Dawn- An Age Of Darkness

I hadn't realized at first but- being carried like this, was EMBARRASSING! Like what the hell! 

"Umm, can you just let me walk on my own now?"

"No." Ve didn't even look at me but grabbed me a bit tighter. 

She was wearing leather armor today instead of her usual scaly armor. And though she was flat, I could feel it, I could feel it all!

I could really see the giggles in the soldiers' and maids' eyes and mouths too. 

Oh, the horror. 

I really wanted to cry right about now. This feeling wasn't so bad though. 'Soft.'

And I didn't actually have enough strength to actually even attempt to break free of Ve's grip. 

Yup, not enough strength at all. 

Meanwhile, Biteria was just patting my head like crazy and smiling. Was this thing seriously my pet bunny?

I kind of wanted to bite her to make her feel what I felt but- since she was being nice, I didn't. Moreover, she looked too cute for me to bite her and make her stop. 

"Should we head back now?" Ve said, looking over at Alisa.

"Yes, our work here is done. Or-" Alisa gave a glance to the Earl. 

"No, I don't have anything else. And I doubt father would even consider giving you more treasures." He sighed. He was holding onto some weapons and gold he stol- borrowed from the treasury. 

None of them asked me anything though. 

With loads of sighs, we finally got to the top of the castle and we were about to take off. 

There was just one problem though. 

That problem?

How was I going to live?

AHHHHH!

***

We dropped the earl at his place and started to head for Xylax right away. This was farewell and we probably wouldn't meet again.

Apparently, was in Ve's hands and she was grabbing me quite intently as we all hovered over the mountain top. I almost felt like a captured princess- I wasn't a princess though. And the real princess was doing the capturing. 

"I must thank you for everything. If it weren't for you this whole land would have been devastated. Though this was nothing more than people fighting over land and all- while just two people felt the actual loss, I-" The earl paused, I had no idea what he was going on about. "I must thank you." He bowed his head. "Please-please, save more people in need."

He smiled and looked up. I guess that was reasonable. 

I sighed. I didn't want more trouble honestly. "Don't worry. All the troubles just keep on finding me. Good luck with your city."

The guy chuckled and Ve slowly picked up more and more altitude. 

Since I couldn't move to save my life, I didn't bother struggling. 

'Save more people huh?' The thought echoed in my mind for the rest of the journey. 

***

It was already evening by the time we reached the large tree and my stomach rumbled. We actually didn't get to have lunch today. 

Ve gently placed me on the ground and transformed back. But I was about to fall nose first. I still didn't have enough strength to even stand on my feet. 

Of course, Ve hurried and again carried me like a princess. Her expression was totally calm and composed. 

The giggles of the soldiers were one thing but the maids fangirling over this simple carrying scene, kind of made me want to dive into a glass of water and die. 

Sigh. At least the soft feeling wasn't bad. Ve's smell was kind of similar to mine though- sweaty. So it wasn't much of a turn-on. 

***

The state doctors, Alisa, Ve, and even the half-elf, all agreed that I needed three days of explicit rest. I had no idea what that meant but I guess they just wanted me to lie in bed and do nothing. 

In a world where there wasn't much entertainment, to begin with, lying in bed all day long wasn't really that great of an idea. 

And not to mention this world didn't have many books. The few that were here were more or less the diaries of dead people. 

Sigh!

But anyway, at least I got my arm fixed. 

"Looks like you've pulled off something rather impossible," The half-elf said, looking pleased. 

"Looks like it, doesn't it." I was kind of pleased too. 

Ve came close to me and put a ring on the ring finger of my right hand. "This belongs to you. The gauntlet is inside, so use it wisely. I'd advise not using the gauntlet unless you are sure that you are about to die and you need to bring out everything. Because at your current state you'd end up like this and become unable to fight for half a week at the least."

Well, that didn't sound that nice. "Even high potions won't work?"

Alisa sighed. "You've been drinking too many potions lately. They are becoming more and more infective in your case. If it weren't for you curse-" She paused. "Never mind. And no, you're not getting any more potions."

Well, that sucked. 

Viola was here but she wasn't talking much. She looked rather troubled though. 

There were some maids in this room too and most of my comrades were just chatting among themselves. 

But Viola- she was just standing in the corner looking distracted.

"You okay?"

"I-I'm fine." Her voice was also quiet. 

Biteria though, was currently asleep grabbing my new left arm. I didn't feel anything there. Though I did have a new arm, it was more or less paralyzed. I guess I needed some getting used to before I could use it again. I could move a finger or two when I really, really tried though.

"Alright, let's let him rest and- who'll stay first?" Alisa declared. 

Before I knew it the girls were actually discussing something amongst themselves and a minute later they started to play rock paper scissors. 

'What's going on?' I was utterly confused if nothing else. 

Alisa won and with a smile she sat down on a stool, opening her book.

The rest of the group all kind of looked a bit pissed but they all left. 

Seriously, what was that all about?

I sighed and just closed my eyes. Might as well, catch some sleep. Oh wait, I was too hungry. 

"Is there anything I can eat?"

My back was against a pillow and I was almost sitting up. Of course, BIteria was still making me a body pillow. Lately, this damn bunny got a bit too clingy.

"I'd already ordered some food but they said since dinner will be ready soon, a maid will bring some fresh fruits as appetizers."

Yeah, I didn't need appetizers, I was literally starving!

"You really think I'll have to spend three days in bed?" 

"Your curse is getting stronger so might just take two days or even one if you're unlucky. But I won't bet on it." Her focus was still on her book. Where did she get one anyway?

There wasn't anything written on the cover and the book was kind of worn out. A few centuries-old maybe?

And wait, unlucky?

"My curse is getting stronger?" Speaking of curses, I remembered something important. "And what does it mean for it to activate?"

If I recalled correctly, the half-elf had said something about me being able to regrow my arm if the curse activated or something. 

And at the time when I actually regrew my arm, I did see a bit of dark layer covering my arm.

Alisa stopped reading and gave me a stare. "Where did you hear that?"

"Umm… uh- let's just say someone was saying I could regrow my lost limbs that way."

Alisa sighed, got up, and walked my way. She came close to me, very close and her lips almost touched my ears. "You will die within one hundred days if your curse activates. But within that time you'll be unkillable- immortal even. And after that, even an elixir won't save you."

Her voice was slow, it was quiet but I could hear everything clearly. 

I almost didn't know what to feel. "How long do I have?"

"Assuming nothing triggers it or assuming you don't activate it on your own, I'd say maybe three-four years?" Alisa moved back and was about to head over to her chair. 

"Why didn't you tell me?" I couldn't look at her. I could feel my right hand shiver slightly. I wasn't scared of dying and yet… maybe I was.

I really didn't know what to feel. Should I have been scared? Should I have been sad?

Should I have been angry?

I didn't know. 

"Didn't I say? I didn't want you to be burdened."

I chuckled. "NO, you were just trying to pretend to be nice. You were trying to not have this conversation." I didn't know what I was even saying anymore. It was almost as though the whole bed was shaking. 

Alisa didn't laugh or glare. She just stared at me. "I won't apologize for it. And you're right, I was avoiding this conversation."

"You don't have to. Is there any way to get rid of curses?"

"I don't know. That's why-" She paused and looked at the book. 

"You were reading that book?"

"Yes. This is the possession my mother left me. I was searching for an answer. IT'S really old and hard to read. I've even forgotten some characters." She tried to smile but she couldn't. 

"Mmmhh." Biteria stretched her hands and started to wake up. 

Knock! Knock! Looks like our food was here too. 

No wonder the little rascal was waking up. 

I chuckled. "Well, there's nothing we can do now then. Let's hope I can win- oh yeah, I've been meaning to talk to you about something." This probably wasn't the best of time to be talking about it though.

Alisa opened the door and brought in a plate full of peeled sliced fruits. 

The maid who'd brought it in bowed and left. 

Alisa locked the door and was about to come my way.

"I think it's time we split up." My words left too fluently from my mouth. 

"Meaning?" She stopped.

"I'm going to fight the emperor in less than three months. I don't want you guys near me. This is my fight." I didn't want them to die a meaningless death. 

Alisa put the plate of fruit on the table near the bed and moved on the stool. "What I do, is not for you to decide. My will is of my own."

Huh, wha? Excuse me?

" You-"

"Just shut up and eat!" And she finally snapped. 

Biteria pulled on my shirt and moved me forward and backward. Her eyes were shimmering like she was about to cry or something. It was almost as though she was saying 'are you going to abandon me?'

I sighed and patted her head with my right hand. She seemed to calm down a little. 

'Why did it have to be this hard?'

Sigh, well at least the fruits were nice.. I wasn't that hungry anymore though.