A day and a half earlier or so.
Hale had been writhing in bed.
He was in agony.
Hale had felt a burning sensation on his back when he woke up in the carriage with Fault and Ayra.
Since then, he just ignored it until after his talk with Duke Lynel and he explained his memory of Tenna.
He remembered Trinity, but he had no clue about this 'Devourer' Fault had mentioned.
But, as much as he wanted to believe his friend, nothing about its existence added up, so he concluded that it was an illusion Trinity had placed under Fault.
That's what he told Lynel, and he assumed Ayra also told Lynel that, as well.
But after his talk with the Duke, he went back to his room and his condition only worsened. His back ached and burned as he constantly tried to find a position to at least sleep it off.
More symptoms popped up. He gained a fever that following night, his nose clogged up that morning, and into the afternoon he constantly felt chills and aching, spreading onto his shoulders.
Hale thought he was going to die, it was so painful.
That is, until Chandler entered his room.
He didn't know much about the middle-aged man, other than that he was Ayra's coachman or servant. So he figured he could trust him.
And it was certainly a good call, Chandler immediately started applying some form of aid. A wet washcloth on his forehead, and even changing his sweat-drenched clothes.
But that was all the time he could afford.
"My apologies, Master Hale, but I need to leave."
He offered a bow, "But, before I go, be sure to go with Master Fault to Ayen Academy."
Chandler smiled as he head to the door, slowly closing it, "I'm sure you'll immediately be scouted and recommended, with an infusion like that."
…
So, Hale was left alone.
He felt better, sure, but his body still felt like it was on fire, and there was no water to take it out.
He had new, loose clothes on, and he could reapply his washcloth with the small bucket of water Chandler had prepared for him.
But that was all.
So he just lied in bed, waiting for his illness to fade and become healthy again.
"Haah…"
Lying in bed, Hale could only take deep, calming breaths.
His back hurt so incredibly much! It wasn't anything to do with muscles, or deeper inside like his bones, Yet it felt like it was burning, like his skin was being branded.
He felt the need to use the restroom, so he weakly stood up and moved the best he could toward his own private one within his bedroom.
He loved that part, having a bathroom to himself.
As he trudged over to the door, his back began to sear, as if burning in the exposed air.
"Ack…. hck…"
He grit his teeth and just kept walking, eventually entering and doing his business.
Then, Hale felt the burning make contact with his shirt, making him try to pull it off.
"F-fuck!"
As he pries his shirt off his back, he swears he saw a glow in his peripheral, outer vision.
'What is happening…!?'
As Hale finally gets his shirt off, he could definitely see a glow. It was a soft golden color that coated the areas behind him.
His back felt like it was starting to cool off, the back of his shoulders and arms felt the same, as well.
He moved to the mirror in the bathroom, where it hung just above the sink.
He turns around, his back in the reflection of the mirror, and he slowly turns his head.
He saw it. His birthmark that had been there all his life was shining.
A dim amount, hardly enough to light up more than a dark room like a small candle, but it was definitely beginning to glow.
It was Hale's infusion.
It was growing from up his spine and spread toward his arms.
He held two classes of infusions.
*****
Not too long after my first duel with Terrick, he began to finally kick things up.
He laid me flat on my ass several times.
"I didn't think… I hurt your pride… that mu- ack!"
He thwacks my elbows and the inside of my knee, making me fall to the floor.
"I quit…! Haah…!"
I pant heavily as I collapse on the ground, Terrick hold a smile on his face, also a bit covered in sweat.
He had shed his armor a bit after I dented it in our first spar, now wearing just a simple, tight suit that clung around his more muscular areas.
It was a black color except for the inner lines of the zipper, that held a soft, dark blue, like his hair.
"So that's… fifteen to one?"
He smiles down at me and kneels next to where I lay on the ground.
"I… I think…"
Terrick slaps my face a couple of times.
"Well, nonetheless, you've shown amazing work today, kid."
He moves to lie down next to me, and we stare up at the stars beginning to highlight the late evening sky.
"We've been out here… all day…"
He nods.
"I am… starving…"
He nods again.
'This guy might be quite an asshole…'
I groan and lean up.
"Fuck-!"
Everything hurts.
Under my clothes, I'm probably covered in bruises in the most inconvenient areas imaginable.
Mostly my torso, ankles, and knees.
His fighting style fucking SUCKS!
"Good job, truly. I don't think I've seen anyone as young as you that can fight that well, or keep up for that long."
He looks at me and smiles, hopping up to his feet.
"What made you like that? So tenacious, full of stamina and strength?"
He puts his hand down toward me, which I take and pull myself up with his help.
"I… couldn't tell you. My parents, I think?"
He laughs and pats my back, bringing me to his side with his arm around my shoulders.
"Well, whatever the case, you've got a bright future, kid. With strength like that and your weird personality, you could certainly become a renowned person one day!"
He pats my shoulder harder than I'd like to admit.
"C'mon, let's get you something to eat, haha!"
He helps me walk down the hall as I have a slight limp from one particularly hard strike he nailed me with earlier.
Heading toward the dining hall, I smelt a variety of things in there.
It made me even hungrier as I felt myself beginning to salivate.
Terrick assists me to a table and pats my back, "Alright, I'm gonna go sit with some of my friends and stuff, you're welcome to join if you want."
I shake my head. "I've… I've had about enough of you for the day."
He laughs, holding his stomach, "Nice! Hahaha! I'll see you later, kid."
So, I sat at the table he put me at alone, debating on what to go get to eat.
As I move my legs around the chair, I see a girl with fluffy brown hair standing behind me, squirming with a slight blush.
"U-uhm…"
"...?"
I look at her, and I see a few others behind her smirking behind an open exit.
"I-I I think your… one eye is really cool!"
She shouts, making me reel back.
"U-uh… thanks…?" I tilt my head at her and she runs back to the others.
'This place is filled with nutcases…'
I palm the side of my head and stand up, walking over to where some of the food is lined up on different tables.
No need to say, but it looks delicious, and I'm starving.
So, I fill my plate with a potato, some bread, and even a steak!
An entire steak!
Dining like a king. Or a duke, I guess.
I head back to where I was sitting alone and start eating.
The food was good, really good, actually.
I felt satisfied after eating my share.
So, I spent a bit of time just looking around the dining hall. It was still filled with plenty of people who were either servants, like maids and butlers, or what I assumed to be more guards and soldiers.
I guess Terrick went to sit with the soldiers over there.
Though I could see him speaking, I couldn't tell what he was saying, but a bunch of the other guys were looking back at me, sitting alone.
I could only duck my head and hope the looks went away.
Suddenly, a thought hits me.
'How's Hale doing?'
I lean back up and glance around, quickly getting up, I head outside to go back to the rooms that we were given for our stay here.
As I step out of the dining hall, I look to my right and see the gardens of the castle. So, I just decided to take a quick stroll through them before I go to check on Hale.
It's really pretty at night here. The blue sparks of transmissions through the different parts of the city buildings, all filtering into the large circle overhead.
Not to mention it feels really cool, a nice cold temperature.
I smile to myself and pick up my pace, starting to jog a little bit as I head to the hallway where Hale and I live across from each other in our rooms.
Just then, though…
BOOOOOM
"...!? Shit!"
The ground beneath me rumbles with the deafening sound of an explosion outside, but still a good distance away.
I hear dozens of people within the castle get to work, hundreds of footsteps immediately moving to action and heading outside, different spots on their bodies visibly glowing with their infusions.
"W-what's going on!?"
Someone notices me as I run toward them and they glance outside.
"We received word that a Chaotic species of Daemon has arrived! We need to move to subjugate it!"
More and more of the soldiers and other guards that were laughing and eating in the dining hall just moments ago were moving to action with stern looks.
'C-chaotic Daemon? What the hell is that?'
Agh! No time to think!
'Where's Hale!?'
I quickly turn around and head downstairs as fast as I can.