TBATE: A Hero's Return

Deja Vu

TESSIA ERALITH

Once Art was asleep, though more likely just unconscious, I considered our situation. He's not well off, and the things in my bag could only help for so long. His leg was much better than before, but it was still pretty bad. He really needed some actual emitters. The only problem was that I couldn't move him and protect us both at the same time.

I needed to contact Caera or Aya—both of whom were currently checking out the other resistance safe houses Caera had given us the locations of—but that could hypothetically be tracked back to either one of us if someone was nearby enough to detect sound magic being used. Though if they were tracing magical use in the area, they more than likely already know I was here. My protections might hold them off for a bit, but that would mean our cover is blown and they would know where we were.

Honestly, I was surprised they had not shown up yet, to be honest. It shouldn't have taken them this long to realize the other places are empty. Unless they ran into trouble. But I couldn't think about that now, not wanting to borrow any more worries than I already had at the moment.

I looked at Art, his face drawn and gaunt, skin burning with fever. Alive, but still very near death. I was just going to have to risk it. First I walked around the building, carefully looking for any sign of the people that targeted Art and his family.

Content that the coast was as clear as it was going to get, I contacted Aya and returned to Art. He was still unconscious.

I sat by the disgusting mattress and looked him over. He looked awful. Smelled even worse.

He woke once, though not completely, just blinking up at me. "Tess?" he slurred.

"Yeah," I said, leaning close to make out his words.

"Why are you here?"

I wasn't sure if he's forgotten or if the question really sounds as accusatory as I think it is.

I didn't want you here in danger.

I looked away. "Do you know how worried you made me?"

When I dared to look back again, his eyes were closed, his breathing slow and labored.

I got up to sit on an old crate next to the window so I could see anyone approaching the old condemned building from the trash-strewn courtyard below.

I felt rather than heard Art wake up sometime later, his eyes on me.

He looked a little bit better, sharper, but his eyes were still bright with fever. This infection was far beyond a couple healing crystals.

"I need to find a way to get you out of here," I said.

"You need to leave me," he countered.

Before I could even gather the brainpower to yell at him over that, a distinct sound echoed through the walls of the room we were in.

I stood up immediately, readying myself in case a battle was necessary. My barrier was triggered. "Someone is here."

"Tess," Art said, sounding panicked. "Please just go. Leave me here."

I crossed towards the door, mentally calculating how long it would take them to find us. "That is never going to happen, so save your breath."

I could hear him struggling to push up to a seated position. "Tess—"

The door blasted open.

I stumbled back, lifting an arm to protect my face with a shout. I am given no time to recover, spells filled with decay mana entering the space. I conjure vines to encase myself and Art, protecting us both from the onslaught.