Kaleidoscope: The Fox And The Butterfly

12- Boundaries To The Mind

-----

"If only you just simply... Forget me... Then this wouldn't have to happen."

"I'm sorry... Ren..."

No... I'm the one who's sorry

I'm the one who's at fault

Please don't cry, Aza

-----

Ren open his eyes to the silent sounds of the air conditioner and the uncomfortable feeling of his hospital gown. Rising from his bed with an infuse attached to his wrist, he looks around the room, finding himself with bandages wrapping some parts of his body in a hospital room that are more or less, messier than usual.

Meanwhile, lazily snuck onto his thighs, a certain blonde vampire snooze her Z's as she drools all over his sheet. Huh, quite the image for an usually well reserved maniac, though he admits, this once in a lifetime sight is kinda adorable. If he has his phone, he'll definitely snap this moment and spread it around on her family's groupchat.

Shifting that thought aside, Ren flicks her forehead, instantly waking her up.

"Oh, you're awake," She yawns while stretching her arms with dark circles under her eyes.

"So uh..." Ren looks around his room as he scratch the side of his neck, "how did I got here again?"

She raises an eyebrow at his question, "And you expect me to know?"

"Well yeah... I mean... You're the only one here so what're my options really?"

As she sighs, she grabs a bag of chips from the snack stash on the counter beside her, "So, you just woke up from a coma. A two days coma to be exact," She gives him a quick glance, "don't ask me how. All they told me is that your magic got drained completely from your body. That's all," She opens the bag of chips, taking out a single piece.

"Magic malnourishment... And a coma... Huh..."

"Wait! A coma!?"

"Yeah, that's what I said," Charlie's ever so casual tone raises more question within Ren's head.

"Wha- how can you be so calm about this!?"

She takes more handful of potato chips as she closes her eyes and leans to the bed, "Relax, there's no need to worry. I've already informed your family and they were... Not worried at all. Saying that you're strong. That you'll wake up, sooner or later, and they were the ones that told me not to worry too. So... Yeah..."

"..." Silenced for a moment, he lowers his eyes towards the sheet of his bed.

The truth is, that was only half of his concerns. The rest comes from her. Though really, he doesn't want to think about if she survived or not. If the Knights had captured her or not. But nonetheless, he is at least... happy that his friend is here for him, "Thanks Charls... For being here."

"Don't mention it. That's what friends do," Charlie smiles, which Ren answers with a cheerful chuckle.

Now that he thinks about it, it seems like the petrification spell casted by Cathy was the reason behind this "coma". But what happened in between the two days he spent unconscious is still unknown to him. What if within those days the Chief discovered his relation with Azayaka? What if something happened to her and he failed to protect her? Shit... He shouldn't let those thoughts worry him right now. He doesn't want this light atmosphere to be weighted down by his sullen expression.

Rubbing circle on Ren's bed, Charlie taps Ren's thigh with a giddy smile, "Fun fact. Yesterday, Niz actually came here screaming. That idiot genuinely wanted to punch you out of your coma. But thankfully, the nurses stopped him before he could even lay a hand on your door. God, what a dumb lizard am I right?"