10 Fire

We stared at the spot the boy stood in before I puffed the last of the rolled paper and walked to the two, dejected.

"I am going back to the room," I said, walking past them to the bushes, attempting to climb over it in my human form.

"Eh? You don't want more?" Nova asked, holding out the tin box for me as I did not even turn to him.

"No. I'm done. Besides, that is only to give your body relaxation so that you may sleep at night." I said, grabbing onto the sides of the bushes and trying to pull myself up but I was not strong enough still. "Huh? I could climb up before."

"We were in our wolf forms, you idiot," Nova said, chuckling as he patted me on the back of my head. "But I do agree, we should get going. Come-. Comet?!?"

Turning to the boy who suddenly left my side to run to our silent friend, I stared at him quietly and very, very confused.

Blood spurt out of Comet's mouth as he clasped his hands over it, trying to keep the blood in but it just spilt out of his mouth instead.

"What in the world?" I ran to his side as well, using my healing magic on his bleeding mouth but nothing happened, much to our horror. "We need to take him to one of the High Priests."

"Alright," Nova said, turning to his wolf form as I picked Comet in my arms and jumped on his back with the boy while my legs threatened to give way under me, again.

While Nova ran, I held Comet as tightly as I could, the blood from his mouth spilling out into my clothes as I continued to try and heal him over and over again.

What is happening? Did he bite his tongue or something?? That is not possible, he does not have a tongue. Is it his curse acting up again?

If it isn't a curse, why am I unable to purify his body then? I am even unable to heal him.

The moment we reached the main grounds, we passed several Priests and the older Perigees walking around, well, more like running around, in a bit of panic.

We tried to stop one of them but they were in too much of a hurry to stop and talk to us.

"What do we do?" Nova asked, looking at me with his sky blue eyes, concern entirely too evident.

If it is his curse, we need a higher level Priest to heal him. I thought, looking at the blood that continued to pour out of the boy's mouth.

That is too much blood lost already. But I can't tell if it is his curse or not. Oh, what does it matter? He is injured and we are supposed to help all those that need us, right?

"Go to the building out front," I said, startling Nova.

"You don't mean the entrance to this place." He asked, looking at me as though to confirm what I just said. "Orion, it is swarming with people by now. The sick, the lame, the blind. If they find out you are the dancer, they will swarm you."

"I will think of a solution when we come to that problem," I said, still trying to heal Comet. "That place is where I know the Higher Priests are bound to be.

"They are the only ones that might be able to help Comet with his curse. Nova, we do not have the time to be arguing. I promise I will take all the blame."

We looked at each other for a second, Comet convulsing in my arms while lightly crying out in pain.

"Fine. But first, we will make a stop." Nova sighed as he began running with the shadows, moving twice as fast as he did before.

"Sure," I said, feeling the blood pouring out of Comet's mouth seep through my clothes and to my skin. "Just hang on a little longer, ok, Comet? We are getting you help."

We passed the building where the king and his men were talking and laughing along with the Luna and their mates.

"Get down," Nova said as I quickly slid down and the boy turned back, waving his hands in front of Comet who instantly fell asleep with the blood still spilling down his mouth.

"What did you just do?" I asked, picking Comet back up in my arms just as I suddenly made eye contact with the king who did a double-take to me.

Turning away from him as quickly as I could, I held Comet close to me watched as Nova turned into his wolf form once again.

"I just put him to sleep. His curse is the most effective while he is awake." He said as he prepared to take off again.

"Is something the matter?" I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder as I slowly turned to come face to face with the King, sticking his head out of the open window, smiling kindly at me.

Though, he took one look at the bloodied person in my arms and suddenly grew concerned, "What-"

"I apologise, your majesty," I said, climbing onto Nova. "I do not have the time to talk. I do hope you enjoy yourself. "

We took off immediately as I sighed, holding the unconscious Comet in my arms as tightly as I could.

Why did we have to stop there? I thought as we ran down the stairs, passing a stream of a river, the seven moons shining bright above us. I saw my faint reflection and noticed that I was covered with blood on spots of my face and cloth.

No wonder he looked concerned, I look like I came back from some kind of battle. But with the amount of blood on me, I can't help be concerned for Comet who lost that amount of blood.

I hope we get to the Entrance to this … space for us Priests and Priests in training. Every night, a group of Priests go out and hand food and clothing to the people that will line up every night.

Reaching the entrance, which is a large marble gate that has never once been closed since the creation of this place. The gate is merely there to tell people that the place they are about to enter is sacred ground.

Jumping from Nova's back before he even had the chance to stop running, I carried Comet to one of the tall buildings lined up like a little village.

Following the most familiar scent, I burst into one of the buildings, startling everyone there. I did not have the chance to process anything though as I shouted, "High Priest Elio! Help!"

A man with brown hair and a wide set of eyes came running to me as I passed the people sitting on the beds lined up on either side of the building, entrance to end.

"What is the matter? Should you not be resting?" He asked as I laid Comet on the ground, blood still pouring out of his mouth like it would not stop. "What happened?"

"I don't know. He just became like this suddenly." I said as Nova ran into the room, hardly gasping for air. He is the strongest of us when it comes to running after all.

"W-we think it may be his curse acting up again," Nova said, putting on his innocent boy expression once again.

All around us people murmured, 'curse', slowly backing away from us as fast as they could.

The curse is not transferrable, don't worry about it. I thought, wanting to roll my eyes at them. But I do understand their concern.

"But I do not feel the presence of a curse." High Priest Elio said after waving his hands in front of the boy. "Are you certain it is his curse?"

"We don't know, it is merely a speculation," I said, exchanging confused looks with Comet.

"He has been throwing up blood and we have not been able to heal him, High Priest Elio. If you know anything, please tell us." Nova said, holding Comet's hand in his as tightly as he could.

"High Priest Elio! We need your help here!" One of the other Priests called for the man, holding an injured man.

"He needs to be healed right?" I asked getting to my feet immediately. "Please look at Comet, Nova, stay with him. I will heal him."

Without waiting for another second, I ran to the man as the Priests pulled out the bandage from his arm, revealing a rotting stump that must not have been treated when his hand was cut off.

"What happened?" I asked the Priests there.

"He works as a blacksmith. One day, an accident involving a knife he was sharpening and his hand happened, cutting it off." One of the men said, furrowing his brows at the injury. "It certainly is bad. It was not treated properly when the accident happened, I presume."

The man did not say a word as he looked away, a look of bitterness coming on his face.

"I might be able to help you," I said, placing my hand on the putrid, rotting flesh. "At least, I will be able to close the wound up and stop the infection."

"Consano." I murmured under my breath, using the most powerful spell I know, feeling something escape my body as the ground seemed to rattle under me.

I could not focus on that though, as I watched little crystals form on the man's healed stump, turning into a crystalized hand while everyone stared at me blankly.

Huh?!?!?!