Vanessa awoke with a start. The first thing that registered in her mind was the pounding headache that came with consciousness, followed by the feel of the wooden floor. “I’m glad you’re awake.” Leo smiled across from her, and she all but leaped into his arms at the mere sight of him.
“I’ve missed you so much!” She yelled into his chest, while he stroked her hair with shaky hands. Vanessa heard him take a deep breath, and exhale slowly.
Finally, he asked, “Do… do you remember?” She nodded, and buried her face deeper into her fiancé.
There was another lapse of silence before he took her by the shoulders, and adjusted her so that her face was level with his. “Do you remember… everything?”
Vanessa knew the question was coming, but it still stung nonetheless. She went to avert her gaze, but thought better of it and looked Leo right in the eyes. “I do.”
There was a look of pain on his face, which morphed into one of reluctant acceptance. He sent his gaze downward, and for the first time since what felt like two years, she truly looked at his face.
It seemed… aged. There was a tranquility to his countenance that wasn’t present earlier, in his life. She wasn’t too sure how long he had been here, but it looked as though it had taken its toll on him.
He had always had white hair, but seeing the fact that he didn’t even have time to shave the beard that had started growing on his face saddened her, and, in a way, made her heart race. She knew that ever since he had come into this world, he had been looking for her.
Ah… how cruel fate was. She should offer to cut it for him whenever they’d arrive in the next town. Speaking of… what had happened to her when Tirania took over, back there? She assumed they were in the cart now… so she’d have to question Leo, huh?
“I see. I’m sorry for not being able to protect-” She cut off his words with a passionate kiss, subduing his tongue into silence with her own. She held on tightly, enjoying the moment, and just basking in the fact that they were physically in the same space once more. They separated, and Vanessa held him close once more.
“Leo… it’s going to take me time to recover… and time to get used to the fact that my body is my own again.” She shuddered slightly, remembering the dismemberment process that Christian had subjected her to, on top of the sexual assault.
He said nothing, but held her firmly and tightly in a hug, squishing her body against his. She leaned into it as well, and put her head in between his neck and shoulder. “Take all the time you need.” He whispered, stroking her head with his left hand.
It was then, only after the overt display of affection between the two did it finally sink in for Vanessa. She had been attacked. She had been raped. She had been nearly murdered.
Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes as she finally began to process her pain. She was a victim, plain and simple. No matter what position she held beforehand, or how she lived her life, she was just a victim.
Leo held her close once more, and the two embraced, tighter, with Vanessa sitting on Leo’s lap. She was worried about how her father would perceive their marriage afterwards, after learning about what happened to Vanessa, and that Leo was unable to protect the Kumo maiden.
Vanessa heard a creaking behind her, and her void senses stretched out to perceive the intruder. “Whoa, sorry. Am I interrupting something?” The calm, deep voice of Hazeel set Vanessa at ease, and she retracted her senses.
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She felt Leo shift under her, lifting a hand up to the wood elf. She didn’t know exactly what he conveyed, but Hazeel seemed to get the message and returned to the front of the caravan.
Thinking about it, it didn’t matter what her father thought too much. She’d marry Leo with her father’s approval or without… that being, of course, if there was even a stable earth for her to return to.
She’d plan a massive wedding, invite all those assholes from school who bullied her as a child, and then have them denied at the door for being assholes. It would be the best revenge.
Vanessa giggled at the thought, nuzzling deeper into Leo. He began to stroke her hair again, and soon she was in the calming caress of sleep, having spent all her energy releasing her pent up emotions.
---
“Can I take that as a sign to enter?” Leresa asked, walking into the bed of their wagon. I nodded, and lay Vanessa back down on the padding that she had been resting in prior to waking up.
“She’s back asleep, thankfully. She was honestly crushing me with her brute strength.” I said, stretching my back and legs.
Leresa giggled, and motioned towards the driver’s seat. “We found a place to rest for the night. Let’s set up camp and discuss our next steps, shall we?”
I nodded, and we went outside. They were only a mere ten seconds from the main road, and were set up next to a small pond. Their standard two tents were present and already set up, no doubt the work of Hazeel.
No offense to Rexir, but he wouldn’t have been able to set up tents given the fact that he’s probably never slept outside in his entire life. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the more you can do, the better you benefit everyone around you.
I slowly and cautiously moved Vanessa to the tent belonging to Hazeel and myself, before deciding to join Leresa and Rexir, who were sat together on a bench. I sat down on the ground opposite them, and Hazeel followed my lead.
I felt like a liar caught in the act. I used Vanessa’s feelings from before her incident to justify having an open relationship with Hazeel, but I had no idea how her thoughts would flow now that she had finally woken up and regained all of her memories.
“Rexir wants to know if the both of you are ready to talk now.” Leresa said, and Rexir confirmed her statement with a nod.
“Of course. It’s probably long past the time to be talking about this, now that Vanessa’s finally regained her memories.”
The pair's eyes widened, and Hazeel put a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure? If she still doesn’t-”
“I’m sure.” I said, involuntarily cutting her off. “Sorry. She’s acting like how she did before… before any of this happened. I’m sure.”
They muttered their agreement, and our actual conversation got underway. “So, Leo,” Leresa said, “want to explain to us what happened back in the village?”
I shook my head. “Honestly, I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like this is the first interaction that Tirania and Vanessa have had, though. We’ll probably need to wait until she wakes up in a few hours.”
“Ok. Rexir does have a few questions of his own.” I turned to face Rexir, even when Leresa began speaking. “What are you planning to do once you leave this world?”
I stared for a moment, the question catching me out of left field. Hadn’t I already answered this question for him before? “I need to go and kill someone very dangerous.”
My jovial mood was gone, all emotion save for bitterness left my voice as I answered. Rexir hadn’t been expecting that reply, and it showed in his expression. “What about staying here permanently? That person can’t do anything to you in this world, can they?”
I shook my head. “It’s not about defending myself, or the world I was born in. This is simply about getting revenge, and righting a wrong.”
Rexir nodded, and held out a hand to me. I looked at Leresa, who nodded, and I took his hand. “In return for your assistance in teaching him this power, and subsequently Rexir Lu Minami hereby vows to help you accomplish your goals, after the ancient dragon is defeated.”
I nodded with a smile, but I couldn’t help but think to myself about how cliché’d my life seemed at that moment. I was in a fantasy realm with a wood elf, a royal couple, and a voidwalker as my companions. Boy was it going to feel good to get back to reality.