~Back To The Present~
Done reminiscing, Menedelia stood up and went inside the house.
She found Rebecca sewing clothes inside her room. "I'm going to my sister's place," she said.
Rebecca nodded. "Can I go with you, Grandma? I'm getting bored her," she said.
"Not today, perhaps some other time when I'm no longer busy," Menedelia refused her request.
Rebecca pouted. "Okay, take care. By the way, can we go to the market tomorrow or today to buy some stuff?" she asked.
"Sure! I'll return a few hours from now and we'll go to the market," Menedelia responded.
"Alright, I'll wait for you here," Rebecca replied excitedly. "I will make a list on what to buy later," she added.
"Ok, I'll go now," Menedelia replied and exited the room.
Rebecca continues sewing her clothes.
Outside the door.
Eager to know the update of Zero's condition, Menedelia initiated the teleportation process in her mind.
A moment later, she appeared in the living room of the manor.
There's no one in the living room. She went to the kitchen, no one's there as well. They must be in the garden.
She left the kitchen and proceed to the couple's room. She pushed the door open and saw Nini putting medicine on her husband's wound. "How is he?" she asked.
Nini looked at her. "Earlier, his hand and feet moves several times, but he still can't talk! I'm getting extremely worried of his condition!" she said anxiously.
Menedelia patted Nini's shoulder, offering her sympathy. "I think he's getting better. He will probably wake up today or tomorrow. Don't lose hope."
Nini sighed. "I hoped so. I'm getting restless!"
"Everything is good here, child? Did my sister feed you well and provide you all the assistance you need?" Menedelia asked.
"Yes. Ebony and Anastasia are very supportive and kind to me. They're in the garden right now, harvesting herbs and green leafy vegetables for the cooking preparation later," Nini said.
"Alright, I'll take my leave now and go to the backyard. See you later," Menedelia said.
Nini nods her head.
Menedelia walked towards the door and left the room.
Nini finished applying the poultice on her husband's wounds. She rose to her feet and put the bowl of medicine on the table.
She went to the bathroom to splash water on her face, she's getting sleepy.
When she returned to the bed, she sat on the chair and continue observing her husband's face, on alert for any signs of changes regarding the color of his skin.
Suddenly, she saw his eyelids fluttered... then he finally opened his eyes for the first time!
"Oh, my! Husband, you're finally awake!" Nini shrieked in delight. Tears of happiness filled her eyes.
Zero's gaze landed on his wife's face. "A-are you okay? I didn't hurt you didn't I?" he asked worriedly, looking at her face and skin, trying to spot any sign of wound or bruises, he found none, he felt relieved.
Nini shook her head. "No. You didn't hurt me. But you should have fight me or go away when I started hurting you in my snake form. Why did you allowed yourself to get hurt by me! You're so dumb and silly!" she scolded him.
Zero grinned. "Alright, it's over now, isn't it? The important thing is that I'm safe now. Let's not argue about the past anymore," he said. His brows furrowed while looking around the unfamiliar room. "Where are we? Who's room is this?" he asked.
"Granny Menedelia bring us here. Ebony is Granny's sister, she's a healer and she was the one who save your life and feed you antidote to eliminate the venom from your body. She was assisted by Anastasia. They're both caretaker in this manor. I'm here so that I can personally take care of you," Nini elaborated further.
"I see... where are they so that I can thank them personally?" he said, attempting to rise from the bed.
"Husband, stop! Don't move! Rest well and recuperate so that your health will be restored as soon as possible!" Nini told him.
Zero grinned and held Nini's hands. "Thank you so much for taking good care of me, my lovely wife! But don't worry about me anymore. I'm feeling better now," he said.
Nini pouted. "It will make me feel better if you won't get up today. Just rest today and tomorrow you can finally leave the bed," she said.
Zero smiled. "Okay, fine. You're the boss!" he said and lay his body down on the bed.
Nini smiled brightly, feeling better. "Are you hungry? Do you want to eat something?" she asked, eager to give him something delicious to eat.
Zero gazed at his wife's lovely face. "Hmm, how about a bowl of chicken soup with lots of herbs? Make it a bit spicy, please?" he said.
Nini nods her head. "Great! I'll go to the kitchen to ask Anastasia to cook a delicious chicken soup for all of us!" she said happily.
"Go now, wife. I'm excited to eat some chicken soup!" Zero said.
Nini stood up and exited the room. She went to the kitchen and found the three women busy sorting the basket of vegetables and herbs. "Girls, I have a good news! My husband is already awake! He's craving for a chicken soup, make it a bit spicy, please..." she said.
A happy smile erupted on the women's faces.
"That's awesome!" Ebony exclaimed.
"I'm happy for you, Lady Nini!" Anastasia said.
Huge relief washed over Menedelia's face. "That's great! Let me see him!" she said.
"Anastasia and I will prepare the chicken soup right away," Ebony said merrily.
Nini and Menedelia left the kitchen and went back to the room.
Zero looked at the women and grinned. "Granny! What's up?"
Menedelia smiled happily, very much pleased with Zero's remarkable recovery. "I see... you're getting better. Welcome back to the land of the living, lad!" she said.
Zero chuckled. "Thanks for the welcome, Granny! I want to thank your sister Ebony and Anastasia for saving my life," he spoke.
"Later... 'coz they're currently busy cooking your requested chicken soup dish," Menedelia replied.
"Um...Granny. My wife and I would like to go home tomorrow afternoon. Can we do that?" Zero asked permission.
"Sure! As long you're already fit to leave then you can finally go home. I'll just inform my sister to give you medicine so that you can bring them home," Menedelia responded.
"Thank you for bringing me here to your sister, Granny. Ebony definitely saved my life!" he said.
"Don't mention it. By the way, I have to go back to the forest because Rebecca and I will go to the market today to buy food. I'll return later," Menedelia said.
"See you later, Granny!" the couple said in chorus.
Menedelia exited the room and went back to the kitchen. "Girls, I gotta go! See you later," she said.
"Aren't you going to wait for the chicken soup?" Ebony asked.
Menedelia shook her head. "No thanks. I have some important errands to do back home," she replied.
"How's the couple?" Ebony asked.
"They're fine. Zero wants to go home tomorrow afternoon. Is he fit enough to leave with his current condition?" Menedelia inquired.
"No problem. As long he can already walk and talk then he's good to go. I'll just prepare the rest of the medicine so that he can bring it home with him," Ebony replied.
"Alright, see you later, girls!" Menedelia said.
Ebony and Anastasia nodded their head.
Menedelia left the kitchen and went back to the living room, from there, she teleported back to the forest.
When she appeared in her fortress, Rebecca was already preparing for their outing in the market.
"Granny, are we going now to the market?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes, just let me rest for a few minutes in my room," Menedelia said.
"Okay. I'll take a bath outside," Rebecca said and exited the house going to the backyard where the rainwater was conveniently stocked inside the jars and basin.
Menedelia entered her room and lay her body down on the wooden bed. She stared at the ceiling, thinking about Evelyn's burning desire to find and save her missing daughter Angela.
She released a deep sigh.
She will face the old witch again! What can she do?
Is she strong enough to face that witch who turned her into an old woman?
Since she can't run away this time, she will just device a plan... maybe this time she will be victorious!
Ah, she needs to inform Evelyn and Tony tonight that Nini and Zero are coming home tomorrow afternoon. They're already worried to death about Zero's situation. She will go to the capital and inform the couple about the good news after her return from the market.
She shut her eyes and relaxed.
Twenty minutes later.
She rose from the bed and went outside.
Rebecca was already donning her clothes inside her room.
"Child, are you getting ready?" Menedelia asked outside the door.
"Yes, I'm going out in a minute, Granny!" Rebecca replied.
"Take your time," Menedelia replied.
A few minutes later, Rebecca exited her room. "I'm ready," she said.
"Let's go!" Menedelia went to her side.
Rebecca picked up the basket and grasped Menedelia's arm.
The women vanished from the hut.
A few minutes later.
Menedelia and Rebecca were already checking out the goods from the stall lining up in the market.
They spent two hours in the market.
When they already bought everything they need they teleported back to the forest.
The women placed the basket above the table. Rebecca began putting the stuff in its proper place.
"Need help?" Menedelia offered.
Rebecca shook her head and replied, "No need..."
"Child, I need to go somewhere," Menedelia said.
"Okay, are you going to sleep here tonight?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes. I'll return tonight. Just doze off if you're already sleepy. No need to wait for me," Menedelia stated.
"OK," Rebecca responded with a nod of her head and resumed her chore.
Menedelia went to her room to get something, and from there, she teleported back to the capital.
A moment later.
She appeared in the hallway of the manor. She walked towards the couple's room and knocked on the door three times. "My Lady... I'm back!" announcing her presence in a loud voice.
A few seconds later, the door opened.