“Oh Kusk, You look horrible.” She says with a frown after pushing Ritog’s body off of me.

“I’m fine.” Of course I look horrible. I just killed a man and I'm soaked in his blood. God it’s like saying oh you look horrible after seeing someone who's gravely ill.

I Immediately sit up after the weight is lifted off of me. Finally I can breathe. Glancing around there are 3 guards standing nearby with less than impressed expressions on their faces.

“Ma’am is this abomination, the ‘friend’ who was in danger.” One of the guards says.

“No, this is Kusk. He is my friend who was indeed in danger, as you can see from the scene.” She says bluntly turning towards him

“Come on boys, we have real work to do.” He replies gesturing to the other guards as they leave the shop.

“Tsk bunch of useless buffoons. Kusk, how did you manage to survive?” Amelia asks as she eyes Ritog’s body.

“I don’t want to talk about it, and since he is now no longer an issue. I am going to help myself to this sword and shield.” I grab his sword and shield that fell to the side grunting in pain as I reach down.

“You’re hurt, let me help you.” She bends down putting my arm on her shoulder.

Why is it that everything I do leads to misery. Why couldn’t I have been born a normal human and not have to deal with this shit show of a life. Now I’m free, but I’m in just as much pain as when I was a slave. The Gods are probably laughing their asses off at my expense.

Amelia grabs a small coin pouch off the body and we slowly make our way back to the refugee camp. Amelia helped support me the whole way.

Arriving at the refugee camp, I’m greeted by everyone staying as far as they can away from me. Probably because I’m soaked in blood. They probably think I’m a monster. Amelia leads me to her tent, and lays me down on her bed.

“Kusk, you haven't said anything on the way back. You’re making me worried. Are you in more pain than you're letting on? Where does it hurt?” Amelia asks as she kneels down next to me.

“I’m fine, just need some rest.” I reply with a huff turning to the side.

“Let me atleast get you some clean clothes.” Amelia says while tugging at my shirt.

“I said I’m fine. I just need some time.” I brush her hand away. Is this how my life will always be? Do I really have to survive? Thoughts continue to invade my depressed mind as Amelia slowly got up and left the tent. Sleep would not come.

After a couple of hours I could hear Amelia come back into the tent. You know what, I’m going to prove that demi’s aren’t abominations. I’m going to show the world what demi’s are capable of. I’m going to change the sick view people have of this race. Demi’s aren’t just meat shields. Demi’s are people. People with souls.

“Hey Amelia, is there a place where demi’s aren’t hated?” I say turning to face her.

“Yes, there is.” She replies while looking up from the table.

“Where would that be?” I say slowly sitting up. If there is a place like that I’m leaving as soon as I’m well.

“Right here Kusk.” She says while smiling towards me.

“Ugh” I lay back down, turning away from her. Of course. I just got jebaited and totally fell for it.

“Oh come on Kusk cheer up. Don’t be like that.” She says standing up and walking over to the bed.

“I told everyone how you saved my life today. There is not a single person in this camp who doesn’t admire you. You saved my life.” She says.

“Oh really, they didn't call me a monster?” I say with a scoff.

“No! They all appreciate what you’ve done for me and the camp. Now stop this nonsense and let me get you a clean set of clothes.”

“Fine.” I sit back up with a grunt. My body protests the movement as sharp needles punch at my stomach. Grabbing the bottom of the bloodsoaked shirt, I slowly start lifting it. When it reaches my shoulders, my body refuses to let my arms go higher.

“Let me help.” Amelia says while grabbing the shirt and lifting it up. As my arms are forcibly brought higher my vision swarms with spots. With a quick yank from Amelia the shirt comes off, but for me the empty void awaits.

Whats that smell? I slowly open my eyes, the smell of lavender wafts up my nose. I move my head up to check the surroundings. A new fresh candle half burnt out flickers off to the side on the table next to the wooden contraption. The tent is dimly lit. I turn to my left only to bury myself into a pile of hair. Amelia is sound asleep next to me in the bed. Oh shit, What time is it?! I try to sit up but my arm is pinned underneath her. Pain flairs from my stomach as I flex my abs to sit up. Ah damn, it doesn't seem like sleeping helped with that problem. Amelia stirs, as I try removing my arm.

“Oh you’re awake.” I whisper towards Amelia.

Amelia rolls over on top of me, and buries her head into my neck swinging her free arm across my chest. Soft breathing fills my ear. Oh maybe she’s still sleeping. You know what, this is the best thing that's happened since I came to this world. I have a beautiful woman sleeping on top of me. I’m just going to let this happen. I lay there silently for a few minutes taking it in, just listening to her soft breathing. Eventually matching her breathing and falling back to sleep.

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I awakened to movement on my left. Amelia stirs next to me.

“Good morning sleeping beauty” I let out with a soft chuckle.

“Ahhhh.” Amelia squirms away from me pressing down on my stomach

“Urrrggg” I let out a grunt as pain flairs.

“Oh sorry, I – I meant to— Oh nevermind.” She frantically gets up off the bed and tosses the blanket on top of me clearly embarrassed, as her face turns red.

“I will go get some breakfast.” She immediately rushes out of the tent barefooted, still wearing a nightgown.

I sit up tossing the blanket off of me. The pain on my stomach still protests against my movement, but it is manageable. I slowly stand up noticing that I still don’t have a fresh shirt on, but I do have a new pair of shorts. There is a bloody bandage wrapped around my stomach and I still have dried blood caking my skin. Damn, Did I really get hit hard enough to break skin?

Status

Name: Kusk

Age: 17

Race: Demi-Human

Hit Points: 33/41

Mana: 20/20

Class: None

Stats (4 points available)

Strength: 26

Agility: 25

Vitality: 41

Intelligence: 20

Dexterity: 48

Skills: Acrobatics lvl 9, Cleaning lvl 10, Learning lvl 7, Keen Eye lvl 5, Analyze lvl 10, Woodworking lvl 1

Combat: Advanced Shielding lvl 2, unarmed fighting lvl 3, Danger Sense lvl 5, Ax wielding lvl 1, Sword Wielding lvl 1

Resistances:Advanced Poison Resistance lvl 3, Advanced Pain Resistance lvl 13, Cold Resistance lvl 2

Languages: Common (Language) lvl 10, Luink (LizardFolk Language) lvl 7

Titles: S̶l̶a̶v̶e̶

Hmm looks like I gained a point in vitality. Now how do I add points. I try thinking about strength and it adds a point leaving me with 3 available stat points. Okay, I will save the rest until I need them.

I walk around the tent looking for a shirt, but can’t find a new one nor the one I wore yesterday. Urg I can’t walk out of Amelia’s tent shirtless. That would raise all sorts of red flags. I give up looking for a shirt and walk over to the sword and shield that I got from Ritog. Analyze

Steel short sword (weapon) - A steel short sword (medium quality)

Leather scabbard (equipment) - Leather scabbard (high quality)

Iron banded shield (equipment) - Wood shield with iron banding (medium quality)

Well these are decent items. All are above normal and low quality.

Amelia rushes back into the tent, as I can hear voices of children behind her.

“Why are you still in your nightgown?”

“Why are you barefooted?”

“How’s Kusk?”

“Is that food for Kusk?”

She immediately closes the flaps to the tent upon entering, causing the voices to deaden. She looks towards me, and immediately blushes again while walking to the table.

“I– I need to change, go outside.” She stammers out as she places the food down.

Okay, if you say so… I exit the tent shirtless, immediately being bombarded by a dozen children.

“Is it true you saved Amelia?!”

“Are you really hurt?”

“Why are you shirtless?”

“Hey hey hey. One at a time. You can go first” I say pointing towards a girl around 11.

“Why are you shirtless?” She says with a slight smirk.

Of course you would ask that. You little shit. “I’m shirtless because Amelia stole my shirt. Alright you’re next” I point to a boy around 6.

“Did you really kill a man to save Amelia?” The boy asks.

“Yes, I did. Okay- Oh, I know you. You’re Raphilia right? I met you at the fire the other night. What’s your question?”

“Are– are you an- and Miss Amelia seeing each other?” Raphilia stutters out blushing.

“Me a—--” I start to reply, but Jasmine interrupts me coming out of nowhere.

“That's enough questions. I think Kusk needs some time to recover.” She ushers the children away, and before leaving winks at me.

That’s exactly what I thought was going to happen. Ugh how am I going to tell Amelia that the whole camp thinks we are dating now. She must be done by now. I open up the flap of the tent and step inside. Amelia in fact, is still in the middle of changing. She’s facing the back of the tent trying to clip on her bra. I step back outside as my face goes red. Thank god she didn’t notice.

“I’m done, you can come in.” She calls out after only a few more seconds.

My face is still beat red when I enter the tent.

“You peaked, didn't you.” She bluntly says after seeing me.

“I uh, thought you were done and–uh — I’m sorry.” I say looking to the ground. My face immediately burned red even more.

“What did you see?” She says bluntly, taking quick steps towards me. I could feel her bloodlust.

“Nothing, I swear. You were facing away and were clipping your bra.” I quickly say.

“From now on, you are not to enter until I say it's okay. You’re lucky you didn’t see anything else.” She says with a huff as she sits down at the table. “Now come eat. The food’s going to get cold.”

“I’m sorry again. I didn’t mean to–” She holds up her hand stopping me, as I walk my way over to the table.

“Enough, I’ve already seen everything about you anyways. I guess you could say you were just getting even.” She says stopping the whole conversation. She must’ve seen me naked when she changed my shorts. “Let’s just eat and after that you are going to take a bath.”

We ate together in complete silence after she said that.