Can't Cheat Death - Brennan Sorrengail

X: The Infirmiry

The pain slashing across my face came in mind numbing waves. Even in sleep I had no rest, I woke up far too often, bright lights and different faces peering over me whilst they addressed the wound tearing through my flesh.

I'm not sure how long it was before the pain finally started numbing away, could have been minutes, or hours, Amari forbid days. When at last I could keep my eyes open for more than a few seconds, a middle-aged man was hovering above me, and had I the energy, I might have screamed at how close he was peering down at my face.

I tried opening my mouth to speak, though I'm not entirely sure what I would've said had I working voice. The only thing that slipped from my mouth was a sudden wheeze as a wave of pain stabbed through my temple.

"Ah, you're awake." 

My chest heaved and the only thing I could do to respond to the man was gasp. After a moment, the pain faded, and a residue headache was left in its wake. 

The man stepped away from my bed as the pain subsided and returned a moment later with a glass of water.

"Take these and drink this, it should help with the pain."

He set the glass down and dropped a couple of pills into my hand. Before I could shove them into my mouth, the man weaved his hand beneath my shoulders and managed to lean my upper body up enough to swallow the pills and water without waterboarding myself. 

When the pills are down, the man helps me into an upright position. The water has helped ease the dryness of my throat, and once I've downed the glass, I hand it back to him. He quirks a brow glancing between the empty cup and my quickly redining cheeks before slipping past the curtain closed around my bed. When he returns again, he's pulling a chair alongside him and takes a seat, pulling out a pad of paper and one of the channeling pens. Strange, only riders could use those.

"Professor Rilier asked that I take your account of your match with Cassian Moren. Nothing will likely be done as you've managed to survive despite his best efforts, but for both records purposes and for my own benefit to see if you've suffered any brain damage, we have to do this."

I only half hear what he's said, still puzzled by the pen in his hand.

"Only rider's can use those pens."

It's more a statement than a question and the man looks more annoyed than anything.

"It is, now if you please," he gestures with his pen to urge me to speak.

"You're a rider? But we're in the Healers quadrant?" The blue curtains and pained moaning from beyond it's shield was hint enough.

Sighing in agitation, the man leans forward, muttering under his breath, "I didn't retire to deal with these kids. Yes," returning to his regular speaking volume. "I am. Major Nolon Colbersy. General Melgren's enlisted me to aid the healer's quadrant and, in my retirement, decided to oblige him. A decision I'm rapidly regretting. Now, if you please," He gestures once again with his pen and turns his eyes down to the note pad.

Biting my lip, I ignore the embarrassed flush continuing to rise on my face and focus on his question. 

I can see myself stepping onto the mat, Moren across from me, fiddling with his serrated knife. Beyond those moments, it's a haze, like a wall of shadow has fallen over my memories and I'm not entirely sure I want to find out what he did that got me here. 

I recount what I can to Nolon, though it's not much and I can see his brow furrow but nod along as he scribbles across the pad.

He sighs, but eventually tucks the pad away and bends his elbows onto his knees. "That's about as much as I'd figured. Would you like me to elaborate on the details you're missing?"

My throat tightens and my immediate response is no. Although I feel mostly fine, the dreadful look on this mans face has me second guessing what shape I was dragged in here. Hesitantly, I say, "Yes. Please," I add quickly on, nearly forgetting my manners.

"Well, to be blunt about it, you nearly lost your eye." 

My brows shoot up and my hands scramble across my face. I could see from both eyes, but now that I was so focused upon my vision, my left eye was noticeably blurrier than my right. As my fingers trace across the skin above my eye, there's a faint blemish, though it's not as jagged as I might have suspected, though it's long, trailing from just above my brow to the base of my cheekbones.

"It was rather gruesome, but from what your friend said, it could have been much worse. Had you been sliced with his serrated dagger we'd be having a much different conversation and you'd be short an eye."

Despite my luck, the thought of losing my eye made my stomach drop and I thought for a moment I might just throw those pills up right onto the floor. No dragon would want to bond a rider with only one eye. 

"Your eye did suffer some damage, but not enough to require removal, though you may have to wear correctional glasses to ease the blurriness, but that is to your discretion. All things considered; this was perhaps the best outcome we could have had." 

I squeezed my eyes shut, praying to any god that might listen that this is just some bad dream. I don't care that this is the 'best' outcome, my body has been permanently changed. I'll never be able to see from one of my eyes unassisted again. Once the other cadets find out, I'll be nothing but a liability. One wrong move within my blind spot and I'm as good as dead. 

"I know this is a lot," Nolon says, his voice softer than it was a moment ago, and one of his rough hands fell upon my shoulder, squeezing gently. "Get some rest, we'll be able to release you this evening. As far as the correctional glasses, let me know whenever you would like a pair, and I will fit you for one. It does not have to be today, or any day soon, but it will always be an option."

This evening was far too soon, but I guess I'll just have to deal with it. I don't turn to watch Nolon slip from the makeshift room, and once he's gone, I let the tears finally fall from my face. 

________

A/N:

Heyyyyy

So sorry for such a late update! The holidays were crazy and by the time I came back home Onyx Storm was about to release so I wanted to get that started! So far, I'm enjoying it but no spoilers please! Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things but no promises, I'm taking 15 hours this semester and we're only two weeks in and I'm already losing my mind 😭

ALSO THANK Y'ALL FOR 2.5K VIEWS Y'ALL ARE AMAZING!!!!!