Chapter 36

Awareness came back to him slowly, as his conscious mind was dragged, kicking and screaming, from the deep, restful sleep that had buried him. He felt pleasantly warm, like he was lying outside on a sunny day, pulling the aches and pains he had grown accustomed to since his encounter with the Fat Man.

Still on the edge of awake and sleeping, Wil stretched luxuriously, unwilling to disturb the moment, not knowing exactly what he was avoiding, but knowing enough that he didn’t want this moment to end. Like any good sleep, he wished it would last just a moment longer.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and finally, inevitably, Wil slowly opened his eyes, taken in his surroundings.

He was in his room, on the Drake, the area clean and the single window over his bed still dark from the Night. Confused by the darkness and not knowing where the feeling of warmth and sunlight had come from, he looked to his right, spotting the form of Martin, quietly whispering prayers as he channeled divine mana into the hands he had placed on Wil’s arm.

Not wanting to disturb the cleric while he healed him, Wil took in his injuries. His bruised and battered body was cured of his superficial injuries, and he could no longer sense any negative energy that had been present in his body for days. His arm was repaired, the broken bone mended and strong.

But his hand, however, was still shriveled and aged, although the blackness had retreated significantly from, what Wil assumed, were Martin’s ongoing efforts.

Aside from his injuries, his body was still thin and sickly, the damage done by the Fat Man’s magic still present. Likely, it would take more than a single night’s rest and a few healing spells to cure what ailed him.

Still, he felt better than he had in days, as he stretched slowly, trying to not disturb the cleric next to him. Despite his best efforts, Martin had noticed his actions, the cleric opened his eyes and cutting off his prayers as he grinned at his friend.

“Alright, Wil? You had us all worried. Annabelle was practically frantic while you were gone.” Martin said, slowly removing his hands from Wil as the divine power faded.

“I’m good, Martin. Better than I have been in a few days. I’m glad your healing worked better this time, I as afraid there was nothing you could do.” Wil said, looking down at his hand as he flexed the stiff fingers.

“This time?” Martin asked, confused.

“Oh…right. Never mind, I just got confused for a moment. You know how it is.” Wil said, trying to sweep the comment aside. His tired mind was having trouble separating what had occurred in Desire’s ‘dreamland’ and what was real.

“Well, whatever happened to you, you’re going to need rest, and quite a few rounds of healing before your back to normal. Negative Energy damage is nothing to scoff at, I’m honestly surprised you’re still alive.” Martin confessed, his manner urging Wil to explain his injuries.

“I was surprised as well, to be honest. The thing that attacked me, used necromantic magic, strongest I’ve seen apart from Aachen’s Lich. I barely escaped, though it left me a souvenir.” Wil said, lifting his injured hand to the cleric.

“And this was to help the Dragon Turtle?” Martin asked, going pale at the mention of Aachen. Nodding, Wil left it at that as he slowly climbed to his feet, gripping the edge of the bed for support.

“Where’s Annabelle and the rest, in her cabin?” Wil asked, as the cleric shook his head at his friend’s actions, before standing and helping him to stand upright.

“Yes, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that she ordered for you to stay here.” Martin scolded.

“Orders.” Wil scoffed at the word, already feeling stronger for having his feet on the ground again. Shaking the priest off, he walked froward on his own, leaving the room behind. Ignoring Martin’s comments that he should rest, Wil made his way to the top deck, breathing in the fresh, ocean air, feeling revitalized after the stuffy cabin.

“How long was I out?” Wil asked, looking at the black moon hanging overhead. It was always difficult to keep track of time during the night, the damnable moon didn’t budge at all, not until it was ready to set.

“Days, Wil. I didn’t want you walking around half dead, so I gave you something to help you sleep. Should have doubled the dose.” Martin mumbled the last part, as his patient took off towards the cabin.

“I slept long enough, Martin. Things to do, people to see. Besides, I’m a testament to your healing abilities!” Wil said cheerily, feeling better to be walking in the open again. Aside from the dull ache in his hand, and his dire loss of weight, he felt almost back to his old self.

The priest watched his friend walk ahead of him, his emaciated frame barely skin and bones. He had healed a lot of the damage, but the negative energy literally ate the life away from him. It couldn’t be fixed with a few, low tier healing spells. It needed time, food, and a lot of rest.

Concerned, Martin chased after Wil, catching up to him as the young mage flung open the door to Quentin’s cabin.

Inside, Quentin and Edvard were hunched over a list of documents, their heads together as they poured over a list of numbers and figures. From where Wil stood, he thought it looked like a schedule, but that was as far as his interest carried him.

As soon as the door opened, the pair looked up, startled at the interruption.

“So…miss me?” Wil said, swaggering in with a grin on his face.

“Humph. Martin! I told you to keep him in his room!” Quentin said, ignoring Wil as she looked at the priest that entered behind him, dragging his heels, and hanging his head.

“I tried, Annabelle. Unless you want me to chain him to his bed, he’s hard to pin down!” Martin complained, throwing his hands up in the air in exasperation.

“Now, see here! I’m not some child that needs to be sent to bed like a good little boy!” Wil said, his tone sharp and exasperated at the treatment.

“That’s exactly what you are, Wil! Galivanting around, getting into trouble and trying to get yourself killed! You’re going to go back to your cabin and rest, or so help the Suns, I’ll have Garman tie you to that bed, and Mara feed you like a baby!” Quentin said, her finger pointing directly into his face.

“You wouldn’t!” Wil said, eyes wide at her words.

“I would, you better believe it! I know exactly what you’ve been through, Wil. You may try to keep things from me, but the Azure Lord told Sophia. Every. Single. Thing. That happened to you.” She punctuated her words with sharp jabs into his chest.

“Everything?” Wil said, dread pooling in his stomach as he had visions of nude woman flinging themselves at him, offers that he had just barely turned down.

“Everything! And don’t think that Mara and I will give you the same ‘treatment’ that you received in your dreams!” Quentin hissed, narrowing her eyes at him as Wil blushed a deep red, his mouth open as he tried to stammer a response.

“Garman!” Annabelle yelled, looking at the door behind a flustered and shocked Wil. As if by magic, the large warrior appeared, a grin already on his face as he chuckled at Wil’s predicament.

“Well. Well. Well, Junior. Who would have thought that a goody two shoes like you had such a vivid imagination? Two at once!? Color me surprised!” The man said, swaggering in and slapping Wil on the back with enough force that the sickly mage nearly fell on the ground.

“Didn’t think you had it in you! I mean, I figured you would turn down power, and riches, you’re an idiot when it comes to that kind of thing, but TWO women at once! You really are a moron aren’t you!” Garman yelled, roaring with laughter.

Quentin, embarrassed, flushed a light pink as Wil felt like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole.

“Everyone knows!?” Wil stammered out, his eyes wide as he stared at his mentor.

“Knows!? It’s all we’ve been talking about since that Turtle came and chatted with the priestess. Made my night, let me tell you. I am so glad I came along, Junior. Best thing that could have happened to me.” Garman said, as Wil looked at the grinning or embarrassed faces in the room, before fleeing back to his cabin as quickly as he could.

“There you go miss, that should keep him put for a few days. Let me know if you need anything else!” Garman said, nodding at the group as he left the cabin, whistling cheerfully as he did.