My Second Life is a Heroic Power Fantasy

It took Jack several long moments to wrap his head around what had just happened and get back to reality. He could only hope that Farlo was as he said, and had no ill intents towards him. Nothing he could do about it now besides pay very close attention.

Leaving the cave, his first order of business was to find Rose and relay what had just occurred. He pulled her off into the woods a short distance from the camp and told her what Farlo had said, and her eyes widened.

"He worked with Frumpkin? But how-" She started.

"I don't know. But we need to be careful. I trust he means us no harm, but what he knows could expose us to things we're not prepared to deal with if that information falls into the wrong hands. So be careful what you do and say." Jack said.

Rose nodded earnestly. "Of course. I wouldn't think of doing otherwise." She said.

"I know." Jack said, smiling.

The next task was to check on Madeleine. He entered the medical tent and managed to wheeze his way through the eye-watering stench until his nose acclimated. When he made it to the back corner of the tent, Madeleine was awake, sitting propped up by a couple pillows while a healer spoon-fed her some stew out of a wooden bowl. She was still pale, and a faint shimmer of sweat hung on her browline, but she looked healthier than he'd last seen her. When Jack approached, her glance shot his direction, and when she saw it was him, her expression brightened slightly. She said something to the healer, who nodded and rose, bowing her head gently to Jack as she passed.

"Hey Maddie." Jack said, looking down at her.

"Hey. You're alive." She said. "I'm glad."

"I could say the same about you. How are you feeling?" He asked, plopping down beside her cot.

"Terrible." Madeleine said flatly.

"I can imagine. You look terrible." Jack replied, smirking.

"Thanks." Maddy said, pouting.

"I want to let you know that we're moving on the gnoll encampment tomorrow. Urien and some of the fighters, as well as some guild adventurers are apparently going to help." Jack said. "We're leaving at dawn."

"I'm coming with you." She said.

"No, you're not." Jack said bluntly.

"I'm coming with you. You can't stop me." Madeleine said, her expression hard.

Jack met her gaze, the softness fading from his face.

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"You so sure about that?" He said. The voice that came out when he said the words was not one he recognized as his own. It sounded older, harder. "You're not even able to feed yourself. And you're sick because of being almost raped by goblins. That's not a situation you're going to end up in again, sick or not. I won't allow it. I can barely keep you safe as it is, and I'm not about to lose another one of you. You're staying put, and that's final. Do you understand?"

Madeleine's expression was difficult to read. After a moment, she looked away, her jaw clenched in frustration. "Fine."

"Good. I hope you do get it. Because I really don't want to have to explain to Farien why I've chained you to this cot if you don't" Jack said, standing. He looked down at the frowning girl in front of him.

"I tell you what- after we return from this raid-"

"You mean 'if'" Maddy interjected.

"After we return from this raid" Jack continued, ignoring her comment, "I'll make this up to you. However you want. That fair?"

Madeleine looked at him, her expression unreadable. Slowly, an unsettling grin spread across her face.

"Oh, you definitely will." She said, nodding.