𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑾𝒂𝒓: 𝑬𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒕 (𝑹𝑬𝑾𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑬)

𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝟕- 𝑨 𝑻𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈

Azulis carefully unwrapped the bandages on Apexis' wrist. "So you said Tygren was acting...strange?" He asked, supporting her wrist gently. "Yes." Apexis nodded, frowning. "How so? Tygren is already a strange guy, so something really out of the ordinary must've happened." Azulis furrowed his eyebrows, lightly brushing two fingers over the wound. "Does that hurt?"

"No, it doesn't; only a slight sting. Basically, what happened was I asked Tygren about his sword with pure intentions. When I asked where he got it, he answered with a strange glance. So I felt something was off by then, but I wasn't sure by what or why. By the next day, he was acting even stranger. We were ambushed by a group of Ardoni and he was struggling with a Sendaris, so I had to help him. He was all sweaty and hyperventilating. The next night, I found him crying, which is obviously out of the ordinary. When I tried to comfort him he did this." Apexis explained, looking down at her wrist.

"That's certainly something..." Azulis commented as he grabbed a roll of bandages. "I know- I thought asking such an innocent question would result without an injury, but here we are." Apexis shrugged. Azulis softly re-wrapped her wrist, way looser than Tygren did, but still tight enough to where it stayed on.

"I'll wrap my eyes too. Actually, can you help me with it? Since it did yours?" He asked, holding the bandages out to her. "Sure." Apexis took the roll, standing up and walking behind him. She sat back down, tucking Azulis' hair behind his ears. "Under your eyes?"

"No, just go over them."

After that, Azulis needed help walking since he couldn't see. Eventually, he tripped and almost fell, so Apexis guided him more. "Don't step there- you'll die." She held his hand as they made their way back to the clearing. "Apexis, I would like to speak with you." She felt Azulis jump slightly at Tygren's voice. "About what?"

"That will be better discussed in private," Tygren replied, impatient. Apexis gave Azulis to Haviscus so she could have this "talk" with someone she disliked.

"I want to address what happened earlier this week. I'll have you know that I will not be taking the blame for that. You pushed around in my personal business and brought up...sensitive topics."

"Sensitive? I think what I talked about was more than sensitive based on how much you overreacted. It's just a sword." Apexis shot back crossly. "Just a sword, you say. Funny- a few years ago you were so different."

"What? I've always been like this. Aside from probably my childhood which I don't even remember." She spat, crossing her arms. "I remember your childhood. Vividly, in fact."

Apexis was silent, blinking in confusion. How could someone she only knew for a few years remember her childhood better than her?

"I'm sure you're confused- I've known you for an interminable amount of time, but you've only remembered me for a span of a decade or so. It's rather sad that your concussion did away with all those memories we shared." Tygren continued, making Apexis fear the worst. Did they used to be friends? Something more?

"How-"

"That will be explained in due time; for now I'll let you...digest everything I've told you thus far."

Apexis left. Her thoughts were swarming around in her head like a hive of angry wasps. She felt like Tygren was playing with her mind, twisting and turning it until her head hurt. She saw Azulis and thought about going over to him but then decided against it. She ended up thinking about what Tygren had said to her- not just the conversation they had moments ago, but throughout the entire time, she knew him.

Or that she knew of.

Later that day...

Apexis didn't bother talking to Azulis and Haviscus again. She still participated in training, since being out of practice was no good. Her sparring partner was Tygren(of course) so she tried to actually injure him. She first nicked his hand. He shook it off easily though. For the second attack, she went for the scar on his back. Not a good idea, you say? Agreed.

It took a while to find a good opening to attack since Tygren was pretty good at guarding himself. After around five minutes of sparring, she was able to land a hit on him again. Apexis raised her katana and sliced down his back- reopening the scar on his back. Tygren froze in place, letting out a quiet shaky breath. Apexis felt some remorse for her actions, but he deserved it. And that was her single reason.

Azulis of course hadn't seen what'd happened and asked Haviscus. When he was told what happened, he gasped. Silence escaped the mouths of other Voltaris, who seemed slightly concerned at the least. Tygren stood up straight, sighing quietly as he dared not face Apexis. He walked away without a word.

Haviscus clapped quietly in an attempt to break the silence and was shushed by Azulis. Apexis walked away as well, sitting down to clean her sword.

Tygren's POV...

That..asshole.

Of course, she went for the scar of all things. No way in hell was that an accident of any sort. Tygren let out a dramatic, frustrated sigh once he was alone and set his sword aside. He grabbed a roll of bandages, unsure of how to wrap them around himself. He felt the wound with the side of his hand, fingers grazing the freshly torn flesh. The edges of the wound had dried in the cold wind, creating a strange crisp texture. More blood flowed out of the cut, making his entire back sticky with the red liquid.

A gust of cold wind caused a stinging sensation which made Tygren flinch slightly as he looked at the blood on his hand. He ended up wrapping almost the entire roll of bandages around himself, starting with his lower back and ending at his neck. He pulled them tight enough to where they didn't fall off and used his sword to cut the last strip from the rest of the roll, tucking the end into the rest of the bandages.

He sighed through his teeth one last time, then stepped back outside to give orders.