The Bookkeeper

The household was vulnerable.

Raiden stayed confined to his bed, downing potions to dull the pain of his wounds, but his chest still burned with every rattling cough, and he could feel something vital bleeding within. His body refused to mend, even after two days had passed since their battle with the blue giant.

While Raiden remained bedbound, wrestling with his ravaged body, Leo, less wounded than his master, pressed on with his training, believing the apprentice must carry the master's responsibilities when fate demanded it.

The evening was gentle, and Raiden lay abed, his fingers absently brushing against Ash's still form. For the first time since coming here, he felt overwhelmed by the burden of it all, his mind drifting inevitably to Jack's parents.

He was certain the Grim family would spare little thought for such a pitiful death as his—if they had even bothered to check whether he lived or died at all. 

Despite knowing this, he still wondered: if they had found him dead, would they have felt anything? Jobe's death had stirred nothing in them. The very day his brother died, they had forced him to train before cameras while they attended some prestigious party. But still, he was their last remaining child—surely that meant something?

He sought no answers, only the luxury of contemplation, the freedom to let his thoughts drift where they would. So he did, and found solace in the act itself.

As he lay there lost in thought, Leo entered his room. "How are you doing?" he asked, climbing the three steps to the bedside before settling beside him.

Raiden gave a brief nod, his face darkening with displeasure at the coddling, but he was in no position to refuse such care.

Leo handed him several potions and started working on his torso. "The girl's phoenix woke up not long ago."

Raiden's face contorted briefly, his eyes finding Leo's as the massage aggravated his broken ribs.

"I got a closer look at her phoenix, and it's unlike any I've seen before… is that why you brought her along?"

Raiden remained silent, inwardly resolving that he wouldn't suffer this torment any longer. Not merely the physical agony, but the indignity of being coddled like an infant.

Leo continued. "Well… I think she'll be getting up soon, but her injuries affected her brain, so unless we find a healer to help her…" He paused for a moment. "Maybe Aeris."

Raiden's gaze slid toward him, barely turning his head. Leo recognized the warning in that sideways look—mention of her name was unwelcome. Rather than provoke him further, Leo stood and made his way out of the room.

He paused and turned to Raiden. "I'll be bringing your meal soon."

The truth was, Raiden felt no particular irritation at hearing Aeris's name. He didn't care about her one way or the other, save for the certainty that he would end her life. He bore her no hatred, and Leo had misunderstood his expression entirely. His frustration stemmed from being coddled like a broken-down clerk rather than the warrior he remained.

Once Leo was gone, he muttered under his breath, "I need to get to my feet before tomorrow."

It was crucial because the silence from both the kingdom and the Dawnbringers meant a surprise attack could strike them at their most vulnerable.

He attempted to sit up, but even that small effort brought pain more intense than he'd ever experienced, his body burning with fever. He abandoned the attempt and lay staring upward, willing the torment to fade.

"What if I just pushed through the pain?" he muttered with a smirk. "That's not a bad idea…"

He drew slow, measured breaths while waiting for his moment. As soon as he felt able, he forcefully swung his legs over the edge and pulled himself upright in one sharp movement.

But in an instant, his body buckled at the waist as he cried out in agony and collapsed to the floor. He began letting out small, pained sounds as his entire rib cage felt like it had been shattered anew.

Leo chose that exact moment to return with his meal. Finding Raiden crumpled on the floor, making small sounds of pain, he shook his head with a sigh. "Can't you just wait a few days?"

He rushed over and carefully lifted him back onto the bed. "Let me take care of this for now… trust me, I've got it."

Raiden looked at Leo for a long while, appreciation warming him despite his silence. He had thoughts that could have encouraged his apprentice, but such words risked being taken the wrong way. What mattered was the certainty: Leo was someone he could trust completely.

He resolved not to surrender, methodically finishing his food bite by bite. Once Leo was gone, he exhaled deeply, yet a quiet smile touched his lips.

The loyalty of Leo's caliber was exceptionally rare. He was more faithful than Levi, despite Levi being contractually bound to serve. The thought occurred to him: would it be worthwhile to bind someone so naturally devoted with a formal contract?

Even betrayal from Leo would be acceptable—his loyalty had been so complete that he'd earned the right to choose his own path.

"Maybe I should sign with Speed and the phoenix girl instead…" his eyelids began to droop as sleep pulled at him. "Since Levi's already putting his life on the line for Speed, killing Speed probably won't make much difference now."

Sleep swept over him as soon as the words left his lips. He hadn't been under long when a touch jarred him awake—Leo's hand on his shoulder.

"You need to wake up, Bookkeeper…" Leo examined Ash for a moment before turning back to him. "It's past noon. You should take your medicine."

However Raiden tried to frame it, but he couldn't accept this treatment. Annoyance flared as he gritted his teeth, his consciousness still heavy with sleep.

"The girl's awake, but she won't talk to me." For the first time, Raiden's expression brightened, a subtle smile crossing his face. At last, he could advance his experience points.

"I told her you would visit her soon."