'Survivor?survivor of what I mean I did survive my own suicidal attack but It doesn't look like their referring to that'
the two figures locked eyes with each other for a good minute then stared down at me with the older figure holding out a helpful hand pulling me to my feet, I couldn't figure out whether it was my face that was still contorting from the pain in my shoulder or my confused answer to the question they'd asked but it was silence after this as the arm where my shoulder had been injured was thrown over the neck of the younger figure while we walked further into the lush green forest.
my eyes gazed upon the younger figure which had used the arrow to save me his hair was a bright brown with brown eyes and fully leather made armour placed on top his chest,shoulders and shin a poor but not bad attempt at protection, it only protected vitals but it could've been done alot better.
I switched my gaze to the older figure who's age seemed to range between 40-50 his hair wasn't a bright brown like the younger figure but still quite bright nonetheless,he harboured the same brown eyes and poorly made armour as the smaller figure with a face that was stern yet somehow radiated tenderness.
walking for what seemed like hours my mind flashed to the idea of being kidnapped which would be troublesome in my state however I was relieved to see a cottage with a tall brown haired woman waving in our direction causing the younger figure holding me to wave back enthusiastically,the smell of hot mushroom soup and spices watered my mouth as I was gestured to a steaming wooden door at the end of the cottage which the younger figure reassured to me was a hot bath,the woman who I regarded as sweet at first gave me a forced smile and a cold gaze as I walked past her to the bath.
"Gilferd just how many Knight's are you planning to take in trust me honey I love the thought but..."
I heard the woman whisper to the older figure allowing me catch on although rather slowly that this was a family, finally halting at the steam door I broke off my pieces of armour that had stuck to me grunting at the uncomfortable feeling as I entered the steaming bath with a large sigh of relief while dipping my blood red foot into the water.
A wave of satisfaction travelled across my entire body the heat of the bath wasn't skin burning but warm enough to still be hot to some degree,a bar of soap layed at the end of the bath that I grabbed in a hurry to wash my hair of course as a knight of Loridae things like hygiene was rare and you got used to spending days without a bath however when you finally got one it's a challenge to resist relishing it.
"ahem....may I come in?"
Embroiled in the calming feeling of warm water I answered with a "yeah sure" completely oblivious to my own revealing appearance, the younger figure from before entered and immediately his face turned a bright shade of red causing me to realize the embarrassing gravity of the situation I'd unconsciously made.
"i-im sorry r-really, I didn't notice"
I blurted out frantically while waving my hands.
"a-anyway I was told to give you a new pair of clothes their clean so don't worry!!"
like a speeding bolt of lightning the young figure dropped the new pair of clothes and sped out of the room slamming the door behind him,I sighed in embarrassment before continuing with my bathing.
my hair finally back to its pearl white colour and my body and face free of its sweat and grime I walked out the bath and turned to face a mirror, a mixture of orange and red I gazed into my oddly coloured eyes and ran them down my body causing my head to tilt a bit at its appearance.
'ha I remember working my ass in training this body but I'm surprised it's kept such a lean structure'
chuckling softly to myself I threw on the slightly large black pants and grey shirt I was given that came with slightly dulled red straps and a brown coat to finish the outfit,refreshed and starving for a meal that hadn't been hurriedly made to fill a stomach I walked towards the dinner table that was now filled with 4 bowls and a mouth watering soup of mushrooms and chicken.
A ball of saliva ran down my throat as I resisted the urge to pounce and stuff my face with the tantalizing meal taking a deep breath I scratched behind my head and gave off the most innocent appearance I could muster.
"aha is it ok if I take that fourth bowl?"
"we didn't make it for a ghost now did we?"
chuckled the older figure who I assumed was Gilferd from his earlier argument with his supposed wife, I took a seat across the younger figure watching while he nudged his son and let out a chuckle and was only met with an annoyed expression.
"do you have a name dear?"
asked the woman while giving me an icy glare
"oh right I apologize for my manners you see my name is.....Yelaine....Yelain Droxinia"
I bowed my head a bit awaiting some sort of surprise but instead the woman scoffed and started eating.
'huh I guess my reputation doesn't travel as far as I thought'
"I see well then it's only fair to introduce ourselves,the woman who's been giving you a cold shoulder so far is my wife Helen and the grand young knight apprentice here is Cale, as for me you can call me Gilferd"
said Gilferd placing a gripping hand on top off Cale who's face reddened in embarrassment to the proud introduction his father had given him, assessing Cale a bit more there were signs of scars and fading bruises indicating hard training and obvious work however it was his hands that truly surprised me the most it seems like they'd age 30 years more thanthe rest of his body as they were decorated in a series of scars and veins not befitting of someone who looked only 2 years younger than myself.
"I hope Cale becomes a knight befitting the training his gone through"
I said praisingly putting a large smile across Cales face while I dug in on my food no longer able to suppress my want for something tasty,the supper went on in silence as my mouth melted to the delicious food filling it.
"you said your name was Yelaine right...i hope my question isn't insensitive but what happened to put you in such a state, judging by your armour you're a knight of Loridae right?"
surprised at Cale's question since he came of as someone rather shy and quiet I gulped down the food in my throat washing it down with the glass of ale next to me.
"I got myself caught in a death match with an absurdly powerful mage however thankfully I came out victorious"
I smiled simplifying the actual spectacular event that left me a magical cripple,Cale's face hardened at my words and he gave me a stern look of concern and worry his hands turning into a trembling mess before he spoke to me again.
"d-do all fights end that way.....i don't want to become a cripple if that's what you all look like after every fight then I'd rather become a..."
Cale's voice trailed off while I glanced between Helen and Gilferd racing through dozens of encouraging words till it finally hit me although quite vague it was the only thing I could muster in the heat of the moment.
"if you're leagues above your enemy then things like that won't ever be a worry you"
Cale smiled faintly to my words which had done little to brighten him.
"let's not dwell on that right now, Yelaine why not stay the night here you wouldn't want to be attacked by another mana beast again will you?"
said Gilferd teasingly.
"thank you"