Since the trial was over the guard unshackled me and apologized for here comments at me. As well as other civilians start to beg for forgiveness after assaulting me and calling me names. I accepted them obviously. Though I wonder how serious this savaging crime is. Never heard about it until now. I assume it is equalizing to eat someone like cannabilism. Except there are different races.
Orc, elves, humans, and Wolven, caiman, and felines. But they are all likely to have the same reaction if one race ate the other I bet. Not well.
As I am thinking for a moment a tap on my shoulder startles me. I turn around to see Lara standing with her hands touching each other and blushing. What does she want and why is she blushing?
"Can I uhm, touch where your horn is no longer? If not then it is fine! Not like I really wanted to or whatever!"
Strange request but it doesn't hurt as much compared to last night where it was like a bone being pulled off. I don't know if it is caiman resilience or if it's a normal feeling if that even makes sense.
I nod in approval and she slowly reaches up and touches the area. It feels a little sore with pressure but I keep silent so as not to disturb her analysis of my horn.
Actually, it doesn't hurt all that bad. Sort of feels nice somehow. Sort of like a head scratch by someone else. Feels nice. Really nice actually. I start making a bellowing noise under my throat. Am I like purring but as a lizard!? How did I not know such a feeling until now?
Lara notices I am enjoying the rub on my head and continues it but stops when notices a group of onlookers just staring at us weirdly. I guess they find the sight odd as well. We both move on and walk out of the courtroom but I am shirtless and it is morning so I am cold.
As I am walking out a guard walks up to me with a bag of what sounds like coins. I can hear the jingling of the coins.
"Here, compensation for the trouble caused by us. Apologies." he turns around and walks off with no other expression.
Well, I got something out of this situation. But I don't think me losing my precious horn was worth this small amount of silver coins. only about 30. I could go buy some apples since I have not eaten.
As I think what to do with the money, Lara taps my shoulder and I turn around.
"Hey uhm, should we get you a shirt...*looks at his abs* It is sort of making me uncomfortable. I mean not like it is a big deal but you should. For others."
"I uh, okay" is all I could respond.
We walk over to a local clothing shop and walk around. it seems Mr. and Mrs. Uchida are still talking to some folks so they don't come with us on such occasions.
As we shop, I find a nice white shirt my size and buy it for 3 silver coins. We walk out and Lara begins to ask me where I was the night before. The shoulder I tell her? Maybe half-truth it.
"So uhm if toy had a fight with Ugmand where did you go afterward? You didn't come home."
"Well I wanted to but didnt want to walk that far after my injuries. Which are somehow healing fast. luckily I didnt get any extra scars haha"
She widens her eyes and lightly punches my shoulder playfully. We both laugh but get back on topic afterwords.
"So I went over to the only person I knew in town and asked to sleep there or recover a bit. Hazen family tavern the Rising Sun."
"Oh that place? I heard they make wonderful panca-Wait is this where this Lilith lives?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Oh no reason...So how did you two meet might I ask huh?" she says in a sour tone.
"Well..."
-39 minutes later-
"Very interesting so anything special happens a few nights ago? Like anyone visits our home recently?" she says while leaning close into my face.
"Uhm no. You realize I have few friends here and my most recent one was Lilith. She hasn't visited us yet but maybe she can now that I think about it."
"Eh? Well. Whatever"
-Lara POV-
He seems legitimate...But what was he doing two nights ago in his room? He kept huffing and groaning in while moving...He must've been doing something. I have to ask otherwise I will die from curiosity!
-Coda POV-
"hey Coda, can I ask you something?"
"Sure thing go ahead."
"What did you do two nights ago in your room. I heard some creaking and noises from your room but couldn't make it out."
"Oh yeah, did you call over to something in the hallway? I remember hearing a thud."
"Tha-thats beside the point! Dummy! Give me an answer!" she says while clenching her fists in the air. She looks like an angry child who didn't' get what they wanted.
"Alright alright, geez. *sigh* I was exercing a lot that night and was building up a sweat. enough sweat that some of it poured onto the floorboards and I slipped apparently in the hallway. That give you an answer?"
"I-sure...I suppose"
"Good. Now lets get out of this store some people are staring at us from your tantrum."
She turns around and notices a human couple giggling and whispering things to each other. Likely gossiping how we look like a couple. I wouldn't blame them we do look like one to a degree.
We walk out of the store and take a right towards out of town. After a few minutes however we encounter Lilith running pacing around the front off her tavern with her father sitting at the door watching it unfold.
They notice us and Lilith gasps and smiles. Then proceeds to run towards me. with open arms. I can't help but let her hug me.
"Coda your back!"
She jumps right into me causing me to spasm from my rib wounds. I groan a bit and she notices my pain. She let's go and blushes a bit and places both her hands behind her and bows forward apologizing
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to-oh hey there," she says to Lara "who are you?"
"Lilith this is Lara an old friend of mine, Lara this is my new friend I made not that long ago"
"Hello! Yeah my name is Lilith. My father owns this tavern and I work with him and Coda. Coda is amazing he is so kind, brave, and charming and!"
Lara seems to be staring at Lilith with eyes of envy or something like that. Placing her hand son her hips and angling them like in a pose of annoyance.
"Well since you two are friends as well I am sure you have seen some of his amazing quality as a person!"
"Anyways we need to get home so I can relax and get some rest since this whole trial thing took a beating on me. Also some humiliation of forcibly stripping me.
"Oh is that why you are wearing a different shirt than the one you wore when you came downstairs from our shower?"
"Shower?" Lara says in confusion.
"Uh! Nothing let's get home!" I say hastily dragging Lara's hand and moving on.
-20 minutes later-
We arrive back at home and I sigh in relief to be in a place of familiarity. I walk in front of the door and emediantly I come face to face with Arla and she grabs me by the shirt and pulls me in for some sort of close-up eye-to-eye talking to.
"Where were you sir...I was waiting for you...you never came back and why do I sense you are injured..."
Her tone doesn't sound very concerned in all honesty. She is just like one of those what are they called...kuudere or something like that...little expression and the most expression they give off is so...little...
"I was at the Rising Sun tavern overnight because of an injury I got. Didn't want to walk for 20 minutes or likely more due to my injury. But it is healing better. I smile at her straightening my back now.
"good very good. Now, go to bed and rest while i go get some healing ointments to help speed up the process. Go."
I start walking not wanting to deal with her kuudere stiffness. As I go upstairs Lara grabs my arm and stops me. I turn around to see her look up at me with likely a question.
"Are you going to be okay? How severe were the injuries? I only noticed the horn but what else?"
"Well I nearly probably got my rib broken. But overnight and some help from Lilith managed to heal pretty well. I was limping most of the time but I am better."
She sighs and lets go of my arm allowing me to go to my room. As I make my way to my room i sigh and jump face-first into my bedsheets. Finally, I can rest after that stressful morning...thought I was about to go to jail or whatever.
As I momentarily relax, it was cut short with a sudden kick of my door and I turn my head in the direction of the noise. I see Arla standing there with a small smile with a basket full of unknown ointments. Oh no..
"Take off your clothes right now." I don't want to fight her over this so I will allow her to do this fast. I stand up straight and remove my shirt exposing my bandages.
"hmm, crudely placed together but not bad...Anyways, raise your arms this will take some time."