The Right People (Michael’s POV)

No one knew what she was trying to say, but I doubted any of the Neighbors, much less me, knew that magic in this world could be used for such things. The princess, ignoring her brother and dismissing him as weak, probably wasn't even aware of how skillfully Renet could use it. He certainly hadn't had control back then, driven only by strong emotions. He swung his arm and sent her flying backward. She was clutching her stomach, and I saw blood dripping from his claws. He must have hurt her, though I had the impression he hadn't even touched her.

I was growing increasingly afraid. Renet looked at me for a moment after that, his eyes full of rage, almost blazing. As if something had possessed him, even the Neighbors were afraid of him and slowly retreating. I stayed closest, which meant I had to calm him down. I saw Kyo's hand and had the impression he moved it. My heart pounded with hope. I ordered doctors to be brought here as soon as possible, and I decided to take the risk. I also saw the princess approaching again; she'd probably taken a weapon from one of my fallen men and was aiming it at her brother. Then, I ran up to her and snatched it from her hand. She was seriously wounded, so it came surprisingly easily.

"Are you crazy?" I hissed quietly, afraid that the temporarily unpredictable Renet might hear us. "He's capable of killing you now."

"I'll kill him first," she replied arrogantly.

"Sure," I muttered. "Go to your people; let them tend to you."

"What do you even care?" she snapped, but her knees buckled under her; I instinctively supported her.

"Absolutely not about you, but I will fulfill the wish of the man we just killed. I don't know if you can understand, but your brother loved him." She looked at me absently, as if the meaning of my words hadn't sunk in. I looked around and saw Martha and another doctor approaching. "Go, I'll try to take care of this."

One of the Neighbors was wise enough to overhear our conversation and drag her away by force before she could understand and get worked up about it. He took advantage of that moment of shock, though it was brief, because he took a few steps from me, and she started to struggle to deal with her brother. Once again, I was convinced she was crazy, but I didn't have time.

I kept a certain distance from Renet and called out to him. He looked at me. I wanted to jump away, but I knew I couldn't show any weakness at that moment.

"I thought I saw Kyo…"

"How dare you say his name?" He hugged him even tighter. "You killed him."

"Yes. I'm sorry, and I regret everything I've done to you, but the thing is, I thought he moved his hand. He might still be alive; my best doctors are here. Let them look at him," I said quickly, so he wouldn't interrupt me again.

For a second, I felt like he became the old Renet again, realizing what I'd said.

"Don't get my hopes up," he growled. "Just leave us alone, I'll take him somewhere quiet right now."

"No," Martha stood before me, though she was trembling with fear. "If he's still alive, it will only worsen his condition."

"He's dead!" He must have unconsciously used magic again; we all cringed except for my brave doctor.

"I won't believe it until I see it!" I knew she was a strong woman, but I'd never heard her shout so authoritatively. Not even at me, her most disobedient patient. "I don't know who you are exactly, but you don't look like a doctor to me," she added more calmly after taking a few deep breaths. "If there's any chance of helping him, let us."

Renet considered her words for a long moment. I wanted to rush him, knowing how important time was, but he decided to prolong the conversation nonetheless. I looked around; the troops on both sides were disoriented, and the princess was still being kept from her swagger, and I was immensely grateful for that. Silently I called a few men and asked them to start carrying the wounded back and handing them over to the medics. I begged inwardly not to start fighting again. Only when I saw how many lives it had cost us did I realize how foolish I had been, how stupid we both were, though she wouldn't admit it. An attack on our birthday, a gift to ourselves, a party—we were the bad guys, and so pathetic. What had we done?! My knees buckled, but I couldn't fall now. I decided to fulfill Kyo's wish and explain it to her bluntly.

"Do you know him?" Renet asked Martha.

"I don't know him very well, but when I spoke to him, I felt his kindness." With each word, she moved closer to them. "I see he's important to you, and I know you want to protect him, so please, let us. My colleague and I will do everything in our power to help him."

She touched Renet's hand and smiled tenderly at him. I admired her courage. He slowly lifted his wing, revealing the pale Kyo. I feared it was too late. Surprisingly, he listened to her, placing the injured man on the ground so the doctors could more easily try to take care of him, but he wouldn't leave. The doctors knelt beside him and began to examine him carefully.

"He's alive, but barely," they said in unison.

Renet almost fell when he heard that, and I could already see him starting to torment himself with the thought that his stubbornness could have killed him. I helped him up.

"Is this the end?"

"I think so," he confirmed sadly. "Now I understand why he was so determined that it never started."

"Me too. I regret it took me so long to realize it." I lowered my head in remorse, but after a moment I recovered. "Listen to me, we have to take care of this mess. I have my people, you have yours, and above all, your crazy sister." I couldn't help but comment, but it didn't move him. "We can't do anything more for Kyo right now, and they'll actually take care of him," I tried to persuade him to do something.

"I want to stay with him," he whispered. "He could have died because of me."

"You know what? If love brought him here, then that same love prevented him from dying," I declared, fully convinced that was the case. "And now we have some responsibilities; we should take care of them."