Chapter 6
Caring Hands
Kazuma awoke on a bed. As he lay on his side, he listened to the sound of rustling leaves and chirping birds. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, as he tried to discern where he lay. He shivered when a cold breeze blew across his bare chest. He tried to open his eyes, causing a sudden sharp pain to burst from his head. He clenched his hands on his head, struggling as the pain intensified. He quickly lay back, easing the throbbing pain. He opened his eyes to a bright room flooded with an enormous variety of beautiful plants and exotic flowers. He gazed, surprised, at the alluring finely crafted architecture of the room in which he lay. He gazed about the room noticing how well the room was set, and at the surrounding landscape outside the room. It seemed as if the room and the nature outside to be one, for all the windows and doors were removed to create a sense of peace and serenity. Another playful breeze wafted across Kazuma's bare body. He hastily covered himself with the bedspread. He realized how finely threaded and soft it was. He slid his hand across the sheet; amazed the cloth could attain such softness.
Suddenly, a girl strolled in, carrying a small bowl with a towel across her shoulders. "How are you faring? I hope you rested well," she said softly, almost in a whisper, as she walked up to Kazuma. She sat in a finely crafted chair, and pulled the bedspread down, revealing his chest wrapped in numerous bandages. He gasped at the bloodstained bindings, as the girl gently untied them and placed them on the near table. She took the towel and dipped it into the bowl. She began to swathe the cuts and gashes lining his chest and sides. "It seems you were attacked by some beast. You have been bleeding for a long while, and yet you remain asleep," the girl whispered quietly, wrapping the wounds in clean, white dressings and asked, "I must apologize for my rudeness, I am Miu. I found you unconscious, in a meadow that seemed to of been ripped apart by the beast that attacked you.. I wonder about you. You are a strange man, for you are the only body I discovered there. How is it that only you lay there alone?"
When she had said that, Kazuma groaned at the memory of what had possessed him and of what he'd done. He turned to her, and in a depressed voice whispered, "I am grateful for you caring for me, but I must leave, lest the evil that haunts me, unleashes its wrath and hatred upon this beautiful place. I do not wish to be a burden; therefore I will leave you. I must leave to keep this place safe and… and… I do not want… you to come to any harm," he stated turning his head away at the last statement.
She stared at him with a compassionate look for a moment, and continued to bind him. "I do not fear death. As the daughter of the Elencia, the Angel of Light, I know you will not harm us by staying. I must ask, what attacked you and why? If you are uncomfortable telling me, I shall respect it. You still need rest, so you should stay where you are. Your things are beside you on the table. I must leave you for a brief moment," she softly replied, standing to leave.
Kazuma turned to her. She was a beautiful, young woman, around the age of eighteen. She stood tall, her long, brown hair strewn about her waist. She wore a long, white dress that flowed gracefully when she moved. She was beautiful in every way, the way she walked, and in the way she spoke. She had a kind and gentle look about her. Kazuma looked into her deep brown eyes with a look of immeasurable gratitude, "I am eternally grateful for your kindness to a mere man like me. Please, inform your lord that I would like to speak with them," he asked.
"I shall," she responded with a smile. She walked to the entry, turned back, gave him a kind look of compassion, and left..
