Abyssal Awakening

After Selen left, Alice dressed her wounds herself.

Her work was messy compared to Selen and made Alice understand how much care Selen took in helping her recover. Yet despite that, she continuously threw herself into danger. Anyone would be annoyed and angry not just Selen.

In fact, some might've even been angrier sooner.

'I should probably apologise to her.' Alice sighed.

'Really? I thought it was pretty okay though. Danger is naturally part of life and if we didn't put ourselves in harm's way, we wouldn't have saved people back at the port.'

'I mean for going to the frontlines and promising to help. Even though the chance is unlikely, we'll need to make a move if it gets out of hand. Selen is worried about that part.' Alice clarified.

'I kind of get it kind of don't. Risk and reward come together naturally. There is no reward without risk and no risk without reward. You can't just expect to get one side and not the other.' Alyss folded her arms in confusion.

'Yeah, but this is entirely avoidable. I think that's the issue.' Alice shook her head before looking through her outfits.

Picking out a warm set today, consisting of a large hooded jacket and oversized sleeves with a skirt, tights and warm boots, Alice tied her hair into a twin tail and got some breakfast.

Her outfit choice was naturally different from what the northerners usually chose but she didn't care about the glances.

She wanted to look for Selen but she was nowhere in sight.

Letting out another sigh, she grabbed the new fruit and ate it slowly.

Roaming around the outpost, she took this time to memorise the sight of this location. The mountains, the rivers and the houses that are built here.

Soon, they'll be evacuating this location and the sights will be lost to war.

And as expected, Torgeir soon made the announcement at the centre of the outpost.

A call for retreat and for all civilians to prepare to leave for the capital. Most of the civilians reacted how Alice had predicted.

After the announcement for the civilians came the next order for the Warriors.

To pave a path of retreat for the allies on the frontline. This outpost will be abandoned completely once they depart and rather than coming back, they'll be travelling inland to the next outpost.

While the warriors were gathering all the supplies they could carry in order to pave a path of retreat, Alice tried to talk to Selen but she simply ignored her and helped out the warriors.

'Seems like she doesn't want to talk for the time being.' Alice scratched her hair while Alyss shrugged.

'Let's leave her be for now. Since we're abandoning this outpost, let's go see old man Ragnar. I'm not sure how he's going to move his hut but if he's a Lord, it shouldn't be that difficult.' She suggested as Alice nodded her head.

###

Watching Alice leave, Selen let out a frustrated sigh.

"Did you have a fight with Alice?" Egil asked curiously.

Since the two of them were placed on the vanguard squad during the previous attack on the Port, the two of them have gotten to know each other a little better.

"Somewhat. She doesn't care about the wounds on her body after all." Selen huffed in annoyance while grabbing a large stack of boxes and hoisting it onto her shoulder.

"She's a warrior at heart huh? Sometimes duty calls and you just have to tough it out." Egil let out a laugh while Selen punched him on the rib, causing him to flinch in pain.

The battle by the gates caused wounds on Egil's body. No matter how durable he is, he still covered for everyone during the retreat. Even after healing blood, some of the wounds remained.

Unlike Alice, he couldn't abuse the healing properties of healing blood. He had to take it in small doses or else side effects would begin to manifest on his body.

Every warrior takes care of how much Abyss Blood they drink so the Abyss doesn't claim their body.

"You're one to talk. I have two idiots and neither wants to live with a healthy body." Selen spat out in annoyance as Egil revealed an awkward smile.

"I never needed to bother about attacks anyway. This is just an… exception since I had to cover for people."

"Can you really call it an exception if it happens more than once?" Selen rolled her eyes.

"The world's changing for the worse. You saw the beasts that ambushed us. Can you really say with confidence that you can take on their attacks without care? Hell, if Alice wasn't injured, your defences would be reduced to nothing."

"Seems a little exaggerated." Egil shrugged, not believing her at all.

"I wish. Recall the attack of the beast, one that wiped out almost half of our numbers. Now imagine Alice throwing out tens of them at once without care." Selen scoffed.

She could still remember the power held behind Alice's attack.

"Seriously?" Egil blinked his eyes.

"Seriously."

If Alice was this strong then what caused her to be injured in the first place?

"Whatever, if she wants to heal her body she'll stop trying to kill herself against strong people. I'm not going to go out of my way worrying about her if she doesn't give a f*ck herself."

The more Selen thought about it, the angrier she got. Was she trying to heal her body or was Alice? Because so far, it felt like she cared more about it than Alice did.

Her nonchalant attitude after returning half dead pushed her past the limit. Once was acceptable. Accidents happen.

But every battle felt like Alice was going to die. That was taking it too far.

"Now now, don't be like that. People make mistakes and they try to change. Didn't Alice try to talk to you earlier? Why don't you at least talk it out since you two are journeying together." Egil tried to persuade her but Selen glared at him before jabbing him in the ribs again.

"So you're taking her side in this?"

"Hey! Ouch! I'm not taking anyone's side okay?" Egil rubbed his ribs in pain.

He knew how much Selen cared about taking care of the body. Even though she wasn't a healer or a cleric, she prioritised it more than anyone to an abnormal degree.

However, at the same time, he also understood Alice's side of things. Sometimes things happen and you just have to step up to the task no matter how much damage it may cause to you. Because other lives are at stake.

He might not have cared before, but it was different now. He wants to redeem himself for his past actions. To become a better man so that his mother wouldn't have to worry anymore. Thus he needed this chance to prove himself on the frontlines. To make a large contribution and get the money and manpower he needs to protect her.

If it was him, even if he's on the verge of death, he would do the same as Alice and put his life on the line.

"Look, just talk to her and get her to understand when you get the chance okay?"

Pouting a little, Selen let out a sigh before nodding her head in agreement.

"Later then. She seems like she's planning to look for someone so I'll leave her be. I didn't hit you too hard on the ribs right?" Selen glanced over as Egil revealed a grin.

"I'm tougher than I look."

"Like hell you are. Whimpy as hell when I was pulling the spearhead out of your ribs." Selen slapped him on the arm instead of the ribs.

"Anyone would be in pain when they have a spearhead in their ribs!"

Who wouldn't yelp in pain with that kind of wound???

Meanwhile, Selen thought back to Alice's pain tolerance. Even with her wounds, she rarely let out a cry of pain.

###

Making her way to Ragnar's house, Alice noticed Ragnar packing up his luggage.

"Back already? I don't have any spare fruit for you this time." Ragnar waved his hand as though shooing her away.

"I'm not here for fruit old man, who do you think I am?" Alice's smile twitched.

"A gremlin who's emptied out my pantry of fruit and even had to take some from my tree."

Alice couldn't deny it.

"Setting that aside, how are you going to take your garden with you? Or is it like a private space or something?" Alice asked curiously. She wasn't sure if the garden was bound to this hill or not.

"I have my methods. Are you going back to the frontline?"

"Yep. I got hired to help out after all." Alice shrugged.

"With your body? Please do not tell me you're going to damage it again." He frowned as this girl was far too reckless.

"Well~ Only if something he can't deal with appears. If nothing happens I won't have to make a single move."

Letting out a sigh, Ragnar reached into his pouch and threw a small bag of powder towards Alice.

"If you get wounded heavily, crush the fruit and mix it with that powder. Apply it to the wound and it should speed up the healing process. Avoid using it if you can help it since it's a last resort."

Catching the bag, Alice opened it slightly and saw the crimson powder.

"What kind of powder is this?"

"Trust me, it's better if you don't know. It's pretty gross after all." Ragnar grinned as Alice raised an eyebrow. Since a potential Lord was saying this, she simply accepted it as a mysterious powder that could save her life when mixed with the fruit.

Just as she was about to thank him, she felt a deep chill down her spine. Ragnar stopped smiling at the same time as flickers of lightning and dark energy crackled across the outpost.