The Silver Lining Of The Wretched Cloud (5)

The next thing I know, I'm in my bed. My mother is standing over me with an anxious expression. I smile to try and dissuade her worry, and she smiles back.

"You just rest. I'll be right downstairs if you need anything."

"Okay." She rubs my head and leaves the room. Before closing the door, she turns and grins at me one more time. I'm left with my clouded and disheveled thoughts. Unable to do much else, I check my status.

"Status"

Niccolo Drake lv 13

Sponsor: God of knowledge

Job: Commoner lv 7

Possible jobs:

Skills: Ironflesh lv 2, Shock Resistance lv 1

Titles: Index, Friend of the Fairies

Unassigned points: 170

Health: 4/59

Stamina: 6/143

Vitality: 23 (+6)

Strength: 49 (+22)

Agility: 46 (+16)

Endurance: 66 (+32)

Perception: 29 (+8)

Resilience: 24 (+9)

Mana Capacity: 0

Mana Bandwidth: 65

Knowledge: 485 (+3)

I'm pretty content with how much improvement I've made over the last month, and it even looks like I've gained another skill. I think it's pretty clear where that came from. Based on how low my health and stamina are, I think she did almost kill me.

'Shinobu.'

That thought brings back everything I was feeling in class, all the fear and anxiety rising in my stomach. I did everything I could, and it still wasn't enough. It's never enough. I lie back in bed as darkness envelops my vision. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.

"NICK!"

My eyes shoot open as I hear Vincent's voice. The sky is dark, so I must have been asleep for a while. I quickly get out of bed and run downstairs.

"I thought we were done with this," Vincent complains.

"Done with what?" Vincent moves away from the door, and a small girl with blond hair is standing in a hooded robe. Rain pours down in sheets; even through the robe, I can see her hair is dripping wet.

"You said you could make the hurt go away." Her eyes are wet. I can't tell if it's the rain or she's about to cry. I invite her inside to get out of the rain.

"What's all this ab–" I cut Vincent off before he whines any further.

"Go to the kitchen and get a basket of food. Make sure it's covered so it won't get wet." My brain is already swirling with plans and possibilities. I start covering bases and working through consequences.

[I'm gonna have to pull some favors.]

I look into her eyes and see the crushing uncertainty.

"Everything is going to be okay; I just need you to trust me."

She nods her head slowly.

[First, I need to dry her off.]

I run to the closet in the hallway and grab some towels. I notice a tarp, so I take that as well. I return to the foyer, where Shinobu is still standing.

"Take a seat."

She sits nervously.

"Dry off." I toss one towel to her and lay the rest of them on the seat next to her. While she's doing that, I run upstairs and fill my pack with things she might need overnight. There are too many possibilities. I throw a couple of books in the bag while I'm at it. In a rush to return, I stumble slightly and almost fall down the stairs.

[Calm.]

Remembering what I told Josh, I close my eyes. The nervous tension is overwhelming, but I force myself to take a few deep breaths. After collecting myself, I calmly, albeit quickly, walk downstairs. When I return to the foyer, I find Vincent standing there with a covered basket of food, just as I asked.

[Shit, I need blankets.]

"Are you going to tell me what is going on?"

"Nothing. Nothing happened. She was never here. You need to leave the room and forget what you just saw."

"What the hell did you get yourself into?"

"Vincent!" My breathing is becoming ragged again. I'm getting worked up. I stare him down and try to pressure him out of the room.

"I don't know what you got yourself into, but you need to take care of yourself, okay?"

I choose silence as the best answer. Vincent's shoulders drop like he's given up.

"Just don't get yourself killed, okay? Please?"

"...I'll try."

"Heh, I don't even know who you are anymore." Vincent walks out of the room, defeated. I ignore his pleas and pile some blankets into the tarp with the towels.

"We need to leave," I say to Shinobu as I guide her to the door. She's shaking. I don't know whether she's cold or afraid, but she's decided to trust me, and I need to live up to that trust. Tossing on a coat, I grab the tarp filled with goods and throw it over my shoulder. I take one last look at Shinobu before leading the way out the door. We head towards the north gate. I feel like I should say something, but I don't know what, so I remain silent. I give her every opportunity to leave if she wants. Her footsteps are the only thing I can hear besides the rain, but I don't look back. I need to trust her just like she trusts me. The streets are dead due to the rain, so we don't pass a soul before arriving at the palisade. I walk up to confront the guard on the right.

"Nick? Is that you?" It turns out that Kim is on night watch today. This should make it simple, considering that he knows me.

"I need you to pay very close attention to what I'm about to say; do you understand?"

"Wha, what's going on?"

"Do you understand? Yes or no?"

"I guess?"

"Yes or no?" I raise my voice slightly to get across the gravity of the situation.

"Yes or no?" I raise my voice slightly to get across the gravity of the situation.

"Ye, yes. Yes, I understand." After he agrees, I pull out the pouch of money at my side that's been growing larger over the last few weeks. I grab a handful and extend my arm to Kim's chest. He reactively cups his hands to catch whatever it is I'm holding. I pour out what is likely a few hundred Denarii. It's probably a couple of months of his salary I just handed to him.

"Now, listen very carefully."

He gulps and nods his head.

"I was never here. She was never here. You don't report anything. It was just another silent night. Do you understand?" It's of utmost importance that I close any loose ends. The fact that Shinobu is in such poor shape despite being the daughter of the Count either means he's directly involved or is powerless to do anything to prevent it. Either way, I can't have anyone coming after us.

"...Okay."