When Jael opened his eyes, all he saw was darkness. It rolled with a flash of green, and he couldn't tell if it was reality or a dream before he knew no more.
The next time he opened his eyes, though, he was staring at a white ceiling. He blinked slowly; he was in a grey-painted room, lying on a soft bed.
He sat up and opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was too dry to bring out sound; he frowned and flopped back on the bed. 'Why do I have to faint and lose consciousness after every major fight?'
'I have to stop doing that, or it might become a habit, and it'll be my death next time.' he sighed silently to himself and then closed his eyes and focused on his connection to his monsters.
They are right, but they are also just regaining their strength. Hermit and the Onus sent a sensation of hunger through their links, and his stomach grumbled. He assured them that he'll feed them with monster core once he's able to get up.
The door opening alerted Jael and his eyes snapped open. Temur filled the doorway with his bulk and he carried a large tray in his hand. "Wow, the healer was right. He said you'll be away today during this time."
Jael rolled his eyes and waited until Temur gave him water to drink before he attempted to speak. "Ah..mm...you are awake! Why's it that I'm the only one that usually loses consciousness?"
Temur raised his brows. "We also lost it..for all the difficult life and death fight anyway. But I'm a warrior with a warrior's body, it's only natural that I wake before you."
Jael grumbled, but he couldn't disagree with that; his power is Necromancy, which is the same as mages. Their bodies aren't built like those of warriors. He cleared his throat. "You're not looking too well yourself."
Temur winced and gestured to his bandaged head. "I used the mask. The healer said I have to let my head naturally heal by itself. I have a massive headache."
Jael checks himself, apart from the natural weakness of not having much mana in his reserve, he's well and okay. "Too bad, but what's with all this food?"
"It's yours. You've been asleep for three days, I imagine you'd have worked up an appetite." Temur made all of it.
******
When Jael went downstairs he wasn't surprised when he saw everyone gathered at the table. The atmosphere was a bit of cool tension.
Thayer sat at the head of the table his eyes hardened as he stared at a woman that Jael didn't know about. The teammates sat beside him, and then there was Temur munching on a snack in front of him.
Cormac was the first to see him and he raised his brows because Jael wasn't dressed casually. He wore black clothes of hardened materials, light armor is one way to look at it.
He bowed toward the man. "Thank you for saving me, Cormac."
He grunted and waved. "That's what I was paid to do; you don't have to thank me unless you want to pay me more, that is."
Thayer cleared his throat. "Jael...."
Experience tales with mvl
He bowed to him as well. "Thank you, Thayer. I won't forget."
He turned towards the woman. "I've not seen you before, but somehow I've seen you in passing. And it seems you are not well-liked in this room."
Her chuckle turned into full-blown laughter. "Oh! I like you! I'm a spy, and I'm also one of the people who saved your friend's life. You're welcome but you can do one better and give me the cult member."
Jael winced. 'If she's a spy and he's seen her in passing before, it can only mean one thing...' "You are from Captain Ryker, he sent you with us when going."