Chapter 79: Ch79 – Infirmary

James held his wounded hand as the trio travelled across the grounds.

“Where’s the infirmary?” Ryan asked a passing student—a girl with dark hair carrying an armful of scrolls.

She barely slowed. “In the main building. Go left and look for the wooden door with the staff and serpent carved into it.”

“Thanks,” Jared called after her.

They navigated their way over and quickly found the heavy wooden door with the staff and snake carved deep into the grain.

Jared pushed it open.

Inside was clean. Unnaturally so. White walls, rows of beds lined up on either side—most of them empty. The smell hit Ryan immediately: herbs and something sharp and antiseptic. Shelves along the far wall were stacked with bottles, bandages, and strange implements he didn’t recognise.

A woman sat at a desk near the entrance. Older, grey hair pulled back in a tight bun, sharp eyes that looked up the moment they entered.

“What happened?” she asked, standing.

“A burn,” Jared said. “From a fire spell.”

She shuffled a pair of glasses onto her eyes. “Let me see.”

James held out his hand.

The healer took it gently, examining the damage. The skin was a light red, blisters were plastered across his palm and fingers. She turned it over, inspecting both sides, professional and efficient.

“Bad burns,” she said. “But could’ve been worse.” She glanced at James. “How’d it happen?”

James hesitated. “A sparring accident.”

“Hmm.” She didn’t press. Just moved to one of the shelves, selected a small jar filled with pale green salve. “This will hurt.”

The nurse was right.

James hissed through his teeth as she applied the ointment. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t pull away.

“Burns from magic are different from regular burns,” the healer explained as she worked. “The mana can linger in the wound. Which makes the natural healing slower. But this will draw it out.” She spread it evenly across his palm, her movements practiced. “You’ll feel a very light pulling sensation. That’s normal.”

She wrapped his hand in clean white bandages, layering them carefully.

“Keep it clean,” she said, tying off the end. “Don’t use it for anything strenuous. Come back tomorrow if the blistering worsens or if you feel any unusual heat in the wound.”

“How long until it’s healed?” James asked.

“With the salve? One day. At most two.” She gave him a pointed look. “And next time, don’t fight any duels with magic, unless you have a healer or instructor on standby.”

James didn’t respond.

The healer turned to Ryan and Jared. “He’ll need to stay here for a bit. I want to monitor for complications—magical burns can be unpredictable and it’s a new batch of salve, so I need to make sure it is acceptable.

“I’ll stay with him,” Jared said.

Ryan glanced at James, then Jared. “I won’t”

James rolled his eyes. “How considerate.”

“Get better soon!” Ryan shouted as he walked out the door.

The walk back started normal enough.

Ryan’s mind churned. Anger at Navius. Frustration at his own helplessness. James had been winning—completely dominating—and Navius just… cheated. Burned him. Then walked away like he didn’t care.

Ryan kicked a loose stone. It skittered across the path.

Know your place.

His fists clenched.

Then someone grabbed his arm.

Ryan spun.

Marcus stood there. Wild-eyed. Breathing hard. His robes disheveled, hair a mess.

“Marcus?” Ryan pulled his arm free. “What—”

“Your wrist.” Marcus stared at the bracelet. His face had gone pale. “That thing. Where did you get it?”

Ryan frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“The bracelet!” Marcus shrieked. He reached for Ryan’s wrist. “It reeks of death. Of ending. I can feel it radiating off you—”

Ryan stepped back. “It’s just a bracelet.”

“NO.” Marcus’s hand trembled. “No, it’s not. It’s wrong. It’s—” He stopped. Took a shuddering breath. “You need to take it off. Right now. Before it’s too late.”

“Before what?”

“The signs,” Marcus whispered, eyes darting around like he expected something to appear. “They’re all aligning. The blood moon. The crows—thirteen of them circling last night, exactly thirteen… the thirteenth God.”

“Marcus—”

“And now this.” Marcus pointed at the bracelet. “That thing is calling to something. No, for something. Can’t you feel it? Death clings to it like—like a shadow. Like it’s waiting for something to happen.”

Ryan looked down at his wrist. The bracelet sat there. Inert. Normal.

“It’s just a bracelet.”

“Just a bracelet? It’s the harbinger of death?!” Marcus grabbed Ryan’s shoulders. “Listen to me. Tomorrow. The end of the world as you know it comes tomorrow. Fire. Screaming. So much death—” His voice cracked. “And that thing on your wrist is the catalyst. I’ve seen it in my visions. Please. Please. Take it off. Destroy it. Before—”

“Marcus.” Ryan pulled free, firm but not rough. “You’re not okay, you’re scaring the other students.”

Marcus looked around. A few students had stopped to watch, whispering.

“They think I’m mad,” Marcus said, voice dropping to a whisper. “They always do. But tomorrow… tomorrow they’ll see. Tomorrow everyone will see.” His eyes locked on the bracelet again. “And you’ll die wearing that thing. Unless you take it off.”

“I’m not taking it off,” Ryan said. “It’s just some metal. And you’re—you need to calm down.”

Marcus stared at him for a long moment. Something shifted in his expression. Desperation. Determination.

“Then I’ll save you myself,” he whispered.

Before Ryan could respond, Marcus turned and walked away, muttering under his breath.

Ryan stood there, unsettled.

Marcus was more insane than I thought. Why’s he even allowed in this Academy.

Ryan shook his head and continued toward the dormitory.

The room was empty when he arrived. Eleanor must be out somewhere.

Ryan sat on his bed and looked at the bracelet.

It seems like there’s something… odd about it. But a catalyst for the end of the World? I don’t think so.

He turned his wrist, watching light from the window catch the writing.

Yesterday it was a blood moon, today it’s my bracelet…

Ryan sighed. Lay back on his bed.

His body ached from the lifting. His mind ached from everything else.

He closed his eyes. Just for a moment.

The door opened.

Eleanor entered, carrying a book under one arm. She stopped when she saw him.

“Oh you’re back, where’d you guys go?” she asked.

Ryan sat up. “Sparring, it didn’t go well.”

She set the book down on her bed and turned to face him. “What happened?”

Ryan explained. The weights. Navius showing up. The fight. James dominating and then the ending of it.

Eleanor listened intently.

When he finished, she murmured. “Who’s Navius again?”

“The red-haired guy,” Ryan said. “The one I pointed out at the arena tournament. He’s a noble. An arrogant one.”

“I remember.” Eleanor crossed her arms. “You said he was unpleasant.”

“He’s worse than unpleasant. He’s dangerous.”

Eleanor was quiet for a moment. “Did you guys report him?”

Ryan laughed bitterly. “No it wasn’t anything deep. And anyway he claimed it was a fair fight. James challenged him, Navius accepted and used whatever he wanted.”

“That’s not a spar.”

“Try telling him that.”

Silence.

Eleanor lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling. “How badly is James hurt?”

“It was nothing too bad. He’s at the infirmary now and Jared’s with him.”

She nodded slowly.

Ryan leaned back against the wall. “I couldn’t even do anything. I just stood there and watched.”

“You’re barely a Tier 1 knight, with no experience fighting.” Eleanor said. “What were you supposed to do? Challenge Navius?”

“Maybe.”

“That would’ve been stupid.”

“Probably.” Ryan rubbed his face. “Doesn’t make it feel any better.”

Then the door opened… again.

James and Jared entered. James’s hand was wrapped in clean white bandages, and though he looked tired, he was steady on his feet.

“How’s the hand?” Ryan asked.

James flexed his fingers slightly, winced. “Healer says that there should be no pain by tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow. “That’s fast.”

“She’s a great healer,” Jared explained.

James sat on his bunk, staring at the bandages.

“I had him, that bastard,” he said quietly.

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, you did.”

“Exactly.” James’s voice was tight. “And that bastard couldn’t handle it. He just had to cheat.”

“He’s a knight and a mage,” Eleanor said carefully. “Using magic wasn’t fully cheating… Not technically.”

James looked up. “In a sword spar it is. He knew the terms. He knew he was losing. So he burned me. If what you say was true he would’ve used his element from the start.”

Silence settled over the room.

“What are you going to do?” Ryan asked.

James’s expression darkened. “Something. I don’t know yet.”

The dining hall was half-empty when they arrived. The four of them sat at a corner table. James barely touched his food. Just stared at his bandaged hand.

The afternoon passed painfully.

James stayed in the dorm, sitting on his bed, waiting for his hand to heal. Jared disappeared off somewhere. Eleanor went deep into her new book, seemingly something about water mages.

Ryan tried to distract himself. Walked the grounds. Watched students heading to and from the festival. Thought about doing some training but couldn’t bring himself to care.

By evening, the festival was still raging outside—music, laughter, distant cheers.

None of them felt like going.

They ate a quiet dinner and went to bed early.

Ryan took his bracelet off and left it on his bedside table.

He lay awake for a long time.

Across the room, James did the same.

Neither of them spoke.

Eventually, exhaustion won. Ryan’s eyes closed.

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