The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 82 - Waking Up

Chapter 82: 82 - Waking Up

"Ugh..."

Regaining his consciousness, Kaiser opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was the ceiling—wooden planks, unevenly placed, with tiny gaps letting slivers of soft light peek through. A familiar sight.

He blinked slowly, then looked around. The walls were wooden too, with metal hooks, and lamps hanging quietly from the carved support beams. The smell of herbs and antiseptic lingered faintly in the air.

He’d been here before.

’It’s the healing room.’

He thought, quickly piecing things together.

His mind was hazy, but not broken. He tried to recall what happened before he lost the consciousness. After the fight and got back to the waiting room.

"...Right."

He slowly lifted his right hand and stared at it. His fingers curled a little stiffly, but he could move them fine. No sharp pain. Just weakness... And an unbearable hunger that made his stomach feel like a hollow pit.

"How long was I out?"

He mumbled to himself, not expecting an answer.

But from the other side of the room—

"Just two days, kid."

A voice answered him. Deep and gruff. A man’s voice.

Kaiser turned his head slightly toward it, squinting through the light.

Sitting on a chair behind a small wooden desk was an old man. His hair was tied in a messy knot behind his head, and he wore a long, faded coat.

He was casually sipping something from a steaming mug as he looked up from his notes.

"You’re lucky none of your organs were hit."

The old man said, raising a brow.

"You had some nasty bruises and a couple of fractured ribs. But nothing fatal."

Kaiser listened in silence as the man leaned back in his chair, letting out a sigh.

"Your recovery was abnormally fast, too. I’ve seen tough brats come in and out of this room, but yours was impressive. That said, when they brought you in—"

He gestured lazily toward Kaiser.

"—you were a mess. If your friends hadn’t slowed your bleeding, you probably wouldn’t have made it."

Then he smirked, setting his mug down with a light clink.

"Of course, that—and my skillful medical knowledge and healing magic saved you, kid."

He gave a mock bow from where he sat.

Kaiser couldn’t help but smile faintly.

"Thanks, old man."

"Don’t mention it. I get paid whether you guys die or live, I’m just doing my job."

The old healer grinned, then reached for a book on his desk.

Kaiser laid his head back down on the pillow. His body still ached slightly, but the pain was far away now. Manageable.

His mind drifted again, but this time, with clarity.

’I survived again, huh...’

He thought, closing his eyes for a second.

’I should thanks the others too once I see them.’

Then I added, thinking about Viktor, Rose, Jenna, and Jhamillah.

*****

Afternoon...

Even though he had already woken up, Kaiser still wasn’t allowed to leave the healing room.

The old man insisted on checking his condition once more, running his hand over his ribs while muttering spells under his breath. After that, he handed Kaiser a wooden bowl with some kind of meat stew and hard bread on the side. It wasn’t much, but after two days without eating, it felt like heaven for him.

Kaiser didn’t complain—he devoured it down quickly, even if the stew was lukewarm and the bread almost chipped a tooth.

He felt a little better afterward. Some strength returned to his limbs, and he could sit up on his own without wobbling too much. Still sore, still hungry, but no longer weak to the point of collapse.

"Rest up for an hour or two, then you’re free to go."

That was what the old healer told him before going back to his desk.

And so Kaiser rested again, watching the lamps’ flickering flames on the walls, letting time pass slowly.

...

...

...

Now back in the present—

Kaiser was on his way back to his room.

He wasn’t alone. A guard, clad in simple plate armor with a copper badge pinned on his chest, was walking beside him. Silent, firm steps. Probably one of the regulars working for the coliseum.

Kaiser could feel the guy glancing at him from time to time—his half-wrapped torso still had traces of dried blood, and his gait was uneven—but the guard didn’t say anything. And Kaiser didn’t feel like talking either, so he just ignored him.

He kept his eyes on the hallway and his hands in his pockets, each step heavier than the last.

Then finally, after a few more quiet minutes of walking—

"We’re here."

CREAK—

The guard stopped in front of a familiar gate and opened it.

And without further ado—

Tap—

Kaiser stepped inside the Copper Place.

As soon as he got in...

"Hmm?"

Kaiser spotted Uban and his three lackeys lounging near the wall. They were talking about something, laughing softly—but when they saw him walk through the gate, their voices stopped.

"...!"

Then their eyes widened.

They clearly remembered the last time they messed with him. The blood. The pain. The humiliation.

"..."

Kaiser, on the other hand, didn’t even spare them a second glance at first. He was uninterested in them.

He just looked around for a bit...

’Hmm, the others aren’t here.’

Then he immediately concluded that.

The Copper Place was usually noisy.

Turning his head slightly, Kaiser looked back at Uban and his crew again. Their posture stiffened, like they were bracing for him to do something. But all Kaiser did was open his mouth.

"Where are they?"

He asked with a firm voice.

And immediately—

"T-They’re all in the training ground..."

Uban answered, not daring to look him straight in the eye.

’Oh, that makes sense...’

Kaiser nodded slightly, then without another word, walked toward his room.

Creak—

The door opened slowly.

Thud!

He stepped inside and closed it behind him.

Uban and the others didn’t move. They just watched him go.

Kaiser didn’t care. He was outnumbered four to one, sure—but if they tried anything...

’Then I’ll just kill them all.’

He thought coldly as his eyes landed on the familiar weapon resting neatly on his bed: his greatsword. Cleaned. Leaning carefully against the wall beside it were his three javelins.

Just below the foot of the bed, even his damaged armor had been placed neatly, along with a folded shirt and some bandages.

’Viktor really took care of everything.’

A genuine smile crept up on Kaiser’s face.

He made his way to the bed, sat down heavily, then laid back with a sigh.

"Haaaaaaah... Fuuuuuuck..."

The ache in his body reminded him that he was still far from fully recovered.

Training was out of the question.

Even if he wanted to force himself... his stomach was still empty, and his limbs still felt heavy.

’Pushing it now might just mess me up more.’

So instead, he closed his eyes.

’I’ll just sleep until they all come back.’

And with that thought, his breathing slowed... and in less than a minute, Kaiser was fast asleep.

*****

A few hours passed...

The sky outside had turned a deep shade of orange, the last sliver of sunlight casting a warm glow into the cracks of the wooden walls.

Clink. Clack.

Faint sounds echoed beyond the door—voices, footsteps, and whatnots.

Kaiser’s eyes slowly blinked open.

’...Someone’s back?’

He sat up on the bed abruptly, instinctively alert. His muscles ached slightly from the movement, but nothing serious. He rubbed his eyes, still heavy with sleep, then stretched his arms and shoulders with a low groan. A few satisfying pops from his joints followed.

He glanced at himself—shirt slightly wrinkled, and dried blood still faintly on his clothes.

’Tch... I look like a disaster.’

With a deep sigh, Kaiser took a moment to straighten his shirt, smooth down his hair a bit, and at least look like he wasn’t just half-dead. He adjusted the bandages on his waist and cracked his neck before walking to his door.

Click—

The door creaked open.

And when he stepped out—

"Yo."

He greeted simply.

Then all five of them froze mid-conversation!

Viktor, Damian, Rose, Jenna, and Jhamillah turned their heads in perfect sync as if they’d seen a ghost.

"...Kaiser?!"

Rose gasped, her eyes going wide.

"You’re already awake?"

Jenna added, blinking rapidly.

"I-I’m glad to see that you’re okay!"

Jhamillah stammered, walking toward him quickly.

Damian looked equally surprised but simply gave a low whistle.

"Didn’t expect to see you standing already."

He mumbled.

Kaiser just offered a tired half-smile.

"I had enough sleep."

Before he could say anything else, the five of them gathered around him, checking on his condition.

Viktor stepped forward last, arms crossed but a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Still too early to act tough, y’know."

"I didn’t die. That’s what matters."

Kaiser shrugged.

He let out a quiet chuckle, then turned to everyone.

"Anyway... it’s good to see you guys again."

Kaiser said.

And after hearing that—everyone’s expressions softened.