Ash felt himself being lifted from the void of unconsciousness. As he came to, he felt himself swaying slowly as he heard footsteps. What had happened? He thought. Why am I still alive, and who is carrying me?

Ash kept his eyes closed and tried to keep his breathing even so that they would think he is still asleep. He felt a searing pain in his back, chest, leg, and head, and he tried to put together where some of the pain came from.

He remembered that his chest and back was from the punishment, but he couldn’t remember where the headache and leg pain came from.

Throughout the swaying movements, Ash fell back asleep. He knew he shouldn’t have, but he didn’t really have a choice. He was just pulled into a slumber.

…

The man had known the minute the kid had woken up. He hadn’t said anything, but after a little while, the kid went back to sleep.

“Drew!” Yelled a voice he recognized. “You’re back! How did the…” She stopped when she saw the glare he shot her. “Who is that?” She asked curiously, stepping closer.

“No idea, but I’m getting ready to go see Mrs. Ranae.”

“Where’d he come from?”

“My last mission. I had to stop in the middle because my dragon refused to attack him.”

“Interesting…” She said dragging out the word. “Mind if I tag along?”

“Not really, but you have to be quiet. I can’t have you waking him up.” She nodded her head.

It didn’t take very long for them to get to the main hall where Mrs. Ranae almost always was. Andrew (Drew)’s friend opened the door so that Andrew could carry the kid into the room.