Six Weeks!?

Kimora frowned.

“… What do you mean you can’t heal him?” she asked. “C’mon—quit joking around and get serious, already~!”

“Do I look like I’m joking to you?” said Eric. “—No. When I say I can’t heal him, I mean it.”

He let out a weary sigh.

“Look, I’ll even try again if you’re not convinced,” he said, pointing his staff’s tip back at Kanie’s left leg.

“Healing Magic!”

No sooner had he finished reciting the incantation than another loud beeping noise sounded through the chamber.

“See?” he said. “For whatever reason, I can’t use healing magic on Kanie.”

Kanie looked on in disbelief.

“I don’t believe it,” he said. “So, does this mean I’m crippled for good?”

A heavy silence pervaded the area. The first to speak was Oltrix, who turned to face Kimora.

“If I may, Your Majesty… I’d like to have another look at the boy’s injury.”

“… Oh, um, o-of course! Permission granted!”

Oltrix slithered off of Kanie’s chest. She made her way to his broken leg, undoing the bandages wrapped around it. For a while, she examined the wound, ever-so-slightly poking at it with her tail.

“This is… most unusual,” she said, tongue flickering about. “The shattered tibia—it’s already begun to heal.”

Kanie’s eyes lit up with enthusiasm.

“Hey, that’s great news!” he said. “So, doc, when do you reckon I’ll be back to normal? A day—or two, maybe?”

“Assuming adequate nourishment and rest, I’d expect a full recovery in fewer than six weeks.”

Kanie’s hopeful expression turned to one of despair.

“Six weeks!?” he exclaimed. “Are you kidding me!?”

“Kanie, stop moving, or you’ll reopen your wound,” Eric warned.

“But, Eric—” he protested.

“You should consider yourself fortunate, human,” said Oltrix. “Healing from an injury of this variety would normally require an entire year. … Hmph—your body’s repair function must indeed be extraordinary.”

“… W-well, when you put it that way, I guess six weeks doesn’t sound so bad, haha…” he said.

“You’ll be under Oltrix’s care until your leg is healed,” Kimora said.

Oltrix faced her and bowed her head, closing her eyes as she did.

“Ha, understood, Your Majesty.”

“Wait—you mean I—we can stay?” Kanie asked, gesturing also toward Eric.

“You may, but under two conditions.”

She scrunched her eyebrows, glaring at the heroes. They could feel the muscles in their bodies grow tense.

“I still don’t trust either of you, so you’ll be sleeping here in my chamber during the nighttime. That’s condition number one.”

… Right, because I’m definitely going somewhere with a broken leg… thought Kanie. And wait, if this is her chamber, then that means…

“This is Kimora’s bed!?” he blurted. He fidgeted about, unable to hide his embarrassment.

“Hm? Did you say something just now, Kanie Misawa?”

“Never mind that idiot,” Eric said. “What’s the second condition?”

“Right,” she said, clearing her throat. “… If either of you are to leave this room, you must do so under the surveillance of one of my guardians.”

“Um, does that include when we’re bathing?” asked Kanie.

“Naturally.”

“Nuh-uh! No way am I having someone gawk at my junk when I’m taking a shower. Sorry, no can do—ouch!”

Kanie minced his words, yelping when he felt something smack him over the head. At some point, Eric had made his way over and thwacked him with the top of his staff.

“Dude,” he whispered. “Quit acting up, or she’s going to throw us out.”

“You have a deal,” he said to Kimora.

“Good~. I’m glad we’re able to see eye-to-eye,” she said, delighted.

Her expression grew serious at the sound of a noise reminiscent of a loud church bell. It was coming from a higher floor of the castle. She started toward the large doors on the other end of the chamber. Upon reaching them, she turned around.

“… There’s somewhere I’ve got to be. Oltrix, I’ll be counting on you to tend to our guests’ needs while I’m away.”

So, are we supposed to be prisoners, or VIPs… ? Honestly, I’ve got no idea anymore, Kanie mused.

“Toodle-loo~,” Kimora said, waving before disappearing behind the chamber doors. They slammed shut behind her.

The master’s chamber stood quiet momentarily following Kimora’s departure, the only audible sound being the calm and rhythmic breathing of Mylo, still fast asleep on the floor.

“… ‘If we’re to leave this room, we must do so under surveillance,’ huh…”

Kanie repeated Kimora’s words from earlier, which had freshly resurfaced in his mind. Though the thought of having his every move watched for weeks irked him the wrong way, he decided on searching for the positive in the situation. He was sure that he could find something to smile about—amidst the broken leg, inbound privacy infringement, and all—if he only changed his perspective. And so he did.

“Eric—Erika,” he started, looking over at the petite witch standing on his right.

“Oh, for Nyle’s sake, just call me Eric from now on.”

“… Works for me,” he said. He cleared his throat. Eric squinted his teal-colored eyes in anticipation. He could tell that an outrageous comment was coming his way—and he was right.

“So, Eric…”

“Can you believe it!?” he said, a glint of enthusiasm in his golden eyes. “Six weeks in a hot dragon lady’s bedroom—I mean, what a seriously incredible plot twist!”

Eric’s expression turned sour, practically screaming ‘Please, kill me now.’

“… Don’t get any weird ideas while we’re here,” he reminded the bedridden swordsman. “Remember—the fate of the world hangs in the balance.”

“Hahaha! I won’t, I won’t!”

Kanie’s playful laughter subsided upon noticing the dark circles under Eric’s eyes. The mage’s entire demeanor suggested an intense level of exhaustion. He appeared as though he might collapse any minute.

“You okay, man?” Kanie asked him. “You look super done-in.”

Eric yawned.

“… I’m good. Sure could use a nap, though.”

“Get some sleep now, then.”

“I’m afraid I must agree,” said a voice. It was Oltrix, who, in her silence, the heroes had nearly forgotten was in the chamber with them. She slithered right up to Eric, studying his face intently.

“Your vitals tell me that you’ve not rested—oh, nor eaten, as a matter of fact—in a period greater than twenty-four hours.”

… She’s right, thought Eric. Damn, she’s good.

Oltrix pointed her tail toward a sofa that rested against the chamber walls, southeast of the bed Kanie lay on. It was a large crescent sofa of a rich, velvety color—not unlike the shade of light-bodied red wine. A piece of furniture befitting of a queen’s bedroom.

“Please, do get some shut-eye. I insist that you recover your health and vitality in time for tonight’s grand banquet.”

“Don’t mind if I do,” Eric said, hovering over Kanie and towards the sofa.

Kanie was confused. It was his first time hearing of any such event, and he was quick to inquire for more information.

“… There’s going to be a banquet tonight?”

“Oh, yes,” Oltrix said. “Her Majesty insists on dining with myself and the other guardians every evening her schedule allows it.”

… Huh. Could it be that deep down, Kimora’s just a big ol’ softie? Kanie thought. … No. Best not to jump to conclusions. That woman nearly cooked us alive yesterday, after all…

He glanced over at Eric, who had already zonked out atop the blood-red sofa. The mage had summoned a warm blanket under which he rested cozily. As he watched him, Kanie couldn’t help but want to sleep some more himself. The previous day had put him through much turmoil, leaving him spent—both physically and mentally. And so, conceding to his fatigue, he closed his eyes. He smiled softly, feeling the pleasant warmth from the quilt and the torches around the bed embrace his body. The temperature was neither too hot nor cold—like sitting in front of a bonfire.

Oltrix observed his peaceful face, her beady eyes reflecting the chamber’s ample firelight. She had taken a fondness to the young swordsman and his antics.

… But would the other guardians? Him, especially?