High Society: The tales from Victory

Sage Sapphire [Part II] (Ch.13)

"What an awful hotel."

Stunned in silence, that was the first thing Ponder heard. The monotony of the silence was driving him mad, but he had been mad for quite some time already. He prayed he wouldn't have to go through this ordeal again. He got to his feet to look at the Sage, her eyes open for the first time in the days he's been there. He had been content in being in the room with her, but his heart pained with uncertainty.

"This is uncomfortable!" The sage voiced as she wiggled her leg held high in a removable brace. The sage laid in a hospital bed, bandaged up and snuggled in bed. She had been removed from her kimono and redressed in a hospital gown. Although her hair was now undone, his thoughts still thought her no different.

Ponder sighed in relief. "It is, but it helps. Seems like you just sprained it. That is beyond lucky."

"I am lucky!"

"Well I'm Pine, Ponder Pine!"

"Ponder is a weird name."

His smile fell. "It's short for Ponderosa."

"That's cute."

Flustered, he stammered, "It's cool, strong, and paramount!"

"I'm gonna call you Rosa. Short for Ponderosa." A grin with glimmering pearls with short buck teeth.

"... no," he whimpered.

"Yes! And I'm Sapphire." She shot out her nearest hand. "An oracle from the Champion Isles." She beamed, her other hand on her hip.

"You're an oracle?" He shook her hand, awkwardly.

"Yes, weren't you listening?"

Taken aback, Ponder hesitantly reassured, "Yes, yes I was."

"I know, I'm teasing." She sat content, patting the bed rythmatical. "This is an awful hotel. The TV has no good shows."

"This is a hospital."

"That explains it." She proclaimed, slamming a fist into an open hand.

"You didn't know?"

"I've been waiting days to say that joke. Don't take this from me."

"My bad." Ponder chuckled, hands up in the air. She gave a soft giggle and a heat wave came over his body, which allowed him to untense. He suppressed the pain in the back of his skull until the sound of his heart sang louder than the shouts.

"I didn't know Campeon had such a good hospital."

"Actually, we're in the capital. Imperium's finest hospital."

"Oh no!" She gasped.

"What?"

"I don't have health insurance! Or a job! To pay for the hospital bill! Because I don't have health insurance!"

Ponder grits his teeth together to stifle his laughter. His body trembled, containing every laugh stored away. He tried to speak but found it helpless to suppress even a giggle. He sat on the edge of her bed, his voice more like a whisper, "No worries. You were in a natural disaster, we'll take care of the medical bills."

"Oh good! On the isles we don't get paid, just what the government gives us. Religion and all that. So medical treatment is cured by praying... A lot." A forlorn look stole her cheery grin.

"I see, must be... entertaining."

"Yeah!" She livened up once again. "We have a community building where we teach the kids, but every now and then somebody from the mainland comes and we watch movies."