“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they're capable of.” 

- Markus Zusak, I Am The Messenger

"Kris? Kris, can you hear me? Kris!" you called as you sat next to the blond boy. While following Tao, Kris had told you he felt lightheaded and dizzy and soon after, had gone into a state of shock. When you called his name, he wouldn't respond. A few meters before you reached Tao's grandmother's house, Kris had finally passed out from blood loss. You had cried your eyes out and had not left his side since you arrived three days ago.

You heard a knock at the door. "Come in," you said after you had wiped the tears from your eyes and regained your composure. It was Tao and his grandmother. He was holding a tray of things as he followed his grandmother into the room. The elderly lady made her way over to a chair that was next to Kris' bed.

"Kora, how are you?" she asked as Tao put the tray down on a nearby table. On the tray were small glass and silver jars, a small stone bowl, a knife, and a pestle. "I'm okay," you answered, trying to smile. She looked at you with a very compassionate look. "Well, that is good to hear. Tao, could you get some hot water?" she asked Tao. He nodded and smiled before leaving the room quickly. Tao seemed much happier since you had arrived, but you were sure that anyone in his situation would be excited.

The elderly woman began measuring powders from the jars and pieces of leaves into the small bowl before grinding everything together into a powder. Tao soon came back into the room with a teapot of hot water and handed it to his grandmother, who poured the steaming liquid into the small bowl.

The powder was now the familiar green, pasty substance that she applied to Kris' wounds every morning, afternoon, and night for the past three days. "I cannot begin to thank you for bringing my grandson back to me," she began as she applied the paste onto Kris' side. You gave her a small smile. "It was nothing. You should be proud that Tao was able to survive in there. He's probably one of the strongest fighters I've seen," you said. "What's the point of being good if you kill innocent people?" Tao said as he glared at you, anger in his voice. "Tao!" his grandmother scolded. He broke his gaze with you and ran out the door.

"He's angry at himself for what he did while he was in there. He was never really liked fighting; he's quite the pacifist," his grandmother sighed. You raised your eyebrows at her. "Really? But he's extremely good at it," you stated, a bit shocked. "Well, he should be. His ancestors were incredible warriors. It runs in his blood to be skilled at combat," she explained as she put her medicines away and took out banding cloth to dress the wound.

You helped bind the slightly raw skin as she took up her tray of things and left the room. You closed the door and resumed your original position, kneeling next to Kris' bed, your head placed on the side of the blanke