Ludi

The Village.

Quatre sent to call Kohgi and his children to return home. Everything was ready, and it was time to continue, but not before making sure that the owner of the place was there, and was not attacked by the other villagers. 

While they waited for his return, Quatre studied a map that one of the volunteers had brought him. Kohgi's house was relatively far from the rest of the village, but on the other hand, it would be easier to repair the damage, if more houses were closer together. There were very few who lived apart from the rest of the village, so it was better to continue with them, and then reach the most populated part. Being in that place had helped him in training, and he already felt more confident that he could use his abilities without the dreaded consequences. 

During that day, WuFei stayed away. He watched all the time from inside the house, or from somewhere on the fence. He took care that the dangerous ones did not approach, that Quatre was well, and yet he didn’t want to approach him. He felt depressed and somewhat giddy. He felt an emptiness, and yet he was happy to see Quatre next to him. He felt things that until then were unknown... such as the annoyance that it caused him to see Kirie so close to the master. 

“Master Sandrock!” A boy was shouting through the fence “Here comes Kohgi!!” 

Everyone was expectant at the arrival of the homeowner. That meant that Sandrock would continue with the rest of the village ... although they didn’t know in which house. 

Kohgi was transferred in a wheelchair that had been passed to him in the temple. He and the children had changed their clothes, and they looked much better than at first. They could not believe what had happened in their home. Both children ran everywhere, and climbed the tree, while laughing and crying at the same time. In their short lives, they had never seen something so wonderful. 

“Mr. Kohgi... I don't think I can heal your legs...” 

“Master Sandrock... this was a horrible event in my life. I've learned to live with it... perhaps you can only cure the evil that haunts our land? This was not done by the land or what I used to eat... perhaps that is why you cannot cure me. But I'm fine... I'm more than fine!! My children will live well and happy… And that... is all...” 

Kohgi started crying as he took Quatre's hands and raised them to his lips and then rested his forehead on them. 

“Everything is fine, Mr. Kohgi... it's fine.” 

They decided to leave soon, even though it was getting dark. Quatre decided it was better not to wait, and finish as soon as possible. If anyone attempted against Mr. Kohgi and his family or home, they would immediately return to the temple, and leave the village forgotten, so the villagers were impatient for them to go to their homes. 

In the early morning, with the moon raised, they arrived at another small house, where the owners were an elderly couple. The monks erected a makeshift fence, just as they had done before, and Quatre, without waiting for them to finish, began to purify the water reserve they had. Mechanically, they brought old vessels to him, and hovered around Quatre taking care of him, since they could see through the darkness, the shadows of those who were still stalking him. 

Quatre finished with the water reserve, served black fruits and without rest continued with the land. He ordered them to plant an Ooga sprout, which was still growing very slowly, and concentrated on growing their small garden a little. He could feel a large accumulation of whatever was polluting the water under his hands, and tried to reach it, but as soon as he reached it he began to expel a black and viscous substance from his mouth, which came out without stopping, without letting him breathe. 

WuFei noticed it, and tried to get him off, but it was as if he was glued to the ground. 

“Master Chang!! What about Master Sandrock?!!” 

“Back off!! Don’t come closer!! Bring the water that we brought from the temple.” WuFei took Quatre's dagger and with it ripped his clothes, exposing Quatre’s back, placed his hands at the level of the diaphragm, and caused a wave that knocked Quatre unconscious. His hands had been released from the ground, and the monks began to collect everything he had expelled, being very careful not to touch anything. 

“Master Sandrock is not breathing!!!” Kirie screamed as he approached Quatre's body. 

“Don't touch him!!” WuFei turned him over and he could feel his hands burning on contact with the young man's skin. They brought the water to him, and he poured a little over Quatre, causing steam to escape from his body. WuFei knelt on him, one leg on either side of his body, and with his right hand outstretched, he stretched out her index and middle finger to bury them a little in the young man's skin, in his abdomen. He stayed like this for a couple of seconds, until it was clearly seen how a lump began to form under his fingers. Then he began to slide them forward in the direction of the mouth, running straight across the torso. Upon reaching the clavicle, the lump could be seen perfectly trying to climb up the throat, and as WuFei tried to guide it to Quatre's mouth, his fingers began to turn red, and small drops of blood began to evaporate on the skin. of the young master. 

One could see how he was trying with all his might to make whatever was inside come out at once, his hand sweating blood, and Quatre without being able to breathe yet, until he managed to pull out a large slimy black ball which he took with his other hand, making a strange sound of something melting, and put it inside the pot next to him. 

Quatre took a deep breath, and began to cough as traces of what had come from him faded from his skin. 

“Master Sandrock!! Ahh!!” Kirie had approached Quatre and tried to help him, but by resting her hands on him, she burned herself, knocking her back. 

“I said don't touch him...! Burn those vessels now, and pour water on Master Sandrock, don’t touch him until I tell you.” 

WuFei went into a small tent that the monks had built, so as not to disturb the elders, and put his hands in a bowl of water that Quatre had purified. In one hand he had two skinless fingers up to the second phalanx, and in the other he was bleeding, and was able to see the tip of the bone on each finger, and the muscles of his palm. The slimy black ball had melted his skin. Between grunts and complaints, he left both hands submerged in the water, until the pain stopped, and the wounds stopped bleeding. His hands were still open wounds, but the water had somehow helped ease the pain. He improvised a bandage, and as best he could, covered the wounds, to submerge them again in the water in the pot. 

Once he finished with his hands, he returned to where Quater was, who was still lying in a puddle of water, mud and steam. His body was still warm, but he picked it up without burning, and carried him to the small tent, where he laid him down, followed by Kirie, Terion, and the other monks. 

“Terion, stay with the master, nobody touches him until I say so... if he wakes up and you must reach anything to him, cover his skin. I must rest for 2 hours.” 

“Master Chang, are you alright?” 

“I'm just exhausted... I'll be fine. That nobody touches him, it’s very important.” 

“Ok.” 

WuFei came out of the tent dragging a blanket, and sat on the floor where the moonlight gave him, while taking big sips of water that had been brought from the temple. 

He covered his back and faced the moon for the 2 hours he had said he would rest. 

After that time, he felt more recovered. He was strong enough to help Quatre. 

He got up and went back to the tent, where Terion was stationed at the feet of the young master face to face with Kirie, who was staring at him, somewhat angry. 

“Terion... you can withdraw... secure the perimeter, and rest as soon as you vacate.” 

“Yes, master Chang.” 

Terion withdrew from the tent gesturing for Kirie to leave as well. 

“I want to be with Master Sandrock.” 

“The master will rest the rest of the night, only Master Chang will be near him.” 

“But...” 

"Miss Kirie... you can withdraw" WuFei said, raising his voice a little, as he brought a container of water to the edge of Quatre's bed. 

Terion and Kirie finally left the tent, while WuFei, with a small bowl, gave the young master a drink of water, who woke up coughing half choked with the water in his mouth. 

“WuFei... my throat hurts...” said the young man in a hoarse and rough voice. 

“I know, master... it will hurt for a while... please try to rest.” 

“What happened?” 

“I think you found part of what's killing us. And you almost died because of that thing...” 

“WuFei…" 

The guard was sitting by the bed, looking sad and worried. He took Quatre's hands and rested them on his forehead. His skin was still boiling. 

“Master Quatre... don't do it... don't try again... please...” 

“WuFei…" 

“I thought I wouldn't be able to bring you back... I thought I had lost you forever...” 

Quatre turned on the bed, and tried to rest while WuFei held his hands. He had gotten there to do what he was doing right now, right? He had no greater purpose, he didn’t miss his home, or the people in it. He missed the memories that were erased with the days, and kept him away from WuFei, because he felt a lot of sorrow and nostalgia for everything he remembered, and now he was fading without being able to do something about it. He comforted himself by thinking that it didn't matter, because now he also had important memories with him now. But that didn't stop it from hurting. 

He could perfectly tell that his feelings were changing in some way, and that WuFei had also turned away from him. Perhaps it was ending a relationship that had never begun, and it was strange, he longed to be with him, but the urgency disappeared as the days passed. He was no longer completely Sandrock. 

The light hit him straight in the eyes. He was covered in several blankets, so he was barely able to move. He felt a little sweaty, and noticed that he was wearing only pants. He sat on the bed and at that moment, the guard entered the tent. He was holding clothing in one hand and a small pot in the other, with a cloth hanging from the edge. 

"Quatre..." He called him by name again, making him blush from the emotion that caused him “ahem… Master Quatre... I brought you clothes, and water to wash up.” 

“WuFei... I'm cold.” 

The guard smiled at him. At least he seemed to be in a good mood, despite what had happened the night before. 

He approached the bed, put the pot on the floor, the clothes on the bed and put his hand on the forehead of the young master. He had no temperature and seemed normal, but the rest of his body felt cold to the touch. She had over-wrapped him thinking that he had spent too much energy, and apparently, he was not mistaken. 

"It will pass, master... just eat enough and you will be fine" WuFei took the cloth from the bowl, dipped it inside, filled with water, and began to run it over the young man's body. 

“Waa! I can do it! I can do it, just leave it...” said the young man, taking the guard's hands to prevent him from continuing. 

“No... Quatre... I really want to do this. Please” the guard replied with soft and pleading voice. 

Quatre, very embarrassed, released the guard's hands, and nodded, letting him gently clean him with warm water. Once he was finished, she helped him get dressed, and draped a very thick coat of gray hair over his shoulders. 

“What is it for?” 

“It’s not very cold, but you lost a lot of energy, with this you will not cool down as much as you recover.” 

“WuFei” 

“Yes?” The guard watched him intently, tucking him in the gigantic coat. 

“You called me by my name...” 

“Ah... I'm sorry, master Quatre, I won’t...” 

“Could you repeat it?” Quatre was blushing, waiting for him to agree. 

"Quatre..." The guard spoke his name in such a way that it made him shiver. His very presence, so close to him, made him blush “I shouldn't...” 

“It’s okay ... is just that, is strange that you call me by my name without the title...” 

“Quatre... somehow... I feel something different... Could it be that Sandrock is... disappearing?” he asked as he took his face in his hands and brought his closer to kiss him lightly on the lips. 

They were still cold, but he could see how red he was up to his neck, giving him some satisfaction, something he had never felt before. 

“WuFei...” the young master bit his lip, pushed his hands a little and separated from him. A chill ran through his body. What was happening? He left the tent with a red face, and mixed feelings. He couldn't think clearly. Everything had been so fast in the beginning, as if they had never separated, but now... now he was a stranger. Every morning he felt it was the first time he saw Quatre and out of habit called him by name. The belonging he felt before had vanished, and being close to him made his heart overflow. He was falling in love with him, again. 

Quatre didn't want to think about it too much. Like Sandrock, he was pretty sure they would be together, no matter what happened. Now, he wasn't sure about that. Every day there was the uncertainty of being abandoned, or being back in his world, and that WuFei would disappear from his life. He didn't want any of that, so it was best to be apart, to wait for Sandrock to disappear, and his feelings would return to normal. He would go back to his world, and each one would make his life, right? 

They remained in the village for around 8 days. WuFei fully understood that something was happening between him and the master. In every home they passed, Quatre avoided demanding more of himself, and in that time, WuFei had already seen him crying inconsolably twice for no apparent reason, but he knew very well what it was, and almost all the time he was surrounded by the volunteers and villagers. Especially Kirie; she was always with him. 

Upon reaching the most populated area of the village, Quatre didn’t wait to rest, and began to prepare everything to try to clean up the place. On the other hand, WuFei made sure that no one came near him, even those who had been near him on the outskirts of the village. He was afraid someone would take advantage of the approach. 

While instructing the guards on the actions to be taken, Terion came to his side. 

He was wounded in the arm. 

Quatre noted that there were many people around him watching everything he did, even the guards had increased, the regent watched him closely and he just wanted to leave that place. He felt very uncomfortable. 

It was already getting dark, and he used it as an excuse to go to rest. Although he was tired, he was more stressed by the pressure he felt from all his observers. In the small house that had been provided to him, he took a bath, and changed his clothes. it was strange to be alone. Since his arrival, WuFei was always close, but lately he had stayed away from him. 

He tried to sleep, but he could hear voices arguing at the entrance of the house. He picked up his dagger and peeked out, finding Kirie arguing with the two guards who were stationed at the door. 

“What's going on?” 

“Master Sandrock... the lady was leaving.” 

“I'm not leaving, I just wanted to enter to give a gift to the master...” 

“On Master Chang's orders, no one can enter except himself.” 

“That cocky guard has no power over Master Sandrock!! I just wanted to deliver this and nothing else!... Master Sandrock, I just want to deliver this, to you.” 

Something was wrong with that discussion. He had only just realized that WuFei was gone, and all day he had been surrounded only by monks. 

He saw Kirie somewhat distressed, but for some reason he didn’t dare to break the order that WuFei had imposed. 

"Miss Kirie, I will accept it, but you cannot enter." 

The guards waited for the young woman's response, and allowed her to deliver a small basket of prepared groceries. 

“Everything is made with what we have harvested thanks to you ... these days, we have collected very quickly everything that continues to grow... it’s our way of thanking you...” 

“Thank you.” 

Quatre took the small basket and entered the house. Kirie turned and walked away, leaving the guards in place. Perhaps WuFei was exaggerating a bit by not letting anyone but him in, but he respected him, and he wasn't going to make the guards disobey on a whim... maybe he should talk to him. 

He discovered the basket and when he took a piece of bread that was inside, the sound of something bursting was heard, and a small yellow cloud enveloped him, knocking him to the ground. 

He could feel something warm and wet running down his forehead and neck. It was all quiet, and he didn't like that. He remembered the basket Kirie brought him, and he knew he had fallen into a trap. Instinctively he remained with his eyes closed, and feeling that something was moving away from him, he took out a spike that he had on his belt, and stretched out his arm trying to attack whoever was in front of him. 

The blow of the chair when falling, made him notice that he had taken by surprise who was with him. 

Looking closely, he saw WuFei, who was looking at him in surprise. His hands were still bandaged, and now a bandage covered his left eye and part of his face. 

He realized that it had caused a small cut on his neck, and immediately released the pick, reflecting on his face the horror he felt for having hurt him. 

“WuFei!!” 

“It’s all right, master Quatre... I'm fine.” 

The room was different. To him it looked like an abandoned apartment. A house very similar to the ones in his world. Some things changed, but seeing WuFei in front of him and noticing the sepulchral silence outside, made him remember that he was still in Lüdí. 

WuFei took a bandage and cut it to make a patch to cover the small cut on his neck. Quatre was still staring at him somewhat frightened, so he went over and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. 

“I’m sorry...” 

"You must not apologize, Master Quatre... I had forgotten that you can defend yourself." 

“Where are we? What happened to your eye?!” 

“We are in the citadel, Master Quatre... we are hostages.” 

“What?” 

Quatre quickly got out of bed, and saw that they were in a very tall building, above the other buildings, he could see the tops of small trees, and the roofs of other houses. Soldiers circulated throughout the city, while some were stationed exclusively where they were. They were trapped. 

The windows were covered in soft white silk curtains. They made the room they were in look brighter. WuFei was sitting on a chair by the bed, while Quatre, already up, removed the bandage from his face. He had scratches near his eye, and a deep cut that went through his entire eyelid and part of his cheek. 

“What happened?” 

“They set us up... somehow, they came to you, attacked us, and brought us here...” 

“Who...?” It was a question without continuation, which covered many things. He was afraid to ask more. 

"I promise I won't lie to you about what happened in the village..." Quatre looked like he was about to cry, sensing what he was going to say to him “... you did it.” 

“... Wufei... I'm so sorry... What have I done?”