Chapter 29: Awakening
The morning light streamed through the window of a small room in a house, clearly illuminating the interior. The room was small, with rough wooden walls and a faint herbal scent. In the corner of the room, there was a small table with a bowl of water and cloth bandages.
Then, a moment later, the light shone onto the eyes of someone sleeping on the bed in that room.
His eyebrows twitched, feeling the blinding morning light even though his eyes were closed. Slowly, his eyes opened—revealing his crystal-blue eyes.
He winced, then, as if remembering something, his eyes opened wide and he jolted upright on the bed. His white hair was messy but couldn't hide his grace.
He was around ten years old. The boy—or Ren—looked around the room where he slept.
"Huh...? Where is this?" he murmured softly. He tried to stand, but his body felt sore—incredibly painful. Ren winced slightly.
"Ouch! It hurts!"
His bones creaked like rusty iron. He forced himself to continue standing but still couldn't. Ren sighed in resignation and sat back down.
Ren tried to calm down by steadying the rhythm of his racing heart. Once calm enough, he looked around.
The room was small—rough wooden walls with the scent of dry leaves. On the small table beside his bed, there was a cup of water and dried bandages.
He looked up at the ceiling, observing the faint cracks between the wooden planks.
Everything was unfamiliar.
There were no signs that he was in his own bedroom, and nothing he recognized. Clearly, this was not his room.
"What is this place…?" he murmured again, more softly.
Ren lowered his gaze, observing his body. Almost his entire body was wrapped in bandages. His whole body felt pain when he moved. He tried to remember—vague fragments appeared in his head.
Abel, Marcus, the demon worshippers, and—the fight. He remembered everything. But that was all; Ren didn't know where he was now.
"Was I captured!?" he shouted, starting to panic. The last thing he remembered was: as he was about to pass out, someone appeared.
Ren tried to stand again without thinking, and that's when he realized his body still hurt. Before Ren could do anything else, the pain came.
"Oww oww!!" he yelled in pain, "It hurts! It hurts so damn much!"
The pain was so strong it felt like his spirit was about to leave his body—maybe exaggerated, but it felt like being stabbed with needles.
As he writhed in pain on the bed, that's when someone entered the room—
Thud!
The door opened forcefully, revealing a small girl with pink hair tied in pigtails on each side of her head. Her sea-blue eyes stared at Ren wide-eyed.
POV Amy Eldoria:
My name is Amy, and I live in a village with my grandfather. This village is called Doren and is located far west of the Empire. We had a newcomer a few days ago.
Grandpa came home carrying a boy. He was unconscious, his body covered in wounds, and most of his body was caked in dry blood.
A boy about the same age as me, or older? I turned 10 years and 4 months old recently.
Grandpa brought him home because he met the boy in the forest, he said. I looked at the boy with curiosity and a little fear because of the blood all over his body.
But after he was washed and the blood on his body disappeared, I could see his entire body and face, and what surprised me was how cute he was!
His hair was whiter than snow, his eyelashes long when he slept, and his skin, despite many scars, was very smooth. In short, he was as beautiful as a doll.
But I refused to admit it! In this village, I am the cutest and prettiest; there is no one else!
But since he's been in this house, I've been the one taking care of him. I did that not because I'm kind, but to make him owe me a favor.
Then, when he woke up, I would ask him for something in return. A brilliant plan, isn't it? Hehe, I know I'm smart, so praise me, worship me, and—!
"Ouch!!"
A loud scream woke me from my glorious strategic daydream. I was sitting in the living room and looked up quickly—the scream came from the second floor, where the boy was sleeping.
I grinned, "Time to ask for my reward!" Even though I said that, I felt a little worried. I stood tall and started running.
I climbed the stairs quickly, almost slipping on the last step because I was in such a hurry. "Ouch!" I exclaimed, but I kept going up.
'That sound must be from that boy!'
When I reached the door, without thinking, I immediately opened it—
Thud!
The door flew open loudly, and there... he was sitting on the bed with a painful expression, clutching his waist.
His eyes slowly turned to look at me, blue—clear and sharp, like a newly cleaned crystal shard. For a moment, I froze.
'...So beautiful,' I said unconsciously, though only in my heart.
Eh!? No, no, I mean—I was just surprised, yes, surprised!
"Y-You're awake!?" I asked in a slightly high-pitched voice. I slowly walked closer, but the boy just looked at me with a confused face.
"Who are you?" he asked curiously, his voice soft but somewhat hoarse, like someone who had just recovered.
I turned my face away, clearing my throat slightly to hide my face, which was starting to feel hot.
"I'm Amy! Amy Eldoria! And... this place is my home!" I said quickly, puffing out my chest a bit.
He just looked at me without expression, then his gaze shifted around the room. "So... I wasn't captured?" he murmured, half-relieved, half-confused.
"Captured? What do you mean!? I'm not a kidnapper!!" I spontaneously shouted, staring sharply at him.
He looked startled, slowly raising his hands, afraid it would hurt again, "No! I just... well, I thought I was captured or something."
I puffed out my cheeks, crossing my arms over my chest. "You idiot, if I were a kidnapper, I wouldn't bother changing your bandages every day."
The boy, Ren, fell silent, seemingly thinking for a moment. "So... you took care of me, then?"
His tone was gentle, but for some reason, it made me slightly flustered. I quickly looked away.
"Yeah... only a little! Grandpa saved you in the forest, I just helped out!"
Ren lowered his head slightly. "In that case... thank you."
The voice was soft, but sincere. I froze for a moment, not knowing why my heart was pounding with delight.
'Wow... he really said thank you to me...'
But of course, I couldn't show it! I patted my chest and said with an arrogant tone, "Heh, I knew you'd thank me! But don't think it's free!"
Ren raised his eyebrow, "Free...?"
I grinned. "Exactly! You owe a favor to my grandpa and me, plus since he's 'my grandpa' it automatically counts as help from me too!"
I nodded to myself as if stating an obvious fact. He stared at me for a long time.
"Strange logic... but not wrong either..." Ren muttered softly.
I pointed at him and said loudly and proudly, "So, by my command, you shall be my servant!"
Ren stared at me with a bewildered expression. "A servant—what?"
"My servant!" I repeated confidently, patting my chest. "From now on, you have to do whatever I order! Wash the dishes, fetch water, clean the house, essentially... be my loyal servant!"
Ren tilted his head, still with a dumbfounded expression. "What if I refuse?"
I immediately leaned in close to him, staring sharply. "If you don't want to, I'll tell Grandpa!"
Hearing that, Ren's face immediately sharpened, which startled me, "Oh, now where is your grandpa?"
.....
[Author's Note]
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