No Blessed ✓

Sean's Demand

Aaliyah’s fingers combed through Koenig’s sparse hair reassuringly as he slept, the worry lines on her face standing out as she looked at her sleeping father.

“I saw what they said about you on the news Dad, and what they said about the kidnappings at Nuroh, about something called No Blessed. I listened to the audiotapes too, they’re all over social media now. You won’t believe what people are saying about you in the comment section, it’s despicable.” She paused, squeezing his hand.

“I don’t know whether it’s real or not, I don’t know what to consider. I want to believe you didn’t do it, because it’s so hard to look at you and think that you really kidnapped those people. But we’ve become so distant since I moved, too busy for each other. I had a husband and kids, you had a company to look after, and we got so sucked into our lives I forgot I’m the only one you have since Mom left.”
She pressed her face to their entwined hands, earnest tears escaping her red eyes. “I’m sorry for leaving you Dad, I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed someone to talk to and when you needed someone to listen. But I’m always on your side, no matter what happens, always.”

Hours after Aaliyah left, Koenig lay awake in bed, unable to go to sleep. She knew. She knew he’d done it, all the things they had accused him of on the news and she knew he was slowly getting exposed for things he shouldn’t have done, things likely to get him a free pass into jail.

Yet, she was going to stay by his side. Aaliyah didn’t often speak her mind, preferring to beat around the bush, but she was going to be there for him, and the thought made tears sting his eyes, guilt filling him completely. His hands fisted the hospital sheets, as small short sobs escaped him, making his shoulders tremble overwhelming.
“I’m sorry Aaliyah. I’m so, so sorry.”

*

The salve had worked, much to Mikel’s surprise. This was not to say he doubted the deities – well he did, but that wasn’t the point – but a salve which could heal all wounds had sounded too good to be true. He’d forgotten he was in a video game, an alternate world where anything was possible.

When it had become too dark to see more than a few inches, he and Tyrese had decided to camp for the night, the ex-Knight applying the salve just before he’d retired for the night. In the morning, by some miracle, Tyrese’s arm had actually straightened and although Mikel was loathe to admit it, it seemed as if his bones had rearranged themselves.

Mikel didn’t even want to think how that might be possible. No Blessed had twisted and broken so many rules of nature he couldn’t fathom why he bothered himself by getting surprised.

“Where have you been hiding this?” Tyrese said, as he turned his wrist clockwise and counter clockwise, beaming at Mikel. “I can actually feel my arm!”

Mikel chose not to answer, but was secretly pleased when Tyrese was able to lift his sword with his right hand as they packed up to leave. If there was a chance Tyrese could use his dominant hand, then there was a chance they could actually win this and beat the King.

As they hiked through the hills and journeyed through the plains, desperate to arrive at the Life Gate, Mikel’s mind went to Astra, despite his best efforts not to. It had been days since she had been captured, days since he’d seen her face.

Somewhere deep inside of him, he blamed himself. He blamed himself for faltering when he had encountered the Demon, for hesitating when he had looked it in its eyes. Astra was no damsel in distress, it would be impossible for her to claim that title with all the times she had beaten and bruised him in the name of training.

However, that Demon had not been ordinary. It had not tried to flee when Tyrese had attacked it, and it had breached his shield but most importantly, it had known Astra. It had recognized her, and judging from how scared Astra had been of the monster, she had recognized it too.