The night passed as if nothing had happened, faster than I could have expected. Thanks to the clothes that Emilia lent me I was able to spend a warm night without freezing under the cold temperatures that this castle in general came to contain. I stopped to think about what I should do, it was already morning and no one had come to tell me what to do, and when I say this I mean that no one had told me that breakfast was ready. For an instant I thought about going to the kitchen on my own but I didn't want to find priestella back in the same place. "Maybe I could go pay Felix a visit" I thought, but I didn't know where he might be at this very moment. "In the basement of the castle" my mind answered automatically.
Without thinking twice I left the room on my way to the area where the wounded were, with the hunch that I could find Felix there.
On the way I could notice how the corridor had a most unusual activity, people with extravagant and exotic costumes decorated with precious stones of high value were walking carefree and chatting in large numbers.It was the first time I had seen this corridor so full of life and that bothered me a little.After a long walk I reached the spiral stairs, went down them and started looking for Felix.The first thing I did was to ask the healers present where he could be found.Some told me that he was in the middle of surgery and others told me that he had gone out to get some fresh air.
Just as I passed through a door it opened, revealing several healers coming out with dull faces and their white robes stained with blood. Just as I started walking again I noticed Felix coming out of that room with the same mood and appearance as the others.
- Felix," I exclaimed, "I was looking for you.
Felix looked at me and gave me a forced smile.
- What do you need," he asked, muffled.
I didn't need anything, I just wanted to have a little conversation until someone told me about the breakfast. I couldn't tell him I was just coming to chat, it would be stupid to say that seeing the mood he was in.
- I came to see how your work was going," I said.
Felix was staring blankly, staring at the ground.
I don't think he was even paying attention to me.
- Huh? ah... work is going well for me," he replied with a slight stutter.
It was pretty clear that something had happened in that room, but I had a feeling that if I asked, I might get into an argument.Still, I decided to ask.
- What happened in that room? I saw how you and some of your people came out of that room as if...Traumatized.
Felix, hearing me mention the room, looked up. His pupils covered almost his entire iris despite the light in the place. Our gazes coincided, causing me to open my eyes a little wider.
- Nothing," he answered, 'Nothing to worry about,' he added.
His answer, even though I was expecting it, made me raise an eyebrow in suspicion.
- I don't think that "nothing to worry about" is so "nothing to worry about" after seeing your face.
Felix ducked his ears and started walking without a word but before he could disappear from my sight I grabbed his arm with my hand.
- I don't remember absolutely nothing and you know it, but I am absolutely sure that what is in that room is the reason why many soldiers are dying- I said.
Felix turned away from me angrily and looked at me with teary eyes, even shedding some tears.
-Are you telling me that it's his fault that you are dying!
All the healers in the place looked at us, making the place under the watchful eye of all Felix's colleagues. And to think that all this started because he wanted to chat....
- So if it's about one person... and from the number of healers I've seen leaving, it must be important?
-Of course it's important!
I should answer your question from before, even though I think it's a bad idea.
-About the question from before... of course it's not his fault, but what I mean is that maybe it's the revenge that hanela is causing all this.
Felix's voice was full of anger and desperation, his face was slightly reddish, showing the rage he had of maybe not being able to do anything. I could see how his legs, slightly visible thanks to the shortness of the robe, were trembling every few seconds. Her chest showed heavy, choppy breathing that did not allow her to speak clearly. On the other hand, my voice was quiet and calm, I wasn't nervous, just bored.
-Your job is to die for her," she exclaimed, punching me in the shoulder. You are soldiers and she is your leader, it's not that hard to understand!
He was so pissed off that he had forgotten that he didn't remember anything, not even who my leader was, luckily, not long after he realized it.
- Sorry... you don't remember..." He said with a voice more clamored but that at the slightest gesture he would break.
I felt strange, a slight headache began to pass over me. I felt like my eyes had a pressure, as if they wanted to let go of something that I wouldn't let go of. I felt bad for Felix.
- It's not your fault, it's mine for being so insensitive- I said hoping to make him feel better.
I looked in the background, watching as two of the healers who had been in that room shared a big hug. Maybe that would make him feel better.
I opened my arms slowly as if I were a robot until I finally left them wide open.
- What are you doing," she asked wiping tears from her eyes.
- I've read that in difficult moments a hug never hurts," I said.
Felix smiled and laughed lightly.
-He asked with an incredulous smile.
- I had a lot of time tonight," I answered.
Felix hesitated for a moment but in the end he came closer to me and hugged me. I for my part kept my arms open while I let him enjoy the moment.
- Dante..." Felix murmured, his voice bouncing in my chest.
- Yes," I asked.
- You know that to hug someone you have to put your arms around them, right? he said with a small laugh.
The joke wasn't very funny but I still decided to let out what seemed to be a nervous chuckle.
As she told me, I put my arms around her to form a nice hug.
- This is what... - Friends? What were we? What do you call someone you get along with?
-Friends," Felix replied as he pulled away from the hug and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes.
- That's right, we are friends," I said.
Suddenly, a roar coming from my stomach made Felix's ears twitch. He laughed and asked me mockingly.
-Have you had breakfast yet?" he asked.
I shook my head and explained why:
- Don't I have to wait to be called?" I asked.
-Call you for breakfast? No, that's not necessary. You can go directly and see what's on for today," he said.
My eyes widened, indicating that I understood the situation. I wanted to get the hell out of here so I could go eat, but I thought maybe I could go with Felix.
- Have you had breakfast," I asked.
- I don't usually eat breakfast, I wait until lunchtime," he said, 'I have to be alert in case of serious injuries,' he added.
That made sense. Felix was the best healer in the whole place and, if there were any seriously wounded with the slightest chance of living, Felix was the only one capable of giving them that chance to live.
- I wanted to ask you if you wanted to come to breakfast but .... I think you have already given me the answer- I said with a smile while I ran my hand over the back of my neck. Why did I do that?
- Oh, well...- Felix looked around, maybe looking for some work he could do, but there was nothing- Today they haven't sent any soldiers to the front, that's why there won't be any wounded- He added.
- What do you mean by that," I asked.
- I don't think they need me here today," he answered.
My gaze went to the "Leader's" room. I pointed my finger.
-What about the "Lider?" I asked with my finger pointing to the door.
Felix followed with his gaze towards the indicated place, he sighed and crossed his arms.
- Nothing will happen to her, she's asleep right now," he said, "Let's go and have breakfast before they need me somewhere.
I had achieved everything I wanted in a short period of time. I talked to Felix and now I'm going to breakfast, everything is going great.
Felix and I started walking until we reached the stairs. We walked up the stairs and headed for the dining room.
- I remember when I had to carry you up those stairs with my little strength," he said with a chuckle.
- It was literally yesterday," I said.
- Mm? wow... so you don't understand sarcasm," he said dejectedly.
-Sarcasm? I don't understand what you mean.
- If you like reading so much, you'd better find a book that explains it," he said.
- I see... You don't know how to explain it to me," I asked.
Felix snorted and looked away as he continued walking towards the dining room.
- Of course I know, but I don't feel like it right now," he clarified.
- Yeah..." I muttered.
After walking down the long hallway, we arrived at the dining room. I opened the door carefully but with a slight eagerness to be able to eat already. When my eyes adjusted to all the light in this room, I could see how many people were having breakfast.
There were about 20 or so people, all dressed up and eating elegantly. I looked around looking for someone I knew, but I couldn't find anyone.
- Stop staring and let's go order the food, shall we? asked Felix.
I nodded and made my way to the counter so I could order our food. Just as Felix mentioned to me, the chef gave us the food almost instantly, as if they already knew we were coming for breakfast. Dark magic?
We grabbed the food and went to a separate table from the rest, also because it was the only one that was empty. We sat down and started eating.
It was curious that people didn't react to Felix's appearance, I didn't mean that he was a man who looked like a woman but rather to see someone full of blood coming in for breakfast. It is true that a healer also has to eat and most likely this is a common scene to see, but seeing the posh face and clothing I'm surprised they don't react.
- Don't you feel uncomfortable eating in those clothes," I asked full of curiosity.
He shook his head as he took off his bloody white gloves and left them as far away from the food as possible.
- Not at all, why do you say that," he asked.
- I'm saying it because of the blood, doesn't it bother you?
Felix took a quick look and shook his head.
- It's not very bothersome, not after it becomes an everyday garment. Still, now that you mention blood..." Felix looked at his hands. They weren't bloody but they did smell of the metallic scent of blood, I should go wash my hands first. I'll be right back.
He got up and went to the bathroom, leaving me alone to stare at my food. Now that I witnessed it well, I didn't have much of an appetite, but it didn't look bad.
Suddenly, as I was deciding whether to take a bite of the pancakes with syrup, a hand rested on my shoulder. I calmly and nonchalantly looked back. It was a woman I hadn't seen around the place before. Looking at her more closely, I couldn't help but notice how small and thin she was. Her body seemed slight, made for running and slipping away without being caught. Her hair, short and blonde, was a bit messy, with locks sticking out here and there, giving her a wild, almost untamed air. But what was most striking were her eyes: a fiery crimson red, sharp as those of a predator ready to pounce. There was no doubt, his gaze was full of defiance, as if he was gauging whether I was worth trusting... or whether it was better to steal every last coin from me.
His clothes were simple, old and worn from use. A dark top and shorts gave her the mobility she needed, and on top she wore a somewhat threadbare red cape, but it looked like her most precious asset. It didn't matter that she was in a poor neighborhood, she stood tall, with a defiant stance, as if the whole world had to bow to her instead of the other way around.
She didn't have the elegance of a lady or the strength of a warrior, but she had something different: that spark of someone who doesn't give up, who fought all her life to survive and who wasn't going to let anyone-not me, not anyone else-stomp on her.
-Are you Dante?" she asked.