The harsh winds blowing outside slammed against the walls of the small cabin hidden in a desolate part of the forest, creating a mournful howl. Aiden heard the crackling of the wood burning in the fireplace.
He parted his dry lips. "Bjorn..." he whispered. After waiting a beat, he shouted, "BJORN!" His throat and skin were parched, and he was lying on a thin layer of straw.
"Bjorn is not here, sir," said a voice he hadn't heard before.
"Who are you?" Aiden asked, trying to sit up.
"I am your doctor, sir. Bjorn went to Open Buffet to get medical supplies."
Growling, Aiden swung his hand blindly left and right in the void, searching for anything that could be a weapon. "Bjorn wouldn't leave me alone with a stranger. Where is he?!"
Ezel took a step back. "I apologize, sir, please calm down. Bjorn said he would protect me if I could save you."
"How do I know you're not lying?" Aiden asked, struggling to get out of bed. The movement he made to sit up caused his bones to crack. I can't move in this state. I can't see shit anyway. None of the sounds I hear or the smells hitting my nose are clear.
"Sir, you currently have no choice but to believe me," the voice said, thin and breaking with fear.
"You're one of those brought in the last shipment, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir."
"What is your name, doctor?"
"Ezel."
"How did Bjorn leave me alone with you? What did you tell him?"
"Sir, we met a month ago when I saved your life. At first, he was kind to me just because I was helping you recover. He said he would eat me if I failed to save you."
Aiden suddenly went into a coughing fit. Ezel quickly grabbed the glass of water on the table and helped him drink. Aiden's cough subsided.
Ezel stepped out of the cabin with brisk strides and returned with a pouch covered in bits of snow, pouring some medicinal powder into the teapot he had placed by the fireplace.
"You have a fever, sir. You will feel relieved thanks to the mixture I prepared, just wait a little," Ezel said in a panic.
"Calm down. I'm not weak enough to die from a sickness," Aiden said, lying back on his bed. "So, I've been unconscious for a month?"
"Yes, sir."
"Stop calling me sir; I am not your owner. Calling me Aiden is enough," he said with an uneasy expression. "What is my condition, doctor?"
"I have completely purged your body of the poison. Your broken bones have largely healed, and quite rapidly at that. You have an interesting body."
"Go on."
"It will take some time for you to fully recover; you are very worn out, but if we look at the bright side, you are alive."
His senses of hearing and smell blurred, Aiden searched for the source of the voice. After a small cough, he turned his back to Ezel and continued to lie down. "I wouldn't exactly call this being alive... My back burns, my ribs and head ache. Come on, don't wait, do your job and give me a painkiller."
"We ran out. I will prepare it immediately when Mr. Bjorn returns, Mr. Aiden."
"No need for 'Mr.'."
"V-Very well..."
When the darkness of the night fell, the cabin door creaked open, and freezing winds blew inside.
"Damn you, Ezel! Screw the list you gave me!"
"What?"
"The paper you put in the envelope was blank! How can you gamble with my friend's life!" Bjorn said with a dissatisfied expression. "Anyway. I just gathered whatever was needed! I tossed whatever healing herbs and bugs I saw here and there into the bag," he continued, taking the bag off his back and throwing it on the floor.
"Give me that paper," Ezel said, extending a hand.
Bjorn rummaged through his pockets and handed over the sheet of paper that had been put inside a leather envelope. Ezel opened the envelope with a confused expression.
He smacked Bjorn on the head hard with the paper. "YOU DIDN'T UNFOLD THE PAPER, YOU IDIOT!" he said, holding the unfolded paper up to Bjorn's face. Bjorn, dumbfounded, could only say, "Oh..."
"You two... are making too much noise," Aiden said, lifting his head slightly.
"BROTHERRRR!!!!!" Bjorn shouted, weeping uncontrollably. "I THOUGHT YOU WOULD NEVER WAKE UP!!!" he cried, hugging Aiden's legs.
"Get off, fuck off you moron. Do you think I'm a man who would die that helplessly?"
"Si... Aiden, you woke up just in time. This medicine will lower your fever," Ezel said, pointing to the pot boiling in front of the fireplace. "Let me help you," he said, heading toward the table.
Aiden tried to stand up suddenly. "Leave it. I'll get it myself," he said, but collapsed onto the straw with the cracking of his bones.
"Chill bro, he's been doing this for a month already," Bjorn said, warming his hands by the fireplace.
"Bjorn, what happened while I was sleeping?"
"Bro... Nothing much," Bjorn said, scratching his head.
"Speak."
"We are at war with the Holyland Coalition now. As soon as winter ends, they are going to fuck us up."
"What?" Aiden said in an expressionless tone.