Valerian, The Legendary

Ensis stood outside the camp, with her eyes filled with anxiety and fear. The foot soldiers had gone forward to clear the passage so that they could move. However, the guard captain doubted if the Empress would be able to travel in her condition.

Fragrantia needed dedicated medical care. The attack on her was a sneak attempt made by the enemy mage. This guy shot a crossbow at her from a close distance, the arrow happened to be coated with poison, which was the reason the wound was not healing under the spell effect.

Magic was not invincible, sometimes it failed. To completely cure the empress, they needed to heal her wound. Ensis had sent a rider ahead to notify the emperor and get some medical experts to help with the poison.

The other thing that worried her was Valerian. He should have arrived back here by now, but his absence made Ensis think if everything was alright. Just when she was about to send a search party, a shout alerted her.

“Who’s there!!! Stop!!!”, the guard reacted.

Valerian slowed down the pace of the wraith and approached the camp. The torch behind illuminated his face, and when the warriors saw him, they shivered a little before they reacted and lowered their weapons.

The silver-haired boy got down from the Wraith and moved toward the big tent. He spotted Ensis in front of the tent and from the anxiety in her eyes he asked, ‘What happened?’

Ensis relayed what happened, unknowingly, the status of this child was not that of a normal subordinate, but someone on an equal footing. After listening to the guard leader, Valerian nodded and made his way to the tent.

.....

Ensis wanted to follow him, but the boy shook his head and said, ‘Two mountains away, a person responsible for this is still waiting for the status report. You should be able to bring that man here and kneel before Her Excellency. He will be holding the antidote to heal her. Be fast and be calm.’

His words shocked the lady, but she did not ask him what he knows and how he knows it. At this moment, the priority was to heal the Empress. She found the best of the group and led the charge in person with twenty warriors and two mages.

Valerian was surprised by her speed. He walked inside the tent and spotted Fragrantia leaning against the headboard. She was wearing a white dress, but the waist section was cut off, and the portion below her waist was stained red. He walked closer and saw the bandage on her waist, the cloth slowed down the blood flow, but it did not stop completely.

His approach was slow and gentle. Yet, Fragrantia opened her eyes, sensing that someone has approached her. She smiled stiffly, and Valerian shook his head. He walked closer to her and raising his hands he cast the magic spell.

‘Curatio Lucis.’, the effect was soothing and it would keep the poison from spreading faster.

Fragrantia said, “Don’t bother. It will not heal.”

Valerian cast her a gaze and kept doing what he thought was right. Fragrantia did not say anything more. The gesture of the boy meant he has somewhat accepted her. She raised her hand and placed it on his head. The boy seemed to be unaffected by this and kept casting healing spells on the wound.

After two hours, the guard captain arrived. She came inside the tent and found Valerian casting the magic spell. She was able to see the exhaustion on his face. Ensis did not delay anymore and came beside the Empress.

She gave her the antidote and a few moments later, the effect began. The bandage turned black, exuding a strong stench. Ensis helped remove the bandage while Valerian cast the healing spell for the last time before the wound closed.

Fragrantia held Valerian’s face in her palms and kissed his forehead affectionately. She said, “You have worked hard, my child.”

Valerian smiled faintly but his eyes closed slowly. Ensis said, “I will arrange a bedding for him.”

Fragrantia waved her hand and said, “He will stay by my side.”

She gently lifted the tired Valerian, who was leaning against her, and placed him on the bed. The boy ran out of mana for the second time in a day, so he needed a good rest. Ensis was shocked when she saw this action of the Empress, but it was not her place to raise questions.

Fragrantia asked, “Now, Ensis, tell me why were you with the shadows and not with the carriage?”

Ensis knew this would happen and she told the empress everything in complete honesty. From beginning to the end, she did not hide anything. Fragrantia heard that it was Valerian who pointed out the entire thing and also how he killed the commander at the start of the battle.

Fragrantia was amazed by the battle prowess and battle sense displayed by this child. Suddenly, after Ensis stopped talking the empress suddenly broke out in a burst of laughter. The guard captain was shocked, she did not understand why the lady was happy. After all, a child being so cruel was not a good thing.

Fragrantia calmed down and said, “You may not know what his origins are, and that is why you may think he is cruel. However, what he has faced has taught him that leniency to the enemy is cruelty to himself. As for the reason why he has such a sharp mind? It’s in his blood.”

The empress cast an affectionate gaze at the boy, suddenly they heard movement outside, turned out a huge bird landed in front of the camp. This was an emergency riding mount of the royal family.

Libra had not come in person, because the Empress and the Emperor must not leave the palace at the same time. Consano was a medical expert and with the princess accompanying her, the two people were allowed to get inside the camp.

Vertex was grounded, and Ignis was outside the palace, so the Princess had come up to help. When they got inside and found the Empress talking to Ensis, they were confused.

Fragrantia told Ensis to take Consano to help with the wounded while she called Azula over. Only when the princess came closer to the bed could she spot Valerian sleeping there, covered in a blanket, beside Fragrantia.

She was surprised and Fragrantia asked, “I have told you many times in the past about your aunt. Do you remember?”

Azula nodded, confused about how this was related to the situation. The empress nodded and said, “Before she passed away, she told me about her child still living in the city of Acies. However, as stubborn as she was, I was forbidden to look for the child. She did not wish for him to live a life of comfort, and have him grow up into a person who knows the value of kindness and will not be fooled easily.”

The more Fragrantia spoke, the more affectionate her gaze became toward Valerian. Azula was lost in the words and could not figure out the heads and tails of them. She thought her mother wanted her to look for the child of her aunt.

The Empress shook her head and said, “I wonder if you really are my daughter. If only you were half as intelligent as my nephew, I would have been able to calm down.”

Azula realized something, Fragrantia pointed a finger toward Valerian when she addressed her nephew. The princess wanted to shriek but she covered her mouth and looked at her mother in disbelief. The empress nodded and said, “Did you think I let him sit in front of me because he was not repulsed by my looks? Did you think I will let anyone step in and beat up my son in the name of the family? If you did, then you are wrong. Val is the last link left behind in this world connected to my sister.”

Azula could not digest anything all of a sudden. She asked, “Mother, are you trying to pull a prank on me?”

“Tell me about the things about your aunt. You met her back when you were ten.”, asked Fragrantia.

Azula nodded and said, “She had a beautiful face, however, her skin was bad. She had long gray hair. Ummm, other things I cannot recall.”

Fragrantia said, “She had silver hair, her forehead was similar to your grandfather, like mine.”

Azula understood the implications of this statement but she shook her head in disbelief and asked, “Is that reason enough to say that he is my cousin?”