Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder-Chapter 1568 - 10 : Actually Remembered

*Kryzen*

Roy and I glanced at one another before hurrying after the siblings. The air was tense as Kai led the way through the streets and up the path leading to the healing center.

I watched Briella’s back as we all ran up to the building. She was so small, but her form was determined as she propelled herself forward, easily keeping up with her much taller brother’s long strides.

I tried to imagine her going to Celestial City alone, picturing her tiny self in the middle of those empty streets while a mysterious darkness loomed in the distance.

I gritted my teeth together and felt my body speed up until I was jogging beside her. She glanced at me briefly but didn’t say anything.

It was then I told myself that I was going with her to the city no matter what. She might argue and fight me, but I wasn’t going to let her win. I was certain that she had never been to Celestial City before. Going would be dangerous for her, and I told myself I would be of use since I had visited the city countless times in the past.

I ground my teeth together, frustrated and confused as to why I hated the thought of her being by herself in that big city.

I froze momentarily when we got to the plaza outside the healing center. There were dozens of people outside. Many of them were injured and sitting on the ground while healers dashed around, fetching supplies and getting to the aid of the refugees. It was easy to tell which were the refugees. It was not just because they weren’t in the typical robes and off-white tunics that members of the valley wore. They all had an air of fear around them.

I winced slightly at the cries of pain that filled the area as men and women were treated. I straightened quickly. I was no stranger to the sounds of pain. I had seen bloodshed and the violence of battle. Roy and I were both fit to help in this kind of situation.

We stayed close to Briella and Kai, who were already going into action.

Kai looked at his sister. “There are so many of them. Will you be able to help mend wounds?”

Briella straightened and nodded quickly. I was surprised when she offered him a quick, knowing smile. “Of course. I learned from the best, after all.”

Kai grinned back at her before handing her a couple of rolls of bandages and some kind of cream to presumably put on the wounds. He turned to leave.

“How can we help?” I asked, stepping forward.

Kai jolted slightly, seeming to have noticed for the first time that we had followed them. He gestured through the entrance of the healing center. “You two can go inside and into the kitchen toward the back of the building. Bring some water and food to the ones who have been treated already. They’ll need nourishment to heal faster.”

“We will do everything we can to help,” Roy assured him before we headed off together into the building.

The kitchen wasn’t difficult to find. It was right where Kai said it was at the back of the building. There were healers milling around. It seemed like some refugees were in the rooms, but there were just too many of them and not enough rooms.

“We might have to set up some beds here in the lobby,” one healer said to their companion.

The other healer sighed heavily, shifting a box full of bandages on her hip. “I think there are some more blankets in the cellar. I’ll send someone down there to fetch them.”

A few minutes later, Roy and I were armed with metal trays covered in small cups of water and slices of warm bread.

I marveled at the level of compassion these people had toward the group of people who were essentially outsiders. While the healers were professional as they raced through the clusters of refugees, their genuine concern for their fellow people was palpable as well.

The refugees themselves were somber. As Roy and I passed through and handed the mended ones their food and water, we were offered several thankful smiles.

I straightened when I ran out of water cups, turning so I could head back into the healing center to fetch more when I heard the wails of a child.

I turned toward the sound to see Briella kneeling in front of a little girl, who was seated on a marble bench. The child looked no older than four or five and had dark curly hair and piercing blue eyes filled with tears. Briella was gently dabbing at a thin, bloody cut on the girl’s knobby knee.

“You are being so brave,” Briella told the little girl with a tender smile. She was being so kind to the child, but I could see the pain behind my childhood rival’s green eyes. “You’re going to feel much better soon. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”

The little girl whimpered as Briella finished cleaning the cut. She managed a small, watery smile when a thick bandage was applied to her leg.

Briella’s eyes were sad, but she put on a brave face for the child, tucking some hair behind her ear and asking a nearby healer if there were any sweets in the kitchen that could be offered to the little girl.

The healer wandered off to check. Briella remained with the child, murmuring soothingly to her. I was too far away to hear the words but they seemed to comfort the young girl, who was now clinging to Briella as if she was a lifeline.

Briella’s face was somber. Her eyes glistened as if they were tearing up, but her mouth tightened with what could only be determination. Even from the distance I was at, I could feel her conviction to help these people.

Something welled up in me, and it took me a moment to figure out what the unfamiliar but overwhelming feeling was.

It was protectiveness.

As I watched the way Briella interacted with the little refugee girl, I saw so much compassion and care in her face and each movement. It made Briella seem gentle and in need of shielding.

But I knew it wasn’t entirely true. I witnessed her strength and tenacity firsthand while sparring with her over the years and even just the other day. She could take care of herself, but I felt the urge to do it for her.

I turned my back to the scene, more compelled than ever to ensure Briella didn’t go to Celestial City without me.

Roy raised an eyebrow as I passed him to go back into the healing center. “Why do you have that look on your face?”

I glanced at him but didn’t stop. “I don’t know what you mean.”

It was clear that he didn’t believe me. “That look that you tend to get when you’re plotting something,” he clarified, the suspicion in his voice rising.

I smirked a little but didn’t answer as I continued past him.

After a couple of hours, all the refugees had been tended to. Many of them had been transferred into the rooms at the healing center. Roy and I helped many of them into the building. There were thin sleeping mats set out in the lobby area for those people the center didn’t have rooms for.

“Thank you for all of your help,” one of the healers said to the four of us. She smiled and gestured toward the exit. “You have worked hard and should rest. We should be able to handle their care from here.”

Kai looked at his sister. “I will stay to monitor some of the more severely injured,” he told Briella. “You should go home and get some rest.”

Briella looked like she wanted to protest, but her shoulders sagged, signifying that she was more tired than she thought. “If you’re sure you don’t need any more help.”

“We’ve got it covered now,” he said, straightening his robe slightly. “It’s already dark, so maybe I should walk you.”

“We’re in the guest house near you,” I told Kai. “We’ll walk your sister home.”

Briella shook her head, casting me a slightly annoyed look. “I’ll be fine on my own, Kai. I don’t need anyone to walk me.”

“Then we’ll just walk with you because we’re heading the same way,” I cut in.

Kai looked at me strangely, but I could see the gratitude in his green eyes, which were so similar to Briella’s. “I would greatly appreciate it,” he told Roy and me.

Briella mumbled something under her breath but didn’t protest as we followed her out the door and down the path leading toward the guest houses nestled along the eastern border of the valley.

She was walking quite a bit ahead of Roy and me. I turned to my friend and lowered my voice. “I’ll meet you back at the house in a little while,” I told him, keeping my eyes on Briella’s back.

Roy followed my gaze before nodding seriously seeming to realize my intent. Without a word, he veered off the path, disappearing through the trees and leaving Briella and me alone.

“Black.”

Briella stiffened, possibly at the serious tone my voice took. She looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening slightly when she realized that Roy had left.

“What is it?” she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “I should have known you had an ulterior motive for walking me home. Well, spit it out.”

I ignored the jab and walked up to her until we were face-to-face. “I’m accompanying you to Celestial City,” I said, my voice firm, my gaze holding hers. “It would be dangerous and reckless for you to go on your own, especially since–”

“Fine.”

I almost physically reeled back at the single word that fell from her lips. I just stared at her for a moment. “What did you say?”

She almost looked frustrated with herself as she explained. “I’ve never been to Celestial City, and I’m not a fool. I am aware of how beneficial it would be for me if you came along.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And how do you figure that I would be beneficial to you?” I asked, intrigued by her choice of words.

Briella shrugged. “Well, considering that I have never been to the city before and you have been multiple times–”

I cut her off, unable to help myself. “How could you possibly know that?”

She looked at me a bit annoyed at being interrupted. “You used to talk about Celestial City all the time when we were kids. I’m assuming you still remember a lot about it, even though it might have been years since your family vacationed there.”

My jaw dropped, but I quickly controlled my expression, even though I was completely shocked that Briella Black actually remembered that about me.

I hadn’t been able to hide my shock quickly enough, causing the corner of Briella’s mouth to turn up into a smirk.