Chapter 90: Reunion
Dennis staggered backward. He pressed a blood-soaked hand against the side of his head, drawing harsh, ragged breaths. Blood dripped between his fingers to stain the stone floor beneath his boots. He lifted his gaze to Leo. The murderous hatred in his eyes had reached an entirely different level.
"You little bastard..."
"You actually bit me..."
A crazed smile twisted his lips.
"Hahaha..."
"Good..."
"Very good..."
Dennis reached into his pocket. When his hand emerged, a short military knife gleamed beneath the torchlight. His knuckles turned white around the hilt.
"This time..."
"I’m going to carve you apart."
Leo narrowed his bloodshot eyes. Though still tied to the wooden pole, he never broke eye contact with Dennis. A cold smile formed on his face, a sight that only fueled Dennis’ madness.
"You can still smile?"
"I’ll wipe that smile off your face forever!"
Dennis raised the knife, but a loud bang interrupted him. The heavy iron door burst open, and four guards rushed inside.
"Dennis!"
"Stop!"
The guards lunged at him without a second thought. Dennis swung the weapon in a blind arc.
"Get away!"
One guard barely dodged the blade before another tackled Dennis from behind. The room erupted into chaos.
"Hold him!"
"Take away the knife!"
Dennis thrashed like a trapped beast.
"Let me go!"
"I’m going to kill him!"
"I’m going to rip him apart!"
It took the weight of all four guards to pin him to the ground. Once they had him secured, another figure walked into the chamber. It was the training instructor. Wearing his usual indifferent expression, his gaze swept over Dennis before settling on Leo. For a long moment, the room was filled only with the sound of heavy breathing. The instructor broke the silence.
"Untie him."
The guards cut the ropes binding Leo. As the bindings fell away, Leo nearly collapsed. His legs shook from the sheer amount of blood he had lost, yet he forced himself to stay on his feet.
The instructor studied him for a moment before speaking in a flat tone.
"Leave."
That was all. Leo didn’t waste a single word. He turned and limped out of the torture chamber without looking back. Behind him, Dennis continued his fierce struggle.
"I’m going to kill him!"
"Do you hear me?!"
"I’ll kill that little bastard!"
The instructor ignored the threats and turned to the guards.
"Take him to the infirmary."
"Treat his wound."
"And keep him restrained until the Grand Elder decides what to do with him."
"Yes, Instructor."
Night had already fallen by the time Leo returned to the dormitory. The curfew bell would ring in a matter of minutes. He pushed open the wooden door, expecting a cheerful greeting, but the room was silent. Lia sat on the edge of the bed. Upon seeing him, she rose to her feet.
Leo frowned.
"Lia?"
"What’s wrong?"
"Did someone bully you?"
She didn’t answer. She walked over to him, stopping just a step away to examine his face. She took in his pale skin, the dried blood at the corner of his lips, and the bruises covering his body, as though trying to memorize every detail. Without warning, she wrapped both arms around him.
Leo stiffened. A second later, warm tears soaked into his shirt.
"I’m sorry..."
Her trembling voice barely rose above a whisper.
"I’m so..."
"So sorry..."
Leo blinked in confusion.
"What happened?"
"Why are you apologizing?"
Lia shook her head.
"I..."
"I’m sorry..."
She refused to say anything else. Leo patted her back. He had no idea what had happened, but he could feel her intense fear.
"It’s alright."
"I’m here."
"Nothing happened."
After crying for a while, Lia calmed down. Words felt unnecessary. They lay down on the narrow bed, and Lia held onto Leo’s arm. Leo stared at the wooden ceiling. Sleep evaded both of them that night.
Before dawn, the familiar bell echoed throughout the dormitory. Another day of training had begun. Leo noticed a shift in Lia’s behavior right away. She was unusually quiet. She didn’t complain or ask him questions along the way. She just followed behind him, and during breakfast, she barely touched her food.
A crease formed on Leo’s forehead. Something had clearly happened. Yet, every time he asked, she offered a weak smile and shook her head.
"I’m okay..."
Her answer only deepened his worry. Morning training proceeded without issue. Hours later, the trainees arrived at the checkpoint filled with stone backpacks. As the guards prepared to lighten Lia’s load and triple Leo’s, Lia stepped forward.
"I’ll carry mine."
Everyone paused. Leo shook his head.
"No."
"I’ll handle it."
Lia stubbornly grabbed her backpack.
"I can do it."
Leo sighed.
"Lia..."
"This isn’t something you can force."
"I have to."
Her tone was soft, but firmer than he had ever heard before.
"I don’t want to burden you anymore."
Leo froze. For a brief moment, he felt as though those words carried a hidden meaning. After a long silence, he nodded.
"...Alright."
"But if you can’t continue..."
"You stop immediately."
Lia nodded.
"I promise."
At first, everything seemed fine. Lia struggled, but she continued climbing, taking step after step. Then, halfway up the mountain, her vision blurred. The world spun around her, and her legs gave way.
"Big Brother..."
Before Leo could reach her, her tiny body collapsed onto the rocky trail.
"Lia!"
Leo dropped his own backpack and caught her before she struck the hard earth. Her face had turned deathly pale. She was completely unconscious.
A moment later, the instructor arrived. He looked down at the unconscious girl before turning his attention to Leo.
"You failed."
Leo ignored those words. He looked directly into the instructor’s eyes.
"She needs medical treatment."
"Take her to the infirmary."
The instructor remained silent.
"Please."
It was the first time Leo had ever pleaded for anything. After a prolonged pause, the instructor nodded.
"...Very well."
A short time later, the infirmary doors opened. Hilda looked up from the patient she was treating. Behind her stood a teenage girl in a white medical assistant’s uniform, her long dark hair tied back as she organized bottles of medicine. At the sound of the opening door, the girl turned around. The tray slipped from her grasp with a loud clatter, sending glass bottles rolling across the floor. Her eyes widened.
"...Leo?"
"...Lia?"
Leo lifted his head. For a fleeting second, he forgot about every injury covering his body.
"...Selena?"
The three of them stared at one another in complete disbelief. Hilda looked from Leo, to Lia, and then to Selena. A look of surprise crossed her face.
"You..."
"...know each other?"