It was the second day after Shen's body stopped working. Her mobility seemed to have recovered, and I could hear her speak now.
Contrarily to my expectations, everyone was doing rounds to check on her. It was my turn this time, as I was in her tent now.
Although… I'm quite suspicious currently. I noticed an odd occurrence after Jin did his initial round. Compared to the rest, his check was much longer.
Anyways, I might be overthinking everything. There's no way Takeda is into guys… I mean… right? He was a guy formerly.
Jin's probably pushing him, I can tell he's majorly interested in Takeda's current body. It's insanely obvious, he checks it out when it's possible. And honestly, it gives me the creeps.
Ah, nevermind… I have a job right now. Since Shen didn't need to eat, I'm just here to check on her condition
The tent was slightly cramped, but maneuverable. Shen was wrapped in a blanket, and she looked to be asleep.
"Looks fine…" I muttered as I crouched as best as I could. Does she need to breathe? Her chest was rising and falling slowly.
Shen let out a long groan as she woke up. "Mmh… Oh, Yukina, it's you…" She realized when her eyes fell on me..
Who else is it…? I retorted inwardly, and outwardly I replied to her. "How are you feeling?"
"Better to say the least… Can you help me sit up…?"
"Sure…" I did the best I can, although it was a lot harder than it seemed. Shen's body shook as she pushed her body to sit up. Was she really this week before?
With a smile, she thanked me. But, I wasn't ready to leave. Her body was shaking badly, she wasn't letting her body rest on my hand.
"I'm here to take care of you for a little bit."
"I know…" Shen let out. "I need to get used to being weak again, let me try to sit up myself."
As a result, I took my hand off her back, and sat to the side of her. It took a minute for her to sit by herself.
Her back was bent forward as she crossed her legs. She's really not looking too good.
"Do you need anything?" I asked her but got a shake of her head. "Aren't you needing blood right now?"
"I can live… a year without blood. I have the cravings now, but… I can control myself."
"Shen- No Mister Takeda."
"What is it?"
"Drink my blood, I won't turn."
Shen stared at the arm I outstretched but turned away. Do I have to force her? I mean, right now, I am stronger than her. From the glare I gave her, she covered her mouth with her hands.
"Why don't you want to drink my blood?"
"I don't want to hurt you again."
"Eh?"
That's not what I was expecting… although, she does hurt me all the time in training— ugh… Let's ignore that fact for her sake.
"Alright, alright."
I covered my arm back up, then I couldn't find anything else to talk about. Just after a few minutes, Shen sighed and needed my help to stay up.
"I'm sorry for all of this." She apologized in a low tone.
"It's my post this time."
Shen helped me a lot in my past, and this life. Although, she did cause some injuries to me in this life… It's really my luck, and inexperience too.
Of course, I do still blame Shen for my eye. It's something that's permanent to me, as far as I know. My arm and every slight injury are healed.
There weren't lingering effects other than the experience I earned. And… seeing how Shen is now, she's struggling to keep herself up, I have to stuff that down.
"Let's lay you down…"
However, when I tried to help her down, I felt her hand clamp my wrist. It was so weak, the fabric almost erased the feeling.
"I want to get out of here…"
"Are you sure? You can barely keep yourself up in a sitting position."
"Mhm… My necklace… it's right there."
What the fuck? Is that how it's supposed to be worn?! When I set this damn thing around her neck, it physically latched onto her skin! Wait, is it?!
Is it really..- nevermind, but god that looks painful…
It took a bit, but Shen got to her feet. But nearly fell back onto her butt. She was so pathetically weak, it was honestly astonishing…
As I laid her back down, I suggested something; it made her face contort into anger.
"I think you should lay down."
"No." She only said with her teeth gritted. "I don't… want to lay here."
"Well, give yourself some rest." I retorted and sat back to where I was. "Don't you have any buffing skills? That can help you with walking."
"I don't… I only have healing spells."
"What about James…?"
"I only saw him yesterday… I couldn't move, or speak."
"That's true…" I let out a sigh, I wanted to grab James, but Shen tried to sit up again. Either way, Shen wanted to get up now; and so, I helped her to her feet.
Shen was struggling hard to breathe, but she stayed firm on coming outside. I had her arm around my shoulders, and my hand around her waist. She's really skinny, huh…
Although it was awkward, I was still able to help her. We slowly meandered outside of her tent where everyone was sitting around the campfire.
Just hang in there. I kept to myself, Shen was getting worse with every ten steps.
By the time we got where everyone was, her head was bobbing. Conversely, once she was sitting on the ground, she began to recover.
She wanted to come out, not me… I could feel everyone's stares on me. C'mon!
Shen took a couple deep breaths before assuring everyone. "I'll be recovered by tomorrow."
"Before we talk about that, what happened to you?" James was the first one to respond. He tilted his head at her, as the group's leader, he spoke everyone's thoughts. It was pretty obvious, everyone but Jin had a strange look on their faces.
"This… is what happens when I don't drink blood for a week." Shen explained simply. She adjusted her seating position so that she's cross legged. "I revert… back to my regular strength."
"Why didn't you warn us?"
"I usually need two to three days to recover. We're in the lands of… Ard, so we're safe."
That's still not a good reason… It genuinely freaked everyone out, aside from myself. And that was due to prior knowledge, heh.
Whilst I was proud of those thoughts, James set his chin on his hand. He seemed to be thinking, whilst everyone else turned their heads to him.
It took a few seconds, but he eventually found a response. "We need you at full strength, how much blood do you need?"
"...A full human's worth."
"Eh…?"
"You need to kill a human?"
"That's the required amount…" Shen stated whilst clasping her hands together. She continued shortly afterwards, "I'm not someone who targets innocent individuals, the ones I kill target me, or harm civilians."
Yet I was targeted! I subconsciously closed my eyes after listening to that. I wanted to retort that statement, but I held my tongue.
"But, how is Yukina alive?"
"I don't know."
And I don't know either. I thought to myself. Furthermore, I followed the crowd and stared at Shen for answers.
"I cannot tell you."
"You can, you did say something previously." James pointed towards her accusingly. She stared at him with a frown.
"Master Shen, do you know the reason?"
"It's your bloodline." Shen finally said. For an odd reason, she avoided eye contact with me. "That's also why you didn't turn into a vampire."
Then why the hell are you not taking my blood then?! I wanted to yell at her, even if it did hurt, we need her physically fine. The frosted peaks will be dangerous, we need everyone capable enough…
"I'll be fine enough to walk tomorrow." Shen proclaimed, from a turn of her head, I can see a reassuring smile. "I'm weak physically. I've been my entire life, but I can walk."
"My healing spells are more advanced, I can provide support from the back. But you, Mister James, you need to take on a fighter role."
"Eh? Ah, right. I can do that."
"Ah, wait!" I popped in before they ended the conversation. Everyone looked at me when I gestured towards Shen. "Can you put a strength buff on her?"
"Hm? They only last for half an hour, but, yes I can do that."
"Thank you."
James only needed to raise his hand, and a red aura overtook Shen. Thankfully the results were near instant.
The shadows under her eyes immediately resided, and her back shot straight up. Plus, her mouth opened in surprise. "If it starts to wane off, let me know."
With James's words ending the current discussion, Shen proceeded to teach me things. Her words weren't as breathy, and she seemed to be more lively.
This time, Allisa joined us, she sat right next to me as Shen had us strain our mana. And so on, it's a repeating lesson with slight changes.
Allisa had fun, even when her mana value was low she was laughing. Heck, James joined us throughout.
Additionally, it turned into a lesson after everyone was done eating dinner. Shen was sitting in front of us all, it was much like a class back then.
She did a demonstration, and had the three students follow along. In reality, it was more for relaxation.
We needed it all, James would create more artistic creations with his mana. A spell that was formless, he'd turn it into any shape.
Starting off with a dog, cat, and a sword. It was pretty entertaining even for myself, I laid on my side watching this.
If only every day could be like this, that would be great.It's so odd seeing James so serious all the time, but it's good to see him act like himself…
After one shape, someone would raise their hand; it would result in another, then another, and another. Allisa started it, and requested a dog, Anna second with a cat. Then Verd's son, a sword.
As this circus show went on, I noticed Jin got closer to Shen. He had a weird, and flirtatious smile on his face. I ignored what they were saying, wasn't my conversation.
The fun went late into the night, and this odd sight kept increasin'. In my gut, I felt like Shen was enticing this flirty mood. She'd mimic Jin slightly, touch his cheek, but there was something underneath that.
Does she like him?! Wait, wait! Is Shen into guys?! Hahaha…. If that's true, hahaha…
I mean it could be true, or she can be messing with Jin. It's… most likely true, they're really going at it.
"Yukina! It's your turn!" Allisa screamed into my ear. "Hey! Why's you jump?!"
I WONDER WHY! YOU APPEARED IN MY LITERAL BLINDSPOT! I let out a loud huff as I patted my chest. I fucken jumped since this girl yelled on my left, and I had to snap my head to see her!
"What do you want?!" I snapped back at her, heat entered my cheeks.
"Have Dad make something you want!" Allisa exclaimed, or course she wouldn't get why I got scared!
"Dragon."
"What kind of dragon dummy?" Melinda tapped my head between my ears.
"Something that wouldn't scream at me in my left eye."
"Are you on your period again?" Allisa asked me with a tilt of her head.
"No! No I am not!"
Damn this girl! Why does she have to do this?! Melinda slapped my head, and asked me again.
"A fire dragon…."
I slammed my head into the ground, I wanted to die now. It's so fucking embarrassing whenever she asks even when I'm not! AGH! STOP!
Why does this always happen?! I felt someone softly yank my year, I felt my body jolt. Then, the overwhelming pain from that yank-
I couldn't cry out in agony, it was Melinda who did it… I don't want her to cry but… focus on something else!
"C-Can you stop…?" I managed to stammer through the pain.
"Say what you really want, dummy." Melinda told me but never stopped. "Say it and I'll stop!"
"Just… just a dragon… please stop it."
The pain didn't disappear, even when she let go. Am I just the dog here…? Everyone is treating me like something they can pet.
Ignore it… no use complaining when it'll leave. Ugh- I'm not a little girl can they stop treating me as such…
Eventually, the pain did go away; and as it did, I watched James make a simple dragon. It had horns, it was in a sitting position, pretty similar to those dragon plushies back home.
Due to me being the last one to suggest something, we all retired for the night. Then, we all journeyed the next day once Shen was fine.
This time, at a much slower pace, Shen wouldn't have been able to keep up. She was much weaker, it didn't make much sense.
She would trip, and grab onto me, and she couldn't grab my arm with any strength and nearly fall. Heck, we had to alternate who held her umbrella… She couldn't hold it for a few hours at a time.
We used this rotation until the third day she could walk. More like morning.