Episode 3 part 1
◇ Today is the deadline ◇

▪︎Verena▪︎

"Verena" I turn around when I hear Dawling call me

She stopped in front of me with her arms crossed and an annoyed expression.  She was taller than me.  But if she thinks her height and face will intimidate me, she's quite wrong.

"I thought it was strange that the queen sent soldiers after saying no. And especially the change of clothes. She's not the type who likes so much black. I called her" I raise my eyebrow "She didn't send soldiers. And none were missing. And before hanging up on my face told me to talk to you, because she didn't know anything. Who were they?"

She really doesn't know how to stay quiet and take care of her own things, does she?

"They were soldiers, but not Solarians. I have a lot of cards up my sleeve. Other than that, they will not interfere with anything in your group. The orders are, stay close until they are necessary. And they will cover a greater area to try to advance the process" I smile mockingly at her "Instead of wanting to know about things that are none of your business, why don't you just be happy to have people helping? Mainly because they are trying to fix something that is partly your fault!"

I saw a little hurt flash through her eyes, but it didn't last long. Then irritation returned to her face.

I walk away from her, huffing. Little by little things between the two of us are getting back to the way they used to be.  And this is not good. The last thing I need right now is a wall between us.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

One week. It's been a week and no one has killed The Burned One. Saul gets worse every day. And every day we sleep less.

And Dawling even did me the incredible favor of telling him about the soldiers. He didn't like my interference and for not trusting people he says are capable.

That was our first fight.

▪︎Flashback▪︎

"I promised I would stay. But I never promised I would do nothing" I exclaimed angrily "I may not trust your battalion, but I didn't order them to interfere. They will only approach if someone asks. The soldiers are an extra help. They're hunting something they've never really seen. The more people the better. So they have a chance of success! My soldiers are also a protection for them. I'm trying to help!"

"Dawling chose them because she believes they are capable. And I accepted because I believe so too. We trained them and we know they will make it. So believe in our work, believe in me, and tell the soldiers to withdraw. Please love " he asked looking at me pleadingly

"I trust you Saul" I whispered making him smile a little "But I won't do that" I exclaim again shrugging my shoulders.

"Celeste you have to understand that not everything you can control. Not everything you can interfere and do your way just because you think it's better. You have to understand that other people can also do a good job" he yelled looking at me annoyed.

"Is that what you think of me?"  I ask hurt, "Do you think I'm doing this because I think I'm better than others? That I'm superior? What a subtle way to call me smug and arrogant. Thank you so much!"

"That's not what I meant" he denied lowering his voice.

"Sure? That's what I understood." I cross my arms feeling my eyes sting.  I take a deep breath looking up "Your life is hanging by a thread, Saul. I'm staying with you because you asked me to. But if I can do anything to help, I will. And I'm doing it because I love you and I care." I refuse to lose you. But if you want to mistake that for arrogance, go ahead."

Before he could respond, someone knocked on his office door before opening it. It was Ben. He looked at us looking uncomfortable. Surely he heard everything.

He came to warn that he needed to change the dressings.  I'm not going along this time. I needed to be alone. Saul looked at me sadly, but I couldn't look at his face.

When the door closed I finally allowed myself to cry.  I fall sitting on the couch feeling my heart tighten.

▪︎Flashback off▪︎

After that, he spent almost a whole day trying to convince me to withdraw my soldiers and trust Marco and Noura. And every attempt turned into an argument. The atmosphere between us has never been worse.

He also refuses to rest. He keeps coming to the field. When he manages to doze off or is distracted enough, I try to take some of the pain away to ease it. But doing so many things at once and not being able to recharge or sleep is exhausting me. And Saul can see even me trying to hide. It made him feel guilty. And that generated more arguments.

His time is almost up. If this doesn't end soon, I don't care what I have to do, but he won't die.

......................................

"Celeste we need to talk" Saul approached me.

He walked with the help of a training stick. He was pale, his eyes black and his breathing ragged. It was time for another dose of Zambaq.

"If it's about my soldiers, they won't withdraw" I reply with a sigh running my hand over my face "If it's about your plans in case you don't survive, I don't want to know about this anymore, because you won't die" I turn my attention to the freshmen in front of me seeing that they were watching us, embarrassed. Only then did I realize that I exalted myself again. "You have to go after Ben. Your eyes are dark again" he sighed disappointedly before walking away.

I watch him walk towards the school. Every step he took away from me hurt.

"Miss Neith?" I turn to the students seeing their concern.

I run my hand over my cheek feeling it wet.

"Go back to training. And train hard so you don't have to see the people you love the way Headmaster Silva is now" I say harshly before walking away too.

 
♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

▪︎Author▪︎

Verena approached the door thinking about how to fix things between her and Saul. She didn't want to continue these discussions any longer.

"What do you mean?" She stopped walking when she heard Sky's voice

"The uh.... infection is spreading quickly now" said Silva after a sigh "When it reaches my heart……"

Verena leaned against the door where none of them could see. Tears streamed from her eyes and she covered her mouth to keep from making noise and attracting attention.

"How long do you have?" Sky ask

"I don't know. I don't know. Not long"

"So what do we do?"

"Well, I've.. spoken to my seconds about the plans for your training" Verena frowned, not liking the direction of the conversation. " And Dowling is aware of my wishes for your future"

"I asked you a question" the youngest insisted

"And I am answering it, Sky" He huffed thinking what to say "Soldiers have to have these conversations with the people that matter. We make a plan. That's what we can do"

"There has to be something else" Sky says hurtfully. Verena felt how much he was holding himself not to cry "I already lost one father. I can't lose another"

"I will keep you updated on the battalion's progress." Silva whispered gently "Do you understand?"

"Yeah" Sky reluctantly agreed "And what about Verena? Did she agree to all this?"

"I've tried to talk to her about it several times. But she won't listen. Stubborn woman" Her stubbornness has always been something he likes about her. Even when she irritated him.  He couldn't help but smile as he had her on his mind.

"I've noticed that you guys aren't on good terms with each other. And I've seen you two arguing several times this week."

"She's tired and stressed. She wanted to be out there after the Burned One. And I know taking care of me is wearing her out. She tries to hide it but...."

"She loves you. Of course she's not okay"

"In case my time runs out, I want you to take care of each other. I want you to be there for each other" he asked with teary eyes.

There were still so many things he wanted to live with her.  To have with her. Now all he could do was hope that the battalion would complete the mission in time, and he could accomplish everything.

Unable to hear anymore, Verena came out of her hiding place and entered the greenhouse. The two noticed her presence and looked at her worriedly. The pain on her face along with the tears stirred them. Silva felt guilty for making the woman he loved cry.

"Sky leave us alone please" she asked quietly not trusting her own voice

Walking past her, Sky gave her a kiss on the head and looked at her sadly.

She walked towards Silva wrapping her arms around his neck.

Silva hugged her back feeling his heart tighten at having her crying in his arms.  Each sob was like a stab to him.  He held her as tightly as he could, ignoring the pain and allowing himself to cry along with her.

After a few minutes Verena pulled away, sniffling and wiping her face.

"I will order my soldiers to withdraw and return home. If you trust your battalion so much, then I will trust you" Silva sighed happy that she finally agreed "But they have a deadline. Today is their deadline. don't kill Queimado today, I'm the one who will hunt! And neither you nor anyone will stop me" her warning sent a shiver up his spine.

From the strength and determination in her voice, and how well he knew her, she was sure to keep her word.

This time he wouldn't be able to hold her.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

▪︎Verena▪︎

"Marco, give us an update. Are you still tracking The Burned One?" Saul asked looking at the map

"Where are you now?" Dawling interrupted

"Clatvile. We missed the last attack by under an hour. We're right behind it." his voice was calm, and it only made my mood worse.

"Use the Vanya River. Burned Ones have difficulty navigating large bodies of water" suggested Saul

"We know. It'll be cornered by the morning" Marco said confidently.

"I think you don't understand that we may not have til morning" since I was away from the table, I had to yell to be heard.

I didn't even bother to look at their faces. I knew they were judging me.

"We'll call you when we get it" promised after a second of silence.

"Marco, just keep use up... " Farah didn't have time to finish talking before Marco hung up the phone.

She picked it up, getting ready to call him back. But Saul stopped her by taking it out of her hand.

His appearance was worse than earlier. Paler and slumped shoulders. At least for now his eyes were back to normal.  Knowing that this is also my fault is one of the worst feelings. Seeing someone you love in pain is like a part of you is breaking.

"They shouldn't be on the phone" scold her as he folded the map

"We should be out there with them" the woman began to walk from one side to the other. Impatient.

Yeah we should.  I roll my eyes.

"Not sure how effective i'd be, but I understand your frustration"

he gave a wry little smile trying to sit.

I get off the wall I'm leaning against and go to him to help.  Farah did the same, holding him by the other arm.

"Marco and Noura are two of the best graduates to come out of Alfea" Ben Said bringing us drinks.

"Yeah but they never faced a Burned One. They don't know what they're up against. We do." replied the older woman

"Well, we decided to stay here and teach the next generation" Ben shrugged, pouring whiskey.

"We've taught them everything we can, Farah. It's time to trust them" Saul looked at me with one eyebrow raised at the end, as if he was talking to me too.

I stick my tongue out at him making the three of them laugh at my childishness.

"I do. It doesn't mean I like sitting here waiting" complained Farah sitting down too

I pull up a chair and sit next to Saul. His hand went to my thigh caressing it with his thumb.

"Finally someone who agrees with me and understands me. Thank you" I throw my head back dramatically.

"I feel like a glorified babysitter" she grumbled making me and Saul laugh.

"Don't laugh at me you two" she laughed along, so there was no way to take her seriously.

"Speaking of..." Ben seemed to remember something "isn't tonight the Specialist's annual debauched kegger?"

"Imagine they think we don't know" Saul said in an amusing way handing me my drink

" Imagine they think you didn't start it" I almost choked as I downed my whiskey.

I barely managed not to cough.

"Wait what?" I look at Saul and he scratched the back of his head looking embarrassed "Okay I need to know this story"

"No, you don't" he denied squeezing my thigh.

I ignore this by asking Farah to tell me. She laughed evilly as Saul shook his head no.

I smile mischievously seeing his face.

This is going to be interesting.

....................................

We were laughing and sharing old stories. I had one of my legs between Saul's and my head on his shoulder. Our hands intertwined. From time to time he would kiss my hand, forehead or cheek. Sometimes even a peck in the mouth.  Ignoring that Ben and Farah were with us. We even looked like teenagers. A group of friends together drinking and chatting excitedly. And of course, the little couple who didn't let go of each other. For a moment I forgot about my problems. I forgot my responsibilities, my mistakes and my lies. The little barrier that formed between me and Farah again. Everything looked perfect. But that little bubble of happiness burst when the phone rang.

It was Marco. Saying that they had killed the Burned One.

The moment I heard that I pulled away from Saul lifting his shirt to look at his wound. Instead of being better, it was worse. I look up to see the dark veins popping up again in his neck. His eyes getting dark again.

"They killed the wrong one" I say looking at the phone "You got the wrong Burned One. Damn it!" I get up running my hands through my hair in frustration.

I turn my back on them walking away.

"Verena please" called Farah

"Celeste where are you going?" Saul asked.

"To do what I should have done from the start!!"

I'm tired of it. I shouldn't have listened to Saul. I should have grabbed my stuff and gone hunting that thing. Or rather, I should have ignored Dawling and killed when I had the chance.

If Saul dies, I'll kill all three of them.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

kisses and I hope you like it♡♡♡

Don't forget to vote and comment ♡.
(Updates everyday)