Shadow Slave

Sunny left the underground complex, breathed in the cold winter air, and limped toward the nearby army hospital. The walk was not too long, so he reached it within ten minutes.

Belle, Dorn, and Samara were in front of the building, and so was Abomination — the Echo was laying on the ground, shielding them from the wind with its massive body.

The hound had not participated in the recent battle, because it would have been destroyed too quickly by the black beetles. It had been very helpful to the cohort in the past two weeks, though.

It was strange… in the past, Abomination had mostly ignored Quentin's Echo, Blackie, who used to follow the larger beast around. But now that Blackie was gone, the monstrous hound always looked a bit forlorn.

Sparing the Echo a sad glance, Sunny approached his soldiers.

"Major! Gods… you look awful!"

Belle grinned, hiding hints of anguish that had taken root in his eyes.

Sunny forced out a smile, as well.

"You should have seen the other guy… ah, but you can't. I killed the other guy."

That produced a few chuckles. Sunny scoffed, too.

"Anyway. Take me to Luster… he's awake, right?"

They nodded. Dorn and Samara remained outside, while Belle guided him into the hospital.

"He woke up an hour or so ago. Uh… I think he's in good spirits, considering. That might be because of painkillers, though."

They walked through the white corridors, which were all crowded with hospital beds. An uncountable number of maimed and injured soldiers lay on them, some awake, some mercifully unconscious. The air was filled with the sickening smell of blood, burned flesh, misery, and despair. Doctors, nurses, and a few Awakened healers were hurriedly tending to the wounded, the bags under their eyes blacker than the bruises covering Sunny's body.

The sight of it was indescribably grim.

Sunny kept his face cool, projecting the image of an intrepid Ascended. On the inside, however…

'At least they'll survive.'

Modern medicine was very potent, and that was without even considering the Awakened wielding healing Aspects. If a soldier was delivered from the battlefield alive, there was very little chance of them dying. The only problem was the cost, but the First Army spared no expense, at least in that regard.

As an Awakened of somewhat exalted status, Luster was placed in a small room of his own. As they approached it, Sunny heard the young man's voice:

"Kim… Kimmy… stop it… I lost my legs, you know, not my hands! I am perfectly capable of feeding myself!"

laid on a bed, his stumps wrapped in regenerative bandage, while Kim was trying to push a spoonful of synthpaste porridge into his mouth. The young woman's usually timid

turned and gave Sunny an

08:01

That fool

Noticing Sunny, Luster grinned:

the gods! Please, save

froze, then turned and gave Sunny an unexpectedly fierce

fool refuses

them for a couple

feed you,

paled a little, then hurriedly grabbed the

need to

near the bed. Then, he tried to say something, only to find out that no words came to

Eventually, he awkwardly asked:

"How are you doing?"

bit, then suddenly grinned and wiggled his

right? This is only a tiny bit worse… hell,

Sunny blinked.

he really is

He sighed.

healers here in Falcon Scott, and all of them are terribly busy. Once you get to

to comfort the young man, Luster's smile suddenly dimmed. Looking

sir. Once I'm back

Sunny frowned a little.

deserve to go home more than you… so, enjoy the cruise, and then make sure to get better and relax during an extended vacation.

then added

Rhino blew up. What the hell do I need you for, now? Keeping you would probably just be a waste of perfectly

Hearing that, Luster laughed.

you

He sighed.

I don't deserve an early dispensation, sir. It's

man briefly glanced at Kim, then grew

legs to a person was not impossible, if sufficiently powerful healers were involved, but it

He shook his head.

Dorn too, probably, and maybe even Belle and Samara. You did

him,