As we make our way through the village, I turn to look at other buildings that were burned down into the ground thee smell of burn wood clogged my nose.
"She's doing pretty well right now, but she will have to rest for a while or at least that's the inn keeper told me" I say while leading Nova into the partially burned down inn.
"Please try to relax my healing magic will be more than enough to help her condition and she won't have to be bed bound much longer my friend" Nova replied behind me.
"Sorry I can't help but to be nervous since I was supposed to be the one who would protect her after I saved her for the first time" I sighed while opening the door to the room with Hayle. "She been asleep for a while right now, but she is much better now than when she first got attacked".
"So, it wasn't your first time protecting her huh?" Nova reply's while tapping my shoulder and walking past me "You must be a pretty big hero to her right now" while chuckling softly. " It wouldn't be the first time I've helped heal someone that you saved".
"I was being no hero" I say while sitting down on the floor at the foot of the bed. "I don't understand so many things"
"Calm yourself Luceras we will have a talk about the everything in due time but first let me easy this girl's affliction" Nova replied resting his hand on Halye's head.
The room starts to grow in warmth as Nova stars to chant in the Dragonic language again as the soft green light starts to shine over Hayle.
I watch patiently as her face starts to fill out to a health glow while the sounds of her rugged breathing easy and fade away. If I knew magic how many other could I have saved. The thought alone makes me nauseous.
"This should help her be able to move again a full capacity although she still needs rest it's no longer to recover" Nova said while turning back to face me "She should wake up soon and in the mean time I will leave you and go see to the other villagers that might be hurt to tend to them and we can catch up after you take a moment for yourself".
"Are you sure that you can wait" I asked sheepishly.
"It wouldn't be the first time" nova replied while giving me a soft smile as he left the room.
Theres so much that I need to learn now. As I start to stand up I can hear the soft thumping of paws trotting towards me. Turning to look down Bean has now entered the room standing in the corner of the room almost like he was waiting for me to give him permission to approach.
"Come here lil man" I giggle while kneeling down and holding my arms open.
Without a moment of hesitation Bean launched himself from off the ground slamming into my chest knocking me onto my butt. The little guy must have been nervous from being separated like that. Feeling the fuzzy ball of warmth in my arms allows me to relax freely probably for the first time since I have been here.
"I see that you have made another friend" Hayle coughs lightly as she starts to sit up looking over the bandages on her body.
"How are you feeling does anything still hurt?" I ask scooping up bean and placing him on the end of the bed.
Bean still looking towards me stands on the bed turning towards Hayle before slowly siting down and rolling himself into a ball.
"I'm feeling much better now, I'm still pretty sore where the burns used to be, but they seem to be gone now" she responds slowly undoing the bandages that are on her head.
She finishes unwrapping the last bandage, blinking as her fingers trace where the burns used to be.
"I guess I owe that stranger a 'thank you,' huh?" she says softly, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "And you… again."
"You don't owe me anything," I reply, running a hand through my hair. "I wasn't strong enough to stop it all. I just… showed up at the right time."
"Sometimes," she says, leaning back into the pillow, "that's all it takes."
There's a moment of silence. Peaceful. Heavy.
Then I speak, because the quiet gives my thoughts too much room to echo.
"Nova wants to talk about everything soon. I get the feeling… it's more than just a reunion. Something's coming."
Hayle's expression shifts—calm, but curious. "Are you ready for that?"
I don't answer right away. I look at Bean, curled at the edge of the bed, snoring softly like he belongs here. Like he trusts me. I reach over running my hands through his fur while he snores.
"I don't know if I'm ready," I say at last, "but I can't ignore it anymore. Whatever happened to me… whatever's still out there… I need to face it."
Hayle closes her eyes and exhales slowly, like she understands more than she lets on.
"Then when you do," she says, "maybe this time you wont have to face it alone"
I nod.
And this time, I let the silence settle without fear.
Because tomorrow, the questions will come.
But tonight— we can just rest.