I keep writing until halfway to the eleventh bell, when there's a knock on the door, and John comes in. "It's about time for you to go," he says. "I brought some food for you to eat first."
"Alright," I say with a small nod. I push up off of the blankets, then fall straight on my face. "Ow," I mumble into the floor. Looking down at my legs that didn't work there, I realize that they don't feel right. They're just kind of numb or something. Thankfully, I've experience similar things with lele fruit, or I feel like I might have started panicking. Well, I do panic just a little, but I'm more interested in why this is suddenly happening.
"Aria?" John asks from above me.
"My legs feel weird, like numb and tingly," I say.
"They fell asleep? How long were you sitting like that?" He asks with a crooked smile.
"Fell asleep?" I question the strange phrase. Body parts can fall asleep? How does that work?
That gets him to laugh. He picks me up from the floor, carrying me under one arm back into Eryk's office. Eryk is obviously confused as he looks over at us, but John is still talking with laughter in his voice. "If you sit in a weird position like that, your legs will fall asleep after a while."
"Really? Why?" I ask.
"No clue, they just do."
"Huh..." That just makes me more curious. He gently sets me down at the table, my food already waiting.
"So it's never happened to you before?" After I nod, he says, "Then you're in for a treat." I look up at him, and he's grinning from ear to ear, his eyes sparkling for some reason.
"A treat?" Why does he look so amused? And why does his grin make me nervous? Then I start to feel the tingling in my legs. Within moments, it gets much stronger.
"Ahh, ahh!" I feel this weird buzzing tingling feeling all through my legs. "What is this?" It's not like anything I've felt before, it's hard to even describe it as a sensation. It's just... there. An overpowering something that makes me twist around in my chair, flailing my legs a little as I start to be able to move them again.
"It's called pins and needles," John laughs. Even Eryk is covering his mouth, his shoulders shaking. I don' t get the name, needles don't feel anything like this! Those are painful, this is just... something else entirely! "Here, this will help." Just going by how his grin gets even wider and the dangerous glint in his eyes, he's about to do something!
Then John grabs my calves and the feeling multiplies. I writhe around from the indescribable feeling, my legs flailing as I squeal. He moves his hands, grabbing in different spots each time, a wave of buzzing strangeness making me twist all around.
It feels like it goes on for an agonizingly long time, but it actually doesn't take long at all before the feeling starts to disappear under his hands. Once I stop writhing around so much, he steps away, still bent over laughing. The feeling persists in my feet and around my toes for a little while longer.
I sit there, wiggling my toes for a bit. They still make these stronger tingling feelings anywhere they brush past each other. As I move them around, the now much more bearable feeling slowly fades, leaving everything feeling completely normal.
"So, how was your first time with pins and needles?" Eryk jokingly asks, since John is still laughing too hard to speak.
"It was... umm?" Is the only response I can offer. So why do I start laughing too? Even as I start to giggle uncontrollably, I try to press John, "Why did you do that anyway?"
He manages to stop laughing for a few moments to say, "That's what my parents did to me as a kid."
"Mine too," Eryk adds, grinning and laughing.
I try to pout at them. "Just because your parents messed with you doesn't mean you should do it to me!" I don't think I'm convincing at all since I can't stop grinning and laughing even as I speak. I guess this is just a thing that all kids have to go through at some point. All three of us just keep laughing for a little while after.
I still think the name is kind of creepy though.
Eventually, we calm down and I eat my food. Unlike at lunch, I have no problem eating the big bowl of food. What is wrong with my appetite lately? I eat somewhat slowly, still paying attention to my manners. I need to keep practicing things if I want to do them right. As soon as I'm finished, John starts to carry me home.
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We're on East Main Street when I look up and ask, "Hey John, why are you still carrying me? I-it's not that I'm not grateful!" I immediately try to explain. "I just mean, my wounds have healed... Or at least my original wounds have healed..." I flounder when I realize that I am in fact still wounded. He just smirks a bit and lets me continue. "What I mean is that the bad injuries that kept me from moving around have healed now, so I should be able to walk on my own, so you don't have to carry me if you don't want to."
"Mmm." I'm not sure what the sound is supposed to mean. "I see," he follows a few moments later. "In that case, I want to keep carrying you."
"Eh? Why?" I sit up in his arms a little. "I just get all your clothes dirty, and make you walk back and forth across the city all the time."
He answers without any hesitation. "Like I told you, carrying around a little girl beats my old job any day of the week." His old job, being a bodyguard...
"What was it like? Being a bodyguard I mean?" Without even thinking about it, I just started asking him about it. I guess I'm just curious. I have an idea that he was fighting and protecting people, but how and against what?
"Being a bodyguard? Well..." He looks up at the sky for a bit. I guess he's thinking about something, so I wait patiently, turning my attention to our surroundings, since I usually try not to pay attention to all the eyes on me.
Looking out, the sun is already falling low to cast the town in orange light, a handful of fluffy clouds here and there, one hovering in front of the sun to direct some vague shadows over the city.
It's a little after the eleventh bell, so the gates will be closing soon, and the people on the street are quickly moving off for home. It's kind of nice, since that means there aren't quite as many around to keep glancing my way all the time. After thinking for a few long moments, John looks back down, drawing my attention away from the rows of houses and few people nearby.
"Being a bodyguard is an odd job. You spend most of your time walking around. You stand by whoever you're supposed to protect, just watching and waiting for anything to go wrong. You don't really speak and few people pay you any mind at all. Just a lot of standing around."
"Huh..." I guess it would be like that, wouldn't it? It's not like people are always in danger all the time. It feels like I walk into dangerous situations constantly, but even then, there are usually days or weeks between any two incidents. That really would lead to lots of waiting around...
"Of course, that's the easy part. Like I said, I'm perfectly fine with getting paid to stand around. It's the few times where things go bad that are the problem. Thieves, bandits, dangerous animals, sometimes monsters. It could be all sorts of stuff. I've even had issues with bad storms and fallen trees a couple times."
"Point is, when things get dangerous, it's my job to protect my client. That part really hasn't changed. I am still a bodyguard," he chuckles. "There's just a lot less chance for bad things carrying around a peasant girl that no one wants to rob around town, compared to going with some rich traveler out in the countryside. You know?"
"Hmm, I guess so." I think about it for a moment, puzzling out the couple new words while I'm at it.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
"So, when things do go bad and it's time to fight," he continues, "my job is all about keeping my client out of danger. Whether that means fighting off bandits or shielding them from a storm, I'm supposed to do whatever it takes to keep them from getting hurt. Though I'd say nine times out of ten, most fights broke out because my client couldn't come to an agreement or pissed someone off, and they sent their guards after him or something."
He just shakes his head as he recalls that one. "Well, that and animal attacks. You'd be surprised how many dangerous wild animals there are out there that would gladly make a meal out of any random humans walking by," he gives a small laugh at the thought. Are there really that many dangerous animals outside of town?
Off in the mountains licking her claws, Myra responds, "Yes."
Good point...
As we enter the central plaza, we circle around most of the merchant stands still crowded with people. I wonder for a few moments when they pack up their stands. Clearly, business is still good, so it's not like they would close up at sundown, I wonder how late they're open?
I also check on Emily while I'm at it. She gathered the hobins Kiara hunted today, around the eleventh bell, so she should be in the market by now. With her even further improved vision, Chisa can easily spot Emily's head of light brown hair, all the way from extremely high up in the sky. Yeah, she's in the market, it looks like she's selling the hobins. She'll catch up with us in a bit. I just rest my head for now.
My thoughts drift over to Maven since he's having a really good day. It looks like he's successfully wooed the hobin he's been after. Good job, I congratulate him, and everyone else joins in. He gets kind of embarrassed at all of us chattering at him, which is pretty funny.
Seeing Emily make her way out of the market a short way behind us, I sit up in John's arms. He looks down at me, wondering what I'm up to, but I just turn and start waving to Emily as she moves out of the crowd nearby. "Aria?" She calls when she sees me waving.
"Hi Emily," I greet her.
"Hi," she says back, then, "hi John."
"You're on your way home too?" he asks, despite it being obvious. And she nods anyway. Then his eyes go to the half dozen hobins attached to the stick over her shoulder.
"Hunting like that, very impressive," he compliments her. "But aren't you working at that bar?"
"Yeah. I... have a special secret trick when it comes to hunting."
"Huh, that's even more impressive," he gives her an appreciative nod.
"No, it was Aria who taught me how." She suddenly sends the comment my way.
"Really?" he directs the question at me.
"I only figured it out accidentally." I try to wave off the praise. When he returns an amused smirk that says, 'that's even more impressive,' my cheeks heat up a little and I go quiet. Emily falls in step with John and we quickly head up the road to the orphanage.
Once we get home, John sets me back down. "Remember, you have class at second bell," he reminds me. "I'll be coming earlier from now on, around first bell. You should get yourself cleaned up for tomorrow when you have the chance."
"Yeah. Thanks John." He nods, then heads off. I share a look with Emily, then wait for him to disappear down the road before looking back to the house again.
"Alright, do you think you're ready?" Emily asks quietly.
"I'm not sure," I answer honestly. "I feel a lot more stable than earlier, but... getting beaten sends me right back to those times, you know?"
"Yeah..." she mutters darkly. She wraps her arms around me. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. I'm with you. I'll protect you."
People have said that before. Every time, I thought about how it made no sense for a human to protect a rail unit, but I think I get it now. She might not be able to save me from harm like I can for her, but she will protect me from being afraid. "Thanks Emily," I say quietly. "I... I think I can be a little stronger if you're here."
"Good. Let's go together." With a shuddering breath, I take her hand and we walk into the orphanage together.
Of course, Mister Fredricson is waiting. He looks at Emily expectantly for a moment, so without saying anything, she hands him the money for today. Only then, does he speak to us.
"I see you two have finally returned," he says. His voice sounds so... light and unconcerned, it just makes me more worried. I clutch Emily's hand tighter, using all of my willpower to stay composed. "Come." His words don't leave any room for argument. We follow him into the kitchen, all of the other kids clearing a wide path for him to move through. He reaches up and grabs the metal pan from on top of the shelves in the kitchen, and everyone is already backing away.
"These two broke curfew, staying out all night and never coming home." He speaks loudly for all the cowering children to hear. Then he points a finger at Emily. I can feel her entire body shudder. She gives my hand a squeeze, leans in and whispers, "Don't watch," then lets go and takes a few steps forward. Why did I never see this before, in my entire time here? Because everyone else was always so scared from these displays that they never broke the rules?
Once Emily is standing in front of him, Mister Fredricson kneels, throwing her over his knee, just like he did when he spanked me. But instead of hitting her with his hand, he swings down with the metal pan. Everyone flinches from the bang and Emily's shriek which escapes through her gritted teeth. We all stand and watch as he continues, hitting her over and over.
She told me not to watch, but I can't. I clutch my chest, I can't close my eyes. This is my fault. She was out with me last night because I broke down. Even if Mister Fredricson is the one putting her through this unfair punishment, it's still my fault that she got in trouble.
I watch her tears drip to the floor as he swings, each blow crushing my heart. I feel the peace and stability I found today crumbling away with every metallic bang.
He finally finishes. Emily is tossed aside. She lands at my feet and I immediately kneel down, my shaking hands grabbing hold of her and pulling her up into a hug. Despite her tears, her lips curve up into a smile. It says that she's fine, and encourages me to be strong.
Then I look up, and Mister Fredricson points to me. Wobbling to my feet, I take hesitant steps forward. He grabs me and throws me over his knee. My breathing is already shallow. I can already feel the edges of my mind fraying again. There's no way I can take this, can I? He lifts my skirt, revealing the bandages I already have wrapped all around me from his last beating, and the other children gasp. I can hear him grip the pot tighter as I clench my teeth and close my eyes.
I automatically push my mana to defend, and the first blow falls. I shudder from the force, he's hitting me way harder than he ever did before. I have enough control to pretty much negate any damage from his strikes, but it still hurts, especially because I'm already injured. He hits me again, and again. I try to stay calm. I try to tell myself that I can take this.
But every hit fills my mind with the rail units. I see them swinging their weapons down at me. I see my nightmares where Mister Fredricson overlaps with the rail units, all turning into one horrible monster that just keeps hitting me and hitting me and there's no way to fight it and nothing I can do...
I meet Emily's eyes where she's lying on the floor. She's telling me to stay strong. That I can do this. But even as I stare into her comforting eyes, I can feel the edges of my mind giving away under his assault. How long will this go on for? How long has it been already? Every moment stretches out, every hit filling my mind with an entire nightmare of suffering. I can feel the cracks spreading. I'm not strong enough.
I will not break again. As I feel myself fall, I bury my head in the side of Mister Fredricson's leg.
Reena!
"I am with you."
She catches me.
The gentle feeling closes over me, like arms wrapping me tightly. Water running across me, cooling my skin, soothing my aching heart. I slowly open my eyes again. All I see is white, my own mass of hair covering my view. I feel Mister Fredricson's blows landing. But now, each one strikes soft running water, dispersing all the painful memories before they reach me.
Reena's voice is in my ear, telling me that she will protect me. Wrapping me in a warm embrace to keep the pain and fear away. I'm not sure how much longer it goes on for. After some time, the spanking finally ends.
Gratitude and care surrounds me. "Thank you for trusting me," she says. Then Reena releases me.
I send her the same feeling, saying, "Thank you for saving me," and I release the mark.
Mister Fredricson tosses me to the floor next to Emily. Immediately, she reaches for me, grabbing my hand. She doesn't need to say anything, her eyes ask if I'm fine. I close my own for a moment, letting out a shaky breath. Physically, that did almost nothing to me. Emotionally... I'm a wreck again. I can feel the deep cracks in my heart, the void closing in around me after going through all of that. I'm standing at the edge again, one foot over the side. We pull closer to each other, shakily sitting up so we can share a hug.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't strong enough," I whisper in her ear. "I had to rely on Reena."
"That's fine, that's fine," she assures me, a hand stroking my hair. I can feel her tears on my face where our cheeks touch. "As long as you made it through, everything will be fine." We just sit there holding each other for a while until the worst of the pain and darkness draws back a little. By that point, the big kids standing in the kitchen, trying not to look at us, have finished making dinner. All of the other kids are in the dining room.
"Emily, have you eaten?" I ask quietly.
"No, I'm not hungry."
"Alright."