I looked past Tame’s back to stare at Bartak as we continued down the mountain. His shoulders were stiff, and I was afraid the man was going to fall apart he looked so brittle now. It was like the all-powerful warrior I had seen just a few hours ago was gone. I hated that, so I grit my teeth and leaned up. Another of my guards tried to stop me but a waved him away. “Bartak!” I spoke through grit teeth making the man flinch. He didn’t look back to me, nor did he acknowledge me. I pushed a harsh breath out my nose and spoke again.

“Bartak look at me!” I ordered making him stop in his tracks making everyone freeze. Tame glanced at me worriedly over his shoulder and I was certain Glint had the same look behind me. But Bartak, he just stood there back to me. I wanted to call him an idiot, but I knew that wasn’t going to help anything so I said the only thing I could. “Thank you for saving me.” My voice was soft, so quiet the wind could have easily taken it away, but it carried towards the giant man. I meant what I said, if it wasn’t for Bartak I would be dead now. had he not humored me for the last three weeks to let me train with him I would be dead. My body would have been too weak to fight back against that beast and I would be dead.

So, Bartak had saved me, his desire to look after me is the only reason I was still alive now. The giant of a man didn’t say anything though and just carried on down the mountain. That hurt more than I cared to admit. So, I just fell back and let the journey down continue in silence. It didn’t take long to reach the village. Once we did though Bartak roared out calling for the villages doctor. It was the same old man who treated me back when I first woke up in this body. The old man was shocked at the sight of me, but before he could ask questions Bartak had him start treating. When he got me into his home and laid out on a bed, he finally asked his questions. “

What the hell did this to you?” before I could answer Tame spoke. “The young lord was attacked by a Rot Thorn.” The doctor balked at the man as his eyes widened and he pushed me on my back and quickly began examining my wounds. “A Rot Thorn! Here in Cal’sar what sort of twisted joke this is!” He mumbled angrily as he removed my impromptu bandages mad of my old coat before quickly moved towards a cupboard at the end of the room. I looked back towards Tame, he was the only one of my guards left in the room. Bartak taken to waiting outside. I had questions, and I guess Tame would need to answer them.

“What is a Rot Thorn?” Tame shifted obviously not wanting to be questioned. But when I refused to take my eyes off him, he relented. “They’re a Scourge beast that aren’t native to this area.” He said as if it was the only answer in the world. Too bad for him I had no clue what a Scourge beast was. When I cocked a brow at him questioningly, he winced. He coughed into his palm before continuing. “Right, sorry forgot you lost your memories.” He shifted from one foot to the other. “Scourge beasts are a sort of living calamity. They are monsters plain and simple, but they’re a part of the world. I don’t know the specifics but the book readers in the capital believe the Scourge beasts are a sort of virus in nature. They are monsters born from the land that slow kill it. like a mold I guess.”

While the answer wasn’t the best, I had a better picture now. From that tiny description it seems these Scourge beasts must be this worlds equivalent to Mages. Which did prove that this wasn’t my old world. Never had I heard of Scourge beast in all my life. even if they weren’t on the continent of Demier I would have heard of them from tales of the other continents.

I sighed as the doctor came back to my side and began to treat my wounds. I winced with each prodding touch me made with the ball of cotton as he examined the punctures in my shoulder and the lacerations across my leg. Tame stood silently watching the whole ordeal as the doctor worked. It was beyond painful to just sit there and let it happen, but I didn’t have a choice. So, it surprised me when after one painful prod into my shoulder from the doctor that had my vision flashing white to find once it all cleared that the doctor was gone. My eyes tracked left and right in confusion before a large hand settled on my chest. Bartak was next to me, a deep frown marring his face. That look had me wince more than the doctor had been.

“What happened?” I asked as Bartak pulled his hand away once I laid back down. He just shrugged at me as he stared at the bandages that now wrapped my body. I must have passed out from the pain, I wasn’t surprised. I was exhausted and beaten, the fact I stayed conscious as long, as I had was a miracle even if it was because I used my mana to numb my pain a little. I must have finally used up all my mana. I took a deep breath and just laid there Bartak by my side. Minutes ticked by in the silence before he spoke up. “I am sorry this happened my lord.” He whispered making me grit my teeth. Why was he apologizing, I was upset with how he acted when he found me, but he didn’t need to apologize.

Now that my mind was clearer, I knew why he was so upset. He was my caretaker, my guardian and friend. Seeing me so beat up must have been horrible for him. He likely thought I was going to die back there. I never had kids in my last life. So, I never really learned what a parent felt for their kids even with the few kids I helped save and picked up along my journeys. But watching after kids wasn’t the same as raising them. No, I didn’t know what Bartak had felt up on that mountain, but I knew he was hurt. He was blaming himself for all of this and I just couldn’t accept that. this man did nothing but care for me and treat me with absolute kindness.

Yes, those feels were more aimed at my bodies previous own, but I wanted him to accept me as I was now too. I wanted to see this man as a father figure. No, having lost my family in my last life I think I needed a father figure now. After all I finally had a chance to have some real familial bonds with people. Not just parting friendships like in my old life. I reached out and gripped the old man’s elbow drawing his eyes. “Don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong. I should apologize for worrying you again. but that won’t help either of us.” I said carefully before smiling up at the bear. 

“So, just accept my thanks for saving me alright.” Tears formed in the corners of his eyes, but he wiped them away before nodding his head a newfound determination burning in his eyes. This man was the first person I met in this new world. The first person to look after me, I owed him everything. While I knew I could never promise this man that I won’t worry him again I was going to do everything in my power to repay his kindness to me.