Death Healer

When [Cardinal] Atticus appeared at the door of Alexander and Ligea’s house, Elysium’s parents, both had been stunned. Neither was important at all in the military hierarchies and while they were good fighters, that certainly didn’t warrant a personal visit from one of the head figures of the state.

They had been even more surprised when they found out that the red-robed man hadn’t come because of them but because of their son.

…

“The Papal Estate is vast,” [Cardinal] Atticus explained as he personally escorted Elysium. “There are many halls and training grounds in the heart of the Citadel.”

The boy, usually vivacious and loud, didn’t say much, limiting himself to listening to the old man at his side. The very important man had come to say that his friend had missed him and that it would be good for her to spend some time off training since she had been so engrossed with it.

“This is where Aurora sleeps?” Elysium asked, clutching a small package made of cheap paper to his chest.

“Yes,” the [Cardinal] nodded amiably. “She has her own room in the guest wing of the main villa—it’s close to where the [Pope] himself rests.”

Elysium nodded.

The [Cardinal] probably thought that the boy would be extremely impressed with the great sights of the Papal Estate. However, Elysium was beginning to feel awkward at the sight of the luxurious landscaping, the great statues that littered the place, and the general air of greatness that permeated the place.

“We are almost there. She’ll be elated to see you,” [Cardinal] Atticus said, picking up on the boy’s awkwardness and trying to make him comfortable.

Even though the sweet scent of spring touched the boy’s nose, it didn’t make Elysium any happier or any more comfortable. If anything, this was the first time he had noticed something actually smelling good inside the city, and he didn’t like it one bit.

…

Lily’s heart pumped at full steam as she dodged a rather slow punch from Lumius and tried to strike back with a low kick. The boy barely flinched as she hit him, but she couldn’t refrain from smiling from ear to ear.

After her stunt in the dungeon, she apparently earned herself a new type of freedom. In fact, the [Cardinal] himself, who somehow knew about her craving for physical fighting, had decreed that Lumius would be her sparring partner every morning. The man had even personally witnessed some of her sparring bouts, congratulating her on her talent.

Now, there was electricity in the air as both fighters exchanged blows—it was that carefree energy sparked by the passion for the martial arts. The morning sun cast long shadows on the training grounds, and the sound of their footwork echoed off the stone walls, drawing the sparse gazes of the servants.

The two had sparred almost every day for the past month, and while Lumius was a skilled and formidable fighter, Lily had managed to surprise him more than once. She carried a smug smile as her blows rained on him.

She had never felt this good about herself.

The sparring had also changed Lumius’s opinion of the girl in front of him. He had first realized just how tough she was when he had seen her challenge the [Cardinal] and get her way, but after beating her up every day for a month, she was still more energetic than a coiled spring.

Suddenly, Lumius feinted a punch, trying to catch Lily off guard, but she was quicker. Rolling to the side, she tried to land a solid kick to his torso, but he evaded it gracefully. Both panted hard and looked at each other—even the usually stone-cold Lumius had a faint smile scratching his lips.

A voice interrupted their fight, “[Cardinal] Atticus wishes to see you, Lumius. You too, Lily.”

They turned to see the [Cardinal] walking in the distance toward the training grounds with a kid in tow.

Lily’s eyes widened as she immediately recognized the redhead.

…

“Today marks your ninth year of age, Aurora,” the [Cardinal] smiled, happy to have fetched the boy for her. But he was confused when he saw a regretful expression on the girl’s face. “Something the matter?”

“I—I,” Lily turned to the boy the [Cardinal] had brought and cringed, “I’m sorry, Elysium, I didn’t even realize it was my… and your birthday. I would…”

She didn’t know how to continue. In response, the redhead didn’t say much, limiting himself to a curt nod.

“Well, I’ll leave you to have some fun together. Food has been arranged for lunch, Aurora. I will be visiting the city today.”

[Cardinal] Atticus smiled and left promptly, thinking he had just done a great deed.

Lumius had his usual deadpan, any hint of a smile forever gone from his face as Lily fussed over Elysium, ruffling the redhead’s hair and hugging him.

“Is that for me?” Lily poked Elysium’s chest, hinting at the wrapped cheap paper he was holding.

Elysium scowled and put it behind his back, “No.”

“Oh, come on! You actually remembered?” Lily smiled and turned to Lumius to explain. “I—I have learned from a book that somewhere far away, they celebrate the anniversary of one’s birth with gifts and a cake. I told Elysium last year, and he remembered!”

Lumius didn’t break his countenance and didn’t offer a reply.

“Can I?” Lily snapped back to the redhead with a grin on her face. It had been nine years since she had last received a birthday gift, and this sweet little boy bringing her something made her beyond happy.

“I asked my mom to take me to the blacksmith,” Elysium grumbled, reluctantly offering the cheaply wrapped package to her. “I wanted to get a real one, but she said it’d be dangerous.”

Lily raised an eyebrow as she delicately pried the paper open, finding a small pendant in the form of a silver sword. She didn’t know what exactly about it made her feel this way, but she started tearing up.

“Thank you, it’s perfect,” Lily said, turning her back to Elysium, “would you help me put it on?”

Elysium scoffed again, grabbed the edges of the chain, and started tying it around her neck.

“What would a real sword be for?” Lily suddenly asked. “To protect myself?”

“What?” Elysium’s tone sounded affronted. “To kill bad guys. Like him.” As he finished tying the pendant, the redhead raised a finger to point at Lumius.

Lily laughed with a crystalline laugh and smiled with all her teeth at Elysium, “he’s not that bad, trust me. He looks like a bad guy, but he might actually be good under that hard face.”

Elysium shrugged, “I don’t care. Swords are not for defense. You use them when you enter bad places to kill bad monsters.”

“Well, how about we go eat something, then?” Lily changed the topic, away from the murderous intentions of her friend.

…

Lily gave Elysium a brief tour of the wing she was living in. The boy was clearly intimidated by all the opulence, and she tried to keep it as curt as possible before they moved onto the dining room, where Elysium promptly asked, “Why’s the table so long?”

Lumius replied to him with an impatient tone, “to accommodate the numerous guests the [Pope] entertains. But most of the time, it remains empty.”

Elysium frowned, looking up at the tall ceiling and then back at the table. “Feels lonely,” he whispered.

Lily nodded in agreement, her eyes showing a hint of sadness. “It can be.”

The dining room doors swung open, and servants entered, pushing in carts loaded with a variety of dishes. From a variety of roasted meats to fresh fruit and decadent desserts, the table was quickly set with an array of delicious-looking food.

As they settled down, Elysium’s eyes widened, and Lily could tell that he had never seen such abundance in his life. She remembered her own astonishment when she first arrived at the Papal Estate.

“Can I eat anything?” Elysium asked hesitantly, his voice full of awe.

Lily chuckled, “Yes, anything you want. It’s your birthday, too, after all.”

Lumius watched the interaction from the corner of his eye, his cold demeanor slightly thawed by the genuine joy displayed by the two children. It was a stark contrast to the world he knew, which was full of political maneuvers and power plays. This was… innocent.

Elysium took a hesitant bite of a chicken leg, and his face lit up in delight. “It’s so good!” He exclaimed before diving in, with Lily laughing on the side.

After their meal, which was filled with more laughter and playful banter, they headed to the garden. Lily wanted to show Elysium her favorite spot – a small gazebo overlooking a serene pond.

They sat there, watching the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Lily sat between the two boys who weren’t saying much, cradling the pointy sword pendant around her neck that Elysium had given her, thinking of the future.

Then, she heard the redhead shift in place.

The tranquil sounds of the garden surrounded the trio – chirping crickets, rustling leaves, and the gentle ripple of water were interrupted by Elysium’s sudden declaration, “I’ve been training, you know.”

Lily turned to him, her brows furrowing in confusion. “Training?” she echoed.

With a mix of apprehension and pride, Elysium unsheathed an iron sword. “I’ve been learning some new moves,” he stated, showcasing the blade he had recently oiled as proof of his commitment.

Lumius, unimpressed, eyed the weapon critically. “You shouldn’t play with real weapons,” he commented dismissively. “It’s dangerous.”

Determination burning in his eyes, Elysium rose to his feet, gripping the sword. “I challenge you, stupid,” he proclaimed, his voice carrying more bravado than he truly felt.

Lily, sensing the tension, shot up, her voice tinged with panic. “Elysium, no! This isn’t a good idea! We’re just having a good time!”

Lumius, at first believing the challenge to be a mere joke, now understood Elysium’s commitment to it. His tone was icy as he warned, “Put the sword down.”

Undeterred and perhaps misinterpreting Lumius’s tone as one of trepidation, Elysium swung his sword. “Fight me!” he insisted.

That did it. Lumius’s restraint shattered. Swiftly jumping up, he deftly blocked Elysium’s next attack with his bare hands, palming away the metal. His voice was a low growl, “You wish to challenge me?”

Before the situation could escalate further, Lily intervened. Grasping Elysium’s arm firmly, she tried to pull him back. “Stop this! Both of you!”

Confronted by Lumius’s evident prowess and feeling Lily’s desperate tug, Elysium got even angrier—his friend clearly didn’t believe he could do this.

“I challenge you to a duel to the death,” Elysium shouted at Lumius.