Beneath the Veil of Tragedy

The Nourishing Stranger

The cheerful melody of birds chirping pierced through Clyde's dreams, pulling him from the comforting embrace of slumber. As he stirred awake, he felt a delightful sense of restfulness wash over him-something he hadn't experienced in what felt like ages. It was as if the weight of the last two years had finally melted away, and for the first time in a long while, his body wasn't trapped in survival mode. But before he could fully bask in the relief of being awake, a different sensation made itself known: a grumbling stomach. He suddenly remembered that he'd passed out last night without ever having any dinner.

With a groan, Clyde propped himself up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, savoring the last remnants of relaxation.

"Oh my, you're finally up!" A voice chirped from the doorway, causing him to jump slightly. The sound of something splashing followed, and he realized she must have dropped what sounded like a bucket of water.

As he finally opened his eyes and focused on her, he was struck by the stark contrast between this girl and the two he had encountered the night before.

Could this be Yumi? he wondered, the name echoing in his thoughts.

Long black hair cascaded down her back, framing a delicate face where her monolid dark blue eyes sparkled like the night sky. Her lips, tinged with a soft shade of pink, contrasted with her small and seemingly fragile frame. She wore a dark blue skirt paired with a matching top, cinched at the waist by a snug brown corset that enhanced her delicate features.

As she crouched down beside him, her fingers gently lifted the damp cloth from his forehead. It took a moment for him to register that it had been there at all, a subtle reminder of his recent state of unconsciousness. He blinked at her, still trying to fully shake off the remnants of sleep, and inhaled the fresh morning air, feeling a mix of curiosity and a hint of embarrassment at being cared for in such a tender manner.

Clyde surveyed the room around him, a mix of discomfort and confusion swirling in his mind. It had been far too long since he'd last felt the comfort of a bed beneath him.

"What time is it?" he asked, his voice thick with sleep.

"What? Oh, it's about noon," came the reassuring reply to the kind-faced girl.

Just then, Kimiko appeared in the doorway with a warm smile. "Ah, you're finally awake!" She walked lightly over to the bed, her presence calming. "You've been out for four days straight," she announced.

Clyde's eyes widened in disbelief. Four days? He glanced down at the blankets that swaddled him like a cocoon, still processing the news.

"What?" he mumbled, still trying to wake up fully from the fog of sleep.

"You've been out of it, but don't worry. Just relax," Kimiko soothed as she stood up, clearly accustomed to caring for others. "I'll get you some soup." With that, she left the room, her footsteps light.

"Are you okay?" the other girl, who seemed to be around his age, asked softly.

"Yeah, just... I didn't realize it had been that long," Clyde admitted, running a hand through his tousled brown hair, feeling a bit dazed.

"It's all good! Just focus on getting better," she encouraged him and began wringing out a wet cloth in the sink. After a moment, she came back to him, handing him the cloth with a gentle smile. "Here, this might help."

"Thanks," he said gratefully, pressing the cool cloth against his forehead and cheeks, hoping it would chase away the remnants of grogginess. "By the way, who are you?"

"Oh! I guess we skipped the introductions the other night. I'm Yumi," she replied, her voice sweet and cheerful.

"Oh, you must be Mamba and Kimiko's other daughter," Clyde guessed, trying to infuse the conversation with lightness.