Rise of The Holy-Realm Rebel

I awoke to the crackling of a campfire, and the warmth of its flames. Taking a soft but deep breath, I stabilized my consciousness before attempting to sit up. I succeeded but fell back nonetheless.

"How long have I been out?" I spoke, my question directed at Nura's silently sitting figure.

"Four hours," She responded in honesty.

"Four?!" I exclaimed hissing in annoyance. Voicing a curse beneath my breath for having spent quality time asleep, I tried my best to come to terms with it. Besides I still had not recovered.

Fatigue gushed through my bones like my very blood. Strangely, however, I recognized that experience, which led to surprise.

This type of fatigue only happens when a person depletes too much of their Solarin. Or everything.

My eyes surveyed the area around the campfire in a bid to distract my mind from thinking certain thoughts.

"Where is Eiko?" My tone was of both worry and amazement.

Before Nura could respond I caught sight of a figure approaching my right side from deep within the trees.

"I'm here," Eiko announced with a smile. She stood directly above me. I disliked that position.

Shifting my gaze back at Nura who sat on the other side of the campfire, I closed my eyes for a bit. Trying to gather strength.

Eiko simply walked past us and I noticed the small game she had caught.

At the possibility of food, my belly groaned in anticipation, and both sisters giggled, even if we fell silent for minutes after that.

I watched Nura deal with the roasting of the little creature. Eiko had removed its insides and even washed it before arriving. All Nura had to do was set it above the fire after filling it with a few leaves meant for seasoning. All thanks to her sister of course.

In mere minutes the aroma of roasted meat swirled around the camp and my rationality nearly went down the drain.

Ever since I awoke I had never been faced with such hunger. My belly announced this with its violent grumbling.

"Thank you," I heard Eiko speak at some point. I blessed her for it since she managed to draw my attention from the cooking meat.

"Also, we're a couple of kilometers from our previous location."

An eyebrow rose on my head, she seemed to see it since she spoke.

"I awoke two hours after you passed out. Most of my strength had returned… I still don't believe it."

"Somehow I had enough to lift your weight for an hour's worth of walking and even hunting," her tone spoke of disbelief, and so did her gaze. I merely listened with my eyes closed. Relieved of course.

"What did you do to me?" She finally reached her main question.

"I was dying… but a light pulled me back. I had never felt anything like it."

"I daresay it had felt…. Celestial."

"I still feel it…"

Her monologue met no response for a bit of time. It even seemed she didn't speak for answers, only out of the weight of her experience.

Nura remained silent. I believe she felt as much disbelief as her sister. And maybe a bit of trauma.

"Is your core alright?" I asked, even if silence remained for a bit.

"It is…"

"But not completely alright," I added, she nodded.

"Then again, it's too soon to make conclusions," my attention had started to shift to the roasted meat. It had started to smell properly done. "Give it a few days, you should know by then."

Eiko nodded and silence befell us again. I hated that mood and wanted to run.

Nura stood at some point, the meat was indeed done and with a knife, Eiko had on her, she split it into portions. I got the biggest.

Eiko had also been sure to fetch water in small skin-sack bottles. I managed to sit up to eat.

The duo said nothing about it, but I believe I had eaten with equal tenacity as a ravaged beast.

Meat had never tasted so good in my life. I could rest afterward.

Thankfully my energy quickly returned, allowing my mind to think more elaborate thoughts.

"What are you going to do now?" I was the first to speak after nearly an hour of silence. It was deep into the night now. The moon had shifted from the center of the sky as daytime neared.

Eiko glanced at Nura before speaking. "I had not expected to go on with this plan. But I intend to find my little brother."

"Oh," I murmured, recalling that Nura indeed had a brother.

"I managed to gather enough information about his general whereabouts. It's only a two-day journey on horseback," she explained.

"How many on foot?"

"I estimate a week."

I scratched my head at that point. A week of walking was a long time.

"What about you, Caeles?" It was Nura's turn to speak. She was back to normal. Except she spoke in the same tone she did with those she didn't like on the camp.

"I don't know," I admitted, feeling embarrassed. Only a few months ago I had been passionate about my escape, but now I felt unprepared.

I had intended, and still intended to find answers about the reason for my state., and of course the issue with Ushan—The nation I molded with my very hands. I had to deal with the mess they had started. I at least felt responsible for it.

"I want to get to Ushan," I announced blatantly.

Silence.

"To do what?" Eiko asked, already suspicious. I reckoned she considered I was a sort of spy.

"To deal with this issue," I revealed. Her countenance twisted in confusion.

"That's all I can say for now. I might die before I achieve that goal, though."

"What issue?" Eiko pressed.

"The war?"

I waved my hand in dismissal, even if my lips curved sardonically.

"Or do you intend to force the answer out with your knighthood?" My comment forced her to back off. I clearly revealed how less trusting I was of her than she was of me.

"I would never do that," she spoke with honesty. I sensed my words had put her dignity at stake. "I owe you my life."

Nodding in response I lay back on the cushion of leaves Nura had gathered for me.

"For now I will follow you both on your travels. I want to learn as much as I can as quickly as possible," I explained, picking out twigs that caused discomfort.

"What better way to do that than with a knight?" I slept not long afterward.