Chapter 21:

I heard soft, murmured whispers as I swam back to consciousness. I took a sharp inhale, a phantom pain of the dagger still in my stomach. My hand met my skin — untarnished. My eyes opened and I sat up. 

A soft bed enveloped me in comfort. Gale was sitting in a chair next to me, whispering in his sleep, laying his head on the mattress.  A stray lock of his hair fell over his nose as I shifted. Had he been here all night? The windows were darkened. How long had I been asleep? I really need to stop falling unconscious.

A flickering candle was the only light in the room, half melted down. I looked at Gale with a soft smile. I reached out, my finger tracing his face, softly pushing the hair behind his ear. “Wake up, Gale.”

His face twitched. I sighed. Was I supposed to just sit here all night? I pulled the blanket off, careful not to disturb him, and stepped off the bed. I froze as he shifted, but continued when his breaths steadied again. I walked to the kitchen, searched the cabinets for a glass, and approached the sink. 

How did this work? Were there pipes, or was it all magic mumbo-jumbo? I was on a floating city, so maybe it wasn’t something I should think about. I ignored the questions in my head and drank enough water to make me pop — I’d been dying of thirst.

The interior of the house was lit by a soft purple hue, light enough to see but not so much as to be obnoxious. I pulled my shirt up, looking at the skin. No trace of a scar. Healing magic really is something. 

My eyes slid to the counter, where a dagger sat with dried blood on it. My lips twitched. I mean, it was a clue so maybe Gale couldn’t just throw it out, but still…could have at least put a ‘You suck,’ note by it. Why had some random lady stabbed me? I really hoped she wasn’t our neighbor. 

Should I have felt more peeved about getting stabbed? Maybe it was because of my healing magic or getting stabbed by Atrax, but I wasn’t really all that upset. Normal people would be freaking out, feeling unsafe in their home, right? Maybe all those times I’d been unconscious had done a number on me. 

I finished my water and sat on the couch, kicking my feet up. How late was it? I tapped my knee, thinking. I probably shouldn’t leave the house, but damn, sitting here until Gale woke up would be boring. I searched my item box, looking for something to entertain myself. I went over everything stored within — mostly junk. I really need to clean this thing out.

Let’s see, old socks, old clothes, random stick I found, Gale’s razor. Oh, right! That box of potions we’d gotten from Bryan during the festival. I’d put them in my item box, but with the Leyland stuff had forgotten about it. What did these things do again? I summoned them to the table in front of me, looking them over. A few looked like classic health potions, some blue, and a batch of purple ones I didn’t recognize. I picked one up. What was this? I vaguely recalled Gale having a weird reaction to them.

“System, what do these potions do?”

[These potions stimulate the reproductive organs of those who consume it. They are often used for couples with trouble conceiving.]

My mouth dropped open. Gale, that sly dog…! My lips twitched. He hadn’t refused them. Did that mean that he needed them? Could it be? My good buddy, the Hero, needed a little blue pill? Still, though… I blushed as I imagined using them. Maybe that could be kinda fun? I shook my head. Now wasn’t the time to focus on such things. 

I put the items back in my box, summoning a book in its place. Ciel had pushed it into my hands when I’d asked for something to read. “The Prince’s Knight,” as it was called. I cracked it open, intending to read just a few pages

Dawn broke through the window, shining on my blushing face. I had only intended to read a couple of pages, how had I become utterly enthralled? A dashing, handsome Prince, and his stoic, no-nonsense knight. I reread the scene where she pushed him down three times before I continued. Ciel had surprisingly good, if raunchy, taste. Before I’d realized, time slipped away and I read the final page. Despair consumed me. Over?! It can’t end like that!

I set the book aside, staring at the nearby wall. I sighed, stood up, and walked to the kitchen to make some food. My mind lingered on the story. I imagined myself, clad in striking armor, pushing Gale down as he blushed. I grinned dumbly. Thankfully, the cabinets were stocked with food and even had a magical device much like a fridge. I was truly blown away by how modern everything here was. A chill ran down my spine. Could I survive without this, now that I knew it existed? Maybe that was the Church’s evil plan — trapping us by convenience. I had to admit, it’d probably work.

I had just turned the stove on when a soft knock rang at the door. I froze, anxiety tearing through me. Should I answer it? I suddenly wished Gale was awake. I slowly approached the door, grabbing the dagger from the counter in defense. I peered through the peephole. Mirabelle stood, arms crossed, disgruntled and covered in soot. My lips twisted. Had she crawled through a chimney? I opened the door slowly. 

“Mira…?” I asked.

She looked up in surprise, before pushing through the doorway and hugging me tightly — or trying. I held her at a distance, wary of the black stains covering her body. “I’m so glad to see you are alright, Aria.”

“Uh, yeah I’m ok. What happened to you?”

She glowered. “Some fool caught me with a smoke spell. I suspect the soot was an added effect.” 

She lifted a lock of her hair, her face souring at the sight of the stains covering it. I held back a laugh, and invited her in. “I’m about to make some food. Do you want to take a bath? I should have some spare clothes for you.”

She nodded, taking off her shoes before stepping in. I set the knife back down on the kitchen counter. I directed her to the bathroom, handed her a stack of clothes,  and returned to the stove. I had just finished plating up a simple breakfast when she emerged, drying her hair with a towel, wearing my old clothes — the ones I’d reincarnated in. I’d washed them but had yet to find a use for them. She looked stunning in them, despite their bagginess. 

We sat at the table, quietly eating. I looked up at her. “Where did you go? Who cast that spell at you?”

She chewed her food, swallowing it before replying. “I arrived not long after you did. I walked up to your doorstep to find Gale covered in your blood.” She looked at me. “It took me some time to track her through the city, but I was able to intervene moments before she was murdered.”

She set her fork down, thinking. “I was close to letting her die. When I saw you bleeding… Aria. You’re important to me.” She lifted her face, staring into my eyes. “I would miss you if you were gone.”

I froze mid-chew. Her words sunk in, and I felt my nose start to burn. I swallowed my food and looked at her seriously. “I think you’re amazing.”

She shook her head. “Were I amazing, I would not have lost her. We can only hope Gale’s tracking magic can help us.”

“You’re amazing,” I reached out and grasped her hand. “You’re smart, so pretty, strong. I envy you.”

Mira smiled, looking at me with amusement. “I, too, think you are…’cool.’”

I laughed.

Mira and I chatted for some time before Gale stirred, walking out of the bedroom in frenzied steps, looking at me with concern. He said nothing, only walked over to me and sat down, pulling me into a tight hug. I rubbed his back, surrendering to his bear-like embrace. I glanced helplessly at Mira, who sat across with a smile on her face. 

“I’m fine, Gale. It’s not my first time being stabbed.”

“Stupid. Let me worry about you.”

He smothered me in his embrace until I finally managed to push him away. He sat there like a kicked puppy. I held back a laugh and got his food. He ate slowly, staring at me all the while. I leaned to the side. His eyes followed. I leaned the other way. Still tracking me. There’s really nothing going on in that head, is there? I looked at Mira.

“So who stabbed me?”

“I do not know. I suspect it was an organization in the city — I do know she is being pursued.”

“Why would someone want to hurt Aria?”

“She is an important guest of the Church. Any number of reasons, I could not begin to guess.”

“I can’t believe someone tried to kill me in broad daylight. Maybe I bought the last scroll she wanted or something?”

Mira shook her head. “We can only investigate. She is likely to be well protected.”

“Well,” I said, “Let’s go into the city and see what we can do. I’d rather not get stabbed every time I open my door.”

We stood. “Mira, do you have more clothes? I doubt you wanna go out like that.” 

She shook her head. “They are in my own home. We may purchase some on the way. You should pick something up as well.”

My face paled. “I’m not really able to do that right now.” I gestured helplessly to my coinpurse. 

“Oh, no worries,” Mira said, “My family will be funding the expenditure.”

Mira pulled me out the front door, and I was only able to mouth the words, “Help me,” to Gale before I was dragged out into the morning sun.