Dance of Lilies

Chapter 7 - Final Part - Loitu's POV

(To be edited and updated with better structure and flow: 29-30.7.21)

Sabi is late. Which, in my opinion, is something new, especially since she's late from her own morning tea. I'm not sure if she would consider it being late, since I didn't announce my intention to visit her.

It's weird to see the hutt so empty. The scent of lilies faintly lingers, which means Kyuuna has been here lately. I also make out strong, vivid hints of the fragrance Elliora uses, as well as the bitter coffee Hyryin drinks. Finally, the important memo I forgot returns to me; all four of them have gone to Hyryin's place for a meeting about the White Lilies.

"I should probably get going there then," I mutter to myself, as talking out loud is a bad habit I've never really grown out of, especially since my academics started to take most of my social life.

So, I'm the one who's late. I distinctly remember Hyryin calling me yesterday while I was buried head deep in my research, telling me not to miss the meeting, reminding me to put a reminder into my phone, to do everything I can do not to forget. Hm.

I pat my pockets, only to find out that I have forgotten my phone somewhere. I have no idea where. Time to buy a new one, it seems.

I trail my fingers across the wooden table. The cracks of my skin glow red, the cinder of my being flaming strong and steady, warning me not to strain myself. Ever since I exerted myself with my studies, I've been fragile, close to breaking. The doctors told me it's cinder rot, a disease that only occurs in nightmares of my type.

So much for the refreshing fist fights and battles, not even mentioning protecting my loved ones.

I know I should go soon, but the hutt fills me with such tranquility that I just want the infinities of warm memories to wrap around me and shroud me with their gentle lull. I close my eyes for a fleeting second and take a deep breath to truly taste the scents around me. Family. I've been lucky to be blessed like this.

Even though I yearn for my younger days of recklessness.

As I get up, something slams against the door outside. It's a loud thud, and by the sounds of it, that something didn't meet the wooden door gently. I don't move at first, just in case the door would open, but when I hear nothing, I decide to inspect.

When I open the door, a faintly familiar face greets me by falling onto my arms. It hurts, and I grimace, but manage to help Ursa inside.

Ursa looks like she's been through the underworld and worse. This is the first time I've seen her in real life, but I recognize her by Kyuuna's descriptions, and I'm pretty sure the last time she wasn't this bloody and beaten up.

Ursa's breath is ragged as she curses under her breath and looks at her blood stained hands as if she's not sure where all of her lifeline is seeping from.

My instincts kick in quickly when I realize that she's hurt badly. I've been through enough fights and emergency room trips to react accordingly. I feel like a machine as I barely manage to lift Ursa again and drag her to the couch. She whimpers weakly once she hits the cushions.

I don't say a word as I hurry to the first aid. It's a big bag of magical healing patches, gauze, pain killers, some bottles filled with magic, everything you could wish to have if you've been mangled like Ursa has been.

When I return to Ursa, she's forced herself into an upright position and looks like she's stubbornly trying to patch herself with her bare hands.

"Do you want to get an infection and die? Because I can totally let you do that. I study healing as my minor, but if you think you'll do a better job, go ahead, I don't mind." My words sound harsher than I hoped, but the message seems to reach Ursa quickly.