Part 34 – Rescue
"Ahh… ouch. My whole body hurts.Damn this life. In my previous one, I could crush mice under my foot. Now… killed by a mouse. By a mouse!If I were healthy, I'd smash that damned creature to pieces."
Slowly, I opened my eyes.Above me was a wooden ceiling.I heard the sound of whistling.
Turning my head, I saw a kettle near the fireplace, water boiling inside.
With effort, I lifted myself slightly and looked around.A simple wooden house: one window opposite me, an old rug on the floor, a fireplace, a wooden chair, and a few small items.And of course, a single bed—the one I was lying on.
My eyes fell on my bandaged hands.By the gods, how badly was I wounded?My stomach was wrapped too.
I touched my face—something felt strange.Looking at the wall-side window, I realized:By the gods!My entire face was bandaged, except for my nose tip, lips, and eyes. Even my hair was covered.
I pulled the blanket aside—my legs were bandaged too."Damn it!" I groaned, forgetting how much pain my body was in.
Where was I? Heaven? Hell?Maybe heaven—people say life there is simple, just a house and a few basic things.Or hell—because I was confused, lost between life and death.Maybe I was alive, because the dead don't feel pain… except the pain of being forgotten, of being unloved, of being erased from memory—even by your beloved.
"By the gods, I'm going insane. I'm even philosophizing now. Aristotle, where are you? You've got a new student!"
As I wrestled with my thoughts, the door suddenly burst open.I flinched.
A bearded old man entered, setting his axe against the wall. He went to the kettle, poured hot water into a bowl, added some green herbs, and stirred.
It was as if I didn't exist—he ignored me completely.
Finally, he brought a chair beside my bed, placed the bowl in front of me."Drink."
"Huh?"
Snapped out of my daze, I realized he wanted me to take the bowl.I looked inside: hot water with green leaves.
I decided to drink.But… I spat it all out."So bitter!"
The old man smirked.
I glared at him."What is this? What did you give me?"
He said nothing, stood, and walked out.
"Damn you. It's like I don't exist."
I tried to stand, collapsed in pain.Using the wall, I dragged myself to the window.
Outside, I saw the old man returning from afar, a sack on his back.
The door creaked open. He glanced at the bed, saw I wasn't there, then spotted me at the window.
Without a word, he went to the fireplace, pulled mushrooms and potatoes from his sack, and began chopping.
Silence.
I decided to speak first."Um… who are you?"
No response. He clearly didn't want to introduce himself.
"You… you saved me?"
Finally, he spoke."What do you think?"
He was right. Who else could have saved me?
"Uh… thank you. But I need to return quickly."
Still chopping, he replied:"Return? Where?"
"I'm a student of the Academy of Elites. I came out here to train for the upcoming exam, but then… all this happened. Everyone must be worried about me."
At that, the old man slammed the knife down, sat on the chair."Interesting. So the one we saved is a student of the Academy of Elites."
"Uh… yes."
"And what kind of training brought you out here?"
I hesitated. I couldn't tell him—it was a forbidden technique."Just… ordinary training. Nothing special."
"Ha! Ha ha ha!" He laughed."Ordinary training?"
"Yes."
He laughed again."Look at yourself."
"Me?"
"The donkey, I mean. Did you think I'm a fool? No sane person risks their life in a forest full of beasts for 'ordinary training.'"
"Uh…"
"I understand. But you can't leave. You can't train."
"What? Why not?"
"Because I say so. Your body is badly wounded. Your veins are full of wolf-rat venom from its bite. Right now, you couldn't even walk ten steps."
"What? How long until I recover?"
"Ten days."
"What?! Ten days?"
"Ten days—if you sit still like a human, not moving around constantly."
"What? Impossible! Only eleven days remain until the exam. That means I'd have just one day to train. Madness!"
End of Part 34