My awakening is something I hardly want to remember. While laying on a soft, truly cozy mattress, there was nothing but pain as my consciousness returned. Well, pain and noise, as the first thing to enter my ears as I awoke was nothing more than a shout, one furious as it was loud, "He is not one of yours, so you will return him, no matter what kind of deal you have concluded."

It was hard to think, flashes of pain preventing me from opening my eyes, not to mention commanding something, even for the usually easy-to-call upon [Status Screen]. Even so, I would recognize the voice as Aison's, even some ragged thoughts surfacing in my mind as I did, {He's here? Asking for me? Then, where am I?}

Probably a movement of mine, or one of the groans I released, made the people around aware of my awakening. The latter clear from the fact that just a moment after the angry shout, a female (judging from the voice at least) lashed out at someone, "Make no damn sound more, he's coming to his senses, and we need him able to acknowledge and activate the potions!"

The same female would then direct to me, as I felt something cold touch my lips, "Mage-master Lindar, you are wounded. I am a healer, and this is nothing but a healing potion. Drink it. Think about recovering."

Even if my mind was only partially aware of what was happening, I felt no deceit in the voice asking me to drink whatever they were giving me, so I did. {Hell, even sipping seems painful!} That would be my only thought, the latter one, {I am immune to poisons anyway, am I not?} obscured by a sudden wave of pain, far exceeding the stinging and aching that had awoken me...

"Life is certainly a strange thing, isn't it?" I found myself murmuring to no one in particular, but the woman sitting just half a meter in front took it to be directed at herself, as her head slightly inclined, her long brown hair slipping along the movement.

"Can't say I don't feel the same, Lin-" She shook her head, her hair sweeping along, as she suddenly changed her wording, "Maester Lindar."

"With the difference in our positions, the name would be enough, wouldn't it?" No matter how our relationship had changed, from being enemies to her nearly acting as my escort, I couldn't help myself from being a bit acidic, no matter how petty it could appear. And before she found something to respond, I added, "It wasn't directed at your esteemed self anyway, just a small reflection on the late events."

"I see..?" Maybe it was my words, or she herself didn't comprehend just how everything ended as it had. But except for that half-questioning words, Ezilda, or Lady Ezilda, would not say anything else for the rest of our long journey. One that took nearly an entire day, even while moving by a four-horse-drawn carriage.

***

"Bigradh gates are in sight." A shout from outside, probably from either one of the mounted escorts or the driver, made me return to reality.

"While I can't say our meetings were welcome, I do wish you good luck." As I stepped out of the carriage, Ezilda's voice made me turn back, her words slightly surprising, considering that our only meeting - except the last one, which ended up with the order to escort me - was during the Chubu's events, where we nearly killed each other. Or well, she nearly killed me, as I was, and still am, out of her league.

"Likewise." Keeping silent would be just too inappropriate while wishing her good luck was about my rather petty self, so I ended up shrugging it off. But before the door on the heavily reinforced carriage closed, I found myself adding, "I hope the wheel blesses them with a better life next time."

"...Thank you." Did she actually say thanks? Or was it just my imagination, and she cursed me under her breath? Who can say? After all, the carriage started moving, even before the door closed, covering the actual words.

***

The white walls of Bigradh, under the growing moon, were a sight to behold. At least if I or someone else was in the mood to spend time doing so. And indeed, admiration had to wait, less I wanted to spend the night outside, with hardly any camping supplies, even with my [Inventory].

The gate's iron bars had been already lowered, but there was light coming from the other side, from inside the guardhouse of the gate guards, which meant they were yet to leave the post.

*CLANG* *CLANG*

Using the pommel of my sword, I struck the iron bars with all possible strength.

And as soon as I saw a figure approach, not waiting for any questioning, I shouted out the prepared words for this moment, "[Cadowden Trade Guild], coming from Chubu, urgent news!"