“Were you born with magic? Or can anyone learn how to use it?”
“I learned over the years,” he answered after infusing magic into another glass vial. The liquid faintly glowed, swirled, and then calmed. “Although, someareborn with the gift. They’re the ones who are most powerful. Magic exists all around us, and through hard work and self-discipline, even those of us not born with the gift can learn to harness it.”
I pushed back from my chair to stand… and immediately grabbed the table as the room spun. “Don’t tell Callum, but he was right. I shouldn’t have downed the whole glass.”
Briar chuckled. “I’ll pour you some water. Eat this too.” He placed a small loaf of bread in front of me and cut off a slice. “I hope you like fig.”
“Never had it, actually.” I sat back down, picked up the bread, smelled it, and then took a huge bite. “Oh my god,” I said with my mouth full. “This is amazing.” I shoved the rest into my mouth before reaching for another piece. “This world is gonna make me fat, and I don’t even care.”
After pouring me a glass of water from the pitcher, Briar turned back to his workstation and smiled as he mixed more ingredients. “You are unlike anyone I’ve ever met, Evan.”
I paused in my chewing. “Yeah?” I swallowed. “How so?”
“You say what’s on your mind, no matter how strange.” He placed his hand over the contents of the bowl he’d been stirring, and his palm emitted a soft glow. He then filled six more vials and topped each with a small cork. “You’re just… different.”
Ever since I was little, people had told me I needed to get my head out of the clouds. And in the instances when I broke out of my shell and tried to socialize, I was too weird or rambled too much about unimportant things. However, when Briar said I was different, I didn’t feel like it was a bad thing. The warmth of his voice and twinkle behind his glasses said the opposite.
“Do you need help?” I asked after drinking half the glass of water and stuffing my face with more fig bread. “I feel bad just sitting here watching you work.”
“I’m nearly finished.” He added another vial to the collection of others. “Though, I could use your help distributing these to the knights, if you don’t mind. I already gave them to the ones in greater need, like the captain, but the others could use something to ease their discomfort.”
“I don’t mind at all.” I stood back up, feeling a lot less wobbly now. The bread had soaked up some of the wine and helped clear my head. The magic of carbs.
“These go to the men on the right side of the room,” he explained as he placed them in a wooden carrier.
“Got it.”
We entered the medical wing, keeping our steps light so we wouldn’t disturb their rest. Moonlight created a silvery glow throughout the room as it came through the tall windows. My heart sank at seeing all the knights asleep in their cots, some a lot worse off than others.
One had lost consciousness before being brought to the clinic and had yet to wake. Duke and another one had concussions. The rest were bandaged from bites and claw marks. Quincy’s arm had nearly been severed, but Briar had managed to save the limb.
Briar placed the tray on a side table before closing some of the curtains. He then went over to the hearth along the far wall and stoked the logs. He had created a relaxing atmosphere. Certainly more relaxing than the hospital rooms from my own world with their blinding white walls, frigid air, and the strong smell of disinfectant.
I grabbed a vial with blue liquid and knelt beside one of the cots. Duke opened his eyes, and I gave him what I hoped was a kind smile. “Hey there. Brought your medicine.”
“Gratitude,” he rasped before wincing. “Small but mighty Evan.”
What the knights had started calling me. It didn’t make me smile like usual. I was too sad.
“Easy.” I cradled the back of his head as I helped him sit up to drink the elixir.
It seemed to take effect almost immediately. The pained scrunch of Duke’s brow smoothed, and he closed his eyes, relaxing into his pillow. I’d never imagined myself as a nurse or working in the medical field at all, but seeing all of these injured men who’d risked their lives to fight monsters so that other people would be spared made me want to help them too.
Briar and I then distributed the rest of the medicine to the knights.
Maddox lay in his cot at the back of the room, closest to the fire. Briar checked his bandages before nodding to himself and approaching me.
“You should get some rest too,” he whispered.
“Yeah. Rest sounds good.” My gaze darted back to Maddox.
“Do you wish to see him before you go?” Briar gently asked.
Did I? The knight captain was like a grouchy block of ice. He enjoyed teasing me and bossing me around.
“I’d never seen his eyes look so warm.”Callum’s words had caused a similar warmth smack-dab in the center of my chest.
“Is it okay if I see him?”
