Alicia woke up in a daze. Glancing around the room, she saw the morning light gently glimmering off the hardwood floor, brightening her lilac carpet, which had silenced the nocturnal plants back into their buds.
These special plants that acted as if natural lamps were purchased by her brother Huen as a gift. These plants were quite expensive as they had to be brought in from outside of Eumus, but Alicia did not know of this. But she did know they weren't indigenous to the area.
She knew of this because within the game version of the novel a feature existed that allowed players to create their own homes, decorating them to their hearts' content. As such, she'd used these plants as decoratives before.
She had spent hours decorating her home, even forgetting the main purpose of the game itself, solely focusing only on her home. She'd even have multiple accounts so she could have different houses.
After all, within the game, this feature allowed you to settle your home in any of the four kingdoms. Each area allows different options, or freer reign on what could be done to each home. You could even settle within the borderlands if your character's race was Kuhron.
So what if you had to change races to set up home in the borderlands? Just because it was against the games preset settings, did not mean a thing to curious players.
There were always those players that tried to break the game, cheating the system as they attempt to settle in the borderlands despite not possessing the Kuhron races genes. Unsurprisingly they managed to do it.
Perhaps this was because the game handed out too much freedom to the players. That and the game was a little too loose with restrictions. Along with its multiple glitches and bugs.
Because of the software kinks some managed to do it. But ultimately they soon regretted it. As was said, the game was buggy, but that didn't mean it was forgiving.
Normally once you'd log off the time within the game freezes and doesn't reach the next day until you send your character to sleep. Or stand around doing nothing. Even if you were in town time would continue to move.
But this is where the bug comes to play. Those players that tried to trick the system woke up to find that time had passed and their character had been killed in their home with all experience lost. They couldn't even return to a checkpoint.
Even if they perform the same trick and they continue playing the game, the player would mysteriously get ambushed by Kuhrons and die. Not only would they die, the Kuhrons would then drag the dead player back to the borderlands and burn them along with the house.
It was quite the mysterious bug. And it was the reason the game never got an online release, an MMORPG version so to say. Or at least that was what the players posting on the forums speculated.
"I'm- in my room? How odd. Just a dream?" She could fully recall that she'd fallen asleep at the villain's bed side, tending to his wounds with little to no sleep.
Ridiculous right? Had her immovable stubborn heart performed a triple flip? Had she accomplished a good deed?!
Okay, don't start doubting her now. Put down the 'fake news' cue cards and hear her out. She hadn't by all means done that for charity purposes, alright? There were reasons. Very good reasons she might add, but it was best to count them down in order.
So sitting up Alicia curled straight her index finger.
First off, her son and nephew betrayed her! Against her who had only gained back level one magic, her dragon and wolf duo was too strong. Forced against her will, she had no choice but to drag the man- seriously she had to literally drag his big butt inside as he was too heavy.
A ten year old dragging a twenty plus year old? It wasn't the easiest thing. Those muscles of his were nearly too much for her.
Second off, her cousin's words from earlier that day enlightened her into tending to the big waste of space. Why couldn't a favor owed be a form of protection? So with reluctance she did just that. She had great hopes that when this waste of space starts commencing his evil ways, if they come face to face in the future, he'll remember her efforts, leaving her alone as compensation.
Hopefully.
Third off, which was basically an added bonus of necessity. Leaving him bleeding out on her grass could simply not be done. It would make for a horrible mess to clean up later, one she did not look forward to dealing with.
As for her last reason, that one still needs confirming. That is if what had happened was not a dream. To be perfectly honest, that sounded lovely. Even though the benefits would be nice, but oh how lovely it would be if it were a dream. She wouldn't have to deal with that waste of space! Which couldn't make her more happy as she stretched like a cat, fighting her clingy bed as she rubbed her eyes awake.
"ROAR! Wu wu wu." Aunty, wake up, I'm dirty and itchy! Bubbles complained and whined outside her window.
His large breaths furled the curtains. She caught sight of that black fur propped up on her balcony. His big head rubbed against the house as she was sure his paw must have destroyed her railing again.
With a sigh Alicia got up. "Okay you big oaf, I better not see a single scratch on my balcony, else it's cold water instead."
While laughing at his moaning pleas, she got dressed. Picking out some black pants stolen from her brother, slipping on a khaki shirt cut from a dress.
Once some gloves and boots were put on, her balcony doors were pushed open as she lightly bopped Bubble's on the nose.
"Alright, take me down. Let's get you cleaned." Climbing to his head, Alicia held tight to Bubble's horns as he carried her down.
Walking into the lifeless pond outside Alicia's room, Bubbles laid down into the cool waters. His glistening eyes, adorably sweet look to his aunty for approval.
"Go ahead, you did good, not a scratch was left on my railing. I'm quite happy it's still in one piece."
Bubbles purred, wagging his tail in glee, a trait he'd copied from Ash. Unfortunately not a good one as his size was immense. That lethal weapon did quite the number to anything it hit.
Placing his snout in the water, Bubbles blew fire out, warming the pond up almost instantly.
"Careful, not too hot, I still have to get in there." Alicia warned. With her words, Bubbles knew what he had to do so he stopped.
Without being asked, one of the ducal staff brought forth a massive bristle comb, the handle a solid piece of wood with a leather grip. Effortlessly, Alicia took hold of the comb, lifted to her shoulder and got to work.
Alicia hadn't been the only one disturbed by Bubble's whines and roars. Next to Alicia's room, Silver got out of bed and walked to the window. To his surprise the questions that had been swimming in his mind were instantly answered.
Resting like a tamed beast in the steaming waters of a pond was the very dragon which saved his life. Grooming that very dragon, with that beautiful hair tied back was the child that nursed his wounds.
Combing through the thick black fur, Alicia was meticulous yet in no hurry. She found grooming to be therapeutic. Going through the motions in contentment as the calming back and forth would help not only soothe her mood but help untangle her thoughts.
So focused upon her motions, Alicia did not notice the villain leaping down from her adjacent rooms window. Not until she heard grunting sounds along with Bubbles lifting his head with a whine full of worry.
"Ah! Ruleck, Purna, didn't big sister say not to jump from windows? That's dangerous!" Jumping off Bubbles, she ran to the sound but abruptly stopped.
She had to blink a few times to register that it wasn't Ruleck nor was it Purna who had jumped from the window, but the big waste of space.
'Ah, so it wasn't a dream. That's too bad.' She didn't let her thoughts keep her still for too long. Reason two pushed her forward coupled with a helping hand by common sense.
"Are you stupid? Who jumps from a window when they are clearly injured? Don't tell me the loss of blood has sapped your capacity to think? I did not sit by your bedside for 2 days just so you could jump out of the window to your death you muscle brained lunatic!" Alicia ended her rant as she reached him.
As much as she knew she should act kindly to the man, in her mind, she was being kind. She was teaching him the wrongs of his ways like a good person should. Albeit a little roughly, but he's a big strong man, he can handle it!
Silver was speechless as he looked up to her in bafflement. His eyes blurred as his mouth gaped, quivering slightly.
Slowly tears fell from his eyes, shocking Alicia senseless. She was almost tempted to back up and run away, as if she were facing a great enemy.
She already hadn't a clue how to deal with herself crying, much less another person.
She planted her feet to the ground, bending down to his height. As she was now looking slightly up at him she awkwardly rubbed his head as her sharp eyes softened.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come out as harsh but I'm honestly worried for your safety. Bubbles had brought you back covered in blood and barely breathing. Then there was the wound infections and the fevers. And well, what I mean is- you need to be more careful."
Silver didn't seem to want to respond. His blurry eyes of tears kept staring at her.
Alicia seems to have met her biggest enemy thanks to his nonstop tears and silence.
Just where was the villain she was promised, huh? Who is this man and what has he done with him? It wasn't supposed to be like this!
»»————- ✼ ————-««
Author's note: In case of theft. This is an original -English- novel done by yours truly [MyKataren]. This author will state here and now, oh ye thief of old, thanks for the free advertisement!
Original : www.tinyurl.com/MVPGAwebnovel