Damien trudged into the Mercenary office, his steps slow and heavy. Exhaustion weighed on him like a boulder, and though he tried to maintain his usual stoic demeanor, his battered body betrayed him.
Half the town lay in ruins, a proof of the destruction wrought by his battle with the Grade Two demon. Among the casualties was his rented cottage, leaving him with nowhere to rest.
“On second thought,” he said, stepping inside, “I need your help.”
His silver hair clung to his damp forehead, and his chest rose and fell unevenly as he struggled to catch his breath.
Arielle blinked, caught off guard by his sudden change of heart. “What kind of help?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
“My cottage is gone,” he muttered, barely lifting his head. “Destroyed in the fight. I need somewhere to stay, but half the town’s in ruins. There’s nowhere else.”
Arielle crossed her arms, studying him carefully. His usually sharp eyes were dull, and his shoulders slumped under the weight of fatigue.
He looked worse than he had after returning from his previous mission. “Do you need a place just for tonight or for the rest of your stay?”
“Both,” Damien replied, his voice hoarse. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and cradling his head in his hands. “I can’t keep going like this. I need rest.”
Arielle nodded, understanding the gravity of his situation. “Follow me,” she said, gesturing for him to stand.
Damien rose slowly, dragging his feet as Arielle led him through a door at the back of the building.
Beyond it was a narrow corridor, clean and well-lit, lined with three doors on each side. The polished wooden floors creaked softly under their weight as they walked.
Stopping at the second door on the left, Arielle pulled a key from her belt and unlocked the door. She pushed it open to reveal a modest room: a small bed with fresh linens, a wooden desk and chair, a wardrobe with a built-in shelf, and a mirror mounted on the wall opposite the bed.
“Here,” Arielle said, stepping aside to let him enter.
Damien didn’t bother inspecting the room. He collapsed onto the bed with a groan, the springs creaking under his weight.
His face twisted in pain as his body protested the sudden movement, but he stayed where he was, too exhausted to adjust.
Arielle stood by the door, watching him with a growing sense of concern. Without a word, she turned and left the room, heading back to the counter where healing potions were stored.
Left alone, Damien turned onto his side, wincing as sharp pain shot through his ribs. He muttered to himself, his frustration evident. “Why didn’t the system given me a mission? Isn’t that what you’re here for?”
The system, as usual, remained silent.
Moments later, a wave of excruciating pain gripped his chest, forcing a yelp from his throat. “Shit!” Damien bit down on his lip, swallowing the shout that threatened to escape. He clutched his side, feeling the deep ache radiating through his body.
Internally, his condition was far worse than it appeared. Six broken ribs, several ruptured organs, and slowed internal bleeding plagued him. His healing factor, while remarkable, was struggling to keep up.
The door opened, and Arielle stepped back inside, holding a tray with six vials of healing potions. She set it down on the desk and approached Damien, who looked at her with a mix of relief and exhaustion.
“These should help,” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the first vial.
Damien grimaced as she helped him drink each potion, the bitter liquid burning his throat. With every vial he consumed, the pain dulled slightly, his body beginning to mend itself more efficiently.
By the time the last vial was empty, Damien’s eyelids were drooping. The healing potions, combined with his fatigue, pulled him into a deep sleep.
Arielle returned to her desk, her thoughts lingering on Damien. She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of battles he’d fought to end up in such a state.
Despite his injuries, he’d managed to face that monstrous demon, saving countless lives in the process.
As she worked, the door to the guild creaked open, and two men entered, their conversation loud and animated.
“Did you see him?” one of them said, his voice filled with awe. “The guy who killed that massive demon? He’s like something out of a legend!”
“Yeah,” the other replied. “They said he summoned beasts to help him. Huge ones, stronger than anything I’ve ever seen.”
Arielle’s ears perked up at their words, and she glanced at them from the corner of her eye.
“I heard he fought that demon on his own,” the first man continued. “Took it down with his bare hands or something.”
The second man scoffed. “That’s an exaggeration. But still, whoever he is, he’s not normal. No one survives a fight like that without being extraordinary.”
Arielle smiled faintly, shaking her head. They were clearly talking about Damien. She glanced toward the hallway leading to his room, her mind racing.
“Crazy doesn’t even begin to describe him,” she thought.
~~~~~
Ll
Hours later, Damien stirred from his sleep, the pain in his body now a dull ache rather than the sharp agony from before. He sat up slowly, wincing as his ribs protested the movement.
His door creaked open, and Arielle stepped inside, holding another tray—this time with food and water.
“You’re awake,” she said, setting the tray on the desk.
“Barely,” Damien replied, his voice raspier than before.
Arielle handed him the food, watching as he ate slowly. “You shouldn’t push yourself so hard,” she said. “Even with those healing potions, you’re lucky to be alive.”
Damien smirked between bites. “Luck has nothing to do with it.”
Arielle rolled her eyes but didn’t press further. Instead, she sat on the chair by the desk, watching him with a curious expression. “So, what’s your plan now?”
Damien shrugged. “Rest. Recover. And then…” He trailed off, his eyes darkening slightly. “We’ll see.”
Arielle nodded, understanding that he wasn’t ready to share his thoughts. For now, she was content knowing that he was safe.
As Damien finished his meal, he leaned back against the headboard, his eyes drifting shut once more. Arielle stood, gathering the empty tray and leaving him to rest.
“Rest well, Damien,” she whispered before closing the door behind her.
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Happy New Year dear readers!!!
Wishing you all a blissful year ahead and thank you all for sticking this far with the book!! Thank youuuuu!!!
Looking forward to lots of castles!! Once again, Happy New Year!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!