บท 49: You’re both insane
The next morning came far too soon, not that I'd really slept. Let's just say the sounds from Valeria's room were not conducive to a peaceful night.
Honestly, it was like some twisted endurance competition, and judging by the sheer duration of it, Elira and Valeria were definitely winning.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to block out the mental trauma. I'm supposed to be ten, aren't I? I thought with an exasperated groan.
Ten-year-olds aren't supposed to know about... whatever that was. But then again, I wasn't really ten. Not mentally, at least.
My previous life as an adult in another world made the situation slightly less horrifying but only slightly.
There were some things that should be reserved for people who've had a few drinks and a lot more life experience than I currently possessed in this body.
With a resigned sigh, I rolled out of bed and trudged to the bathroom. A long, hot shower was the only thing that could possibly erase the mortifying memories of last night.
As the water cascaded over me, I tried to distract myself with thoughts of the upcoming journey back home. Would my parents even recognize me after all the training and chaos? I certainly didn't look like the same pudgy, clumsy kid I'd been when I first got here.
Once dressed and ready, I headed downstairs, bracing myself for the awkwardness of facing Elira and Valeria after last night.
And there they were.
Elira sat at the table, her short, fiery red hair a tousled mess, though she somehow managed to look effortlessly elegant. She sipped tea like she'd just had a full night of peaceful sleep instead of whatever that was.
Valeria, on the other hand, was... a mess. Her usual confident smirk was nowhere to be found as she slouched in her chair, holding a steaming cup of tea like her life depended on it.
The purple bruises along her neck hickeys, to be precise made it look like Elira had tried to eat her rather than, well, you know.
I chose to ignore it. Entirely.
Carlos, however, had no such restraint. He groaned loudly, rubbing his temples as he glared at the pair.
"You two have no respect. None! There's a child in this house!" He jabbed a finger in my direction.
"Please don't involve me," I muttered, taking a seat at the table and helping myself to breakfast.
"Don't act like this is normal!" Carlos continued, his voice rising. "She's a child! A child! And you two—"
Valeria cut him off with a glare that could melt steel. "Do you want to keep talking, or do you want to keep your teeth?"
Carlos flinched but managed to recover quickly. "I'm just saying, you could have some decency—"
Before he could finish, Valeria's fist shot out, connecting with his face in a loud, satisfying thud. Carlos yelped, stumbling backward and clutching his nose.
Elira didn't even flinch, sipping her tea as if nothing had happened. I, meanwhile, focused on my plate, deciding that my eggs and toast were far more interesting than this train wreck of a morning.
"Let's go," Elira said finally, setting her cup down with a delicate clink. "The boat is waiting."
The walk to the docks was blessedly quiet at first. The morning air was crisp, the scent of saltwater wafting on the gentle breeze. Birds chirped overhead, their songs a cheerful contrast to my sleep-deprived state.
But, of course, peace was short-lived.
"So," Elira began, falling into step beside me, "how was training with Valeria?"
My eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why are you asking? You're supposed to be my magic teacher, remember? Aren't you the one who dumped me on her in the first place?"
Elira smirked, clearly amused. "I just thought you'd benefit from Valeria's... hands-on approach. Besides, you survived, didn't you?"
"Survived?" I repeated incredulously. "Barely! She threw me in a magic lake, made me fight monsters while lighting candles, and beat me up every day. Do you have any idea how many times I thought I was going to die?"
Elira raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "And yet, here you are. Stronger, more disciplined, and—"
"And traumatized," I interrupted. "Don't forget traumatized."
Valeria, who had been walking ahead, turned back with a wicked grin. "You're welcome."
I scowled. "Yeah, thanks for the permanent psychological scars."
"Oh, come on," Valeria said, waving me off. "You'll thank me when you're not dead in your next fight."
Elira chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. "She has a point."
I groaned, throwing my hands up in defeat. "You're both insane. Carlos, back me up here!"
Carlos, who had been trailing behind us, raised his hands defensively. "Oh, no. I'm staying out of this. I like my face the way it is, thank you very much."
Coward.
We continued walking, the docks coming into view in the distance. The ship waiting for us was small but sturdy, its white sails billowing gently in the breeze. As much as I dreaded leaving this chaotic place, a part of me was ready to go home.
Well, if my parents didn't kill me for the insane stories I was about to tell them, that is.
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