The End of the Storm
I stared at her in disbelief.
"...You're saying I was unconscious for three whole days?"
"Hic... Y-yes..."
It was only after I had finally calmed Lucy, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, that I learned what had happened after I collapsed. First, the chaotic situation had been completely resolved. All the students had safely returned to the camp. The undead knights that had been wandering the forest had also been dealt with. The academy's support forces, who had rushed over after receiving word from the camp, were now stationed on the island. Additionally, Professor Lucas's body—which I had recovered from those corpse bastards—had been properly retrieved. Aside from me and Gold Tae-yang, there had been no casualties...
"...That's a relief."
Though I had prevented a major disaster, my mind was a tangled mess. As I muttered those small words to myself like some kind of self-consolation, Lucy, who had been sniffling, suddenly pinched my cheek hard.
"After your body ended up in that state, how can you call it a relief?!"
"Ugh, it hurts, Your Highness..."
I groaned at the pain that felt like my cheek was being torn off. However, my merciless lord showed no intention of listening to my complaints. Lucy continued to torment me with a pouty expression until my cheek turned bright red, at which point she finally let go. I rubbed my stinging cheek and gave an awkward smile.
"Thank you for coming to save me, Your Highness... I survived thanks to you."
"......"
Lucy froze for a moment at my words of gratitude. She repeatedly clenched and unclenched the hand she had used to pinch me, then her eyes welled up with tears again.
"It was so... so scary..."
Her voice, heavy with moisture, erased the quiet of the infirmary. Transparent droplets fell from her eyes, which held the blue of the sea.
"I thought... you were going to leave me forever..."
Her trembling sorrow pushed its way up her throat only to crumble apart again and again. The girl's emotions couldn't form complete sentences; they simply floated through the air as fragments of simple words.
"I-I really... thought you were going to die..."
Pathetic raindrops slid down her pure white cheeks. Thin lines of tears dripped onto the floor, following the downpour of relief. In the end, the girl could no longer hold back her surging emotions and burst into loud sobs. I quietly reached out and pulled her into my arms.
"I am right here, Your Highness."
Without answering, Lucy turned her head and buried her face in my chest. Warm tear stains seeped through my thin shirt. I gently patted her back as if soothing a child.
"I won't go anywhere... I will never leave you behind."
"Hic, ugh...!"
Lucy cried even harder at my words. She must have been truly terrified. After all, she had witnessed the moment my stomach was pierced and I collapsed.
If I'd known this would happen, I should have handled things more decisively...
Yes, who could I blame? It was all because of my own inexperience. A bitter smile crossed my face at the unnecessary guilt that welled up inside me.
As I continued comforting Lucy while sorting through my complicated feelings, my eyes met those of the silver-haired girl standing in front of us.
"......"
At first glance, Maharet's condition didn't look good. Her crimson eyes, which had always sparkled with vitality, were clouded with exhaustion, and even her brilliant silver hair seemed faded. I was told she had stayed by my side with Lucy throughout the three days I was unconscious. I quietly called out to her.
"Lady Piler."
"...Yes."
Her response came a beat late. It seemed she had been half-dozing. I looked at her with concern and asked,
"Wouldn't it be better if you went to rest now? You look very tired..."
"Ah... Yes, I suppose I should."
Maharet nodded in agreement and rose from her chair. Her dazzling silver hair scattered with the movement. She seemed about to leave the infirmary, but stopped abruptly at the door.
"...You."
After hesitating for a moment, Maharet called out to me in a small voice. She was trembling, though only slightly.
"Yes, my lady."
"...Thank you."
"Pardon...?"
As I tilted my head, wondering if I had misheard, Maharet furrowed her brows and spoke again.
"For saving me in the canyon. Thank you."
"Ah."
Only then did I manage to return her gratitude with a slightly dazed smile. I wasn't sure if I deserved thanks for what happened in the canyon, since it had been my mistake in the first place. Still, the fact remained that I had saved her.
"I should be the one thanking you. For taking care of me."
"Yes..."
Maharet gave a small reply and left the infirmary.
"Well then, I'll be going."
"Yes, my lady."
As I watched the girl's retreating figure leave the tent after our brief farewell, I briefly wondered if I should say something more, but ultimately decided against it. This was enough. With that thought, I patted the back of the blonde girl still in my arms.
.
.
.
Not long after Maharet left, Lucy stopped crying. Or, to be precise, she fell asleep.
"She must have been really exhausted..."
I murmured as I looked down at Lucy, who had fallen sound asleep while still tightly gripping my hand. It made sense. She hadn't slept properly for three days. She must have heard from the professors that the surgery had gone well, yet she had been so worried that she felt she needed to stay by my side the entire time.
-Hoo... hoo...
The sound of her faint breathing filled the infirmary with a peaceful silence.
"...You'll get a sore back if you stay like this."
With a small groan, I lifted my sleeping lord, who was hunched over in an uncomfortable position. Her body was surprisingly light, probably because of her slender frame. I carefully laid her down on the bed I had been using, then stood up and brushed myself off. I left the infirmary as quietly as possible, careful not to wake Lucy.
"Hoo..."
Stepping out of the dimly colored building, I found myself looking at the base camp under a dark sky. I hadn't checked the time in my daze, but judging by the surroundings, it seemed to be early dawn. I took in the darkened scenery and began to walk.
-Rustle... Rustle...
The sound of fallen leaves being crushed underfoot echoed softly. Even though it was quite late at night, bright lights were maintained around the camp. Following the source of the light, I saw magical runes floating in a circle around the area.
"...A barrier, huh."
A brilliantly flashing holy barrier. It seemed they had set up a defensive line as a countermeasure against the undead. Thanks to it, the base camp remained as bright as daytime, and students were still milling about.
I walked through them and crouched down in front of a lone tree.
-Whoooosh...
A cool autumn breeze brushed against my face. I swept back my fluttering bangs and listened to the faint chirping of insects. A hollow feeling settled in one corner of my heart.
"......"
I absentmindedly rummaged through my pocket. I was looking for the deathweed, but of course it wasn't there. They must have taken it out when they changed me into new clothes after the surgery.
"I could really use some right now..."
Feeling a slight withdrawal symptom, I shook my empty pocket in vain. As I let out a sigh in my pathetic state, familiar voices approached from a distance.
"Hey~! You bastard!"
"L-Lord Lisite...!"
I lifted my head and muttered the names of the two people.
"Gold Tae-yang and... Violet?"
"Whoa~! You're alive? You somehow didn't die, huh?"
"...You sound almost disappointed."
"Oh? You noticed?"
This guy... I raised my fist with a tired expression toward the boy who was full of mischief from the start. Gold Tae-yang immediately lowered his tail and hid behind Violet.
"Hey, hey... Cut me some slack. I'm a patient too, you know?"
Gold Tae-yang peeked his head out from behind Violet's shoulder and pointed at his bandaged body with a grin.
"If Violet hadn't brought Professor Kate... I might've actually died."
"You should've just died then."
"Wow... That's seriously harsh."
Gold Tae-yang pouted at my cold response and protested. Ignoring him, the purple-haired girl beside him finally spoke up.
"I-I heard you had surgery... A-are you okay?"
Despite her stuttering, Violet earnestly asked about my well-being. I gave her a faint smile, touched by her concern.
"I'm fine... What about you?"
"Ah, um...! Thanks to Mr. Tae-yang protecting me... I-I'm safe...!"
"Ahem!"
When the topic turned to him, Gold Tae-yang cleared his throat and puffed out his chest. The smug way he lifted the corners of his mouth made me want to punch him. What was that expression? Some new signal that he wanted to get hit?
"Did you hear that? This is how awesome your hyung is."
"......"
"This big brother right here~ just snapped his fingers and all the enemies went flying! Just like the protagonist in a novel..."
Gold Tae-yang kept spouting some nonsense. I let the annoying noise pollution go in one ear and out the other, turning my gaze to Violet.
"W-why are you looking at me like that...?"
When I stared quietly into her amethyst eyes, the girl responded with a nervous squeak. In reply, I lightly tapped my right cheek.
"Your bandages are coming loose."
"Huh...? M-my bandages?"
"Yeah."
Violet touched her face, then realized the bandages had indeed loosened. She panicked and quickly retied them. I let out a small sigh at the sight.
"Be more careful from now on."
"Th-thank you..."
Without thinking, I reached out and gently patted her head. I felt her flinch at my touch but ignored it.
"Anyway... Once morning comes, we're heading back to the academy, right...?"
"Yeah, I think so? There's no reason to stay here any longer."
"...I want to go back and rest as soon as possible."
At my leaking sigh, Gold Tae-yang chuckled.
"Still, it wasn't all bad, right? The first day was pretty fun, wasn't it?"
"Maybe it was."
"What~ That's such a lukewarm reaction~"
I didn't respond. I was tired. This was supposed to be a relaxing school trip, but too many things had happened. I rubbed my dry face with a small groan. Gold Tae-yang spoke to me lightly.
"Why don't you rest a bit for now? Your wounds probably haven't fully healed yet."
I stayed silent for a moment before nodding.
"...Yeah, I should."
He was right. There were many things to think about, but for now, I needed to rest. After all, we would be returning to the academy tomorrow.