QUEST FOR THE RED STONE (Pillar men AU)

In Trouble

The moment Kars and Esidisi entered the dim, cramped house, a wave of dread washed over them. It took only a second to take in the scene, but the damage was already done. Santana lay crumpled on the floor, clutching his head as tears streaked down his cheeks. Blood dripped from his scalp, staining his fingers and matting his hair. It was clear the man had put up a fierce fight.

Across the room, Wamuu held the man suspended in midair, his wind ability coiling around the human like an invisible noose. The man clutched a small, battered kitchen knife in one hand, his expression a mix of defiance and fear. Wamuu's chest heaved with each heavy breath, his resolve crumbling, the fear in his eyes was unmistakable.

Santana, noticing Kars and Esidisi's arrival, gasped aloud, alerting Wamuu, who looked over his shoulder with mounting terror. In that tense, silent moment, Wamuu's gaze locked with Kars's, his mouth opening to explain. But no words came. His voice caught in his throat, and his heart hammered, the dread of his failure settling heavy in his stomach.

The silence shattered as the man dropped to the floor with a sickening thud and a groan. Wamuu's grip had faltered. Before he could react, Kars moved with a speed that blurred the lines of reality. He brushed past Wamuu, his blade already forming, and with one swift, merciless motion, slit the man's throat.

Blood pooled on the cracked dirt floor, the house plunging into a deeper silence.

"M-Master Kars, I—" Wamuu stammered, his words breaking under the weight of Kars's glare. The sharpness in Kars's red eyes glowed in the shadows, and it was clear he was beyond angry.

Wamuu lowered his head, his entire body sagging in defeat, knowing he had let Kars down in the worst way. He had miscalculated, disrespected his master's teachings, and endangered Santana in his reckless pursuit of pride. The shame was crushing.

Kars shifted his attention to Santana, who was still sitting on the floor, clutching his injury. Ignoring Wamuu, Kars knelt beside Santana and gently lifted him, carrying him to the barely-standing wooden table in the center of the room. He set him down carefully, his hands surprisingly tender as he pulled back Santana's hair, searching for the wound.

"Hold still," Kars murmured as he examined the injury. Santana winced when Kars's fingers pressed lightly near his right horn, the touch soft yet firm. Blood smeared onto Kars's fingers, and he rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, his face hardening.

Satisfied he'd found the source of the injury, Kars lowered Santana back to the floor and straightened, his voice cool and unwavering. "We have herbs and water back in the cave. They'll help with the pain and stop the bleeding."

Without another glance at Wamuu, he turned and headed toward the nonexistent door, his figure a dark silhouette in the moonlight streaming through the open wall. His voice, low and commanding, echoed in the silence. "We're leaving."

Esidisi reached a hand down to Santana, who took it hesitantly, his body sore and his mind still spinning from the altercation. Esidisi's grip was warm, a comforting anchor as he helped him to his feet. Together, they stepped out of the broken-down home, leaving Wamuu standing alone in the empty room.

As the silence settled once more, Wamuu took a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping as he realized the depth of his mistake. He hadn't just let down his masters; he had endangered Santana and disrespected the honor Kars had instilled in him. The shame pressed down like a weight, threatening to crush him.

Wamuu slowly followed behind the others, his head lowered, his steps heavy with regret.

The journey back was tense, the desert wind biting at their faces and sending chills through their bones. Every step made Wamuu feel smaller, the weight of his failure and the anticipation of Kars's inevitable scolding gnawing at him.

When they reached the cave, Kars led Santana to a flat stone where he could sit. Esidisi immediately fetched water from their supplies, dipping a cloth into the water and using it to clean Santana's wound. Meanwhile, Kars knelt before Wamuu, his expression cold and unyielding.

Wamuu dropped to his knees, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I only wanted to show you I could be strong, that I could handle things on my own."

Kars's gaze pierced through him, and for a long moment, he said nothing, letting Wamuu's words hang in the air. Finally, he spoke, his tone a quiet, controlled fury. "Strength doesn't come from recklessness, Wamuu. You acted out of pride, not wisdom. And in doing so, you put your brother in danger. Do you understand the consequences of that?"

Wamuu nodded, his head bowed in shame. "Yes, Master Kars."

"Then learn from it," Kars replied sternly, his eyes softening just a bit. "I trained you not to be a mindless brute, but to know when and how to act. Pride is nothing if it comes at the cost of those you care about."

Esidisi, having finished tending to Santana, placed a reassuring hand on Wamuu's shoulder. "We all make mistakes, Wamuu," he said, his tone gentle, "but our loyalty and love for one another is what makes us strong. You don't have to prove yourself by risking everything. We are stronger together."

Santana, his wound now cleaned and bandaged, gave Wamuu a small, forgiving smile. "We're all okay now. Just... next time, let's stick together."

Relieved but still chastened, Wamuu nodded, his gaze finally meeting Santana's. There was an understanding between them, a bond strengthened by this mistake.

Kars sighed, his voice now less harsh as he addressed them both. "Rest up. We've learned tonight that some battles are best fought with patience and unity." With that, he sat down, closing his eyes as if to meditate, signaling that the discussion was over.