flor.

The sharp stone flies across the ground and launches at Jiang before he can expect it. He aims to dodge, but the wind current is not on his side and it embeds into his forearm. The pain is instant and it’s sharp - Jiang is competent enough to realise that it hasn’t hit a vein or punctured deep enough to scrape a muscle but it still hurts. The soldier he’s training scrambles towards him, apologies tumbling out from their mouth but Jiang dismisses him. There’s a sense of pride in him that someone’s trained has managed to best him - but the injury isn’t becoming any better any time soon.

His favourite medic is out of town and he doubts he could manage to fix this wound up on his own, so he takes a suggestion from the cadet. There’s a cuspian who has an understanding of medicine who would be able to help him. And although there’s a certain stigma against those people, the stinging in his arm hasn’t relented.

The decision is made for him when the pain intensifies and he heads towards the herbalist’s quarters - with short instruction from the worried cadet. He knocks shortly on the door and tries not to worry about the blood seeping through his fingers as he holds his wound.

“Excuse me.” He says when he realises the door is unlocked. “I need some assistance with a wound.”

The young herbalist was in the midst of brewing another potion, smashing various types of herbs using a mortar and pestle, when a voice interrupts the silence of his headquarters. Turning around towards the male voice, Aiden quickly scrambled on to his feet as soon he spots the blood trickling down the major general’s arms. 

“General Jiang.” Eyes widening, dipping his head in respect towards the general of his nation’s army, before gesturing towards a chair beside him. “Yes, of course, please sit here.” Aiden rapidly removed a bottle of ointment and a roll of gauze from the cabinet. He carefully tended the male’s wound in silence - it was a surprise that general Jiang had come to him for medical assistance as it was the first time the older had sought him out. 

The young herbalist hummed in agreement, propping his elbow on top of the display case and resting his chin on his knuckles as his eyes scanned for the perfume his mother used. Aiden always went back to the same perfumer because his mother preferred a specific kind and Cero was the only one who sold it in the land of Duur. 

“It’s a shame, really, that the unfortunate ones are usually the ones who deserve to live more.” His eyes widened in recognition as he spotted the floral-scented perfume bottle amidst the rest, pointing at it with a smile plastered on his face. 

♕~ “Technically, you came to Surya but I digress.”  

Interacting with people from outside Surya used to be of normal occurrence for the princess but since the war began, she had rarely left her nation and had very minimal chances of interacting with people that were not her own. Thus, it left the princess feeling more awkward than ever around people and feeling as though there was judgement on her whenever she met with new people. “I apologize, I know the travel from your country to mine was not the easiest but I would like to thank you for coming to see me nonetheless.” A small polite smile graced her lips then. “I asked for you because I needed your expertise for a wound that I sustained while training. The Suryan doctors have done their best to treat it but they know not as much as you when it comes to medical herbs.”

“Could you help me?”

“Forgive me, your highness. Word did not reach me that you were the one who had asked.” The young herbalist was like a deer caught in the headlights when he noticed her presence, unsure of why she had appeared before him until she explained. Aiden was specifically requested by the Dragonborns for medical assistance once again, but it had not been relayed that the second born princess of Surya was the one who asked for him. Sure, he had his fair share of visits at the royal castle due to work, but he interacted with mostly the nurses and doctors and not the royals themselves, so it was a surprise to hear that the female knew of his identity. 

“I would not lie to you, sir Minho.” Aiden stepped back from the side of the bed where the male’s father lay fast asleep after drinking a sip of a potion he had brewed with various medicinal herbs earlier to face the male. “Your father will not experience as much pain as long as takes the medicine I provided regularly.” He tidied the side table, fixing the handful of vials of the same exact liquid the elder had drank into a neat row for the family’s convenience. 

@rgjunhong​

The young herbalist stepped foot into the royal castle of Surya with more than enough guards surrounding him, quite unsure whether the amount of guards were for his safety as requested by the Evergreens or for a much darker reason that he would rather not think about, as Aiden followed the head doctor. The home of the Dragonborns, red brick walls and furniture with golden accents on the walls and ceilings occupying his surroundings, greatly contrasted his traditionally forest-colored robe that wrapped around a simple white collared shirt and dark pants. The Duuri always stuck out like a sore thumb against the dominantly red architectures of the Suryans, but it gave him more of a reason to always be on his best behavior because he walked with the reputation of the Evergreens and his nation on his shoulders. 

Aiden was quickly introduced to the rest of the doctors and nurses that worked for the royals and was briefed on the details of his work in the castle. The Evergreens had agreed to let the Dragonborns borrow someone who thrived in medicinal herbs for a short while, and Aiden did not have a problem as long as it benefitted his nation in the long run. He was to stay in Surya for two weeks to help the doctors and nurses brew more potions out of herbs, so here he was getting a tour of his workplace and his specified bedroom until he immediately began to work.

“Don’t forget that along with sorrow, happiness and love is there too, princess Hikari.” Aiden continued to crush a mixture of herbs with a mortar or pestle after turning his head to send an assuring smile. He was starting to relax in the presence of the Dragonborn, listening to her vague, yet perceptive thoughts. The young herbalist was honored to give the princess a sense of comfort for her to strike a conversation with him and perhaps they can enjoy each other’s presence before she had to get back to her duties.

“And I don’t disagree with you, your majesty.” The corners of the young herbalist’s lips curved to a small smile - a smile filled with knowledge of both the truth and the lies that has clouded all four nations and its inhabitants. It was the calm before the storm and Aiden only wished for the safety and happiness of his loved ones and people he respected.

“Forgive me, princess Ayaka. I didn’t mean to react in such a way.” The boy quickly dipped his head out of embarrassment. Aiden was careful in holding the Dragonborn’s hands with his own, slim fingers hovering over each and every bruise that scarred her pale skin.

In his few days staying at Dragonborn castle because of work, the young herbalist had noticed something off about the the way the first born princess of Surya moved her hands under her gloves. When he had approached her earlier about it, he noticed the slight panic and hesitation, but luckily, allowed him to take a look. However, he wasn’t expecting it to be this bad and was caught off guard by its severity. 

“How many times do I have to tell you that you are not allowed to put yourself down whenever you’re with me?” The young herbalist brought the female into his arms for a warm hug, affectionately reaching up to comb his fingers through her long locks like an older brother would to his little sister. Despite being a year younger, Aiden treated the princess of Tempestade as if she was his younger sister whenever she was feeling sad or angry and he couldn’t stand to see someone so important to him feeling down in his presence. It was his personal job to provide her with happiness and laughter whenever she visited Duur ever since they had first met. He knew far too little, yet still enough to know how much she had gone through in her mere twenty-one years of living. 

“Forgive me for my behavior, your majesty.” Aiden bowed a full ninety-degrees before straightening his torso to face the Dragonborn. “It is my fault for being clumsy. It will not happen again.” The young herbalist eyed the mess he had made when he dropped the potion-filled vial out of shock at the prince’s sudden presence. He didn’t know why he was extremely startled when the Dragonborn spoke behind him, but there seemed to be a strong, nearly pressuring-like aura that surrounded the third born prince of Surya and it was quite overwhelming to say the least. 

“I apologize.” Aiden dipped his head towards the male. “The training grounds reminded me of my past, of what I went through when I was a part of my nation’s army.” Because I’m a cuspian of beauty, was what he wanted to say next but figured that it was probably better not to. “To be honest, I am more worried than afraid. Worried that things will get worse for my nation - for everyone of all nations, really.”