บท 14: Breather

This is a small chap but don't worry I try to increase the words per chap as soon as possible.

-----------------

Alex groaned softly, a low sound of pain escaping his lips as his eyes fluttered open. His vision blurred before sharpening to reveal an unfamiliar ceiling above him. The ache in his body was all-encompassing, his ribs, arms, and legs burning with the memory of his fall.

The surface beneath him was soft, far softer than he expected. A simple cot. His left arm was tightly bandaged, as were parts of his chest and neck. The faint scent of herbs lingered in the air, mingling with the cool dampness of the stone room he now found himself in.

Alex pushed himself upright, his muscles protesting the movement. His eyes roamed the room. It was plain—bare stone walls with no decoration, no sign of a personal touch. A single wooden table stood in the corner, its surface holding a bowl of water, a handful of vials, and folded cloths.

Fragments of memory surfaced: the chase, the desperate climb, the cat beast's relentless pursuit, and the dizzying tumble down the mountainside. He winced at the thought, his hand instinctively reaching for the bandages on his torso. How had he survived?

The faint sound of footsteps echoed outside the door, breaking the silence. They stopped, and the door creaked open, spilling soft light into the dim room. Alex tensed, his body too weak to defend itself if this was a threat.

A figure stepped into view.

She was young, likely around fourteen, her dark hair hanging messily around her face. Her sharp gray eyes held a quiet intensity, scanning him with the precision of someone far beyond her years. She wore plain, loose clothing: a tunic and pants slightly too big for her, and boots crusted with dried mud.

"Oh, you're awake," she said flatly, her tone devoid of concern. "Grandpa said you'd be out for at least three months. Guess you're sturdier than you look."

Alex blinked, the fog in his mind slowly clearing. "How long…?" His voice was hoarse, each word rasping against his throat.

She tilted her head, thinking. "Three weeks. You've been unconscious for three weeks."

Three weeks? Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. He glanced down at his bandaged body. That long, and he was still alive?

"Did you find me?" he asked, his voice low.

The girl shook her head. "No, that was Grandpa. He's the healer around here. Brought you back from the brink of death."

Alex processed her words, glancing around the room once more. "And where exactly is here?"

"Our home," she said simply. "It's near the Elysian Forest. Grandpa helps travelers and hunters who get themselves into trouble, which happens a lot. Like you."

Alex exhaled, leaning back slightly, the cot creaking beneath him. "Well… tell him thanks, I guess. If I hadn't… fallen…" He trailed off, the memory of the mountain's steep drop flashing vividly in his mind.

The girl studied him for a moment before speaking again. "You're lucky," she said, her voice unreadable. "Most people wouldn't have made it. Grandpa says it's a miracle you're alive."

"Lucky…" Alex muttered bitterly, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "I wouldn't call it that."

The girl didn't respond, her gray eyes lingering on him briefly before she turned toward the door. "Anyway, Grandpa's not back yet. He went to gather herbs. You can meet him tonight."

"Wait," Alex called after her, his curiosity piqued. "What's your name?"

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Lyra."

"Thanks for… helping me, Lyra," Alex said, his voice softer.

Lyra shrugged. "I didn't do anything. Grandpa's the healer. Just rest up."

As she reached the door, Alex asked, "Your grandpa… he's a magician, isn't he?"

Lyra stopped, her hand on the doorframe. "Yeah. Well, he was," she replied. "Now he mostly focuses on healing. Says magic doesn't pay the bills anymore."

Alex frowned. "Does he still practice magic? Could he teach me?"

Lyra's lips curved into a faint smile, almost amused. "Ask him yourself. If he thinks you're worth the trouble, maybe he will."

"Fair enough."

Without another word, Lyra slipped out of the room, the door creaking shut behind her.

Alex leaned back, staring at the rough stone ceiling. Three weeks. He had been unconscious for three weeks. The implications of that weighed heavily on him. What had changed in that time? Had the Cat Beast given up its pursuit? Was the boar still alive?

His thoughts drifted to his mana core, the sensation of its swelling growth still fresh in his memory. That problem hadn't disappeared, and the longer he delayed, the worse it could get. If this old man was truly a magician, perhaps he held the answers Alex needed.

For now, though, Alex allowed himself a rare moment of peace. The distant hum of the forest outside seeped into the room, a comforting lullaby after weeks of chaos. His eyelids grew heavy as exhaustion tugged at him.