Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Aftermath

Where am i..? My head is killing me..

I opened my eyes to find myself staring at a ceiling. I looked around the room to see try and find out where i was and laid eyes upon the girl who slept as she remained seated on the chair.

"Good morning" I happily said in a relieved manner.

I got up from the bed and felt most of my pain gone from my chest. How long was i asleep? How did i manage to recover from all those broken bones? What happened after i fainted?

All these questions filled my head as I tried to guess what had happened.

As i was stuck deep in thought, Ariel woke up.

She stared at me and i smiled back as she jumped onto the bed to give me a hug.

Tears flowed down her face as she tightly hugged me saying "You're finally back" with a teary happy expression

"You think i'd leave you? Didn't I tell you that i'd protect you and that we're comrades now?"

"Mn!" She nodded while she continued to hug me with all her strength.

To be honest, i hadn't fully recovered so it hurt. It hurt a lot. but at times like these a mans gotta ignore the pain.

After a few minutes passed she quietly let go. Perhaps having only realised after how embarrassing what she had done is, her face turn slightly red. Seeing her like that made me want to tease her..

"So, what happened while i was out?"

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Apparently i was out for 3 days. After i shot my icicle at the boar, in a split second the entire boar was frozen, not only the boar but even the trees in the direction that i had shot.

Shortly after my icicle hit, it went through the bear and continued to Propel itself through the forest, breaking down and freezing the trees. in it's the direction before it stopped..

Luckily, since Ariel was quite distant from it, she wasn't affected by the freeze. I did well not choosing fire, or i could have started a forest fire...

Shortly after the bear was frozen, Ariel picked me up and dragged me to the gate explaining what had happened, to the gatekeeper. Luckily they managed to get in contact with healing mages in time and my life was saved. Or at least that's how the story went.

"If i remember correctly we were 30 minutes away from the gate.. Did you carry me that far all by yourself..?"

She nodded in response to my question

"Thank you. Man i acted all cool saying i was going to protect you yet i was the one who needed protecting.."

"That's not true! You were really cool and if you hadn't pushed me out of the way i'm sure i wouldn't have been alive by now.."

This was the first time i ever saw her speak with such conviction.

"John, do you have a fever? Your face is red.."

"N-n-no.. I-I'm fine.. i just felt a little tired.."

"Then get some more rest."

"I'm fine, im fine, more importantly. Where are we?"

"We're in an inn."

"You said i was asleep for 3 days right..? How were you able to get us an inn to stay? "

And why would the healers waste their time to heal a random orphan? What's happened while i was asleep?

After i had asked Ariel, she explained everything that happened after i fainted.

She carried me from the scene to the capital in a trip which originally took us 30 minutes by walking. After she got there she explained what i had done to the boar and how i ended up in this state and begged him to save me. He summoned healers which had started to treat me.

What kind of gate-keeper can summon healers like that?

After the mages started my treatment. The gate-keeper asked Ariel to take him to the scene. After she did. The man looked around and seemed as if he understood what happened. Walked up to the boar and melted the ice which enveloped it. He also offered to drag it to the capital for her which was very helpful.

After she arrived at the capital the healers were pretty much already done with their jobs. so they helped carry me to a nearby inn while she went to sell the boars parts to the guild. We ended up ranking up as that boar was a Rank D monster called Big Boar and got 2 Gold Coins(200 silver) in exchange for the parts. She then came to the inn and has been looking after me for these past 3 days.

"I see.. So in other words, you worked really hard to save me.. Thank you. I'm really lucky that i met you.." I said with a smile as i covered my face to hide my tears

It might've been my imagination but it looked like her cheeks turned red, however, before i could confirm it she turned her head.

"Thank you too" She murmured under her breath

"Hm? did you say something?"

"Nothing." She said with a slight giggle and smile

On the next day we got up and decided to head to the adventurers guild.