After a long time, Adonis opened his eyes to find a white ceiling above him. The scent of sterilized herbs lingered faintly in the air.
He tried to sit up, but the sharp tug of tight bandages all over his body stopped him. His arms, chest, even legs—everything was wrapped, only his face exposed.
"What happened in dungeon? how am here? where are everyone?" Adonis thought not knowing what happened after he passed out.
"You're awake."
Suddenly a woman in a white coat stepped into his vision, her voice professional but kind.
She moved beside him and began checking his pulse.
"When you were brought here by your friends, you were practically dead. But… your body began regenerating on its own. Unnaturally fast, I'd say.
Did you take some sort of high-grade healing elixir?" she asked, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
Adonis shook his head weakly.
"I… don't remember anything," he admitted. "Just the dragon… and then darkness. "Even now, his thoughts were foggy. Are they all fine?
Just then, the door burst open.
Tyrant, Ai, Alex—and Mia—all entered, their faces lit with obvious relief.
"Thank the stars, you're safe," Tyrant sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
Alex and Ai smiled.
"You really gave us a heart attack," Ai added.
Before Adonis could say anything, Mia walked right up to his bed—And flicked her finger against his forehead.
"Ow! What was that for?" Adonis winced.
"You suicidal idiot," Mia said, her voice heavier than he'd ever heard.
There was no sarcasm this time. Just… worry. Guilt. and Sadness.
Tyrant placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't blame him. Elemental possession happens on its own," he said quietly.
"He probably doesn't even remember. It's not really him in control—his element takes over."
"Elemental… possession?" Adonis asked, looking at everyone, confused.
So, Tyrant began explaining.
About how he stood against the Lava Dragon alone.
How his body lit up with golden light.
How he summoned thousands of divine swords and obliterated the volcano.
And… how he nearly died.
Adonis stared in stunned silence.
Then came the part that made him blink.
"…Wait. You're saying… Quackner saved me?" he asked, pointing at the fat duck sitting on the table beside his bed.
Everyone nodded.
Quackner, meanwhile, was reclining lazily on a plate of sliced apples, nibbling away like he was the one recovering from a fight with a dragon.
"…That duck," Adonis muttered, eyes twitching slightly.
"You owe him your life," Ai said, smirking.
"I owe a lot of people," Adonis murmured, then looked at each of them."…Thanks. For not helping me up"
Tyrant laughed, "Please. You blew up a volcano for us. We couldn't abandon a walking natural disaster like friend just like that."
Even Mia cracked a slight smile.
But she didn't say anything—only looked at him, her usual coldness softened.
And Quackner?
Still eating. As if being a divine savior was just another Tuesday.