When Shae awoke it was dark out and she was back in the room she had borrowed at the inn. Then with a start she remembered the fight earlier that evening. Or was it even that evening, she sure felt tired, and her mouth and throat were very dry. She hoped she wasn’t snoring. She noticed after her initial shock there was a plater on the table beside her bed. I held a mug of broth, the standard around here it seems. Another mug with just water, this she took up and started to drink slowly. There was also some soup with chucks of meat, which while not steaming, the bowl still felt warm to the touch. Along with the meat in the soup there was a few vegetables? She did not recognize. Well, the white looking baby carrot things could have been parsnips. Maybe that was a radish? But it was purple. Besides the soup there was a small loaf of bread. It was no longer hot from the oven, but it would still be freshly made this day, she was sure.

After she drank about half of her water, which was slowly helping with her dry throat, she started in on the soup, dipping her bread in occasionally, to give it flavor.

Her mind wandered back to what she could remember about the fight. Most of it was hazy. Almost as if her mind had been wiped clean, or she was suppressing her memories. Not that she would know. What she could recall was the initial charge of the Orcs, Or War-Orcs, as Canson had called them. She could faintly remember the charge, but not much in great detail about the Orcs themselves. Sure, they had weapons, she knew that, but she could not even really recall specifics. As for the Orcs themselves, she could remember what they looked like mostly. Not fine detail, but they were not really a sight you would forget!

Then, someone, screamed, followed up by her getting… best description, gut punched by the troll. That incident of being throw into the tree she could recall well. It was a dense pain like that. Instant and very much beyond what your brain could reason out.

Though as she remembered the feeling, it wasn’t just her gut she felt being… well maybe more like someone had squeezed her out like a wet dish towel, less like a punch. Yes, although it was still an instance feeling and like a solid impact inside her body, it was more like she had been grabbed and wrung dry.

Then she heard a small voice say, “I’m not cleaning that up.” before she blacked out.

And the follow up after being shoved down the rabbit hole… was the now and that was soup, bread, and broth. The soup was almost too good for something simple. There was a spice in there she could not quite call pepper. It had the same warmth spicey to it, but it was more robust without being overpowering. The meat fell apart with ease on chewing, soft, not at all like you’d get at home from cheap store-bought stewing meat. Which you could almost feel bounce around in your stomach after eating. The parsnips were not parsnips, they were probably the source of the robust peppery spice. They had almost the same flavor as the broth. She wondered how strong they would be without boiling them…

She was almost humming as she ate. She felt pretty decent now that she had food in her. Even if it was of the less filling kind. Then she started to sip her broth slowly, leaving the water for later maybe.

She could not put her finger on it, but she felt a bit stronger than before. Not just physically either. What happened earlier, she was a mess inside facing those creatures. She was a mess inside after the troll too. Now she felt like something was comforting her. Giving her added strength. A metaphorical shoulder to lean on. She felt a bit more sure of herself. While she knew if she had to face that horde again, she might feel some worry, she just had a feeling she would not crap her pants mentally again.

Was it because of what she had just been through and obviously survived? Growing stronger though experiences? Nah, it couldn’t be that fast though. Wouldn’t something like that take a while to build a tolerance to? Would you even build that kind of tolerance in the face of such wanton savagery? She almost felt like she wouldn’t fear the troll much either if she had to meet it again.

Or maybe whatever happened to her has given her brain damage.

She softly laughed to herself, whatever stress she had built up before, mostly just melted away. Like her laughter was sloughing off grime.

Still. The only way to know for sure would be to be in that predicament again.

“Uh, yea, hard pass!” she chuckled out at her thought. No way she was going to get herself caught like that again. Next time… Exit stage left rabbit.

And if those around her had not the sense to follow. Well, it was the better part of valor to live another day in her books. Things could be rebuilt. People, not so much.

Then she tilted her head, ‘At least I don’t think they could be rebuilt here?’ Now that was a question she would like to see answered. Could people be refitted with magic limbs and such!? It was magic after all!

She gave a gleeful squeal inside. Magic, I get to see magic! And maybe even dragons. The most stunning mythic creature man has ever dreamt up. Ten? Twenty? Maybe more! Tons of living, breathing, flying, wonder!

Then she remembered the flames part… ‘Maybe less breathing please’

She stood up and immediately needed to stretch. Her core, legs, and arms were very needy for movement.

Shae sat on the bed sipping her broth. She started to make a few solid plans for her future now that she had access to knowledge.

Get a lay of the land. Get supplies, Hopefully the village could help. At the same time maybe get work around the village, scouting or such for them. Then… well trying to fit into the world on a grander scale. Because she would never be happy not seeing the world.

“I wonder if there is an adventurer’s guild to join?” She said in a middle tone to herself.

Then her door opened, “Yes, there is. But first, it’s good to see you’re up, and fed. Otherwise, I was going to have to force broth into you while you slept.” He held up his hand to forestall any questions as her mouth began to open. “I am Jacob Prost. You could think of me as the village’s healer.” He could see her relax a bit. “Now I’m just here to take a look at you and see if you’re doing ok and could possibly accept visitors. And yes, there are a few who really want to talk to you about what you did.”

‘What I… Did?’

“Anyway, forestall that,” he walked over to Shae. “Give me your hand.” She almost didn’t hesitate. He checked her pulse. Then stood up and took a step back.

She felt something from him. As if he was giving off a tiny bit of pressure. Then his eyes began to glow yellow!

“Wait!” She held up a hand.

“Your aura has repaired itself.” He nodded still staring at the area near her, but not at her anymore. “Curious though.” Then his eyes faded back to normal, he leaned in a bit. “How are you not dead?”

“Huh!”

“Well, I mean, I’m no expert, but someone with an aura your size usually goes mad and ends up dead. You,” He looked at her pointedly. “Are neither.”

“I don’t know!” She flustered out.

“Huh” he shrugged then turned saying “Well it’s really not my place, nor do I have the knowledge.” He said the last part under his breath as he left the room.

He left, and left Shae with some big question marks. Aura? Should be mad or dead? Was she going to go mad or something? Was there a hard and fast rule about it, or just a sometimes thing. He did say usually.

She took a breath and tried to relax.

She could get answers.

And she sure as hell didn’t feel like she was going mad. Sure, she had her worries. Maybe a little unsure of herself and questioned herself often. But what teenager wouldn’t!

She was mad at Prost now. Just came in here dropping bombs like that! And no explanation or nothing. Not his place my foot. He sure seemed to want to make it his place. I should kick him in his place!

She imagined herself hauling off and kicking him in his family jewels. See if he likes bombs being dropped.

‘Whoa, calm down. Breeeaaath.’

Ok, maybe he was insensitive to her predicament, but really, he didn’t know her predicament to begin with.

She took a few calming breaths. She could get a few answers, she was sure. No need to go off the deep end yet.

She wondered what time it was. Her watch she had was useless since the day was longer here. It was night, she could see that through her small window. But if Dr. Prostate was up and about, it couldn’t be that late yet.

And still a marvel she hadn’t gotten jet lag from the time thing. Maybe they did a fix on me before sending me here…

She then went through her bag to see if anything was missing.

Nope, no thieves here it seems. Upside of a small village maybe.

Then she heard heavy steps coming up the stairs since her door was left open my Prostate. ‘Ok, I’m being petty.’

She got up and didn’t have to wait long as Canson, in normal for here clothes instead of armor filled her doorway.

“Come, I’d like to talk if your up to it.”

He didn’t seem to be asking.

“Sure, if you buy me a drink.” She smiled at him

He just shook his head at her forwardness. “There is no alcohol in the village. I’ll be downstairs with the four adventurers. They would like to be a part of our discussion. After all, you don’t get many chances to speak to a walking calamity.” He huffed and turned and went back down the stairs.

“Uhhh…” she was… “Calamity?”