I stared at the notification flickering faintly in my vision. The system's voice, calm and precise, cut through the quiet aftermath of the battle.
[You have healed Kate Bishop. One of the protagonist's best friends.]
[Bonus Rewards will be supplied alongside when you complete first quest: Save the World.]
A slow smile crept across my face, unusual in its subtlety given the day's chaos. That little bonus… unexpected, but welcome. I lowered my gaze to where Kate lay among the ruined streets.
Her body, once charred and nearly unrecognizable, was now gradually returning to its original form. The jagged burn marks and singed clothing dissolved as the system's healing worked its magic. Even her hair, scorched in places, regained its soft, natural shine. Her breathing, though faint and shallow, steadied.
Yet, she did not wake. Her eyelids fluttered once or twice but then settled back, leaving her in a peaceful, fragile slumber. I crouched beside her for a moment, observing the contrast between the wreckage around us and the small, human figure who had somehow survived a blast meant to erase life itself. There was something humbling about it, in a way—the sheer will to cling to life in a place where death seemed to dominate.
Shalltear, standing quietly behind me, tilted her head as she noticed the subtle changes. "She looks… better, my lord. Fully restored?"
"Yes," I replied softly, brushing a gloved hand across the dirt-streaked shoulder she had before. "But she's still asleep. We won't move until she wakes up. She needs time."
Shalltear's crimson eyes glimmered with curiosity and concern, and she nodded. "Understood, my lord."
I exhaled quietly, standing and surveying the area around us. The streets were still empty, littered with debris from the previous battle, and the faint scent of ozone and burnt metal hung in the air. The storm clouds that had been churning in the distance were slowly receding, leaving a murky twilight behind. It was the kind of silence that felt both uneasy and fragile, as though at any moment, something else could surge out of the shadows.
Well, nothing I can't handle.
I let my gaze drift back to Kate, murmuring to myself. "Since she's not like us, she'll need food… water… supplies." My mind worked quickly, running through possible options for scavenging in this abandoned urban landscape. The streets might be dead now, but I knew better than to trust that nothing remained to threaten us. Still, survival meant preparation, and I couldn't afford to be caught off guard.
Shalltear's presence was reassuring, though she said nothing. Her quiet confidence gave the small area around us a sense of order, a calm in contrast to the chaos of the world beyond. I was grateful for that. Even though she was loyal to a fault, I valued her judgment and instinct in these kinds of situations.
"Once she wakes," I said, speaking more to myself than anyone else, "we'll continue our journey. But until then… we need a place to crash for the night. Somewhere safe enough that I can keep an eye on her and plan our next move." I scanned the ruined buildings nearby, calculating in my mind the safest option for temporary shelter.
Shalltear stepped closer, her parasol still closed but held at her side. "There are a few structures still standing a few blocks east. They're partially intact. Minimal risk of collapse, and the interiors could provide cover for the night."
I nodded in approval, appreciating the observation. "Good. We'll head there, quietly."
Finally, I spotted a building partially intact further down the street. It looked like it had once been a small warehouse or storage facility, its exterior scorched but structurally sound. Windows were broken, but they could be covered. The interior seemed spacious enough for a makeshift camp. This would do for tonight.
"This place," I said, gesturing toward the building. "We'll rest here. Make sure Kate is safe. Once she wakes, we'll decide our next steps."
~~~
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