I wanna say I'm surprised...

  Maybe even a little bit amused...

  Obviously, this was going to happen. My mom had never been one for easing in. She always expected so much from me and always wanted me to live up to standards that she never met. Her expectations were like a weighted blanket on my head... holding me down and keeping me from exploring a career outside of the one she'd intended for me.

  Herbology had always been her thing... caring for the sick, attending to those in need...

  But it was never my dream. That was never my plan...

  I did care about people, I cared about the world outside of my walls, the families suffering in poverty, the young fae I grew up with who scavenged and fought to survive.

  The world was a cruel place... someone was always getting the short end of the stick and it was usually lesser fae... Withered fae and fae who didn't abide by the status quo.

  I'd always wanted to be a mage guard, I wanted to help people... not just through medical needs, but be the voice the people needed. A warrior of some sort... someone people could turn to if need be.

  But I always found it hard to assemble the courage to tell her...

  To show her the life she wanted for me was too small... people needed medical assistance, but they also needed a voice... one that was unbiased and not calloused. Someone who understood their positions. Who had seen what it was like to live underground?

  I wish I could've been that person... but what I hated most of all was the fact instead of joining the Sovereign brigade in eradicating those who wanted to destroy the city, instead of raising the voices of those who needed to be heard...I was stuck in an office cleaning and wiping off surgical tables and refilling medical supplies.

  What I hated most about my mom was the fact she'd never once asked me what I wanted. She wouldn't open her eyes to the fact that herbalism wasn't a future I would thrive in... sure, in her eyes it was meant to secure a practical career but mage guards worked just as hard... and could be just as successful in their careers given the right opportunities. There were different guilds across the globe that I could join... across the galaxy. But she was afraid. I knew in my heart this was her way of protecting me from an accident.. Or keeping me from fatality.

  I wanted her to understand that I wasn't a child... despite how much younger I was than Scarlett, I had always been determined.

  I had what it took to survive through the worst circumstances.

  Ever since my father died, my mother has never been the same. She became more sheltered... careful... worrisome. She wanted to keep me in her womb, away from harm, but despite her meaning well... she was also suffocating me. The world wasn't safe... but I had a gift that she'd always underestimated.

  I was strong.

  Stronger than she believed. She was afraid I would end up like my father... afraid I would meet the same end he met...so since his death, when I was 8 years old, she'd forced me down a gentle career path. Pushed me towards the safer side... kept me from exploring the world outside.

  But with Scarlett. We'd always gotten up to trouble. I admit rebellion was my way of speaking up... or proving I wasn't helpless. But what happened with the trolls was just a fluke... it was never meant to go wrong. So maybe there'd been a few holes in my plan... but we got out! I knew I could be reckless... but it was the very thought of throwing myself to the wind and running free... doing odd jobs that filled me with adrenaline and fed my everfree soul.

  I wanted to be more... to see more, and I would often end up in situations that I admit were scary... but it was the chase. The rush... the freedom, that gave me the strength I needed.

  I craved adventure.

  But I guess those days were over...

  I was cleaning up one of the appliances and sterilizing it when I heard a pained howl followed by a deep bellow.

  "PLEASE I NEED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE!"

  We were understaffed... and we were only a branch of the hospital so we rarely expected people... but when they did arrive...

  "PLEASE!"

  I was filled with panic and I immediately ran out without thinking, running down the halls to see a tall man carrying a younger injured fae with blood dripping down the side of his bruised face and what looked like a blade lodged into his stomach.

  I winced and approached hesitantly. A part of me felt compelled to call someone else for help... I had no idea what to do, I was only a damn trainee.

  But the sight of the boy bleeding out onto the pale white tiles made my stomach churn.

  "What's the problem?"

  Stolen story; please report.

  I asked the man and his gaze captured mine. In an instant, my heart catapulted out of my chest as I looked into his onyx eyes. Dark loose curls fell over them, his skin was pale as the snow, his face fraught with worry, blue fairy blood staining his pale-toned uniform.

  Above all, he was incredibly tall, visibly toned, and wearing a Lieutenant uniform for the premier guild for young Mage guards.

  I was so distracted by his badge and noticeably handsome features that I'd forgotten the boy bleeding out.

  "He needs a healer... is there a healer here?"

  The man with onyx eyes pleaded and I nodded.

  "Follow me..."

  I swallowed the lump in my throat and guided him down the hall... I could feel his gaze on the back of my head and it made me feel more self-conscious than usual...

  I rang the emergency hall bell to signal any nurses in the area.

  "Don't you have any staff around?"

  The man asked impatiently and my mouth went dry.

  "I... W-we usually don't have many healers here... since it's just a training infirmary..."

  I lead him into the elevator.

  "Is he... healing slowly?"

  I asked as a bead of sweat ran down my forehead.

  He didn't answer, his face a mask of bravery and stoicness.

  "So... are you a lieutenant?"

  He glanced at me a hint of surprise in his eyes at my question.

  "I saw your badge..."

  I cleared my throat facing ahead and he nodded slowly.

  Not much of a talker are you?

  I took that as my sign to shut up. The elevator doors split open and we rushed out, I started to run hoping he'd be following.

  "Imani!"

  I called down the hall as I spotted my healer friend.

  She turned in surprise as she saw me but then her eyes widened in shock as she saw the injured fae.

  "Get him in here!"

  She gestured to follow us into the hospital room and we ran in behind her. I helped her prepare the bed as she laid the fae down.

  "Flore get me some clean clothes and rose water and honey!"

  She ordered and I ran out to gather the materials.

  I returned moments later and set the materials down on the table beside the patient's bed before standing back and letting her get to work.

  She started by removing the blade and looking up at the man with onyx eyes.

  "Training accident?"

  He nodded.

  "Dagger practice... his opponent was too stealthy..."

  Imani nodded in understanding and I folded my arms, slightly annoyed with the fact he'd opened up to her so easily...

  "Mage guard training is no joke..."

  She sighed as she dislodged the blade from the boy's stomach, erupting a scream from the young fae.

  "You were smart for leaving the blade in."

  The lieutenant winced at the sound, as she proceeded to calm the injured face down with a siren song whilst she dampened the clean cloth with rose water and cleaned the wound. She took a bit of honey and applied it onto the open wound, her gloves stained with blue blood as she said an incantation. The rose water and honey formed a magical seal on the wound, binding the open flesh together as if it had never happened.

  "His healing magic was stalled because the place of injury was near a critical organ... but he should be better in a few minutes."

  I let out a long sigh I didn't know I was holding in as I helped her clear the equipment and materials.

  Imani peeled off her gloves with a sigh as she went over to wash her hands.

  "Floren, please take him to the washroom so he can get cleaned up."

  She instructed me and my eyes widened slightly as I looked up at the man then her.

  "Uhh... sure. Follow me...sir."

  I didn't bother to turn around this time as we walked down the empty hallway.

  The only sounds coming from his heavy breathing and our footsteps.

  I guided him into the washroom.

  "You can take off your shirt..."

  I said as I reached for a clean towel.

  "So how long have you been a nurse?"

  He asked me and my eyes widened slightly as I handed him the towel.

  "Oh I'm not—"

  My words were cut short as my gaze fell on his rippling muscles and pristinely toned abdomen that glistened with blue blood and sweat. A strange part of me was relieved it wasn't his blood...

  Damn...

  I diverted my gaze as he started to clean himself off, clearing my throat.

  "So... what's it like being a lieutenant... lots of hard work huh?"

  I fiddled with the knob on the door nervously.

  He kept his back to me and I drank in the sight of his muscles contracting and the dimples on his lower back... my mind started to wander but when he turned I averted my gaze once more awkwardly shifting from foot to foot.

  "It's a lot of commitment. Been training since I was 5..."

  I nearly choked on my spit at his words...

  Training since he was 5?! How the hell... what the hell would a 5-year-old know about war??

  "That's... so..."

  My voice trails off as I try to find the words to express what I'm feeling.

  Suddenly the sound of his laughter booms around the room, a beautiful symphony that makes my heart flutter slightly. I stare at him in confusion and his stoic demeanor seems to melt away with his smile...

  Ah... sarcasm...

  "I didn't think you'd be so gullible, Floren..."

  His eyes twinkle with mischief.

  "Wait.. how do you know my name?"

  My eyes narrow defensively... I don't remember telling him my name... but the sound of it rolling off his tongue made me feel feathery and light.

  "The nurse from earlier... plus its on your nametag..."

  I glanced down at the clipped nametag attached to my shirt and chuckled awkwardly.

  "Right..."

  I cleared my throat and his eyes danced with amusement.

  I wasn't sure why but as soon as he smiled at me it uprooted a memory that had been buried so long ago... A memory of a boy with eyes that glowed like honey under the sunlight... a carefree child that I used to run free with... backyard adventures... treehouse magic...

  I studied him closely, trying to gauge his reaction, my heart thumping wildly...his eyes were just as he was... full of mischief and novelty.

  He moved towards the sunlight just for a moment and my eyes widened...

  "What... what did you say your name was again?"

  My mouth was dry... my heart ran a thousand miles as I watched him with bated breath.

  "Do you not remember me, Floren?"