Chapter: Recovery and Reckoning
The beeping of monitors had become the soundtrack to my recovery. From my hospital bed, wrapped in more bandages than skin, I watched my friends hover around me like protective sentinels. I'd grown fond of them, though I'd never admit it directly.
"So, how much longer are you planning to camp out here?" I asked, gesturing loosely at Talia, Sammy, and Amanda with my good arm.
Talia rocked slowly in the visitor's chair, a knowing smile on her face. "Until you're completely healed. We're not going anywhere."
"Well, I'm a man, so clearly I have the natural right to be here," Sammy added with a laugh, earning him an eye roll from the group.
I shifted my attention to Amanda, the only one who hadn't offered some ridiculous justification. "What about you? What's your excuse?"
Amanda met my gaze steadily, her expression sincere. "I don't need an excuse to be here for a friend who's hospitalized. That's what friends do."
"Fair enough," I conceded, nodding slowly.
A thought occurred to me. "What about the Headmaster? Have you heard anything about his condition?"
The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately. Amanda's expression grew serious, and she took a long moment before answering.
"It's critical," she said quietly. "He was struck directly in the chest during the attack. He's in the ICU now, awake but barely coherent. The healers are working around the clock."
Without thinking, the words spilled from my mouth. "We should visit him."
The looks I received were immediate and withering—cold stares that made me reconsider my suggestion.
"Rudra, have you lost your mind?" Amanda's voice rose, anger coloring her words. "Look at yourself! Your left arm is broken, your right leg is fractured, and your entire body is covered in bandages. You can barely sit up, and you want to walk down the hallway? Take care of yourself first!"
With that, she stood abruptly and stormed from the room, the door closing behind her with more force than necessary.
I stared at the empty space she'd left behind.
Talia and Sammy exchanged glances before Sammy spoke. "Do you realize how angry she is? And yes, before you ask—it's absolutely your fault."
"You should be ashamed of yourself," Talia added, shaking her head in disapproval.
"Is anyone going to listen to my side of the argument?" I protested, but my words fell on unsympathetic ears.
After a moment of silence, I tried a different approach. "Look, I do want to apologize to Amanda, but before that... will you two help me see the Headmaster? There's something important I need to discuss with him."
Talia sighed deeply. "Fine. But you're apologizing to Amanda first. That's non-negotiable."
"Deal," I agreed.
With Talia and Sammy's help, they carefully assisted me out of bed, supporting most of my weight as they navigated the hospital corridors. The journey was painful and slow, but we eventually reached the Headmaster's room.
What we found took my breath away.
He lay in a bed nearly swallowed by machines—monitors, IV stands, and devices I couldn't name surrounded him. But despite his injuries, when he noticed us, his face brightened. A smile crossed his weathered features, and he gestured for us to approach.
"You made it," he said warmly, his voice still strong despite his condition. "I'm proud of you all. You stood against the darkness and prevailed."
We stood there, awkwardly present, until I blurted out the question that had been nagging at me. "So... who's paying for my hospital bill?"
The entire room fell silent. All eyes turned to me as if I'd grown a second head.
But honestly, someone had to ask. The academy wasn't exactly funded by charity.
The Headmaster surprised me by laughing—a genuine, full laugh that caused him to wince. "Don't worry about that, Rudra. The academy will cover all medical expenses. Especially for students who've just saved it from destruction."
I felt relief wash over me. "Yes! Freedom from debt!"
"For god's sake, stop worrying about money right now," Talia snapped, but I could see the ghost of a smile on her lips.
The Headmaster raised his hand for silence. "Let's be serious for a moment. Rudra, I want to thank you. All of you, actually. While the royal family was being evacuated by instructor of the academy , you took action. You faced the demon threat directly and succeeded. That took courage."
"It wasn't just me," I said, unwilling to take sole credit. "My friends fought beside me. I couldn't have done any of it without them."
Talia spoke up, her tone shifting to the serious. "But I still don't understand how a demon got past the protective barriers in the first place. It should be impossible for a single demon to breach the academy's defenses."
I nodded slowly. "Miss Koari summoned it. In the basement. There was some kind of ritual—a banned one, I think. She's responsible for everything that happened in the ballroom."
The silence that followed was suffocating. The Headmaster's expression hardened, becoming stone-cold in an instant.
"Do you have proof?" His voice had taken on an edge I'd never heard before. "I can't remove a staff member without concrete evidence."
"Amanda was with me when we found her," I said. "She can corroborate everything."
Sammy's eyes widened as realization struck him. "Oh! That's why you two disappeared during the dance! Everyone was wondering what happened to you both."
The Headmaster nodded slowly. "Get some rest. All of you. You've earned it. We'll address this matter properly once you've recovered."
Back in my dorm room, I was surprised to find it immaculate—the floors gleamed, the surfaces were dust-free, everything meticulously organized. I didn't question it; I simply collapsed onto my bed and slept deeply, without dreams.
When I woke the next morning, my senses were greeted by something far more pleasant than hospital antiseptic: the rich aroma of cooking food.
Confused and still groggy, I dragged myself out of bed and followed the scent. In my kitchen—my kitchen—stood Amanda, moving confidently between the stove and counter, preparing what looked like a proper breakfast. Not the hospital food or quick meals I'd been subsisting on.
I stared at her in disbelief.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice still rough from sleep. "More importantly, how did you even get into my room? And aren't you supposed to be angry with me?"
Amanda turned from the stove, a slightly exasperated but affectionate expression on her face. She held up a spatula like a weapon.
"First of all, yes, I was angry. I'm still not entirely happy with you, but staying mad doesn't help anyone heal. Second, sammy gave me your spare key—don't give me that look, you gave him when you moved here . And third..." She paused, turning back to the stove. "Someone needs to make sure you actually eat real food instead of whatever slop they're serving in that hospital. Your body needs proper nutrition to heal."
She gestured at the table, where plates of eggs, bread, fresh fruit, and hot tea were already laid out.
Despite myself, I felt a warmth bloom in my chest that had nothing to do with the food's temperature.
"Amanda, I—"
"You're sorry, I know. Just eat," she interrupted, but her tone had softened. "And don't do anything stupid like trying to visit people while you're still injured. Deal?"
"Deal," I agreed quietly, moving toward the table.
As I sat down to eat the best meal I'd had in days, I realized something: having friends who cared enough to be angry with you, and then show up the next morning to make sure you were taking care of yourself—that was worth more than any hospital bill the academy could have paid.