I woke up with a jolt, my mind sluggishly catching up with my surroundings. The first thing I noticed was the sensation of dampness beneath me, not the comforting warmth of a bed but something… warm and pliant, like thick moss wrapped in skin. The surface beneath me pulsed faintly, like it was breathing
Blinking groggily, I took in my surroundings. The walls were lined with specimen jars, each holding strange, shrunken creatures suspended in thick, syrupy liquid. Tables crowded the edges of the room, cluttered with metal tubes, glass flasks, and coils of copper.
This looked like an alchemist’s home. Mom said they were lunatics. Wait… is that why their skin is red? Did they infect themselves with something?
Magnavex stood on the far end watching me. She seemed to be showing a lot of patience, standing completely straight in her cozy sweater. Well, except for her tail, which was the only part that showed restlessness, swishing this way and that.
Being an alchemist might explain the red skin, but that didn’t explain the horns, tails, or hooved feet. Orcs? Maybe? Certainly, demibeings of some kind. Wait… do orcs have tails?
If only I had spent more time studying races instead of animals. If only Dain were here, he’d know what they are.
I should stop before I get swept up in the if-only river. I took my gaze away from the weirdly pretty woman and looked at the bed.
The blanket looked less like cloth and more like a leaf folded shut by instinct, slick with viscous fluid where it had pooled near the pillow. Thick droplets dripped rhythmically from the enormous petal-like canopy above us, which resembled the open maw of a flower ready to devour its prey.
I froze. My breathing hitched.
The bed itself was alive, a twisted, vegetal creature shaped into furniture. Vines curved down from the canopy, curling around the posts like limbs, and the mattress beneath me subtly shifted with each breath, like the entire structure was cradling me inside its throat.
A figure beside me stirred, wrapped in a wet, green-tinged blanket, was someone else. Their movements sluggish, but they didn’t wake. Their red skin glistened faintly in the low light, and their face was obscured by shadows. I wanted to scramble off the bed immediately, but my body felt weighed down, either from exhaustion or whatever strange magic this bed had.
I shifted cautiously, trying not to disturb the figure next to me or the botanical monstrosity that had swallowed me as a guest.
I turned my head and Magnavex was now standing right next to me, her tone sharp. “Get up! Our Lord requires your attention!”
The figure beside me groaned and rolled over. Eyes still half, shut, they sluggishly processed the situation, then flipped upright in one elegant, sweeping motion. The green, tinged blanket peeled away with a slurp, landing in a wet heap beside the bed.
With the same momentum from throwing the blanket, they propelled himself forward and landed on their feet with a fluid grace. The whole thing was quite impressive. Despite the situation, I made a mental note to try it later.
Now that I could see his face and, well, his chest was flat, it was pretty clear he was a man. I risked a quick glance at Magnavex’s sweater vest. Yeah, hers were way too big not to notice. Trying not to get caught looking, I focused on his outfit instead.
It looked kind of like pajamas, but with far too many zippers. The pants alone had at least four: one at each knee, one halfway down the thigh, and one suspiciously close to the ankle. The shirt wasn’t any better, with zippers running diagonally across the chest and sleeves. His red skin had a greenish tint to it, which gave him an odd, almost sickly appearance. I couldn't see if he had horns like Magnavex, as he wore a small nightcap, also with a zipper.
He gave a small bow, his voice apologetic. “My Lord, forgive me. I must have dozed off. Dormathis, at your service.”
“This way, my Lord,” he added, not wasting any time, gesturing toward a table that had shackles attached to it. “I shall tell you what I found.”
I stood up, surprised to find I was fully dressed. It was one of those outfits my brother wore when we ate at that fancy dinner. Crafted with flowing silks and adorned with intricate embroidery. The designs curled like ivy along the hem and cuffs. The fabric was a deep crimson hue, harmonizing with my red skin. Golden trim caught the light, giving it a regal glow. A high collar and tailored fit exuded authority, while the long cloak draped over my shoulders added an imposing dignity.
Still a little disoriented, I tried to get out of bed. But something about the bed tugged at me, as if it didn’t want to let go. I resisted the sensation and got out of bed, the cloak weighing me down as I moved toward the table.
“My Lord, Dormathis said you were perfectly healthy,” Magnavex began.
Dormathis cleared his throat, interrupting. Glancing at some notes, he said, “While you are healthy, we still can’t explain your momentary conscious collapse. You’ve woken up sooner than expected.” He studied the pages before continuing. “You may be underdeveloped, and we can’t have a Sigilborn passing out, after all.”
“Sigilborn?” I asked as I sat at the table, eyeing the shackles. Why would there be shackles?
Dormathis didn’t seem to notice. He continued, “I’m going to recommend you go back into,”
Terror surged through me. “Back into that pouch?!?” I started trembling. “No, I won’t go! Not with that squid there!” I felt a panic rise in my chest.
Dormathis, moving slowly as if to not startle, tried again. “My Lord, it is what’s best,”
Before he could finish, Magnavex intervened, her voice commanding. “Our Lord has given you a direct order!” She placed a hand on my shoulder protectively, as if she were shielding me from Dormathis’s judgment.
The doctor sighed. “Okay, our best alternative would be a carefully monitored recovery plan,” he said, looking at Magnavex. “He’ll need proper meals, regular checkups, and a structured routine to help his body catch up.”
Magnavex’s face lit up. “I’ll personally oversee his progress.”
They want to keep me safe. That’s good.
But how long am I expected to stay here... wherever here even is?
Dormathis continued. “While I am sure you would do a diligent job, our Lord deserves the best.” His eyes met Magnavex’s. “Which is why I’ll personally be overseeing his recovery, every day.”
He paused for a moment, as if realizing something. “My Lord, may I have the honor of knowing your name?”
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words refused to form. Olive. It hovered at the edge of my lips, but it wouldn’t come out.
Magnavex mumbled under her breath. “He hasn’t gone to Lazeth yet.”
Dormathis’s eyes bulged in surprise. “What?” He faced Magnavex, shock and anger in his voice. “You didn't, how could you, he must go to Lazeth! He must be informed!”
I couldn’t help but flinch. I avoided his eyes, feeling guilty even though I had no idea I was supposed to meet a Lazeth.
“He will go to Lazeth after he has taken a nap,” Magnavex interrupted, her tone firm. “You said he needed bed rest. I’m not risking my Lord’s well-being.”
Dormathis hesitated, as if to argue, but with a glance at Magnavex, he bowed his head instead. “As you wish. But you and I have much to discuss.”
Magnavex nodded.
They led me back to the dripping maw of the plant, bed. Even though it unsettled me, it was the only thing that resembled nature in this room of jars, metal, and stone.
So, I allowed it.
As I lay down again, the warm, damp folds of the bed tightened slightly, like it was welcoming me back, breathing with me.
I kept my eyes squeezed shut and imagined I was in the forest, not a weird alchemist den.
The pull of sleep came fast and deep.