The Hunter Mage

CHAPTER SEVENTY-NINE

Vernon jerked awake, the details of the night before were like a distant dream and for a while, he assumed he had dreamt of it but he knew he hadn't. It had been too real for it to be just a dream. He wondered why Boy had spoken to him though as he thought of him, he realized he hated Boy's name.

He was not sure what the time was when he woke up but he knew it was way past the usual time he usually got up. He must have been really tired. "You are finally awake." Madame Prisca said and Vernon jerked a little at her voice. He originally thought he was all alone.

She stood up from where she sat behind the table and walked towards him. "How are you feeling?" She asked and made to check his temperature. She winced when her hand made contact with his skin and she immediately took it away.

"Tired," he replied, which was quickly followed by a yawn. He was also hungry.

She looked like she was about to say something then changed her mind. She then slowly turned around and started walking away. Vernon wanted to ask where she was going but changed his mind. Her whereabouts technically wasn't his business.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes, it was pretty bright so he knew the morning was fast spent. It was definitely drawing closer to noon than the morning. He closed his eyes and tried to get comfortable. He could not believe he was stuck in bed for another day. He doubted he could take another day of this.

Madame Prisca returned back in a couple of minutes. She came back holding a tray, he was slightly shocked because not once had she gone out of her way for him. "Bess brought this earlier but since you were asleep and she was not sure when you would wake, she decided to return so it wouldn't get too cold."

Vernon let out a smile, he did not know why she was explaining but at least it made sense now. "Thank you," he murmured as she offered him the tray.

He almost shook his head and declined it but he'd rather choose what he wanted to eat rather than wait for her to hand it to him since she didn't realize she was not supposed to give him the tray until after he had taken the hot cocoa.

He accepted it carefully to avoid spilling any of the contents on either the tray, himself, or the sheets.

He took the mug, the cocoa was boiling hot. He felt tears at the corner of his. Where was Bess when he needed her? This was going to be one uncomfortable drink. He sighed and took a sip. The sting on his tongue and the inside of his mouth was enough to bring more tears to his eyes.

He quickly took it away from his lips and placed it back on the tray. He was not about to test just how much heat his mouth could handle before it changed to barbecue, so he delved into the meal in front of him.

Thankfully, by the time he was done eating, the cocoa was at a reasonable temperature and he was able to drink it without needing medical attention.

He smacked his lips feeling extra full, he usually ate less due to the fact that he usually took the cocoa first but since there was no cocoa to feel up the space he ate a little more than usual. He stretched as he tried to make space in his stomach so he would feel less full and uncomfortable but it. didn't work.

As if Madame Prisca had been watching him closely, the instant she noticed he was not eating again she appeared by his side. "Are you done eating?'' she asked even though it was pretty obvious that he was done since all the cooked meal was gone, leaving just the fruits.

"Yes," he returned.

"Okay then," she then took the tray and started to walk out.

"They usually leave the fruits on the table for me," he called after her. He almost rolled his eyes at her, she was here almost every time, and didn't realize that fruits were usually on the table. There were even a few berries there as she tried to walk away with a tray full of fruits.

"He he he," she chuckled awkwardly. "I am so distracted, it escaped my mind." She smiled weakly but Vernon did not care for her excuse, he was just glad that he was able to stop her in time.

She dropped the fruits and fled the room, no sooner was she out the door that he got down from bed. His legs felt worse than the day before and he wondered if it was because he was not using them.

He almost had to crawl to the bathroom and was grateful when he saw a little seat he could sit on. It was the one from yesterday when Madame Prisca had showered him. He cringed at the memory and forced himself to forget it.

Sitting there he struggled out of his clothes and bundled them carefully so they would not get any water on them from him washing himself and then proceeded to wash himself.

He had not even poured water in himself when his teeth began to chatter. He ignored and went ahead, when he was done his chattering teeth were louder than the running water.

He grabbed the nearby towel like his life depended on it and truly it did. He would have fled the toilet and straight to the bed to cover himself with sheets if he could run but he couldn't.

So, he made sure to dry himself completely before he left the bathroom because he knew it would definitely take him longer to get to the bed and the wind from walking would do worse to him if there was even a little amount of water on his body.