I
It was around midnight that a mysterious young man sat kneeling in a rainstorm. He awaited the sound of something out of the ordinary within the darkened pine forest. All that can be heard is the droplets of water hitting the earth and a fox chasing a rabbit. Nothing appeared to be out of place, but still he stayed waiting, knowing exactly what was out there. He hears a snort loud as a bell and hooves charging in his direction. Agile as a cat, the man rolls out of the way while unsheathing his sword in one swift movement.
"Come on!"
He shouts through the torrent of rain, gripping the hilt by both hands as he darts at the bull headed man ready to swing. The minotaur anticipating the dash attack swipes effortlessly with a club made of tree trunk. Seconds before contact the man gracefully slides underneath the club then skillfully slashes the beasts oxen calf, making it stagger before slowly turning around with a slight limp from the gash. Enraged now by the injury the Minotaur charges at the warrior. With reckless speed, he tries to counter attack; only to be distracted by the hiss of a cat. Before he can react the club connects with his abdomen, propelling him towards the trunk of a nearby tree. The world around him slowly faded, a voice shouting a spell incantation was the last thing he heard.
II
Waking up in a cold sweat the warrior sits up and takes in his surroundings; he appears to be in a standard room for a tavern. Wondering how he got here, he notices the weight of a black cat sleeping blissfully on his lap.
"How did-"
His question goes unheard as a beautiful woman with raven hair comes into the room, flooding it with the scent of lavender.
"Ah, glad to see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
The only response he gives is a grunt as he stares back into her russet eyes.
"You know you could give me an answer considering I did save your life, you're lucky Midnight found you."
"My life wouldn't have needed saving if your cat wasn't in the way. It was under control."
His tone was colder than the room.
"Well I’m sorry, oh so gracious warrior of the night. But I wasn't the one that got hit by a ploughing tree."
"Yeah whatever... you want a bloody thank you, then? Cause it's your fault I’m here and not collecting the bounty on that minotaur."
In the middle of the bickering the cat named Midnight woke up and started giving itself a bath. After a moment of silence he spoke first.
"Dawn."
"I beg your pardon?"
"The one who is healing me should know my name, it's Dawn Polaris."
"Well Dawn, you have a couple broken ribs and a broken leg. In short you're not leaving until you've been healed fully. I've given you a decoction that numbs most of the pain."
Almost immediately after she said that Dawn felt a searing pain shoot through his leg, causing him to grimace.
"Oh dear, it's warn off. Midnight get off of him please."
The cat jumped down as the lady walked toward a small cauldron at the foot of Dawn's bed. He hadn’t noticed it before, and with a ladle she pours a small wooden cup of green ooze and brings it for him to drink. Knowing the skills of a sorceress Dawn didn't refuse and downed the ooze that tasted of smoked garlic.
"I think I deserve to know the name of the witch that's feeding me a possible poison."
"Oh please, you're being a baby.” She rolled her eyes. “And it's Seraphina… You should go back to sleep. The room is better when you're quiet and I need to get more ingredients."
With that Seraphina leaves the room, and Dawn and the cat are left in silence.
"She is impossibly annoying."
Dawn muttered to the cat before dozing off.
III
This went on for what felt like days, and maybe even weeks of the same routine that consisted of small talk, medicine, and sleep.
"You know Sera, I don't even know what day it is."
"It's been four days. And before you ask, Midnight tells me when you awake. "
"Um... Okay?"
"This is the last day you need for recovery. So don't get comfortable okay?"
Sera moves to get him the green ooze of medicine. According to her it also helps mend any injury, and with the help of magic it can speed up the healing process. However it makes the user super drowsy in the process.
When Sera wasn't looking, Dawn often caught himself drinking in the sight of her. He couldn't help it— not with skin as porcelain and fair as hers, or how her hair flows like a waterfall of ink and how perfectly symmetrical her face was. She in short looked utterly perfect to him, and it annoyed Dawn that she looked that way. He couldn't tell if there was something in the medicine or if it was because she became, in a sense, a part of his world for the time being. She was the only person he's had a long interaction with. He was always on the road, always helping; he is a monster hunter after all. It’s easier if he's always on the move, onto the next town.
"I'll see you the next time I'm awake, Sera."
Dawn kindly said after the decoction of medicine, falling asleep shortly after.
IV
When Dawn awoke it was night. The familiar weight on his legs was no longer there, and instead there was a letter addressed to him. He quickly realized he was alone again, and although it was nothing new he was still saddened that she didn't say goodbye in person. He lit a candle and read the note.
Dear Dawn,
By the time you read this (whenever it may be) I will be long gone. The point of me staying with you now has come to an end since you are now properly healed. Your gear is in the chest by the door along with most of the gold from the beast. I showed it to your contractor and he paid me in your stead; I used some to pay for our rooms. You still have enough to get by for the next week at least. The conversations we had were very exciting and I loved the story of you saving a small mining town from a pack of ghouls! The time we spent together was very enjoyable and I shall never forget you.
From, yours truly
P.s. if we ever have a chance meeting, you owe me a drink in payment of me healing you.
With nothing else to do, Dawn got up and changed into his gear. He strapped his long sword that he forged himself (at the monster hunting school for orphans), onto his back and then headed out the door to the next town in search of his next quarry.
