─And with this, we're done, Who's next? ─said a man in his fifties, tall, pointy hair, big nose and thick mustache, he was the town's healer.

─What chu saying Don Vik? You missed his face ─a soldier spoke.

─True, true, he's so ugly that will cause nightmares to his mother, please help him ─laughed another man.

─Ha haa... not funny. You idiots! ─reproched the soldier they made fun of.

<<Mnnn, Who's making that noise?>> thought somebody in the next room.

─Ah! it's my turn Don Vik ─a diferent boy talked.

<<I don't recognize those voices>>.

─Ingrid, You think my face is beautiful and attractive, right? C'mon tell them.

─Emmn... ─a young blonde woman just smiled at him, she was the assistent and Viktor's niece.

In the next room, the patiente that tried to rest, opened his eyes, he was woken up by the disturbance of the soldiers, they laughed out loud because of the girl's answer.

─Eh... what is this place? ─the room was unknown to him ─. Gnh, aaah! ─he tried to sit on the bed, but any movement caused him a lot of pain, also he couldn't breathe with ease.

One of the soldiers heard the moans ─. Shhh, Silence... ─he took a look at the other room, he was surprised to see the kid awake ─. Uh-oh... Hey Don Vik!, the kid is finally awake, he seems to be in pain.

Viktor and Ingrid were alarmed, they ran in aid to the sore patient.

─What are you doing? Don't move! your wounds will open ─she said and tried to lay him down.

<<Who are you? don't touch me>> he struggled ─. Haah... Wh-where, cof cof, am I?... Haah ─said the blue haired boy.

Viktor held the boy's arm with one hand, with the other touched his forehead.

<<Cht, I don't have any kivet with me, step away sir... >> Raidha stoped resisting. <<Uuugh, the... the pain... is diminishing...>> he layed down and could breathe normaly. <<He can use herbal kivets...>> he was calming down when the soldier that heard him enter the room <<Wooa!! an imperial soldier?!>> the boy felt sleepy, then his eyes shut down.

─And who is this? ─asked Sennet, the imperial man.

─We don't know Commander. My uncle found him unconscious and pretty bad injured.

─Hmmmn, I see.

─Ingrid dear, stay with him. I almost finish healing the others.

Viktor dealt with the other patients. Sennet was a young adult, you could see he built his body with care, he combed his hair pointed to the left; he was popular in the town thanks to his attratcive face. He was observing the boy with suspicions at the door.

─Is something wrong, Commander Sennet? ─she asked.

─His face is familiar to me, that's all ─he turned around ─. Let me know when you know more about him.

─Of course ─she nodded and when she was alone, she sighed in relief ─. We're finally going to know what happened to you.

A few hours later, the boy woke up again. Ingrid and Viktor were observing him in the room.

─Hey, you're back, how do you feel? ─the man asked.

─Uhm... Afflicted and lost... Where... am I? ─still was hard for him to talk fluently.

─You are at the "Moonlight inn", at Minawoods, is a small town ─the girl said.

─Mina...woods? ─he grimaced, he never heard of such a place ─. I-is it... far from... ─the healer reached his hand to the boy's chest, but he instinctively pulled back.

─It's ok, we won't hurt you. Ingrid, help me sit him down ─once they could move the kid, Viktor started passing him restoring energy.

─Aghn... Thanks. <<I'm sure I saw an enemy soldier, I can't let my guard dowm>> ─the prince could now breathe perfectly ─. How did I ended... here?

─My uncle found you half dead at the cove.

─It's a real miracle that you are alive, when I found you; well, I thought the worst.

─Your wounds were pretty grose and deep ─she added.

The boy's countenance saddened, he remembered how incompetent he was in that battle ─. This place is under the empire, isn't it? ─after a brief pause, she answered affirmatively, he reacted to this by pulling away the medic's hand.

─Easy, easy, we know who you are, Prince Raidha.

He was in shock. <<I don't understand, if they are from the empire and know my identity, why are they helping me?>>. He steped out of the bed, he tried to run away, but he was in bed for too long, his legs were weak and didn't respond, he just reached the floor.

─What the heck are you doing? ─she stood up. Ingrid and her uncle tried to pull up Raidha from the ground, yet he opposed ─. Stop! you're gonna open your wounds again, stupid boy ─she scolded.

─Let me go!! Arg! ─at last he got tired and was pulled back into the bed, resigned he asked ─. Did anybody from my family or Iskyla has come to look for me?! ─the other two remained silent.

─What's the last thing you remember, young prince? ─Viktor asked.

<<Why is he not answering my question?... perhaps Nero and the others...>> he looked at his injuries and aswered with sadness ─. Ehm... I remember the empire attacking my city... I... ─he made a pause, he was having painful memeories. <<I argued with my brother...>> he sighed ─. I... lost my encounter against Helios ─he touched his chest wound, the one drawn by the sentinel's sword.

─You faced the Emperor?!!! ─they said at the same time.

─If you could call that an encounter, yes ─Raidha said in a shameful tone ducking his head ─. That's all I can think of, after... I was here with you and the fuss.

─Well, now everything makes sense and explains the severity of your wounds ─Ingrid sitted on a chair next to the bed. She couldn't believe what she heard, and was mumbling ─. Against the Emperor...

─So... Nobody has come for me?

─Your Highness, the attack you mention was three months ago.

─Eeeh?!! three months ago!!!

─Besides, to the world you're a dead prince ─the tender girl added.

─What! No... ─he started hyperventilating, he wasn't assimilating those words ─. I'm not dead!!... You're lying!! <<This means... Nero will never look for me... it can't be>>.

─Why would we be lying? we've been taking care of you since then.

─Sir, in three months, I wouldn't have this injuries. Maybe, you're keeping me weak, to hand me over to the Emperor!

─Listen to yourself!! Nonsnese! ─the comment upset the lady ─. Do you have a remote idea of what we've been through to keep your secret? ─with both hands she grabed his clothes, shooked him and with a withering look continued reprimanding ─. My uncle Viktor is the only healer left in thin town, where the patients are recurrent so... ─now she was relly angry ─. Sorry your majesty if we couldn't give you a royal treatment!!

─Ingrid enough!

Once again the prince was coughing and breathing with trouble, the missy still exalted, threw him off to the bed. <<Wow, this girl scares me more than the empire, what a horrid temperament>>. He coughed a little more ─. I'm... I'm sorry.

─Huff... we shouldn't have saved you, you're an insolent ─she left the room loudly.

─I'm really sorry, I didn't pretended to offend you ─he said saddened.

─It's not your fault, your highness ─one more time he put his hands over the prince's chest to clam the boy's pain and improve his breathing ─. Her temperament is... delicate.

─But... Why did you sa-save me... instead of... getting my bounty?

All Empire's opponents had a bounty for their heads, pretty jucy if I may say; you could have a luxury life with the prince's.

─I think you can imagine, what really happens if somebody reclaims a bounty to the emperor. The truth is... I guess I still have hope... In the brave ones that fight against the empire, like you. That's why I didn't betray you ─Viktor finished his healing and tucked him in, Raidha smiled ─. It's late, try to get some sleep, you'll recover faster.

─Alright... ehm... Mr. Viktor... ─he stopped the man by pulling his clothes ─. I'm deeply grateful for taking care of me all this time, when I get back to my city... I'll repay you.

The smiling man nodded and left the room.