Chapter Five: Awakening

The sun begins to set on the town of Trampoli as Raguna watches it contently from under a tree in front of his barn. This was very rare thing for him to do on a lazy day as he would usually be found on the Whale island instead of moping around. As he was laying in the twilight of the sun he couldn't help but think of everything he did prior to the week.

'Maybe my actions have finally caught up to me and I can't handle the guilt.' He thought.

Heck no. That wasn't it. Something was wrong with him. Seriously wrong. He couldn't seem to feel his legs and arms. It was like they were numb or something. Raguna knew that only happened to him when he was poisoned by a monster.

Poisoned by a monster! That was it!

He had just been in a cave not to long ago collecting his ripe vegetables for Erik when one of the goblins had got him one good. He didn't think of it until now, but maybe that sword was poisoned?

He knew he needed to get to the hospital soon or the effects of the poison would render him a goner. Though when he had tried to stand up to walk he stumbled and fell feverishly to the ground not too far from where he had been sitting.

"…Oh no." He gasped out loud.

He reached his hand into his pocket for a antidote but all he had was a cold capsule. Now he was getting worried.

The sun had gone down real low and he doubted that anyone would be going on a walk anytime soon. The only thing he could think of was to summon a monster from the barn to carry him to the church.

Just as he was about to call his cow monster a shadowy figure walked towards his path.

"Raguna?" A small voice carried out from behind his blurry vision. The effects were starting to worsen.

"Raguna are you okay? What's wrong?" The voice said again.

He tried to speak but everything was getting blurry and he felt dizzy from the pressure inside his head and body. Raguna tried to speak but as soon as the words could escape his mouth he felt himself give in to the pressure and he thought no more.

~A couple days later~

Raguna woke up laying inside the hospital wing of the church. His eyes felt heavy and were hard to keep open for longer than a second. The mattress that he was lying on felt soft and warm and there was a slight breeze coming through the window about his bed. He couldn't remember anything except blacking out from the poison.

How long had he been out? Who had found him?

"He is starting to waken Lara, bring me some warm towels." Said a raspy yet nurturing voice.

"Yes mam' right away." Then he heard light footsteps fall and a door being closed.

Raguna finally opened his eyes wide to see Stella leering over him looking for any sign that he had worsened. He licked his dry lips and tried to talk but she ushered him to be still as she poured him a drink from the table next to him.

"Don't talk Raguna your mouth is probably sore and dry. We almost lost yah you know? If it wasn't for Mist that found yah lying on the road passed out you probably wouldn't be here right now." She said to him with the shake of her head and worried voice.

Mist had brought him in? How on earth could she have moved him all the way here with her skinny form?

"I. Uh-" He tried to respond but she quickly shoved the cup of ice cold water to his mouth. "Drink," was all she said.

He swallowed it gratefully and took the cup from her hand trying to sit up. The simple act of getting up made him dizzy but he remained where he was. Lara came rushing in, saw him falter, and immediately ran to his side with the warm towels and bucket.

"Here are the warm towels Stella. How are you feeling Raguna?" She placed a soft hand on the side of his face and placed the towel on his forehead with the other. The warm towel soothed his aching head and he was grateful.

Lara removed the wash cloth from his forehead and proceeded to dunk it in the steaming wooden pail on the floor. Why was it taking so long for him to recover from this? Usually he would just take a handy antidote and he would be fine in the next minute, but it apparently was not the cure this time.

The sunlight danced around Lara's face as she wrung out the cloth and placed it back on his head. She was so sweet and caring to spend most of her time at this church. After he got better he wanted to take her out somewhere to thank her for helping him.

"Lara, thank you." Raguna said as he moved his hand to hers on his forehead.

She blushed lightly at him, the corner of lips moving into a small smile. Raguna noticed she looked tired almost like she had been up most of the night, but in that moment the wariness of her features had softened. She got up and moved away to the other side of the room to pour what looked liked purple medicine into a small glass.

Stella grabbed the glass from her and brought it over to Raguna. "Here honey, drink this. With one more dose you will working on full in no time." Stella motioned for him to take the drink and he drank it all in one large gulp.

The familiar taste of grapes washed down his throat, like the poison antidote always did. They say the taste of the medicine is different for everyone and he was just glad it tasted good to him. The after taste was always something completely different though.

"Ugh, thanks Stella." Raguna said as he wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

"Your quite welcome dear, I just hope this never happens quite as bad as it did again." She laughed.

Lara grimaced. "You know I don't like worrying about you Raguna, please be more careful out there. It never hurts to carry more antidotes and paralyze heals." She said with a huff and walked out of the room. She was always too much of a worry wart.

Already he was starting to get the feeling back in his body and was able to get off the bed without getting dizzy. Stella was still watching him move about as if he was suddenly going to collapse.

"Don't worry either Stella. I'm feeling like myself again okay?" He said to her to make her leave, which worked as she smiled at him and left the room after Lara.

So he had only been unconscious for two days to the least. He thought of all the things he had to get done before it was too late to do them. He had to talk to Erik about Annette, talk to Marco about his temper, give Annette his 'sorry I was a jerk to you' gift. Then he had to do the one thing he had been avoiding on doing, talking to Melody about what had occurred between them the other night. Things had seemed okay when he saw her the other day with Ryan, but it was just a façade. He had never meant to go that far with her when he had really liked…..

He just had to get out of the hospital. It was making him think about things he didn't want to at the moment. Why was life so damn difficult?

It didn't take him that long to walk home and the sun was still very high in the sky so he had time for the things he wanted to do. When he got to his front door he checked his mailbox for which he saw three letters sticking out just waiting to be opened. One of them he noticed was from Melody. He knew it was hers when he saw the colored parchment and its dead give away of being scented.

Raguna shivered inside hoping it wasn't what he thought it was. She wouldn't have the nerve to bring it up first. Or would she? He hoped it was just one of her forwards about her bath having new scents or a poll on which one was his favorite. He decided to open that one last.

He opened the door and threw the newly gotten letters on the table. Something smelly had reached him from the living room and it was wafting from the kitchen. He went to open the door to the fridge and saw it was coming from his spoiled milk and cheese. How long had he had that in there? Hoping the nasty smell had not affected his apple he threw away the rancid food.

Now that, that situation was taken care of he went back to the table to finally read his letters.

He opened the first one which was from Bianca asking him to deliver her some stir-fried vegetables. What was he, her maid? He rolled his eyes and cast it aside. The next one was from Ganesha, seeing if he had any spare iron he could give her. He cast a glance to his forge and knew he probably had something to give her. Now all that was waiting for him was the letter from Melody. Raguna couldn't stop staring at it with wide eyes and felt like it could look into his soul. Now he was being over dramatic. He was a man he thought, just open the damn letter!

Raguna flung his hand at the fragrant letter and tore it open.

"Dear, Raguna," He read…

TO BE CONTINUED IN SUSPENSE!