Tale of the fireborn

A soldier is always bound to ranking order.

„Tara just end it already", I yelled across the mat watching her battle some officer from the ground Army. No magic allowed on the mat. The ground Army had only lower magical skills if any. Only humanlike bonded to dragons had higher magic. At least that was the word on the streets. Tara waited out his moves only blocking the ones she deemed worthy. Annoyed I kept following her movements analysing her progress. Which was lower than low today since Tara played with him like a toy. Glancing over to me I gave her an annoyed nod towards him. A brutal upper cut followed that nod and I fell down like someone turned off the lights. Moaning on the ground he received a held out hand from Tara. Grinning he grabbed it and got back on his feet. „Thanks", he grinned and left. I chanted: „Tara, honestly this was brutal. Like a dragon eying a sheep up close." „Oh come on... he had his chances", she grabbed her leather uniform jacket out of my hands.

A smaller guy ran up to us. Tara already kept her laughing mostly to herself. His tomato red face indicated his unfitness physically. He forced breaths leaning his hands onto his knees. „Talk", I demanded not to harsh but still firm. I recognised him. The stuttering young new officer in the Healers Formation. „Ma'am ... ehem... sir... Ca...Ca..Captain. Ha... ha... high ranking... i... in th...th...the...", he stuttered turning deeper red by the second. Harshly I hissed: „Main tent?!" A nod from him confirming it. I started running as fast as I could. Tara right behind me. Passing a few Lieutenants who jumped aside full well knowing who I am. The Captain from the Healers Formation, highest ranking Healer in Camp right now.

Main Healers tents entrance was covered. Instant silence the second I slammed the covers to the side. Glancing around my eyes stopped at Willows face one of the most capable Lieutenants I had ever worked with. And my second n Commant. She nodded her head to the side making me look down the aisle to the end. „General", I acknowledged my mother across the aisle. But also to warn Tara to turn around and leave. I walked straight down the aisle with long steps. Passing all my colleagues. I swept of my leather jacket and handed it to one of my colleagues. „Captain", she said with a tiny splash of pride in her voice. I glanced to the bed. My father. And he was bleeding. I took a breath and turned to my colleagues: „All of you take a break. All wounded who are mobile will be taken out of the tent for fresh air." No one moved. They only stared. Glancing  between my mother and me. „NOW", I demanded and right that second they started moving fast. Willows eyes locked with mine, checking if I was fine by myself. Was I? I had to be.

I turned back to my father. A young healer keeping pressure on his bleeding abdomen. Judging by what he wore it must have been some kind of off time expedition with my mother. Something that turned his stomach into a bleeding mess. The looks ofit reminded me of tentacles. I gave my mother a quick glance checking her for abnormal breathing and her pupils. I opulent be sure he is the only injured Partie in this very room. Her lips even thinner than usually. I shifted my concern back to my father. „Your name soldier?", I asked towards her stepping around to stand on her opposite side. She seemed scared. With good reason. To concentrated to not make a mistake infront of my mother I am guessing. The tent turned quiet. I repeated myself while I placed my hands over hers: „Your name officer?!" „Yuviah", she stuttered. Her hands weren't shaking but inversely was. Of course I know who she is but she needs to focus. „Officer", I said in warm calmly manner and waited a split second for her to shift her focus on me: „You can either remove your hands beneath mine or start healing. Which ever you prefer." Officer Yuviah, a second grade officer with almost no field experience was utterly shocked by my suggestion. „This is no time for teaching!!", my mother hissed angry. I can hear her anxiousness in her voice even if others don't. The cold and fearless general showing feelings. A rarity of its own.

Yuviah pulled her hand away. Panicking. Ashamed. I concentrated. Letting my energy sweat into his body. I followed the path of the destruction of skin, bloodvessels and tissue right into the centre of the problem. I kept a hold on to it and said with as much compassion as I was willing to show in front of the general: „Yuviah, please got to Lieutannant Baine and let her check you out. When you are done, please tell her I want to see her in here." „Yes Captain", she used my rank out of shame not out of respect. I took it. Gave her a minute to walk outside before I kept going.