Salvador, at the tender age of seven, has a nightmare and seeks out his brothers for comfort.
It was dark, but donât all nightmares start out like that?
Ever since the Chaos Explosion, bringing demons and monsters into this realm, Phederico Rossini may have exaggerated how aggressive and bloodthirsty these creatures really are to his children.Â
While Doni and Juzel didnât seem to mind so much (Doni even going as far as wanting to fight one and show it whoâs boss), little Salvador was having a much harder time hearing this. However, he acted like it didnât bother him at all, not in front of his family.
But then come the nightmares.Â
It was fairly simplistic. Dark, cold, and full of demons. Salvador woke up crying from another one of his nightmares. Yes, another one. Heâs had them before, but even at the age of seven, heâs kept the scary dreams to himself.
But this one night, he couldnât take it anymore, and needed some comfort from his brothers. He knew his father would just berate him.
âDoni? Juzel?â Salvadorâs childish voice echoed through the halls as he wiped some of his tears away. He knew his brothers had a tendency to wander the halls at night, against fatherâs wishes. But there was no answer from his older brothers, so Salvador began to wander.
However, he didnât have to wander long as he soon found Juzel.
âSalvador? What are you doing up?â Juzel asked in shock, his voice quiet as not to wake his father or alert the guards. Salvador wiped at his eyes. Juzel wouldnât be one to make fun of him.
âI-I had a bad dream...â He squeaked, and Juzel widened his eyes. Suddenly, he lifted a hand as if to say âstopâ. Salvador looked confused before he turned around and saw his older brother Doni standing behind him, looking like he was about to scare him.
âNot now, Doni. Sal here had a nightmare.â Juzel explained, and Doni folded his arms as Salvador growled at him.Â
âStill wouldâve been funny...â The other Rossini brother muttered, and Juzel (being the more caring of the two) brought Salvador into his arms in a brotherly hug.
âItâs alright, Sal. What was it about?â Juzel asked, giving Doni a glare that told him to be supportive or leave. At that look, Doni softened his stance, knowing his little brother needed some support.
âD-Demons...they killed...a-all of us...â Salvador explained, letting his guard down and melting into his brotherâs hug. Juzel rubbed his younger brotherâs back in a comforting manner.Â
While Juzel was an older brother, also known to tease his younger sibling just as much as Doni, he would never make fun of Salvador for being scared. When it came to demons, he had a natural right to be afraid. So, Juzel was going to be as comforting as possible.
He knew Salvador thought the same thing he thought. Father would be no help.
âItâs okay...we are safe here in the city, remember? No demons will come here. If anything, they will be around the outer villages.â Juzel said, and Salvador looked up at him with big eyes. However, his reassured look turned into one of fear again as he buried his head in his brotherâs hug.
âI-It was still scary...â He muttered; voice muffled. Then Salvador felt a hand on his shoulder and peaked out of his brotherâs embrace to see Doni smirking at him.
âBesides, if any demon dares try to lay a finger on you, know that your big brother Doni would take it down in one swipe!â He said proudly, practically beaming. Juzel gave him a real side-eye.
âReally now?â He deadpanned with a frown, and Salvador couldnât help but laugh a bit at his brothersâ banter.
It made him feel better about the whole situation. His brothers were still around to bicker with each other, and if he checked, his father was probably still in his bed as well.
His whole family was still alive.
âIâm going...back to bed now.â Salvador said while rubbing his eyes and yawning a bit.Â
âWeâll walk you back to your room.â Juzel said with a slight smile. Doni started to complain a bit, saying how Salvador was a big boy, but a look from both his brothers made him give in. Secretly, Doni was ready to kill for both, but he has a reputation to uphold.
After getting Salvador safely back to his room and making sure he was tucked in safely, Juzel and Doni bid their brother goodnight. Of course, they stuck around to make sure their brother fell asleep peacefully.
âDonât worry Sal. Itâs going to take a lot more than demons to take us down.â Doni whispered to his younger brother, and Juzel nodded in agreement. Salvador smiled a bit in his sleep.
If only Salvador knew that in the end...it wouldnât be demons that destroyed his family.
Moreno has to really go into mom mode after Lassicâs injury, who plays it off like itâs nothing.
âItâs just a scratch.â Lassic said with a dismissive wave of his hand as Moreno tried desperately to stitch up the deep, bloody laceration that Milza left on the back his lordâs neck.
His nonchalant behavior nearly made Moreno scream.
âA SCRATCH!â The mage screeched, making Lassic flinch and nearly fall off the chair he was sitting on. The commotion caused a bystander walking by to poke their head into the room.
âMoreno, why are you screeching like a cat in heat?â Aishela asked in annoyance, half of her body peeking in through the door. Lassic snickered when Moreno whirled around to face her with a scowl.
âStay out of this!â The mage hissed at her, causing the artist to shrug and leave the situation. When Moreno turned back to face his patient, Lassic immediately went stone-faced as to not catch the rage of his mage.
âSeriously Moreno, you need to calm down a bit.â Lassic said as Moreno went back to dabbing at some of the blood from his deep wound. His words made Moreno tense up a bit, stopping his actions.
âCalm down...CALM DOWN?!â Lassic knew he shouldnât have said that as Moreno was having another outburst. At least this time, he continued to dress the wound on Lassicâs neck as he ranted.
âYou couldâve DIED from being so foolish! What would Theo do without you?! What would I do?!â The mage shouted at him, finishing up the stitching on his neck.Â
Lassic was patient with Moreno, understanding that his anger and coddling came from concern. However, his mage still needed to reflect on the situation. He was still alive, and no worse for wear. Moreno needed to loosen up a bit.
âI got Milza pretty good despite my own wounds. We need to focus on the bigger picture here.â Lassic said, and Moreno let out a sigh of irritation. He cut the last of the stitching from Lassicâs wound.Â
It was still bursting at the seams with blood, and bright red. Moreno wishes he knew some healing magic right about now.
âI donât care about Milza. I care about you.â Moreno said before gently dabbing the sealed wound with some alcohol. Lassic barely flinched, but grinned at his mageâs words.
âSee? Doesnât hurt to admit that sometimes.â Lassic said with a bit of a laugh. Well, that ruined the moment, and Moreno tensed back up again with a scowl on his face.
âI wouldnât have to if you werenât such an idiot sometimes!â Moreno growled before standing up to put the medical equipment away. His back was to Lassic, who simply began to laugh despite the pain on his neck, and the fact it could reopen with too much movement.
âYou are a one-of-a-kind Moreno.â Lassic said with his booming laughter renovating around the room. Moreno simply scoffed at his words, not giving him a satisfaction of an answer.
But he couldnât stop the small smile that came to his face.
Jorgo's POV
Jorgo sighed as the healers checked him over after having him undress. He winced as one started tending to a dark bruise on his arm. "Easy" the healer said gently, feeling the muscle tighten.
"My apologies." He said, looking away.
The healer gentled a bit at that. "You're blaming yourself, aren't you. That's why you waited till Mislaf dragged you here." Gently.
Jorgo looked up surprised. "You could tell?" Unsure how to feel about her being able to read him.
"Most new leaders when thrust into war feel the brunt of their responsibility more than the older leaders who know their men's capabilities do." She replied gently.
Jorgo nodded. "My father left me far too soon. I... was not prepared to lead." Softly, looking away as Mislaf came in.
"You are not your father though." Mislaf said gently. "Just like I'm not my father. Just lead the way you feel is best." He suggested.
Jorgo looked down. "But, what if I fail. I'd never be able to face my father when I die."
Mislaf blinked, and realized something. "You've not given yourself time to mourn, have you?" He asked gently.
Jorgo looked up surprised. "Everytime I've thought about it, the men have been there." Softly as he pulled his shirt back on after the healer handed it back, eyes downcast.
"Then do so now, when there's not many witnesses. I promise, no one here will tell." Jorgo blinked at that, then allowed the tears to fall. Tears that he'd been forcing back since he'd heard of his fathers death, a few sobs escaping every now and then. He felt the healer rub his back reassuring and Mislaf put his hand on his shoulder comfortingly until he'd let it all out.
When he was done he got up and washed his face, feeling more at peace than he had in a while, nodding at Mislaf as he left.
Mislaf's POV
Mislaf sighed as he let go of Jorgo's arm and collar and gently pushed him into the med tent. "Sorry, this is for your own good." He said gently. He heard the younger man grumble but relent and waited outside, knowing he probably wanted his privacy.
He heard them talking, but could only hear snippets of their conversation. After a few minutes he heard something about new leaders and went in to check on how things were doing and heard Jorgo say. "My father left me far too soon. I was not prepared to lead." He heard as he went in. He looked the smaller man over, wincing at the bruises he had on him that were clearly from horses hooves and Mislaf saw him look away.
"You are not your father though." He said gently. "Just like I am not my father. Just lead the way you feel is best." Mislaf watched Jorgo's face to see how he'd take his advice.
He noticed Jorgo's eyes looked down at that. "But what if I fail? I'd never be able to face my father when I die." Mislaf watched and took note that he was trying hard to keep his emotions in check.
Mislaf blinked as he realized what it was that was bothering him. "You've not given yourself time to mourn, have you?" he asked gently.
He saw the surprised look that crossed Jorgo's face. "Every time I've thought about it, the men have been there." Softly as he pulled his shirt back on after the healer handed it back, eyes downcast.
Mislaf sighed. "Then do so now, where there's not many witnesses.I promise, no one will tell." and noticed that Jorgo blinked.
He smiled sadly as the smaller man started to cry. Mislaf couldn't imagine the pain Jorgo must be in to cry this much and he gently put a hand on Jorgo's shoulder as the healer rubbed his back comforting him. He watched as Jorgo stood and washed his face of the tears when he was done and looked at peace, sending him a quick nod as he left.
 Jorgo's Pov
Jorgo sighed as he helped his men tend to their wounds while not bothering with his own. "This is my fault after all. If i was stronger or more experienced, there would of been fewer deaths." He thought, hanging his head. "No, I need to focus on the now, and on the survivors." He reminded himself. Â
He flinched as a muscle spasmed slightly from where a dark bruise had formed under his clothes. He shook his head to clear it as he helped another one of his wounded men over to the others for treatment and noticed his men seemed nervous. "Is everything all right?"
"We saw horses coming in our direction, though we couldn't tell if they were friend or foe, sir." one of the men reported.
Jorgo frowned at that. "Stay here." he said firmly.
"Yes sir." His remaining men said, not bothering to argue. Jorgo frowned, if his father were alive, they wouldn't hesitate to insist on going in his stead. He sighed as he walked towards the sounds. "Father's dead though, and I'm now the head. Am I not good enough now that he's gone?" he thought to himself and startled out of his thoughts as a horse snorted.
He looked up and into the grey eyes of a young man. "Ah, You are Lord Alfred's son. An ally if I'm not mistaken." he said calmly.
The young man nodded and dismounted. "I am, you are Jorgo correct?" he asked politely.
Jorgo blinked, surprised he knew his name. "I am, my men are just over here a bit." turning and motioning him to follow.
"Mislaf." The young man said gently.
Jorgo smiled slightly and nodded. "My thanks to you, Mislaf, for coming to our aid" Before continueing to where his men were waiting.
 Mislaf's POV
 Mislaf frowned as he had continued on with a handful of men to help Baron Jorgo, or the survivors of his army, recover from Milza's attack. He saw a figure make their way towards them and he seemed unsteady a bit, like he was hurt.
He called to the person, but they didn't seem to hear him so he ushered his horse towards the figure while his men continued to search nearby. He knew it was foolish to distance himself, but  someone needed help. His horse snorted and stopped near the young man, maybe a year younger than him. The young man startled at his horses snort and looked up. Mislaf took note of his blue eyes. He seemed dispirited, sad, and he thought he caught a glance of pain shoot through them briefly. "You are Lord Alfred's son. An ally if I'm not mistaken." he said.
Mislaf blinked, slightly taken aback by the depth of the mans voice was, mixed with it's softness and dismounted, taking note that he was a good half foot taller than the younger man before responding.
"I am, you are Jorgo, correct?" he asked politely, taking not of his expression of him knowing his name."
"I am, my men are just over here a bit." Jorgo said, turning around and motioning for him to follow. Mislaf frowned at that, not liking that Jorgo's men had let him go alone and realized he hadn't given him his name.
"Mislaf." he said, gently leading his mare in the direction Jorgo's going.
Jorgo turned his head slightly, and Mislaf thought he saw a faint smile on his face at that and he gave a quick nod. "My thanks to you, Mislaf, for coming to our aid." Before continuing on. Mislaf followed him, still wondering why Jorgo's own soldiers didn't send at least one with him to help him in case of trouble and unable to shake the sinking feeling that the young man infront of him wasn't respected by his own people.
"Lord of the neighboring nation! Take heed, your mage has now been captured." Lassic felt his blood run cold at those words. as he turned and called out his friends name.Â
"Moreno!" and hoped his tone didn't give away his concern too much.Â
"This is ludicrous, lord Lassic won't even bat an eye knowing his mage has been taken prisoner." he heard from his friend and took note of the cut on Moreno's cheek, but careful to not let anything slip as Grakk (spelling?) stood up where he was next to Lucas and some of his soldiers, waiting to be given an order and Lassic turned his head towards him slightly and turned his attention back to Moreno's situation and closed his eyes.Â
"Do you really think so little of yourself. Do you not know that I consider you and the others like I would my own family." he thought, knowing that as they were now, they had no chance of winning since the Demon seal holder had found a weak spot in Grakks armor. He started to laugh at that. Oh the irony of the situation, he'd come to conquer the new lord, but he, himself had been conquered, though the new lord had seemed to try to avoid killing. He composed himself after a few seconds and threw down his sword.Â
"All right then, I surrender." he said, quite sure he was making the right decision. The look of shock that went across Moreno's face after he said that was worth the sting of defeat in his opinion.Â
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