Krion stood there a moment, staring at the closed door before turning back to Hatsune. Her breathing remaieady, her chest rising and falling in a rhythm that, while fragile, was a small fort amidst everything that had happened.
Turning away, Krio back over to his own bed. It creaked softly under his weight, the mattress nearly as soft as the one ba Banor. His mind fshed back to the rough terrain of the Dungeon — the cold, unyielding stone, and the stant stench of rot and damp earth. pared to that, the infirmary bed felt, and smelled, like a cloud.
He id down uhe sheets, staring up at the whitewashed ceiling, but the fort of the bed itself, and the admonishment by the o get some sleep, did nothing to ease the restless ing of his thoughts. Sleep simply refused to e. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw fshes of the Duhe Boss t over him, the desperation of the fight, and the moment the s had ens. He remembered Hatsune’s wounds, her pained expression as she fought to stay upright, and the blood that had soaked into the floor after he had defeated the Boss.
No. He pushed those thoughts away. They were safely out of the Dungeon and there was no point w about what had happened in there anymore. He turned his attention to the more pressing issue: why had those other ss acted so boldly against them? How could they risk attag an archducal heir without fear of sequeurning over the issue in his mind for several long mihe only expnation Krion could muster was that there was something going on with House Bcksword’s position that must have eroded their power enough that even ss from lesser houses might be tempted to act against him at the Academy.
It was an uling thought. From what he knew based on text and observation of the other archducal ss on that first day, he expected House Bcksword to be a source of unyielding power and influehat, even without direct assistance, would still be enough to shield him somewhat from the court politics he assumed to be an important part of the Academy experience. But apparently that was too naive. Finding out more about his House and its retions with the rest of the powerful Houses and fas in this part of the Empire jumped higher on his ever-longer list of things to do. Perhaps the s of Knowledge he had now would be useful in that regard? If he could figure out how to redeem them, perhaps he could learruth about House Bcksword, its ret history, and maybe even the political alliances and grudges that had led to that group of ss trying to get the Duo do their dirty work. But that would be an issue for tomorrow.
He groaned and sat up, deg he needed a distra. Something else to focus on, something that would take his mind off the skills in intrigue he would quickly have to master in the ing days. His eyes caught on a fshing i in the er of his vision. That is right, he had a number of notifications he o deal with after having escaped The Pit. If he wasn’t able to get to sleep yet, he might as well deal with them. Fog on the first notification, Krion willed it open. A sem-transparent s appeared in his vision.
The sheer number of details immediately overwhelmed him. There were more than a dozen categories dispyed, each with a number of subcategories, all given their own grades, pertages, arics that were almost ically meticulous. There were scores for everything from Enviroal Adaptability to Tactical Deaking, and even something as granur as Ranged Accuraeedless to say, he had scored badly ihing except for the subcategories based arouing the Boss. Which made sehey hadn’t had time to explore the Dungeon properly, uncover any hiddes, or even fully clear it of monsters.
He groaned, rubbing his temples as a headache threateo emerge. Part of him admitted how this could be useful, especially if he had his eyes on improving a specific set of skills or approaches in a fighting style, but there was no way he could process all this right now.
He almost closed it out when his eye caught a heading at the bottom of the report: endations. Intrigued, he selected it, and the s shifted to dispy a separate se. This report was far more cise, dispying specifiendations that seemed to reflect exceptional as pleted in the Dungeon itself. He examihe three that were dispyed.
endation Received: “No Css, No Problem”Kill the Dungeon Boss without having a css.Reward: rait - Regeion (Minor) I; Seal of Brutality (2)
endation Received: “Unyielding Spirit”plete a Dungeon without using a rest zone.Reward: Seal of Valor (1)
endation Received: “Whispers of The Pit”Pass the whispered doubts of The PitReward: Seal of Valor (1)
He had a hard time trolling his excitement as soon as he saw that the endations came with rewards and that not only had he earwo Seals of Valor and two Seals of Brutality, but eveer, he had been granted his first rait beyond the Greater Soul Oath. A genuine smile broke out across his face. Regeion. The word alone was enough to stir excitement in him. Based on what he could guess about the trait, it would allow the holder t off injuries that would otherwise have crippled them, as well as perhaps help improve their stamina. Even if this was only a minor version eion, his mind still raced with the possibilities. He would have to do some tests with it though to be sure of how it actually worked. For example, did it work passively all the time, or did it only activate under certain ditions? He couldn’t wait to test it out, though given what had so retly happened with the Dungeon, he had no iion of recklessly throwing himself in dao do so. For now, the idea of healing faster than normal — of being able to endure more without succumbing — was thrilling. And it would probably be a major help with training going forward as well.
Closing out the s, Krion focused on pulling the one up, which turned out to be his character sheet. The smile on his face got eve what he saw dispyed: he had gaiwo levels. He’d expected that killing the Dungeon Boss and esg The Pit would bring a boost to his experience, but two entire levels at ohat was beyond what he had dared to hope for. He focused on the sixty u points that he now had. It didn’t take him long to make a decision on what to do with them.
Strength. Dexterity. Vitality. Endurance.
Krion split the points evenly across the four attributes sihey made the most sense based ohing that had happened up until now. He had no css, nor any specialized abilities that meant he o guide his growth in a particur dire. Until something happeo ge that, his best choice was to stick with what had worked for him so far: cle bat. Strength would ensure his attacks would carry more weight, and make it easier to break through defenses when brute force was needed. Simirly, Dexterity would help improve his reflexes and the precision of his strikes. Lastly, both Vitality and Endurance would bolster his health and stamina for any fight that ends up finding him, which he expected was going to bee even more important in the weeks and months ahead if his enemies among the nobility strike out against him again.
He looked at his character sheet one more time, just to be sure.
Name: Krion von SturmwachtRace: Human (Noresyn)Css: TBD - Level 3 (Free Points = 60=>0)Profession(s): TBDEssence(s): TBD
Fa: Treverorum Empire - House BckswordRank: S - Unnded
Aura: -Majesty: -Eminence: -
Strength: 74 => 89 Dexterity: 49 => 64Vitality: 75 => 90Endurance: 73 => 88Intelligence: 57Wisdom: 47Charisma: 40Luck: 16
Traits: Regeion (Minor) I; Greater Soul Oath (Unknown - Hidden)Skills: Greatsword Mastery (Novice)Abilities: N/A
Imperial Academy Currencies:Seals of Valor (2); Seals of ing (0); Seals of Brutality (2); Seals of Discovery (0); Seals of Ara (0);s of Knowledge (15); s of Service (30) *Mark of Bonds (1)*
Happy with what he saw, Krion firmed his choices. A subtle warmth immediately spread throughout his body. At first, it was a reassuriion, as though his attributes were gently adjusting aling into pce. But as soon as he flexed his fingers, seeking to test the ges, the warmth rapidly increased, quickly moving past hot into searing. Gripping the sheets so tightly his fingernails cut into the fabric, he pressed his body back down into the bed as his muscles locked up. Krion’s jaw seized like a vice, a trickle of blood emerging from his lip in the spot where he actally caught the inside of his mouth with one of his teeth.
The burning pai like it went on for at least an hour, though he suspected it was less than a minute. Perhaps it had felt so long because, uhe first time, he wasn’t tense about potentially heading into a fight and instead was safe in a bed at the Academy infirmary. Too sore to move, he closed his eyes and did his best to rex, knowing that he he sleep.
hing he knew, a nurse was entering the room. She was different from the one who had beehe night before. Middle-aged with a kind face framed by a short bob of graying hair. Banced in her hands was a tray with two steaming bowls, slices of bread, and a pitcher of water. It looked a lot like breakfast, so it must be m now. Looking up from the food, the nurse had draped over her other arm their clothes from the previous day, ly folded and looking much er than they had beehey had escaped from The Pit.
“Good m, S Bcksword,” the nurse said, usioes to pull a table on wheels away from where it stood against the wall. Pushing it, she brought it to a stop betweewo beds, then using her heel, she locked the wheels. Setting the tray down oable, she turo him, tone cheerful yet brisk, “How are you feeling today?”
Krion sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Better, I think. Thank you.”
The nurse nodded approvingly before setting the folded clothing on ara chair in the room. She then turo Hatsune, who y in the bed beside him. Hatsune hadn’t moved yet, but her witched as the aroma of the food wafted toward her. Krion chuckled softly, the sight oddly endearing. He was about to say something when Hatsune’s eyes fluttered open, and she sat up abruptly, her gaze log onto the tray. Her cheeks flushed as she noticed Krion’s amused expression, but rather than ent, she reached for one of the bowls and begaing with single-minded determination.
Krion shook his head, smiling. “Good m to you too.”
Hatsune didn’t respond, fog entirely on the meal.
As Krion picked up his own bowl, he realized how hungry he was. The food was simple — some sort of pe that was slightly sweet — but it tasted wonderful. He savored each bite, his body seeming to absorb energy with each spoonful. It might very well be the case, giveure of the infirmary and the Academy. While he took his time, Hatsune polished off her bowl quickly and eyed the bread oray before taking a pied nibbling on it.
While they ate, the nurse busied herself with cheg them over. She examined Hatsune first, uning the bandages and, after some gentle prodding to get the Leporio pull it free of the sheet, the one around her leg. “Looks like you healed up as well as the trainee healer expected.”
Hatsune mumbled something unintelligible around a mouthful of bread, her blush deepening. Krion pushed down his amusement as the nurse moved to him, her hands ge firm as she checked his pulse and the lingering bruises from the Dungeon.
“You are also looking well,” the nurse said. “Just remember, Dungeons, eveively safe ones on campus, aren’t to be uimated. I don’t knoossessed you to push yourselves so far, but you o be more careful. ime, you might not be so fortunate.”
Krion nodded in response, but he sidered what she said. It was clear that she, and likely by extension those who had treated them here at the infirmary, assumed that he and Hatsune had willingly ehe Dungeon, driven by ambition or recklessness. Or perhaps the truth was known, and they simply were ign it for some reason.
Regardless, Krion inteo leave it alone for now. From where he stood, letting the truth slip would only plicate matters. Ihe more he thought about it, acg other ss of su underhanded act against him without proof could easily backfire. Worse, should the knowledge that someone had already acted against him get out, it could make him and Hatsune even bigger targets. Still, the injustice of it g him.
“We’ll be more cautious, I promise.”
The udied him for a moment, her sharp gaze softening slightly. “Good. Well, you’re both fit to leave at any time. You’ll find your equipment and any items you had with you at the security desk at the south entran the first floor. Have a good day, S Bcksword.”
With that, she gathered up the tray, gave them both a parting nod, ahe room. The sound of the door clig shut left the room quiet, safe for the faint rustle of movement as Hatsune swung her legs over the side of her bed. The sileretched between them like a taut wire. She shifted on her feet, staring first at him, then the floor. Krion wasn’t sure what to say. He made to break the awkward silence, but Hatsu him to it.
“Krion,” she began before pausing. She lifted her gaze to meet his, her vivid green eyes shimmering with emotion. “I… I wao thank you.”
He blinked, caught off guard. “Thank me? For what?”
“For saving my life,” she said, her words steady despite the slight blush that lingered on her cheeks. “In the Dungeon… when I nded in that pool… I thought it was over for me. That I’d never see another suhat I’d never make it bae. But you… you didn’t abandon me, eve might have been easier for you, given your stats. Yht us both back alive.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond to her ear response. “Well… you are my bodyguard, and even more importantly my friend,” he said finally. “Besides, you helped save us too. I’d not have been able to defeat the Boss had I o hit the runed pilrs at the same time. You did that. So, really, we saved each other.”
Her ears twitched, and the blush on her cheeks deepened. “Still,” she insisted, “thank you.”
Krion looked at the Leporine and then offered her a warm smile. “You’re wele.”
The moment huween them, charged with unspokeions, until Hatsune suddenly turned away, fidgeting with the hem of her infirmary gown. Krion g their folded clothes, realizing that the time for seality had passed — they o get moving.
As he picked up his school uniform and began dressing, Krion couldn’t help but feel a wave of embarrassment. There were no privacy ss like there were in the hospitals ba Earth, leaving them to awkwardly turn their backs to one another as they ged. Even so, he couldn’t help but feel the occasional ghat Hatsuhrew his way. Or at least that was what he assumed was happening, given her frequent pauses as briefly struggled with his own infirmary gown.
When they were both dressed, Krion checked himself over one more time before turning to Hatsune. She had finished getting dressed first, though she was still w to smooth the padded jacket she had worn under her armor, which was still at the security desk acc to what the nurse had said. It was hard not to stare at the way the clothing gripped her curves.
“Ready?” Krion asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
Hatsune nodded quickly. “Yes, let’s go.”
They emerged into ay hallway. Not sure initially where to go, Krion was somewhat bemused to find that, much like the hospital he had spent so much time on ba Earth, the Infirmary of the Imperial Academy had adopted much the same approach to dires for visitors and patients. Arrows under clear signs stood out on the wall near where the hallway branched in four dires.
As soon as Krion knew which dire they o go, he began to pay more attention to the Infirmary itself. Much like he had expected, given many of the buildings he had seen so far, the Infirmary bihe funality of a medical facility with the elegance of the Academy’s architecture. Polished marble flleamed uhe light of some sort of magical mps evenly spaced along the wall. After several minutes of walking, they followed a new hallway that happeo be along the exterior wall of this side of the Infirmary. Arched windows let in soft golden light, casting a warm glow that made the pce seem almost weling.
Almost.
For all that the design was nice, he had spent too much time in a hospital when he was sick that, even this pce, was not fortable for him. Especially given that the air was filled with a faint, medial st of some sort, for all that it was mingling with the subtle aroma of fresh flowers pced in the occasional decorative vase set along the walls.
“What’s the pn now?” Hatsune asked as they walked.
“We’ll pick up ear and the loot from the Dungeon at the security desk the nurse mentioned,” he said, then sighed. “As much as I might want to take it easy today, I ’t. I’ve got to head to my Etiquette and Courtly Manners css.”
Eventually, they came to a wide staircase that led down to the first floor, and the grandeur of the Infirmary became even more apparent for those areas where patients were not being treated. ing dowairs, Krion slowed as he saw that the tral atrium was vast, a domed ceiling painted with a depi of a group of legionriumphing over a wave of monstrous beasts.
Hatsuly nudged him, and Krion realized he had stopped to stare in the middle of the st set of steps. Moving again, he sought out the first-floor security desk. He soon found it. A sturdy wooden structure was set against the far wall o the entrance, and it was manned by a stout dwarf who was grumpily filling out some paperwork. Behind him stood rows of locked ets that undoubtedly held the equipment and possessions of the patients who came into the Infirmary’s care.
When they reached the security desk, the dwarf looked up from his writing to greet them after darting a quice at the markings of his school uniform. “Good m, S Bcksword. Here to retrieve something?”
“Yes,” Krion said. “My bodyguard and I came i night after delving The Pit.”
The dwarf’s eyes widened fraally at the mention of the Dungeon but said nothing as he turo unlock a et behind him. Krion was fused at first when the dulled out a small bag, but when he reached io pull out the old greatsword he had found in the Dungeon, he realized it was something like a bag of holding, not uhe ste rings that Alesin and Rolfun had shown him a few weeks ago.
Beyond their ons and armor, the dwarf set the same pair of leather bracers, the silver ring with an emerald set in it, and the pouch of gold s that he had looted from the Boss’s chest ba the Dungeon. He also pced a small bag o the items, which would make carrying them a bit easier.
“Here you go,” the dwarf said, sliding the pile across the ter. “Try not to visit again for a while, S Bcksword.”
Krion chuckled wryly. “We’ll do our best.”
With their gear recimed, the dwarf returo his paperwork. After giving Hatsune a few mio get her armor ba, they made their way out of the building. Though still in the m, it was clear from the few students they saw hurrying around that csses were soon going to start. He must have been making a face because she stepped up to his side with an expression of .
“What’s wrong?”
“Just not looking forward to css,” he admitted. “Etiquette isly my strong suit.”
She giggled, her earlier shyness having faded. “You? Struggle with manners? I ’t imagine.”
“Laugh it up,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Meanwhile, you get to rex while I suffer.”
Hatsune smirked, hoisting the bag of loot onto her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll find somewhere near your css to wait for you to finish. Just try not to embarrass yourself too much.”
Krion ignored her teasing, instead leading the way in the dire of the building that J-65 had told him would host his Etiquette and Courtly Manners css. While he did not yet know what to expect, he was absolutely sure of ohing.
It was going to be his least favorite css.
Another chapter on the longer side, I hope you all e. To those of you who have doowards my writing efforts, thank you so very much! I am another few steps closer to being able to write up more chapters per week!
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