Area One

8

The sun was already setting when Yixing looked up at it for the first time of this day. He had been busy with helping his father since the early morning, he wasn't even surprised anymore whenever he forgot the time while doing so.

"You're just as skilled as your father, and that at your young age," the middle-aged man whom he was currently treating complimented him, "I would not be surprised if you surpassed him one day."

Yixing searched for a hint of irony in his voice, but there was none. He was often complimented by his patients, but he would never get used to it.

"Thank you," he muttered, while trying not to blush. "But I don't think I will ever be able to reach my father's skill."

The man patted his shoulder, while trying to move his other arm slowly. Yixing noticed when he flinched. "The wound was cleaned and I applied an ointment that will make the swelling go back as well. Please make sure to refresh the bandage every few hours and to come see me again in a week. Until then, your injury should be much better."

"Thank you so much, young man," the guy said, patting his arm one more time. "Well, then, I'll be on my way."

Yixing nodded and said goodbye. He was looking around, trying to spot his father, but he was probably treating a seriously injured patient again. People with critical injuries had been arriving more and more frequently during the past few weeks. Yixing didn't know whether it was due to a new rise of patrols or whether there had been a riot again. The riots tended to be suppressed quite easily and brutally, as the villages were not able to create strong bonds and the Patrol loved showing their superiority. They held back with the normal people, they were only known for abducting people out of the blue, but they severely hurt people in front of others if they really wanted to teach them a lesson.

He still remembered what his father had once told him. 'They have been able to keep us secluded for now, no one can touch them, but they know that this will change if the people get angry enough. Take people away, accusing them of treason, and the people will live in fear. Punish them in front of others, show the humans how helpless they are, and the fear will at one point turn into hate. The Red Force is not stupid enough to let this happen. If the people lose their fear of them, they will lose power.' Back then, Yixing hadn't been quite able to understand it, but now he did. And knowing that the Red Force was becoming more brutal made him feel anxious of their motives.

"What are you thinking about?" He looked up to the man who had interrupted his thoughts, only to be met with his father's smile that even a whole day of seeing the worst injuries couldn't make disappear. Yixing's face lit up a bit.

"I've been searching for you." Then, remembering what he had been worrying about, his smile faded. He told his father about his worries, who became serious in a split second when he realized what this was about.

"I see you've noticed it, too," he said with a sigh. "I have been trying to ask them, but they don't want to talk about it and forcing them to do it won't do any good. But it's becoming more and more... At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised if the Red Force Patrol found the secret paths those poor people have been using to get to us."

Yixing's eyes widened. "You think that's possible?"

His father shrugged. "Our village has never made any problems and they didn't care about us treating their victims... But they've become more brutal lately, as you said. I'm afraid it won't be long until they will start going after the already injured as well. It would be a great way to make a statement," he added bitterly.

"But you once told me that if the people saw the Red Force treating their victims like this, their hate would grow!" Yixing protested. "We are the only place these people can feel safe at! What if the other villages heard about it-"