Reborn From the Cosmos

Miniarc-Villains-12

Although Samuel never got the chance to speak with Cecilia during the day, she accepted his invitation for a late dinner. The conversation was lively, as they both had new experiences to convey. With some dismay, Samuel realized that the noblewoman’s interest in helping others wasn’t waning. It didn’t bode well for his intentions to spend more time together; he wouldn’t extend his time in the camp even if they were working side-by-side the entire time. It was already difficult to drag himself out of the Gold Dorm the next morning.

He returned to the hospital and was put on laundering duty again. The work was easier, the loads not as large and staggered several minutes in-between. He had the presence of mind to stop for lunch and even managed a short chat with Cecilia.

He finished early and decided to return without wasting time. He was walking along the main path that cut through the camp, his mind on irrelevant things when the world was rocked by a powerful sound that he could feel in his bones. At the same time, something knocked him to the ground, the weight resisting his reflex to roll to his feet.

He didn’t realize it was Ewan until the knight hissed, “Stay down!”

“What are you doing?” the prince groused, but he was ignored. He fumed in silence until the pressure on his back receded. Samuel jumped to his feet, eyes scanning his surroundings.

He only had a moment to note the three columns of black smoke rising at the front of the camp before he was being dragged away, forced into a sprint by the demanding knight. They ran for Alyssa’s tent, finding the redhead standing outside it with a ring of acolytes in front of her. She looked up at their rapid approach and quickly dismissed the people in front of her. “If you’re here for answers I don’t have them.”

“Miss Filagree. I will be commandeering some of your forces to properly defend this location. Preferably—”

“No.”

Ewan stopped short. “You can’t refuse. The prince’s safety—”

“Takes priority over literally thousands of lives? I don’t think so, not for me. I’m assuming you’re in charge of protecting him. A royal knight in disguise, I’d guess. If half the things I hear about you lot are true, you’re more capable than any of the students I could muster.”

“I am ordering you to lend me the forces needed to secure the perimeter. The order of a royal knight in the defense of the crown or its heirs carries the authority of a royal decree!”

“Fuck your decree!” the redhead snarled. “When the king gets his ass off his comfy throne to do my job, I’ll give a shit about what he or any of his asskissers have to say. You can have my tent but that’s all I can spare. If you don’t like it, cut me down. Otherwise, I’ve got work to do.”

Samuel watched with wide-eyed shock at Alyssa’s retreating back. He wasn’t worried with Ewan at his side but one didn’t simply ignore the crown. It was so unexpected it was almost amusing. The prince’s amusement grew when the knight cursed. “Saints damn it!”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“She has a point. I’m sure you can defend me from whatever rabble is doing this.” A criminal’s target said a lot about their personal strength. If they were capable, they would have gone for the acolytes. Instead, they chose the longest-hanging fruit, so to speak.

“That isn’t the point,” Ewan practically growled. There is an order to things. Rules. If there are no rules, if anyone can decide what matters most at any given moment, it invites chaos. There is a reason there is a hierarchy in the army.”

“I agree but I’m also surprised that you aren’t running to help.”

The knight scowled. “Duty isn’t something you do when it’s easy or simple. It’s something you do regardless of the circumstances. And my duty is to protect you. That woman had a duty as a citizen as well. She will be censored for abandoning it.”

“Well, we don’t need her. Once we collect, Cecilia—”

“We aren’t leaving from this spot,” the knight interrupted with finality.

Samuel frowned. “The hospital is minutes away.”

“The protocol in this situation is clear. We create a defensible position and wait to the situation to stabilize.”

“Saints, man! She could be in trouble—”

“If she is, then you will not be close to it.”

“I order—”

“No.” Ewan sighed at the prince’s scowl. “Please do not make this difficult.”

“What will you do? Strike me down?”

“You’ll be harder to protect unconscious but it’s better than actively putting your life at risk.”

The two men stared each other down. Samuel’s gut churned with dread as he realized that Ewan was serious, more than he’d ever seen the man before. “You won’t get away with this.”

“I doubt I’ll be punished for doing my job but I’ll accept any punishments the crown deems necessary.”

The crown, not Samuel. If it wasn’t abundantly clear, the statement would have told the prince that he had no power in the situation. It was ridiculous. Samuel didn’t know what the former soldier saw in their situation, but Samuel saw a disturbance that had already passed. There hadn’t been any more explosions and the smoke was already dissipating. He was sure the acolytes could handle a few disgruntled commoners. In his mind, the conflict was already over.

“How long until you’re satisfied?”

“Until Miss Filagree detains or neutralizes the threats.”

“Can I at least rest in the tent?”

Ewan ignored his sarcastic tone, considering the question seriously. “No. I apologize for the imposition, but I prefer you awake and alert just in case.”

Samuel frowned. While he had stopped before the effects could become severe, mana strain had left his body sore. He desperately wanted to lie across soft cushions but the knight demanded he stay on his feet and alert. Samuel didn’t know if he could do it for long, as each passing moment made him more uncomfortable.

As the sun was starting to set, the prince’s growling stomach interrupted the tension between them.

Ewan’s tense shoulders relaxed a little. “Please bear with me a little longer.”

“I won’t stand here all night.”

Without an imminent threat to lend him strength, the knight crumpled under Samuel’s glare. “I suppose it’d be alright for you to rest some. If someone passes, I’ll have them fetch you something to eat.”

The prince didn’t bother to gloat about being right, quickly slipping into the tent before Ewan’s paranoia got the best of him. The inside was cramped and cluttered but Samuel only had eyes for the long bed roll in the center. He climbed onto it with a groan of relief, unbothered by the faint hint of sweat that clung to the fabric. In moments, he was dragged into a pleasant slumber.

It felt like barely a second had passed when something jostling his shoulder woke him. Samuel startled awake, eyes squinting in the darkness as he tried to make out the features of the shadow looming over him. The darkness quickly resolved into the face of Ewan, watching him with a stern frown.

“A terrible response, your highness. Falling asleep in a dangerous situation is foolish.”

“…I was confident that I would wake up if you were forced to act.” Samuel pushed hissed as he stretched his sore body. “Is it over?”

“Miss Filagree has returned.”

“…don’t start a problem.”

“There is already a problem. Our presence is being requested.”