Meeting the Family

***** Trigger Warning: Blood/gore *****

Aayla hastily ran around the medical ward. After the True Order army had collapsed, general order fell along with it. She didn't remember when exactly, but somehow Aayla was separated from the others. By that time, she had found herself in one of the temporary medical stations.

One of the nurses saw Aayla treat a couple of sprains. She stuffed a nurse's robe on her and put Aayla to work. Aayla took care of non-life-threatening injuries and preparing medical supplies. The doctors and actual nurses were too busy trying to save lives of the critical patients.

Her experience with basic first aid did not prepare her for some of the injuries that she saw that day. Burns and fire related injuries were the most common injuries. Those who had been mauled by magical beasts usually died before they arrived at the medical station.

She spent hours putting splints on broken bones and removing small debris from flesh. The smell of blood and burnt flesh was particularly prominent in the tent. Suddenly, veganism didn't seem so bad after all. Any pangs of hunger faded when she thought about meat.

At times, Aayla desperately wished for modern Terran medicine. Antibiotics and basic treatments had all been replaced by healing magic. Magic that she couldn't use at all. Practical first aid skills without magic were extremely rare. She had to teach many of the younger nurses as she went along.

Aayla did as best as she could. When the last fires finally went out, the flow of patients slowed down. Her work eventually came to a halt. The doctors' work was ever lasting, though. Patients were still suffering by the hundreds. All she could do at this point was move supplies around.

Late in the morning, officials in ragged uniforms paid the medical station a visit with fresh supplies and good news. The battle had finally concluded. Armored guards followed behind the officials. One of them had much more elaborate armor than the others.

The head doctor cheerfully greeted the officials before assigning some workers and volunteers to move the supplies into the medical station. The Halcyon Guard asked the head doctor something. The head doctor pointed towards Aayla as she moved to grab a box.

As she walked inside the tent, the Halcyon Guard stopped her.

"Miss Aayla Glowery?"

"Can I help you with something?" she warily eyed the guard before recognizing him. "Oh! You're one of the Halcyon Guards that went on the missions to Cuoq and Halcyon."

"Yes, miss. I have been sent to find you by the Forolan family and ensure your safety. The young master is extremely concerned. If you'll follow me, I'll escort you to where your companions are."

"Just let me finish moving these supplies then I'll go with you. Here, help out and take a box! Let's get these supplies inside quickly."

Aayla shoved a box into the guard's hands and picked up another one. She pushed the confused guard inside to drop off the boxes then dragged him outside again to get more. Several onlookers watched in confusion and slight awe. Since when are the Halcyon Guards used as pack mules?!

The guard didn't know what to do. He was a guard, okay? Not a porter! Yet telling this young lady 'No' seemed impossible. The young master could be displeased, and that's not even mentioning her godmother.

All of the supplies were moved in no time. Before Aayla could get him wrapped up in another task, the guard promptly left with Aayla. She didn't even have time to remove the itchy nurse's robe covering her clothes.

The guard took her to an enormous, walled mansion in the inner city. The streets here were much more elegant and clean, completely untouched by the battle outside, though scars remained from some minor skirmishes that looked fairly recent.

When they arrived at their destination, Jacki and Chris were waiting outside. They carefully looked over Aayla after Jacki gave her a tight hug.

"Where have you been?! We've been so worried."

"You and Daren worried. ACK!" Jacki sharply elbowed Chris.

"I'm fine. I somehow started working at one of those temporary medical stations. After that, I was too busy to find you all. Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it. As long as you're alright, other things don't matter as much."

"You can stop your needless worrying. Miss Glowery looks completely healthy… though we might have to change her clothes and clean her up a bit before meeting the Lord and Lady."

"Hmm…. Yes, this will be their first-time meeting. This image might work, though. She just got back from volunteering at a medical station. That could please them."

"True. They already know that she doesn't have much magical talent, but they always placed more emphasis on character and appreciate non-magical skills."

"Then we clean her up later. The contrast will be astonishing!"

Chris's eyes lit up while Aayla's just got wider.

"Eh? What are you both talking about? I'm a bit confused."

Jacki and Chris whispered for several more minutes. As soon as they decided on the best course of action, Aayla was whisked away into the mansion in front of her. Jacki fixed Aayla's hair and even had her rub her hands on some medical herbs. A slight green tinge remained on Aayla's finger tips.

"Jacki??"

Why did Aayla get the distinct feeling like she was about to be sold off?

"Don't worry about it. Leave everything to me and Chris. Remember to smile and curtsy when you greet the Lord and Lady!"

Jacki and Chris guided Aayla to a parlor in the mansion. A middle-age gentleman who looked very similar to Chris stood in front of the door.

"Oho, Chris and Jacki have finally arrived. I assume that this is your friend?"

"Hello, father. Yes, this is Miss Aayla Glowery, Ramona Heston's goddaughter."

"Are you sure that she's… ahem, ready to meet the Lord and Lady?"

"Well, she just rushed back from volunteering at one of the temporary medical stations. Miss Glowery didn't want to keep them waiting any longer."

The gentleman raised an eyebrow and stroked his chin.

"Volunteering, huh? What an admirable quality."

"We've already cleaned her up a bit. Will the Lord and Lady mind waiting longer to get her completely ready?"

"… It should be fine. The Lady has become extremely impatient. I'm sure both of them will forgive any messiness incurred while aiding the city. She looks much better than Chris did, and the Lady forgave him for tracking footprints of magical beast blood throughout the manor."

Chris awkwardly coughed while the gentleman opened the door. He motioned for the trio to enter before him. Inside was a classy, well-furnished parlor with a small crystal chandelier. Maids stood silently along the back wall.

The atmosphere of the long table was a bit gloomy and awkward. Five people sat around it. One was Daren. Two were a middle-aged man and lady. The man looked similar to Stallesso Forolan. The other two appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old.

The young man glared at Daren while the young lady disdainfully turned her head away. When Daren saw Aayla enter, his lips broke out into a faint smile.

"Ahem, Master, the Halcyon Guard found Miss Glowery volunteering in a medical station. She was escorted back immediately after handing over her duties. Rather than let you wait any longer, Miss Glowery rushed to greet you immediately."

The lady beamed and lightly laughed. "Ohohoho. There's no need to rush. Please, sit down Miss Glowery. My husband and I have been eager to meet you."

Eh? Aayla suddenly felt extremely nervous. Was that a chill that crawled up her spine? Why did that lady's eyes seem like those of an eagle examining prey?

Aayla lightly curtsied before walking towards the table. Daren carefully pulled out a chair for her.

"You can sit here. There's a spot next to me."

Daren's family glanced at each other while Daren pushed Aayla's seat in. Did their eyes deceive them? Daren seemed to happily take care of a young lady! Who was this child, and what did he do with Daren?! Before the table fell into an odd silence again, the lady spoke up.

"Welcome to our humble home. It's unfortunate that we couldn't meet under better circumstances. I am Rebecca Forolan, Daren's aunt. My husband is his uncle Innello, and these are his cousins Tregario and Edwina."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Forolan."

Edwina sniffed and looked at Aayla's clothes.

"Ew. Why would wear such rags here? Is Ramona Heston really your godmother?"

The table was plunged into an icy silence. Tregario stifled a laugh as Edwina held a fan over her mouth like a peacock displaying its feathers.

"EDWINA! Miss Glowery is our guest, and under the Forolan's protection. Mind your manners."

"What? I just wanted to know why she didn't have the decency to wear something nice before greeting the City Lord and Lady of Halcyon. Does she not have any decent clothes or something?"