The moonlight filtered softly through the windows of the healing barracks, casting pale beams across the rows of wounded soldiers lying in silence. The air smelled of herbs, disinfectant, and faint blood.
Rowdy lay in one of the far cots, stripped of his shredded clothes and wrapped head to toe in thick white bandages stained crimson. His chest rose slowly, rhythmically, each breath a shallow labor. Tubes and salves lined the edges of his cot, and despite his injuries, one of his hands was gently clutching another.
Sam sat beside him, still in her battle-dusted clothes, eyes sunken with exhaustion but unwilling to close. Her fingers laced with his. Her head bowed, resting gently against their joined hands.
She didn't say anything.
She didn't need to.
The silence spoke, I'm here. I see you. I'm not letting go.
Suddenly, the door burst open down the hall, boots slapping against stone.
"Where is he?!" Joshua's voice echoed with urgency.
He had sprinted all the way here, cloak fluttering, hair wind-whipped, chest heaving. Two guards stepped aside as he rushed past, their whispers trailing him.
"That vampire… they said he nearly died… from a werewolf."
He turned the corner...
And froze.
There he was.
Rowdy.
Barely conscious. Beaten. Broken.
Bandaged like a mummy.
His sharp eyes softened, and the fury in his heart dulled to a quiet ache.
Sam looked up at him.
Her face pale, her eyes tired, but calm.
Their eyes met. She offered him a quiet, grateful smile.
Joshua nodded, returning the smile briefly before his gaze returned to Rowdy.
Rowdy's lips curled faintly.
"Yo… what's up, roomie?" he croaked, voice weak but playful, like a flickering ember refusing to die.
Joshua blinked, chuckled dryly, and walked closer, pulling up the chair beside the bed.
"What the hell happened to you?" he asked, trying not to sound like his throat was tightening.
Rowdy looked over at Sam. His smile faded, becoming gentle.
"Sam," he said, his voice low. "You need to get some rest."
She shook her head immediately. "No. I'm not leaving you like this..."
"You've been here the whole time," Rowdy whispered. "I'll be okay. Let my dramatic ass rest with this big mutt keeping an eye on me."
Sam looked at him, uncertain, clutching his hand tighter.
But Rowdy smiled again. "I promise. I just need a little guy talk."
Sam exhaled, finally relenting.
She leaned in, brushing her lips gently against his forehead. "Okay. I'll go rest. But you… stay alive, idiot."
"I'll try," he murmured.
She stood up and walked past Joshua.
They shared a silent glance, tired, heavy, but filled with mutual respect.
Then she was gone.
Joshua sat down.
He looked at Rowdy's battered body, his chest still rising and falling like a wave struggling to keep afloat.
"…Why didn't the witches heal you?" Joshua finally asked.
Rowdy tilted his head slightly. "Witches can't heal Noble vampires. Too stubborn. Too... cursed."
"But James was healed by witches," Joshua said. "And he was a noble vampire, wasn't he?"
Rowdy paused, then chuckled grimly.
"James was a mutated noble. That's why the other nobles never accepted him, he could do things they couldn't. Weird things. Powerful things. Stuff that made them scared. That's why they wanted him dead. To them, he was an impurity."
Joshua frowned. "So… how do you heal?"
Rowdy looked away. "There's a way. I never wanted to use it. Never wanted to ask Sam."
Joshua stayed quiet.
Rowdy continued, eyes distant.
"If I drink blood from any race… it'll heal me. Drinking drained blood helps a little. But drinking it fresh… from the source… it heals me instantly."
He clenched his jaw. "But it's extremely painful for the person I drink from. I've seen it... I didn't want to put her through that."
Joshua's brows drew together. He didn't hesitate.
"You know I'm not gonna let you suffer like this, right?"
Rowdy looked up, about to speak.
"I know I'm asking a lot, but… can I..."
Before he could finish, Joshua had already shoved his bare wrist toward Rowdy's mouth.
"Of course you can," Joshua said softly. "We're friends. After all."
Rowdy's red eyes widened with disbelief, moisture gathering in the corners.
"…You idiot," he whispered.
Then he bit down.
Fangs pierced flesh.
Joshua's body jerked violently from the searing pain. His muscles locked, breath caught in his throat.
It was like fire crawling through his veins. His entire body lit up in agony.
But he didn't scream.
He grit his teeth, sweat pouring down his face, neck tensed as if he was holding back a roar of pain.
Rowdy drank deeply.
For a moment… silence.
Then...
WHOOSH.
Rowdy's body started to steam.
His chest arched off the bed.
His wounds began to mend.
Stitches burst apart as skin began knitting itself.
The bruises faded. The color returned to his face.
Convulsions shook his body like thunder.
Joshua winced hard, holding onto the edge of the bed as his vision blurred.
Then…
Rowdy pulled away. Fangs retracting. Blood on his lips.
He exhaled.
The steam slowly stopped.
His chest heaved.
The pain faded.
He was… healing.
Rowdy looked down at himself, bandages still around his arms, but under them, flesh was closing, knitting tight.
Joshua slumped back, panting, wiping his soaked brow with a shaky hand.
He looked over at Rowdy and managed a smile.
Rowdy turned his head, still weak, but conscious.
Joshua whispered, "You look like a stitched-up horror play, man."
Rowdy let out a laugh, soft and tired. "Could say the same about your taste in self-sacrifice."
They both laughed, quiet, broken laughter. But real.
Joshua sat back up. "Alright. Spill. What the hell happened?"
Rowdy stared at the ceiling, eyes distant.
"I ran into Sawyl."
Joshua jolted up. "Sawyl?! I thought Blanchette killed him!"
"I thought so too…" Rowdy said, jaw tightening. "Guess the bastard had more lives than we thought."
Joshua looked at him in disbelief. "Then what the hell did he do to you? You look like you got hit by a hurricane."
Rowdy smirked. "No… I killed him."
Joshua's eyes went wide.
"You what?"
Rowdy chuckled. "Slammed his damn head into the earth until it cracked like a melon. Split the stone and all."
Joshua blinked. Then grinned like a kid hearing the coolest story of all time.
"…That's badass."
Rowdy grinned back. "Told you I've been training with the best sparring partner in the world."
They laughed again.
Then they fist-bumped.
Joshua leaned back. "So… the date?"
Rowdy's grin stretched wider than ever before.
"It was… incredible. She saw me. Really saw me. She kissed me, man."
Joshua's jaw dropped in mock shock. "Let's GO!" he shouted, throwing his arms around Rowdy in a half-hug, half-tackle.
Rowdy winced at first but then laughed and hugged back.
They held there, two brothers from different worlds, bonded by pain, blood, and truth.
Just two misfits.
Standing together.
Against it all.
The next Morning...
In the Warriors den, knight barracks, tucked behind the east wing of the Kaizer estate, Raphael leaned back on his bed, arms behind his head, chewing on a dry biscuit. His claymore rested against the wall beside him, gleaming faintly in the sunlight trickling through the curtains. Jack sat cross-legged on the floor, hunched over a map of the capital spread on the carpet.
"We're running low on bandages, spare blades, and salves, and we can't train with Captain Percival without supplies." Jack muttered, scratching behind his ear.
Raphael raised a brow. "Didn't we restock like… a week ago?"
"Yeah, and then Rowdy decided to fight a goddamn apocalypse with his face."
Raphael let out a snort. "Point taken."
Jack stood, brushing crumbs off his pants. "Let's head down to the human district. It's quieter than the noble zone, and their supply vendors don't ask too many questions."
Raphael grabbed his cloak and nodded. "I could use the walk. And maybe some dumplings."
"Always dumplings with you," Jack said, chuckling as they left the room and disappeared down the hallway.
Kaizer Garden — Late Morning
The sun still shinning high, casting the garden in soft gold and orange. A gentle breeze rolled through the rows of neatly trimmed hedges and blooming roses. The fountain in the center burbled quietly, its water reflecting the fire-colored sky.
Joshua sat at a round table with Emelia, Eric, Sam, and Rowdy.
A teapot steamed between them, its scent floral and calming. Several pastries and sandwiches lined a silver tray in the center of the table, though most had been picked apart by Rowdy, who was currently shoving a triangle-cut cucumber sandwich into his mouth with a contented hum.
Sam laughed softly beside him, nudging his shoulder. "You're supposed to savor those, not inhale them."
Rowdy grinned, mouth still full. "Can't savor anything when you're recovering from near death."
Joshua chuckled. "He's got a point."
Eric adjusted his monocle on his make-up covered face and lifted a cup of tea with calculated elegance. "Frankly, it's a miracle he's not in a coma. Or dead."
"I'm hard to kill," Rowdy muttered smugly.
Sam rolled her eyes but looked proud.
"Anyway…" she said, setting her cup down. "We're heading to the human district again today."
Rowdy perked up. "Yup. Another date. This time I won't get into a life-or-death battle... probably."
Emelia smirked, "You sure? You two are like a curse to peace."
Joshua leaned back in his chair. "Lovebirds causing chaos wherever they go."
Eric cleared his throat, sipping. "Just make sure you don't destroy another building. The Church already sent a notice."
Rowdy saluted. "No promises."
Sam grabbed her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. "Come on, Romeo. Let's go before the market closes."
Rowdy stood, stretched a little, the motion made him wince slightly, his healing still in progress, then nodded to the others.
"Later, nerds," he said with a grin.
"Stay out of trouble," Emelia said with a knowing smirk.
As they turned to leave, Joshua gave Sam a little salute, and Rowdy a thumbs up.
The couple disappeared down the garden path hand-in-hand.
Eric stood, brushing imaginary dust from his long coat. "As charming as this was, I have experiments awaiting me. The sooner I isolate that mutagen sample, the better."
Joshua raised a brow. "More glowing rats?"
"Hopefully less explosive ones," Eric muttered, turning to leave.
Emelia stood as well, gathering a small pile of folded cloth.
"I've got laundry duty. And if I don't hang everything before sundown. Or the Queen is going to cut my pay."
"Why does she keep doing that?"
"She says if I forget the chores, then I'm not a real maid."
Joshua laughed. "Sounds about right."
Emelia gave him a playful wink. "Don't set the garden on fire while I'm gone."
And then he was alone.
He leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head, gazing up at the clouds slowly shifting across the sky.
Peaceful.
But brief.
"…What now?" he muttered aloud.
Then, a thought sparked.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Crystal.
He stood up, cracking his knuckles and stretching.
"She's probably still down in the Slums… haven't checked in since the meeting with Zain outside the witches' den."
He dusted off his pants, then walked off toward the side gate of the estate, humming softly to himself.
"Time to pay a visit to the creepiest, sassiest old lady I know…" he grinned. "Hope she is doing okay."
And with that, Joshua strolled off under the twilight sky, hands behind his head, unaware that what awaited in the Slums wasn't just beer and sass…
…but trouble stirring in the shadows.