Wolf in The Desert of Ice

Friends

Two days had passed since Shiek had started training with Bull.

Since then, he had received plenty more beatings and wounds, so when he was informed of his first free day had come up, he was relieved.

He started his day by heading to the forge, where he found Bull working on a new blade. "Get out of here. It's your free day, no forging," the man said quickly, shooing Shiek back to his room.

So Shiek looked through his new clothes. A couple of light shirts and pants and a belt and a pair of boots stashed under the other garments. There was some leather armour too.

He took out a white shirt and pants and wore them. He had decided to go out and have a tour of Hvall, seeing that he had no other thing to do.

As he was donning his new clothes, he heard a knocking sound coming from downstairs. He hurried down the stairs and opened the front door to find Oki in front of him.

She had changed from when he last saw her. She was now wearing a dress, not some shabby old leather that he had made, he hair was clean, and so was her skin, her burn marks almost wholly gone. "Hi," she said, smiling. "Been a bit"

"It sure has", Shiek replied, smiling back, "What brings the young lady of Hvall to the humble residence of a blacksmith and his apprentice?" He asked jokingly

, "Come on, Shiek, don't say that. Can't I visit my friend?"

"How's it going, Oki? Has the general been treating you well?"

"Before we talk about that, come with me," She said, suddenly grabbing his hand and leading him towards the entrance of Hvall. "I got permission to go out. There is a place along the river where we can talk more privately" As she walked him out the gate and towards the river. As they arrived at its shore, the girl lead him away from Hvall, following along the river until it bent. A few trees stood along its shore; among them, some bushes and short grass formed a little open green area.

"Here, I found this place when I was practising some magic, isn't it nice?" she asked as she finally let go of Shiek's hand. They then sat down in the shadows under one of the trees. The morning heat was lessened by the shade, creating a pleasant temperature. "So, first of all, you stink Shiek, does that Bull guy not allow you to bathe?" Oki asked, holding her nose. "Well, I am not allowed out of the town usually, and there is no bath in Bull's house, so no bath. But I can take baths," he explained, "Actually, I'm going to take one right now if you don't mind", he added, smiling as he started to take off his clothes.

"Now, the young lady,  better not peak at me while I bathe; it would bring great shame to Hvall's standing mage!" He joked before hiding behind some bushes and then entering the river. "So, you still haven't answered my question. How's the general's house?" Oki had sat with her back leaning on a tree.

"You really just pull the dumbest stunts, seriously. The general is fine, I have to follow some lessons every day, but I get a lot of free time. Unlike you, I don't get beaten daily in the name of "Training""  Shiek, at this point, had already gotten out from the riven. He had put his pants back on before returning to the opening now cleaner "You saw me train? Must have not been a good show"

"Must not have been a good show! That's all you have to say about it!? I saw that man sink his fist into your chest. I saw him literally shatter your jawbone! That is no show he is torturing Shiek!" Oki suddenly exploded, "You, the general, even the maids seem to think that it is ok, but it isn't; he is basically just beating you over and over again. He is not teaching you!"  "I am fine, Oki" Shiek stopped her crouching down in front of her and putting his hand on her shoulder. "He is teaching me strength, and yes, his methods are brutal, but if one day I have to protect you, I want to be the strongest that I can be, and right now, he is the best teacher around." He looked at Oki. She had tears in her eyes. "But what if I don't want to be protected? I don't want you to suffer for me, Shiek! I want to stay with you, but there is no need for all of this, for you to go through hell for me. I don't want that!" Shiek smiled at this scene; it was a kind smile, the same smile he had given her when she first awoke in the cave. "I am doing this because I want to, Oki. I want to be stronger, I want to protect you so you can never be in the same shape that you were in the first time I met you"  At this point, he Hugged her.

"Now stop crying, it is such a nice day, why not enjoy it" they stayed hugging for a couple of minutes, Oki cried on Shiek's shoulder. He knew that her tears were not only for him; she was crying for everything that happened, she had gone from being a normal girl in a small village, from a lonely girl with nothing to a town mage, and during all of this she had held everything within herself, he knew that she needed this break from everything more than him, so he stood still and let her vent all her feelings, he hugged her tightly letting her know that he was there for her, that she was not alone.

"Sorry," Oki said when she had stopped crying. "I ruined the mood", Shiek smiled, letting her go. "It is fine. That is what friends are for, no?"  He handed her a small bottle. "Here, drink this, Kingroot tea." She took the bottle gulping the contents down. The liquid refreshed her; she could feel her energy return along with her good mood. "It's basically a healing potion, but I find it usefully to cheer myself up as well", Shiek continued. "Don't worry Oki, whenever you need something, don't hesitate to ask me. I will be there?" he said with a smile before getting up and offering the girl a hand. "Now let's go back, I think we both could use some rest."