Chapter 265 - A Dedication to Duty (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1713, 16th day of the 11th month*

”Priestess”.

The voice roused Devina from her deep slumber. She was still so tired. Three nights of staying up and alert were not something she'd ever trained for, and she and all her Paladins were exhausted by it.

”Priestess, please”.

Aina. The call more insistent this time. Devina forced herself up.

”Yes?”

Aina opened the door to Devina's room, her eyes serious and wider than usual.

”It's Lukas, he's injured,” said Aina.

Devina stood quickly, a frown on her face, ”How badly?”

”He has no open wounds, but heavy bruising, and he had quite the knock to the head,” said Aina, ”Isaac went to find him when he didn't report back. He was unconscious in a barn in the northern sector”.

”Is he awake now?” asked Devina.

”Yes, I can to retrieve you when he did, he said you'd want to hear what he had to say,” said Aina.

Devina nodded as the two hurried through the halls of the residential portion of the church. It did not take them long to arrive at Lukas' room, and they found him surrounded by the other Paladins as Kelly fussed over him.

”I said I'm fine, would you stop it?” Lukas huffed in annoyance before his eyes strayed to Devina and Aina as they entered, ”Ah, Priestess! I found it! I found the monster, and better yet, a weakness!”

Lukas went to stand, only to have both Kelly and Isaac force him back onto the bed.

”Stay down, you hit your head, you should rest,” Kelly snapped.

”I said I'm-”

”You'll do as Kelly says,” Devina ordered, ”You can tell me what happened just as easily from the bed as you can from anywhere else”.