After returning to his room, Kaine placed the tray he was carrying on the table, then, he focused on the Recovery Sanctuary.
[Recall registered companions?]
[Confirm Y/N]
’Yes.’
He confirmed, a faint light appeared over the two beds and a second later, his three summons returned exactly where they were before.
They looked at him, then they looked at the tray placed on the table. The food’s scent was difficult to ignore, especially for them, who had been starving for who knew how long.
"Are you three ready to eat?"
Kaine asked with a gentle smile on his face.
The women looked at him, at his gentle, calm expression, then they inwardly compared it to the Kaine they saw in the kitchen, handling those three men.
The contrast was indeed something they couldn’t miss.
Their minds were so preoccupied with it that they didn’t even answer. Kaine didn’t mind, he knew they were hungry, so he grabbed the plates and walked towards Serathiel first.
"This one is yours."
He spoke as he placed the Marrow Meat Broth beside Serathiel.
"The porridge is Lysara’s."
He placed the Spirit Grain Fish Porridge beside Lysara. Then he placed the Mineral Meat Broth beside Nerys.
"And this is yours."
The women stared at their meals.
Kaine, on the other hand, walked near the edge of the bed where Lysara and Nerys were resting, he pressed on one of the crystals embedded near the side and the upper half of the bed started rising slowly.
The sudden movement surprised the Fox and the Shadow Demon, then, once they understood what was happening, they slowly adjusted themselves.
"Comfortable?"
Kaine asked as he remained near the edge. Both of them looked at him, then they nodded. Kaine nodded back, then, he grabbed the plates and placed them on their laps.
"Start eating."
Lysara looked at her bowl in silence, Nerys’s body reacted to Kaine’s order and her hand moved towards her spoon.
Then, Kaine turned towards Serathiel.
Her condition was different. Her arms were badly damaged, her legs were useless and even shifting her torso put pressure on injuries that had never healed properly.
She would need more help.
So he walked towards her.
"I’m going to move you."
Kaine warned her first. The Dragon looked at him carefully, then she nodded. Kaine placed one arm carefully behind her shoulders, his other hand supported her side, avoiding the damaged root of her missing wing.
"Tell me if this hurts."
"...alright."
Serathiel nodded again.
Then, Kaine lifted her, very, very slowly and carefully.
The stabilisation medicine he gave her suppressed the pain, but he did not wish to take any risk, he handled her with utmost care and gentleness and all the while he did that, Serathiel’s eyes remained on him.
Kaine couldn’t see that, he just kept most of her weight against his arm while he activated the bed. The upper section slowly rose behind her, once it was high enough, he adjusted the pillows and carefully lowered Serathiel.
"You feel okay?"
The Dragon nodded.
Kaine nodded back, then, he grabbed her plate and sat beside her. She was in no condition to feed herself, so he planned to feed her himself.
But just as he was about to begin, Serathiel suddenly shifted her body a little.
"What are you doing?"
Kaine frowned. The Dragon didn’t answer immediately, instead, she awkwardly turned her head to one side, then tried to move her shoulder.
"Serathiel, what are yo—"
"The back of my neck."
The Dragon spoke quietly.
"What?"
Kaine blinked.
"The scale."
Serathiel shifted again, exposing more of the area behind her neck. Most of the scales there had already been removed, some areas were covered by damaged skin, but there was one large scale near the base of her neck.
It was cracked along one edge, but compared to most of what remained on her body, it was still relatively intact.
"That’s the largest one I have, you can take it."
She spoke with difficulty as she braced herself for the pain that she was about to feel.
And Kaine...
He stared at her scale, then at her in utter confusion.
"...why would I take it?"
Serathiel looked at him like the answer was obvious.
"For the food."
And the instant Kaine heard those words, he went still as he understood the meaning.
It was payment.
The Dragon thought she needed to pay him for the food and care he was providing her.
Kaine’s eyes moved toward the scale again, then towards the countless empty patches across her body, patches that were once covered with her scales.
He felt repulsed, not by the sight of course, but by those bastards who did this to her.
Serathiel, on the other hand, misunderstood his silence.
"It is still usable, you should be able to get something for it and I give you my word I won’t make a soun—"
"No."
Kaine refused her.
"I don’t need it."
Serathiel frowned at that.
He won’t take it...?
Then how would she get the food...?