Page 20 of Axis of Fire

“You’re fine,” the man in blue said calmly.

“Your brain just hasn’t fully recovered from the shock yet. It hasn’t reconnected with your lower limbs.”

Eugene. Right.

“Do any of you actually have a medical degree?” I asked, meeting his eyes.

I knew how I must look to them—

unstable, reckless, questioning everything.

“The education system here is a bit different from what you’re used to,” Airis replied.

I didn’t even look at him.

Didn’t want to.

Something about him irritated me far too much.

“So where are we?” I asked, nodding toward the building.

“I mean—what city is this? And what is that place?”

“Let’s move you to the infirmary,” Mr. Shiford said with a gentle smile.

“We’ll explain everything there.”

******

The infirmary didn’t look anything like a place meant for the sick.

The walls were painted a deep green, lined with large gilded cabinets with glass doors.

Behind some of them were small jars, pitchers, baskets of herbs—and books.

There were also four single beds, each with its own bedside table.

But what struck me most—

was the floor.

Mirrored.

Dusted with gold.

You could see everything reflected in it.

A few minutes after we arrived, a short man approached us, dressed in loose white robes.

The first thing I noticed was his bald head, marked with a tattoo: a wreath of leaves and roses, with a cross and a serpent at its center, stretching across his forehead.

“Hello, Sulfur,” Mr. Shiford greeted him with a warm smile.

“Alan. Good to see you,” the man replied, fine lines creasing at the corners of his eyes.

“What brings you here?”

“This is Illariana Arden,” Mr. Shiford said, gesturing toward me.