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!"

was laid on a bed, his stumps wrapped in regenerative bandage, while Kim was trying to push a spoonful of

turned and gave Sunny an unexpectedly

08:01

fool refuses to

Noticing Sunny, Luster grinned:

Major! Thank the gods! Please, save

gave Sunny an unexpectedly fierce

That fool refuses

at them for a

me to feed you, Luster? Because,

then hurriedly grabbed the spoon and

No need to

bed. Then, he tried to say something, only to find out that no

Eventually, he awkwardly asked:

"How are you doing?"

for a bit, then suddenly grinned and

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

Sunny blinked.

guess he

He sighed.

don't worry too much. There are not a lot of great healers here in Falcon Scott, and all of them are terribly busy. Once you get to Eastern Antarctica, and from there back to NQSC, though, the government will pull out all the stops. You'll

Luster's smile suddenly dimmed. Looking away, he remained silent for a

yes. Certainly, sir. Once I'm back

Sunny frowned a little.

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

paused, then

for, now? Keeping you would probably just be a waste of

Hearing that, Luster laughed.

you put it

He sighed.

not that I think that I don't deserve an early dispensation, sir.

young man briefly glanced

was no other way. Restoring two legs to a person was not impossible, if sufficiently powerful healers were

He shook his head.

wasn't for you, Kim would be dead… Dorn too, probably, and maybe even Belle and Samara. You did well,

at him, then slowly