The Infernal : The Rise Of A King (K.TH)

Ch 22: My Worth

Taehyung

The village was up and running, the sound of crying children filled my ears along with the aching voices of the wounded.

''Taehyung.'' Minjae greeted me, her head was wrapped in a thin layer of bandage but it seemed her injuries didn't do her much. She tilted over bowing her head slowly, her eyes were reading concern.

''Where is Y/N?'' I carefully stepped past her both of us trailing our way through the camp. 

''She is still at the river, she wanted to be alone.'' There is nothing I could do. The words I spoke seemed to vanish before they could reach her. Every touch of mine she brushed away, I really held no special place in her heart anymore.

''Are these all the civilians?'' 

''There is a party currently guiding the others back to the village. Luckily the damage isn't severe the rebuild won't take longer than a couple of weeks.''

''Send a scouting party to the other side of the village. They knew we would attack so they evacuated their people, but there might be some left hiding away. How is the Infernal?'' Guessing by Minjae her expression it seemed there wasn't any progress with him.

''He is unconscious but still breathing. He is healing much slower than an Infernal originally should. We are guessing it's probably due to the relentless damage done to his nervous system.'' 

''Yoongi is with him now, they are located at the small physician camp stationed next to the longhouse,'' She added. 

''Alright, please forward my orders and also reach out to every villager that is healthy and uninjured. Let them assist with whatever task is needed. Right now our priority is attending to the wounded we have to make sure there are warm meals to provide by the end of the night.''

''As you wish.'' Once more she bowed the speech we were having felt unfamiliar. Minjae is like an older sister to me, right now it didn't feel great to order her around. I didn't obtain myself to be worthy to order her around. I'm lacking a lot it makes me think that perhaps...the encouraging words I have uttered this whole time. Have always been just...words.

''And gather the others, we will have a meeting at the longhouse in 20 minutes.''

Marching my way toward the camp of Yoongi his whereabouts dejected me even more. These people were grieving about the loved ones that they had lost. It left a taste in my mouth that turned bitter the more steps I took. Along the way, their whispers and stares that reached me gave off a distressing feeling of distrust. 

The people had questions, after what happened today it was only natural for them to suspect us and the men on my side. Speculating them to be Infernals.

''Your grace.'' I quickly changed my bitterness to a more relaxed expression. Yoongi was accompanied by Pihari. The sight of her ached my heart more. She wasn't able to stand on her own, Yoongi had to support her with his arm. Yet she greeted me with a bright smile.

''Your grace, the gods have truly blessed us with your arrival. At last, we are free again.'' She wanted to bow but instead, I held her back, grabbing her shoulders tenderly as if holding onto a fragile piece of pottery. 

''There is no need to bow. How are you feeling?'' She weakly smiled at me before looking back at the camp. Many were yelling out from the pain and praying to the gods while their fellow companions tend to their injuries. Some lost their limbs, and some...were taking their final breath due to the poison that seeped into their body. 

I have heard the attack led by the chieftain was held with poisonous arrows. We can't figure out what it is, leading to no cure. It's a poison kind that leaves its victim with merely 10 minutes left to hear their beating heart.