Chapter 38:

Blood

The Wind Calls the Flowers


I got up from the table, wobbly due to the large amount of blood loss. My balance was weak and as I began falling, I caught myself with my new arm on the back of the chair. However, with all the force I was falling at, along with the liquid on the ground, the chair slipped over with me as well.

As I fell, I put my hands out in order to brace myself for the impact. I hit the ground with my hands, catching me from falling into the crimson pool. But like the chair, my hands had also slipped, causing me to go face first into my own blood. This was going to be such a pain to clean up.

Hopefully Requa will be able to deal with this. I just need to make it up the stairs. Slowly picking myself back up, I stumbled my way across to where I had gotten the cleaver from so I could put it back properly. Realizing there was a good chance I would fall again at this rate, I adjusted my course so I could reach the wall and use it to lean on.

As I leaned against the wall, my body started to feel cold. It was either due to the wall or because I was still recovering blood, but still, I didn’t have a moment to wait. I inched my way closer to the shelf from where the blade had left its original position.

Finally reaching it, I placed the bloody knife back from where it had come from. Much like the cleaver, my clothes were also dripping with blood. As I turned around to go to the stairs, I saw the large heaps of blood from where I had just come from. Looking down, I noticed my shoes were almost entirely soaked with blood, and the same could be said for most of my dress.

Even if Requa is able to clean up the dress, these shoes definitely won’t be. I guess I’ll just have to get new ones then. I continued my way to the stairs, now leaning with my left arm against the wall. Each step I tracked back was met with more sounds of dripping and dropping, enough so that my mind had started imagining it even when it wasn’t there.

I had begun to climb the stairs, the part I dreaded the most. While the stairs had felt shorter before, this started to feel quite long due to the current way I was feeling. This was annoying, but hopefully Requa would be able to meet me at the top and start taking care of me. If I ever want healing myself like this to be practical, I’ll probably have to do this more often to make sure I can heal myself at a moment's notice and not end up in such a dismal state.

Some of the blood had started entering my eyes and my hands were too preoccupied with holding me up to wipe off the blood. As it went into my eyes, it became harder to see anything. The slight tinge of red obscuring my vision only made the present darkness of the stairs harder and harder to look through. I’d use fire magic to try and see, but at the moment, it’s taking everything I have to make this journey.

Each step had felt like its own amount of work, with increasing difficulty as more and more things started to wear down. I was finally able to see some light at the end of the murky view, but it was still hard to tell. Turning the last corner of the stairs, I was finally able to step out of the trial.

I was able to make out a person in maid clothing waiting for me at the top. They had gray hair, almost as if it was made of metal. She had a worried look waiting there, which only compounded when she saw the state I was in. I had only gotten a slight look, but I wasn’t able to examine what I looked like since there wasn’t a mirror down there.

“My lady, what’s wrong!?” She asked in a panic.

“I-I d-did it.” I answered, holding myself up with my fading willpower.

“You mean it’s finally done?”

“That’s right.” I confirmed for her while beginning to fall over.

Before I could hit the ground for a second time, I was caught by the maid who had looked so worried seconds ago.

“Let’s get you some rest, shall we?” She spoke out of concern.

“S-sure. By the way, who are you?” I asked.

“Huh? It’s me, Requa.”

“Oh Requa. When did you get such lovely silver hair?”

“Silver?”

“I liked the turquoise better to be honest.” I told her as I faded out of consciousness.

My consciousness had returned for a moment as Requa opened the door to my room. It seemed like I was hung over her shoulder and she was struggling to drag me along. She was so strong when it came to other things, but looking at her face here made it seem like this wasn’t one of those things.

“Don’t worry, we’re almost there, my lady.” Requa reassured me, seeing my eyes opening slightly.

“T-t-thank…..you.” I muttered out my gratitude for her.

As we walked further into the room, I was able to catch a glance in the mirror placed in the room which showed the both of us. I looked like a mess, covered in blood that was dripping everywhere. It was as though I was still bleeding based on my dripping.

I couldn’t quite tell, but with all the blood I saw on myself, I had to assume I ended up getting blood on Requa as well. The thought had caused me to feel slightly down. I’ve stained the beauty that Requa doesn’t acknowledge about herself. She brought me to the bathroom and began helping me clean up.

“Just stay seated there. I’ll be back in one moment!” She exclaimed, leaving me on a stool in the bathroom and running off.

Trying to balance on this stool felt even harder than getting up those stairs earlier. The issue was more than trying to balance, but instead trying to keep awake. I had only recently awoken again, and it had felt only momentary. I looked at the door, hoping I would see Requa come back soon.

Finally I saw what looked like Requa walk through the door. My happiness at the sight of her had caused me to fall out of the stool and onto the tiled ground. Seeing this, she ran over to come pick me up again.

“It’s okay, I should have everything now. Just hold on, my lady.” She spoke.

“Thank…….” I couldn’t get the words out without feeling too exhausted.

She cleaned me off from what I’d assumed to be thoroughly, but I wasn’t entirely sure as I was going in and out of being awake. I think she was trying to talk to me about something, but by this point I was so far out of it that I couldn’t even attempt to understand what she was trying to say.

Finally, as if almost a relief to do so, I fell out of consciousness for what was likely much longer. I say it’s longer because by the time I woke up, I was already in my bed with the comfortable sleep wear I wore every night in this estate. My mind had finally started to recover, but as I tried to force myself up to sit and look around, it was made apparent to me that my body had not quite recovered the same amount.

It seemed like I couldn’t move anywhere below my neck for the moment. It felt numb, sort of like the rest of my body wasn’t even there and instead it was just a weight in place of it. I had started to feel too warm, however I could only live with this mild discomfort as it was the only thing I could really do.

“Oh, you’re finally awake my lady!” An excited voice exclaimed at the sight.

“I guess so.” Trying to acknowledge the comment myself.

“Seriously, what were you thinking! Testing on yourself!?”

“Oh right, I did do that. Well I had to. It was in order to make sure the magic was really ready to use.” I tried to explain.

I determined that experimenting on myself was going to be a suitable final trial before using the technique on other people. I made up my mind to do this the first day I had started experimenting. It may have also doubled as a way to atone for everything I had done up to that point. But by the time I got to the steps, I didn’t really think of it like that anymore. Oh well, for whatever reason all that matters is that the magic is ready to be used now.

“When will I be able to move again?” I questioned Requa.

“Huh? Well, umm… Maybe in a day?” She had been a little caught off by the question.

“Oh, I see.”

“Do you really want to get up that badly right now?”

“Well of course. There’s so much to do. I need to hurry.”

There really was far too much work to be done for me to be resting here for an entire day. I had to tell Clauffer that the testing was done and that the technique was perfected; I had to finish the book I’m writing; and I had to go out and heal people, starting with the village I swore to. But I also knew I couldn’t really do anything about the current state I was in. I guess I’ll just have to stay here.

“Hey Requa?” I called.

“Uh, yes?” She responded, once again caught off guard.

“Were you able to wash my dress?”

“Yes I was able to!”

“That’s good. What about the shoes?”

“Oh, unfortunately I was not able to salvage those.” She answered dejectedly.

Well I guess I did expect that, but at least some part of my clothing had survived. Healing myself really wasn’t easy, I’ll definitely have to keep practicing on myself to make sure I can do it whenever I want without this side effect. I wonder how long it would take for that?

Well tomorrow I should be able to go to the village and fulfill my promise. Of course, once I get back, I’ll be able to write up everything in my book so that this knowledge can be spread further. That should make everything I did worth it for everyone.

Oh that’s right! I made a promise with that boy in the dungeon. I guess I’ll try to leave early in the morning then. That way I can get out without Requa catching me. I’d assume she’d be mad for this reckless plan that, if discovered, would likely get on Clauffer’s bad side. But it was fine. I’ve already agreed to do it, so nothing else really matters anyways.

Once I take him with me, I’ll leave him in the village and let him decide for himself where he wants to go. That way he can go wherever he wants and I won’t have to take him there. I doubt he’d want to go back to the Capital since he’d most likely just be treated as a slave there. Although he might want to go there if he’s looking for his sister. Oh, well. He can figure it out himself.

“Well, I’ll leave you to rest.” Requa spoke out randomly.

“Oh I see.” I responded. This time it was me being caught off guard by her sudden speech.

Wait! One of the responsibilities I have I can easily clear without having to get up at all. I’ll just need a little help from Requa, but it should be fine. It’s nothing too big.

“Hey, actually, Requa.” I called for her as she had started to leave.

“Oh, yes?” She wondered, mildly confused.

“Can you tell Clauffer that I’m done with my research?”

“Wha-! You want me to tell him of such a big accomplishment?”

“Uh, yeah. It’ll just be one less thing to do.”

“Are you sure you want me to do this? After all, it should be you who reports the fruits of your labour.”

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s not like I’m telling you to publish a book with it.” I laughed at the comment.

“I see. I understand then. I will do as you wish, my lady.”

“Thank you!”

“Well then, goodnight my lady.”

“Goodnight Requa.” I responded to her.

Being honest, it always felt kind of weird to be called “my lady”. I mean I get that I’m Clauffer’s guest, but I’d like her to be a little less formal with me. Maybe next time I see her I’ll command her for that. She does seem to listen to the commands I give her. These were my last thoughts before I once again fell into a deep slumber.