Chapter 55

Gia, with tears brimming in her eyes, lowered her eyelids forcefully in sorrow. 

Her face contorted as tears streamed down below.

This is why she shouldn’t have given her affection. 

Because she dislikes this. Because she’s afraid.

She had never casually given a piece of her heart to anyone before. Why did she give it so easily to him?

In a place where seeing a colleague die and knowing someone turning into a zombie is commonplace, Gia firmly locked away her feelings. That way, she wouldn’t waver.

It was unavoidable not to get hurt. Some might say she was cold-hearted, but if Gia remembered and mourned for everyone dying, her heart would surely have become a ragged mess.

To protect her heart, not giving it away recklessly was the right choice. 

But why couldn’t she do that with Kalion? How long did they know each other? How close were they, even without really knowing each other?

“Gia… Gia. Ugh.”

As if coming to her senses, a bright red color returned to Gia’s eyes.

“Kalion.”

Gia forcefully pulled the fallen Kalion into a tight embrace. The control of strength was not as she intended, matching the heavy heart.

“Keeuk. G-Gia.”

“Yeah… Where? Where does it hurt?”

When Gia pulled Kalion away and asked, a cough burst from his mouth.

“I’m… fine.”

“What do you mean fine? You’re always fine…”

“Gia, are you okay?”

At Kalion’s words, trying to prevent the overflowing worries, Gia’s lips trembled. He really… takes care of her first. After fainting and barely waking up. 

Gia closed her eyes tightly, then opened them, taking a deep breath.

“Not okay.”

“Where, where does it hurt?”

Blood dripped from Kalion’s forehead as he quickly stood up. Pathetically. 

Even if she tried to bite her lips, the trembling didn’t easily disappear.

“Were you crying?”

Not knowing her condition, Kalion frowned and stroked Gia’s face with his thumb. His thumb, gently touching the reddened eye area, swept the surroundings to avoid causing pain. Kalion seemed unaffected, even with the bloodshot eyes and blood dried around his mouth.

“I didn’t cry.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“I didn’t cry.”

“Yes. I understand. By the way, what happened to Morrison?”

Ignoring Gia’s tear-streaked face and her statement that she didn’t cry, Kalion looked around. There was no sign of a body that seemed to be Morrison.

“I don’t know… He was causing a ruckus and suddenly ran out.”

“Suddenly, you say?”

“Don’t know when he’ll be back. We need to leave as well.”

“Understood.”

As Gia spoke, Kalion tried to stand up but groaned and bent down.

“Ugh.”

“Are you okay?”

Even without saying a word, Kalion’s breath, indicating pain, became rough.

“Do you want to get up?”

At Gia’s words, Kalion’s upper body straightened. Kalion, looking at Gia’s face filled with a willingness to lift him, clenched his teeth. The muscles around his jaw tightened, and Kalion, as if to reassure Gia, started walking as if everything was fine.

“It’s not that bad.”

“But still, rely on me!”

Gia forcefully offered her shoulders. Kalion, placing his arms on Gia’s slender shoulders, even in his body condition where he couldn’t refuse, looked for his comrades.

“Com-Commander. Ugh.”

At the groans heard from everywhere, Kalion hurriedly moved his feet. Gia, assisting him, placed her arms around Kalion’s thick waist.

“Is everyone okay?”

“Yes. We’re fine, except for losing consciousness. But…”

The unfinished words hinted at something that Kalion precisely understood. With a grim expression, he turned his head towards the direction where Rockt was lying.

Rockt.

The name couldn’t be uttered. The dry mouth, cracked by the lingering absence of the name that stayed and disappeared, had a bitter taste on the tip of the tongue. Kalion cautiously released his hand from Gia’s shoulder and knelt beside Rockt, looking in the direction where he lay.

“Rockt.”

“C-Commander.”

The calling voice had lost a lot of strength. Whether it was his limit or not, he couldn’t even cough now, just dividing the remaining breath a few times to breathe. 

Whether from losing a lot of blood or not, Rockt’s face was paler than the snow piled up around him, and the flowing breath contained the sound of metal. 

Even without anyone saying it, they all felt that this was Rockt’s end. 

Silence fell around them.

“Th-Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t say such things. Don’t say…”

Kalion, holding Rockt’s blood-soaked hand, looked at his eyes gradually losing brightness. Rockt’s last farewell is easily transmitted without words. In response to that farewell, Kalion’s red eyes were flooded.

Even as it overwhelmed him, he never broke eye contact. 

After a long gaze, Rockt slowly rolled his powerless eyes.

“G-Gia…”

“Uh, uh…”

“I’m sorry. Ugh.”

“Ah… No. Not at all. I’ve never harbored any feelings.”

Gia forcefully raised her hand, trying awkwardly to comfort Rockt, who was dying, by strongly expressing that she had never felt that way.

“I entrust our Commander to you… Ugh. Please.”

“Huh? Uh… Uh…”

Unexpected words made Gia express doubt, but she quickly agreed. It seemed that saying that was all Rockt wanted to do before closing his eyes. In response to Gia’s answer, as if relieved, the strength in Rockt’s arm, held by Kalion, gradually weakened.

“Don’t worry about your family. Go peacefully. My friend and comrade.”

Just in case, could he not go in peace due to worries about his remaining family? Kalion promised, looking into Rockt’s eyes, which were gradually losing their light.

The softening eyelids seemed to acknowledge.

“Rockt.”

In the disappearing warmth, Kalion gritted his teeth. Gia seeing the trembling shoulders, unsure of what to do, rolled her eyes in all directions.

Other members who were around Rockt also swallowed their tears with difficulty.

“Vice Commander.”

“Go in peace.”

Trembling voices bid their final farewell.

And with a thud, Rockt’s arm fell to the ground.

Was saying goodbye to someone always this heartbreaking? It felt as bitter as chewing various medicinal herbs at once. Gia, who had no talent for comforting others, awkwardly held Kalion’s trembling shoulders.

Kalion, who remained in the same posture, bowed his head and looked pitiful as if he wanted to convey something comforting. However, in such moments, what should one do? 

Gia, who had never properly accepted the parting with someone, couldn’t even grasp how to express it.

Closing her open mouth slowly, Gia knelt beside Kalion and hugged his broad back.

She wanted to share warmth, even a little. Trying to comfort Kalion in her own way, Gia patted him gently.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah…”

In Kalion’s moist voice, Gia’s feelings sank endlessly. Sensing Gia’s gaze, who looked at him with wet eyes, Kalion lifted his head and met her eyes.

Gia’s body, seeing his two eyes, stiffened. Inside them, there was not only sorrow.

It felt like the erupting lava exploded and soared in all directions. Unexplainable warmth was felt in those red eyes. The volcanic ash seemed to rush to Gia, covering her entire body.

“Morrison.”

Through Kalion’s tightly closed lips, the name spilled out with sorrow and anger that couldn’t be hidden, evident in his boiling eyes.

“Kalion.”

Calling with concern, Gia gently stroked Kalion’s hand.

As Gia gradually withdrew, Kalion stood up abruptly. The sorrow was deep, and the anger was long-lasting. 

There was no time to be immersed in the feeling of losing a comrade forever. It was now Kalion’s turn to stand as the commander of the knights.

“We need to recover the bodies of the remaining members as quickly as possible.”

“Yes.”

In response to Kalion’s firm voice, the surviving members busily moved around the cave. 

The bodies of comrades are distorted tragically. 

Until just a moment ago, they were comrades who exchanged stories while looking at each other, but now they lay cold.

The expressions of those looking at the bodies of their comrades conveyed horror, but their hands were busy. After collecting the bodies in one place, they gathered the belongings the fallen members had.

It was the best they could do at the moment.

Kalion embraced the lifeless body of Rockt lying on the ground. As he did, the ground was painted in a deep crimson. It was all Rockt’s blood.

The floor was still damp, indicating how much blood had been shed. Carefully moving Rockt’s body, Kalion looked at Rockt’s face one last time.

“I’ll come to get you soon, Rockt.”

The hand was cold. A hand without any warmth. Kalion, who couldn’t easily let go of that hand, reluctantly stood up.

“Everyone descends quickly. Our last campsite is our destination.”

At Kalion’s words, everyone moved efficiently. There was no safe place, but there was no complaint. When Kalion, leading them, exited the cave, his steps hesitated.

Unyielding footsteps. However, he had to move forward. Because he had a mission on his shoulders. Even if it was difficult, even if he wanted to give up, with the remaining members and Gia following him, Kalion had to forge ahead.

Kalion gathered his resolve and walked out of the cave.

It was time for him to take responsibility for the remaining ones as the commander of the knights.

* * *

As the sun set, they arrived at the last campsite where they had stayed before attacking Morrison. 

Fortunately, they had left all their belongings at the last campsite before capturing Morrison.

“Haah.”

When Gia exhaled, white vapor floated up outside. She absentmindedly stared for a moment before redirecting her gaze to Kalion and the members at the campsite.

The group was each silently doing their tasks. Kalion was no exception. 

As if suppressing the emotion of sorrow, everyone concealed their expressions and worked like robots, handling tasks without showing any signs of grief. It was as if now was not the time to be immersed in the feeling of loss.

Taking care of their injuries and treating the relatively unharmed ones, some members patrolled around the campsite. Kalion, having no significant injuries, was using the herbs and emergency medicine he brought to administer first aid.

Placing a sturdy-looking twig next to his injured ankle, Kalion started wrapping it with bandages. Seeing this, Gia, who had been gazing into the distance, approached him.

“I’ll do it for you.”

“I can do it.”

“Just let me.”

Before the request, Gia’s hands moved first. After undoing the partially wrapped bandage, Gia swiftly lifted Kalion’s leather pants.

As expected, the ankle was swollen considerably. Knowing that Kalion wasn’t the type to lean on others if it wasn’t necessary, Gia bit her tongue.

Even though he had come down here with this condition, he didn’t let out a single groan. 

There wasn’t even such stoicism among stubborn people. Nevertheless, even though it didn’t show, Kalion leaning on Gia felt heavy.