The Infirmary Visitor
This draft might be edited or updated, it is placed along the first part of the story.
Regarding the introduction of two characters, both important for the flow of the story.
Age still unknown for both of them, but both are along the 20-27 age gap.
Their names are introduced in this chapter.
In the last mission he managed to break his arm, in the middle of winter to make matters worse, so it hurt like hell. He believed he was alone in the infirmary, so the Angel kind of felt the freedom of grunting in pain whenever the sting got to him.
A girl opened the curtain hiding his bed, making him jump slightly in surprise.
She was not that tall, maybe 1.60m or something, her skin looked tanned from hours of walks below the sun, her hair was long and curly colored by some strange combination of brown and orange, but the most interesting were her eyes, almond shaped and of a clear honey color. They almost looked blazing.
She was wearing the uniform dress, so he assumed she was another hurt Angel, resting away some kind of pain.
She looked at him, then at his arm.
-Does it hurt?
He didn't know if what surprised him was her voice, or her worried tone.
-Not much.
-There's no need for manly tears, this is a Nursery. And I've been hearing you grunting for a while now.-She said sitting in the side of the Angel's bed.
She appeared to mean no intrusion, but the closeness surprised him, making the young man move slightly away from her, but enough as to look as if he was giving her space. She appeared to not notice the movement, he figured her concern was big as to miss such an obvious movement.
He kind of felt bad by doing so now.
-Let me see your arm.
The sentence was spoken with some kind of rude accent, though her face showed no much expression, so he really didn't know what to do.
-Why?
-You are in pain. -Her answer surprised him even more than her request. -I don't like when people are hurt.
-Well...ok.- he added, something made it difficult to doubt her.
She took the broken arm tenderly, and inspected it with both her hands.
-You are a wielder, aren't you?
The question surprised him, but he managed not to make any movement to show this. "I'm quite jumpy today."
-How did you know?
-Your hands are that of a warrior.-She responded, feeling callous hands with equally overworked palms. -Take care of them, they'll help you protect what's important to you.
That was spoken with such a hurt expression and tone, that he wondered what she had gone through. Just who was her, to say such things? What kind of life had she liven? He closed his eyes, activating the power flowing through his body, trying to see who she was, what was her soul like. Just what kind of being he'd encountered in this vast world.
He took a peek, and faced a big, round, and blazing soul.
It had a gentle orange color. The fire around it was astounding, but it wasn't too hot. It emanated a really calming atmosphere.
Never had the Angel seen such a warm soul.
He couldn't now grasp how curious he was of this person.
-Who are you?- The male asked. For a moment he forgot the rudeness of his words, and introduced himself immediately. -My name is Eiser, which is yours? -He added, raising his unharmed hand to the girl.
It is an old habit of The Order to remind the Angels of never saying their full name, as there are some who can control minds, and they need the name of the person to control it completely. Only those who have been with each other for a long time, or those who will engage an Absolute Contract can say their complete names to each other.
You could use nicknames as well.
-They call me Phoenix. -She answered with a smile. -Nice to meet you. -She added, shaking the other's welcoming hand.
-Hope you don't mind the question.-Eiser began.-But why are you in the Infirmary?
-I passed out on a mission.
-That's dangerous, you need to be careful.
-I know, but they ambushed me.
"Ambushed? What kind of mission was she in? And if she was in a dangerous mission why did The Order didn't force her to take someone with her?" But he didn't voice his thoughts, and just noticed the calm demeanor his companion spoke such words in. "She must be used to such stuff already."
-The problem was after, they left me without resources.-She continued.
Resources? So she was a Flujo user, then.
The young man found it kind of strange, anyway. Being blessed as a Soul Observer had made him able to glance at the souls of multiple beings, and if he recalled correctly, the souls of Angels were nothing like hers. The Angels' souls are smaller, and have an upside-down triangle form. They also have like “wings” that spread from them (That's where the 'Angel' term came of, he always thought).
But her soul is bigger, warm, gentle, has a healthy color, and is not conceited. He still couldn't understand why it was on fire, though. She said they called her Phoenix, maybe it had to do with that. After all, the Phoenix is the fiery bird.
-I think that should be enough.-She interrupted his thoughts, releasing the hand with care.
Eiser finally got the fact that his arm hadn't hurt for the while. He moved it, amused by whatever she had done.
-Is it good?
-Yes, thank you.
-That's good then.-She said standing.
He wanted to tell her to stay and talk, but she seemed tired, maybe even more than himself. So he choose to let her leave the small space in the matress she was occupating. Before leaving, she turned, taking hold of the curtain.
-Do you want me to close this?
-Nah, leave it as it is.
-Okay. Good night.
Just as she said this, the lights turned off. If he hadn't been that tired and calm now that his broken arm stopped hurting, he believed he could have talked to her all night.
Instead, the Angel fell asleep almost instantly into a good slumber.