Wayfarer - Yaena the corrupted guardian

Chapter IV - The Wayfarer's pain

Chapter IV

The Wayfarer's pain

Keyn watched his beloved, sitting by her side. She never opened her eyes and continued to pant. He had tried to talk to her several times, without success. Grond put a hand on her shoulder, in a sign of compassion.

"We're about to start. Maybe you should get out while we..."

"No!" he cut him off. "It's my duty to be there. Until the end."

Grond nodded, without replying. He understood perfectly the delicate situation in which his friend found himself. With his fingertips, he opened a small case and took out various surgical instruments.

"What's this?" asked Keyn, a strange syringe between his fingers.

"It's a catalyst," Eliza explained. "It will allow us to limit the flow of Yaena. In simpler terms, to slow the blood flow. It is an essential tool, if we want to avoid draining the blood out of her body. This one, that I hold in my hands, will help her to fight the pain more efficiently."

"I didn't know you had become an expert in medicine," Keyn commented, putting the catalyst down.

"I had a lot of time on my hands after I was stripped of my position as a Guardian. I had to keep myself busy. Besides, even if he didn't say so, Grond could use a partner now and then."

The doctor pretended not to have heard. He grabbed the mechanical arm from the operating room and after a few adjustments, took the controls. The operation could begin. Yaena suddenly screamed when Elysa's hand touched her forearm. She opened her eyes for the first time that day, and soon began to struggle. Keyn had no choice but to intervene, to keep her as stable as possible.

After the first injections, Grond moved the mechanical arm up to her patient's shoulder. As if she had understood what was happening before her eyes, Yaena struggled with more ferocity. Seeing that it had no success, she caught Keyn's gaze and addressed him directly, her voice slightly trembling.

"Keyn, I beg you, help me! Don't let them do this to me, please!" she pronounced in a voice full of fear which did not resemble her.

By meeting her glance, Keyn had noticed a change in her right eye. Its iris, normally of a blue azure, had taken a sparkling emerald tint. She nearly kicked her way out, but he tightened his grip and managed to keep her back.

"I hate you!" she yelled. "You're a coward, just like the others!"

Keyn shook his head. It wasn't Yaena. The tone of her voice was unnatural and the words that came out of her mouth did not fit her character. He pretended to let go, and Yaena took the opportunity to stick to him, her arms wrapped around his chest.

"Kheyn..." she said in sorrow.

"Shhh... Don't say anything," he replied, lifting her chin with his fingertips.

He kissed her, and Yaena gave up all desire to fight. She closed her eyes and lay down slowly on her back, calmed down. He crossed his fingers with hers, and held her arm out. She tilted her head to the side and Keyn was able to signal the doctor.

One moment, that is all it took for Grond to do his job. The mechanical arm arched at the speed of light, and the cut was perfect. Yaena screamed in pain. Her fingernails shot towards Keyn's face, narrowly missing to lacerate his clean skin. Hatred had replaced all the features of her face. Her hand, clenched, had gone to her wound, from which a stream of blood was flowing.

Reactive, Elysa planted the catalyst on the shoulder's front and discharged the instrument. Its contents poured into the body, slowing down the blood flow. The features on her face changed again and she slowly fell backwards. The blood had almost stopped draining and was holding on to the end of the wound. Yaena met Keyn's gaze before collapsing. He read a feeling of betrayal in them, an immense pain. Greater than the loss of her arm, it was the loss of trust in Keyn that had brought her down.