Mythran's Master Of All

Ren took of the VR headset and set it on the rolling table next to the laptop. Ren blinked and wiped his eyes to see Barbara sitting in the chair. “Good morning, Barbara!”

“Good morning, Ren.”

“Did you see what happened?” Ren asked.

Barbara nodded. What happened to Lucy went a long way to Barbara forgiving her for leaving Ren like she did. Barbara smiled. “I was more surprised than you were... I think.” Barbara laughed.

Ren smiled. “You have no idea! When I found out she'd been playing the game for me...” Ren looked at Barbara. “...I mean, it really sucks that she had to leave. I don't know what's going to happen here with her gone.” Ren sighed. “Will I get a new day nurse? Will the other nurses have to do more shifts to cover the empty spot?”

Barbara patted Ren's hand. “Don't worry about any of that. I'm sure that things will settle down and you'll be back to a regular routine in no time.” Barbara said. “You can worry about a new nurse after we get one... assuming one of the other girls doesn't jump at the chance for the full time spot.”

Ren nodded and the door to his room opened.

“Hi, cutie!” Bonnie said.

“Hi, Bonnie.” Barbara responded before Ren could.

“I was talking to Ren.”

“You were? Color me surprised.” Barbara said and chuckled.

Ren grinned. “Hi, Bonnie.”

Bonnie came over to the bed and gave Ren a quick hug. “Don't pay any attention to that old biddy.” Bonnie said and stood. “You're the only thing in this room I'm going to call 'cute'.”

“Old biddy, is it?” Barbara said and stood. “I'll have you know I'm only 10 years older than you, missy.”

“See what I said, Ren.” Bonnie grinned. “Oooooold.”

Ren snorted and laughed.

Barbara smiled. “One of these days...” Barbara shook a fist at Bonnie. “POW! Right to the moon.”

Ren laughed harder, but a moment later covered his mouth with a hand and started coughing. Barbara leaned in and massaged Ren's back and chest while Bonnie grabbed a bottle beside the bed and held it for Ren to drink. The coughing eased once Ren drank a bit of the honey and lemon tea mixture and Ren leaned back in the bed.

“I'm sorry, Ren. I didn't mean to...” “Sorry, Ren. I only meant to...” Barbara and Bonnie spoke at the same time and they stopped and smiled at each other.

“It... it's okay.” Ren said when he caught his breath. At least there wasn't any blood this time. Ren thought. “I just shouldn't find you both so funny.” Ren smiled.

Barbara had a sad smile on her face. Just trying to cheer him up can backfire.

“I'll try to be a bit less funny in the future.” Bonnie said.

“No, don't do that.” Ren said and touched Bonnie's arm. “I want you both to keep trying to make me laugh.” Ren smiled. “How else will I know I'm getting better?”

Barbara and Bonnie nodded.

Ren turned to look at Barbara. “Thanks for staying up all night.”

“You're welcome. I just have to talk to Bonnie for a minute and then I'll be heading home.” Barbara said.

“See you tonight.” Ren said.

Barbara smiled and walked to the door. Bonnie followed and they whispered back and forth for a few minutes.

It would be nice to have my elfling ears so I could hear what they were saying.

Barbara waved to Ren and left the room. Bonnie came back to the bed and moved the rolling table to the side of the room.

“Let's get you ready for physiotherapy.” Bonnie said and helped Ren get changed. “I'll be right back with breakfast, okay?”

Ren nodded and sat back in the bed. A few minutes later Bonnie came in with a bowl of porridge and 2 pieces of toast. A glass of milk and a chocolate chip cookie was on the tray and Ren raised an eyebrow.

“You can't have a glass of milk without a cookie.” Bonnie said and winked.

Breakfast went fast and Bonnie got the wheelchair to take Ren to therapy. Ren did his normal exercise routine and the leg and knee exercises. Ren was tired from the workout and Bonnie brought Ren back to his room. There was already a towel on the bed and Bonnie helped Ren get on it. The sponge bath went by without incident and Bonnie helped Ren put on another set of pyjamas.

“Cookie Monster?” Ren said and held out the Sesame Street pyjamas.

Bonnie laughed. “It seemed appropriate.”

Ren rolled his eyes and adjusted himself to lie flat in the bed. I haven't worn these in a long time... and they still fit.[i] Ren sighed mentally and asked Bonnie to pull the rolling table over to the bed. Ren picked up the VR headset and put it on. “See you in a few hours.”

“I'll be here.” Bonnie said.

“Flow Login Start.”

********

Ren woke up and Teepo was still on his chest, but facing the other direction. [i]Good morning, Teepo.

Teepo turned around. “Good morning!” Teepo said and clung to Ren's chest as Ren got out of the bedroll and put it away. A strong chicken smell permeated the air. “Anything happen last night?”

Aimus sat by the fire. “Nothing important. A chicken thought it would be fun to pick at my trip wire about an hour ago.”

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Ren walked over and saw that Aimus had a chicken on a spit across the fire. It looked well and truly cooked. “No wonder I could smell chicken.” Ren sat down on the other side of the fire and Teepo crawled up onto Ren's shoulder.

“Help yourself.” Aimus said.

Ren tore off a chicken leg and ate it in silence. Ren looked at his abilities and saw that his Staying Power was almost at Intermediate level 4, and Rationing was close to getting to Intermediate. Ren smiled. If he rationed a little more, he could level both up before arriving in Aurora.

“That was great. Thanks, Aimus.” Ren said.

Aimus only nodded but didn't comment. I guess Ren is sticking to his old ways. Abby and I had hoped we'd helped him to stop starving himself. Aimus thought as he watched Ren go back over to the cart.

Ren sat down and pulled up the message system. I better message Lara and let her know I'm going to be a little early. Ren sent off a quick message stating that he would be back in Aurora in about 2 days and would like to meet her then. Ren didn't wait for a response this time and closed the message system.

Aimus finished eating and Ren helped hook the horse up to the cart. Aimus had gathered a few pelts while Ren had slept and one was a wolf pelt. Ren raised an eyebrow while holding the pelt up.

“If it had been a leg holding trap, It would have gotten away, but instead it found the snare trap where I'd left one of the rabbits. I had to finish it off.”

Ren nodded and climbed up onto the cart. Ren still wasn't sure if he liked the snare trap, but it was effective. “Want me to drive for a bit?” Ren asked as Aimus climbed up onto the cart to sit beside him.

Aimus shrugged and Ren drove the rest of the day. Teepo commented on how some things were different, seeing them again in another direction, and how some things didn't change even though they had been gone for almost a month. Ren kept the horse at the same pace that Aimus had set and Aimus didn't complain that Ren was going too slow. Ren got a popup about 9 hours later.