Despite my protest, I was frozen by Ice Cube again in order to stabilize my condition. It was completely unnecessary, just because I began to have painful headaches and could taste the color turquoise did not mean I needed to become a popsicle again. Now the number of times Ice Cube has frozen me is now 2, which is 2 more than I would have liked. After being frozen everything went blank. When I came to, I was blinded by a flash of white light. It took about a minute for my eyes to adjust. I look around and see that I’m in a hospital bed surrounded by other patients who are bed ridden as well. I believe this is the same hospital I was at when Akane beat me up way back when. I’m in a different bed but I’m quite sure it’s the same room. I look to my right and notice that there’s someone sitting on a stool who has their back facing towards me, they’re looking at the person laying in the bed to my right. I look at their hair and notice that it’s blonde and curly.

“Adam?” I ask hoping it’s not him.

“Quincy!? You’re finally awake!” he excitedly yells spinning around in his stool, almost falling off in the process.

“Unfortunately yes. Also ow you’re loud it hurts.” I complain.

“Sorry about that, I was starting to worry you’d never wake up. You’ve been asleep for 3 and a half weeks”

“...Jesus that long? I need to get out of this bed.” I say as I try to lift myself up.

When I lean upwards however a sharp pain goes through my head making me lay right back down. I have a massive headache all of a sudden

“Ow!” I writhe in pain holding onto my forehead.

I touch the back of my head and realize that there are stitches on the back.

“Quincy don’t move! You’re still recovering from the surgery. Well...third surgery. The doctors had trouble trying to get the bullet out of your head.” Adam tells me.

“Oh great no wonder my head feels like it wants to explode, at least they got it out.”

“....”

“Adam?”

“....”

“Oh my god it’s still in there!?”

“I-It’s not that bad, o-ok? The doctors realized that removing it would have caused more brain damage so what they decided was to just repair the brain tissue around it. After enough time they said you’ll never know it’s there.”

“I can’t believe this.”

“The doctors couldn’t believe it either. They said you should have died the moment you got shot but apparently your aura slowed down the bullet.”

“I would have been better off if I just let the thing go through my head.”

“I’m not sure about that. They say that if it went all the way through your head would’ve exploded.”

“...Great. No wonder I have a slight taste of purple in my mouth. So where’s everyone else at? Are they here as well?”

“No, everyone else’s injuries weren’t too serious. They were discharged about two weeks ago. Everyone’s been on the airship since then. We wanted to wait until you and Warren healed up before we went back to Colonus.”

“What about the knights?” I ask hoping Luther would be nearby.

Seeing him would make me feel so much better. I also want to verify that I can talk to Ice Cube, I’m still not sure if that part in my memory was real or I just imagined it.

“They were ordered to go back to the castle to investigate what happened to….everyone. We were told by a government official that Warren and his friends prevented a ritual to start the demon wave. They found a sphere called a….Valantir I think it was called? It was a very ancient relic that harnesses souls to open up a portal to the demon world. It was destroyed right before it could open the portal. After that the knights were ordered to head back to Colonus, they didn’t tell us for what reason” Adam explains, his face now looking solemn.

Warren’s friends truly are gone. I feel awful, the man went through a lot to find them again only to lose them like that. The consolation is that they saved the world but that probably means nothing to Warren. Speaking of Warren I look behind Adam and see that he’s in bad shape. He has this respirator over his mouth and his body has a bunch of tubes over it. He looks a lot worse than me which is saying something since I got shot in the head.

“How’s Warren doing?” I question.

“...Not good. The doctors said it’s not a guarantee he’ll wake up. I’ve been watching over you two since you were both put in here and after the surgeries they said his condition hasn’t changed.”

“He’s going to be fine Adam, Warren is one of the toughest guys I know. He’s going to wake up” I state with confidence.

“I-I hope so. I’m getting tired of this view.” Adam remarks as he glances back at Warren.

“And I’m getting tired of getting my ass kicked. Once we get back I’m retiring.”

“I get what you mean. After I finish organizing the funerals for everyone I never want to leave my room ever again”

For some reason I feel bad for Adam, usually I would chastise him for wanting to be a hermit-which is totally different from my hermit plan because I’ll be reading so I’ll be productive- but I don’t feel like it. If Adam is this depressed I wonder how Nerva’s doing.

“How’s Nerva been coping?”

“The only way she can.”

“Which means?”

“Setting things on fire.”

“Isn’t that what she does when she’s happy?”

“Yeah.”

Nerva is a simple girl. No matter what happens, stuff is going to get burned. I have a feeling her burning things is the type of thing she has to let out. Kind of like a long cry, but in this case a long burning. I feel bad for the fire department.

I unconsciously then ask “How about you? How’re you doing?”

Oh no, why did I ask that? Is it pity? But it’s Adam. What the hell?

I look at Adam and his face is more depressed than before, tears start to slowly come out of his eyes, being reminded of what happened to his fellow adventurers.

“I-I’m alright. D-don’t worry about me. I-I’m ok.” he says wiping the tears off his face with his arm.

I suppose Adam was closer to Warren’s friends than he led on.

“Y-you know I bet you’re going to call me a crybaby now.” Adam predicts.

“No. No I’m not. It’s ok to cry. People need a good cry every now and then.”

Adam now has a slight smile on his face and attempts to go in for a hug.

“ADAM NO! STOP! CEASE!” I bark.

He fortunately listens. Dang, I almost let something awful happen. I already got hugged once by Adam, which is one time too many.

“U-ugh yeah right. It’s just that you’ve been so nice to me.”

“Obviously I’m still suffering from brain damage.”

“B-but..ok. Hey I'm going to tell everyone you’re awake. Everyone’s been worried sick, I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time. Like all your time.”

Adam leaves, leaving me alone with an unconscious Warren. I think to myself that we’ve been through a lot to put down this dumb peasant rebellion. I wonder if we even won. We didn’t stop the Man of Stone, never even saw him. We didn’t stop the demon wave, Warren and his friends did. All I did was get beat up, nothing heroic there. I may be selling myself short but in the grand scheme of things I feel like nothing was accomplished. Warren is going to feel awful when he wakes up, I need to try to do something for him. Maybe I’ll lend him one of my books. Actually no, I need to make sure Warren gets a higher adventurer rank for all he’s done. I wonder if everyone else will get promoted. I already know Will and I don’t care about ranks but I’m sure everyone else does. As I think about this I start to hear some singing coming from the hallway, it gets progressively louder.

“As I walk this land of broken dreams, I have visions of many things. But happiness is just an illusion, filled with sadness and confusion. What becomes of the broken hearted? Who had love that’s now departed? I know I got to find some sort of piece of mind, maybe please. I walk in shadows, searching for light. Cold and alone, no comfort in sight. Hoping and praying, for someone who cares, always moving, and going nowhere. What becomes of the broken hearted? Who had love that’s now departed? I know I gotta find, some sort of piece of mind, maybe please” the voice sings.

The voice is definitely male, and I have to admit, the guy can sing. As I listen, a bad feeling comes over me. This song sounds familiar. Do I know this song? I must have heard it when Warren was driving the car. I quickly cast away that thought, this song sounds nothing like the music I heard on the radio. This is bothering me. I furrow my eyes and begin to go through all my memories when I realize the singer is coming to this room.

“Ah so he’s here?” the singer asks.

“Yes but please be gentle. He still hasn’t regained consciousness.” I hear a nurse answer.

“Don’t worry I would never do anything to harm my friend. Thank you very much nurse”

“N-no problem” the nurse responds, sounding flustered.

I look at the doorway and see a man standing in it. The first thing I notice is his hair color. It’s pure snow white, it looks as white as Ice Cube’s hair. It’s also full of perhaps too much pomade as his hair looks like a wave. The next thing I notice are his eyes which are a blue that looks like the ocean, they really stick out, like your eyes are drawn to his. For his attire he’s wearing a white long sleeved collared shirt and wearing black slacks. He looks like he needs to be on a date, not at the hospital. All the nurses are giving him glances and giggling to themselves. Oh great, he's a pretty boy. I don’t get along with those types, too shallow for my taste, they never read books. I have a bad feeling about this guy but I’m pretty sure that’s just my prejudice against attractive people going into gear. In his arms I see that he’s holding a bottle of champagne. He enters the room whistling the song he was singing earlier. I guess this guy is here to see his sweetheart or something. He walks and I notice that he’s bypassing all the patients who are women. Ok, maybe he’s here to see a guy, there’s nothing wrong with that. Now he’s coming to my bed and I’m starting to freak out. But luckily he passes my bed and sits in the stool that Adam was sitting in earlier and has his back facing me. What a minute that can only mean-

“Can you hear me Warren?” the man asks.

He waits a few seconds thinking that Warren would really respond.

“Guess not. Well that’s ok, you aren't much of a talker anyway. I’m here to keep my promise. Told I would bring you your favorite champagne didn’t I? Here you go my friend” he continues, placing the bottle of champagne in Warren’s unconscious arms.

He starts to laugh, then laugh some more, then laughs hysterically like he heard the funniest joke in the world. What is wrong with this guy? Who laughs at a man in a coma?

“The hell are you doing?” I angrily interrogate.

The man turns around and I see he has this huge smile on his face.

“Ahahahahaha oh don’t mind me.”

“No, I am going to mind. What’s wrong with you? You know what Warren’s been through? Why are you laughing like a madman?”

“I-I just thought of something funny is all. Oh you’re the second hero aren’t you?” he questions learning forward, taking interest in me.

“Yeah, did the black skin give it away?”

“Heh perhaps. It’s nice to meet you, my name’s Andrew” he greets putting his hand out hoping I’d shake it.

I don’t. The more I interact with this guy the more I dislike him.

“Who are you to Warren?” I inquire.

“Well since there’s an opening (actually a lot of openings) I’d say I’m Warren’s best friend” he answers with conviction.

I don’t believe him for a second. He can tell as well because he elaborates.

“I’ve known Warren for years, I was the first person he met in Colonus in fact. The first to join his and Joanna’s party. We had a lot of fun together. I would get into duels, he would bail me out. I would get into bar fights, he would bail me out. I would owe people a lot of money, he would bail me out, you know best friend stuff outside of adventuring together. I know all his secrets. Did you know he has a mole on his left shoulder? Or how about the fact that he didn’t go to his high school prom? Ooh did he ever tell-”

“Ok enough. So you’re a fellow adventurer?”

“Hmmm guess you could say a former adventurer, got a new job recently. Got promoted too.”

“Doing what?”

“Now that’s a secret. Only my best friend Warren is allowed to know.”

“....Alright so what are you doing here?”

“I made a deal with Warren here. He fulfilled it, so I got him some of his favorite champagne, he loves Oclana champagne. I personally think it tastes like sewer water. But man he loves this stuff. After every adventure he would buy himself a bottle of this with his money. Yet you know what? He doesn’t like to get drunk. He always uses his ability to prevent that. I tell him he’s missing out on the fun since getting drunk is the only thing the champagne is good for. But he always says no. Come to think of it he’s always like that. He would participate in something yet not fully experience it you know? Like take for instance his love life. Did you know that in high school he dated a girl but didn’t fuck her? I mean it, he wanted to wait till marriage isn’t that funny? He already got the girl, yet wouldn’t fully experience what dating offers. Me personally I believe in ‘fuck them today and leave them tomorrow’ but that’s just how he is I suppose. Has the soul of a 65 year old”

Not knowing how to respond to what I was told I pointed out “Wait since you’re Warren’s friend doesn’t that mean you know Nerva and Adam as well? Don’t you want to see them too?”

“I would love to but, duty calls. I’ll see them soon, don't worry. Can’t forget my other friends can I?”

The fact that he said ‘don’t worry’ makes me worried. I want them to show up in order to verify this guy really knows Warren because I’m getting an eerie feeling. For someone who’s Warren’s alleged friend he sure doesn’t act like one. He doesn’t seem concerned about Warren’s condition in the slightest. For someone who’s supposed to be sad, he appears to be ecstatic.

“It was nice to meet you, Second hero. You’re an inspiration to us all. Everyone has heard about what happened, it’s all in the papers. Not many people are willing to take a bullet for this country.” he compliments although I swear it was sarcastic.

He gets up from the stool and is about to exit but stops to look at Warren. He begins to laugh again.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA it’s just so funny! Warren, I can’t wait until-”

He stops as a blur suddenly rushes up behind him followed by a strong gust of wind which makes me almost fly out of my bed. Something just blitzed into the room. A katana is pressed to the side of Andrew’s neck, it’s an inch in causing a bit of blood to trickle down.

“Akane?” I ask, shocked at her sudden appearance.

Akane has this murderous glare, she wants to cut Andrew’s head off badly but the sword remains in place. It’s as if she’s trying to cut his head off but doesn’t have enough strength to do so.

“Quincy, we have to kill this man. Also, hi.” she comments.

“What why?...also, hi”

“He exudes evil.”

“Well isn’t that harsh.” Andrew laments sounding sardonically sad.

He turns around with the sword still at his neck so the blade cuts more of his skin but he doesn’t seem phased at all. Everyone in the hospital ward is staring at us frozen in place. Everything escalated so quickly no one-including me-knows how to react.

“Oh hey you’re kinda cute. Are you doing anything this weekend?” Andrew remarks still ignoring the blade.

“Ugh Akane I don’t like this guy either but he says he’s Warren’s friend so I don’t think we can kill him.” I argue ignoring the other fact that murdering someone in broad daylight would probably have its own consequences. Also did he just hit on Akane?

“You don’t understand. I felt his presence from the airship. Soon as Adam opened the door I rushed here. You and Warren are in danger.” Akane explains.

“Hey that’s pretty mean. I just came to give my friend a gift. Maybe we can sort this all out over dinner?” he asks, leaning forward, getting closer to Akane’s face.

The movement makes Akane take out a shorter blade with her left arm and presses the tip against Andrew’s forehead resulting in Andrew being threatened with two blades. Yet he keeps looking jovial.

“Do you really want to fight over a simple misunderstanding? You know prejudice isn’t a virtue. Besides, the law isn’t on your side here.” Andrew warns.

As if on cue city guards flood into the ward surrounding Akane with weapons drawn.

“Ma’am let the man go!” one orders.

Akane doesn’t react. Laws mean nothing to her.

“Akane the guy was about to leave ok? I just woke up and I don’t want to deal with trying to get you out of jail. My head hurts, I still taste the color pink, I’m tired. I promise he didn’t do anything besides being a weirdo. Just let him go.” I tell her.

She relents and puts her blades away.

“Hehehehe tough crowd, you are a fun bunch though. Warren I’ll see you again real soon, I look forward to it. Tell Nerva and Adam I said hi.” Andrew instructs the still unconscious Warren.

He adjusts his collar and begins to walk out the ward singing to himself.

“People say I’m the life of the party because I tell a joke or two. Although I may be laughing loud and hearty, deep inside I’m blue. So take a good look at my face. You’ll see my smile looks out of place. If you’ll look closer it’s easy to trace, the tracks of my tears” he sings leaving my view.

Ok now I’m really sure I know that song, but the title of it eludes me. When did I hear it? This is the second time it’s happened, making me frustrated. Whatever, I don't have time to deal with that right now.

“So we are good right guys?” I ask the guards.

“Well technically we did just witness attempted homicide” one guard informs me.

“Guys drop it, otherwise what we did to the peasants we’re going to do to you.” I threaten.

“...Alright just don’t let it happen again.”

“No promises” Akane deadpans.

The guards look a bit uneasy but leave nonetheless.

“Jesus, way too much excitement for a guy who just woke up.” I mutter.

After that whole debacle Akane told me everyone else would appear shortly leaving me with her for a few minutes. I asked her for more information on what happened since I was out and she told me that when we get back to Colonus that they wanted to hold a parade for defeating the rebellion. I don’t think it’s appropriate but she told me they were planning it for weeks and it’s pretty much already set up so I guess we gotta participate now. In addition the lords also want to talk to Will and I which I know is going to be awful. Finally, some media personality wants to have an interview with Will that’s going to be in front of a live audience. I hope he has fun with that. Once Akane told me all that everyone came in all excited that I finally woke up. Nazuko even stole a cake for the occasion. For the next two hours the hospital ward became a party of sorts. In order to not worry everyone and ruin the atmosphere I told Akane to tell everyone what she felt was a false alarm. I got to catch up with everyone and they seem to be ok, they were the least affected by this whole ordeal. Everyone was there except Adam and Nerva. Apparently Nerva saw Nazuko with the cake and realized she didn’t get anything so she went to get a gift. Adam followed hoping to prevent her from causing too much damage in the process. It felt like everything was back to normal because most of the conversation I heard was bickering. I think Nazuko said Remi was gonna get fatter if she ate anymore cake or something then the rest was just yelling. Everybody was enjoying themselves when we started to hear some rumbling coming from Warren’s bed.

We all look and see Warren’s eyes quickly open like he just woke up from a nightmare.

“Warren, you're awake!” Nazuko excitedly exclaims.

Warren looks around and sees everyone looking at him with warm smiles and we all expect him to greet us. Instead he frantically examines the tubes on his body and rips off the mask that was helping him breathe. He’s breathing heavily and is now taking off all the other tubes on his body with haste.

“Warren, please calm down, you're safe” Azura asserts.

Warren stops while still breathing like he just ran a marathon. He holds onto his head in pain.

“Should we get the doctor?” Will asks the group.

“Yeah Will go do that. Warren, listen to me, do you know where you are?” Azura questions going into full doctor mode.

Warren ignores her question as he notices the bottle of champagne in his lap. An angry expression is now present on his face.

“Who brought this!?” he yells.

“Ugh Adam?” Lilith guesses.

Oh no since I didn’t tell everyone about the Andrew episode everyone assumed that Adam put that in Warren’s lap.

“No it wasn’t Adam. I forgot to mention this but a guy came over and gave it to you. Said he was your best friend.” I correct.

“How long ago!?” he angrily inquires.

“T-two hours ago I guess?” I stammer.

Upon hearing this Warren picks up the bottle of champagne and throws it at the ground making it shatter. He leaps out of bed and starts to head out the room, using his aura to walk when he clearly shouldn’t. His body must be in a lot of pain but I know he turned his pain receptors off.

“Warren what are you doing?!” Azura asks in disbelief, following behind with everyone else.

“Akane carry me!” I yell.

“On it” she answers, picking me up and giving me a piggyback ride so I can follow them.

Warren’s heading to the doorway when Will appears with some doctors.

“Hey Warren’s up. How’re you feeling?” Will asks but sees the angry expression on Warren’s face and gets out of his way.

“Sir you need to stop” one of the doctors tries to tell him but is shoved to the side.

Everyone is following him to who knows where when Will walks alongside me.

“Quincy what’s happening?” he asks, sounding quite baffled.

“No idea. I just told him his best friend gave him a hospital gift.” I respond.

“See Quincy, you should have let me kill him.” Akane jeers.

“Did he dislike the gift that much?” Will pries.

“No idea. But the guy was giving me bad vibes. But I didn’t think that was enough to justify murder.”

We are all out of the hospital now and it appears Warren is making his way straight to the airship.

“Warren, stop!” Nazuko orders using her ability to flash in front of him.

Warren keeps walking forward and knocks the poor girl over.

Things are getting too hectic, we have to stop him.

“Akane do an Akane on Warren.” I order.

“Very well.” she says, dropping me.

She darts forward so that she’s right behind Warren and gives him a chop to the neck which knocks him out instantly. Everyone surrounds the once again unconscious Warren, with me once again being carried by Akane. I was transported over to her thanks to Will.

“I’m going to be honest, I did not expect that reaction when he woke up” Ryder admits.

“Yeah can anyone explain what just happened?” Remi asks the group.

“No clue,” I answer.

“It was obvious. The man was evil” Akane states.

“Akane just because he acted weird and asked you out doesn’t mean he’s evil”

“I don’t know, that sounds pretty evil to me” Will adds.

“Why is everyone out here?” Adam interrupts rejoining the group with Nerva who’s holding way too many swords.

“Warren woke up, saw some champagne and freaked out.” Nazuko answers.

“Huh?”

“Wait, was there a fight? Did I miss one again?! He didn’t even get to use these swords I got him” Nerva complains.

“No, Akane just knocked him out. Some guy named Andrew showed up, gave him champagne and then left. Well Akane almost got into a fight with him but that’s all that happened.” I explain.

“Andrew!?” Adam and Nerva yell, sounding shocked.

“Ok so you two do know him. Who the hell is he?” I ask.

“A-Andrew was with us. He was a part of our party, when we were imprisoned he was with us. H-he should be….. I-I’ll explain more later let’s return Warren to the hospital” Adam reveals.

Everyone does so though it’s clear from looking at everyone’s faces they were still confused. I am too and I saw everything. Once we were back in the hospital ward with Warren and I put back into bed we began our grilling Adam session. He explained that Andrew was a part of Warren’s party from the very beginning. Nerva added her tidbits every now and then.

“Ok so let me get this straight. So he is a guy who’s supposed to be dead?” Will asks.

“Y-yeah. It makes no sense, we were all told that everyone was gone. Andrew was there from day one, he’s the one who suggested we go on the Murphee adventure. I-I never got along with him but everyone else did. He was captured with us, the only explanation for his appearance I could think of is that he was the lone survivor. But yet that doesn’t explain why Warren acted the way he did. I don’t know why he didn’t stay around to see us. ” Adam reflects.

“ He’s a total asshole,” Nerva interjects.

“That sounds very important. Nazuko write that down” Will orders.

Nazuko takes out a notebook and pen from who knows where and writes that down.

“I keep telling you it’s because he is evil,” Akane insists.

“Yeah he is, write that down too” Nerva agrees.

Nazuko adds that to her notes.

“I-I mean he isn’t a good person but I wouldn’t say he is evil.” Adam says in defense.

“I’ll tell you what he is. He’s a dead man.” Warren throws in.

We all looked at Warren surprised that he woke up so quickly, it’s only been like 30 minutes since Akane knocked him out.

“Warren, can you explain what happened? Is Andrew really alive? A-aren’t we supposed to be happy about that?” Adam pleads.

“It was all his fault. The reason everyone got captured. He drugged me that night we went to go after the Murphees so they would capture us. We were all supposed to be sacrificed. It was all his doing.” Warren explains.

“B-but that can’t be-” Adam attempts to argue.

“It is! Bastard told me himself. That’s all there is to it.”

“See Quincy?” Akane deadpanly yet smugly barbs.

“Yeah I get it he’s evil! But why?”

“Because he’s Andrew that’s why. I should’ve seen it coming” is all Warren answers.

“My gut was right, I knew there was a reason I never liked that bitch” Nerva adjoins.

I look at everyone and they’re speechless. Adam still looks like he’s in denial. What Warren went through was worse than what any of us could’ve imagined. Didn’t think betrayal was a part of this tragedy.

“...W-what now?” Adam asks Warren.

“I’ll handle it.”

“Well you’re not going to handle it now. You and Quincy aren’t fully healed” Azura mentions.

“Just give us a few healing potions and we’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure? I can make some potions but it’ll be hell for you two.”

“It’s fine. I need to get out of here.”

“Wait, do I not have a say in this?” I point out.

“It’s ok Quincy. Just imagine the worst pain imaginable, and multiply it by 45” Will says I think in an attempt to comfort me.

“I’d rather heal the old fashion way”

“Nope too late, Warren agreed on your behalf. I’ll be right back” Azura informs, sounding a bit too excited.

Thus began the worst healing I ever went through. I threw up multiple times, had so many cramps, and for a moment thought I died because it felt like my heart exploded. After a week of such torture we were all healed up. I never want to get hurt again, the pain was too much. We were quickly discharged from the hospital and now back on the airship. There’s a lot of tension in the air, what Warren told us was still on our minds. Warren has isolated himself like never before. When anyone tried to talk to him he would just grunt and as soon as he boarded the airship went into his room. Sensing this atmosphere Will decided to give a speech to everyone (excluding Warren).

“Ok I’m going to be the first to admit that we went through a lot. I did not enjoy this adventure in the slightest. It was painful. It hurt a lot. Therefore I want to ensure that we never have to come back to this state again. Everyone who never wants to return to Ayana again raise their hands.” Will asks everyone in the common area.

Every single person raises their hands.

“Ok good. It’s official, we are never coming back here unless absolutely forced to.”

“Fuck Ayana!” Nerva curses.

“Yeah!” Ryder, Nazuko, and I cheer.

“Ok good let’s get out of here and never return. To Colonus!” Will yells.

With that Ryder and Azura head to the cockpit to get us out of this state. I’m in complete agreement with Will. Only awful things happened while we were in this state. We got beat up, people died, I got shot in the head being forced to live with a bullet in it for the rest of my life (though to be fair the only noticeable change now is that my head is slightly heavier). I’m so happy to put all this behind us, and pray that nothing worse will come afterwards.