Chapter 57: An Uncomfortable Conversation for Taliah.

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: An Uncomfortable Conversation for Taliah.

Taliah kept pressing Draven for an answer.

"Draven, I’m asking you something important."

"I know."

"Then..."

"Ah, right!"

Ari suddenly interrupted the conversation, so both students turned toward her and the teacher smiled.

"I almost forgot!"

Taliah frowned.

"Forgot what?"

"There’s something I wanted to tell Draven."

"Can’t it wait?"

"No, because..."

Ari shook her head.

"...it’s too important."

Draven watched her with curiosity.

"What is it about?"

The teacher settled into her chair and then smiled broadly.

"About how your dear Taliah came back from the forest."

"..."

Taliah remained motionless.

"Professor Ari."

"Yes?"

"Don’t."

"Don’t what?"

"Don’t tell that."

Draven raised an eyebrow.

’What happened?’

Ari let out a small laugh.

"It was wonderful!"

"Professor!"

"You should have seen the teachers’ faces."

Draven began to smile.

"Now I’m curious."

"Draven, don’t listen to her!"

Ari completely ignored the protest.

"Turns out we were waiting for the students at the meeting point when several noises started coming from the forest."

Taliah closed her eyes.

"Please..."

"At first we thought some creature was causing trouble near the exit."

Ari paused.

"But then Taliah appeared."

Draven looked at his friend.

"And?"

The teacher smiled even wider.

"She was completely soaked in blood!"

"..."

Draven blinked.

"What?"

"She had beast blood all over her!"

Taliah covered her face with one hand.

"Professor, stop..."

"Her clothes were in tatters, her hair completely messy, and she was carrying your unconscious body over one of her shoulders."

Draven tried to picture the scene.

"..."

Ari continued.

"And when one of the teachers tried to ask her what had happened, she started yelling that she needed a healer immediately!"

"Because Draven was hurt!"

"I know, I know..."

Ari started laughing.

"But you had such a terrifying expression that no one dared ask you any more questions."

Draven couldn’t hold back a smile.

"Really?"

Taliah looked at him right away.

"Don’t even think about it."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You’re laughing."

"It’s just..."

"Draven!"

Ari let out another laugh.

"And that wasn’t all!"

Taliah opened her eyes.

"Professor Ari, stop already!"

"Little Taliah demanded they use the best healers available."

"Because she was worried about him!"

Ari kept going without paying her any attention.

"Then she threatened to carry you personally to the Valdegrim residence if the academy couldn’t treat you properly."

Draven’s eyes widened slightly.

"You did that?"

Taliah looked away.

"..."

"Taliah?"

"You were really badly hurt."

Ari started laughing again.

"Exactly the same as when she was little!"

Taliah clenched her fists.

"STOP BRINGING UP MY CHILDHOOD!"

Draven ended up laughing, and for the first time since he had woken up, he managed to relax a little.

’At least some things are still normal.’

Ari glanced briefly at Draven and her smile faded slightly, but then she took another sip from her bottle.

"Well, I guess I’m done here."

The teacher stood up and Taliah still looked annoyed.

"That’s all?"

"For now."

Ari put the bottle away inside her jacket.

"Draven."

"Yes, Professor?"

"Rest."

"I will."

"And try to stay alive while you’re under my care or they’ll dock my pay."

Draven smiled.

"I’ll try."

"That’s the spirit."

The teacher walked toward the door, but before leaving she stopped.

"Ah, and one last thing."

Draven looked up and Ari watched him for a few seconds.

"If you remember anything important about what happened in the forest, make sure to report it."

"..."

"It would be unpleasant to find out there are still dangerous people hanging around the academy."

Draven kept a calm expression.

"Of course."

Ari smiled.

"Glad to hear it."

Then she left the room and, when the door closed, Taliah let out a long sigh.

"I can’t stand her."

Draven smiled.

"I thought she was one of your favorite teachers."

"She’s an excellent swordswoman."

"That doesn’t answer my comment."

"And she’s also an insufferable woman."

Draven let out a small laugh while Taliah sat back down beside his bed.

"Anyway, you should rest."

"Seems so."

"The healers said you’ll be able to get discharged soon if you don’t make any unnecessary efforts."

"Perfect."

"And then we’ll go home together."

Draven raised an eyebrow.

"Together?"

"Of course."

"I think I can go back alone..."

"No."

"I can’t even consider it?"

"No."

"..."

Taliah smiled.

"I’m glad you understand."

Draven sighed.

’She’s definitely not going to leave me alone.’

Taliah had risked her life to get him out of the forest and had probably spent several hours worrying about his condition, so he had no reason to reject her help.

"Thank you for saving me."

He finally said, to which Taliah seemed surprised, but then smiled slightly.

"You don’t have to thank me that much."

"Of course I do."

"Then you can thank me by doing what I asked."

Draven raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Stop getting into trouble."

"..."

"At least for a week."

Draven stayed thoughtful.

"That seems pretty complicated."

"DRAVEN!"

They looked at each other and then started laughing.

However, when Taliah settled back into her seat, Draven briefly glanced toward the door and his expression turned serious.

’Someone is looking for me.’

Draven looked at his bandaged arm.

Even though he had managed to survive, he couldn’t forget what had happened, and he also couldn’t ignore that Elfin had used his body to eliminate the attackers.

’I have to find the one responsible.’

But he also needed to do it carefully, since any investigation that was too obvious could draw the authorities’ attention.

Besides that, he thought about Elfin.

’If that bastard takes control again, I don’t know what he might cause.’

Draven remembered that he has three years to find a way to separate himself from the god of destruction, but now he had discovered that he also needed to survive the threats of the present.

’First I’ll find out who sent those mercenaries.’

Draven opened his eyes again and saw that Taliah was still sitting next to him, so he watched her for a few seconds.

’And I also have to make sure she doesn’t end up involved again.’

He didn’t want to repeat what had happened in the fields of Nerathis, and much less allow someone to use Taliah to hurt him.

Draven finally directed his gaze toward the window, and the outside of the academy looked completely peaceful.

The students continued with their activities, classes were still going on, and no one seemed to imagine what had really happened inside the forest.

But Draven knew that that calm could end at any moment.

’This time I’m not going to wait for them to attack me again.’

He had to prepare before they decided to try once more.