Gerard had begun to feel the fatigue of his struggles. Encounter after fearful encounter, though they ended in victory, left him thoroughly drained and, in many cases, wounded. His armor and shield stood up rather nicely, but bore many a nick and tear from the best efforts of beasts that would have slain any lesser foes. Gerard’s various scuffles ranged from the all-too-cliche reanimated skeleton to massive and formless beasts whacking him with their bloody entrails, as well as all manner of stereotypical demons and ghouls. Gerard even had the terrible burden of doing away with a few humans and vampires who had sworn allegiance to Lord Victor and guarded the path to the throne room. For each of these people he had killed, Gerard set up a memorial cobbled together from their gear and nearby stones or room decorations.
Growing fatigued after nearly two straight days of pushing onward, Gerard began to seek out a safe place to take a break. After a few doors that led to deeper paths or more enemies, Gerard finally came to a worn wooden door in an otherwise elegant corridor. Beyond, a peaceful-looking garden awaited, with no monsters around to disturb the tranquility. A large fountain sat in the center of the garden, surrounded by red flowers of all sorts. Gerard made his way through the floral thicket to peer into the water. Seeing that it looked clear, he cupped a hand, snatched some up and took a sip. The water tasted as pure as it looked. Satisfied, he took a few more gulps, then sat among the flowers and put his pack in front of him. Within, he found a few small birdlike monsters he had slain. Curious and somewhat fearful, he held the birds out before him, examining them. The loud growling from his stomach prompted him to take a bite. Even raw, the bird monsters didn’t taste all that terrible. After eating two of the carcasses, Gerard yawned heartily and laid down on his back, sword gripped in his fist, and breathed in the cool mist from the fountain as sleep came to greet him.
Gerard awoke to the feeling of an arm around his waist and a warm body pressed against his. Before he could open his eyes, somebody’s lips were upon his. After a short, tender kiss, a female voice said softly, “I’ve been waiting for you.”
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