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Cale Henituse lay on the bed, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, lips set in a stubborn line. To any bystander, it would look like he was giving a full-bodied protest in silence. But his companions knew better. The deeper that frown, the closer he was to trying something reckless.
It hadn’t been two hours since they’d brought him back, bruised, bloodied, and barely breathing after fighting through a near-disastrous mission. Cale had insisted he’d be fine, that the cuts were shallow and he’d healed from worse. But none of his friends, allies, or family were buying it. Not this time.
As Cale tried to sit up, Raon was immediately on alert. The young black dragon flapped his wings and let out an indignant huff. "Human! Don’t you dare try to move! You’re injured, and we’re supposed to take care of you!"
Cale rolled his eyes. “It’s not that bad. You’re all being dramatic. Just let me get up for one second—”
“No!” Raon declared, eyes blazing with fierce protectiveness. “You almost died, you foolish human!” The little dragon’s voice shook, and his wings drooped. “I don’t want you to get hurt again.”
Cale’s face softened, if only for a split second. “Raon… I’m fine, really.” But Raon just stared at him, unmoved.
Choi Han, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, stepped forward with a resolute expression. "Cale-nim, you’re staying right where you are. You don’t know how much blood you lost back there."
"I lost… an inconvenient amount of blood, maybe. But I’ve had worse," Cale muttered, as if that could reassure them.
"You passed out in the middle of the fight!" Choi Han insisted, his tone bordering on desperate now. "When I found you, you were half-buried under rubble, and you were barely conscious. Barely. You can’t expect us to just let you jump out of bed right now."
Cale huffed, trying to brush off Choi Han’s words, but a hint of guilt crept into his expression. "It’s not like I planned on getting hit with that explosion." He tried to chuckle, but it came out more as a wince. “Besides, I’m fine. Just need a bit of a rest…”
"Yes, rest. Exactly what we’re trying to make you do, you stubborn human," Rosalyn said, stepping forward with a sigh. She cast a healing spell, her staff glowing faintly as warm light surrounded Cale’s bruises and cuts. She was known for her patience, but even she seemed close to losing it. “Cale-nim, you need to take this seriously.”
A slight smirk crossed Cale’s face as he looked at Rosalyn. "Didn’t realize you were so fond of me," he teased.
Rosalyn narrowed her eyes. "Don’t test me. If I have to bind you with magic to keep you in bed, I will. You’re not leaving this room until we’re sure you’re properly healed."
Before he could respond, On and Hong jumped onto the bed, positioning themselves on either side of him. On, the silver cat, sat calmly near his right arm, while Hong, the red kitten, flopped down by his feet, his tail curling possessively around Cale’s ankle. Both of them watched him with wide, determined eyes, ready to pounce the second he tried to move.
"Cale-nim, we’re not letting you get up," On said, her voice firm despite her usual detached tone. "You’ve made us worry too much already."
Hong nodded, giving a small but surprisingly fierce growl. "If you get up, we’ll call more people to make sure you stay in bed!"
Cale looked around at his companions. Despite his exhaustion, he tried to rise again, but On and Hong both pinned his limbs down, pressing their little furry bodies against him like immovable weights.
Raon snorted, a pleased grin spreading across his face. "Yes, human! You can’t beat all of us. Now you’re forced to rest, just like a weak human should!"
At that moment, the door creaked open, and in walked Eruhaben, the ancient golden dragon. His gaze swept over the room, taking in the scene of Cale pinned down by his concerned friends. He smirked, arching a brow. “What’s this? I thought I was coming to check on an injured patient, not referee a wrestling match.”
Cale gave an exasperated sigh. “Eruhaben-nim, can’t you just tell them I’m fine? I have things to do. We still don’t know if the magic circle actually deactivated, and—”
Eruhaben’s smirk faded, replaced by a look of annoyance. "Oh no, you don’t. Your reckless actions nearly got you killed. For once, listen to these children and stay in bed." He approached the bedside, placing a glowing golden hand on Cale’s chest, just firm enough to keep him from rising. "Magic can only heal so much. Your body still needs rest."
Cale sighed, finally stopping his struggle, though the stubborn glint remained in his eyes. “But if I stay here, I’ll miss something important.”
Rosalyn crossed her arms. "If you’re that worried, we’ll bring you updates. But if you dare to leave this bed, I swear we’ll reinforce it with magic."
“Magic and ropes!” Raon added, nodding.
Realizing he’d lost this battle, Cale lay back, his eyes drifting around the room to each familiar face. Choi Han, who had his arms crossed but looked visibly relieved; Rosalyn, who wore a small, satisfied smile; Eruhaben, with his usual air of dignified amusement; On and Hong, who continued to sit by his side like loyal sentries; and Raon, who now perched at the edge of the bed, his wings tucked in protectively.
Seeing the worry etched into all their expressions, Cale’s resistance softened. He knew he’d scared them this time. "Alright, alright," he relented, a small sigh escaping. “I’ll stay put… for now.”
The room relaxed, shoulders dropping as a collective sigh of relief filled the air.
Raon brightened instantly, his eyes wide with excitement. "Good! You’ll stay, and we’ll take care of everything! I’ll bring you food and anything you need. Just stay right here!"
Cale watched as Raon leapt off the bed, already planning the menu. “I’ll bring you the best fruit and fresh water, Human! And maybe even cookies if you’re good!”
Eruhaben chuckled. "See, Cale? Everything is under control. Just rest."
Cale managed a tired smile, laying back as his exhaustion finally caught up with him. He felt an overwhelming sense of calm, knowing his allies were here, watching over him, just as he’d always watched over them. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to relax for the first time in days, and muttered, “Fine… you win.”
The last thing he heard before drifting off was the collective sigh of relief from his family and friends.
And for now, they knew he’d be safe.