Page 23 of Xeda

He used the bucket and soap Ophilia had given him to wash away the dried blood and sand that was caked on his body. The sponge ripped open, becoming nothing more than tattered cloth by the time he was finished. He dropped the sponge in the bucket of now dirty water and began searching the bag. He found the canteen and a package of thinly sliced meat. No bones this time.

He ate some, putting the leftovers in one corner for later if need be. He took the canteen and poured water on his face, both washing off the mouthpiece and drinking whatever made it into his mouth. He set the can down after and then sat beside it, watching the sky beyond the barred window. Then he closed his eyes and lightly napped.

Some hours later, when the sun finally began to set, Ophilia returned. He woke just as she came to the door. It slid open, and she walked in, this time carrying a small white box.

She placed the box in front of him and then took out a small handheld device. "This meldpen can be used to seal the wounds. There's also wraps and salve if you need them." She paused, as if considering her next words. "Some of the worst wounds are on your back. If you can't reach them..."

He stared at her, understanding what she was getting at. "I'll allow you to check them."

"Thank you." She took a step toward him and held out the meldpen.

He looked down at it and then locked eyes back with her. "You can go first. I've already licked some of my wounds to stop the bleeding. They'll heal quickly. But since I couldn't get my back..."

She lowered her arm, giving him a cautious stare. "All right."

As he turned his back, he caught her putting on a pair of gloves. She tightened his chains so that his arms were kept over his head, then she took up her pen and moved to his backside.

He felt the lightness of her touch as she pressed against his skin before noticing the tingling sensation slowly being drawn across his back from the pen. He stood patiently as she sealed one deep gash after another where Hendrik had beaten him with a metal lash some days prior.

Silently staring at the wall, he realized something. "You said you had something to gain earlier," he said. “To free us both. What did you mean? Are you not free?”

He felt her stop briefly before moving on to the other side of his back. "I have a debt to pay. If I win, I'll be given a large sum of credits, not just what the house will get. Then I can pay it back."

"Yes, I remember now you mentioning that to the black-eyed man." He tilted his head, thinking. "But that's not really all, is it?"

She was silent for a moment, then said, "No. If I'm out of his debt, I'll be free too. I'll still keep some of the winnings, whatever is left. Then I can leave. I won't have to work again. I won't have to..."

He turned his head. "What?"

"Nothing. No one will be able to control me ever again. That's all."

He turned away. At least he could agree with her on that.

"So, don't fuck this up for me, got it?" she said.

He hissed, a short little laugh. "Don't do anything to make me ruin this for either of us. "

"Deal."

He snorted. Stupid human. He looked back at her curiously. Watched as she concentrated on sealing his wound. She pressed her hand into his skin, lightly trailing her fingers against his scales. For some reason, it made him shiver. He could have told her to stop, but she was almost finished anyway.

When she sealed the last of his injuries, she loosened his chains and gave him the pen to work on his front, trusting him not to try and attack her with it. He wasn’t planning to. He understood now he had been given another chance, and he couldn't take out his revenge yet again. Not on her.

Not that he felt compelled to. She didn't try to make him submit. He wasn't worried now she would. He was willing to trust that she didn't have some ulterior motive. At least not yet.

"Tomorrow, we'll start training in the yard," she said. "You're already far behind, and we won't likely catch up, but we can at least do what we can with the little time we have left before your first fight. Hendrik assumed you would be fine on your own without much practice as long as you did as he ordered. But you should at least have some idea what you're getting into."

"I'm not worried," he said as he used the pen on a gash over his rib.

"I didn't think you would be, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared. Remember what I said. You're not the toughest fighter on this planet. Trust me."

He scoffed, remembering some of his meanest fights ever. "You haven't seen me fight."

"No, but I've seen others. "

"Yeah? And who are they?"

She was silent momentarily, then said, "In time, you'll know." She put the white box aside, and he could see she looked apprehensive. "I have to go now. Just be ready tomorrow."

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