Seeing the town now in sight, making sure the guards on the wall had seen me, I collapse on the ground trying to fake exhaustion. Moments pass as I could hear the sounds of footsteps coming my way, trying to breathe more rapidly as the guards came up to me.
Guard1: "Take her inside"
Guard2/3: "Yes"
They pick me up while keeping my wound I had inflicted on myself covered with their own hands as we made our way inside the town of Azalea. I had my eyes closed, trying to fake that I had passed out as I maintained my heavy breathing until finally, we made it inside.
Guard1: "Take her to the adventurers guild, they'll deal with her. We have to make sure whatever attacked her doesn't attack the town."
That guard sounded like the leader amongst these 3 guards, ordering the other 2 around like that as I found myself getting carried over towards the building I was looking at earlier today with Silas; the Guild.
Guard2: "Please treat this young lady, something attacked her so we'll be off to make sure the town stays safe"
Woman At Desk: "Of course"
Taking a peek from one of my closed eyes, I could see that we were at a desk inside of the building, as the guard dumps me onto it, leaving shortly afterwards. The lady at the desk now picking me up, taking me further back into this building before coming into a room, she also had strange ears, but not like a wolf's like the woman at the stall, but it looked to have feathers. With my eye still slightly open I could see a couple workers who seemed to be in a room with a bunch of medical stuff.
Woman At Desk: "Treat her quickly, I don't know how much blood she has lost"
Both workers: "Yes"
I actually felt fine as I was still conscious through all of this, continuing to put on my act of exhaustion. The lady that brought me inside her returned to the desk, leaving me with what I would assume to be medics.
They proceeded to sterilize my wound before beginning to stitch my wound closed. The pain was difficult to keep down as the stinging from the alcohol sent pain all over my arm. "I hope I managed to keep a straight face" I thought as they began stitching up my wound. The pain of the stitching was far more tolerable as I remained motionless, letting them finish up what they needed to do, while keeping up my act. "I may as well sleep, I am quite tired anyways." I thought to myself as I let myself go, falling to sleep on the desk after the medics were done with me, leaving me to rest.
Upon waking up, I could see I was in a different room and on top of that, I was on a bed. "Was I still at the guild place?" Thinking while looking around the room as this was not a room back at the cabin. Looking at my arm I could see that my wound was bandaged very nicely. I'll have to properly heal this later, as I can't afford to have a stupid scar that I inflicted on myself.
Walking out of the room closing the door behind me, I noticed several other room, in front of me, and to the sides of the room I came out from, it reminded me of a hotel back home. I could see stair to my right before making my way downstairs, hearing chatter and laughter as I walked. The chatter and laughter were coming from groups of people at several tables as I got to the bottom of the stairs.
Woman At Desk: "Ah! You're awake~"
I could see the same woman from earlier as she walked over towards me, a joy in her step.
Woman At Desk: "My name is Fleur, I took you in to have that wound on your arm treated. Please give it time to heal."
Kaede: "Thank you for treating me. My name is Kaede"
More people with more strange names, I'm going to have to get used to this.
Fleur: "Nice to meet you Kaede. This here is the 'Adventurer's Guild' of Azalea. Think of it as a bunch of people doing odd jobs for the kingdom."
Getting a better look at Fleur, I could see properly that the ears to the side of her head indeed have feathers on them, accompanied by her short green hair. She wore different clothes from the other people sitting at the tables, and speaking of which, the people at the tables were a wide variety of species, with normal humans amongst them.
Fleur: "So. Do you mind telling me what happened before? When you got attacked"
Kaede: "I..."
Seeing me stumble with my words unable to think up a good excuse, she took me with her hand to an area where no one could overhear.
Fleur: "There, no one should be able to hear us now. Don't worry, you're safe"
Kaede: "I... Silas, my guardian was out hunting looking for food for us when I noticed he never came back. I went out to look for him, something came out of nowhere and got my arm. I couldn't see what it was as I ran away as fast as I could. That was when I woke up in the room upstairs"
I can't believe I just thought of all that in my head in just a matter of seconds. It would explain the bodies that the guards might find in the forest, however if they came into the cabin they would surely find that blood. I'll have to figure out how to explain that if they came to question me.
Fleur: "Well it was most likely an animal or monster with claws, as that wound of yours was not clean like if you were to be cut by a sword. Thankfully you made it in time so I'm sure it wont get infected, but please stay here in the meantime while your wound heals. Plus a child with no guardian now is a death sentence, so please stay here; free of charge of course."
Kaede: "Thank you. Fleur"
She put on a bright cherry smile at me, a smile that resembled Yui's as her face flashed in the back of my mind. Remembering Yui's face flooded my eyes with tears as they continued to build up uncontrollably.
Fleur: "Hey hey, everything's going to be okay. You're safe here"
Kneeling down to my level, she proceeded to wrap her arms around me, pulling me into a gentle embrace as my tears soak into her clothes. I can't help but bring my arms around her, clinging to her as if I wasn't going to let go, not wanting this warmth to leave. It had been a long time since I had felt this kind of pleasure, as my thoughts just became filled with Yui. Hugging each other on the bed, resting against each other under a tree, sharing drinks with one another. "I wonder if Fleur was Yui reincarnated..." I can't help but think that as we continue to hug each other until I calmed down.
After some time, we break off the hug.
Fleur: "You can stay here as long as you like, but you will have to find some clothes"
Looking down at my clothes, I could see the blood stained, filthy black dress I had been wearing.
Fleur: "I have some old clothes I used to wear when I was your age, you can have them if you like. I'll help you look around for something to wear tomorrow as the shops will be closing now.
Kaede: "Thank you"
She walked off to a nearby set of drawers in the room we were in, before making her way back towards me.
Fleur: "Here, its nothing special but would be better than that dress. We can wash it for you, but for now change into these."
Holding up what looked to be a shirt with some shorts, I take them from her before looking for a place to change.
Fleur: "Do you need help changing?"
Kaede: "I'm good thank you!
I know I look like I'm 5 years old, but it doesn't feel right to have someone dress me, I am like 18 after all mentally.
Fleur: "Well, I'll head back to work while you get dressed. Make yourself at home"
Now giving me privacy as she left the room heading back to the desk counter at the front, I proceed to get dressed. I never liked wearing shorts in school, I much preferred skirts as the tightness of pants felt too uncomfortable to me.
After getting dressed into my new clothes which fit quite nicely, I carried my black dress as I walk out from the room, downstairs as I make my way to Fleur. She took my black dress and put it to the side at the desk.
Fleur: "I'll get it washed by the morning, feel free to look around. Everyone here knows you're my guest"
She looked busy, as people were coming in from the front door heading straight over to Fleur. Seeing as she was busy, I did what she said and looked around, familiarizing myself with the building. I notice Fleur giving the men that came inside bags of money before they sit down at one of the tables inside. "They must of just finished a job" I guess to myself.
Kaede: "Hey Fleur. How do I become an adventurer like those guys that just arrived?"
Fleur: "Ah, well you're a little young for that hehe, but there is no rule that says you can't become one. It can be quite dangerous, so that's why kids your age shouldn't become one till you're much older."
Kaede: "I survived an attack though didn't I? I'm fast. Plus it wouldn't sit well for me to live here for free. I want to help."
Fleur pondered to herself for some time before finally responding.
Fleur: "Alright; but as your guardian I won't allow you to do jobs that might get you killed"
Kaede: "Yes"
Fleur: "What would you want your alias to be?"
Kaede: "Kaede is fine"
I did it. With a potential income it would be a lot easier to move around. Plus I could clean up that cabin back in the woods. "I'm coming for you Yui."