The chronicles of embodiment

Chapter 5

Ruhe leapt out of the doorway, and the scroll shadow followed after. "How are you going to be a bodyguard if you can't keep up?" he yelled, laughing vicariously. The shadow continued to follow. "So, you don't have emotions," Ruhe remarked. "That sucks... it's like you have nothing to you but a shadow."

The shadow sped up, grabbing hold of Ruhe's back and pushing him to pick up more speed. "WOAH, hold on!" he giggled. He soon reached the home, but all he saw were voracious flames. He teared up. "Wh-who did this?"

The shadow went past him, going into the flame. Ruhe yelled after it, "Wait, you'll get hurt!" He attempted to run after, yet quickly the smoke filled his lungs. How odd, fire wouldn't affect him like it is doing now, at least not normal fire. He backed away, consumed by a sobbing rage. He had just begun to realize that if somehow his mother got better and they left the clinic, they wouldn't have a home to go back to. He beat his fist against the ground. He didn't understand how all this could happen because of him.

The shadow came back to Ruhe, holding a stone. "It's intact," Ruhe uttered, grabbing it and holding it close. He broke into another sob, causing the shadow to pull him up. Slowly, it began to guide him back to the clinic.

"It sucks. I thought that would be it. So many memories just gone into flames. Then burnt to ash. Nothing ever comes back when it becomes ashes. So for someone to be so cruel, it's horrible." He dreaded looking at the stone. "Well, this isn't ash."

From a distance, he suddenly heard an explosion. He paused, realizing it was the home. More tears rolled down his cheeks, and his heart sank. He began to run, causing him to trip shortly after. Though the shock didn't give him enough time to even think about how clumsy he had been. With a big huff, he stood, and he ran again. This time, he was filled to the core with regret. The impact even simple words could cause made him sick.

He reached near the clinic, finally feeling safe, and he slowed down. He entered trembling, too shocked to speak. The first thing he saw was his mother's worried face. Then he turned to the figure that accompanied him, but upon hearing the words 'retrieve' from Hasbisis, it quickly transformed into a scroll.

He then heard his mother groan in pain and looked back to see Hasbisis guiding her to relax. "Please, I'll take care of this."

Hasbisis walked to Ruhe, but all he could feel now was the guilt of seeing those close to him worry. "Ruhe, what happened?" Habisis asked.

Ruhe looked hesitant, then responded, "The home, ours, it's gone!" He began to cry. "They burned it! If we were there, it would have killed us!"

Hasbisis sighed, "Ruhe, please, you should understand. We aren't harmed by simple flames."

Ruhe looked away. "Well, it wasn't that simple. I came close, and my insides caught ablaze."

Hasbisis looked disappointed. "What in this world are they manufacturing in those noble places? I'm sorry you became a victim to it. I couldn't imagine losing my home or this clinic. Far too many memories." He looked at both of them, then picked up the scroll, realizing the paper had been burnt.

Miraul began to sob uncontrollably. "If I had left the town, or even reached out to seek shelter with someone else, none of this would have happened! I'm so foolish!" she exclaimed.

Hasbisis looked at both Ruhe and Miraul. "There's no need to cry. I'm going to try my hardest to cure you, then move you away from this town. Believe it or not, I've received a wonderful offer," he clasped his hands together.

Miraul looked at Habisis. "To do what?"

Hasbisis smiled. "To become the head of a noble town's wellness program. I decided that if I take it, I'm more likely to learn how to cure you. They promised large housing and a monastery for study. I told them I wouldn't go if I couldn't bring others, and reluctantly they agreed."

Miraul smiled tears in her eyes. "So you've become popular."

Hasbisis sighed. "The only thing is, only I'll become a noble. So if I can't cure you, and you die, they may take Ruhe."

Miraul nodded, she then responded. "I don't care. It's better than staying here. I don't want to harm you any longer. I have a better chance of surviving if we go. Ruhe will enjoy noble cities; he loves adventure. I can help far more with his studies."

Hasbisis smiled. "Very well, I'll contact them."