" Lord Kilian, you must not suffer like this. "
Sitara placed her hand over Kilian's shoulder affectionately but one sharp look from him was enough to get her to move it.
" What does it look like? " He asked the medical practitioner tending to Kiara's wound.
The practitioner shook his head.
" She will not survive. All I can do is give her some sedatives so it's less painful. " Kilian sat down beside him and looked into his eyes, " Is there nothing that we can do to help her? "
The practitioner shook his head.
" I am afraid not, Lord Kilian. She must have known it was suicide coming back inside Chemorian atmosphere after taking on a human form for so long. What was she thinking? "
Kilian sat there in absolute silence as the practitioner administered some Intravenous injections making her groans subside.
" How long does she have? " Kilian asked, his expression difficult to read.
" It's impossible to say. It would be safe to say she lives as long as she keeps fighting with her dying body. "
When Kilian did not budge long after the practitioner was gone, Sitara had no other option but to interfere once more.
" You are not thinking about going after that girl, are you? "
Kilian didn't answer.
Sitara went down on her knees.
" You are so close to your success. You waited for this moment for so long. With the Heartstaff in your hand, our tribe will be unstoppable. We will rise again. "
Kilian did not answer, neither did he look at her.
Sitara's expression turned from worried to grave.
" Lord Kilian, you cannot do this to us. We stood beside you through thick and thin. We have up everything in hope of a new dawn. If you fall for her emotional trap and go for the girl, we will lose our one shot at revival.
Did we not agree that the girl needed to go? "
Kilian finally looked up.
" Get the troop ready. It's almost time. "
Kilian was about to leave through the door but he looked back at Sitara and commanded,
" Do not interfere with her body. Let her die in peace. "
Sitara nodded.
( start of flashback)
Little Kilian fell repeatedly as he tried taking his first flight. He was not as gifted as his sister who was sent to the heavens and flew here and there all the time.
He fell and hurt himself so many times but the bruise and the pain kept him going.
" I can do it if she can. " He kept reminding himself because she was his role model.
" Kilian, what are you doing up here? " Kiara finally noticed him sitting over a rock, upset and crying his lungs out.
" I cannot do it like you. " He yelled and complained.
His sister smiled affectionately at him.
She flew up to him and scuffled his hair.
" I think you are doing it with the wrong mindset my dear boy. You should never try to do anything like someone else. We are all built differently. We have our special abilities. Try to focus on here. "
She tapped his chest but he looked at her with confusion.
Kiara smiled, " You are still very small , little Kilian. You will understand when you grow up. It's all in here, what we stand for, what we are. All you need to do is deep dive. " She grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
" In the meantime, let me take you for a ride. You wanted to fly, didn't you? How high up can you aim for a little brother? I will be your wing. "
( end of flashback)
Kilian wiped his tears when he was out of Sitara's visible range.
He went straight for his glider and off he went to his hideout.
He activated the door with his fingerprints and iris scan and slipped inside before the door blended in perfectly with the rugged terrain.
He plugged himself in and floated up in the air as a voice crackled from the other end.
" What is the situation back there? How far down are they? "
The voice replied, " They are close enough to clash with the protectors. It should not be long, my Lord. "
" Good. Send for an immediate sos when it is retrieved. Time is running out. We must act fast before the universe plunges into Eternal Darkness. "
" I heard the girl was abducted by the Dark Mages. How will we get rid of her while she is in their procession? Why did you postpone the extermination? You had so much time with her, alone. Why did you not kill her then and blame it on the Dark Mages? " The voice asked.
Kilian roared as the voice fell silent.
" Am I now answerable to you? Do you take orders from me or is it the other way around? "
" My apologies, Lord Kilian! I am just trying to understand our next move because things became more complicated. " The voice whimpered.
" That's for me to decide and you to follow. Now, get back to work! "
Kilian disconnected before stumbling out of there.
When he came out, Sitara was waiting for him, along with the troop that he asked for.
" You know, we are willing to live and die for your sake, Lord Kilian! "
Sitara bowed and greeted him. Kilian acknowledged with a nod. But then she added,
" And we do hope that you remember that from a snake's egg, only hatches a snake. It's never a bird. "
Kilian didn't answer Sitara. He turned towards the troop and walked forward to address them.