Queen, Master and I

"Are you sure about it?" I asked Marie.

"I don't know the details myself; just suddenly, Queen said to call you as soon as possible," replied Marie.

"Hope everything is okay."

"Yeah."

In the halls of the palace, I and Marie hurried with purpose, our footsteps echoing on the marble floors. I heard that the master had woken up from his coma.

Marie stopped before the door and gestured for me to walk inside by myself, as even the other two elite knights were out here waiting. I guess it's not good if too many people disturb him after he has just woken up.

I gave her a nod in response.

*Clack*

As I push the door open, the first person my eye lays upon is Queen, sitting beside the bed of an old, tired man. The atmosphere around me felt as if I were stepping into a different type of silent world.

Just a soothing sound of small water fountains with lights properly dimmed for the person in bed to have his comfort.

"Oh, you are here. Eleanor," said Queen.

I nodded silently as words seemed to have jammed in my throat.

"Come, have a seat."

"Thank you," I said.

I walked slowly and deliberately towards the bed with a curious and worried face. Since the time I lost my consciousness in the mountains, I didn't get the chance to see him.

Gulps*

The figure that lay before me in plain, light clothes on the bed seemed weaker and thinner than before when I was with him.

As I sat down, I whispered.

"Master..."

Tears were collecting in my eyes, as it's hard to believe that this is really Marthanda or not. The body feels way too fragile, and even the hair colour has changed to white.

"His organs and cells are damaged from inside. More like detroited because of the poison. It's hard to say which poison River used because we have never seen anything like this before," said Queen.

Hearing that, tears started collecting in my eyes. I gently held Master's palm in my hand and called him again.

"Master... It's me, Eleanor. I am here now."

After a few seconds, he slowly opened his eyes. He took heavy breaths while looking at the ceiling.

"Elea-nor," said Master.

"Yes, it's me." I replied, gripping his palms properly.

"You are okay?" he asked. "Does it hurt?"

"Yes, yes, I am all good. Don't worry about it, me." I said.

He acts cold and stiff all the time, but now he is worried for me.

"I even started training again," I said.

"That's good to know," he said.

"Just a moment ago, I was sparing with a knight here, and guess what? I won." I said it joyfully so that he knows that I am fully back as healthy as before.

"Hehe, isn't that obvious? It's me you have trained under," he said, smiling.

"Yes, Exactly. All because of you."

"She is a young girl. She can take care of herself. Think about yourself," said Queen straightforwardly.

She seems irritated about something.

"Silvy... You are still angry about that thing?" asked Master.

"How many times did my mother and I tell you to come back and live here?"

"It's not that easy."

"Then at least let us station a few knights there."

"No."

"Oh, God, Sigh*" said Silvy, holding her head in irritation.

"It's the beauty of temples to stand still in silence and let devotees take care of them, and more importantly, it's my job to look after it. You shouldn't be worried about all that."

"I hate stubborn geezers."

Queen Silvy seems to be worried for Master, as he lives alone there and anyone can attack him, but Master does not want to leave that place nor wishes any protection from knights. Well, I can understand. He is already way strong enough, but is that the reason he wants to live alone? I feel like there is more to it.

"Umm, master," I called him.

"Yes?"

"Is there any particular reason you chose to live there by yourself?" 

He didn't say anything in reply for the entire next minute. He is staring at the ceiling as if recalling his memories from the passage of time.

"Master?"

"It's the oath I gave to my friend."

"Oath..." I repeated.

"My oath to Henry Alves," said Master.

My eyes stood wide, and I paused after hearing those first and second names. Alves? It's the same surname as River. And I remember, after almost killing me, River took this name, saying that Master left him alone to die.

So Henry Alves is the master's best friend, to whom he has devoted his left-over life at the temple, and he is also the reason why River is after the master's life.

"Henry Alves..." I said.

"Yes, River Alves's father, Henry Alves."

"I see."

"I and Henry both grew together, trained together, and dreamed of our goals together. I was born in Keral, but his parents came there later, when their small town was demolished for some reason. I was the first person he met after coming here. We started playing together and going to the to the academy together. He was the only dumb person I knew who used to talk about exploring Murk someday. He used to say life can't be restricted by this much land. There must be more beautiful things out there that we haven't explored yet because we let our fears get the best of us.

I just used to sit there and listen to him without judging, so I guess that's why he stopped sharing his dreams with others and only told me, as half of the people used to ignore his words and remain used to laughing and calling him stupid. He was joyful, quirky, loud, and religious at the same time. Saying that there must be things that we humans haven't perceived yet. He was very fond of swords too, so obviously he chose a sword for his infusion during graduation," said Master.

I and Queen Silvy both looked at Master Marthanda with our proper attention as he talked about his past, as that's the only way to understand his motivations, reasons for staying at the mountain by himself, and also why River wants to take his life.