The Smiling Death

Morning arrived quietly.

Warm rays of sunlight filtered through the wooden windows, filling the room with a gentle golden glow.

Amon’s eyelids twitched. Slowly he opened his eyes.

His vision was blurry at first. He blinked several times until everything gradually came into focus. A wooden ceiling greeted him.

"..."

His memories slowly returned. He let out a quiet sigh.

’I’m alive and we defeated them.’

He turned his head slightly.

The room around him was spacious, lined with several wooden beds. It appeared to be the village’s healing center, where injured villagers were treated.

He lay on a soft mattress, his body wrapped in fresh bandages. Although most of the pain had subsided, a dull ache still lingered throughout his muscles.

Then his eyes shifted to the person sleeping peacefully beside him.

The bed wasn’t particularly large.

But it was just wide enough for two people.

Scarlett lay curled up close to him, her crimson hair spread gently across the pillow like flowing silk.

Her breathing was slow and peaceful.

Amon couldn’t help but smile.

"Scarlett."

He softly called her name.

"Scarlett."

Her eyelashes fluttered. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

Those beautiful amethyst eyes, clear as polished crystals, immediately met his own.

For a brief moment, she simply stared at him. Then relief washed over her face.

"Amon.You’re awake."

"Yeah."

A warm smile blossomed across her lips. Without saying another word, she shifted closer.

One arm slipped gently around his waist as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

Fortunately, most of the wound there had already healed beneath the bandages.

She closed her eyes once more.

"I’m glad."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I was so scared when you suddenly lost consciousness."

Her embrace tightened slightly.

Amon chuckled softly.

"Hehe...Don’t worry. You know I don’t die that easily. I’ve survived situations far worse than this."

"I know..."

She answered quietly.

"But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t worried."

Neither of them spoke after that.

Scarlett simply remained in his arms, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat as though reassuring herself that he was truly alive.

Amon smiled helplessly. He had missed moments like this.

The peaceful silence. Her warmth. The familiar comfort of her presence.

Just then—

Creak

The wooden door slowly opened.

"Let me check on his condition..."

A middle-aged physician wearing round glasses stepped inside.

The words caught in his throat.

"..."

His eyes landed on the pair lying together on the bed.

Amon awkwardly looked back at him.

Standing behind the physician were Marcus, Aisha, Eliana, and Seraphina.

The four of them had clearly come to check on him as well.

They peeked into the room from behind the doctor. The physician cleared his throat.

"Ahem... It appears our patient has finally awakened."

He smiled awkwardly.

"Though it seems we’ve interrupted something."

Scarlett remained completely unfazed. She didn’t move away. Nor did she release Amon from her embrace.

To her, everyone else might as well not have existed.

The moment Seraphina saw Amon awake. Relief filled her beautiful golden eyes.

"Amon!"

She hurried into the room.

Crossing the distance in only a few steps, she stopped beside the opposite side of the bed before lowering herself to one knee so that their eyes met.

Compared to Amon she looked much better. Most of her injuries had already healed. That she could walk around in morning perfectly fine.

Only a few small bandages remained visible. Her expression, however, was filled with worry.

"How are you feeling? Does anything still hurt? Do you feel dizzy? Weak?"

She fired one question after another without giving him time to answer.

Amon smiled reassuringly.

"I’m fine. Really. The doctor already patched me up. You don’t need to worry."

Seraphina stared at him for several long seconds. Then a faint tremble appeared in her voice.

"Idiot. Why did you step in front of me? Why did you take Alaric’s attack instead?"

Her hands tightened slightly.

"If that sword had struck just a little above..."

She couldn’t finish the sentence. Her golden eyes had already become slightly moist.

Amon’s smile softened.

"How could I not? You were in danger. I wasn’t going to stand there and watch."

Seraphina immediately shook her head. "That doesn’t mean you should throw your own life away!"

Her voice rose slightly. It was rare, very rare. To see someone as calm as Seraphina genuinely angry.

Even Marcus and the others exchanged surprised glances.

Amon scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Sorry."

Seeing how shaken she was. He honestly felt guilty.

"But I know... if you were in my situation.. you had done the same."

Seraphina let out a quiet sigh. After a long moment, she finally spoke.

"True. If our positions had been reversed. I probably would have done the same."

Amon smiled. "I knew it."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"But...Promise me. Don’t do something so reckless again. At least...not without thinking."

Amon nodded obediently.

"...Alright. I promise."

Only then did the tension leave Seraphina’s shoulders. The room finally felt peaceful once again.

"Tch! That’s enough, you lovebirds."

Aisha folded her arms as she walked into the room, a teasing smile appearing on her face.

Eliana covered her mouth and giggled.

"Amon really is popular."

Marcus let out a helpless sigh.

"I came here because I was genuinely worried about him. And here he is, peacefully enjoying time with his girlfriend."

Amon laughed. "Hey, thanks for worrying about me. I’m doing much better now."

He looked at each of them one by one.

"More importantly, are you all alright?"

Marcus nodded.

"We’ll survive."

Aisha stretched her sore shoulder.

"A few broken bones and cuts, but nothing serious."

Eliana smiled gently.

"The village physician treated all of us."

Amon let out a relieved breath.

"Good. Then I can stop worrying."

He glanced at Scarlett before grinning mischievously.

"And besides.. I’ve earned the right to enjoy a little peace after nearly dying, haven’t I?"

"Tch."

Aisha rolled her eyes.

"You’re still shameless."

Laughter filled the room.

The village physician stepped forward with a warm smile.

"Alright, enough chatting."

He stopped beside Amon’s bed.

"How are you feeling, young man?"

Amon thought for a moment before answering honestly.

"Much better. My body still aches a little, and I’m starving. But other than that, I feel fine."

The physician nodded with satisfaction.

"That’s perfectly normal. You lost a great deal of blood and suffered severe internal injuries. The healing potion saved your life, but your body still needs time to recover."

He picked up a clean roll of bandages.

"Now then. Let me examine your wounds and replace these bandages."

Scarlett quietly opened her eyes.

Without saying a word, she gently released Amon and stood up from the bed.

After straightening her clothes, she looked at the physician.

"Please examine him carefully. We’ll wait outside."

The physician smiled reassuringly.

"Of course. I’ll make sure he’s recovering properly."

Scarlett gave a small nod before walking toward the door.

Seraphina followed shortly after.

"So we’ll leave him to you."

Marcus, Aisha, and Eliana also stepped out one after another, leaving Amon alone with the village physician.

As the wooden door closed behind them. The room became quiet once again.