Dungeon Oratoria Online

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – To do a Quest

Asuna:

"Hrng!" My head. Why does it still it still hurt? Opening my eyes, a piercing light entered, and I closed them instantly.

"Ah, you're awake miss Asuna! I was getting worried." Hearing my name, my eyes fling open and lock in on the speaker.

The young woman took a frightened step back. Apparently, I was still scaring people.

"Who are you?" the mumbled words fought through a dry mouth. Barely articulate, the women understood.

"Ah, I'm one of the nurses at the Babel clinic. Your friend Kirito dropped you off here." Frowning, the nurse continued to speak. "There was minor bruising of your ribs, but nothing to explain the condition you were in. Frankly, I just had to hope you'd get better."

Nodding mutely, it wasn't worth trying to respond. Most of the pain had faded, however, it was still hard to focus. Only one thing remained clear in my mind, Kirito had saved me again. The thought raised the heat in my cheeks. How embarrassing.

Did the man spend his whole day running around the dungeon looking for women to save? Not that I could complain.

"Well, since you appear to be in good condition, I'll bring you some water and go to sleep myself."

Nodding, I once again didn't reply. Manners were hard.

"Here you are." Placing the glass on the stand beside the bed, she really was a nurse. Was someone doing stuff like this to my body right now? Changing the sheets, washing me.

Now that was embarrassing.

"One last thing dear. That Kirito boy said he'd come tomorrow morning to check up on you." Laughing at my face, the nurse left.

What expression had I made that she'd do something like that? Glancing at the clock it read 10 pm. No doubt Loki was worried about me. Trying to find the energy to get up, I came up short. "I'll check in on her tomorrow," mumbling my excuse, my eyes closed.

It wasn't long before the sweet embrace of true sleep consumed me.

Kirito:

Laying on the sofa I stared at the roof. Sleep was a distant thought. The only thing in my mind was her. Finding her laying on a Wall Shadow. How that happened I still didn't understand. The terror of the moment kept my heart racing still.

Why was I so upset at the thought of her dying? Because she was a girl? Somehow that didn't seem to be quite right. Because I knew her? Closer but not quite.

Treading deep within myself, I arrived at an answer. It was obvious really. She gave me hope. Hope that this game could be beaten. Her fight had been nothing short of spectacular. She had no right to win that fight. A fake weapon, no training, and a bad status. With all the odds stacked against her, she fought. Tooth and nail to stay alive, to win.

It was awe inspiring. There was no doubt, she'd do the same to the rest of the people. She'd become our hero and lead us home.

Or maybe it was the new blue hair.

Smiling, I drifted to sleep, with dreams of elven and fox-eared maids.