A sudden burning sensation. I open my eye, screaming.
“I said hold him.” Julie says. Her hands are on my liver wound, lighting with magic.
“When did he get so strong.” Meuko says.
“Calm, my friend Volter. You are safe.” Sylvar says.
I keep trying to get out of their hold. I cannot stop screaming. This is like the knife wound in my back, only… Way, way worse. I am burning alive. It hurts.
“Where are they? Where are the goblins.” I say, my voice breaking and growling.
“We are home, Vol. Please, I have to do this.” Julie says.
I cannot handle all this pain. My arms and legs want to flail, but Meuko and Sylvar will not let them. My breath is unsteady. My chest hurts, it feels like someone made me swallow a dagger.
“Stop.” I shout.
So much blood. Where am I?
“Keep going. You got this.” Meuko says.
“I am sorry… So sorry.” Julie says.
“No more, please. No.” I say, crying.
The burning stops. The shock remains.
“His liver is fine and I fixed all internal bleeding in this area. Take the head bandage off.”
“Julielle… Be careful.” Sylvar says.
I stop resisting. At least I manage to control my breathing a bit.
“No time to lose. I have to heal him.”
I focus my sight on Julie. She is crying. My injury must have been a horrible sight. She carefully unravels the bandage around my head.
“Oh no. Vol… What happened?”
“Overstepped, as always.” I say, clearly tired.
“Look who is back.” Meuko says.
“Arrow.” Sylvar says. I suppose he is talking to Julie, but I cannot see him. I can only focus on Julie. The whole one-eye might have something to do with it. So tired…
“Must have been deflected by the bone, taking the eye and cutting across his forehead.” Julie says.
A bright light, then a soothing sensation.
“My headache is gone.” I say.
“Sorry about before. I could not focus enough to keep you calm.”
“No worries. Besides… Your hand was inside my wound right? Waking up was natural.”
Julie collapses.
“I got you.” Meuko says, catching her.
“I got injured bad.” I say.
“You should rest. We shall discuss as soon as you wake up.” Sylvar says.
“You know me… So well.”
“That I do.”
The discomfort gave way to sleep, almost instantly if I might add. I wake up to the sound of water spilling.
“Anyone there?” I say, unable to keep my eye open for more than brief moments.
“Sorry, I just...” A kid’s voice. “I did not...”
“Who is it? My eye hurts.”
I can hear birds chirping outside. I must still be at the care house. I can feel warmth on my face, supposedly from sunlight and not fever. It feels like a moment ago I was with Sylvar. I really needed that sleep.
“An-Angzod.”
Angzod. A six year old boy that the Hunters found in the wild when he was two.
“Hey, how are you?”
“I was trying to help but I made a mess.”
“All is fine. Check the cupboards. There are towels and other cloth. I would help but… No sight.”
“Right. Of course.”
I hear wood scraping and sighs, obviously the efforts of a kid cleaning up after itself. I remember the stress I went through when I accidentally broke a chair, pretending it was my enemy. I thought my parents would kill me.
“I am sure it is fine, Julie will take care of it.”
“No, I got this.”
My eye can finally open.
“Look who is up.” Julie says, entering the room.
“Not up. Now, I am up.” I say, putting my feet on the ground. It does take some effort.
“This… I was… Sorry.” Angzod bumbles.
“Sorry, Julie. I knocked the bucket down when I woke up. Got a bit stressed.”
“That is just fine. I will take care of it.”
“Thank you.” Angzod says.
“Nothing to worry about.” Julie says.
“So… What did you want?” I say, looking at Angzod.
It is a bit weird adjusting to my half sight. I can see Angzod who is sitting on a bed, having a guilty look as Julie carries the bucket to the corner of the room. I need to turn my head to look at the rest of the room. They put me in one of the large, private rooms in the care house. Two beds, a large window on the opposite end.
“I just wanted to… Well, I was worried and Murat told me I should just come here and see that you are safe.”
“Is that so? Thank you so much.”
“That is so sweet.” Julie says, sitting next to me, inspecting my injuries.
“How long was I out?” I say.
“You slept through the day… And night.” Julie says.
“So…”
“Almost an entire day.”
“Of course. What about everyone else?”
“Meuko was lightly injured, Sylvar was struck by an arrow in the arm but everyone is fine.”
“Hunters?”
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“They came back to resupply during the afternoon and then a short rest during the night and now… They are back out there again.”
“That bad?”
“I should get going” Angzod says.
I forgot about the kid. My attention span… Not being able to see the entire room at once is bothersome, to say the least.
“No, wait. Sorry, it is a bit hard to focus. Julie, can you bring me another bucket? I want to look at myself.”
“Are- Are you sure?” Angzod says, almost trembling with worry.
“Well, I need to see what I am dealing with.”
“Of course.” Julie says, walking out.
“It is just… It might be a bit…” Angzod is having trouble expressing himself.
“Shocking?”
“Maybe… You look fine, but to you...”
Angzod speaks from experience. The Hunters found him when he was two, crying and screaming for help somewhere outside in the wilderness. When they brought him in, we were all shocked. A little kid, crying with severe burns on its body. Julie could not stop crying. I was there as well, helping with keeping the kid calm. That was rather impossible. After hours of crying and asking for mom and dad… The kid passed out. Julie was able to close the wounds but there was considerable scarring all over the kid’s back. Hair could never grow on its head again. There are scars even on its cheeks. The kids in the Village were extremely scared at first. Then, Murat gathered every kid, including the kid that could not even remember its name. She would tell them stories about a settlement full of Orcs, such as herself, that would fight against huge monsters. The more scars an Orc carried, the more renown they had. A result of multiple battles, she said… A show of courage and relentless spirit. After that, the kids quickly picked up sticks and had pretend battles… With a particular new kid as their leader. Murat took in that kid. There was a particular Orc that the kid really liked, one that kept fighting even after losing an arm… That Orc was named Angzod. Sometimes, I forget there is an entire Village here. I focus on Meuko, Sylvar and Julie… But there are others here as well. Angzod, Murat, Hollis.
“Wait… Did you drop the bucket on purpose?”
“No, I…”
“That… Is thoughtful of you. Thanks, kid.”
“Really? But I did not-”
“Yeah. If you ever need anything, let me know. You were worried about my reaction, right?”
Angzod looks on the floor, embarrassed. He knows scars could make other people weird, so he looked out for me. Would you look at that…
“I just, you know. Murat told me I knew how it could feel, so if it helped you feel better, then we could be better together.”
“I guess we would.”
The door opens, revealing Julie carrying a bucket.
“Are you ready?” Julie says.
“Am I ever?”
“You could wait a bit… I know a few stories.” Angzod says.
“I think I should get this over with.”
I grab the bucket, move closer to the window with the help of Julie and look at my reflection.
“Well, this is certainly a new look.”
There is nothing but scarred flesh where my left eye should be… I was expecting a hole or something. And my forehead is completely scarred on the right side.
“The arrow got caught up in the eye socket and then was deflected by your skull, slashing your forehead. Oh… Sorry.” Julie says, looking at Angzod.
“It is okay. Murat is teaching me about body parts. It is not that creepy.”
I laugh rather hard.
“You… Forgot there was a kid.”
“Stop laughing.” Julie says.
“I… I am sorry… I just-” I start crying out from laughter.
“You will hurt yourself. Back to the bed. Now.” Julie says, helping me on the way.
Somehow, I manage to reach the bed without spilling any water, setting the bucket on the floor. I spent the rest my morning talking with Julie and Angzod. In fact, I asked him to tell us a story that he likes. It was a rather interesting one. Orcs used trees as a way to block paths and guide enemies in ambush locations. They once jumped down from trees in order get on the back of a huge serpent and ride it towards a cliff, where it fell and met its doom. They were nice stories and the smile on his face as he told them made them even better. Murat came by to pick him up.
“You have training, little one.”
“Goodbye.”
“See you soon, Angzod. I want to hear more stories.”
“Of course he did.” Murat chuckles, leaving with Angzod.
I decided to take a walk outside after all that. Julie would not leave my side, of course.
“Just because I healed your wounds does not mean that your body is not weak.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because you keep getting hurt.”
“I really feel like we have had this conversation before.”
“Honestly, we must be saying the same thing for about ten years now.”
“It really has been that long.”
It is a strange feeling. Walking through the same road that connects the care house with my home… Julie’s, Sylvar’s. It is with half my sight, yet I see more things. Like my parents working on the field, making sure there are no problems with our food. I notice the care they give each and every plant, the attention of inspecting the ground. As soon as they notice me slowly pass from our home, where the fields are, they start running.
“Kid. You...” Ean says.
“Careful, do not smother him.” Dariy says.
“You heard the screams?” I ask.
They both stay silent.
“That was a painful moment. Sorry.”
“No, we love you.” Dariy says.
“How does that even apply here and now?” Ean says.
“He should know.” Dariy responds.
“I do. Same here.” I say.
“I am sorry too. I could not stop your pain.” Julie says, tearing up.
Dariy and Ean both rush me and Julie and hug us.
“You saved him. It is okay if you want to cry, but know that we love you too.” Ean says.
“What he said.” Dariy says.
“Thank you.” Julie says.
We all have shaky breathing and are almost whimpering for an extremely long hug.
“We should… Prepare your food. Extra large serving for you.” Dariy says.
“We have time.” Ean says.
“I want to walk a bit more.” I say. “You can come with us if you want.”
“Of course.” Dariy says.
“I am not leaving you out of sight.” Julie says.
“That was not my plan.”
“Sure...”
We keep walking towards the western side of the Village.
“I feel a bit cold.” I say.
“I will run and get you a coat.” Ean says.
“No. Stay. I am fine. I was trying to make conversation.”
“Are you sure? I do not mind. At all.”
“I am great. Well… Considering all this.”
I really take in the sight of the Village. Houses built by our hands, for our needs. When I say hands… Sylvar’s house was mostly built by Meuko’s hands. We do not cut trees unless we need to, using logs for firewood, rope, armor and building. Modesta is the one who oversees the supply usage, since he is the one who refines most of the materials as needed. Dirt roads that we clean every day, removing stones, twigs, leaves. Kids running around in a small field, as Murat trains them. She is shouting different variations for them to try out. Some kids have sticks, some have small shields. Using their games to make them stronger. I remember Sylvar telling me that is also what animals do. Is that why the goblin kids were outside alone? Learning how to forage food? We keep walking, until we reach Meuko, who is carrying a log on her back.
“I am taking this over to Kiera and Amsin and I will join you.”
“Waiting.” I say.
As soon as she joins us, I fist bump her. I miss.
“Still figuring the distance out?” Meuko asks.
“Kind of.”
Kiera and Amsin are two very kind elderly people, living in a two story house with a large front called veranda or something. I turn to look at them and wave. They wave back from their couch. They start shouting inside the house. After a short delay, Kianel, their son, appears with a… Pillow. He is a middle aged man, very beautiful, wrinkles simply making his features stand out. I realize he lacks any sort of working scars or sun burns. His gray hair is starting to overrun his brown hair.
“This is from us. Mom said you should rest as much as you can. You earned it. And...” he starts fumbling in his pouch “This is from Ana.” He shows me a wooden dagger. One that is actually intricate with what appears to be a rabbit carved on the handle and a… I want to say kid on the blade, but it might be me so will not. Ana was one of the kids I spent time with a few days back, while helping around here. She was interested in the art of carving wood. I do not know much, but I decided to learn a bit myself just to encourage her. I do not see a hidden talent for me there, either.
“Tell her she is getting better and better.” I say.
“She tried to carve a snake on the guard but...” Kianel’s voice trails off.
I notice a faint line carved, one that appears like someone gave up in the middle of the effort.
“I will look at her practice results whenever she wants.” I say.
Kianel smiles, then gestures goodbye and walks back inside his house.
“Did he like it?” Amsin, his father, shouts.
“He did. You do not have to shout.” Kianel shouts.
We chuckle and start walking back towards my house. It appears everyone was worried while I was sleeping. The rest of the Villagers briefly walk by and ask me how I am. Some try to not look directly at my head wound. Not Thando.
“Proper bashing you got there. Enjoy your retirement.” He says, chuckling as he leaves.
“Not getting retired. I am still here.”
“What?” Dariy asks, shocked.
“We thought...” Ean is unable to finish that sentence.
“Of course you would try to fight with one eye.” Meuko raises her hands in the air in disbelief. Or too much belief, I guess.
“I will rest for a day or so, then do basic exercises so I do not forget how my own body works.”
“Wait, Vol.”
“That way.” I keep going, interrupting Julie “I avoid injuries and make sure I am good enough to learn magic in a few days.”
“What? Ean asks, shocked.
“We thought...” Dariy says.
Are they inside each other’s minds or something?
“Eadwald will teach all four of us magic. Me, Julie, Meuko and Sylvar.”
“Volter, you have barely walked the earth again... And you want to fight?” Meuko asks.
“No. I want to get stronger. Besides, I have some trading to do with Blago, so getting stronger makes sense.”
“Vol...” Julie says, tired… But chuckling.
“We cried enough. Now we regroup.” I say.
“Our son-” Dariy says.
“Yes, he is actively trying to kill himself.” Ean says.
“I would have said he has a certain strength of character. But we can go with that.”
“With that…” I grunt “I would like to go to bed now.”
“I got you.” Meuko says, taking Julie’s place as my caretaker or simply alive crutch at this moment.
“Never thanked you for carrying me back. Thanks.”
“I could say you would do the same thing for me...”
“But I cannot carry you.”
“Exactly.”