Gelehrter sat on a stool next to Rena, who had checked out several books for them. His master, Stolzer, lay in bed nearby. He showed almost no signs of life aside from slow breathing.

The Medical Wing had been composed of many beds, all aligned along the wall. Nurses and doctors strode past them, occasionally checking Stolzer's vital signs. Their uniform was white, the tabard of Sanctuary's holy cross, the fleur-de-lis, emblazoned in the center. Various times they spoke to Rena, the squire.

When Stolzer was relieved of his emblem, it was handed to Rena for safekeeping. The Sanguine Overlord had been by several times a day to see if he had shown any progress, but never stayed long. Every window was open to allow for warm summer air to drift through the room.

“What's going to happen to him?” Gelehrter had asked this several times and Rena always humored him.

“He's resting for now, we will know more when he wakes up.” Rena calmly answered him and turned the page in her book. His gaze now shifted to a desk she had brought and Stolzer's belongings had been placed there, few though they were. His sword, his emblem, his coin pouch, his clothes and his boots. White garments had been pulled onto his limp body days ago and were changed daily. He was taken for baths and a strange device was placed over his mouth which calmed his heavy breathing.

Two others accompanied the Sanguine Overlord into the Medical Wing now, the smell of soot overpowering the summer wind. Eisener reached for a couple of stools on his way over and sat next to his friend. Ana took her place next to her master, though it was closer to Gelehrter.

“Who did this to you, old boy...” The master smith muttered, his paws clutching Stolzer's hand. “What monstrosity would drove you to this, old friend...”

“Do you know what happened, miss?” Ana addressed Rena, who shook her head in reply.

“This matter is being investigated as we speak, Eisener.” Ovelia spoke after a spell of silence. The smith was too dumbfounded by the reality of the fate of his friend to respond. He sobbed softly, the callused soot stained hands gripping Stolzer's own hand almost as harshly as his hammer. Ana, however, watched Stolzer in his coma, unsure of how to react.

“You will be knighted soon, Rena. Stolzer will be so proud.” Ovelia smiled solemnly to the squire, who nodded in return. She set her tome down and stood upright, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “I'm sorry, I will leave you to mourn. If I have any more news, you will be informed immediately.”

Soon after Ovelia had departed, Eisener also stood.

“Come, you three. I know Stolzer will be taken care of...but we must take care of ourselves as well.” The master smith smiled now, wiping his face with a handkerchief. “Time for fishing!”