Solace and Nox: A New Light

Chapter 3

"How is he?" Raiden asked the doctor.

The doctor approached Raiden with a sullen expression. He appeared to be a fairly new medical recruit, and he clearly didn't want to give Raiden the news.

"Sergeant Markis is experiencing severe symptoms, most of which none of us have seen before," the doctor explained quietly. "Some of the older surgeons believe it is a result of dark magic entering his blood. If that is the case, there isn't much we can do to save him... other than amputation."

The doctor held his head down. He held his notepad close to his chest, looking ashamed. He nearly jumped three feet when Raiden rested his hand on the doctor's shoulder. The doctor was surprised to see that Raiden's sapphire eyes were filled with... happiness.

"Thank you for telling me the truth," Raiden said, gratefully. "I can imagine that was difficult for you."

The doctor nodded, taken aback by Raiden's reaction.

"If amputation is the only solution to Markis's condition, then do it," he commanded. "Don't wait for test results to come back. It may be too late for him when they do. I can't take that risk."

The doctor hurriedly nodded his head and scurried off.

Suddenly exhausted, Raiden plopped into a seat just outside the medical building. The storm had reduced to a light rain, and most of the thick, black clouds were gone. It would be completely gone in a few hours.

Raiden leaned back, pushed his blond hair back in frustration. Water from the bench soaked into his back, and the light rain sprinkled on his face. He let out a long breath, trying to calm his nerves. So much happened in just a few hours, it was difficult for him to wrap his mind around it.

As a bodyguard, there was one goal Raiden had. There was only one thing he wished to accomplish more than anything else, and that was protect everyone he served. Not just the king, but his men.

Raiden had successfully saved King Lotharius, which he was truly happy about, but he couldn't stand watching his men dying while he was stuck to a wall. He watched that mysterious Moldark murder his friends without blinking an eye. How was a man capable of ending someone else's life without thinking? Moldark slaughtered Raiden's men like they were petty animals. He couldn't help but wonder if he considered them human at all.

Direl and the other guards had appeared to be truly shaken by Moldark's appearance. Whatever he had to say to the king must have been terrible if it scared Direl, of all people. Raiden's only concern was Markis, so he didn't bother to ask what Moldark had to say. He didn't want his image of Moldark to become any darker. It was dark enough.

Raiden had failed. He hated himself for letting his men, his friends, be murdered right in front of him. What hurt worse was the fact that Markis was the only one who wasn't killed the second the blade split his flesh. Other than Markis, Raiden's entire squad had been killed. But even Markis wouldn't be able to return to his guard duties. By the end of the day, he would be missing an arm.

Sure, Markis could help around the barracks, and participate in training, but an injured soldier was prohibited from fighting in any battles, for safety reasons.

In his frustration, Raiden eventually fell asleep on the bench outside the medical building.

He awoke to the same doctor shaking him lightly. He had a small smile on his face, which made Raiden light up a little.

"Markis has successfully undergone the surgery, and he is awake and well," the doctor said happily.

Raiden didn't waste another second. He was already pushing through the crowd of doctors and wounded soldiers to find Markis. The doctor followed closely behind, telling Raiden where to go.