Chronicles of the Darcsen Brotherhood

Chapter 36: A day to remember

I slowly woke up, hearing familiar voices around. When I opened my eyes, with my vision still blurry I saw them, my friends.

"I think he's waking up." I heard Nazir saying.

They seemed very relieved. On the outside of the tent that I was in I saw Zanna crying, being comforted by Nanah. I knew she was strong, but I also knew that she was holding her own tears back. When Nazir got out of the tent to talk to them they ran to the tent.

"Brother! Are you alright?" Zanna said, still crying.

I tried to talk, but I didn't had the strength to, all I could do was give her a thumbs up. She smiled.

"Whatever they did to him in there must have drained a lot of his energy. He'll need to rest until further notice." Mannar said.

"I'm going to call Richard. He said he wanted to see you once you were awake." Nazir said to me.

I affirmed positively nodding my head and then he left.

A few minutes later he was back with Richard and Frederic.

"It's nice to see that you're doing well so far. Thanks to you many have been saved. Your solider brought back the cure, it was in the lab you were taken to." Richard said.

"And now all the warpacks have a debt to you and all of your comrades." Frederic said.

"We'll let you rest now, we hope you get better soon. We need you at the battlefield." As Richard and Frederic were leaving Richard stopped.

"Oh yes! I almost forgot. Patient Zero is recovering, thanks to you. Bianca also said thanks, in her own special way." After he said that they left.

"We should probably let you rest to, c'mon people." Nazir said.

As they were leaving I hold on to Nanah's hand. All the other ones left, except for her.

"What is it?" She asked me, with a low voice.

Even now she was trying to hide her tears.

I waited for her to get closer to me and then I gently stroke her hair. I was trying to tell her it was okay for her to cry, but I think she got the message because I could already see some tears running down her cheeks, sparkling while the sunshine that entered the tent passed through them.

"I'm so sorry I left you there!" She hugged me.

The look on her face was as if she really thought it was her fault that I was captured. I tried telling her that it wasn't her fault. If it wasn't for that stupid bear trap that the imperials had put there, none of this would ever happened. I tried to speak, but since I was still too weak all I could do was consulate her.

We kept like that for hours and hours. She was so afraid of losing me again that she got herself a sleeping bag and slept right there on the floor by my side. I was sad seeing her like that. I thought that I could keep her from being worried about me, but this scenario has repeated for several occasions now. She was worried about me and I think she will always be, just like I am worried for her. The only thing that I could do now to ease that anguish in both our hearts was to end this was as fast as I could.

On the next morning I was feeling better now. I still wasn't able to talk very well, just a whispery husky voice. I looked at my side and Nanah was still there, sleeping. I let her resting there. I think she deserved after all that happened last night. When I got out I saw all the warpacks, still helping the ones that were recovering. They saw me and out of nowhere they started to applaud; Like as if I was a great hero, but I felt guilty, I was no hero, at least not yet. Not until this war is over and I make sure that no more civilians are being hurt by the Empire, Darcsens or not.

Richard approached me.

"So, how are you feeling?"

He didn't applaud or anything. I think that he felt the same way and knew that it wasn't the time to celebrate yet. There was to much ahead of us to just think about such things.

"I'm fine, at least for now…"I whispered.

"Good. I think you'll be glad to know that we received information about those Darcsen slave soldiers."

"How?"

"A Militia soldier contacted us via radio, he said he's name was Gin and that you would understand."

"Alright, I'll make sure we'll be ready to move tomorrow, but I need to do something first. Where are the ones that didn't make it?"

Richard took me out of the Warhouse, where I could see a big improvised cemetery. Many corpses were still not buried. When I got closer everyone that were around, digging the graves stopped and looked at me. I think they didn't understand why I was there. I clearly didn't look fully healed yet.

"Can you get me a shovel?" I whispered to Richard.

"Someone give me a shovel!" One of the soldiers there gave him one and he gave it to me.

I approached one of the graves that was being dug and continued digging it. When Richard saw me he asked for a shovel to himself and helped me and asked me:

"Why are you doing this even when you're not even fully recovered?"

I answered:

"To remind myself what I'm fighting for. The number of victims on this war is increasing quickly and it doesn't matter if they died by guns or biological weapons. As long as this war goes on that number will continue to increase and it'll ruin more and more lives. I think I owe them at least a decent burial for what they are fighting for as well."

As I said that, I notice that others were coming to help, even the ones that were recovering. All of the warpacks came to help eventually, even my own. With Nanah by my side we finished digging those graves and putting the bodies of those who wished to fight for their country before noon. Even Bianca was there, it surprised me a little.

When she saw me she walked to me and when she was close enough she said.

"I guess I was wrong about you, not all men are the same. If it wasn't for you my friend would have died from the imperial disease. Thank you." This time it didn't felt like as if she was trying to be arrogant. She sounded very sincere.

"You're welcome." I said.

"But I won't be foolish, just because I trust you doesn't mean I'll trust any man, I can't simply change from overnight. If you are in any need of assistance, you can call on the Colossal Amazons."

"I'll keep that in mind."

As we finished burying the dead we let their comrades to say goodbye and went on our way back to the Warhouse.

"So, what are we going to do now boss?" Nazir asked me.

"We'll prepare to move out back to the Militia H.Q. Talk to Gurol to get more ammo and see if Lokky and the others got the tanks fixed already."