Chapter 14: Recovery
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*Frostina*

I shifted with a groan, my body crying in protest at the feeling of a Tin Man desperately in need of oil. When the limbs are all tight from lying down too long and need flexing. My eyelids feel heavy, like little weights are on them but I forced them open despite the strain. The room I'm in is dark, illuminated by a small window. Overall the small shape and size of the room is giving me the impression of an attic or an extra floor space converted into a small bedroom. It's like Harry Potter's closet but slightly more spacious? 

 

Dust covers the furniture around coverage though no cobwebs are in sight. I look at my bedding and find a golden blanket covering me, in the real world I would be dying from heat stroke under the weight of this thing but here I guess my body is better adjusted to being cold? I don't mean some golden yellow by the way, like literally the thing could be made of some silken gold as near as I can tell. I'm fact, everything in the room had a lining of gold to it. Overall, despite the small room sizing it's all very fancy. I saw a cup next to me and took a sip, my mouth felt so dry!

 

My eyes came to rest on a chair not far off and I took in the figure occupying it. She was worn and changed since yesterday. I think? We had that fight in the village and then...what? Odd… Anyways, she's missing a horn, her left horn looks like it was snapped off like a tree branch in a storm. The remaining piece, an inch or two in length was sharp and jagged. Her right shoulder was wrinkled and bubbled like it had been burned. I gasped as I saw the wound she had taken. What had happened? I set the cup back onto the end table next to me. Rising from my bed, I swung my legs out to run to her. My face rebounded off the floor as I struck the ground. With a whimper of pain I looked down to see what had happene- Oh. 

 

My legs are missing. Wha… how? Strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me back to the bed. "Careful, love."

 

Looking up at Zet, tears rising to my eyes, I can't form the words to ask. Why? What happened? "What….?"

 

Shh, was the response as she pulled the covers over me. "Rest my love. We're safe here. Just rest."

 

My eyes feel so heavy but I need to know. I need….

 

*Zetsumei*

 

Frost's breathing returned to a steady rate and her whimpers subsided. I glanced at her cup and waged a short war in my mind. I couldn't keep her asleep forever. She would need to work through this. Damnit, I took the cup, froze it and shattered it into ice. I retrieved a replacement and filled it with clean water. The herbs for putting her to sleep, some form of poppy according to Eire, I chose to keep. Could be handy one day. I returned to my chair and took the coin back out, staring at it as if it might give me the answers I needed.

 

We'd been here for about 3 days. Eire left once we had settled, settled here meaning that she tended my wounds, gave me the poppy and ensured Frost was stable. She left me a gem to find her, soulbound so only I could use it. So if I died, it was worthless. Still, that's a lot of trust for her to give me I guess. So for 3 days I've watched over Frost, everytime she wakes up shes sipped on the laces water and gone back to sleep. This is the first time she's fallen though. I must have fallen asleep. 

 

The coin in my hand fluttered with a rainbow aura briefly. This. What do I do about this. The Coin of Wishes. The description states that the user will be logged out of the game safely and unharmed. Single use. One of us can go home… or neither of us. One of the children? Eire? If I left what would Frost do? She's missing her legs! And if she left? Without my pocket healer I damn near died. I'm not sure either of us can make it in this world without the other. Coin of Wishes, Haha! More like the Coin of tricks. I placed the coin back into my inventory, a question for another time. A question to discuss with Frost. 

 

Well, she'd be asleep for several hours yet and if I wasn't drugging her anymore she'll probably be ravenous when she wakes. Time to get some groceries I guess. Fògarrach-fala is our refuge for now. Secluded from the war and yet oddly, there are very few players here. I wandered into the streets, so much purple. Good God there was so much purple. Purple banners trimmed with gold, purple armor on npc guards, purple tents for merchants, purple rugs, pillows, you name it and it was probably purple trimmed with gold. Even the wine was purple! 

 

Moving past the homage to Jeff of Wiggles fame I made my way to the market. If any players roamed this city. I didn't meet them, which is fine as it gave me a little introspection time. So much had changed since the battle, so much was the same. My  bare shoulder was new and hard to adjust to, especially with the scarring that now covered it. My broken horn was another oddity, my head felt unbalanced. Like it wanted to drop to the right with the weight of the whole horn. 

 

But we were still in danger, that much was the same. Frost was wounded, I'd tried to research healing missing limbs while she was out but I couldn't find anything in the few times I'd 'borrowed' from around town. On a plus side, I'd gone up a few hundred levels. Apparently killing a 'Scroll Bearer' as everyone keeps calling us either transfers all of the persona levels or at least a hefty amount. Either way I'd more than doubled in power and that terrified me. That anyone could have killed so many, knowing it would be a true death. Was he the strongest? Is there someone even more dangerous? Oh the market!

 

I went from stand to stand buying some basic provisions with the money Eire had left me to help while Frost recovered. Simple stuff: bread, cheese, dried meats. But she's going to have a rude awakening before long...fuck it. Chocolates and wine. It wasn't a great plan but thinking of my own past, it was better than nothing…

 

*Frostina*

 

I woke from a dreamless sleep. The room seemed...fuzzy? And my head...ugh….I heard clipping approach and uttered a cry of fear as my eyes refused to focus on a towering figure. It had horns but I can't recognize the face! I swung an arm at it and backed as far away as I could before realizing I was bawling. "I don't want to die, I need to go home! Pleeease!"

 

That last part came out a shrill scream as the terror wracked my body. I heard hushing noises and strong arms taking my hands, pulling my closer to kill me! I tried pulling away but was helpless a newborn. "It's ok Marie. You're safe, I have you. It's ok.  Shhhhh, it's ok"

 

My mind grasped onto the masculine voice I know so well. My breath came in ragged pulls as my body tried to catch up to my brain. "Stephan?"

 

She pulled away from me and sitting before me was my husband. Her head clean shaven, sporting a goatee and adorned with glasses. Her green eyes looked at me with concern and tears brimming at the corners. "It's me Marie. You're safe now, I have you."

 

I sank into the embrace and tried to fit the shreds of my memory back together. Slowly, so slowly they came back to me. Entering the game, losing Stephan, killing Pyria, fighting an army and finally trying to save some children. That last part was less clear. What was clear though is that my husband was a female Tiefling currently and didn't look like herself. My body tended  and holy power began to pool in my fist. I kicked the imposter away and- and… a feeble kick landed. I felt it near my knee...I looked down and saw the stump that remained. As tears filled my eyes, I threw my power out in a bolt while screaming, "Who are you?!"

 

The stranger delicately ducked away from my attack and dashed in at me, pinning my hands to the bed. The illusion fell away and atop me straddled Zet. "It is me hun. Stop…"

 

"But you….how?" She sighed and with a grimace loosened her grip on my hands. She removed an orb from a pouch at her side. 

 

"Remember this?" I recalled it but everything about the encounter was kind of a blur. I nodded I remembered. "You panicked when I approached you. Looked like you thought you were going to die, I figured the injury and the medicine were affecting your memory so...I used one you would remember. Me."

 

"Oh," I felt kind of embarrassed but as I recalled more of the events with my legs, not that embarrassed. "What are going to do about…."

 

Her eyes flicked down to my legs, what was left of them. "I have some ideas."

 

"Like…."

 

"I can mount you in a backpack and you can really be my pocket healer for real!" I stared at her. Not funny. "Or something else is fine I guess. I brought you food. why don't we tackle that later. You hungry?"

 

I didn't feel hungry. I feel like my stomach is asleep. "Not so much."

 

She pulled out a bottle of wine, "Thirsty?"

 

"OH GOD YES!" Oh bless you Zet! She chuckled and with a brief flicker of runes across her nails and horns frost covered the bottle. She tilted the bottle and a purple shadow linked her hand with the cork, a shadow version of the cork appeared in her hand and a moment later, with a loud 'pop' the cork was suddenly physically in her hand. "Now that seems like abusing your powers. Not that I'm complaining, hurry up and pour!" 

 

Zet chuckled and pulled a wine glass from a nearby table, filled it to near overflowing and handed it to me before pouring herself a glass. I took a sip and flavors I can't begin to explain filled my mouth. It was like, blackberries infused with the feel of stretching before a warm fireplace while bundled up in a blanket, my head resting on Zet as she caressed me. And also like watermelon on a hot summer day at the beach at the sun warms you while the sea spray scents the air with salt. It was all of that and more. It was just comfort and warmth. "What is this?"

 

Zet smiled wistfully, "Fermented mana. Apparently it's a local specialty. It's…."

 

She seemed lost on how to describe it, so I helped "perfect."

 

With a smile she gave a nod in agreement. I considered giving her shit for 'the nod'. That one she gives everyone else when she's pretending or being tense. I always tease her when she does but...I feel so tired and heavy. Too much so to really make that effort. When she broke out the food I felt obligated to eat at least a bite but, and I don't know if it was the wine or just hunger, after the first bite I realized I was ravenous.

 

I shoveled bread with salted cheese into my mouth like I was lactose intolerant and the clock was ticking. I ate some dried meats but I'm not a huge fan of those and when she pulled out a huge Turkey leg (Or whatever fantasy creature it was probably supposed to be) I truly felt in love. We ate in peace, Zet cuddled by my side. That peace where speech is rendered meaningless, it's about the comfort of one you've been with for so long. We were working through the second bottle of mana wine when the chocolate came out.

 

It tasted just like...chocolate. After the wine I was a tad disappointed. I felt movement as Zet slid behind me and a warm, thick goo dripped across my shoulders. I tensed a moment until I felt her hands begin to work at my shoulders. A moan escaped my lips as I tried to refuse her working harder after I'd been sleeping so long.

 

"You don't hav-"

 

"Shhh, relax baby." Oh who am I to say no, I could use it. After a few nice minutes of shoulder and neck work she scooped me into her arms and laid me face down on the bed. As her weight settled onto my hips, more warm goodness was applied and the massage continued. The feeling of her strong fingers working my aches away lulled me into a trance like state. I didn't sleep but I wasn't fully awake either. After an unknown amount of time her hands were replaced by the feeling of her lips leaving a trail of gentle kisses up my spine.

 

Clever bitch knows massages are a huge turn on for me, today was no exception. She rolled me to my back, something felt odd with my legs but I was feeling a bit tipsy and now drowsy post-massage. She smiled at me and reached into a pouch at her side, removing an orb. A moment later she shimmered and she sat before me as she was in the real world. Her goatee and shaven head, full breasts perkily awaiting some loving and that cute belly she's always imagining is a bit chunky. Such a drama queen…

 

She seemed to be hesitating as though uncertain if I was ok. Rolling my eyes I pulled her down to me and kissed her for, well probably too long. She got the hint and with a growl pushed me back into the pillow, increasing the intensity of the kiss. I can't recall the last time she showed this much passion, like...flood warning in this area if you know what I mean. Her hands wandered to my breasts as mine found hers. She gasped as I twisted a nipple. With a final tongue exploration, she pushed off of me with a growl and rolled from the bed.

 

I looked at her questioningly and saw a purple shadow connecting us with a shadow of myself straddling her hips, her hard cock dutifully standing at attention in my shadow. Oh my…In the space of a breath I was flying off the bed and before I could cry out I was caught gently by Zet. My legs were around her hips already so I tightened my hold so I wouldn't all. My heart beat within my chest like it wanted to escape. 

 

"That was hot…" 

 

Zet growled her assent as she kissed me again. So weird kissing her with that goatee after all this time! With a lift of her hips she pierced me, I gasped as she filled me and gripped her even tighter. A small part of me which she had her horns right now for leverage but, feels good….I bit into her shoulder as I came, the pleasure radiating through my body, tightening my grip on her as she continued to thrust into me. 

 

Purple shadows formed around my wrists, I looked to Zet but was ripped back to the bed as they tightened. I tried to move my legs but they were as restrained as my hands were. I lay on the bed spread eagled as Zet approached with a twinkle of desire in her eyes. Oh this is new. I like this a lot. 

 

She climbed on top of me and kissed me slowly on the lips, small kisses first as she built into more full ones. Soon her tongue joined the party as we moaned into each others mouths. She slipped inside and each thrust was slow and deliberate as she broke the kiss and looked into my eyes. She was so present with almost a sadness in her eyes, though the rough thrusts took my mind away from this observation quickly. We came together finally, gasping and moaning as she pushed ever deeper into me. 

 

The shadows disappeared and Zet collapsed next to me and pulled me into her arms. We lay there a long while as I listened to her breathing return to normal. My eyes grew heavy but before I could doze off, Zet sat up. She handed me another glass of wine and produced some chocolates from beside the bed. 

 

"I thought these would be a nice...after snack." She handed me a chocolate strawberry. 

 

My mouth watered at the sight. "I had no idea they had these!"

 

She chuckled, her masculine voice would also take getting used to again following all of this… "I got lucky and found a shop selling all kinds of chocolate stuff. "

 

"It's perfect," I whispered with a smile. We sipped wine and ate chocolate for, oh who cares how long. We spent time together and enjoyed the presence of each other. 

 

"Marie," I looked to Zet. She never uses my real name, in game or out unless it's important. "With everything that happened…"

 

"Don't." I interrupted. "It wasn't your fault."

 

"I insisted on going back for the village. It is my fault."

 

"It's n-"

 

"It is." Her voice hardened as she spoke. "We should have looked after ourselves. I made a mistake. I can't ever say I'm sorry enough."

 

Tears fell down my cheeks. Everything was perfect, why did she have to bring this up?! "You don't have to. I'll fig….I'll figure it out."

 

She handed me my cup of wine which I downed quickly. She smiled a sad smile at me, "I know love. I um. I found a special chocolate for you."

 

She produced a thin round chocolate, "It was the last Turtle they had. I thought you would like it."

 

I looked at it with some suspicion.  "That's a weirdly shaped turtle, sure they didn't lie?"

 

She held it out to me, "they said that it's a local specialty. It's all ground up so it's smoother. Sounds weird but thought what the hell."

 

I started crying and she set the turtle aside, pulling me into a close embrace. I don't know how long I cried. I can't recall what she said to me but eventually the tears stopped and I felt empty but somehow still so sad. Fuck it. Where's that turtle. I'll eat the empty away. I bit into the chocolate and instantly spit it back out, there was a snap and what felt like metal grinding against my teeth when I had tried to bite it. "What the hel-"

 

Zet appeared in front of me and grabbed my face in her hands. "Marie i need you to listen."

 

"Zet what the f-"

 

"I'm so sorry. For all of this. I love you. I will always love you, I will find a way back to you. Tell the kids their papa loves them. I won't stop until I'm home." Tears were flowing down her cheeks. 

 

"Zet…" I cut off as my hands were beginning to dissolve. I opened my mouth to cry out in panic but Zet pressed her mouth to mine and kissed me, suddenly everything faded from sight and senses.

 

I heard beeping. Rapid beeping. And the sound of air hissing? "She's waking up, get the helmet off her!"

 

A pressure around my head lifted away from me and I found myself surrounded by people in scrubs and doctor coats. I looked down and saw IVs sticking out of my arms, I tried to lift an arm but barely had the strength to lift it. 

 

"It's ok hun, you're safe now. Can you tell me your name?"

 

"I, um...Marie." I looked around and saw another person on the other side of the room, I know that body. Stephan, Zet…. I stared a moment before incessant voices pulled my attention back to the nurses and doctors around me. 

 

"You've had a bad shock, try to not move while we check you. You went into shock several times over the past few days."

 

My attention drifted once more to the TV behind them. On it was the room I was just on. Zet was still there, clutching a white cloak and screaming silently, tears flowing down her face. A storm of snow and ice erupted from her and blasted the room. Oh Zet, what did you do you fucking idiot?!

 

The storm raged on as the medical staff check my blood pressure and blah blah blah. Eventually it stopped all of a sudden. She stood and held her hand out, opening a portal of inky blackness surrounded by purple. She clipped the white cloak around her shoulders, took out the orb and her real life form melted away returning her to the Zet I had known all the time I was in that game and she stepped through the portal. 

 

I looked to the nearest nurse, "I was in there a month?"

 

She looked at me with concern and hesitated but I held her gaze. "Dear. It's been 11 months since this all started…."

 

11 months. How? The children! "Where are my kids?!"

 

"You're mother left with them just a little while ago. If you'd like we can contact her and tell her your awake."

 

"I..," I get laws mean I have to specifically state my desire for them to do so but…, "yes, call her please! I want to see my children!"

 

I didn't hear what else the nurse said. I looked down at my legs and wiggled my toes, savoring the feel of the covers brushing against them. Damn you Zet! Damn you and bless you for doing this. Tears welled in my eyes again. I don't know how. I don't know if I can help but I'll do whatever I can to get her out safely too. You'd better survive. Zet, because if anyone is going to kill you, it's me for not discussing whatever you did. Until then, I have kids to catch up with. So much time lost...

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