Chapter XVII: Dude, chill!

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All the nurses in the room leaped forward to attempt to separate Drew from me. I waved my hand to make them sit back down.

"You... You... You... Monster!!" Drew screamed at me.

"Dude, chill. Eliza? A little help here?" I pleaded. "I wanted to fight, but I thought it would be more arena, not you just trying to stab me in my already wounded chest."

Eliza hesitated then walked forward and gently wrapped her arms around Drew to pull him away.

"No! I want to kill him!" Drew screamed. He was crazy, that much was clear.

"Drew? Can you calm down? I did what we had to. My life, your life, Eliza's life," I gestured at her, "they are insignificant. I would cut my own head off and all of my friends as well, if it meant that no more harm would befall this miserable race of ours."

"Well, your miserable race," I thought to myself.

Drew paused for a minute thinking about what I had said. Finally he agreed to calm down enough to plan a dual between us. Drew didn't realize it, but I had a larger plan. Thinking back to the dual between Adalayde and Eliza, I realized that if I could just make it out of the dual alive, with Drew also alive, then maybe, just maybe, I could resume my friend ship with him. He was a powerful ally, and it would be good to fight alongside him.

Drew was escorted out of the room, and I went back to bed. My whole being hurt. The sniper's arrow had done some damage to me. It had narrowly avoided puncturing a lung, and instead had gone right through my left side leaving a gaping hole in my left side. It had been painful enough to knock me out cold as soon as it went through me. However, I would have easily bled out within the half hour if I didn't get medical attention instantly. Thankfully Luke had gotten me help in five minutes.

I was one lucky man. I think that's what they say.

"Hey Silver," Adalayde had just walked in. She had been checking in on me every so often.
"Hi Adalayde, how are you?"

"I should be asking you that silly, I wasn't the one shot. How are you?" She walked up and sat at the foot of the bed.

"Oh I'm fine. Drew and Eliza just showed up. Drew wants to kill me."

"Yeah I know. Eliza isn't mad though. She understands perfectly fine. I was just talking to her."

"So how is Jonathan doing? Commanding that is."

"Better than our old leader! Man, that guy was crazy!" She informed me with a rougish wink and a mischievous grin.

"Gee, I'm glad to know how you feel about me. But in all seriousness, how is he doing?"

"He is routinely sending out squads to attack the Hammerites and recruit more soldiers. Our influence has grown a lot. But no army has been mobilized against us yet."

"Good, good. You doing okay? It's been... lets see..." I started counting in my head.

"Two months. And then some. Sense we left Caiddainera that is," Adalayde but in.

"Wow! I wonder how long this will last?"

"Hopefully not much longer, apparently my moth- the High Queen Jenkins is mobilizing another army."

"Another? After that embarrassing defeat?"

"Well it probably isn't easy for her, but she feels the same way as you. You would kill yourself if it meant protecting others."

"Yeah... I- wait, how did you here me say that?" I suddenly thought.
"Oh, I have my ways, now get some rest, your dual has been planned for tomorrow."

"Gee thanks, for including me on that conversation!"

"Oh shut up, go to bed," Adalayde leaned forward towards me. Get face got closer... was she going to...?

She felt my forehead with her cheek.

"Oh dear, you have a fever as well. Go to bed," she pushed me playfully down then left the room.

I rolled over and went to sleep.

That night I dreamed of Clare. She had traveled to the very southernmost tip of the continent and boarded a ship. I chased after her constantly. I got my own ship. She was always on the horizon, but never within hailing distance. No matter what happened I could not catch up to her. Then my dream shifted to I nightmarish scene.

I was standing alone in a mist shrouded plain. Twisted trees grew up, piercing the sky and making it bleed. The afternoon sky was pitch black. The mist began spiraling around me. It took the form of humans. First the men I had killed stepped out at me. They did not do anything, just stood patiently.

Next came soldiers I had seen die before me in battles. Some smiled and waved, but most just stood there. I was confused.

Third came the army. The mist cleared and for an eternity was a great army, stretching forever onward. Each face was that of men I had caused to die in some twisted way.

Fourth came those doomed. The army separated into two giant masses, and I realized the ones at the back were those I would kill or know. To my horror I saw the faces I knew well step forward. Drew. Eliza. Adalayde. Luke. Jonathan. The list went on. But then I saw a shadowy figure that sent a shiver down ny spine.

Then the mist clogged my vision and lungs. But not for long. It pushed me up above all. And I beheld all. I beheld Gaia. Or earth as it is called. And all that was in it. Was in it. Giant creatures, reptiles. Small fish of the sea. And every human that had lived. But then storm clouds covered up my view of the earth. And walking towards on the clouds was none other than that shadowy figure. It was Clare. She walked toward me. What was she doing her? This was the place that the dead went.... or the to be dead I guess. Or maybe the soon to be dead.

Clare took a step forward then suddenly plunged downward. I screamed and sprinted toward the place where she had disappeared. Then I began to plummet downward as well. Was this an Oman of sorts?

I looked down at the hellish landscape below me, rushing up to meet me. It was so close.... I could almost touch it- vision. Black. Nothing.

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