Kana sat by the bed holding Ceilie's hand while Filona went to work healing her injuries. A pile of empty [MP] potions was sitting at her side, and sweat dripped from her forehead as she worked. Hours after hours passed, and finally, Filona was able to wipe her brow. "Miss Kana, Miss Ceilie is stabilized. Now, all we can do is wait for her to wake up."
"Mmm... Thank you, Filona. Please go rest." Kana's eyes did not even leave Ceilie's face. Her eyes, at this point, were puffy from crying so much.
"Miss Kana, please go rest. Dinner is already served and is waiting for you downstairs. The staff will give Miss Ceilie a bath and change her clothes so she will be more comfortable. When she wakes, we will notify you."
"Mmm... Okay..." Kana took one more long glance at Ceilie before following a maid out of the room.
She never thought a day would come when someone close to her would be hurt this bad. Kana clenched her fist. 'If only I were faster! If only I got there a few minutes earlier!'
---
The Rural Kingdom's border with Elurean...
"Sir, the enemy has built a base camp and are slowly erecting a fort." A beastkin reported.
"Let them build. If we tried to step over the line now, it would mean an all-out attack from all sides. They are just trying to provoke us at this time to justify their actions to the Empire. The Yuthia Theocracy is just looking for the right reason to attack. They know the Empire does not like them and has the power to crush them, so they are wary." Said a man standing by a table with a map lying on top of it. There were many small figurines placed on the map, all situated at the border of the Rural Kingdom.
"But if we let them build up their defenses, we will be at a disadvantage." The beastkin who made the report was starting to become worried.
"That is why we will do the same. It has been a long time since we have any fort towns at our borders. Since they wish to build a fort, so shall we. One thing you have to understand. When the Yuthia theocracy was just formed, they were still hungry for more land. At the time, the east side of the theocracy used to be a small kingdom that bordered the empire called Horliam. The problem was, was that if the theocracy actually attacked another kingdom, the empire had threatened to step in. So in order to get Horliam to initiate the attack, they had begun building forts along the border. Instead of building forts of their own, they made the choice to attack instead. It ended with almost 70 percent of their forces being killed and the annexation of their entire kingdom. Because the Horliam kingdom attacked first, the empire did not step in to stop the theocracy.
"This time is the same. The empire does not condone the actions of the theocracy by threatening the smaller kingdoms into helping them attack our Rural Kingdom. But because of the combined strengths of the three countries, the Empire can not step in directly and can only take a political approach at this time. But they will also not side with us. They also use our people as slaves. They know if they wish to help us, they would need to abolish slavery in their lands. So they have no choice but to stay back and watch the show. But the thing which I find funny is that if the theocracy is somehow able to win this war, then the empire would end up having to submit to them. No matter how you look at it, the Empire will be stuck with no way out and all because they do not want to give up their free laborers. They will rather bow down to the damn church.
"Soldier, remember religion can be a scary thing. It is fine to believe in the goddess or whatever ever, but never let it control your life. Those goddesses could give a shit less about us. Otherwise, they would be down here to stop this all from happening." The man by the map explained.
---
High above the skies, Yuthia was watching the happenings below and frowned. "Why the hell should I stick my neck out for you punks!? Look how old and ugly you are! Why would I even attempt to save your butt when you look like something I stepped in ten thousand years ago!?"
"Yuthia, shut up!" Sei took the grape in her hand and threw it at Yuthia.
"Ouch! God damn it! Sei, do you have something against my eyes!? Why the hell am I still friends with you!?"
"Since when were we friends?" Sei asked, her expression completely blank as she tilted her head to the side as if lost in thought, trying to figure out when their friendship ever started.
"You!" Yuthia was holding her eyes pouting. Tears were beginning to well up in her good eye.
"Sei, stop being mean to Yuthia." A voice came from behind them.
"I am just teasing her." Sei said with a shrug before going back to watching the screen.
"How is making me go blind for the eighth time this week considered teasing!?" Yuthia yelled out. She had been hit in the eyes by grapes so many times she was starting to form a fear of grapes!
"Alright, calm down, Yuthia. are you still watching that child?" A woman with cat ears and four tails lifted Yuthia's feet and sat down before putting Yuthia's feet on her lap.
"Mmm... Her friend almost died, just recently though. The poor girl put up a strong fight against many foes stronger than herself. Luckily it seems she will pull through. Come to think of it; she seems to be from your race. A cat sith but only has one tail." Yuthia explained as she rubbed her sore eye.
"Hmmm... I guess I will watch this friend of hers if she is worthy. I may give her a blessing down the road."