As he ran, he couldn't help but worry about how the others were doing at the cave.
Did something happen to them?
Did other Morois attack the cave?
The night was drawing to a close.
And the visibility in the Golden Forest did not feel as much of a challenge anymore.
However, the forest did not matter to him. He barely noticed the trees as he ran past them, either way.
It did not matter if it was dark or light. He was running as if his life depended on it.
And in a way, it was.
The only two things on his mind were the path back towards the cave and the worry that made his running a battle in itself.
But as he arrived in front of the cave, his worries were unfounded.
The corpses of the three Moroi still stood near the cave entrance.
And the rocks he placed in front of the entrance stood there unmoved.
Seeing this, he stopped a moment to breathe, his hands placed on his knees as sweat fell from his forehead onto the dry ground at his feet.
This was one of the longest nights he had ever lived.
From the cave towards the mansion, and back towards the cave.
The fight with the Morois and the old alchemist's cottage.
All in a single night.
He was tired.
Not physically. But mentally, he was ready to give up.
Still, there will be time to rest after.
With that in mind, he began taking rock after rock off, as fast as he could, until he felt the tip of two iron swords pass through an opening and touch his neck.
"It's me," said Blanc.
"Love?" asked Celine, pulling back her sword and allowing him to take the rest of the rocks until she saw the state he was in.
"I'm back," said Blanc, looking at the two women who, with swords in hand, stared at him.
His clothes were dirty with dry blood. His eyes were red from the tears.
And despite the warmth in his words as he said, 'I'm back,' there was no warmth behind his eyes.
Only purpose and tiredness.
"By the Vita, my love, what happened?" asked Celine as she sheathed her sword.
"Failed negotiations," he replied, as he removed rock after rock.
"And the old woman?" Miyanna asked.
Blanc sighed, pulling his tunic slightly, showing them the Mark that now stood on his chest.
Miyanna had a sad look on her face as her eyes fell to the ground, while Celine stared for a moment.
"You did what you had to do, my love. I will not blame you for it," said Celine, offering him a smile and a hug as Blanc threw the last rock away.
Blanc stopped, arms still open, as Celine hugged him. He did not deserve the hug from her.
He felt dirty.
Not with blood or sweat. But with his soul dirty.
However, his love for her, somehow, was still stronger than that feeling.
So, he closed his arms around her back and left his knees, for a moment, let go under him.
She was holding all his weight. And even though her foot was wounded and the pain that passed through her body was sharp, she smiled, slowly patting his back.
"You did well," she whispered.
"I'm not so sure anymore," he replied, before slowly pushing her away so that he could hold back the tears. "Let's go back inside. How are Lune and Kael?"
"Kael is stable," began Celine, turning and heading into the cave, "But Lune…"
"What about her?" Blanc asked, stopping on his tracks beside Miyanna, staring at Celine's back.
"Do not worry, love. She is alive. However, she lost way too much blood, and she has a high fever," explained Celine, realizing her silence gave the wrong impression.
Blanc let out a breath of utter relief as he raised his head towards the ceiling, "Thank the Vita…"
"Blanc," spoke Miyanna.
"What is it?" he asked, looking at her.
"Why did you kill the old woman?" Miyanna asked him.
"Can't it wait? Lune, Kael, and both of you need the treatment more than answers. Just add it onto the things we need to talk about, and we will get to it later," said Blanc, moving past her and heading towards the room.
No further words left the two ladies' mouths as they watched him head inside the twins' room.
Lune was still asleep as he began cleaning the blood around her wound.
Despite the high fever and the blood that was slowly but surely leaving her body, her sleep looked peaceful to Blanc's eyes.
Kael was on his side, staring at Blanc and the blood on his hands.
Blanc did not even notice he was awake, only jumping back when he heard him speaking.
"Brother," said Kael.
"Kael? Are you awake? How are you feeling?" Blanc asked, and the warmth he replied with was the complete opposite of the Blanc who spoke with Celine and Miyanna.
"Did we win?" Kael asked.
"This fight, yes," Blanc nodded.
Kael's eyes then locked onto the sleeping face of his twin sister, "Will she be all right?"
"I will make her all right, Little Kael. But I will need your help. Can you do that for me?" Blanc asked.
Kael nodded, getting up from the bed and removing the rabbit pelt blanket from his upper body, "What do I need to do?"
"Keep her right hand. Do not let go, okay? No matter what happens, you stay beside her. I will go ask Celine and Miyanna to come and help us, too. Then we will make her better," Blanc explained.
With a nod from Kael, Blanc got on his feet and turned to ask for the two women who awaited outside the room.
A minute later, Miyanna was holding both Lune's feet with her whole body, while Kael and Lune held her hands tightly.
Blanc stood near the bed, with Miyanna on his left and Celine on his right, as he opened with a pop the small wooden cork that held the potion inside the transparent vial.
He swirled the dark purple liquid around, looking at it. Hopefully, her wound would not need a whole vial to heal.
"I beg of you, Vita," muttered Blanc, "Remove the curse from my sister."
And with those words, he began dripping liquid from the vial on Lune's wound.
And with a 'tch' as if a drop of water fell inside a fire, Lune's eyes opened wide, screaming in pain.