I kept cradling Aria’s injured body.
Her shield arm was bent unnaturally, but at least she was alive.
I didn’t know what I’d have done if she had died.
So I continued to sit there, my armor soaked with a mix of my lovely Aria’s and that asshole Hans’s blood.
I don’t know how long I sobbed and cried and after what felt like eternity, a dozen hunters arrived.
Both my mothers were part of the group, together with the old Hunter Silvia in tow.
“Rune!” Mama Zoe and mother Mel exclaimed when they saw me cradling the heavily injured Aria in my arms.
It was still night and now doused in the light of all the oil lamps, Aria’s injuries were even more visible.
For the first time I saw the state of her thighs.
They were scalded and caked with a sticky mix of dirt and something else.
“Are you okay?
What happened?” Mama Zoe’s voice didn’t register with me.
“We brought help, are there any more enemies around?” Mother Mel tried to get me to respond.
A guild employee, wearing a doctor’s uniform knelt down in front of me and began to gently remove her shield.
‘Aria didn’t even wear any armor, how irresponsible could she be?’ When her arm was revealed, it became even more obvious her arm was broken.
The guild doctor checked the fracture gently with his hands and moved to a tight grip.
In one swift motion he pulled her arm straight again.
Aria’s body trembled and almost convulsed while she stayed unconscious in my cradling grip, then he splinted it.
“We have to report this,” Silvia said to someone.
I didn’t care.
I didn’t even know why I should even care.
“We called a Guild investigator for him a while ago,” guild master Shen replied, “I even sent Firestorm Norlan as escort to him from Blanche.” “So the headquarters are involved, huh?
Must have been one bad fellow.” I hadn’t noticed that both my mothers began to hug me from behind, mama Zoe gently petting my head and I looked up for the first time.
Noticing this mama Zoe gently pulled me away and mother Zoe took over holding Aria.
I began to scream, “noooo!
Let me go!
I need her!” “She’s fine, Rune.
She’s a very strong girl,” mama Zoe hugged me.
“Nooo!
Can’t you see?
She’s hurt so much!” I sobbed against mama’s chest.
‘It’s my fault!
My fault, my fault!’ “Yes she is, but she’s alive and has all her limbs,” she reassured me in a soft voice.
“Please tell me what happened, okay?” I retold the last few days to her and how Ruby was bound in the forest, everything.
My voice broke multiple times down into sobs.
Mama Zoe nodded gently, “you did really good.
You saved her life.
I’m proud of you.” I continued to watch my dear Aria getting first aid, ‘her unconscious body looks so fragile.
I won’t let this happen ever again!
Please forgive me, Aria…” ~Aria~ I woke up to an absolute cliché, an unknown ceiling.
My parents sat on a wooden bench, with mom being asleep.
She leaned against dad’s shoulder as he noticed my waking up.
I felt parched and ignoring my dry throat, I croaked, “dad?
Is Rune okay?” “Yes,” he simply said in a small, but serious voice I didn’t know he could make.
“She’s at the guild too, currently at least.” Then he took a nearby wooden mug and placed it gently in my left hand.
I hadn’t even noticed, but my right arm was in a sling.
After gulping down the content of the mug, I coughed a few times.
“What do you mean?” “Rune killed Hans, so she’s being investigated now,” his face just grew more serious, “we all abide by the guild rules and killing humans is a grave crime.” “That’s bullshit!” My voice cracked, yelling, waking my mother.
“Aria sweetie?” She rubbed her eyes before jolting up and throwing herself at me in a hug.
“We were so worried!
No one would’ve thought he’d attack you of all people!” “That doesn’t make any sense,” dad interjected.
I turned my not swollen eye towards dad, “it’s what he said!
He literally tried to kill me for something Rune supposedly did!” My parents threw glances at each other, dad spoke up, “look, we don’t know what happened, no one told us anything except for your injuries.” I pushed my body up and tried to swing my legs off the bed, but my thighs hurt so much, I couldn’t.
Mom tried to stop me, “please Aria, sweetie, you should stay in bed.
Your thighs were severely scalded by something.” “It was honey and wild berry stew.” I told her, not even realizing how ridiculous correcting her was right now, ‘I really should explain it better.’ After gathering my thoughts for a long second, I began, “I just finished cooking and put the pan with it aside.
Then…” It was a lengthy explanation and when I finished, dad looked angry.
“You idiot!” “Dear, please.” Mom tried to calm him, but he was having none of it and continued, “we told you time and time again to keep your gear close.
You should’ve worn at least your damn armor!” I felt smaller and shrunk into the bed sheets, trying to hide.
In a truly tiny voice I countered, “but my armor was dirty, dad..
it really stunk…” He hollered, “you clean it and put it on again!
Even in camp!
Sure it’s a safe area, but it’s common knowledge!
Why do you think every hunter goes straight into the baths when they come from quests?!” Then he pulled me into a hug, making my bones creak.
I felt something wet drop onto my back.
“Sorry…
for…
making you…
worry..” I choked out, crying freely now myself.
Then I suddenly realized, ‘Wait, why is dad back already?’ A while later, guild master Shen arrived with a young woman in tow.
She wore a guild uniform in plain black and had golden embroidery with the guild sigil on her chest.
She pulled off when she stepped in, revealing long hair almost reminiscent of a starry night.
“I see you’re awake,” Guild master Shen spoke.
“Let me introduce you to guild investigator Yuna.” The woman bowed.
“I’d like to inquire about the incident at Scarlet Forest’s camping site.” She began, voice emotionless.
“Please answer every question truthfully, as this matter is of utmost importance.” I stared at her cold eyes and gulped, “y..
yes..
o..
of course.” “Good, then tell me, what happened after Miss Rune left the camp in search of..” She paused, looking into some notes she pulled out, “a Peco named Ruby and the arrival of the victim, Hans.” “The victim?” I echoed, my voice a hiss.
“That asshole was no victim!” And I recounted what happened a second time.
The woman wrote down everything, then looked up, “I see.
Do you have any recollection of who rescued you?” I nodded, my face burning, “Rune.
Rune saved my life.” I simply replied with what dad told me.
She scribbled something down, “this has been very helpful.
I wish for your quick recovery.
Have a good day.” I turned towards the guild master, “ummm what will happen with Rune now?” He let out a sigh, ‘hey that’s my trademark!’ Then he made my blood run cold, “she still murdered someone, even if Hans was accused of multiple murders and blackmail.
Your statement just now should actually help her, but she won’t be able to continue as a hunter in Tide village.” A wave of anxiety washed over me, “so she can’t be a huntress anymore?” “I haven’t said that,” he denied.
“She can continue being a hunter, but she has to proof her character to guild investigator Yuna.” “That woman will stay at Tide, then?” He shook his head again, “her family is currently preparing her belongings, as she will join her for the main branch in Blanche.” My heart sank, “Rune…
Can I see her?” “That won’t be possible, sweetie,” mom suddenly said.
“She sat here for three days before I arrived, so I sent her home to rest.” “She’ll depart tomorrow morning together with guild investigator Yuna, I’m sorry.” The guild master stated with finality, his tone not allowing any rebuttal.
Then he left.
I hid my face behind my left arm and began to cry, only now realizing I had a crush on her, even if she didn’t.
I stayed bedridden for more than a week and Rune didn’t come to say goodbye.
I couldn’t believe it.
My parents visited me every day, but it didn’t change a thing.
Rune was gone.
Today I got discharged from the guilds doctor, my arm still in a sling.
At least my eye wasn’t swollen shut anymore and the healing salves did tremendous work with my thighs, making the skin heal really fast.
I had no idea what that solution was made out of, it didn’t exist in-game, but it worked wonders.
The sky was a mottled grey when I walked home.
As I arrived home, mom greeted me with a gentle smile, while I dove into my bed right away.
‘I’m not sulking, I swear!’ My parents tolerated this for exactly two days, before mom forcefully took my linen blanket.
“Enough.
You sulked long enough.
Go and at least wash yourself!” So I trotted out, deciding I’d use the built baths.
Maybe that would clear my head.
I walked down the small road, past the village center.
When I reached the guild hall, it was just as full or rather as empty as always.
I undressed myself in the changing area and stepped out into the baths.
Washing was annoying with a broken arm and no modern plaster cases.
Especially as I just wanted to hide in bed again.
At least my thighs didn’t look as bad as before, the fresh skin still rosy and sensitive.
I swear to god, those salves made it look like I wouldn’t even get scars from having scalded my legs.
A sigh escaped me.
I finally finished washing up and wobbled to the basin, not looking anywhere.
Then I slowly sat down in the hot water, with a small hiss.
“Hey Aria.” “Hey rookie.” Two voices greeted me.
Startled, I looked up, “Silvia?
Sue?” ‘Guild employees used the baths too?
Guess it makes sense.’ “What’s got you so down looking?” Silvia asked, sitting next to a gesticulating Sue.
‘Was she seriously trying to shush Silvia?’ “Nothing.” I told her and leaned my head against the basin’s rim.
“Listen, I know what happened, I’ve been there,” came from Silvia.
“Guys like him can sometimes even take down gold ranks.
You’re not weak by any means, just because you got hurt by him.” “That’s not…” Sue started, but stopped immediately and instead moved away from us.
Silvia continued in anyways, “if you want to get tougher and rank up, you could join our hunting group for a while.” I turned my gaze towards her, “aren’t you gold rank 3?” The older woman smirked, “yes and in a few weeks we wanted to leave for Meldari, you could fill our free spot.” “Meldari…
huh?” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS LynnAlice Have some idea about my story?
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