Chapter 5.6

Chapter5.6

The latter shrugged her shoulders. "I think the same way I did before," she said, "I guess something with magic."

"More specific, please," Rei demanded a more satisfactory answer. Every dragon possessed magic, but with her, he didn't know what abilities she had. And whether she would have more if they started over again.

Quinn shrugged his shoulders. "I imagined what it would be like to be outside, and then I was," she said with a wry smile. "I could show you, but I'm afraid I couldn't explain."

"Then I'm sorry, but the leather cage stays on," Rei said, looking indifferent. Probably he would never have put it on her either, had she been sensible enough.

Quinn shrugged again. "I can't control it anyway."

This time he returned the shoulder shrug and took a sip of water. "Not yet. According to the letter, though, I'm supposed to help you be able to use it," he said more sullenly than before. The mood swing was because his pains were coming back. In a few days, they should be better, but only if they were treated regularly.

There were still a few cloths with the numbing substance on the other table. However, these were already dry. Rei got up and fetched them before emptying the remaining water from the jug over them so they would get wet. Otherwise, they wouldn't do their job.

"Do you want me to dab your back with it?" asked Quinn cautiously because she wanted to thank him for the thing in the tub.

"Elgatos will do that as soon as he arrives," Rei replied defensively, knowing full well that it would be a very long time before evening. It was early in the morning, and Elgatos needed to get enough rest.

Quinn lowered his head. "I understand that you think I'm running away, but I won't hurt you," she assured him, knowing he didn't trust her.

It wasn't just that. Also, the fact that she was the first woman in his life to live on Barafu for some time and the rules that existed here made him react that way. "It's not your job. It's Elgatos' job," Rei replied seriously. The physical proximity of women was forbidden for him. No matter in what way it took place. It was different when he eased their suffering or held them to soothe or coerce them.

"I just wanted to show my appreciation for your help," she said apologetically, feeling that he had rejected her.

Thoughtfully, he shook his head. "You are never in my debt or need to show your appreciation for anything," Rei explained, pushing his sleeve up to at least dab his forearms with the cloth. The skin looked very dark as if he was shedding his skin to make room for the healthy scaly skin. Which was a painful process. Just like it was for Quinn. However, it had other causes for him.

The young woman sighed. "It's partly my fault you look like that and are in pain," she remarked softly.

"Which is still no reason..." he began, as there was a knock at the door, and Liron entered at his command.

As requested, he brought the tea and herbs on a tray. "Thank you, Liron. Please bring another bowl of hot water and the antiseptic, analgesic, and anesthetic medicines," he instructed him. As long as Elgatos slept, he had to take care of himself. He would not use Liron to do this, for he had enough to do in the cellar.

Quinn waited until Liron had left again before she rose and walked around the room somewhat haphazardly.

He had given her only a quick glance but had not intervened. It was important to watch her in case she tried to escape again. "What's wrong?" he asked after a while of dabbing at his forearms. It didn't do much good because the wipes were too dry. The water from the jug hadn't been enough to make them suitably damp.

"I don't like being indoors," she confessed, "at least not when I don't have anything to do."

For her, growing up with animals had to be torture. They did a lot of work. "There's paper and pencil on the table. You can try to draw with that. What's in your head, you try to put on paper," Rei explained patiently.

Quinn looked a little indecisive but nodded. She didn't want to sit down, however, so she remained standing.

Instead of ordering her to sit down, Rei gave her a choice.

His head went to the door as Liron brought him what he wanted. He placed everything on the table and added the various vials. As he did so, he whispered to Rei that he could come and replace the water after a while. But Rei shook his head.

He wanted to try something and hoped there would be no consequences. Quinn's disappointed face had made him wonder and think. I wonder if she was less anxious if she was allowed to help him. She seemed to have a guilty conscience. It had been the second time she had offered to help.

Besides, it would give her a chance to divert her thoughts to something else. Distraction from what was to come was always good.

Liron nodded and left the room again, as no further orders came from Rei.

Whether it would work was unclear. That he was about to do something forbidden was better left in that room. "Come here, Quinn," he asked the standing girl.

The latter raised her eyes in surprise and came towards Rei. She stopped in front of him, head bowed and actually much too well-behaved.

Suspiciously he looked at them and asked to pick up the pen first and then come back. In a clear tone, but without the same coldness that he showed to the men. When he gave them orders, they were biting, icy cold, often arrogant, and harsh. Those who did not understand them had only themselves to blame. Rei rarely repeated his words.

Quinn, who hadn't even noticed that the pen had rolled off the table, immediately ran back to pick it up and return it to Rei. As she did so, she looked as if she was expecting punishment.

As soon as she was back in front of him, he pointed to the materials. "Put one of the clothes in the water and then wring it out. After that, you take the yellow bottle. You remember, there's one in the bathroom too. This one contains an antiseptic medicine that will make sure nothing gets infected," he explained carefully and slowly. Not because he thought Quinn was stupid, but because he wanted it to sound like a request rather than an order. Something very difficult for him since he was not used to asking.

Quinn looked at the cloth and finally took it to precisely what Rei had told her to do. She did so very carefully but thoroughly as if she didn't want to do anything wrong.

He still instructed her to spread the medicine on the cloth drop by drop. In the meantime, he took off the top of the blue uniform and placed it on the other chair. In doing so, he did not take his eyes off Quinn.

The latter was not watching him and was utterly fixated on the cloth and the medicine. When she was done, she looked questioningly at Rei and seemed a bit surprised when she noticed that he had taken off the top.

His blue eyes were on her, and he nodded. "Can you gently dab my back? Don't press too hard and don't rub," he asked after taking a deep breath.

Quinn nodded slightly and then stepped behind him to carefully do just that with the cloth. Very gently dabbing at his skin so that the liquid spread to the areas that needed to be treated.

It was needless to say where she had to do it because it was apparent. Black spots adorned his back, which was decorated with a beautiful blue pattern. The pattern went down his shoulders and arms to his chest. The areas didn't look good, but he knew that was how it was for the first few days. He had gained enough experience in this. Still, they needed to be treated regularly.

Except for a slight twitch and suppressed gasp, nothing came from him.

Rei wondered why she had no effects of the cold on her body. Was her skin already so stone that it hadn't bothered her that much? After all, she was carrying Harri's blood.

That was an advantage for Quinn because the guardian's skin was usually freezing. Except like now, when she was sick. Had the Supreme even thought about what would happen if the young woman absorbed Rei's blood? I wonder if it was even possible to change that.

Other than the crackling of the fire, the only sound was Rei's heavy breathing. He was suspicious if she would try anything. Right now, he was vulnerable. If she hit his back or did anything else, it would be fatal, and the consequences were unforeseeable.

He was also worried because he was breaking the rule about not being touched by a woman.

Quinn carefully, gently, and very patiently dabbed his back. "Are those burns?" she asked softly because it kind of looked like they were. She couldn't explain where it was coming from, though.

The young woman could see a slight nod from the dragon. He didn't have to say anything more about it.

Finally, Quinn let go of him. "I'm done," she said, not sure if she should do anything more.