Warrior

Chapter 1: Waking up

Lilith pried her eyes open. Her head was throbbing, and she let out a groan as she rolled to her side and quickly shut her eyes again as blinding light pierced them. She had glimpsed sunlight and a window she did not recognize before she heard a voice above her.

“You need to drink. Please open your mouth.”

Lilith opened her mouth obediently and felt warm liquid run down her throat. The liquid felt good against her raw throat. She let out a sigh as she slipped back into the darkness.

***

Lilith opened her eyes, slowly adjusting to the light in the room. Her vision was fuzzy as she tried to push herself up and immediately felt an arm wrap around her shoulders, helping her to rise into a seated position.

“Do not push yourself or you will pass out.”

She noticed it was the same voice as before, but her eyes seemed too heavy to keep open. She felt them begin to close again, but she forced them to stay open long enough to look into a pair of very vivid blue eyes in a tan face, before closing them against the light that felt like stabbing knives shooting straight to the back of her already throbbing head.

“Where am I?” She asked hoarsely.

All Lilith remembered was falling asleep in her apartment the night before; now she was in some strange place with a strange man holding her in his arms. What was going on? She felt the darkness closing in once more, and she tried to fight it off to no avail. She slipped back into blissful unconsciousness.

***

“Are you finally able to move?” The voice asked as Lilith struggled to sit up. She took in the dimly lit room and the man who sat in a simple chair next to her bed. The room was void of all furniture but a small table and the bed she lay in.

“Where am I?” She asked again, ignoring his question. He was of slight build, with a compact body, and she did not think he was more than five feet nine. He looked to be of oriental descent, but she would not even begin to guess which nationality he was.

“Dresnia. The year 4097, a thousand years after the great war.”

“Great war? 407... Thousand, what?” Her head was still splitting. She had heard him wrong; she was sure of it.

“Do not worry about it right now. You need to get some food and liquid in you before I explain everything. For now, rest and eat. There will be time for everything later.”

Lilith nodded, causing the room to tilt slightly before pushing him away and trying to stand. She felt her legs give out immediately.

“Hold on, my lady. Let me help you if you insist on getting up.”

Lilith finally stood with his help.

“May I ask where you are heading?” his voice had a soothing quality to it, but it did not help in this moment. She just wanted silence… and a bathroom.

“Bathroom. Please.” It was hard to speak, and she had to concentrate on just moving her body.

“Of course. This way.” The man helped her to a nearby door and opened it for her. By the time they had crossed the room, Lilith was having an easier time moving.

“I can handle it from here. Thank you.” She spoke as he started to help her in.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

She came out a moment later with the man standing right where she had left him. He helped her back into bed and made sure she had more liquid before taking his seat.

“Could I have some water instead?” she asked. She did not care for whatever liquid it was they were giving her.

“Of course.” He left and came back a moment later, giving her a glass of water.

“I am sorry, water is not drunk much here. Wine is the drink of choice.”

She did not care what the drink of choice was; she just wanted to quench this thirst.

“It is alright. Thank you.” She handed him the empty cup and closed her eyes, leaning back against the headboard.

“Feeling a bit better?”

Lilith nodded.

“Then please try to eat a little of this. You need to recover your energy. Your journey was a rough one.”

Lilith was tired and wanted to sleep, but she tried to eat a bit of the soup he was offering. The smell was making her stomach nauseous, and she had no idea when the last time she had eaten. She tried to lift the spoon, but her arms were heavy and she could not seem to keep the liquid in the spoon.

“Allow me.”

Lilith felt like an idiot as she opened her mouth, feeling for all the world like a little chick being fed by its mother as the man helped her eat a few bites of the soup.

“Your name?” She asked. Tired, but wanting to know something about him and where she was.

“Lao San.”

“Chinese?”

“That is no longer a nationality. We are all a bit of everything... though I guess there are still differences among areas.”

“I see.” Lilith did not, but it was too hard to figure it out. Her brain was not working.

He gave her a gentle smile. “Do not worry about that right now. In this moment, you only need to concern yourself with getting your strength back.”

Lilith nodded and closed her eyes, immediately falling back into a deep sleep, Lao San silently keeping watch over her.

He stared at the young lady before him. She was incredibly tough to have survived her journey, and he was not about to let anything happen to her now. She had surprised him when she had opened her eyes. They were a Vivid Green and sharp. He did not know what the future would bring for her. For them. But her eyes held something that gave him hope.

***

She woke again to a softer light. Was it evening? Morning? How long had she been asleep this time?

“Would you like more food, or perhaps you would like to use the restroom again?” Lao San asked from his place next to the bed.

Had he even moved from there? “The restroom, please. Then maybe a little more soup would be alright. It was Lao San. Yes?”

“Yes, my lady.” He smiled at her. The smile was formal and empty of emotion. “I am glad you remembered. I was not sure if you would.”

“Thank you for your help.”

“It is my pleasure. Is it easier to move now?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Lilith quickly did her business with Lao San’s help and returned to the bed fairly well on her own strength. She climbed back into bed, Lao San putting a bowl of soup in front of her.

Lilith began the slow process of eating it on her own. She looked up at Lao San, where he stood patiently by her side.

“Thank you. Now, could you explain a bit more about what has happened to me?”