the harder the rain, the sweeter the sun

the cottage

Roman's eyes blinked open, a soft mattress in his back. He groaned, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He looked around finding himself in a cottage of sorts, small but homey. He yawned, and carefully felt his chest. It was still very sore, but now seemed to be wrapped in bandages and a kind of healing paste, and the wound was healing.

Roman's eyebrows furrowed as he questioned where he was, but he brushed it off, hoping that the home he laid in was kind, as they did wrap his wounds. He stood up, the wooden floor underneath his feet creaking somewhat loudly. The quiet muttering suddenly ceased, and he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

Roman tensed, instinctively going for his sword, but was surprised to find it missing. Well not surprised, as he assumed that while being cared for they would've stripped him of his belongings, but he was still startled.

Roman eyed the doorway and found the dragon-boy walking in with an aura of anxiety just faintly masked by his inquisitive expression. Roman and the boy made eye-contact and the boy froze, his eyes widening.

"Oh, okay, you're awake. That's good, Remy was getting a bit worried."

Roman tensed as the boy walked closer to him, his purple eyes focusing on his bandage wrapped chest. Roman swallowed.

"Is your wound getting better? I mean, does it feel like its healing at all?'

Roman rasped out, "Who are you? Where am I?"

The boy cocked an eyebrow, "I'm the dragon that stepped on you and the person that saved you from death, and you can call me Virgil. And you're in my house. That good enough?"

"I-I...where is your house specifically?"

"Where do you think? Alimagia," He gestured mockingly dramatic, "The land where evil brews and hatred sings."

"Who called it that?"

The boy chuckled slightly, shaking his head, "Humans."

Virgil took a breath, shaking himself back into reality. "Okay, so your wound?

Roman tensed further, "It's...fine."

The dragon boy stared at Roman, eyes unimpressed, "Dude, you were bleeding out and almost died from an infection. I'll ask again, how is your wound?"

"It's...not great, but it's not horrible."

"Does it hurt at all?"

"Just a bit," Roman said, looking back down his body and eyeing the bandages wrapped tightly to his chest.

"Well, that doesn't give me much to work with. Does it hurt enough that you need medicine or whatever?"

"No, I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me." Roman gave a tense but honest smile to the dragon, who's cheeks grew slightly pink and who immediately looked away, his arms crossed across his chest.

"I don't worry, human-boy." Roman's smile stayed where it was, but it soon fell as Virgil asked, "So, do you have anywhere to go?"

Roman's face fell once again, saying curtly, "No."

Virgil hummed, "What's your name?"

Roman startled, "Why do you want to know?"

"I mean, if you're gonna be staying here, we should at least know each other's names."

"Staying here?"

"Yeah, staying here. Name?"

"I...It's Roman."

"Well then, Roman," Virgil said, almost like he was trying the name out on his tongue, "You can stay here until you heal."

"I..why? Aren't you an Alimagian?'