Caroline’s whole body relaxed. While the pain was still there, it wasn’t as intense (comparatively). Her hearing cleared up substantially and the cotton mouth went away as well.

“Better?” Came a gentle masculine voice, no longer tinged with a curse.

She sighed in relief. “Yes, thank you.”

“Ah… thank God, thank God.” Her eyesight was still fuzzy, but she could see him put his hands on his face and lean back. He gave a shaky exhale. “I’ve never seen that many curses cover one person without instantly killing them.”

“Well, I’m known for my toughness.”

“This isn’t a time to be proud of yourself! You were a hair’s breath away from dying.”

“But I didn’t.”

“You could have.”

She shrugged and then immediately regretted it. Curse the curses!

He snorted in aggravation, but decided to move on.

“You have seen the town Doctor, right?”

“Yes.”

“Alright. I’m going to go talk to him. You stay here.” He pointed at her threateningly. “Don’t move, you understand?”

“I don’t think I could even if I wanted.”

“Well, don’t want to!”

“I’m too tired from arguing with you to bother. Don’t worry.”

“…fine.” He said, still not trusting her, and then left.

She hadn’t been lying though. Even with nine curses gone, the ones left over were still terrorizing her body. Expending energy to talk had exhausted her. The moment he left, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

——

Thio came back an hour later to find Caroline exactly where he’d left her. After getting the full diagnoses from the Doctor he’d felt bad about his contrariness earlier. She was really in no shape at all for it.

The Doctor had recommended taking her to the Capital for further treatment. Thio agreed wholeheartedly with his assessment. After some discussion, they both decided against using Transportation magic. There was no telling how the magic would react to the curses. But traveling on land didn’t seem like a good idea either.

Thio decided to call in some favors. First he contacted a Dragon Mage in Flight Defense. Not all dragons were evil. The dragons that worked in the military were a specific breed called Hawk Dragons. They were feathered, adventurous but friendly, and small enough to ride. Hawk Dragons (along with Griffins) worked in the Flight Defense as air-fighters and rescuers. His second year in the Fighting Battalion, he’d saved a Dragon Mage and his Hawk Dragon.

Secondly, he contacted a Healer from his LDF days, Sentra. They’d consistently gone on missions together for two years and frequently helped each other outside of work. The nice thing about Healers in the military is they were far more informed about curses than civilians by nature of their job. Dealing with Demons made it necessary. So unless a curse was extremely obscure or unique, they knew the cure for it.

After he was done, he waited. It would take six hours for the Hawk Dragon to get to Hillsdale. Thio counted himself lucky the Dragon Mage was currently between missions. He was a little surprised at their enthusiastic agreement though.

While he waited, he looked around at “his” house. After four years, it didn’t feel like his anymore. Caroline had steadily replaced and improved everything. Even the windows had glass in them now, and the battered stove was replaced with a shiny knew one. The bags were now shelves, with wooden boxes of all sizes lined up neatly on the wall.

He was baffled as to why she’d pumped so much money into improving the place though. The improvements exceeded the value of the land it was built on. When she left, who would buy it? Who could afford to rent it even? This neighborhood was part of the slums. No one who lived here earned enough to buy or rent a house like this. She’d LOSE money no matter what she did.

Why hadn’t she moved years ago? Between her Adventurer’s income and the money he sent, she could have bought a small house in the town. But she continued to live in the worst part of town. Why?

At some point, Caroline woke up. She was thirsty and needed to use the bathroom. He helped her with both. He firmly resisted the temptation to scoldingly ask her how she’d managed to do anything on her own before he got there. By the time she was back to her bed, she’d had enough energy to say thanks and fell back asleep.

He watched over her anxiously. She was so… quiet. Even her breathing seemed shallow and she didn’t move in the tiny bed even once. Seeing her so still unsettled him deeply.

He was incredibly relieved when the Dragon Mage and Hawk Dragon arrived. They landed in the backyard, which was technically several people’s yard. The entire neighborhood came out to see the Dragon. It was big enough to be scary so they didn’t get too close.

Thio cast a weight reduction spell on Caroline and picked her up with ease. She whimpered in pain from the movement, even in her sleep, and his heart broke.

Seeing Caroline being carried out of the house and toward the Dragon. The neighbors began to kick up a fuss. Apparently none of them recognized the white suited man as the Thio from four years ago.

Already in a sour mood, Thio had no patience to deal with a committee. He spat out several spells in a row.

“I’m taking Caroline to the Capital for medical care. Don’t touch anything of her’s until she gets back, understand?” His magicked voice reached every ear that was listening. Since he’d cast charm on himself, not only did everyone nod in dumb agreement, but even after he left they’d be inclined to do as he said.

The Dragon Mage raised his eyebrows to his hairline when he saw Thio’s actions.

“Er, is it legal to be casting those kind of spells on citizens of the Empire?”

Thio shrugged. “Probably not, but I don’t care. Are you going to report me?”

The other Mage thought for a moment. “Naw, they’ll snap out of it eventually anyway. What about you?” The Dragon Mage spoke to his mount.

The Hawk Dragon gave a chirpy laugh. “My head was turned so I didn’t see anything worth reporting.”

Well, neither rider or dragon were known for their devotion to law and regulation. That was part of the reason Thio’d had to save them to begin with.

Once Thio was properly seated, the Hawk Dragon lifted off. As they rose farther into the air, the Dragon Mage began casting his unique magic. It was all specific for flight, including things like speed increase, wind protection, temperature regulation, and the like.

Despite his anxiousness, the flight to the Capital was pleasant. Both the Mage and his Dragon were good conversation partners, often feeding off each other. They reached the city by late evening.

“Thanks for dropping me off at my house.” Thio said before they left.

“No problem!” The Hawk Dragon clicked.

The Dragon Mage saluted. “Feel free to call on us again, sir!”

Thio didn’t even have to knock on the door after they were gone to get inside. Metts had naturally heard a commotion outside and watched with wide eyed wonder as a Dragon landed in his Master’s front yard. When he saw Thio walking towards the house, he’d eagerly gone to open the door.

“Master Thio, welcome back!” Metts greeted, attempting to be professional but failing. “Master, that was a Dragon! I’ve never seen one up close before, why did you—— woah, who’s that?”

He’d finally noticed that Thio was carrying a person, not a thing.

Thio looked down at the woman in his arms and something in his heart shifted.

“Ah, this is my wife.”