The crowd went silent. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to forget how to breathe.
Then a collective gasp surged through the crowd.
Mouths hung open,
Eyes sharp and disbelieving.
Some began to cheer- tentative, then louder. Until the field trembled with wonder and praise.
Then the cage was opened.
Gwaine carried Tyra to the Healathren, The Healing sect in Andoths. They waited outside the room for the physician to examine her.
Rachel paced back and forth biting her fingers. She kept thinking about what happened in the tournament field. At the time the beast furiously ran towards them, she thought about death. But in the blink of an eye, it was struck dead.
Only one thing came to mind - Tyra possessed magic.
She wanted to believe it but doubt clung to her like a second skin. She walked up to Isadore who was leaning on the wall, her eyes closed.
"You saw what happened out there right?"
Isadore sighed, opening her eyes to find Rachel pacing. Panic etched across her face.
Isadore held her shoulders. "There is no need to worry, Tyra is stronger than we know. And soon she will regain consciousness".
She gave a reassuring look and hugged her.
They drifted apart when the Physician came out of the room, coming closer to her, each with worried looks.
"Well, your friend is out of danger".
"Why is she still unconscious?". Gwaine asked.
"With what happened at the tournament sect, she used up a lot of her strength. So she will come around later. She just needs to rest".
...
"I'll be back ".
Isadore left the sect. After standing for hours waiting for Tyra to regain consciousness, she was exhausted.
Rachel and Gwaine sat on a wooden bench before the four pillars of the sect, the night sky was already dark.
"Aren't you tired?". Rachel asked. Even though he didn't know them well, he still stayed back.
He looked at her cocking his brow.
Rachel met his arched brow with a slow blink. "I mean we are still strangers, there is no need to wait". She stuttered.
He nodded. "True, but she is the reason we are still alive". He paused...
"But why does it feel like you don't want me here?"
Her eyes widened.
"No no no I ...".
She bit her bottom lip, suddenly aware of how close they were. The silence between them wasn't exactly comforting.The sect was quiet, calm, free of disciples.
Gwaine leaned back against the cold stone wall, his eyes lifted to the sky. A soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He didn't say much but Rachel could see the faraway look in his eyes.
She shifted uncomfortably on the bench beside him. Stealing a glance, she noticed his smile - soft, amused and even a little bit nostalgic. It sent a ripple of anxiety through her chest.
"The dungeons". He said quietly. "It's strange how something so emotional feels funny now".
He turned to her, still smiling but softer now.
"I thought you were fierce but you turned out to be a scardy cat".
His smile faded, his gaze soft, he looked more serious.
"I don't know why, but in that moment I felt the need to protect you. To reassure you that you would be safe in the end".
She met his eyes again, unsure how to explain the knot in her stomach. In the dungeons, she felt scared to death but his words brought her comfort.
He moved closer, reaching for a few stray strands that had fallen across her forehead.
When his fingers made contact with her skin, she jerked, immediately holding his hand. She felt her heart skip again, she stood up.
"I, I need to check on Tyra". She stuttered.
He watched her as she quickly walked away entering the room. He just wanted to help but he made her uncomfortable, he thought.
Rachel leaned on the door with a sigh of relief. She felt the tension with Gwaine, maybe just her alone. He was different from the first time they met. She was distracted from her thoughts.
"Rachel?". She called out, slightly more than a whisper. Tyra sat up holding her head in pain while resting on the bed frame.
"What happened?".
She asked in a raspy voice, scratching her throat. She felt weak, more than ever. Her eyes searched the room, it was a different space. It took a while before she realised it was the Healathren.
It was like a sacred space, bathed in gentle amber glow which emanated from the walls. The air carried the smell of crushed herbs, washed linen and something earthy. Beds were carved directly into the walls, smooth and seamless. At the far end were wooden shelves, arranged with herbs, tinctures, white sheets and bandages.
Inscribed on a wall was a tapestry of the ancient healing convenant: a wounded figure cradled by a winged creature, their limbs connected by a stream of gold.
Isadore and Gwaine entered the room.
Isadore hugged Tyra tightly with a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you are okay".
Rachel had avoided Gwaine's gaze earlier, she adjusted uncomfortably on the bed.
"Why am I here?". Tyra asked, her voice still low.
The others looked at each other confused. Did she forget what happened in the tournament field?
Isadore took a step closer, her forehead pressed with lines of concern. "Don't you remember?".
"You wielded your...". Rachel paused when she felt a sharp pain in her leg. Isadore had pinched her.
There was a long silence in the room, the air was filled with tension. It was clear that Isadore did not Tyra to stress over what happened earlier. Gwaine broke the silence.
"Nothing serious happened. You fell unconscious earlier".
Tyra didn't seem to convinced by his words.
"What about the Skornak?". She had a puzzled look. " I thought we were to fight it ".
They looked at each other again, unsure of what to say.
"Yes, that would be talk for later. You should get some rest, we will be back tomorrow ".
Isadore tucked her in bed nervously, she was sure Tyra was full of suspicion.
Isadore stopped few steps away from the room. She turned towards Gwaine and Rachel who were few inches away from each other.
"No one should utter a word about what happened at the field". It sounded more like a warning.
"What's the point? We can't stop her from forgetting it completely, it's part of her now". Rachel blutted out.
Isadore nodded,
"But we can delay it a little. The fact that she forgot about it means it's like a trauma. Her body doesn't want her to remember it ".
Rachel smiled faintly. She walked up to Isadore patting her shoulder. "When did you become so knowledgeable?".
She flung Rachel's hand playfully. "I've always been smart, you just haven't noticed".
....
Tyra was alone in the room. She tried to remember what happened earlier if there was anything, but only ended up with a splitting headache. She covered herself properly with the thick blanket on the bed and decided to rest.
It was past midnight. She had tossed on the bed severally still closing her eyes but couldn't sleep. Besides feeling weak, she felt strange. Like there was something awakening deep within her soul.
Tyra opened her eyes immediately when she heard a thud. It wasn't loud, but came from a distance. The wind was quiet, fluttering behind the white arched curtains. The room was fairly dark, lit with dim candlelights.
She strained her eyes to look beyond her bed but she couldn't see. Her heart pounded, her hands trembled beneath the blankets.
"Who's there?".
Her voice was shaky, eyes blinking severally expecting a figure to appear from the shadows.
But she was the only one in the room.