Chapter 27: Struggle

(Chapter 27 Struggle)

"And that's what your Father is planning, Young Lord."

Crucabena concluded, her voice unwavering, not even glancing at Tempest as he fainted from the pain of his bullet wounds, bleeding out on the floor. The second reason he had entered this deadly game, to uncover his Father's plans, proved futile in the end. As Crucabena began to explain the intricacies of his Father's machinations, Tempest lay unconscious, oblivious to the crucial information that slipped through his fingers like sand. The weight of his failure hung heavily in the air, a stark reminder of the perilous stakes he was forced to gamble with, all for naught.

"Even if you did win this game, Young Lord, in the end, I won. Ha, you will come running back to me when you realize that the victory you seized here tonight was all for nothing."

Crucabena smiled wickedly, as she looked on the miserable state Tempest was in.

"Clervie, my dear, patch Tempest up and give him only one dose of morphine, then throw him out at the hotel. Peruere, I assume you're more than capable of patching yourself up, correct?"

Crucabena looked at Peruere, as the game had finally concluded.

"Yes, Mother."

Peruere nodded in response and handed over the flintlock to Crucabena, who approached her with an open hand, signaling for the weapon.

"Good, well then, I shall take my leave."

Crucabena took the flintlock from Peruere and exited the room, her footsteps echoing ominously as she left.

"Perrie!"

Clervie immediately ran to her best friend, as Peruere's bullet wounds were still bleeding.

"I'm fine, Clervie. I'll patch myself up. You should check on him as Mother said."

Peruere insisted, her voice steady despite the blood staining her clothes.

Both Clervie and Peruere's eyes darted to Tempest, who was still lying motionless on the floor.

"Are you sure?"

Clervie's darted back to Peruere, her face full of worry. Peruere simply nodded in response.

"Okay... I trust you."

Clervie smiled and went to get a bandage and a syringe of morphine from the cabinet.

"Perrie... Mother said his Father is planning a coup... Four months from now..."

Clervie said with worry in her tone as she grabbed supplies from the cabinet, her left shoulder trembling slightly, as it still hurt a bit even when she was injected with morphine. She glanced back at Tempest, lying unconscious on the floor, and then at Peruere, her face etched with concern.

"Mm, what about it?"

Peruere replied, not even worried the slightest.

"Are you not worried? Well, I have my doubts that the coup will actually succeed, but with the Fatui backing him up, who knows? Fontaine might be ruled by kings and queens in the next generation."

Clervie said, her eyes darting between Tempest and Peruere, her concern deepening, as she gave bandages and a syringe of morphine to Peruere.

'Well, fortunately, I won't be here to witness it... Since our duel is next month... Sorry Perrie.'

Clervie thought to himself, as she moved to Tempest to patch him up.

"Even if it does happen, in the end, we are still going to be here in the House of Hearth."

Peruere said, as she injected herself with morphine, and began to bandage herself up.

"Yeah... It's still kinda scary to think of though, you know? No nation has been ruled by mortals ever since the fall of Khaenri'ah, and Tempest... He wants to stop his Father from doing just that."

Clervie said, her voice steady despite her concern, as she carefully positioned Tempest's unconscious body into a sitting position. She then administered the morphine injection with a practiced hand before beginning to meticulously bandage his wounds.

"Hm."

Peruere murmured as she watched Clervie patch Tempest with utmost care.

"I'm... I'm quite grateful he intentionally missed his second shot on me... I'm used to pain, but being shot is... Scary..."

Clervie said with a small reassuring smile as she continued to tend to Tempest's wounds. Her hands moved gently but efficiently, applying bandages and ensuring that each injury was properly attended to. The small smile on her face reflected her determination and hope that he would recover, despite the dire circumstances.

'Tempest Proudmoore... He wants freedom as well, just like me and Clervie...'

Peruere thought to herself.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Mmpf..."

Tempest groaned as his eyes began to open slowly. The first thing he saw was the rotating structure of the Vasari Passage, His face was pale, and as he shifted slightly, he realized his entire body was wrapped in bandages. The pain and disorientation were palpable, and he slowly came to the grim realization that after being kidnapped, he had been brought to the Court of Fontaine.

"I remember, I fainted after winning..."

Tempest gritted his teeth in anger, Crucabena didn't tell him what his Father was planning.

"Crucabena... Mhmpf!"

Tempest groaned in pain, his entire body engulfed in a relentless ache as the effects of the morphine began to wane. Every movement, every shift in position, was a reminder of the severe wounds he had sustained. The once-numbing relief was fading, leaving him with an acute awareness of the gunshot wounds that now throbbed across his body. The dull throb of pain was slowly becoming a sharp, persistent reminder of the ordeal he had endured.

"Sir, you've been sitting here for quite a while now, I'm requesting you should leave."

Tempest's eyes darted toward the source of the voice, and he scanned his surroundings, trying to piece together where he was. He realized he was seated at a table outside the hotel named Bouffes d'ete. The chilly night air brushed against his bandaged body, and the distant hum of the city filled the quiet around him. The hotel's grand facade loomed above, its lights casting long shadows on the Vasari Passage.

"What time is it?"

"It's past midnight, sir."

The hotel guard replied, noting that it had been hours since Tempest had a meeting with Callas. It was only recently that Tempest had participated in the deadly game suggested by Crucabena.

"Grhg!"

"Sir!"

Tempest tried to stand up from his seat, but the pain in his left thigh made him stumble. Thankfully, the hotel guard was there to catch him, steadying him with a firm grip.

"Are you alright sir? I don't know what happened to you, but I suggest you go to the nearest hospital."

The hotel guard said.

"You... Take me to Crucabena... Now! Hrgh!"

Tempest groaned in pain once more, as the bullet wounds scattered across his body seemed to intensify with each passing second. The searing agony felt like it was spreading, making every movement excruciating.

"Crucabena? Who is that sir? I suggest you come back tomorrow, sir, the hotel is closed."

The hotel guard replied to Tempest, seemingly confused about what Tempest was referring to.

'Damn it! That bitch! Leaving me here without even telling me what I needed!'

Tempest thought to himself.

"I see... I'll get going then... Mmphf!"

Tempest spoke to the hotel guard through gritted teeth, his voice strained with pain. He then walked away, but every step was a struggle as his left leg caused him to stumble. Despite the pain, he draped the pitch-black cloak over his entire body, hoping it would help him avoid unwanted attention and conceal his injuries.

'I need to get back to Poisson and get treated immediately...'

Tempest thought to himself, each breath coming more labored than the last. His vision was blurring, and a growing sense of weakness threatened to overwhelm him. He knew that if he fainted here, his injuries could prove fatal.

'That bitch better keep her promise and stay quiet on my plans on the uprising...'

Tempest thought to himself, determined to reach the Waterway Hub and travel to Poisson via the Clementine line. Despite the searing pain from his injuries and the growing darkness at the edges of his vision, he knew that going to the Waterway Hub was crucial.

'Aquabus is closed... Damn it... I hope Miss Aeval is there... If not, I'll walk.'

Tempest thought to himself as he finally arrived at the Waterway Hub. The place was deserted, the quiet echoing through the empty halls since it was past midnight. The lone man at the counter was asleep, oblivious to Tempest's struggle. Weaving unsteadily, Tempest made his way to the elevator, his vision blurring with each step. In his disoriented state, he accidentally pressed the button for the Palais Mermonia instead of the aquabus station. The elevator doors slid closed with a soft chime, and Tempest slumped against the wall, his breaths growing shallow as he awaited the ascent.

"Damn it... Mmpfg!"

Tempest knelt down, gasping for breath as the wound on his left thigh tore open once more. Blood oozed from the bullet wound, darkening his bandage and soaking through his trousers. The intense pain flared up again, making him grit his teeth as he struggled to maintain his composure despite the worsening injury.

"No... Don't you dare do this to me..."

Tempest whispered to himself.

"Don't you dare run away from me! Stop right this instant!"

Tempest heard a familiar voice and, with great effort, managed to stand. As the elevator doors slid open, a cat leaped into his arms.

"No! Don't go in there! Get back here and let me cuddle you, coward!"

The familiar voice revealed herself as she stepped into the elevator, her initial intention to corner the cat quickly forgotten. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw Tempest standing there, his face pale and his eyes looked dead. He looked as though he was barely clinging to consciousness.

"T-Tempest Proudmoore?"

"Lady... Furina?"