Roland and me so many years ago, when he had spoken of a future where he and I would both be part of the Holy Temple. Even if I did not become a knight, I could become a cleric and heal his injuries. We had all thought he would get chosen as the Sun Knight and that I would have no chance at all, yet somehow, I was the one who had gotten chosen, and Roland had then vanished from my life.
I hadn't become a cleric, but by the God of Light, I was going to heal every single injury on Roland's body!
I'm not allowing you to kick the bucket! We're not friends anymore if you do that!
I hadn't even said sorry.
By the God of Light, Roland, I want you back in my life.
There was still no indication of Roland getting better.
Roland, don't you dare die. If you do, you bet I'm going to drag you back to the living!
As holy light continued to pour out of me, Roland's skin finally began to heal, but it was closing around the remaining nails that were still stuck in his flesh.
"Judg—"
Before I could even finish uttering his name, Judgment bent down and began the gruesome task of removing the nails that had hammered Roland into that awful wooden bed. It would not do to have his flesh heal over the rusty nails.
His ashen complexion made him look just like a corpse, so much that I doubted all the holy light I poured into him was doing any good. But he was still alive. I refused to believe otherwise. If he were dead, the dark element would corrode his body, and there was simply no sign of that at all.
God of Light, please... please lend your encompassing favor to Grisia today...
"Ultimate Heal!" I uttered once more, even though I was already past my limit. "Roland, don't you dare die on me!"
Black spots dappled my vision, so much that I almost didn't notice when his eyes finally, finally, fluttered open.
A voice rasped out, "Grisha?"
That he could still recognize me even in such a state relieved many of my worries, even while his slurred speech sparked a new one.
But. He was not beyond saving. I hadn't been too late.
"Roland... welcome back," I whispered. Welcome back...
Then, blackness took over.
to be continued
Fandom: The Legend of Sun Knight
Words: 1,483
Summary: Not long after Grisia assumes the position of the 38th Sun Knight, he spots a familiar face among the crowds—Roland, who has become a royal knight captain after disappearing from Grisia's life. However, trouble brews among the palace. This time around, is it Grisia's turn to look after Roland?
Notes: I'm on track to finish, whoot! Enjoy~. Decided to add a short epilogue'ish ending to Part 9 (it won't be a separate part since the epilogue itself is so short). It does make Part 9 the longest part though! Warning for non-graphic mention of torture in this part.
Part 8
When I finally found my voice, I whispered, "Is this the pride of the royal family? Is it?"
The prince didn't respond. The king fell to his knees, holding his head with his hands, a string of "no, no, no" tumbling endlessly out of his damn mouth. I pushed past the prince, meeting no resistance. I felt no joy at my suspicions getting proven true.
I shouldn't have even given them any courtesy. I should have just blasted that trap door apart, consequences be damned. But I had to do this with witnesses, to make sure that we could hold him accountable, but damn it all. Just damn it!
"Father..." The prince whispered in a strangled voice, yet it still echoed in the room, enough to reach my ears. "How could you?"
I wanted to ask the same. How could anyone be so cruel? How could this have been happening under our noses? If Roland hadn't taken notice of the maids, how long would we have let it go on? How many more people would have gotten hurt?
For once, I thought I might take a page out of Judgment's book and rush to the toilet near the Judge's Complex and throw up all that I had eaten today. But that particular toilet was much too far, and I would pass through too many corridors before I could reach the sanctuary, so it definitely wasn't an option.
Besides, I was needed here.
Why did I, Grisia Sun, who has never flinched at the sight of criminals getting flayed, felt the need to copy Judgment?
The room I had stepped into could barely be called that. It reeked of blood, so much that it was suffocating. Someone behind us actually began retching. It wasn't Foot though, as he was the one who gasped, "C-Captain...?"
There, inside the hidden chamber, strapped to the wooden bed with nails hammered into his arms and hands, dried blood caking his skin, was Roland.
Roland, who had been hale just the other day. Yet now...
Were we too late? Had I wasted too much time finding a way to arrest the king in daylight?
There—it was almost impossible to tell, but his chest had risen a tiny bit. He was still breathing. I shook myself out of my stupor and rushed forward.
"Roland! Don't you dare die on me!" I shouted. Don't you dare! "Ultimate Heal!"
Though I tried, no magic gathered to form the crucial healing spell that could mean life or death for Roland.
"What...?"
I tried again, this time calling out, "Minor Heal!"
Still, nothing happened.
Not giving a damn that our audience might think it weird that the Sun Knight knew other magic, when Roland was quite literally on his deathbed, I called out, "Wind Blade!"
No breeze blew through the room.
Are you freaking kidding me? Roland is dying here, and I can't do anything?
Judgment was more clear-headed than me, barking at the royal knights to remove Roland from the chamber. Right, we should get him out of here.
It had to be this chamber, after all. The chamber itself must be blocking me from gathering the elements, just like how it was shrouded from my sensing.
Several royal knights moved forward as commanded, their faces green. All they had at hand were their swords, which proved fine for cutting through the belts, but were much too large for removing the rusty nails. While they were still at a loss as to how to proceed, I could not bear to watch any longer, moving forward to snatch a pair of pliers off of the wall. There was no time to waste here.
All sorts of tools lined the walls. They were obviously all torture devices, polished until they were sparkling clean, even though they must have been used to render Roland into such a state, with bruises, cuts, and burns spanning across his skin, his clothes ripped and stained beyond salvation. Torture devices or not, whatever we had at hand, I would use.
The royal knights followed my lead, grimly grabbing those distasteful tools that hung lovingly on the wall in display of the king's disgusting hobby.
As we pried the nails out of the bed one rusty nail at a time, Roland grunted from the pain.
Good, if you can still make noise, you can get through this. Hang in there, Roland. I won't let you die on this stupid wooden bed hidden away in this perverse pig of a king's torture chamber.
The nails were only partially out, but that would have to be good enough, as long as he could be moved. Judgment even had us move aside. He bent down to scoop Roland up himself, careful not to jostle him too much, but Roland still curled up in pain.
The moment Judgment stepped through the threshold, I called out once again, "Ultimate Heal!"
I poured everything I had into the healing spell, practically blinding myself with how bright the room abruptly became. Holy element rushed in to answer my command all at once, enveloping Roland in its embrace.
It was too early to feel relief, but I could feel my eyes stinging.
It's working. I can gather magic out here. I can save him.
I kept the spell going.
There's no way I'd let you die like this, Roland. We've barely reunited. We haven't even spoken a word to each other after all these years. Laughing at me from afar doesn't count!
I clenched my teeth and barged on.
Roland, don't you know? You're my very first friend.
The selections had been fun, thanks to Roland. He had been such a serious kid and rarely smiled, but that made the chuckles I got out of him all the more rewarding. Us orphans should stick together, I had told him. We had none of the fancy clothes or armor that the other candidates had, but what did it matter? We had each other, and that was what I wanted the most from joining the Twelve Holy Knights. Family. Brothers. I had wanted Roland to be part of that, too.
Judgment gently placed Roland down on the plush carpet, so that I could heal him more easily.
Damn it. Why are you making me remember all of this, Roland? Why were you so foolishly righteous that you stuck your nose in business way over your head?
As the holy element surged around us, I could not help recalling Roland and me so many years ago, when he had spoken of a future where he and I would both be part of the Holy Temple. Even if I did not become a knight, I could become a cleric and heal his injuries. We had all thought he would get chosen as the Sun Knight and that I would have no chance at all, yet somehow, I was the one who had gotten chosen, and Roland had then vanished from my life.
I hadn't become a cleric, but by the God of Light, I was going to heal every single injury on Roland's body!
I'm not allowing you to kick the bucket! We're not friends anymore if you do that!
I hadn't even said sorry.
By the God of Light, Roland, I want you back in my life.
There was still no indication of Roland getting better.
Roland, don't you dare die. If you do, you bet I'm going to drag you back to the living!
As holy light continued to pour out of me, Roland's skin finally began to heal, but it was closing around the remaining nails that were still stuck in his flesh.
"Judg—"
Before I could even finish uttering his name, Judgment bent down and began the gruesome task of removing the nails that had hammered Roland into that awful wooden bed. It would not do to have his flesh heal over the rusty nails.
His ashen complexion made him look just like a corpse, so much that I doubted all the holy light I poured into him was doing any good. But he was still alive. I refused to believe otherwise. If he were dead, the dark element would corrode his body, and there was simply no sign of that at all.
God of Light, please... please lend your encompassing favor to Grisia today...
"Ultimate Heal!" I uttered once more, even though I was already past my limit. "Roland, don't you dare die on me!"
Black spots dappled my vision, so much that I almost didn't notice when his eyes finally, finally, fluttered open.
A voice rasped out, "Grisha?"
That he could still recognize me even in such a state relieved many of my worries, even while his slurred speech sparked a new one.
But. He was not beyond saving. I hadn't been too late.
"Roland... welcome back," I whispered. Welcome back...
Then, blackness took over.
to be continued
