Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Yumi - 49

After getting Favian back to the palace, he demanded to speak with the Empress despite Yumi's insistence he rest. But even then, his attempt to communicate anything sensible was a struggle. He ranted himself in circles until Yumi and Raelyn nonchalantly carried him out of the throne room to the infirmary to get his chest treated. Usually he's soft spoken and seems to carefully choose his words...

Favian's chest has been wrapped with a bandage and even though he claims he doesn't need to rest, Yumi is determined to make sure he does for a little while. She sits aside the small bed with a hand resting on his arm. Bruises darken his torso here and there. He's so thin and fragile, how could anyone hit him? "Why did they do this to you? You didn't do anything wrong..."

Favian hesitates to answer. "Um, that feels so long ago... I told you how that prison worked... It feels like a year and a half since I saw any of the priests before my execution."

Yumi's eyes narrow. "Yeah... sounds awful and I'm so sorry... But something tells me you'd remember why they branded you."

He sighs. "They wanted information. Most of all about you..."

Yumi's concern freezes into guilt and dread. "Me? What about me?"

"They wanted me to tell them you're a night witch. I don't know why they would need proof when they just decide what they want..."

"What did you tell them?"

He looks up into her eyes with a gentle, sad smile. "I told them the truth."

It's my fault... He went through all this because of me... "Favian..."

"It's okay, I didn't expect to make it out of there alive. All that matters now is we figure out how you can cure the moonlit and then we'll—"

Yumi's heart breaks having to say it, but he needs to know. Favian goes on about his ideas for telling everyone the "truth" about everything, but Yumi isn't hearing him. He nearly died for you... He's scarred for life because of you.... He'll live with whatever that hellish cell did to him for the rest of his life... because of you... Even though it hurts, she forces herself to say it. "I can't..."

Favian's rant ceases and he looks at her with fear in his eyes. "What? What do you mean you can't?"

"We need another telepath, I–"

"Evacuate the capital."

A deep voice shakes through Yumi, drawing her to the window overlooking the sea. Her heart reaches out. "Evacuate? Why? Who are you?"

Favian is confused why Yumi just stopped talking and started walking to the window. "Why do we need another telepath?! What's wrong?"

"I cannot resist the divine, I must destroy the city. You must evacuate the mortalfolk. "

Yumi's heart stops when she reaches the window. Nothing could have prepared her for the sight of a colossal draconic titan advancing on the city from the sea. The creature must be even taller than the highest towers of the palace, tentacles lurching through the sea pulling it closer through the tide, its wings extend across the horizon. "Favian... the capital is under attack. We have to get everyone out NOW."

She runs to the bed and picks Favian up in her arms. He protests, "I can walk! I'm fine!"

"We need to run." She's already out the door, running as fast as she can with Favian held close. Yelling to any guard she passes and hoping they'll listen. Thankfully, whatever has the girl that beat a reaper running is enough reason to follow her.

Urso and Elio see them and Urso calls out. "Can we relieve you of Mister Beaumont, young miss?"

Yumi sets Favian down, who tries to object when Elio scoops him off the ground, but surrenders to his apparent situation.