Let Me Give You a Hand

Idris, Scarlett, and Livia were back in the palace. Though they planned to spend two more weeks on the frontline, they needed to come back earlier due to the scuffle with the demon. 

Like always, their arrival was met with great appreciation by the denizens in the palace. However, many of them were shocked when they saw the lady's cut hand. Scarlett also felt embarrassed by all the stares and tried to hide it. Idris stood in front of her, understanding the situation.

As they went towards their room, one of the maids arrived," it is good to have you all back, the rooms are all ready. Mister Kauri and the princess are out on a stroll", she said," a messenger has been dispatched, they must be back soon."

With that, she took her leave and they went and sat on the bed, Livia fell on the bed and went on a trance. While Idris and Scarlett sat on the bedside. Scarlett was still deep in her thought, still looking at her severed hand, Idris saw it and placed her hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

Seeing this Scarlett stopped her tears and tried to change the conversation.

"Did you hear, that Kauri is going around playing with the Princess while we are breaking our backs for the sake of our duties", she said.

"Yeah", he answered back. Anushna was important to him, he had to make her fall in love with him, and that is what he will do. She must only be playing with him, he was too naive to even understand her advances, and that is why there is no way he will be a problem. Even better Kauri could easily be made his wingman or that was what Idris thought.

And that was when the gate opened and the Princess and Kauri entered, at that moment both the groups were silent, both grasping the situation. On one side were Idris and the party all beat up and Scarlett without a hand while on the other hand, there was the moon boy and the princess entering holding hand, they did so she could run faster with a boost from him but the others didn't know.

"Where have you been, gone on a party!!!", Scarlett shouted to Kauri.

"We were gone to the market, but what happened to you all", asked Kauri.

Anushna ran towards Scarlett getting close she asked in a worried tone," What happened to your hand, Has something bad happened!!".

the room went silent for a moment and then, Idris spoke," It was a higher demon, all those demons we have killed were nothing in front of him. We tried our best but due to some complications, it took too much to kill him."

This had brought back some trauma in Scarlett, even Livia was sitting behind her now, this all made Scarlett cry, tears started dripping from her face, and the frustration could clearly be seen on her face. Both Anushna and Livia were trying to console her, but Idris and Kauri weren't even able to face her.

And all her anger was directed towards one person," it was all because of you, piece of shit!!!", she screamed," if you hadn't just gone in that deep sleep and were there to be of any use to us during that fight, then maybe I…i", she couldn't complete her sentence.

During all of this, Kauri just stood there, not moving an inch. He was devastated by Scarlett's situation but he didn't know what he should do. Should he say sorry or should he do something else? And so he just let her cry her heart out.

"While we were fighting for our lives and to save all those people you just sat here. How much of trash can a person be? You just enjoyed all the luxuries, touring around the whole city, I hate you. Don't show me your face, I HATE YOU!!!!", she cried.

During all this Anushna was in a deep trance. She was thinking about something, and that was when she suddenly jumped from her position.

"We can help you!!", she cried all excited. For a moment everyone was shocked, during this dull moment she had suddenly started jumping all over.

"What, what do you mean?", asked Idris.

"We can use one of the sacred treasures, that we have in the palace", she shouted.

Everyone still didn't understand.

"Sacred treasures are special magical pieces of equipment from the time that we don't know of when even god roamed the earth. It is said they were the ones who made them."

"That, we know of. But how can it help in this situation?", asked Kauri.

"One of the few treasures under our care is a prosthetic hand, we can use it!!!", she said," I will just go and ask my father."

"Let's go", she said to Kauri and they both left to meet the king.

After a while, they all went down some dark stairs, the walls were too old to be known, at least a few thousand years. That place had not seen light in ages, the atmosphere was monotonous, and that was the path they were going with a few torches.

"No one knows of this place", Anushna explained," this place can only be visited by the royal family, not even high ministers are allowed. This is where our sacred treasures are stored."

"The sacred treasures are usually used by the strongest warriors of a nation, but not in Gandhar?", asked Idris.

"Yes, unfortunately, our treasures are not fighting type, they are more support-based. Like the prosthetic arm, but there is a problem." 

"What is it?", Livia said.

"Once we had a set of hands but one was stolen a few years ago by a which along with some other artefacts, if it is of not the same hand that you have lost then", with that Anushna stopped, she didn't want to give her lost hope. Even when she first told her, she would have first checked if it was the right one, but due to the excitement of helping a friend, she fumbled. Hearing this Scarlett also got a bit sad, she would never get her normal hand back, but she would be ok with the prosthetic hand but now even that would be without such huge drama. 

"We will be grateful for whatever there is, the most important thing is that you are trying to help us, thank you", Idris said.

After which in the whole trip no one said a word.