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Chapter 33: Recovering
🕑 Added 2024-09-01 13:30:02 +0000 UTCI was enjoying a relaxing noon on the clinic beds, finally laying down. I didn’t know how long I would be stuck here, I began to miss my old canopy bed in the mansion and, believe it or not, the stiff bed in Feyt’s room.
With bodies in pain like these though, I doubted they would transport me back to my homes so quick. I had to endure a few more until my bodies could walk again, great.
Then, an alarmingly quick steps were booming at the hallway in front of the wooden door. The pace, the strength, the weight, it all sounded familiar to Feyt’s ears.
The worst person to have come, had come.
Fray opened the door with a slam. At the top of her lungs, she yelled, “Feeeeyyytttt!!!!!”
She rushed and prepared to lunge, in other words, she was preparing to hug me. Goosebumps around my skin warned me of the danger. My body went into an instant fight-or-flight mode. I chose flight.
But how? Every movement I made felt like I was trying to push needles into my skin.
No, desperate times called for desperate measures. I pushed through the pain, I needed to roll away from the bed onto the floor. I didn’t care how painful the drop would be, all I needed to do was to escape her attack. My life was on the line.
“Got you!”
Yet, try as I might, no one could beat this monster’s strength and agility.
I was hugged with the force of a truck, I swear I could hear my bones crack.
GRAAAAAAGH! IT HUUUUUURTS!
The world went all white with pain. My body felt like it was being wrung out by a giant, the pressure squeezing every bit of soreness to the surface. I would’ve screamed, but even my lungs refused to cooperate—too busy trying not to collapse.
What I saw through Carine’s eyes was a typical scene of familiar affection, but Feyt’s body screamed otherwise.
“You had me worried sick!” Fray said, oblivious that she was about to murder me.
To think that after escaping kidnappers, I would die here…
“Fray… air…!” I wheezed out, trying to pry her arms off, but it was like trying to wrestle a gorilla.
She finally let go, and I collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breath.
“Oops! Sorry!” she said with a sheepish grin, patting my head like nothing had happened. “Looks like you’re fine after all!”
I was listless on the bed. I could only watch in horror through Carine’s eyes as Fray continued patting me.
After what felt like an eternity, Fray stopped her patting and allowed me to get the energy back to lay upright on my bed again.
“So, did those bandits hurt you?” Fray asked, her eyes leaning forward.
“Well, they did kick me in the stomach…”
Hell, the one who almost killed me was you!
“Kick in the stomach?” Fray whispered to herself. “Hmph, so they didn’t deserve mercy after all, I was right.”
—? What’s she talking about?
Fray placed a hand on my shoulder, causing me to yelp a bit. “Don’t worry! Big Sis already taught them a lesson!” she said to me with a big grin on her face. “None of them can bother you anymore!”
I was sure this was a typical big sibling trying to show off/comfort their siblings kind of thing, but something in her tone made it feel like she was telling the truth.
I didn’t dare ask though. Not like I had the strength to.
“So,” Fray turned her head toward the other me, Carine. “Who’s this?”
With a faint smile, I introduced myself as Carine to Fray. “H-Hello, my name is Carine Sareid. I was kidnapped alongside me.”
Fray raised an eyebrow. “Alongside… me? Did they hit your head or something?”
I wanted to slap myself. I messed things up.
And be honest with me here, who wouldn’t?!
It was already hard talking to someone I knew using the identity of my other self, couple that with having to refer to myself with my other self.
What in the world could prepare me for this?!
“S-Sorry, I misspoke. I meant I was kidnapped alongside Feyt,” I spoke in a dejected tone.
“Hmm,” Fray narrowed her eyes, as if she was sizing me up. “Yeah, you’re pretty alright.”
What does that mean?
“I heard from Dad and that noble guy. You helped Feyt out right?” she gave me a wide smile and a thumbs up “Thanks a lot!”
“Haha… I was only helping myself, really…” I chuckled to myself.
“No, no, no! There’s no need to be all humble and shtick!” Fray stood upright and went to Carine’s bed.
She spread her arms wide.
Oh no.
“Come ‘ere!”
No, no, no, NO, NO, NOOOOOO—
—
Now that both of my bodies already experienced true pain, Fray finally decided to sit back down on a nearby wooden chair, backwards, her legs spread.
Thankfully she was wearing shorts.
“So, how exactly did you manage to get yourself kidnapped?” she flashed a grin. “Tripped over your own feet again?”
“Haha, real funny.”
I pondered back to the day I was kidnapped. It felt like ages ago, a lot can happen in one night.
Then, I remembered something.
“Ah, I forgot to charge Rosfeld for the potatoes,” I blurted out.
Fray leaned forward, resting her arms on the back of the chair. “Rosfeld? That cheap bastard? What does that have to do with the kidnapping?”
“Well, if you must know, he tricked me into forgetting to charge him by making me all comfortable. When I realized what he did, I went back to charge him. That was when I was kidnapped.”
Fray’s expression darkened instantly, and with a sharp movement, she straightened up, the chair legs thudding against the floor. She punched her own palm as she glared at the air.
“So, ultimately, this was that bastard’s fault!” she roared. A wicked grin spread across her face. “I’m gonna enjoy this!”
Realizing I might have accidentally set a bounty on Rosfeld’s head, I quickly tried to calm Fray down.
“W-Wait, Sis! Wait a minute! It’s not like I want him to get in trouble, it was an honest mistake!”
Fray’s eyes narrowed. “A mistake that got you kidnapped? That ain’t just a slip-up!” Fray cracked her knuckles. “Besides, I always wanted a reason to break that cheapskate’s nose!”
Oh god, she’s using me as an excuse!
“S-Seriously, stop! If you do anything now, you’ll get detained by the elder!”
Fray was all about freedom, that was probably why she rarely spent time in the village. So, I used that theory of mine to challenge her.
Fray looked at me for a bit, then she slumped back down on the chair in her usual position.
I let out a relieved sigh.
I’m glad she was all protective of me, but I didn’t want someone’s blood on my hands like that.
As if sensing my relief, Fray probably felt the need to crush that. “Oh, just so you know, I’m not promising anything. I’ll deal with him after the party is over, is all.”
Oh, so you just postponed his death?
Wait, what party?
“Anyway,” Fray scooched over with the wooden chair and whispered into my ear. “You think that girl’s pretty?”
I shot my head back. Full blush. Both bodies.
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!” I shouted at the top of Feyt’s lungs instinctively.
“Woah!” Fray widened her eyes, covering her ears. “Didn’t expect you to be that obvious!”
I already threw that theory out of my head, I didn’t need her to throw it back in the ring!
“You’re that embarrassed, huh?” Fray prodded my cheeks. “Come on, just admit it~!”
“I-I don’t! I really don’t, okay?!”
“Woah, woah, woah! Rude! You can’t say that in front of the girl you like!” Fray turned her head towards Carine. “Hey, you listenin’? My bro just said he doesn’t like you!”
I know! Your bro is me dammit!
“Oh, you blushin’ too? My, my! You two are perfect for each other!” she beamed.
This woman! She’s a frickin’ menace!!
Then, the door opened revealing one big figure. It was Dad, his face tinged with worry.
“What’s with all the ruckus, who are–” His eyes met with Fray’s. His face full of worry was replaced with one of expectedness. “Oh, it’s just you, Fray.”
“What? Are you not happy to see me?”
“That’s besides the point.”
Thank god Dad’s here! Please, save me from her! My heart can’t take it anymore!
As if answering my prayers, Dad pointed back to the door with his thumb. “Leave for a sec’, I have some things I need to talk with your brother about.”
“Whaaaa? Come on, I missed him as much as you do!” Fray pouted.
Dad gave out a sigh, he was clearly tired. “Look, just give us a sec, ‘kay? Won’t take an hour.”
Fray clicked her tongue. “Fiiineee~”
Fray reluctantly stood up, dragging her feet as she headed toward the door. Before leaving, she shot us one last teasing grin. “I’ll be back to hear every detail. Don’t think you’re off the hook yet.”
As the door closed behind her, Dad let out a heavy sigh and turned to face me, his expression softening with concern. “Alright, kiddo, you alright?”
I nodded, trying to reassure him. “Yeah, I’m fine. A bit shaken up, but otherwise okay.”
Dad’s eyes still held a trace of worry, but he managed a small smile. “Glad to hear it. I was pretty worried when I heard what happened.”
“Thanks for coming,” I said, feeling a bit of relief.
Without him, I didn’t know how much longer I would have to endure Fray’s teasing.
“Anyway, let’s focus on you for now. How’s the recovery going?”
“It’s going well,” I replied. “Just a bit sore and tired.”
Dad nodded, his expression turning serious. “Good to hear. We made sure you’re comfortable here. But there’s something else we need to talk about.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
Dad took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Tell me, Feyt. How do you feel about going to the capital?”
