Chapter 6

Aiden sat down on the table as Kylan brought over the stew he was cooking and sat down.

“I didn’t know what to cook so I made a lot. And I am a good cook.” Kylan said confidently.

“Thank you. Everything looks delicious. I’ll start.” Aiden didn’t want to think much anymore as he was starving and just wanted to eat. He had already made sure nothing was wrong with the food with a detection spell without being noticed. He took his first bite and Kylan was right he was a good cook. It was delicious, not as delicious as his Papillion meat would have been though.

“This is amazing.” Aiden said as he looked up at Kylan. “You should eat too.”

“Thank you.” Kylan said and started to move his spoon and eat slowly.

“Thank you again for saving me today.” Aiden slowed down and started to chew slowly. It was a long day and he wanted to rest but should he try the direct approach. At least he should take it when the opportunity presented if self.

“Are you really?”

“Excuse me?” Kylan was startled.

“Are you really thankful that I saved you?” Aiden asked again.

“What do you mean?”

Aiden stops eating and puts down his fork. “I saw you. I saw you just stand there and do nothing as the cockatrice struck you and you did nothing. Then I saw you stand up again as if waiting….”

“To die.” Kylan finished the sentence.

“Yes.”

Kylan stayed silent as he bit his lips.

“Do you want to talk about it? Aiden asked.

“No.”

“You know when you saved me and told me to follow you, I thought you might be some slave trader trying to sell me off.” Kylan said after sometime.

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“But you followed me?”

“Yes, maybe I was hoping for it.”

“That’s – uh” Aiden struggled to put words to describe his feeling.

“Pathetic, yes I am pathetic.”

“I was going to say depressing.” Aiden corrected him.

“That too. But you weren’t and you have been very hospitable. Thank you, but can I know why did you save me?” Kylan looked at Aiden as he asked him.

“Wasn’t it the most obvious thing to do?”

“No, if you knew me then maybe but here in this big city only an hour away from the capital no. And I am only asking you to tell me so if there is anything I can help you with I will.”

Direct approach, should he try the direct approach.

“Though I have to say I am not very good at anything so I don’t know what I can help you with.” Kylan stated.

What should he do. Aiden couldn’t think, he needs more calories to think, and he couldn’t start eating again with Kylan staring at him so intently, waiting for an answer.

“Maybe you are right, but I just couldn’t do nothing knowing you were going to get killed. If I could save you then of course I was going to.” Aiden replied after sometime.

“But why did invite me to you house?”

‘Direct approach.’

“Because – I told you didn’t I, I saw you standing there doing nothing. I couldn’t just leave you.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Why couldn’t you leave me?”

“Because it would have left a bad taste in my mouth.” Aiden blurt out. This was his first candidate; he didn’t want to try the direct approach so soon. Maybe after sometime had passed.

“So, I was causing trouble by dying in front of you. I apologize.” Kylan lowered his head as he said that.

“What are you talking about?”

“I will make sure no one sees me next time.”

“That is not the point. Even if no one sees you, I will know. And it will haunt me forever. Are you really going to do that to me?” Aiden stared at Kylan as he said that.

“But that’s not fair.” Kylan raised his voice “I have nothing to live for anymore but I can’t even die peacefully. I have to think about bothering other people even when I want to die.”

“Not other people. Just me. And I guess it’s my fault, since I saved you. Like they say no good deed goes unpunished. Now I have to live the rest of the life with your death over my head. Since I can’t obviously stop you since you’re so determined.”

Kylan looked troubled as if he didn’t know what to say.

“And if you’re not in a hurry, stay for the next three days. Arthur will wonder what happened to patient.”

Kylan nodded his head slowly. “I am sorry. I will stay for the next three days. If that is ok with you.”

“You are really determined aren’t you.” Aiden replied. “Well, if you are going to die, at least die a meaning full death then becoming a lunch for a wingless cockatrice.” Like dying while saving the world. Now Aiden had three days to somehow make sure Kylan postpones his wish. Maybe he should talk to Arthur. He was a physician; he might have some knowledge about psychology. He had to help him. It was his duty as a doctor to save lives.

“A meaningful death.” Kylan muttered softly under his breadth but Aiden, lost in his thoughts couldn’t hear him.