Chapter 73: Recovery

He looked better than he had two nights ago. The color had returned to his face. The bandages were still wrapped around his torso, but they were clean. No blood.

Mira sat beside him. She was checking his pulse. Her satchel rested on the floor by her feet.

Collin stood by the window. Arms crossed. Staring out at the courtyard.

They all looked up when Emeric entered.

The room went quiet.

Collin spoke first.

"You were right."

Emeric said nothing.

"About the rift and how it was a bad idea. About everything." Collin’s jaw tightened. "We should have listened."

Emeric crossed to the bed. Looked down at Maynard.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like I got chewed up and spat out." Maynard managed a weak smile. "But the healers say I’ll make a full recovery. A few more days of rest. Then I can go home."

"Good."

Mira spoke next. Her voice was quiet. "I knew something was wrong. I should have pushed harder. I should have insisted we turn back."

"We all should have," Collin said. "But we didn’t. We got excited. We got greedy. And Maynard almost paid for it."

Silence.

Then Maynard spoke.

"You’re all acting like I died. I’m right here."

Mira smiled, and Collins shook his head.

Emeric pulled up a chair and sat down.

"Next time," he said, "we listen. All of us. Or we don’t go in at all."

"Agreed," Collin said.

"Agreed," Mira echoed.

Maynard nodded.

For the first time, he noticed Clarisse was not here.

---

They talked for an hour.

He watched them. The way they talked. The way they joked. The way they cared.

They were good people.

They had made a mistake. But they were good people.

He was glad he had found them.

Later, Collin pulled him aside.

They stood in the corridor. The door to Maynard’s room was closed. Mira was inside, checking his bandages.

Collin reached into his coat. Pulled out a heavy pouch.

"Here."

Emeric looked at it.

"What’s this?"

"The cores from the Frost Keep. The ones we held off on selling." Collin pressed the pouch into his hands. "Here’s your share. And I don’t want to hear any complaints about it being too much."

Emeric hesitated.

"You saved my brother’s life," Collin said quietly. "This is the least I can do."

Emeric looked at the pouch. Then at Collin.

"You don’t owe me anything."

"Yes, I do." Collin’s voice was firm. "Take it."

Emeric took the pouch. It was heavy.

"Thank you."

Collin nodded and clapped him on the shoulder.

"Get some rest. We’ll talk about the next raid when Maynard is back on his feet."

Emeric nodded and he left.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[FUNDS ACQUIRED — GOLD: 2,450]

[CURRENT BALANCE — GOLD: 4,450 | GUILD CREDITS: 32,400]

---

The walk home was quiet.

Emeric took a winding path. He checked corners, paying attention to reflections in shop windows as he passed and even doubled back twice.

No one followed him.

He reached the house just before noon.

Isolde was in the sitting room.

She was reading. A book balanced on her lap. She looked up when he entered.

"How is he?"

"Better. He’ll recover."

She let out a breath. "Good."

He crossed to her. Knelt beside her chair. Rested his head against her knee.

She reached down and stroked his hair.

"You look tired."

"I am."

"Did you sleep?"

"Not much."

She was quiet for a moment.

"Come to bed."

"I’m not tired like that."

"Then just lie down. Rest."

He looked up at her. Her eyes were soft and warm. Too inviting for him to refuse.

"Okay."

He helped her into the bedroom.

He lay down on the bed. She settled beside him. Her head on his chest. Her hand over his heart.

The room was quiet. The curtains were drawn. The afternoon light filtered through, soft and golden.

He closed his eyes.

He thought about Isolde.

She was sleeping now. Her breath was slow and even. Her body was warm against his.

He held her tighter.

---

That evening, Tatia arrived.

She let herself in. Found Emeric in the kitchen, trying and failing to cook something edible. She took one look at the burnt pan and sighed.

"Sit down. I’ll handle this."

He sat.

Isolde joined them at the table. They ate together. Simple food. Warm bread. Stew.

Tatia talked about her day. Her other patients. The healing hall gossip. Isolde listened. Laughed. Emeric watched them both.

This was normal. This was peace.

He needed it.

---

After dinner, Tatia left.

Emeric helped Isolde to bed.

She was tired. He could see it in her eyes. The healing sessions took a lot out of her.

He tucked the blankets around her. Kissed her forehead.

"Sleep."

"You too."

He lay down beside her.

She curled into him. Her head on his chest. Her hand over his heart.

He held her.

He thought about Bjorn.

It had been years since he’d seen him. Years since the academy. Years since he’d been pulled out and told he was a disgrace.

But Bjorn had never treated him that way.

Bjorn had always believed in him.

He closed his eyes.

Bjorn had saved him when he demanded a rush job for a sword for the hunt.

They didn’t meet. He had sent the request through a messenger.

---

[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]

[DEVOTION LOGGED: REST AND RECOVERY — PRIORITIZING HEALTH]

[NEW OBJECTIVE: YOUR PARTY’S GEAR MAY BE WORN OUT. FIND A BLACKSMITH FOR UPGRADES & REPAIRS]

[DP AWARDED: +5]

[BOND METER: 96 → 97]

---

He stared at the notification for a little too long. Could the system read his mind ? It wasn’t far-fetched in its own way. He had just been thinking about introducing Bjorn to the party for upgrades.

No, maybe it was just a coincidence.

But everything that had led to this so far felt too precise to be a coincidence.

Tomorrow, he would introduce his party to his oldest friend.

He wondered how much he had changed. Would he notice ?

He was stronger. But a part of him wanted confirmation from someone who knew him when he was not.

Tomorrow, he would find out.