After their most recent mission, Team Alpha was not deployed to space so the past few months had been uneventful. Except for wormhole invasions here and there, Karl spent most of his free time visiting the hele pup, and checking in with GDF's resident veterinary team regarding the condition of the Zirkan wildlife.
Other than the hele pup, the rest were simply drifting in and out of consciousness and were healing at a slow rate. During one of Karl's cuddle sessions with the little one, Sahd came by lugging a plush doll that looked like a spirit bear that was half the general's size.
Sensing the new entrant's presence, the hele pup looked up from Karl's lap. His folded ears stood up upon seeing the cream-coloured teddy bear. He got up and waddled as fast as he could towards Sahd, then wrapped his arms around the towering man's lower leg, whining.
"All right, all right, little dude. Here, I'll put this right beside your bed," Sahd chortled, his puma-like eyes squinting.
The hele pup hurriedly climbed and curled up on the teddy bear's lap.
Karl noticed a pendant that looked like red sea glass glinting against the light.
"That's a very pretty necklace. Did you make that too, Sahd?"
"Yep. I picked a bunch of these on the shore and was told that they're pieces of glass weathered by the ocean into their beautiful shapes. Rywa asked for this red one and imbued it with his fire power— essentially turning it into a fire stone— so it can remind the pup of his mother's warmth."
"That's so like him…"
Their communicators pinged at the same time.
"I gotta go. They're calling Team Alpha to gather in the Archelon conference room," said Karl.
"Looks like we're heading the same way, then. Rywa just sent a message to go there."
Karl and Sahd exchanged curious looks.
"Wonder what's up…" Karl patted the hele pup, muttering "See ya later, lil guy."
When they got into the conference room, Hogan tapped the empty seat between him and Rywa. Karl sat there while Viernn beckoned for Sahd to sit on the office chair beside hers. Everyone got up when Malia and Yun entered the room to salute.
"The Zirkan healers Rywa's group requested for have entered our Solar System. They have already established contact with GDF, and I've also obtained the international space council's approval, so they are now cleared for landing in GDF.
Their approval for entry, of course, is limited within GDF perimeters. Should they wish to or need to step outside the island base, they will require additional permits.
According to their communications officer, there are three ships— the flying hospital, which is the main ship, as well as two escort ships. ETA is 36 hours.
Upon their arrival, the healers will be accompanied to the veterinary ward. The mages in the holding cells will also be handed over, and are to board the flying hospital's escort ships that will take them back to Zirka. Are there any questions?"
When no one raised any concerns, Chris said, "No, headmaster."
"Very well. That is all. Please remember to take your positions at the cruiser docks and be ready to welcome our guests an hour before their arrival."
At the appointed time, Team Alpha, who had donned their GDF uniforms, led Rywa and his companions to GDF's cruiser docks, which was constructed on a smaller island. It was connected to GDF's main base of operations by a tunnel over the sea.
"It takes about 15 minutes on foot, 5 using the movators," Tala explained as they stepped on the moving pavements.
The three Miran ships landed and went into the docks as scheduled. Karl took in the sight of the flying hospital in wonder. It was about the same size as the alien galleon that took Dr. Perez's fighter, but with its lighter colours and curved edges, it looked welcoming and elegant, and far less ghastly. On both sides of the ship's bow there was a minimalistic logo of wings engulfed in flames.
"Whoa… Rywa, did the Shadows mention who exactly they asked for help?"
Sahd's question made everyone's eyes fall on Rywa, who shook his head.
"They only said the best healers were on the way. I suppose this is what they meant." Rywa turned to Karl and the other GDF operatives. "Mira has a fleet of flying hospitals that regularly go around our planet to provide medical care. But this ship is special, this belonged to the late queen. After she passed away, she entrusted it to the care of her protégé— her best and brightest student."
"I suppose it's no surprise," said Viernn. "Zirka's wildlife is sacred to our people. The act of trafficking our wildlife is a serious matter, enough for the king regent's aide to personally handle."
"The king regent's aide?" Karl echoed Viernn's words, looking at Rywa with inquisitive eyes.
"Yes, Lord Koit is the king regent's aide. You remember I told you of the great war a thousand years ago? The one who triggered that was the king of Mira at the time who, drunk in power and ambition, attempted to annex all the other Zirkan realms. And though he never succeeded thanks to everyone joining hands and Solara leading the fight, far too many lives were lost.
To stop this from happening again, the Miran king's successor decreed that every king henceforth shall be paired with someone whose power is equal to or surpasses his own, to stop him from acting on evil intentions and prevent history from repeating itself. The king's designated pair is called his aide."
Karl looked at the Zirkans who disembarked from the main ship. Surrounded by healers in pastel green robes, there was a man who stood out in pristine, flowing white robes. He had a small face and short, reverse-ombre silvery white hair with regent gray tips, and eyes the colour of the dawn sun. He had fair skin and a youthful face, which became even more dazzling with the softest of smiles upon meeting Karl's gaze.
But what really set him apart from all other Zirkans Karl had ever met was the small, blunt horn on his forehead, no bigger than a person's thumb. Karl had heard about horned Zirkans from Rywa, but it was still different seeing one in the flesh.
"Lord Koit," Rywa put his right palm over his left chest and bowed, a gesture that Koit and the healers returned.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Lord Koit, the king regent's aide and a healer whose healing arts are unsurpassed in all of Mira.
Lord Koit, these are our friends and allies on earth. GDF's headmaster, Mrs. Lyle and her secretary, and the members of Team Alpha, Earth's elite warriors— Captain Norland, Tala, Bianca, Hogan, and Karl."
Each gave a light bow as Rywa introduced them. Koit's curious gaze lingered on Karl. He came closer and asked, "Karl? That is your name?"
Karl was hit with a sense of déjà vu from the time he met Rywa, who asked the same thing. He wondered if Koit also knew Rywa's late sword teacher who resembled him.
Smiling, Karl answered. "Yes, my name is Karl. Nice to meet you, Lord Koit."
Koit's expression softened. With a gentle gaze, he gently stroked Karl's hair. "Have you been in good health?"
The gesture surprised Karl, but rather than pulling back, he found himself leaning into his touch, finding it soothing and strangely familiar. Karl mused this must be the power of Mira's most brilliant healer— his gentle aura alone could make Karl drop his guard.
Like an obedient little kid, Karl nodded. "Yes, I'm okay."
Koit turned to Malia. "Thank you for your hospitality, headmaster. I would like to see the patients."
"Of course, follow me." Mrs. Lyle led Koit and the Miran healers into GDF.
Karl's gaze absently followed Koit, until Hogan's voice shook him out of his trance.
"What was that about?"
Karl shrugged. "Occupational hazard, maybe? Is it that obvious that I get sick a lot?"
Hogan threw an arm around Karl. "What, you mean apart from you being the runt in GDF and your body being more delicate than a girl's?"
Failing to come up with a retort, Karl puffed his cheek.
"Karl, you can stay with Rywa's group and the headmaster to go with the healers. The rest of us will accompany Sahd and Viern to turn over the mages to Lord Koit's escorts. Let's go, Hogan."
"Yes, sir!" Hogan let go of Karl and followed Chris.
"Lord Koit is just like that, but he means well. Even the king regent himself complains that his aide is a busybody," said Rywa.
"The king regent…" Karl's curiosity was piqued. "What's he like?"
"The king regent? He is the last remaining descendant of the Dragonblood—oracles of the dragon of the phantom moon. As such he is also the only living wielder of the element of darkness— the last dark mage. Quite the contrast to Lord Koit, who people fondly call the white mage.
The king regent is a man of a few words and has a mysterious air about him. Even so, he has a commanding presence. He was the late king's aide… But more than that, he was his adoptive brother and my sword teacher's childhood friend. After my sword teacher and her family's demise, no one has ever seen him smile again.
Sahd and many other Zirkans dislike him because they think he usurped the throne from the heir. But that's not the case at all."
Karl could sense from the look in Rywa's eyes and his tone that he truly held no animosity towards the king regent.
"So what really happened?"
"The heir… failed. In more ways than one."
Rywa didn't say more than that, and seeing the shadow flit across his face, Karl couldn't bring himself to pry.
"This is strange."
Karl and Rywa turned to Sahd who spoke behind them.
Sahd frowned. "For someone as important as Lord Koit, isn't it strange that not one of the pillars came to accompany him? Forget pillars, I don't even see a general among his escorts."
"Ah, that's right. You would know." Seeing Karl's curious expression, Rywa explained, "Pillars are four generals of the highest rank symbolizing the four directions of the Miran Kingdom— north, east, south, and west. Before he stepped down and joined the Shadows, Sahd used to be one of them, he was the Pillar of the East and the commanding officer of the entire eastern battalion. And he used to lead the late queen's royal guards during her healing expeditions."
"Headmaster," Zephyr saluted at the entrance to the veterinary ward.
Malia returned his salute then turned to Koit. "This is Zephyr. He is the head of our medics who looked after the Zirkan wildlife. Feel free to ask him any questions you may have."
Zephyr gave a slight bow. "We could only do so much, but we did the best we could."
Koit bowed deeply in response. "You saved them, and for that I am thankful. To Zirkans, all living creatures are kin. We have lost far too many of them in this tragedy, therefore each life saved means a lot to us."
Koit positioned himself in the middle of the ward while his team of healers stood back to give him space. Zephyr stood beside Karl, and Karl noticed that while his younger brother's face seemed expressionless, there was a gleam of childlike excitement in his eyes.
Karl elbowed the head medic. "Looks like you're in a good mood."
The corners of Zephyr's lips quirked upwards. "How many people get to see real life alien healers in action in their lifetime?"
"Heard he's the best in their world, so you better watch closely."
With a wave of Koit's hand, an array illuminated the entire veterinary ward's floor, as the colours of dawn in his irises deepened. The only other times he had seen magic arrays this massive were when Rywa manipulated the fire around Tokyo tower, and when his companion firebird, Gobaith, performed the sending.
A gentle glow engulfed each patient in the ward in a different colour and varying hues, and as each colour appeared, a healer would go to the patient's side and treat them accordingly. Koit approached the patient engulfed with the deepest shade of red— a white bird about 13 inches long with rainbow-coloured tail about that was almost twice its body length—and began healing.
Rywa explained softly as they watched in wonder. "Lord Koit treats the patient with the most urgent needs and severe injuries. As you can see, even now his array remains active. That's because even while he's in the midst of healing a patient, the array allows other healers to seek his help and advice while treating their own patients."
Karl looked down at the array beneath his feet. The patterns and runes were so intricately drawn and emanated a powerful glow, yet rather than force, what engulfed him was a gentle, soothing energy.
"It's like a spring shower, but with droplets so delicate it feels more like mist," said Karl, eyes drifting close as he relished the sensation. For a moment, Karl felt something warm on his head, as if someone was patting him, then the feeling disappeared as quickly as it came.
"All right everyone, let's leave Lord Koit and the healers to do what they must," Malia spoke softly, and they all quietly shuffled out of the veterinary ward.
"I'm going back to my office, contact me or Yun if you need anything."
"I should go too," Zephyr went back to his duties as well.
Karl and Rywa sat on the chairs outside the veterinary ward until Koit and the healers came out a few hours later.
"Lord Koit, you're done?" asked Rywa.
Koit nodded. "Yes. They're out of the woods now, but will still need a lot of care while they recuperate. Their road to recovery is long. Most of them will need rehabilitation to regain their mobility and some will need to adjust to their… altered bodies." Koit frowned, anger flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath to calm himself. "But they are fit for transport back to our world. We can depart once preparations are done."
"Thank you for all your hard work, Lord Koit." Rywa turned to the other healers. "That goes for all of you."
Koit walked towards Karl. "You're troubled by a recurring pain."
"Eh?" Karl was taken aback. "How did you know about my migraines?"
Koit gently patted his head.
"How I wish I could make it go away, but it is not something a healer can do. I can only cure physical ailments, I am powerless when it comes to the wounds in your heart." A gentle smile graced Koit's delicate features but Karl didn't miss the gleam of regret that flickered in his eyes.
"It's a pity we could only meet for a short time. I would have loved to know more about you and share stories of your world to our king regent. However, time is of the essence for our patients and we must soon depart." Koit turned from Karl to Rywa. "I trust you are coming home as well?"
Rywa paused and looked at Karl for a bit. "… Yes."
"The king regent will be pleased to hear that."
Rywa shook his head at Koit's words. "You will have to send him my regards. I will be heading straight to the Shadows' base. I have some things I wish to discuss with their leader. We need to look into this trafficking chain and destroy it at the source."
"Then perhaps you should consider letting him know of your plans? The king regent will be happy to assist you. Or do you not trust him?" Koit looked into Rywa's eyes, searching.
"You know I do," Rywa met his gaze with certainty. "But the castle walls have ears, and you and I both know that among them there are those who cannot be trusted."