The Medallion

Rocky arrived at the battlefields of northeast military camp, having followed Thor and Sheridan the whole way. The battlefields were teeming with personnel, from ranks of soldiers to spirit manipulators. Many of the soldiers and spirit manipulators were gathered around a creature of immense size, pointing and whispering.

"Back off and step aside...! What is going on here?!" Sheridan demanded loudly, seeing the commotion and unhappy at the conduct.

Solders and spirit manipulators looked up to see that it was Sheridan who spoke. All of them stepped aside and cleared the way for him, knowing his temper was infamous throughout the whole northeast military camp. Sheridan was, after all, the administrator of beast farm. If they irritated him, then the spirit-manipulated beasts, their closest friends, would get in trouble. It was in their best interests to respect him and his authority.

Standing behind Sheridan, Rocky cast his eyes on the enormous figure in battlefield. He realized that it was none other than Marin's war dragon named Verdanim. Verdanim was stretched out on its side. It looked as though it was in serious pain. Its lower abdomen bulged out, distended like a ball, almost as though it'd been pregnant for a few months. But its left rear limb which was badly deformed was bloody. The limb was black and blue all over. While outwardly, the injury looked horrible, the internal injuries were likely much worse than that.

"Sheridan..." Marin choked as she gently patted Verdanim's head from where she was squatted. She was desperately trying to soothe her injured dragon. With tears in her eyes, she rose to her feet to implore Sheridan. "Hurry, please, save Verdanim, I beg you!" she begged.

"Calm down, Marin; don't worry. I'll save it, I promise you," Sheridan replied calmly, patting her shoulder and trying to reassure her. Verdanim had been his gift to Marin, and he had raised the dragon himself. Hence, he understood her feelings about Verdanim in this situation, and sympathized with her.

For Marin, Verdanim was more than just a dragon; it was like a sibling to her. Her sadness and her joys were things she would share with it. She adored this dragon and prized it above all else, and her heart broke to see it so injured.

Rocky had never seen Marin look so weak and helpless before. Often, she behaved as though she were a man: strong, impartial, and clear-sighted. She was a fine Commander that looked as steady as any other. But now, it seemed as though a mere breeze could send Marin down.

as soon as she'd seen Sheridan approaching, she felt some of her anxiousness drain from her body. She was confident that he had every ability to cure her spirit-manipulated beast. But then she felt a stare upon her and found Rocky there. She only looked sadly back at him before turning her attention back to

But as he did, his frown deepened, as though he were clearly having some difficulty. Judging by

cure it...?" She was wringing her hands in worry, seeing the look

back at Marin, and his hesitation worried her.

her throat, her stomach in knots. She had a bad feeling about

bone. Even I can't understand how it could've suffered such a serious injury. I am so sorry, Marin, but... I'm not sure I'll be able to save Verdanim this time," Sheridan told her quietly, apologetically. He knew that this would be a serious blow to Marin, but this was something too serious to sugarcoat and she had to know the

fault, I knew it...it's all my fault! If I hadn't tried to win...if I hadn't tried to win so hard, Verdanim wouldn't have

disconsolate before, the soldiers and spirit manipulators watched on in sympathetic awe. They felt a deep sense of pity for her, and knew they too would mourn such a loss. Verdanim was the only war dragon of the

please, can't you save Verdanim?!" Marin begged shrilly, heart in her throat and desperate. She seemed to have lost control of herself as she grasped Sheridan's grey hand. It was too difficult for her to accept that her beloved

Sheridan sighed heavily. Though there was that slim chance that he could save the war dragon, Verdanim would simply never be the same again, and would never be able to go to war again. And as this was a war beast that was born to fight, its life would become meaningless otherwise. It could become disconsolate and despondent, as to be confined to a stable was a fate that some would say was

must know what to do, a treatment, a cure, something...!" Marin was firm and

this was going to break her heart,

Please cure Verdanim," Marin begged, inconsolable

grief. He knew that even if he did cure Verdanim, the dragon could suffer significant disabilities. Its movement would become slow and difficult due to the serious internal injuries and its crippled left limb. It would be