From Hero to Her: Cale's Quirky Adventure

Chapter 17: A Fainting Goddess

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the island as Cale and his friends continued their quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding the God of Mischief and his curse. After hours of exploration, Cale felt a familiar weight settling on his shoulders—one that told him he was pushing himself too hard again.

"Guys, I think we should take a break," Cale said, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned against a palm tree, trying to steady himself. "I'm feeling a bit... faint."

"Cale! Are you okay?" Choi Han exclaimed, concern flashing across his face as he turned toward Cale.

"I'm fine!" Cale insisted, but his knees buckled slightly, and he found himself sinking to the ground. "I just need a moment. I—"

And with that, Cale's vision blurred, and he succumbed to the darkness, falling forward.

"Cale!" Raon screeched, panic rippling through the group. "Cale fainted!"

Alberu and Choi Han were the first to rush to Cale's side, both kneeling down beside him. Their expressions morphed from shock to urgency as they exchanged glances, both clearly thinking the same thing: They had to help him, but who was better suited for the job?

"I'll handle this," Alberu declared, his tone decisive as he reached out to check Cale's pulse. "I know a thing or two about taking care of people. You should step back."

"What? No way! I'm better at this!" Choi Han retorted, pushing his way forward, elbowing Alberu out of the way with surprising determination. "I've fought alongside him! I know what he needs!"

Cale remained blissfully unaware of the brewing tension between the two as he lay on the ground, unconscious. All they could do now was argue over who would take charge.

"Alberu, you might be a prince, but I'm his friend," Choi Han insisted, crossing his arms defiantly. "I've seen Cale at his worst, and I know how to handle him."

Alberu huffed, ruffling his hair in frustration. "Friendship doesn't magically grant you the best first-aid skills, Choi Han! I have experience. Cale trusts me!"

"Trust doesn't mean you know how to fix him! It means you can't stay calm when he's in trouble!" Choi Han shot back, leaning over Cale and checking his breathing. "And look! He's still breathing, so let me help!"

"I'm not panicking! You're the one who's shouting," Alberu countered, moving closer to Cale and inspecting him with narrowed eyes, as if expecting Cale to suddenly spring back to life and tell them they were being ridiculous.

Raon fluttered around them, unsure of how to intervene. "Um... guys? Shouldn't we be, I don't know, helping Cale instead of arguing?"

"Of course we should be helping him!" Choi Han snapped, not taking his eyes off Cale. "But I'm just saying I'm better equipped for this situation than a prince who's never had to deal with a fainting friend!"

Alberu opened his mouth to protest, but then he paused, realization dawning. "You're right," he said, suddenly serious. "What should we do, then?"

"First, we need to make sure he's comfortable," Choi Han said, gently lifting Cale's head onto his lap. "And then, we can splash some water on his face to wake him up!"

"Great idea!" Raon chirped, zipping off to fetch some water from the nearby stream.

Alberu's competitive spirit didn't fade, though. He hovered nearby, trying to keep his composure while also fidgeting nervously. "And then what? We need to make sure he doesn't overexert himself anymore. We should probably consider a camp for tonight, in case he wakes up."

"Yes! Good thinking," Choi Han agreed, glancing up at Alberu. "You can gather the others and start setting it up."

"Why should I do that?" Alberu shot back. "You can help him stay awake while I set up camp! You're the one who insists he's the best at this!"