Tavern Living

Roxy and Ravana are both here.

It’s not like I was ignoring them, you know?

After I spoke to Roxy, she left the room! So I took it as an opportunity to speak to the little demon in my head.

I guess while I was having that conversation, it just looked like I was sleeping. I might as well have been, ‘cuz it’s not like I could see what was happening around me, after all.

But during that time, Roxy came back with Ravana.

Why is Ravana here?

It’s because he’s an angel!

That’s right, my best bud Ravana. I’m onto you.

You’re so nice that you’ve gotta be an angel, right?

Apparently, it’s actually been a few days since the... incident. I’ve been just lying here since.

Roxy and Ravana have been visiting to take care of me. It’s kind of embarrassing, but it’s not like I could help it!

Timothy?

Well, when Roxy came out of the dungeon holding my body, Timothy took off.

Scuttled away at breakneck speed, apparently!

Which is a shame, it would have been nice to see him again. But I doubt that’ll happen. We only met by chance to begin with.

“Lintel, this is all my fault.”

“It sure is.”

“Shut it, Ravana. I’m trying to be sincere here!”

They’re bickering like an old married couple. It does make me smile a little.

“Ahem, as I was saying, this is all my fault Lintel. I want to take full responsibility for what happened, and I would have even if a certain someone hadn’t cornered me about it.”

Judging from the sharp glare she’s giving Ravana, I can guess who that someone is.

What the heck happened while I was out?

“So! As a show of good faith, I would like to accompany you until we can figure out how to break your curse.”

“The curse that you put on him.”

“Yes, Ravana! That curse! We all know what curse we’re talking about here! Siiiiighhh.”

I can tell she’s trying really hard here.

“So, please Lintel, if you’ll have me...”

“‘Course Roxy! I’d love to adventure with you!”

Roxy sighs a sigh of relief. I guess she was taking this really hard, and was worried I’d say no.

I mean, that would make sense. After all, she did get me possessed by a demon, and then made it so I couldn’t get rid of that demon. It wouldn’t be a shocker if someone did blame her for that.

But I know that what happened was just an accident! It was my fault, really. I shouldn’t have gone touching things. If you really think about it, Roxy didn’t do anything wrong.

I feel a little bit guilty that she feels so responsible for this, and that she’s going to go out of her way to help me...

But at the same time... holy heck! This rocks!

She’s a mage, you know? A real life, really powerful mage!

Of course I’m excited for this! I can’t wait to go on all sorts of wacky adventures with her!

And, um. Break my curse. That too, of course.

Honestly I’m not as worried about that as I was before I talked to Ves. She actually seems kind of nice. I know Roxy told me not to trust her, but...

It’s hard, you know!

I always see the best in people, after all.

“Ah, I’m coming too, if that’s alright.”

Huh? Ravana?!

This is so sudden.

He’s truly an angel! An angel or a saint! I don’t know which one, and I don’t care if there’s a difference!

What a truly great guy!

But...

“Are you sure?”

“Mmhmm. Let’s just say that after this whole debacle, I don’t really trust Roxy here to just whisk you off to who knows where. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone else along, would it?”

Oh Ravana. I was so right about you.

I’m so touched, I might cry.

He wasn’t there, so of course he wouldn’t know that what happened was completely my fault. So I understand why he would be suspicious of Roxy.

But he wasn’t involved at all, so he has no reason to come with us.

And besides, Roxy is completely trustworthy! Why, on our entire journey, I can’t even remember a single time she’s lied to me. Certainly, she wouldn’t try misleading me now!

I’m touched that he’s truly just looking out for me.

It’s all the more evidence that he must be an angel! He muuuuust be!

“I’d love for you to come! Thank you!”

After that meeting, we all scrambled onto Roxy’s carriage and set off right away.

Where to?

Adventure, of course!

Anyways, that’s what I like to imagine we did. In reality, they won’t let me out of bed.

I got a few pretty nasty gashes across my chest, after all.

That’s right! Those scars I saw in my mind when I first woke up? They were real, after all!

The wounds weren’t enough to kill me, but they were deep enough that I’m not allowed out of bed until they heal up. My entire upper body is wrapped up in bandages, and they have to be changed pretty regularly ‘cuz they get soaked right through. Roxy and Ravana have been taking turns doing it.

I really appreciate that they're taking such good care of me, but I do feel bad about bothering them. It’s a lot of work.

Ravana is definitely better at it than Roxy. She gets kinda squeamish, but he seems totally in his element, dressing my wounds.

I wonder if he’s a doctor?

Roxy had no idea what to do, after all. Apparently when she brought me back to the tavern, the job she did bandaging me was so shoddy that Ravana threw a fit, and then took it upon himself to give her an in-depth lesson on how to do it properly.

It was a miracle I didn’t bleed out on the way back!

...or so he says.

Since waking up, I’ve been paying attention to these lessons too! According to Ravana, first aid is a really important skill for adventurers!

It’s kinda sinking in how clueless I’ve been.

It’s been three days.

The bleeding has slowed down a lot, so we’re only changing the bandages every day now.

Thank goodness!

When I think about how much time the two have spent doing that...

Well, I don’t want to think about it, so I won’t!

Ravana’s taken over my care.

“Drah’kin truly have miraculous constitutions. It’s incredible that you’re recovering this fast - we didn’t even need to do any sutures... they closed up on their own. Fascinating!”

Or so he said.

I don’t really understand what he’s saying most of the time, but from what I’ve gathered I’ll be better soon!

I really hope I’ll be better soon.

Rufus came and visited me today, and boy was it sad. He could barely look at me, and we just sat in silence for most of the time..

I guess he’s been taking this really hard.

Thinking back, he was really insistent on me going back home. So I guess he must feel really guilty about not stopping me from going off with Roxy.

I was feeling bad thinking about how much my stay here would cost, assuming that Roxy or Ravana was covering it. But apparently, Rufus is just letting me stay for free!

I thought he was just a grumpy old man, but he’s a real sweetheart!

Though, when I told him that he got really grumpy again.

“Old man? Bah! Not old, I’m just over thirty!”

Well, where I’m from, thirty is pretty old. That’s like, elder-aged. But I don’t tell him that.

It’s been seven days.

A whole week! Can you believe it? It got here so fast.

When I wake up, it’s unbelievable! No pain at all!

I had gotten to the point where I was kinda used to my chest hurting, but now that it’s not I feel incredible!

I know I should probably wait for Ravana to check up on me, but I can’t help it! I’m too excited! I gotta get these bandages off to see for myself! Luckily, I’m able to get them off pretty easily.

And I get a look at my chest.

...

......

Well, it’s not bleeding anymore. It’s completely healed up.

But in place of those gashes are three big scars.

I was way too hopeful, thinking that everything would go back to the way things were. These scars are proof that I really messed up. Scars that probably won’t ever go away.

Honestly? I’m fine with that.

I have a tendency to zone out and forget things, and I’ve definitely gotten into trouble because of that.

But these scars are a reminder of what happened, that I won’t ever forget.

After mulling over my scars for a while, I manage to get out of bed for the first time in a week.

I’m a bit unsteady, but hey! Can you blame me?

Whoooaaa, ok, take it a bit slower. Gah, almost toppled over!

I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m doing ok.

I gradually regain my balance. It helps that I can use my tail to keep myself upright.

It takes me a little while, but I manage to pull on my pants and leave my room.

Oh shoot, stairs! Normally they’d be no big deal, but now they’re my nemesis!

I won’t back down!

Easy, now. Easy does it...

Gak! Ooh, I lurch forward a bit, but manage to catch myself on the railing.

Just a couple more steps...

Ahhh, there we go. The safety of flat ground.

“Hi Rufus!” I call out cheerfully.

The tavernkeep is sitting behind the bar, as usual.

“Ah, Lintel! You’re up! Great to see, da!”

“Mmhmm! Do you know where Ravana and Roxy are? I wanna show ‘em!”

“Hmmm, they step out, ten, fifteen minute ago maybe. I saw them walk back behind tavern.”

“Great, thanks Rufus!”

“Ah, wait-”

I don’t hear the rest of what he was saying though, ‘cuz I’ve already run off! Wow! It feels so good to run!

Out behind the tavern? Not much to go on, but I’ll see if I can find them!

Adventure awaits!