[Two months since the Scholar met the Doctor]
The battlefield had finally fallen quiet.
Smoke drifted across the ruined ground while distant explosions continued to rumble beyond the horizon.
Abertha sat beside Ace, biting down on a strip of cloth as she worked.
Ace had a small hole through his hand.
A nasty wound, but nothing immediately life-threatening.
Abertha poured alcoholic wound cleaner over it.
Ace hissed.
[Abertha]: You idiot. If Scout hadn't killed that sniper, you would've lost your head instead of getting this wound.
She examined the injury more closely.
[Abertha]: Damn it... the arrowhead was covered in Originium dust. Those bastards are getting desperate.
Ace looked at her.
Then slowly glanced behind her.
An arrow was lodged straight through Abertha's chest.
More specifically—
Directly through her heart.
The shaft protruded from her back, the fletching stained dark with blood.
Ace stared.
Then looked back at her face.
[Ace]: ...Look who's talking about safety.
Abertha continued cleaning his wound as though nothing was wrong.
[Ace]: You're the girl who ran straight into enemy fire to drag me out.
He pointed weakly toward her back.
[Ace]: I remember you had twenty-something arrows sticking out of you while you were carrying me here.
[Abertha]: Doesn't matter now.
She tightened the bandage around his hand.
[Abertha]: You're alive.
A pause.
She reached for a small surgical instrument.
[Abertha]: That's what matters.
Ace stared at the arrow through her heart.
[Ace]: You're saying that while an arrow is literally sticking through your heart.
She calmly held out a piece of cloth.
[Abertha]: Bite down on this.
Ace looked at the cloth.
Then at Abertha.
Then at the flask hanging from her waist.
His expression slowly changed.
[Ace]: ...Can't you just give me some of that instead?
Abertha stared at him.
[Abertha]: Because you'll drink it.
[Ace]: That's insulting.
[Abertha]: It's accurate.
Ace sighed and reluctantly took the cloth between his teeth.
Abertha picked up her surgical instrument.
She paused.
[Ace]: What exactly are you going to do?
[Abertha]: Remove the contaminated tissue before the Originium starts crystallizing.
Ace's eyes widened.
[Ace]: ...That sounds painful.
[Abertha]: It is.
Ace's expression went pale.
[Ace]: Can you at least warn me before—
Abertha began cutting.
His entire body jolted.
[Ace]: GENTLE! BE GENTLE!
Abertha calmly continued.
[Abertha]: I'm being gentle.
[Ace]: YOU'RE CUTTING INTO MY HAND!
[Ace]: THAT IS NOT WHAT GENTLE MEANS!
Abertha glanced at him.
[Abertha]: Would you prefer I amputate it?
Ace immediately stopped screaming.
A brief silence.
[Abertha]: Then hold still.
Ace clenched the cloth between his teeth again.
A muffled scream followed.
Abertha sighed.
Then finally glanced down at the arrow protruding from her own chest.
[Abertha]: ...After I'm finished with you, I suppose I should remove this.
Ace slowly looked at the arrow.
Then at her.
[Ace]: You forgot about it?
Abertha paused.
[Abertha]: I was busy.
Ace stared at her.
[Ace]: You're insane.
Abertha continued treating his hand, completely unfazed.
[Abertha]: I've been told that before. So, drinks are on you tonight if we survive this siege.
[Ace]: You're a great doctor, but you're a terrible alcoholic who'd probably make alcohol out of medical supplies if you ran out.
Abertha paused.
Ace stared at her.
[Ace]: ...Don't tell me you've actually done that.
Abertha smiled innocently.
[Abertha]: But you have to admit, I make great beer.
[Ace]: You made beer with lemon, water, and disinfectant alcohol.
Abertha shrugged.
[Ace]: And somehow...
He took another sip, thinking carefully.
[Ace]: ...despite the weird aftertaste, it's actually good.
Abertha grinned.
[Abertha]: See? I'm a medical professional.
[Ace]: That's not how medicine works.
[Abertha]: It is if you're desperate enough.
[Ace]: There's actually something I've been wanting to ask you.
Abertha glanced at him while continuing to treat his hand.
[Ace]: Where did you live before all this? What were you doing?
Abertha was quiet for a moment.
[Abertha]: I had just finished my medical studies.
She tightened the bandage.
[Abertha]: Then I was thrown straight into a war.
[Ace]: Well, can't—
An arrow suddenly whistled past his head.
Abertha immediately grabbed him by the collar and yanked him down.
The arrow buried itself in the wall behind them.
[Ace]: ...You know, I was going to say something.
[Abertha]: You can say it after we stop getting shot at.
She cautiously glanced over the ruined barricade.
More arrows were already being fired toward their position.
[Abertha]: Snipers. Why are they throwing everything they have at us today?
[Ace]: I don't know.
He carefully peeked over the barricade.
His expression immediately hardened.
[Ace]: But judging by how many of them are here...
He ducked as another volley flew overhead.
[Ace]: I'm worried they're trying to suppress Scout and the others.
Abertha grabbed her medical bag and stood.
[Abertha]: Then we need to move.
A distant explosion shook the ground.
THOOM!
Both of them looked toward the enemy lines.
Abertha's expression darkened.
[Abertha]: If we stay here much longer, they'll start bombarding this position with Arts and mortars.
[Ace]: So we're falling back?
[Abertha]: We're moving to a better position.
[Ace]: That's a fancy way of saying we're running.
[Abertha]: Call it whatever you want. I'm not interested in standing here while they turn us into target practice.
Ace gave a quiet chuckle.
[Ace]: Fair enough. Though I've survived worse than a few mortar shells.
Abertha grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the next line of cover.
[Abertha]: And I'd rather not find out how much worse you can survive.
Ace glanced back toward the battlefield, his expression becoming serious.
[Ace]: Come on. Scout and the others are still out there. Let's make sure they know we're still fighting.
Abertha nodded.
[Abertha]: That's more like it.
She ducked as another arrow flew overhead.
[Abertha]: Now move, old man.
[Ace]: Old man?
He laughed under his breath.
[Ace]: I'll remember that, Doctor.
[Abertha]: Good. Remember it while you're running.
The two immediately broke into a sprint.
Abertha stayed close behind Ace, her Arts flowing continuously as she healed their wounds and strengthened his body.
Ace raised his weapon, deflecting the incoming arrows as they tore through the air.
CLANG!
Another arrow struck his guard and ricocheted away.
[Ace]: Come on! Where are our snipers and specialists?!
He deflected another arrow.
[Ace]: We're getting surrounded here!
The next second—
TWANG!
An arrow shot out from the ruins.
It struck one of the attackers directly in the shoulder, sending them staggering backward.
Another arrow followed.
Then another.
The enemy formation immediately began to break apart.
From somewhere within the ruined structure came a familiar voice.
A pause.
[Scout]: We were a little busy dealing with the enemy's heavy support that found us.
Ace glanced toward the ruins.
[Ace]: You could've mentioned that earlier!
[Scout]: You seemed busy.
[Ace]: WE WERE BEING SHOT AT!
Abertha calmly continued healing him.
[Abertha]: Technically, you still are.
[Ace]: I noticed!
[Chapter End]
[Sorry for the short chapter]