Hallowed Damnation [#Wattys2016]

18

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?"

An alarmed male voice woke up Salina from her dreamless sleep. She was overwhelmed by the exhaustion brought on by the past days and was grateful for the chance to sleep undisturbed. She rubbed her eyes and sat up slowly. When her vision had focused she saw Resill and Aldus standing in front of her opened bedroom door. Resill wore an appaled expression while Aldus seemed to be holding back a chuckle.

"Good morning. Is it morning?" she asked as she tried to tame her hair.

"It is, but again I have to ask what you're doing on the floor. Do you not find your bed satisfactory? Would you like it changed?" Resill said.

"No, not at all," she said hurriedly to shush him. It was much too early for him to worry over her unnecessarily. "I'm just not used to it yet. It's just so damn soft."

"What?" he asked in confusion.

Aldus laughed at this as he understood. "You prefer the dungeon floors then?"

"You have the most comfortable dungeon floors I have ever experienced to be honest," she said with a laugh.

"You stayed at the dungeons?" Resill said in horror. He then turned to Aldus with a glare. "Who ordered her to stay in the dungeons?"

Aldus and Salina broke out into fits of laughter. She found it absolutely entertaining how Resill had taken it upon himself to dote on her. She supposed it was part of his bloodline's guilt, but it was unnecessary. She was supposed to hate these people for everything they had done to her and her bloodline, but she found that she could not. She had asked the townspeople last night to judge her as an individual and not by her blood. She owed them the same courtesy.

"Don't worry about it too much, Resill," she said waving off his worries. "I never even had my own room before. Back in Armen, I slept on one of the cots in the brotherhood's keep or wherever sleep would find me during missions. I am grateful for the hospitality you have shown."

"Salina," Resill started pity brewing in his eyes.

"I will have none of that before I have even had coffee. It is much too early for drama. What of my request?" she said with a happy glint in her eyes.

"I'm right here," a mischievous voice came from behind Aldus' tall figure.

A dwarfish man peeked from behind Aldus and grinned widely at her. He looked different now and she was grateful that they had allowed him to clean up. His grey hair was now cropped to about shoulder length and slicked back away from his face. His beard no longer dragged to the floor but was now trimmed closer to his chin. His beard was still bushy but was infinitely better groomed. He may have looked like a completely new person with fresh clothes, but Salina can never mistake those dancing green eyes for anyone else's.

"Mugi," she said giddily as she stood up.

"Hello, my dear girl. I'm surprised to see you," he replied with a wide grin.

"It was admittedly a strange request, but Dr. Mugirith Navi has been freed and will be the one training you for The Arena. We will send up some breakfast and leave you to your planning," Aldus said with a bow.

"I am grateful to you both," she said sincerely.

The trolley filled to the brim with food arrived shortly after they left. Salina and Mugi were overcome with the rich aroma and ate in silence for a few minutes before they spoke.