Reborn From the Cosmos

Miniarc-Villains-10

As his guide assured him, one tent stood out from the rest, only in size rather than luxury. Its position was also prominent, the center of the better organized area of the camp.

It wasn’t an officer’s tent, of which Samuel had intimate knowledge of having been dragged along with his brother to immerse themselves in Dowager’s fascination with all things related to war. It was standard for the noble officers to have better accommodations than their soldiers, though Dowager admired the officers of common backgrounds who usually insisted on being the same as their men. The kind of personality that wouldn’t give a lick of Samuel’s title. Fighting back a wave of dread, he waved for Ewan to announce them.

“Hello! Is anyone in residence?”

“Who the fuck is yelling when they should be working?” a gruff voice promptly responded. The tent flap was thrown open and a figure ducked out of the opening. The first thing Samuel noticed about them was their red hair; the unusually vibrant hue brought to mind visceral things, like blood and fire.

The second thing he noticed was her scowl. Just as he examined the woman, she examined him. He noted the exact moment she recognized him. Her response to that recognition was the exact opposite of what he expected.

“Well? Why are you yelling?”

Utter disregard. People always reacted to him, for good or ill. But there was something in the woman’s tone that made him think she didn’t give a damn about who he was. It was a bit unsettling, to be seen as only himself.

The royal knight wasn’t taken aback. “The prince is here for his assignment,” Ewan continued smoothly in the face of her ire.

“Saints blessed asses. Is he even useful?”

“He is a dual affinity caster and is prepared to work.”

“Yeah, but is he going to throw a fit the moment he gets a little dirt on his hands?”

“Excuse you,” Samuel said, offense overriding his first strange impression of the woman. “You dare question my integrity? I gave my word to assist these people and that’s what I intend to do.”

“Yeah? Good for you. Just pick something you won’t get tired of and get to work.”

“You haven’t explained what jobs there are.”

“You’ve got legs and eyes, don’t you? Walk around, there are a hundred problems around here. One of which is my lack of sleep. If you really can’t figure it out, talk to a guy called Lane and he’ll sort it. Oh, and don’t you dare interrupt my people with any royal bullshit. We don’t have enough hands as it is. The last thing I need is them running off because a prince is making their lives difficult.”

“That’s it? You can’t just…” Samuel trailed off as the redhead turned her back on them, disappearing back into her tent with a dismissive wave of her hand. The prince turned to his guard with wide eyes. “Can she do that?”

“She just did. Look at the bright side, your highness. Now you can ensure that you get the assignment you want.”

That was a significant benefit. Enough that Samuel was willing to forgive the woman’s abrupt behavior. Against his predictions, he had lucked out with a sensible instructor. “We should find a guide.”

Ewan scanned the area and Samuel followed him. There were plenty of acolytes in the area but all of them were in motion, clearly occupied with their own tasks.

“I think it’s better to wander about on our own. The one restriction your superior gave you was not to bother any others. It would be unfortunate if she rescinded your freedom.”

“I suppose.” His tone was full of reluctance as he thought about the size of the camp.

“We can start on this side of the camp, as it is sure to have the more favorable positions.”

“That’s a good idea.”

The two of them set off, roaming between the tents as they searched for an opportunity for the prince to fulfill his obligation. The first thing they came across was a group of acolytes expanding the camp. It was simple work, but judging from the color of the group’s robes, only those with earth affinities were welcome.

The next thing they stumbled upon seemed to be a cooking operation. They certainly looked like they needed the help, the half a dozen acolytes juggling twice as many pots over open flames, but Samuel couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could justify helping the refugees as something honorable, but meal prepping was servant work. Some noblewomen took up cooking as a hobby but even then, it was usually baking so they could present their lovers with cute sweets that matched their embroidered handkerchiefs. Only old matrons stirred great big pots and ladled soup into bowls by the dozens. It was demeaning, physically demanding, and, worse, boring.

One of the women in the group met his eyes as he passed but he quickly turned away, quickening his pace before he was dragged into a scene.

The third place they found was a field hospital. Normally, the sound of wet coughs and the smell of sickness would drive him off, but one sight trumped all of that; Cecilia tending to one of the patients. He almost didn’t recognize her with her hair pulled into a tight bun and dressed in simple clothing, a plain brown dress with a stained apron covering her front.

Samuel immediately headed to the large makeshift tent, frantically searching for someone who appeared to be in charge. His gaze zeroed in on a man about his age standing behind a group of three others who looked distinctly uncomfortable as they addressed a bedridden man with a large bruise on one side of his face.

“Are you in—"

Samuel was stopped by the man’s raised hand. There was something so final about the gesture, the prince was silenced before he could think to question it. For a moment. When he realized what had happened, he scowled in annoyance. “You! I’m addressing you!”

The man sighed and pinched his nose. “You three! Find out what’s wrong with him. When I come back, you better have started on his treatment or know who you should be giving the problem to. You two—" Samuel sneered as the man pointed to him and Ewan. “Come here.”

Samuel was far from happy being ordered about but the man was moving before he finished talking, leaving the prince little choice but to follow. They didn’t go far, or even somewhere private, the man stopping beside an empty bed with patients on either side of it. From what Samuel saw, it was the freest space in the hospital.

“What do you want?” the man demanded.

The prince cleared his throat. “I am—"

“What. Do. You. Want?” the man bit out, cutting him off again.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Do you not have any manners?”

“No. I also don’t have the time or the energy for whatever this is so you either tell me what you want or get out of my face.”

“You—"

A hand on his shoulder stopped Samuel and Ewan jumped into the silence. “He is a dual affinity air and water caster who wants to help.”

“Why didn’t you say that first?!” The man’s entire demeanor changed, his dark sullen eyes brightening and his glower turning into a smile. The prince flinched, and he noticed his guard tense, as the man grabbed his shoulders. “Come with me.”