A Traveler's Curse

Chapter 21- Aftermath

I stare at Caspian in disbelief, a mix of surprise and skepticism etched on my face.

"Seriously?" I mutter, finding it hard to believe his proposition.

His eyes, one blue and one green, reflect his desperation as he insists, "I am! You can travel back to the moment before you arrived here and bring her back with you!"

Letting out a tired sigh, I respond with a heavy heart, "Cas, I want to bring her back, I really do. But there's no known way to do that."

He pleads with me, his voice tinged with hope, "But you have to try, Kyla. I'll come with you to convince her."

I shake my head gently, regret evident in my expression. "You don't understand, Cas. You exist in that time, so joining me is impossible. I'm sorry."

Tears well up in his eyes as he steals a glance at Celestia's lifeless body. "Please, Kyla. I'm begging you. As a friend, as a man who loves his sister. Not as a king."

Silence hangs in the air as I wrestle with my inner turmoil. The thought of delving into time travel again fills me with anxiety, especially after the horrifying deaths of Rowan and Mavis.

Despite my reservations, I find myself responding softly, "Okay. I'll give it a shot." Deep down, I know Celestia would have done the same for me.

Caspian wastes no time, eager for action. "When can you leave?"

"Tomorrow. For now, let's include her in the ceremonial pyre and take comfort in mourning the fallen," I suggest, wincing at the throbbing pain in my shoulder.

Concern flickers in Caspian's eyes as he notices my injury. "You're bleeding. Have you tended to your wounds?"

I shake my head, weariness weighing on my voice. "I haven't had a chance, not since we found Celestia."

"Allow me to assist you," he offers, gesturing towards the vacant bed opposite Celestia. I hesitate for a moment, but eventually make my way over and settle onto it.

"Daegon," Caspian calls out, his voice slightly elevated, and the knight promptly appears. "Please escort my sister to the preparation area for the funeral pyre, alongside the fallen soldiers."

The knight nods silently, lifting Celestia's body and carrying her out of the infirmary tent, leaving me alone with Caspian.

He begins rummaging through some drawers before returning with a small bowl of water, bandages, and salves, which he places on the bed beside me. Gratefully, he helps me remove my lightweight armor, relieving the unexpected weight burdening my wound.

However, to access the injury that stretched from my shoulder to the top of my breast, it was necessary to remove my shirt as well. Without warning, Caspian tears through my shirt with his bare hands, causing me to instinctively cover my breasts.

"Modesty and war are incompatible," he remarks softly, gently removing the remnants of my shirt and dried blood, occasionally causing me to wince as he peels off pieces of my skin.

"Apologies," he whispers, dipping a cloth into the water and placing it on my wound, attempting to clean the dried blood and stem the bleeding.

"I'm sorry for my earlier words," he says quietly as he continues to cleanse my shoulder. He is so close that I can detect the scent of sweat and whiskey on him. "It was unjust to place blame on you."

"You needn't be kind to me in order to convince me to save her. I would have made the attempt regardless," I assure him.

He pauses and offers a small smile. "I am aware. You possess a compassionate heart, Kyla." Placing the cloth back into the water, he retrieves a jar of dark green salve. "This might sting."

I nod, closing my eyes and preparing myself, but the moment the salve makes contact, it feels as though my entire shoulder is set ablaze. I attempt to recoil in pain, but Caspian grabs my other shoulder and forcefully pins me back down onto the bed.

"Don't move, I'm almost finished," he growls with determination, and I comply, biting my lip and suppressing the tears. After a moment, his grip loosens, and he sets the salve aside, reaching for the bandages.

With careful precision, he applies each bandage over the deep cut, ensuring they adhere securely to the salve.

"There, good as new," he smiles at me once he finishes and walks away, tossing me a fresh shirt from the medical supplies. "Now let's retrieve a bottle of whiskey and observe the funeral pyre."

"That's exactly what I need right now," I reply, my voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. "Thank you, Caspian."

We leave the infirmary tent, the weight of our grief still heavy upon us, and join the funeral pyre. Caspian, as the King, steps forward to say a few words for the fallen. I can see the pain in his eyes, knowing that his own sister will soon become a part of this somber display.

I try my best to remain strong as I gaze upon the countless bodies, both human and Astralites, piled together. In an instant, the crackling flames engulf them, consuming their physical forms. Caspian, utilizing his Elemental Magic, starts the pyre with a wave of his hand, his power mingling with the fire.

He walks over to me, understanding the depth of my sorrow, and places a bottle of whiskey in my hand. Without hesitation, I bring it to my lips and drink deeply, as if I haven't had anything to drink in years. The warmth of the liquid courses through me, numbing the pain and casting a hazy fog over the rest of the night.