Chapter 7

Leaning over Ross, Reina carefully applies a salve to his wound. At times like this, she wishes she could use light magic, especially with how deep the slashes in his shoulder are.

I hope this will be enough to keep it from getting infected, she prays to herself. 

She has already sterilized and stitched up the cuts, but if it gets infected, she is afraid the boy's life might be endangered.

Taking a seat after wrapping his shoulder with bandages, Reina reflects on the things she noticed about the wound. The tearing of his flesh didn't seem like a wild animal, as if the claws of whatever attacked him were deliberately shaped to kill. It was too precise.

Also, based on the depth of the injury, Reina was left with a mystery. The clearing that the kids had gone to is a several-hour walk from the village. And yet, Ross survived long enough to be brought back, despite his heavy bleeding. It should be impossible.

Looking over at where Francis is seated in the corner, slumped against the wall as he sleeps off his fatigue, she frowns. The kids are keeping something a secret. What it is, she doesn't know, but she is starting to become very anxious.

Ross has been an enigma since the day he was born, Reina recalls. He was unusually sharp as an infant and learned to talk very early, although he never spoke all that much, preferring to watch and observe others instead.

Briefly amused by the memory, Reina forces herself to focus on the current mystery the young redhead has supplied her with. Standing up, she makes her way over to a stack of books she had shoved under a table several months ago since she rarely needs them.

Pulling them out, she flips through them, trying to find the answers she desperately needs. Although she can't use magic, she can sense it. And something about Ross's injury was screaming magic. Both how he survived so long, and how his shoulder was wounded.

"Nope," Reina mutters, placing the first book down. Picking up a second book, she scans through it, stopping on a page with a drawing of a wounded knight. His leg was injured in a very similar way to Ross's shoulder.

Growing pale, Reina hoped that it was just a coincidence because if it was not, it meant some sort of demon had managed to wander into the depths of the human-controlled territory, far from the front lines.

Maybe that's why the kids won't elaborate on what attacked them, because they're aware that saying anything about a demon will cause the villagers to needlessly panic, Reina realizes. After all, the claim that Ross killed what attacked them, so it's no longer a threat.

Glancing back and forth between the two boys, she sighs. Even so, I wish I could help them in some way, besides treating injuries. I have a feeling that this isn't just going to blow over quietly.

Reina learned a long time ago that when her gut tells her something, it is best for her to listen to it. She is scared for the future of these children, but she doesn't know what is to come.

Picking up the third book, one on magic resilience and soul durability, she opens it. She still needs to figure out how Ross managed to survive severe blood loss. Although she is doubtful she will find an answer in this book, it is still best to look through it just in case.

The silence and her concentration are shattered by a sudden knock on her door. Startled, Reina hesitates. She doesn't want to deal with anyone asking her if she figured out what happened. Reluctantly, she opens the door to find 

Marcus standing there, holding a mug of hot herbal tea.

"Hello, Reina. I came to check on how Ross is doing," Marcus says as he steps through the door without waiting for Reina to say anything. "This tea is for you. Should help you slow your mind down."

He glances at her, a wry and knowing smirk on his face. "That's the other reason I came by. Figured you would be overthinking things like usual."

Reina tenses up, not happy about seeing him. Although they have known each other for decades, she still finds the old storyteller to be difficult to handle. He knows so much about the world, so it's hard to figure out what he is thinking.

Taking a shot at it, she asks him a question, hoping he will answer. "Do you have any idea how Ross survived this injury? He should have died long before the kids made it back to the village."

Marcus settles down on the edge of the bed, tenderly brushing some hair out of Ross's face. "Yes, I have an idea of how it is possible. However, I can't be completely certain."

Reina waits for him to continue, and when he doesn't she realizes with annoyance that she's going to have to ask another question. "And why do you think that is?"

Marcus sighs. "I'm sorry, Reina. But I can't tell you."

Fingers twitching in annoyance, Reina puts the book down, before she gets the urge to throw it at him. "What is that supposed to mean? Why can't you tell me?"

Standing up, Marcus fixes the blanket covering Ross. "I promised Ross I would keep this secret, and I always keep my promises."

Frustrated, Reina opens her mouth to say something rather rude, but Marcus says something else before she can.

"However, due to all the times you have helped me in the past, I'll give you a hint," He looked her dead in the eyes, with the most serious face she had ever seen him with. "Besides, Ross is going to need all the help he can get, so if you can find the answers you're looking for yourself, that would be greatly appreciated."

Reina closes her mouth and nods firmly.

With a hand on the door, Marcus speaks, "Think about this and find the answer. What kind of soul refuses to die, even when the body already has?"

With that riddle, he leaves her pondering his words as a shiver runs down her spine.