A sliver of moonlight filters into the room, the candlesticks strategically placed casting warm hues across the room. Soft wisps of candlelight dance upon the walls, creating shadows in the corners, and illuminating the space. As Loden awoke from his sleep, he found himself in a slightly uncomfortable position. His neck felt tight from having slept with his head hanging down on his chest. He let out a soft groan, stretching his neck to relieve the tension.

  Loden pondered, silently questioning how he had managed to fall asleep. His gaze drifted to the bed where Kaiden lay, still asleep. He shifted positions, uncrossing his legs and stretching his limbs to alleviate the stiffness from his prolonged vigil.

  Tibost lifts his gaze from his work and glances in Loden’s direction, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, well, look who's finally decided to wake up," he quips, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. He remains seated at the table, nonchalantly returning to his work after giving Loden a quick sideways glance.

  Loden's attention turned to Tibost, picking up on the hint of sarcasm in his tone as he commented on Loden's awakened state. Loden raised an eyebrow at Tibost's sarcasm, but decided to ignore it. He couldn't help but respond to his words though having a few questions and comments to express. Loden shakes his head and then turns back toward Tibost's direction, a hint of surprise on his face. "Observant as ever, Tibost," he replied, a hint of humor in his own tone. "How long have I been sleeping? You're still up?" he replies, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and mild irritation. "Why are you still working at this hour? Did you even sleep?"

  Tibost turns away from his work and addresses Loden, his voice betraying a hint of annoyance. “You were out cold for three hours. You nodded off soon after those two left,” he says, his tone laced with a touch of mockery. "I guess I'm the only one who is responsible around here." Tibost then shakes his head and continues, “I don't have time for sleep. I've been working on perfecting my remedy, just in case those two don't come back."

  Loden rubs his eyes, processing Tibost's words. "Three hours...?" he mutters, his voice tinged with disbelief. He shakes his head, trying to clear the grogginess from his mind. "I didn't realize I had fallen asleep," he admits, sitting up a bit straighter.

  Tibost's sarcasm was palpable as he stood up, his voice dripping with it. "Of course you didn't. You just couldn't manage to stay awake for a few more hours," he said, moving towards Kaiden's bed and ignoring Loden. He leaned over the bed, placing a hand on Kaiden's forehead, his expression thoughtful.

  Loden observes Tibost's meticulous movements, his gaze fixed on him. Tibost remains in that position for several minutes, his expression focused and professional. Then, he bends down and gently opens Kaiden's closed eyelid, examining it closely before closing it again. Throughout the process, he remains silent, deeply concentrated on his diagnostic checks.

  Tibost cautiously slides his hand into the blanket, his fingers finding the side of Kaiden's neck. He checks his pulse, a look of concentration etched on his face. After a moment, he withdraws his hand and exhales softly.

  Loden, concerned for Kaiden's welfare, breaks the silence with a question. "Is Kaiden alright?" he asks anxiously.

  In response to Loden's question, Tibost turns to him and nods slightly. "Yes, he's okay. His pulse is strong and steady, despite the fact that he's still asleep. That's a good sign."

  Loden breathes a sigh of relief as Tibost continues, "I've been consistently monitoring his condition every two hours, looking for any signs of change." Tibost proceeds to the table and retakes his seat, his focus returning to his work.

  Loden rises from his position next to Kaiden's bed and makes his way over to the table where Tibost is situated. He leans over the table, his eyes grazing over the various vials and items spread out in front of the physician, curiosity piqued.

  Loden gazes at the vials spread out on the table, his eyes focused on the one Tibost had earlier displayed in front of the group. He counts six vials in total, their colors ranging from resembling blood to almost its opposites. Loden ponders if Tibost is nearing a potential antidote, his mind racing with anticipation and hope.

  Loden's attention is diverted by Tibost's soft cough, and his gaze shifts to the physician. He realizes he has gotten too close to the working space, and Tibost has noticed his invasion of space. Tibost's annoyance is palpable as he addresses Loden, his words tinged with a hint of irritation. "Is there something you want or need at this moment? Why are you standing here in my workspace?"

  Loden feels a tinge of embarrassment as he steps back, silently chiding himself for being affected by Tibost's words. He musters up a response, "I was merely observing, wanting to know if you're close to finishing since it's been three hours, as you mentioned"

  Tibost's face flushes red as his vivid green eyes narrow, shooting a glare at Loden. His long, dark black hair tied behind him sways with the force of his words, his voice laced with anger. "Do you think I'm finished? How incredibly arrogant of you to pester me." he snaps, shaking his head in disbelief. "I have tried countless herbs and remedies, yet none have proven effective. What am I missing?!" His trembling hands reveal the extent of his frustration and rage at the situation or at his own work.

  Loden responds defensively, his annoyance at the physician's attitude evident in his words, "Arrogant? I was merely asking a question. Why are you all physicians so dismissive and abrasive towards others? Just because you don't get treated like royalty doesn't mean you should treat the rest of us like rubbish." The tension between Loden and Tibost builds, as their tempers flare up.

  The argument between Loden and Tibost abruptly halts as Kaiden stirs and moves in bed. Their focus suddenly shifts from each other to the now stirring Kaiden, concern etched on both of their faces. They stand in silence, waiting to see if Kaiden will awaken or if the disturbance will pass.

  Kaiden's soft whisper cuts through the tense atmosphere, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Loden...," he murmurs, his eyes remaining shut, "don't fight."

  Loden's expression softens at the sound of Kaiden's words, a hint of regret flitting across his face. He exchanges a glance with Tibost, his earlier anger momentarily put aside.

  He exhales softly, looking at Kaiden with concern. “Yes, I won’t fight,” he replies softly, his voice filled with remorse for their argument.

  Loden’s momentary softness towards Kaiden is met with Tibost’s mocking tone, a smirk playing on the physician's face. “Heel, boy. Listen to the priestess,” he quips with a hint of mockery. Loden feels irritated by Tibost's remark but forces himself to remain calm, prioritizing Kaiden's well-being over the need to retaliate.

  Loden moves away from the table, putting some distance between himself and Tibost, hoping it will help him resist the urge to punch the physician. He lowers himself next to Kaiden on the bed, taking in the sight of the sleeping man’s face.

  Loden carefully observes Kaiden's sleeping form, noticing small movements – a twitch of his eyes, a subtle movement of his lips, and the occasional kick of his legs under the blanket. He can't help but wonder what Kaiden is dreaming about, his curiosity piqued by the small nuances in his friend's sleep.

  Loden snaps out of his thoughts, turning his gaze towards Tibost. He realizes that he had been focusing on Kaiden for a bit too long, and Tibost's annoyance is palpable. Loden watches as Tibost expresses his emotions at his actions, noticing his annoyance by his body language and his eye-rolling gesture. He pauses for a moment before responding, "I'm just... checking on him," he replies, his voice carrying a hint of irritation at Tibost's admonishment. "Why does it matter to you?"

  Tibost can't help but roll his eyes at Loden's words again. "You shouldn't do that," he says with irritation. "If you keep sitting there and staring,” he shakes his head and continues, “distance yourself, you're going to start looking like a love sick pup if you don’t."

  Loden rolls his eyes at Tibost in response, his expression tinged with irritation. "What do you know? As an Astryaln warrior, it's my duty to protect the priestess. I won't," he says, pausing for a moment, "I can't, not with Kaiden. He is my friend and nothing more."

  Tibost stands up, brushing off his pants even though there was nothing there to brush off. He looks at Loden and then at Kaiden, his expression serious. "That's what everyone says until it happens," he says, his voice tinged with a hint of warning. "At first, you act like friends until you start acting differently, and then one day words will be said and Kaiden will have to make a decision," he says, his gaze steady on Loden.

  Tibost continues with their stare down, his gaze fixed on Loden. "He'll have to decide whether to complete his quest and go back, or stay behind for the person he likes," he says, his voice firm. "Acceptance and rejection will be a constant companion once the time comes," he adds, his gaze unwavering. "Will he be the first, or will it be you?"

  Tibost shakes his head as he continues, his smirk now slightly visible. "I am guessing you will be the one to push him away," he says, his tone condescending. "I am a physician after all, I have witnessed everything and I am well versed in these matters." Tibot pauses, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "It can be heartbreaking and disgusting to accept."

  Loden's confusion morphs into anger as he stands up, stepping closer and grabbing Tibost by the front of his shirt with a tight grip. "What are you trying to say?" he demands, his tone tense. "If you have something to say, speak it clearly, otherwise..."

  Tibost puts up his hands, signaling for Loden to calm down. "Easy there, no fighting, remember," he says, his smirk still in place. "Let me rephrase my words so that your mind can understand them better."

  Tibost continues speaking, "You like Kaiden, or you will like him more than a friend. Perhaps even a lov-“ But before Tibost can finish, Loden’s hazel eyes widen, and he shoves Tibost away from him with a look of anger mixed with surprise.

  Tibost's statement hits Loden like a punch to the gut, and he reflexively distances himself once again away from Tibost before he can finish speaking. His mind races as the words sink in, leaving him stunned. He can't deny there was some truth in them, but can he admit it to himself?

  "Enough!" Loden snaps, his agitation palpable. Tibost takes a step back, bracing himself to regain his balance and readjusts his shirt.

  Tibost watches as the anger and discomfort wash over Loden, his own pleasure growing at the sight. He adjusts his glasses and grins, "It's not difficult to understand, Loden," he says, his tone bordering on condescension. "I can teach you how to impress Kaiden, so he'll want to stay with you, rather than wanting to be near anyone else. He won't even want to go back to his old life."

  Tibost suggests an unexpected proposal, "We can teach him together, if you like or wouldn't mind my company. He'll be begging you night and day to..” At this point, Tibost is suddenly interrupted by Loden.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  Loden's anger boils over, and he lets out a furious yell. "I said enough!" he cries, he lashes out with a punch at Tibost. His fist connects forcefully, sending the physician flying across the room and knocking over the table in the process, scattering vials and items everywhere. Loden stands there panting, watching as Tibost slowly rises from the ground, holding his cheek.

  Loden's anger is building higher, his voice raised and his hands trembling with the urge to strike Tibost again, "Don't you ever talk about Kaiden like that, ever again." he growls. "You will never-.” His words are abruptly interrupted as Kaiden speaks up, his unexpected voice, causing both men to pause. "Loden, what are you doing?" Kaiden's voice captures the attention of both Loden and Tibost, causing them both to turn their gaze toward the bed where he is sitting up, his blue eyes locked on Loden and Tibost.

  Loden’s anger slowly dies feeling his resolve dying as well, he turns his full attention to Kaiden. "Kaiden.." he manages, his words catching in his throat as his hazel eyes lock with Kaiden's blue ones.

  Kaiden looks from Loden to Tibost, his eyes locking in on the two men as he moves to get off the bed. "What are you doing?" he asks, his gaze fixed on them both. Kaiden repeats his question, his movements fluid as he effortlessly rises from the bed and stands up. His gaze is fixed on the sight of Loden and Tibost locked in a tense confrontation. "What did you do? Why are you fighting again?" he asks, his concern growing.

  Tibost looks back and forth between Loden and Kaiden, his smirk flickering on and off his face before disappearing entirely. He places his hand on the now tender and swollen spot on his cheek, while addressing Kaiden. "Oh, Priestess, you shouldn't be awake at this time," he says, shifting his tone to one of concern. "You need to rest. We don't have the antidote for you yet."

  Kaiden approaches Tibost, disregarding Loden’s presence. Concern etches across his face as he reaches out, his hand extended toward Tibost’s face. "Tibost, are you all right?” Tibost nods, his tone reassuring. "I’m fine, Priestess. It will heal," he reassures, adding a firm command. "But you must rest."

  Loden tries to intervene, his voice stern and sharp. "Kaiden, don't touch him. Keep away from Tibost." As Kaiden turns to look at Loden, Tibost takes this brief opportunity to send a smug look in Loden's direction.

  Kaiden’s saddened expression is tinged with the pain of Loden's actions and past memories."You don't get to tell me what to do," he says gently, his eyes lingering on Loden's face. "I saw what you did. You didn't need to punch Tibost, and then you were about to do it again. You can't always fight to solve your issues with others." Kaiden continues, his own sadness becoming apparent in his words. Loden’s expression softens as well at Kaiden’s words, his anger and irritation waning as he observes the sadness in Kaiden’s expression.

  Loden's resolve strengthens as he responds firmly, "Tibost provoked me. You didn't hear what he was saying. I knew I didn't like this physician." Loden points at Tibost, his voice hardening. "He's just like Gideon. A damn creep. I don't want you getting hurt by him."

  Kaiden shakes his head, casting a questioning look at Tibost. Tibost merely shakes his head in response, feigning ignorance. Kaiden turns back to Loden, searching for clarity. "He's the Royal physician," he responds. "He’s helping us. He’s.....” Kaiden pauses, a shiver coursing through him as he feels the chills once again envelop his body.

  Loden observes Kaiden's momentary pause, taking a step forward to approach but is halted by Kaiden's outstretched hand. Kaiden closes his eyes, then reopens them, taking in the shattered vials and Tibost’s medical items strewn across the floor.

  With a frown, Kaiden lowers his hand, surveying the disarray. "Loden, look what you did.” he whispers under his breath.

  Kaiden then speaks aloud, his voice tinged with concern. His heart sinks at the sight of Tibost’s medical items scattered across the floor. “You destroyed everything, including the vials. How are we supposed to use them now?"

  Before either Loden or Tibost can react, Kaiden inadvertently touches a jagged piece of broken glass, slicing his finger in the process. A bead of blood immediately wells up, and he reflexively removes his finger toward his mouth. "Ouch," he remarks quietly, instinctively moving to place the wounded digit in his mouth to suck the blood.

  Tibost swiftly intervenes, grasping Kaiden's hand to prevent him from placing the injured finger in his mouth. In a firm voice, he cautions, "No, Priestess. Do not do that." Tibost then examines the cut finger, his gaze shifting to the floor as he searches for the shard that Kaiden had made contact with.

  Loden nearly moves to physically intervene, but checks himself at the last moment. Loden shakes his head, berating his initial impulse. Meanwhile, Kaiden feels the pressure on his hand increasing as Tibost holds it firmly. "Ouch," Kaiden protests, unaware of the underlying issue with his cut. "You’re squeezing my hand. Let go."

  Kaiden vigorously shakes his arm, attempting to free himself from Tibost's grip. Reluctantly, Tibost releases Kaiden, realizing the futility of holding onto him. "Do not put that in your mouth," Tibost cautions. "You may inadvertently introduce a liquid into your system. The vials which were shattered contained experimental medications."

  Kaiden stares at Tibost with a wide-eyed stare, a mix of shock and concern etched on his face. The chills returning once more to his body. He inadvertently twitches, his body betraying him with a subtle tremble creeping up his leg and into his arms. In an effort to conceal this sign of discomfort, Kaiden furtively tries to mask the shaking, averting his gaze and keeping himself as still as possible. His attempts to conceal the trembling, are unsuccessful due to his distress being clearly visible to Tibost and Loden.

  Loden swiftly moves to Kaiden's side, extending his arm to offer support. His inquiry rings out, “Are you alright?” But Kaiden abruptly pushes Loden's arm away, maintaining a facade of composure. "I’m fine," he responds curtly.

  Tibost shakes his head, his attention drawn to the shard of glass adorned with fresh blood from Kaiden's finger. He manipulates the shard, inspecting its surface for any signs of residue. On the surface, he examines the trace of red blood intermingling with a barely visible, clear liquid. Suddenly, his gaze flicks up, his thoughts connecting the dots as he observes and thinks back on Kaiden's condition.

  Tibost turns towards Kaiden, observing the trembling tremors that hadn’t been evident before. He begins to say, “Loden, grab..” but before he can finish, Kaiden suddenly collapses, his body hitting the ground, convulsing uncontrollably.

  Tibost swiftly moves to clear the broken vials and debris, using his feet to sweep them away. He shouts at Loden, urgency in his voice, "Loden, quickly grab Kaiden and place him on the bed!"

  Loden hesitates for a moment, confusion evident on his face at the scene before him. Loden is concerned and puzzled, asking, "What? What's happening?" Tibost urgently responds, "No time to explain. Just grab him and place him on the bed. Hold him down on the bed." Loden, despite his confusion, obeys Tibost's command and rushes to Kaiden, picking him up and gently laying him on the bed.

  With Kaiden on the bed, Tibost quickly grabs his bag off the floor and begins rummaging through it, searching for a needle and a vial containing a yellow liquid. He approaches the bed, the needle and vial in hand. Loden observes this happening, confusion still etched on his face.

  Loden questions, "Tibost, what is happening?" Tibost snaps a response in return, "What are you doing? Hold Kaiden down, and don't touch his skin!" Despite his concern, Loden follows Tibost's instructions, grabbing Kaiden and keeping him restrained on the bed.

  Kaiden's body continues to convulse, his muscles straining against Loden's restraining grip. He attempts to bash his head against the bed, but Tibost swiftly intervenes, gently holding Kaiden's head still. Despite the chaotic circumstances, Tibost still manages to inject the needle into the vial, all with one hand.

  The shaking and trembling of Kaiden's body made it quite challenging for Tibost to accurately measure the dose with one hand. However, Tibost remained stoic, extracting the needle and swiftly injecting the yellow liquid into Kaiden's arm.

  As the tremors subside, both men cautiously hold still until Kaiden lies motionless on the bed. His eyes slowly open, allowing only a glimpse of his tired gaze before closing again. His body, spent and weakened from the ordeal, lay still on the bed.

  Loden and Tibost slowly pull away, taking a step back. Tibost releases a breath he didn't realize he was even holding. Loden, however, turns to Tibost, his hazel eyes filled with an intense, searing gaze. “What did you do?” he demands.

  Tibost retorts in return, his voice tinged with frustration. "What did I do? What didn't you do?" he mutters, shaking his head as he moves back to the mess on the floor, meticulously placing the vial and needle back into his bag. "You didn't prevent him from touching the glass, and you didn't move him when I instructed you to."

  Tibost carefully picks two clean cloths from his bag, along with tweezers and a bottle containing a blue liquid. He returns to the bed, his gaze fixed on Loden. "You caused this," he states firmly, continuing, "You tossed my vials, and Kaiden touched the vial containing the failed anesthetic. This led to his convulsive reaction, resulting in additional poison and anesthetic from the cuts on his arms, inflicted as he rolled around on the floor."

  Loden opens his mouth to counter, but Tibost quickly cuts him off, gesturing at the mess on the floor. "We don't have time for this," he says firmly. "You clean up that mess on the floor. I'll tend to Kaiden's cuts. Fortunately, my other vials weren't damaged when you tossed my bag, so my other herbs and medicines are still usable."

  Loden crosses his arms, a sullen expression on his face. Ignoring Loden's display of irritation, Tibost proceeds to lay out a cloth and begins meticulously using tweezers to remove small shards of glass and debris from Kaiden's cuts. He carefully sets the extracted debris onto the cloth.

  Loden watches with a mix of remorse and helplessness as Tibost painstakingly extracts small shards of glass from Kaiden's skin. Kaiden remains still and unresponsive, lost in whatever drug-induced state he's in now. Loden feels a pang of guilt and sympathy. He gently picks up an old shirt of Kaiden's, using it to carefully collect and discard the broken glass from the floor.

  Loden continues to observe in silence as Tibost opens the blue bottle, dampening another cloth with its contents. He proceeds to wipe Kaiden's arms, the new liquid working its way into the minor cuts. Tibost then gently elevates Kaiden's head and tilts the open bottle, allowing a few drops to trickle into his mouth.

  Loden extends his hand cautiously, his concern evident as he speaks up. "What is that? What exactly did you give him?" he inquires, his unease growing.

  Tibost catches Loden's anxious concern and responds with a slight chuckle. He then pours a small stream from the bottle into his mouth, swallowing its contents. With a satisfied expression, he explains, "It's something that will effectively eliminate any potential harmful substances that may have infiltrated the wounds and will also help ease his pain."

  Loden gazes at Tibost with a mixture of suspicion and hostility. "You're not experiencing any pain, so why do you need it?" he demands. "What is it? Tell me what you're doing and giving to the Priestess."

  Tibost shakes his head in annoyance and passes by Loden, dropping the cloth smeared with blood and the discarded glass shards into a bin for disposal. The bin already holds the debris Loden has gathered so far.

  Tibost tries to move past Loden to place his belongings in his bag, but Loden obstructs his path, his voice demanding, "Tell me!"

  Tibost shrugs nonchalantly in response, his smirk growing bigger. "Hostile to everyone, it seems," he observes. "Not a good look if you're trying to match with someone who is kind hearted." Tibost gestures to the bottle in his hand that he had used earlier, explaining, "This bottle contains alcohol, and it serves to cleanse wounds while also alleviating pain."

  Before Loden can respond to Tibost's assertion, he interjects, "My poor cheek was bruised so I needed some for the pain and discomfort as well." Tibost then adds sarcastically, "Do you want anything else? More explanations for why it rains or why the sky is blue?"

  Loden grits his teeth, momentarily overwhelmed with frustration. He then recollects his thoughts and inquires, "What was that yellow liquid you gave him to make him stop shaking?"

  Tibost regards Loden with a look of surprise, but then quickly shakes it off upon placing his items into his bag. "I cannot say and will not," he replies firmly. "It is only for physicians, and I do not enjoy resorting to using it."

  Loden readies himself to confront Tibost taking a step closer to the physician, yet pauses upon hearing the faint voice of Kaiden from the bed. Kaiden's weary gaze finding its way to the pair. "Do not fight, please," he whispers weakly.

  Loden moves back to the bed, taking a seat beside Kaiden. With a shake of his head, he reassures, "We aren't fighting, please rest." Loden places his hand gently on Kaiden's arm, a faint glow permeating through his skin from the touch into Kaiden. "We, I am sorry for waking you, go to sleep," he instructs, his voice tender, as he adds, "The others will be back soon."

  The faint yet noticeable glow emitted from Loden's hand gently illuminates Kaiden's arm, akin to a feeble flashlight rather than an intense sunrise. Gradually, the celestial healing energy begins seeping into Kaiden, easing his pain and discomfort, gently guiding him back into peaceful slumber once again.

  Tibost observes the scene of Loden healing Kaiden and helping him fall asleep. With an air of resignation, he carefully restores the table to its previous position, gently placing his bag back on it, and settles into his chair, crossing his arms. With a resigned expression, he acknowledges the limitations imposed by the loss of his precious samples now.

  Loden turns his attention to Tibost, sitting in his chair at the table once again, before shifting his gaze back to Kaiden. Without removing his hand from Kaiden's arm, Loden carefully maneuvers himself more onto the bed, finding a comfortable position. Using his other arm as a pillow, Loden lays on his side, his back facing Tibost. His body relaxes, allowing the healing energy to slowly flow into Kaiden as they await Wuflric and Brokenfang. Tibost and Loden fully aware that the other two warriors are the only hope for Kaiden now for the antidote.