Whatever Necessary

Liam, panting heavily, hurried to where Aiden was crouching over Agatha's unconscious body. Tears welled up in his golden eyes as he called out her name and reached for her wrist to feel her pulse.

Aiden let out a sigh of relief upon detecting faint beats from Agatha's heart. Even Liam, though relieved, couldn't shake off the fear and anger he felt seeing Agatha in such a state. She was exhausted, deeply wounded, and battered.

"She's alive..." Aiden whispered softly, wiping away fresh tears with his arm. He tried to remain composed, yet his eyes betrayed his fear for Agatha's condition.

Liam trembled with fury, his hands clenched into tight fists as he observed Agatha's injuries up close. He berated himself for underestimating the Ravager. Assuming the poison in his body had weakened him, Liam had become complacent. Now, the consequences were dire—Agatha, Aiden, Leonel, and his men were all wounded.

It was just a Ravager, yet the damage inflicted was severe. How had he allowed things to escalate to such brutality?

Grim determination settled on Liam's face as he glanced at Agatha's bruised cheeks. He vowed that the Ravager would pay dearly for the suffering he had caused.

Liam lost control, and before anyone realized it, the surrounding area was engulfed in flames. The trees and grass became kindling for his unleashed power. Taking deep breaths, he tried to regain his composure. He couldn't afford any more trouble. The consequences of his fire spreading could be dire.

Gently cradling Agatha in his arms, Liam felt her softness against his strength, which helped soothe his anger and bring a sense of calmness over him. Mirroring this change, the raging fire that had consumed everything began to dwindle, turning into harmless white smoke.

As Agatha lay in Liam's arms, she seemed fragile, almost weightless. Exhaustion radiated from her every pore, and Liam clenched his teeth in frustration. He felt as though he had failed to protect her, his heart weighed down by guilt at letting his Fate, his other half, suffer.

"We need to get her healed," Liam stated firmly, turning to address Aiden and then scanning their companions.

While four of them were relatively unharmed, Leonel appeared to be in a dire state, and another knight urgently needed medical attention.

Reflecting on the events that had unfolded, Liam recounted how they had emerged from the tree to find their companions under attack by a horde of Ghouls. Chaos ensued as one of Leonel's knights broke free, only to be pursued by more Ghouls. Soon after, the Ravager and the Witch had appeared, prompting Leonel to engage the Witch while Liam confronted the Ravager.

Determined to make amends and ensure Agatha's recovery, Liam knew they needed to regroup, tend to their injuries, and devise a strategy for what lay ahead.

Without delay, Liam began healing Agatha while she remained unconscious. The other men tended to their wounded comrade, their efforts aided by Liam's dwindling energy, exhausted from his battle with the Ravager.

Initially hesitant to accompany Liam, Aiden had no choice but to join them due to Agatha's critical condition. Although Liam had treated Agatha's wounds, she remained unconscious, beyond the control or healing abilities of any ordinary Fae.

Liam observed that the minor wounds on Agatha's feet were slowly closing on their own. He speculated that she might be a Fae or a Werebeast, capable of self-healing. However, he didn't have a definitive answer yet.

Upon arriving at the Slumber Shack, Liam noticed several creatures covertly observing them. Unconcerned, he adjusted the hood of his cloak to conceal his face, ensuring Aiden and Agatha remained hidden as well. This precaution was taken in case any of the Ravager's allies were spying, gathering information about their whereabouts.

Inside the Shack, a Healer from the Water Fae Kingdom awaited them in the lobby. The Healer promptly attended to the wounded knight in critical condition, assisted by Liam and the others.

Presently, Aiden sat by the bed, holding Agatha's hand while Liam searched for her clothes. He hadn't left her side since their arrival at the Slumber Shack.

Since Agatha's bruises had already been treated, Liam fetched a wet towel to clean off any remaining dirt. As Liam reached for Agatha's hand, Aiden offered his own hand.

"Let me…" Aiden spoke softly with a gentle smile, taking the towel from Liam and delicately wiping Agatha's reddened skin.

Liam discreetly smiled, acknowledging that Aiden had been raised well by Agatha. Even though Aiden had come along without protest, he still maintained a level of caution, which was wise. He never allowed Agatha to be alone with anyone else or to be touched by anyone other than Liam.

Once Aiden finished cleaning Agatha's hand, Liam turned his attention to treating Aiden's minor injuries. Aiden initially resisted, claiming he was fine, but Liam insisted. He reminded Aiden that Agatha wouldn't want to see him injured when she woke up.

"Do you really want Agatha to worry about you when she wakes up and sees you wounded, Aiden?" Liam gently persuaded him until Aiden finally relented.

As evening approached, Liam returned to Aiden and Agatha's room. Aiden remained steadfast by Agatha's side, fulfilling his role as a devoted son. While Liam had been occupied with relaying messages to his cousins, the knights had taken care of feeding Aiden. Afterwards, he had quietly settled down and slept beside Agatha, keeping a vigil over her.

Meanwhile, Leonel had made significant progress in his recovery and had regained consciousness earlier. However, he still felt a bit dizzy. The Ministers of Primotheus Captain had summoned Liam to discuss the events that transpired in the Bloodmoon Forest.

Fortunately, there were no casualties among the Primotheans. The Ministers and Liam deliberated on the incident, including the unintentional burning of a portion of the area. Liam had taken responsibility for the damages incurred, albeit at a considerable cost. However, he understood the importance of resolving these matters swiftly to avoid unnecessary complications or legal proceedings that could jeopardize their mission's success. 

Liam couldn't help but find the Ministers' change in tone amusing. Before they knew he was the King of the Water Fae Kingdom, they had scolded him vigorously for the forest burning incident. However, once they realized his true identity, their voices became more restrained and respectful. Liam simply shook his head, unsure of what to say. He had always struggled with words, much like Ludwig struggled with controlling his anger.

During their discussion, the Ministers also inquired about the scattered remains of the Ghouls corpses in the forest. Liam explained that while the Ravagers could summon them, they lacked the ability to return them to their original state once they were deceased. As a result, their remains became an inherent part of Quailsham, with no afterlife awaiting them, only eternal nothingness.

Liam spoke firmly, "I am here for my own leisure and a brief respite following my exhausting coronation. Along the way, I came across a woman." This statement, in essence, was not untrue. "A Ravager was pursuing her due to his child, so I intervened..."

One of the Ministers, a woman, interjected, "Are this woman and the Ravager bound by Fate?"

Liam furrowed his brow, his irritation evident. "I am certain they are not."

"How can you be so sure, Your Majesty? As you are well aware, in our realm, interfering with someone else's Fate is forbidden," the woman stated flatly. "It's against the law and punishable..."

Liam sighed, reclining back in his seat. "I have stated they are not Fated."

The Ministers seemed to sense Liam's frustration from his tone. As a result, the discussion abruptly ended, and he was soon granted freedom to explore the Primotheus Capital once more. It was agreed upon that it was merely a confrontation and nothing more.

By the time they returned, it was late afternoon. Liam's companions were awake and engaged in sparring, while others were engrossed in planning their next steps. 

After the meeting concluded, they finally sat down for dinner. Liam invited Aiden to join them, but he refused to leave Agatha alone. Although she was still unconscious, her breathing had stabilized. Dinner was brought to their room, and Aiden silently ate while keeping watch over Agatha.

As the night grew deeper, Liam returned to Agatha's room only to find Aiden still awake. He remained seated, engrossed in a book on his lap.

"You're not sleepy yet?" Liam asked softly, approaching cautiously.

Aiden shook his head firmly, though his tired eyes betrayed him.

"Go to sleep, Aiden," Liam insisted, taking a seat nearby. "Don't worry, nothing will harm you or Agatha. We're here to protect both of you. Resting will help you be there for Agatha when she wakes up."

However, Aiden remained unmoving, so Liam sighed and decided to leave him be. There was nothing more he could do except let his body succumb to rest whenever it chose to.

As silence enveloped them, Liam sat down beside Aiden and gazed at Agatha. She lay there, appearing majestic in her fresh white dress, as if the moon itself bestowed its brilliance upon her. Liam noted that she seemed thinner than the last time he saw her, and he wondered about the challenges she must have faced and why she appeared so fragile. Despite her weariness, her beauty remained steadfast.

Letting out a long breath, Liam acknowledged that there was no point in staying away. They were still pursued by the Ravager, and he had learned from Aiden about the struggles Agatha endured. He made a vow to himself that he would never again leave her side. Liam was determined to protect Agatha himself, no matter the consequences. The Fate String might awaken at any moment, but Liam no longer cared. His priority was to safeguard Agatha at all costs, using whatever means necessary.