Dragon awoke with a start, trying to punch whatever was nearest to him. The little lady sitting beside him was lucky that he was bound by rope still.

He coughed up some blood and looked around to see he was still in the wagon. It was moving, jostling from side to side. His vision was still blurred, but he could still make out the features of the young girl.

He tried to sit up but couldn’t manage it. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out save for a quiet groan.

‘Damn it…’

He lay back down. He couldn’t even hear the little girl speak, she swat at him with a cloth. She was no longer bound, hands free was free to move and take care of him.

He looked up at her for a few seconds longer before then sighing as he fell back to sleep.

He awoke though couldn’t tell how long he had been out. He flexed his muscles to see what had healed; he felt his entire body had healed enough for him to sit up and speak.

‘It’s been a few days…’

He still wasn’t remotely close to healing completely, the fight with Tiger had done quite a number, and being unable to heal that hadn’t done him any favours, and then the fight with the Red Wolf…

‘…’

The girl had curled up beside him and was fast asleep. He could see her chest move with each breath, long and slow. He winced as he tried to sit up without waking her.

Her breath caught in her throat and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. She looked up at him and then blinked sleepily. She smiled and pulled back, sitting up, rubbing both eyes again.

“You’re awake.”

“Yes.”

She hummed quietly in agreement. “Are you hungry? We couldn’t feed you when you were asleep.”

“No.” Dragon’s stomach tightened. Since it had been a few days, he didn’t feel the hunger as much. That was at least a good sign. Though still, eating wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“You haven’t eaten in days and you aren’t hungry?” She asked, obviously in awe. Hungry isn’t something that nobles really know, and going beyond it was probably unfathomable.

“Yes.”

She blinked, surprised.

“How?”

“That’s how it is.”

“Oh?”

“Yes.”

She smiled and nodded. “That’s how it is…”

Dragon sighed and leaned back against the wagon walls. It wasn’t moving. They had stopped. It took him that long to notice… How terrible.

“How many days?”

The girl revealed three fingers. “Three.”

Dragon nodded. That seemed to be correct, or at least that’s what his body was telling him. “They killed the wolves?”

The girl bowed her head. “Yes. They killed the other two when you were fighting it… You’re strong mister…”

Dragon nodded.

“How did you get so strong?”

“I trained.”

“Can I get strong if I train?”

“Yes.”

The girl beamed with joy. She sat back and looked at her hands and then his. She reached out to grab his hands and then started to rub them, her thumbs gliding across his palms.

Dragon wanted to squirm, but he remained still and allowed her to think about her words. She narrowed her eyes and then brushed her finger tips against his palms again.

“Will my hands become so rough as well?” She asked, obviously still thinking about something.

Dragon nodded.

She frowned. “I don’t want to train then…” She said, letting out a soft sigh.

“Then you won’t become strong.”

Dragon looked down, meeting her gaze. The girl frowned and fell back. She paused for a little while and then cocked her head and looked up at the wagon ceiling, deeper in thought. There was a spark within her eyes and then she shot a look into his eyes with some sort of victory obviously within her innocent orbs.

“I’ll just become strong without hurting my hands, like a mage. A mage.” She repeated to herself.

Dragon paused. Then, slowly, he nodded.