Knight Quests: Guard (Legendseekers Part 3)

Troia and Pantalaimon stood over Athen’s medical cot. They were at an infirmary in Moonreach for xyns requiring emergency care; and, days ago, they had traveled with a small group of Knights to search and rescue missing or corrupted Xyns that could be saved and brought to Moonreach once Moonreach’s barrier was erected. Athens was found corrupted in Wingfell, where she last sent Troia away with a Moonsearch spell; and after a near-gruesome battle against Troia and Pantalaimon, she had been saved from her complex case of corruption. 

There was no time to waste in bringing Athens back to receive medical aid; despite the group’s triumph in rescuing her it had taken everything the knights could to use their magic to restrain and cure her, and they had no choice but to turn back immediately. It chilled Troia to remember the strange corruption that plagued Athen’s eyes, the likes of which had never been seen until the siege of Moonreach by the corrupted; if all seven xyns (including Troia and Pantalaimon) struggled to control Athens in her strange corrupted state, they didn’t dare think of what would have happened if there were two, three, or more of the Corrupted…

Athens’ chest heaved as he coughed, before he quieted, and returned to fitful sleep. Pantalaimon peered over at Athens curiously, biting their tongue as their faerie halo flit over Athens’ forehead, as it it was worried, too, about her state. “How bad do you think it is?” they whispered to Troia. They tilted their head to indicate the post-corrupted patches of fur over Athen’s body, and their faerie circled around them too to emphasize it, taking care not to disturb Athens with its faerie dust.

Troia ignored the question, and didn’t respond to them. She was too preoccupied by watching over Athens to pay much notice to Pantalaimon. Deep down, she wanted to stand watch over him to guard him, for as long as she could, until he woke up hale and hearty…

A lullay nurse stepped inside the room, and coughed for Pantalaimon and Troia’s attention. “Excuse me,” she said, “I’ll need you to step outside now; there are several Lullay nurses scheduled to administer treatment to Athens soon, and she’ll need peace and quiet during treatment.”

Troia considered her words before replying. “I want to speak to her one more time before I go…”

It might be the last time Troia could speak to Athens again. 

She was certain that she needed to confront the villainous corrupted Moxyn, wherever they might be hiding; as rash as the decision seemed, she couldn’t let Athens know what she was preparing to do. Perhaps Athens had a clue as to what happened regarding the corrupted villain; Spright didn’t, when Pantalaimon questioned them after his own corruption was healed…

The lullay nurse nodded, and opened the door wide for Pantalaimon. “Then I’ll ask that you’ll leave first,” they said. Pantalaimon nodded, walking out wordlessly. They cast a solemn nod at Troia, and she turned to watch them go- they’d catch up with her after she spoke to Athens. The nurse exited the room, quietly closing the door with their magic to allow the two of them some privacy.

Athens stirred once more and opened their bleary eyes to look up at Troia. “Troia…?” he said quietly. His voice was scratched- it was painful for him to speak. He managed a weak smile. “Did the Moonsearch spell help you find anything?”

Troia faltered for a moment. “I…“ And she looked away. It was difficult, but as short as she was with her words, she talked about how the Moonsearch spell directed her to the corrupted moxyn, and the battle she joined with Queen Yuhi, and everything else that happened within these events; the siege of Moonreach, the strange corruption that overtook xyns, the possessed corruption beasts…

“I see.” Athens winced in pain as she raised her neck up closer to Troia. “You know, when I was possessed by the Corruption, I heard a voice calling to me- telling me what to do. I feel almost as if I knew it came from the Corrupted Lands itself, as if someone was controlling me there.” She shook her head. “Do what you can to help to help our beloved land. For that, I’ll have one last gift for you… Please take it with you. I can’t use it.”

Her once-pristine unicorn horn, stained with corruption, struggled to glimmer with magic; and he summoned something in a brilliant burst of light. Troia stepped back, though there was no need to shield her eyes; her mask halo protected her from the intensity of the light.

Once the light died down, Troia could see a small silhouette hovering between the both of them, gleaming with golden, engraved metal.

It was a Spearbie.

Athens managed a weak smile at Troia. “Father had this made just for me when I was a xynlet, before you were born. He hoped he would have proud Royal Knights to follow in his footsteps; but  once I told him that I wanted to be a Lullay Knight, just before his passing, he wanted you to have this. I can’t put an enchanted weapon to good use if I’m on the sidelines to help others, can I? You know… I wish he was still here with us… he never had a chance to tell you he wanted you to have Spearbie…”

Athens laid his head down, and exhaled slowly, wincing from his pain. Troia stepped forward towards and Spearbie darted to Athen’s side, emitting a low keening sound of worry. Athens only flicked her tail, listlessly, in response. “Go to Troia. You need to help her now.”

He managed one last smile at Troia, as Spearbie hovered to her side. “Thank you. For everything you’ve done to help me. I wish you well…”

And with that, Athens fell quiet. He was still breathing, though labored; staying awake this long had worn her out. 

Troia looked at Athens, then at Spearbie, at a loss for  what to say. She felt something wet bead at the corners of her eyes again, but she didn’t want to dismiss her mask halo to wipe them away.

Spearbie gently swayed itself to her side, and caressed her cheek with the flat of it’s blade, as it wanted to reassure her that everything would be okay. 

Spearbie was there to guard her now- and with it, she could protect others more than she had been able to before.