Raven was actually shaking. For a terrifying moment there, he thought he had lost Karol. The boy was now cradled in his arms, head resting against his shoulder, purple coat wrapped protectively around the small frame. "Karol. Karol, haven't you learned?" His movements were urgent but careful, trying not to jostle the injured boy. A muttered spell under his breath pulse healing magic through Karol. "You didn't have to do that on your own."
My muse just did something stupid that almost got them killed. Yell at them.
âKarol. Karol, havenât you learned?â
Raven sounded funny. He hummed softly, his heavy eyes opening just a bit to look around. Oh, âcourse he was warm- was this Ravenâs coat? But when had he even gotten there? Last he remembered he was- oh.
âYou didnât have to do that on your own.â
Right. Heâd gone back to Shrine. BactionâŠ. heâd seen the way the group had blanched at the idea of going back there. It was just some stupid job, one that Brave Vesperia could probably have easily turned down and given to some other guild, one more equipped and with a better track record with the area at least. But it was just a simple retrieval, right? Some guy had lost a blastia down there- nothing life threatening if lost, but âIâm a sentimental old thingâ, the excavator had said. Weakly, Karol moved to feel around in his pocket. Yeah, it was still there- good. He was worried itâd been crushed. Kinda like him.
Howâd Raven even found him? Who was surprised, though- the old man was slippery, conniving. If Karol thought about it, Raven had probably known heâd taken the job without telling the others anyway. Had he followed him to Baction, followed him down into the depths that Karol had memorized all that time ago? Digging through the rubble had been difficult, but the man had known where he dropped it at least. Finding it had taken a couple hours. Getting out of the Shrine was⊠well more problematic. The place wasnât stable- hadnât been since Alexei and his goons had bashed in the supports back when Raven hadâ Schwannâ
Regardless, it had all been fine until the support in the second antechamber snapped. The roof, what was left, had come down with a crash. And thenâŠ
Then he was here, with Raven, headed he assumed back to Aurnion. His throat felt like he had swallowed sand. Heck, with the dust that had probably been kicked up in the collapse, he probably had. He gave a soft cough, his side aching treacherously against the motion. âI-I couldnâtâŠâ Couldnât take you back there- it would have hurt you, any of you, especially you- â⊠I didnât want you there. Not again.â
