A Different Path

Chapter 2

"They sound like quite a handful, but you're quite close," Rose said.

"We are," Narinder nodded.

They continued to talk for a good while. Before they knew it, it was time for Rose to head home. Narinder would escort her to where she arrived and he let her go on her way, but not before asking her to visit again. Rose would do so happily and would send him a letter when she was to come. Rose bade him farewell and flew off into the night. She would have stayed for the night, but she had to return to her family... Things would liven up the next time Rose visited... It would be a visit that no one would forget. It was a couple of weeks until Rose could visit again. True to her word, she sent Narinder a stack of magic letter paper so they could keep in touch. In one letter, she mentioned that her family noticed that she wasn't as melancholic as before. That was a good thing since they knew she didn't take loss well. Perhaps it was because she met a good friend? Well... Now she was about to meet four more... but would they be friends or enemies at first? Who knew...

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Rose arrived once more to the place where she met Narinder, but he wasn't there that time. Rose waited for him until she heard the cries of battle. Looking in the direction they came from, she hurried to investigate carefully. Before long, she came across a similar scene that she had encountered many times before. A godly beast had encroached on Narinder's lands and he was fighting it, but not alone. There were at least a couple of his siblings with him. For the time being, the battle was in their favor, but it wasn't long before Narinder would be the target of a sneak attack from the beast.

"LOOK OUT!"

Rose's voice rang through his ears, as did the clang of the beast's claw over a shield of sorts. Narinder looked over to see a force field surrounding him and his youngest brother. They had been saved in the nick of time.... he looked over and saw Rose with her hand raised... glowing with magic. Thanks to her help, Narinder got the upper hand again and attacked the beast. Leshy got back up as well and continued to fight. He'll ask about the stranger later! Kallamar was using his many weapons to fight as well, backing his brothers up. Rose watched until she couldn't anymore... summoning her sword, she rushed into battle and landed a few hits on the beast! Everyone continued to fight the beast until it was Narinder who landed the finishing blow... but the beast didn't die quietly. Before it expired, one of its claws stabbed Rose on her side, taking her by surprise... Narinder removed his scythe from the beast's back and ran to her. Rose was clutching her side...

"Are you alright?" He asked upon arriving at her side.

Rose's expression was tense... she was clearly in pain. "I'll be..." She winced, "fine..." Rose began to use her healing magic.

"Are you sure?" Narinder didn't think so...

"Yes..." Rose nodded weakly.

Narinder still didn't believe her much and flicked his tail... Kallamar made sure Leshy was okay before he looked over at his other brother. It was then that he saw Rose... he walked over to them both with Leshy. "Brother? Who is this?"

Narinder looked up, his white robes were stained black from the ichor... "A friend. Rose, these are my eldest and youngest brother. Kallamar and Leshy, Bishops of Pestilence and Chaos. Brothers, Rose..."

Rose looked at them. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last... though I wish it were under better circumstances..."

"You were the one who put up that shield thing!" Leshy quickly realized.

Kallamar noticed her injury and walked to her. "You're hurt... Please, hold still." Kallamar hovered a hand over the semi-healed wound and helped it heal completely. "There. Thank you for helping us and for protecting my brothers." He smiled at her.

Narinder stood to help her up, but collapsed...

"Narinder?!" They all cried out.

Leshy was able to catch him before he hit the ground. "Are you all right, brother?!"

"Fine..." Narinder hissed in pain. "More hurt than I thought...."

"Why didn't the Crown heal you?!" Leshy demanded to know.

Narinder sat down. "It is, it is just doing it slowly. I was fighting before you two came to help, so the crown is as tired as I am. I'll be ok after a meal and a nap."

"I'll go get Heket!" Leshy burrowed away.

"Use your crown!!" Leshy was gone by the time he said that. Narinder couldn't help but sigh...

Kallamar shook his head before getting to work on Narinder's wounds. "Now you stay still!"

Narinder's ear twitched, but didn't argue. Instead, he looked at Rose. "Feeling better?"

Rose nodded. "Much..."

"Good..." Narinder was tired while watching Kallamar work.

"I'm glad to hear it," the squid was working quickly. "You're lucky it's not too deep, it just looks bad..."

"Feels worse," he hissed again. "Ah, that one hurts."

"No wonder considering where you were hit..." Kallamar finished up at last. "Rest a bit until Leshy comes back..." He looked at Rose. "I believe more introductions will be required."

"Don't even think about flirting with her brother," Narinder teased him.

"Certainly not! It's terribly rude to do such a thing to a grieving widow," Kallamar said and looked at Rose. "I know a widow when I see one, my lady, my deepest condolences for your loss."

"Uh, thank you, sir." Well, Rose dodged a bullet there, huh? Narinder rolled his eyes. Speaking of which, Rose looked at him... "Narinder, I don't know if my magic will do anything... but I can try to heal you too..."

Narinder shook his head. "I will be fine.

Eventually, Leshy came back with some food. "Heket says you can't use this as an excuse to miss the feast tomorrow," he handed him the bowl of fish and camellias.

Kallamar shook his head. "Sister Heket is as stubborn as ever..."

Narinder sighed and took the food. "Thank you, Leshy."

The worm sat next to him. "Are you okay, Nari?" He asked his big brother.

Narinder nodded as he ate and gave Leshy a fish which he ate happily. Rose watched the two, being reminded of herself and Brightstar when she was young. It made her smile a bit. She looked at her side and noticed the rip in her dress left behind by the beast's stab...

"Ah, you poor thing, allow me to stitch that for you." Kallamar offered.

"Hm?" Rose looked at him, wondering if he meant that. She knew he was the fashionable one from what the book said...

"Your dress," yeah, he was offering.
Rose looked at the rip again. "I wouldn't want to trouble you..."

"It's no trouble for him, Narinder ate the food. "He likes that kind of thing."

"Alright... if you can wait until we return to the temple, I'll change there. Just be careful since my blood got on my dress. Phoenix blood burns everything not fireproof or anyone else," Rose warned him.

"Your blood burns others?" Leshy asked.

"Those who aren't of Phoenix blood. It's not something we can't entirely control..." Rose explained.

Narinder already knew this but his brothers did not. Everything would be explained once they arrived at his temple and after Rose would be given the chance to change out of her damaged dress. He was glad that she was okay, especially after that stab... From what she told him, Rose was tougher than she looked.

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(A/N: Special thanks to Jbrine061 for helping me with this chapter!)