Blood roared in his ears, vision blurry as he stumbled forward. Everything felt numb and staticy. "I have to find-... I have to..." His voice is bearly a whisper, desperation coloring his tone as he kept stumbling forward. Over the fallen bodies of his friends and the broken forms of his enemies. It can't end like this. He kept walking despite the fact his abdomen was ripped open from hip to sturnem he trudges forward, dripping blood as he walked.
He walked and walked. Even when his visions swam, even when he couldn't feel his legs anymore, even when the sun went down. Only when his breathing got shorter and when his vision started swimming did he fall unconscious. He didn't fall.
—
"Ugh..." He blinks his eyes open and tries to sit up to little success. Choosing instead to roll off the cold steel table. Using the flat surface to prop himself up hw lets out a quiet grunt, muscles pulling in a painful way. Looking around after steadying himself he spots his sword leaning against the wall. Its covered in blood. The scabbard, nowhere to be seen, was probably still at the battle field.
The room is a clean sterile white, the table he just rolled off is a cold steel. There's a sink in the corner of the room along with a sturdy overbed table table made out of steel, it looks like it'll roll. He takes a deep breath before trudging over to the rolling table for support, using the table he makes his way to his sword.
The familiar cool leather of the hilt is a comfort; the weight of the sword as he picks it up a welcome strain. Forces himself off the overbed tray he steadies himself on shaky legs before walking towards the door.
The door swings open before he can even reach for the handle and someone with black hair steps into the room. They smile when they notice him. Its a wide smile and it seems to have too many teeth.
"You are awake? Wonderful. My name is Nil." He holds his sword more defensively as he watches Nil. He can't afford to be caught off guard. "Put the sword down."
Nils voice is soft, light and holds the authority of an annoyed parent. They simply watch the struggling man as they speak, tilting their head slightly in amusement. He chooses to comply, warily watching the stranger. Nil smiles again and pushes him back onto the cold steel table.
"You were dead when I found you. I stitched you up, try not move too much or you will rip your stitches, Kane." Nil unwraps the bandages covering Kane's torso and hums as they examine his injuries.
Kane simply watches Nil with anxious caution, his thoughts running a mile a minute. "... how do you know my name..?" The question is hesitant.
Nil just laughs, wrapping him back up. They wink, leaving the room with a tiny bow.
Kane sits there unsure what to do with the sudden feeling of dread that Nil caused in him. Kane has only been using fake names since–
Kane jumps as the door opens again. Walking in with a try of food Nil practically tosses it on the overbed tray getting right up close to Kanes face. That wide smile still plastered on their face. "I am surprised you can even move." Nil laughs, amusement coloring their black eyes. They are rather close so Kane pushes them away.
"I feel fine. Who are you?"
"I am Nil."
"No, no. Like, who are you? Where am I?"
Nil goes to an empty wall before pulling down a map and pointing to a countries Northernmost area. "You are in Diony."
"I-"
"I am a... let us say a doctor."
"... why do you talk like that?"
Nil simply smiles and pushes the tray of food over to Kane, sitting down to write some notes. Kane decides to take the time to just observe Nil, he eats his food as his eyes rake over the stranger.
Nil is thin and tall, and their hair is a poofy short black that's parted on the right. Blank hair is rare, especially such a dark black. Their eyes are a deep black that lacks any light paired with relatively long eyelashes. Their skin is white as snow, concerningly so, like they never go outside. Freckles speckle their face and a pair of round golden glasses sit on the bridge of their nose.
Kane isn't sure if its real or not but Nil has gold stars wrapping around their neck like a collar.
Nil looks up from their notes, they raise an eyebrow leaning on their knee with curiosity.
"Are you planning my murder?" They smile despite their words being so odd.
"No. I doubt I could win..."
Nil smiles wide, an almost predatory glint in their eyes as they simply watch him. They look away and laugh after a few seconds.
"I am no fighter."
After the tray of food is empty Kane blinks stars from his vision feeling kind of light headed. He can't help but yawn and lay down fatigue weighing down his eyelids and making his muscles scream. Nil simply watches with a smile, their voice is soft when they speak. "You should get some sleep. You were dead. Obviously your mind and body are fatigued."
Kane watches through bearly open eyes as Nil picks up the food tray and leaves the room quietly. He lets himself drift off, unable to do anything else. He knows he needs to rest to heal, and he needs to heal so he can leave.
He doesn't dream.
—
For a few weeks they follow the same pattern; Nil brings food does an examination and doesn't answer Kanes questions while Kane warily watches Nil and asks questions. At some point Nil had suggested Kane walk around the building to keep his muscles from becoming atrophied.
There isn't much to the building. It's large and empty, made of marble and stone. The building is warm despite being made of stone in a northern atmosphere.
After around a month Kane decides its time to leave. His injuries have mostly healed, his skin is scared and he's significantly paler than he should be but after a few tests he decided that his body is well enough.
The two are talking when Kane decides to bring it up. "I need to leave." He's being respectful even though he's not drawing it out.
"I will go with you. I doubt anyone would be able to patch you up better than me."
"Thats really not necessary."
"Where are you going to find another doctor?"
Opening his mouth to respond Kane pauses, most high ranking people snatch up doctors and healers as soon as they reach a certain level. He can't argue Nil would be useful on his journey after all. However Kane can't afford to draw attention nor can he be slow down.
"I don't trust you."
"You do not need to trust me, all you need to do is pay me."
Nil tilts their head as they address the problem. Kane rolls his eyes. He'll leave in a few hours, hopefully the doctor doesn't realize and manage to follow him. Despite their usefulness Nil will just slow him down and draw the eyes of everyone, elite and downtrodden.