The Substitute Healer (BL)-Chapter 52: “Melissa, no!”

"Let’s go! I have to escort you to safety!"

Gaspar pushed forward through the chaos with his sword already stained dark as he carved a narrow path away from the battlefield. The roars of the beasts thundered behind them while shaking the ground with every heavy step.

He didn’t slow down even when the screeches grew closer and only barked sharp orders for the healers to keep up.

Arctelle followed, though his steps faltered again and again as his gaze kept drifting backward.

There is smoke, blood, and flashes of steel filled his vision along with his people who are still there, tangled in the fray while executing the plan meant to separate Soren from the unit.

The sight made his jaw clench.

"Sir, you don’t have to worry about us," Arctelle protested with his strained voice as he suddenly grabbed Soren’s wrist to pull him closer.

The gesture was intentional and performative as if to show Gaspar that he was also ready to take actions if there will beasts that will come to them. "What will happen to His Grace Davenmore and His Highness?"

Gaspar hesitated.

For a brief moment, he turned his head, eyes sweeping over the battlefield.

There, Alaric stood at the center like an unyielding wall with his blade flashing as he cut down beast after beast. Nearby, Cael fought with terrifying precision, every movement honed and lethal.

Around them, the Davenmore knights and Imperial Knights struggled to hold the line with their formations wavering under the sheer number of beasts pressing in.

They were undeniably strong. Two swordmasters, elite knights and seasoned warriors but they were still human while the beasts were are too many.

Realizing that, Gaspar’s grip on his sword tightened.

Even a single scratch from those beasts could turn the tide while spreading panic and breaking formation. He knew it and he hated it yet as someone entrusted with a mission by his lord, hesitation was a luxury he could not afford.

"My apologies but we need to follow orders," he said at last, turning back his gaze to the healers. "My duty is to protect you."

Realizing that he won’t be able to manipulate the knight, Arctelle fell silent though his fingers only tightened further around Soren’s wrist out of irritation but Soren didn’t even react.

He didn’t flinch and pull away.

Didn’t even notice how painful Arctelle’s grip had become for a normal person since pain was something distant to him like an echo from another life.

To him, it was just another hand holding onto his. All Soren knew was the fact that Arctelle hated him.

Looking at how irritated Arctelle’s face was despite his smiling façade, Soren knew that he was the leasts of Arctelle’s concern. He didn’t even know why he’s being hated or when it started especially the reason.

And no matter how hard he tried to recall every interaction between them, nothing could explain Arctelle’s indifference towards him or maybe, he just hated him out of being him. Even if Soren knew that he didn’t do anything to get his attention or disdain, Soren just brushed it off as another whim of a person against him.

Being hated was nothing new.

Whether he did good or ill, whether he kept his head down or stood out, prejudice followed him like a shadow.

People judged, whispered, and decided who he was long before he ever spoke.

If Arctelle wanted to hate him, then so be it.

Soren simply lowered his gaze and let himself be dragged forward, unaware that behind them, steel clashed and blood soaked into the earth and that Arctelle’s grip, trembling and possessive, held far more than simple hostility.

"Protect His Highness! More are coming!"

The shout was almost lost in the strong wind, which blew snowflakes sharply across the battlefield.

The ground was icy and slippery, making their boots slip and crunch as a Wraithfang suddenly jumped out of the trees that was covered with snow. Its dark fur was dusted with frost, and its sharp claws cut through the cold air.

Fortunately, Alaric intercepted it without hesitation and raised his shield just in time as he slammed into the creature head-on.

The impact sent snow spraying around them with the cold biting into his arms as he forced it back.

"Hold the line!" Alaric shouted with his breath fogging heavily. "Don’t let them break through!"

In the center, Alaric fought with careful precision.

Snow stuck to his hair and shoulders, melting and freezing again on his armor.

His sword flashed as he sliced through the neck of a Grudge Hound, its black blood hissing as it hit the icy ground. Before he could steady himself, another Wraithfang leapt at his blind side, its claws glinting in the cold air.

"Your Grace, on your back!"

Hector surged forward, boots slipping on the icy ground, and grabbed the beast’s massive paw just as it swung toward him. The cold bit at his muscles as he twisted sharply, plunging his sword straight into its skull. Then, the beast went down with a heavy crash, snow spraying up around its body.

Without a pause, Hector pulled his blade free and drove it in again, making sure it wouldn’t rise.

While Alaric spared him only a brief nod before stepping over the corpse and now already turning toward the next threat.

On the prince’s flank, Cael fought like a winter storm given form.

The wind tore at Cael’s cloak while whipping it wildly behind him while Louie, Kent, and Justin stayed close, moving together like a single, practiced unit.

Louie’s spear swept low as the metal rimed with ice before it pierced the legs of a Frostfang Warg and sent the beast crashing into the snow.

Justin, on the other hand followed immediately, finishing it with a brutal downward strike that cracked the bone.

"Your Highness, please don’t overexert yourself!" Justin warned while making sure no beasts will get past them and injure the prince.

"I’m fine," Cael snapped back though his breath came faster, visible in sharp white bursts. Ice even crusted at the edges of his torn cloak as another Grudge Hound charged straight at him.

Melissa cut in with a sharp cry, her sword flashing silver against the white as she drove the beast away from the prince.

She then spun smoothly while slashing deep across its flank before retreating back into formation with her boots carving tracks through the snow.

"They’re circling!" she shouted over the wind. "They’re targeting the rear!"

As if summoned by her words, several Frostfang Wargs broke away from the main clash along with their glowing eyes fixed on the distant figures while retreating through the snowfall.

Beyond the haze of drifting snow, the carriage escort was already moving but the beasts bounded across the frozen ground with terrifying speed.

"The healers!" Louie shouted while his eyes are widening as icy wind cut across his face.

Alaric followed his gaze with Cael’s expression a bit panicking without knowing why as both of them spotted the dark shapes of beasts that’s now surging forward.

"Cut them down!" Alaric roared. "Do not let a single one escape!"

Hearing the order, Kent slammed his shield into another charging beast while Melissa stepping in beside him as they fought back-to-back along with their steel that’s ringing sharply in the cold air.

Hector and Justin anchored himself behind Alaric while taking blow after blow meant for the duke, while Louie tightened his formation around Cael, refusing to give even an inch.

Still, the beasts kept coming.

Wraithfang.

Grudge Hounds.

Frostfang Wargs.

All are massive and four-legged monstrosities surging through the snow in relentless packs while trampling over frozen corpses with mindless hunger. Blood steamed where it spilled, dark against the white while the wind carried the stench of death across the field.

And beyond the blinding curtain of snow, more shadows stirred in the forest.

"Duke, who’s with your vice-captain?" Cael asked while driving his sword straight through the skull of a Grudge Hound.

He then yanked the blade free a moment later, breath misting sharply in the freezing air as snow swirled violently around them.

"He’s alone, Your Highness," Alaric replied while cutting down another beast with a brutal slash.

"But some of my men are stationed near where the carriages are parked. That’s where our supplies are."

Cael’s eyes flicked briefly toward the rear where the snowfall thickened and shadows moved far too freely. "Alright but we need to send someone to make sure. Too many beasts are slipping past us and they’re heading in that direction."

"Righ, ugh!" Alaric opened his mouth to respond when a massive paw slammed down on his sword, forcing him back several steps as the frozen ground skidded beneath his boots.

He grunted, muscles straining as he twisted his grip and shoved upward while barely forcing the beast off balance. The moment it staggered, he stepped in and slashed deep then drove his blade straight through its chest.

The creature collapsed into the snow with a heavy thud with its blood steaming in the cold.

Before Alaric could speak again, a scream cut through the battlefield.

"Melissa, no!"