The Heroes of The Elemental Academies Book 3 The Tides of War

Chapter 6: Parent's Duty

Katie
 

   Katie rushed into the hospital pushing aside the agents who were telling her that she couldn't enter the operating room. Doctors were in the middle of trying to save her son who had been pretty injured when Strat had brought him back to the Academy. She entered a side room that was for viewing and was met by Strat who was just inside. He was still outfitted in his white and gold heavy battle armor he wore while he was fighting. All over the armor was black demon blood. He was covered in it and as he turned to see her Katie could immediately see the worry in his eyes.

"He'll make it out fine Katie," Stratos said. After which he let out a sigh and sat down in one of the wooden chairs that were scattered about the viewing room. Inside the operating room the doctors of the Lightforce were hard at work hovering over her son like a cluster of mother hens. She pressed up against the glass in a vain attempt to get a understanding of how the surgery was progressing, but she soon felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around her eyes met Stratos's eyes. His deep brown eyes seemed to convey as much worry as one could.

"I've never lied to you Katie. If I say he is going to be fine then he is going to be fine." Katie forced herself to take a deep breath and step back she had to remember that she wasn't just Seth's mother but also the Chief Commander of the Lightforce Academy's armies. The doctors at the Academy were second to none. There was still much to be done in order to ready the Lightforce Academy's for war.

  "We do need to have a talk though," Strat said. Katie raised her eyebrow trying to gauge from Strat's intentions. This seemed to make Strat smile.

   "Katie it's been nearly a hundred years and every time I say that you try to guess what I'm about to say. Don't you get tired of being wrong." Katie smiled at this. Even though she was over a hundred years old she still found times to be playful. Which was amazing because she had always thought that she would become bitter in her old age.

  "Its about Seth," Strat said continuing on as he turned to face the operating room where the person who he was talking about was currently fighting for his life.

  "It's difficult to say but I think Seth gain power too quickly," Strat said. A ping of irritation touched Katie as she raised an eyebrow to the most powerful man in the Academies.

   "What's that supposed to mean," Katie demanded as she turned to fully face Strat. 

   "Oh you know what I mean. He tries to do everything alone and solve all problems by himself. He doesn't have any idea about teamwork and working together with his peers. He tries to be the one that saves everyone. It's going to get him killed." Once again Katie found herself raising an eyebrow at Strat.

    "All this coming from the quote Protector of the Academies." Stratos let out and exasperated sigh but Katie had gotten the point this thought had already been surfacing in her mind. Seth had a "always ready to help personality" which was good for being a person. But, when fighting a war it could become a liability. Especially when that personality often dictated his actions. With out realizing it Katie began to pace the room thoughts were swirling around in her head at a deafening pace. 

  "Katie I know you are worried but you have got to not over think this, I have a way to solve this issue." Once again Katie wheeled around to face Stratos. Sh3e found herself searching his face even though she already had a pretty good idea of what Stratos was up to. It was just that she didn't want to voice the idea. 

   "You want to send him to the front lines to join a unit." Katie said. The look Stratos gave her after her statement almost threw her into a fit of laughter but she managed to keep it together... barely.

  "How did you...? no never mind I should expect this. But yeah you are right." Katie felt a tightening pressure in her chest. 

  "I thought so." Just as they were about to continue the door to the viewing room swung open and a young lady in a doctors coat entered. In each of her hands she carried grey mugs filled with steaming sweet smelling liquid. The doctor seemed young, no more than thirty years old and it was clear that she was very nervous talking to the two of them.

    "Cut it out Strat you are scaring the poor girl," Katie scolded as she stepped forward to greet the lady. she heard Stratos sigh behind her,

   "But I'm not even doing anything."

  The young lady seemed to shake herself out of whatever stupor she was in as she stepped forward and dipped her head in a casual bow.

   "Hello my name is Doctor Harwin. I brought the two of you some coffee. I thought you might want it seeing as it is two in the morning. Katie had to fight the smirk that threatened to make an appearance as she notice an insane grin appear on Stratos' face  from the corner of her eye.

   "I like her," He said still smiling.

   "You don't even know her," Katie retorted without looking back. Katie stepped forward to except the mug of coffee. 

   "So do you have any information on my son's condition," Katie asked before taking a sip of her coffee. The brew was mixed carefully with Italian creamer and a lot of sugar, just how she liked it. 

   Doctor Harwin crossed her arms in front of her.

   "There are extensive lacerations all over his body but it is the doctors belief that he will make a complete recovery."

   A pressure that had been built up in her chest was finally released as she sighed in relief.

   "That's good to hear," She replied.

   "I told you he would be fine. Zero trust," Stratos muttered behind her. She chose to ignore him as she took another long sip of her sweet coffee.

   "He won't have too long of a recovery time either. I assume it's because of his elven heritage but he definitely heals faster than normal agents. When he was brought in here there were some red mark all over his body. We suspect that they were minor injuries that had already healed before he even arrived at the infirmary." Katie only nodded. With the King of the Elves as your dad certain perks were bound to make an appearance. She also suspected that Seth would live quite a bit longer than normal. But she chose to keep that bit of info to herself. 

   "When will he wake up?"

   Doctor Harwin hesitated before answering.

   "Any minute now, you can go talk to him but not for long as he'll need his rest.

  Katie threw a look back at Stratos as if willing him to do what she knew she had to.

   "Na uh your kid missy, your responsibility." Katie rolled her eyes at him.

   "Coward."

   "Better you than me," was all Stratos said in return.