From Real to Realm

Someone was talking softly. It was hard to make out what they were saying. It was as if her ears were plugged. Her body felt heavy, too. It was reminiscent of the first time she woke in this world.

“Ugh… my head.”

The voices stopped. She could feel a weight shift on either side of the bed.

Val slowly blinked her eyes open. She recognized the ceiling’s design. It wasn’t the first time she’d woken up in the medical wing, unfortunately. There was this kind of sterile smell to the air in here that almost cleared her sinuses whenever she inhaled. It was hard to forget this place.

“Val?”

She slowly turned her head to see Lynesia sitting there, tears quickly gathering in the corners of her eyes. Her head was throbbing. The throb didn’t stop there, though. It felt as if it permeated the very center of her being. It wasn’t easy, but she didn’t want to give away how she felt right now.

“Hey, love,” she said, smiling softly.

Lynesia’s eyes widened, and then she was out of her chair before anyone could blink. Her arms wrapped around Val, but didn’t squeeze. It was as if she was afraid of crushing her, but worried Val would disappear if she didn’t hold on.

“I was so worried!” she sobbed.

Val’s head really was killing her. The last thing she remembered was testing out her magic. Something pissed her off. Without much thought, she’d used fire magic. Anything after that, she couldn’t remember. Trying to focus on it only made the throb worse.

While she was out, she could’ve sworn she dreamed about something. However, she couldn’t recall the details. Hell, she wasn’t sure if it was a dream or a memory of some sort. It was all so blurry.

That didn’t really matter right now. Right now, she needed to comfort the woman she loved. She could only imagine what it was like looking down on her while she was out cold. Probably reminded her of when Val was sick.

“I’m sorry,” she said, gently hugging Lynesia. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

She realized Lynesia wasn’t the only one around the bed. Mina sat next to them, one ear drooping with her tail slowly moving back and forth. Her eyes were watery, but she was much calmer than Val would’ve expected.

“You really had us worried,” Mina said, wiping away tears.

Val reached out with her left hand, patting Mina’s. “I’m sorry.”

Aleksander and Theoden were standing at the end of the bed. There was plenty of room between the two of them. Even the current situation couldn’t erase their dislike of each other.

“I figured she’d be awake today,” Aleksander said, crossing his arms. “A bit earlier than I anticipated, though.”

Theoden adjusted his glasses, sighing. “Can’t you be happy your new protege is a bit more resilient than you expected?”

Lynesia was still clinging to her, but Val needed to sit up.

“What do you mean protege?”

“You need to train your magic,” Aleksander said, lowering his arms. “If you don’t, this will happen again.”

Training her magic was a given. That was what they were doing when she lost consciousness. However, given the situation and the look in their eyes? She could tell there was more to this than they were giving her right now. She needed to pry if she wanted the whole truth.

“You’re an asshole,” Val said, eyes locked to Aleksander’s. “But even I can tell I’d learn a lot from you.”

“Takes one to know one,” he said, chuckling.

Theoden cleared his throat. “While you’re training with Aleksander, and until you can control your mana, you can’t enter the dungeon.”

Silence hung in the air like a held breath. Mina’s tail froze, her eyes glancing back and forth between Theoden and Val. Lynesia had tensed up the moment it was said. Her hands gripped Val’s shirt a bit tighter. Whether it was fear or an attempt to hold her in place, Val couldn’t say.

However, what she could say was how she felt. It reminded her of the moment before she cast the fire spell during training. Her blood felt hot almost immediately. Her heart raced as her eyes focused on the man telling her he would be holding her back.

“What the fuck do you mean I can’t enter the dungeon?!”

Theoden didn’t flinch. “We cannot risk another collapse in the dungeon. If you did, you’d be putting not only yourself at risk, but your entire party. I refuse to allow that to happen.”

Val started moving. However, Lynesia tried her best to keep her weight on top of Val.

“Calm down,” she whispered. “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

Her words barely registered to Val as she tried to remove her as gently as possible.

“Like you can stop me from going back in there!”

“ENOUGH!” Aleksander’s almost Slavic-like accent boomed in the medical wing. “Are you so fucking stubborn that you don’t see the risks of going back in there, Valnarei?”

Val’s feet hit the cold floor as she stepped up to Aleksander. “Everything about this career is a fucking risk, dickhead!”

Aleksander closed the gap even more. “So you’re fine risking getting them killed to protect your ego?” His hand waved toward the girls on either side of the medical bed.

Val faltered, looking over at Lynesia and Mina. “I won’t put them in danger. I’m strong enough—“

The sharp jab of his finger poking her shoulder stung.

“You aren’t strong enough to stay conscious after two spells,” he growled. “If your ego so blinds you that you can’t see the risks, then my time is wasted on someone as short-sighted as you.”

Val gritted her teeth. “I can ration my mana usage so I don’t collapse.”

Aleksander laughed at her. “Not with your emotional hair-trigger.”

“I can do it.”

He leaned forward, his nose a few inches from hers. “You can’t, and you fucking know it.”

Theoden stepped between the two of them. With a struggle, he placed a hand on each of their shoulders and pulled them apart. After that, he looked at each of them.

“I highly suggest the both of you calm down,” he said, his words calm but holding more gravity than usual. “Aleksander, go back to my office. I’ll be there shortly.”

Aleksander scoffed. “As if I—“

Theoden’s head snapped to look at him. “I wasn’t making a request. Now.”

There wasn’t fear in his eyes. Val didn’t think Aleksander truly feared much, if anything. Instead, it was understanding. An understanding she lacked in this moment. He didn’t say another word, instead opting to walk out without any fanfare.

Theoden took off his glasses, folded them, and slipped them into his breast pocket. “Valnarei.”

Her hair was standing on end. His voice was different now. Dignified still, but holding an edge she’d never heard before.

“Y—yes, sir?”

He turned to her, eyes sharp. “You are not to enter the dungeon. Do you understand?”

She gulped. “But sir, I—“

“Not. A. Request.”

She froze.

“You will go home for the day with Miss Khano. Cool off, enjoy a relaxing day with the woman you love. Tomorrow morning, you will return to my office just after daybreak.”

“Wait, wh—“

“I’m not finished,” he snapped. “You, Aleksander, and I will discuss your training. If you ever want to continue your adventuring career, I suggest you be at my door in the morning.”

With that, he turned to Lynesia and Mina, gently bowing. The conversation was over, whether Val wanted it or not. Without another word, he left the medical wing. Val stood there, unsure of what had just happened.

“W—we should do what he said,” Lynesia suggested, standing up. “Let’s go home. I’ll make you lunch.”

Mina stood up. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of the Guild Master acting like that.”

Lynesia gathered Val’s belongings. “This is a unique situation, and Aleksander is a unique character. Maybe it’s beginning to stress him out.”

“I’ll let everyone know Val’s awake,” Mina said, walking around the bed. “How about we meet for dinner tonight? If you’re feeling up to it?”

Lynesia smiled. “That’s a good idea. Let’s meet at The Deep Cup.”

Mina’s tail was waving a bit faster. “Good idea!”

She walked up to Val, clearly worried. “I’m happy you’re awake, Val.” Without another word, she gave Val a quick hug, then hurried out of the room.

Val barely registered what they were saying. Instead, she just stared at the door into the hallway. She knew Aleksander had to be a powerful mage, but it was her first time realizing how powerful Theoden likely was. The man always seemed so relaxed and calm. The anger she saw in his eyes in that moment had frozen her blood.

“Val?”

She jumped a little, then turned to Lynesia.

“Let’s go home, okay?”

Val nodded, still silent.

Lynesia slipped her hand into Val’s. “We’ll get through this together.”

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