Chapter 23: The World Needle
A week passed in a flash.
The academy resumed its usual bustle, but a certain tension hung over the infirmary, where Jered remained bandaged and grumbling.
Tashi, with nothing better to do, spent most of his time spinning half-true tales about his "glorious younger days" to keep Jered entertained.
"Did I ever tell you about the time I single handedly defeated a horde of abyssal slimes with only a spoon and three healing potions?" Tashi declared dramatically, waving a finger in the air.
"You’ve told me that six times already," Jered replied, unimpressed. "And every time, the number of slimes increases."
Tashi chuckled. "Ah, memory distortion. A symptom of great heroism."
Just then, the door creaked open.
Kaelen stepped inside, his expression gloomier than usual, as if someone had just announced free ice cream had been banned for life.
"What’s with the long face?" Jered asked, eyeing his friend warily.
Kaelen didn’t answer right away. He slumped into the chair beside Jered’s bed, crossed his arms, and sighed.
"Bad news. Real bad."