Chapter 185: Smile

Kanna's POV:

A hot sensation brushed my skin. With a muddle-up mind and unsure feeling, I deliberately opened my eyes. But what was there to welcome me was a— ceiling?

Eh? Surprised. Where am I? I questioned myself. What is this place? I remember being wounded and dying. 

Right. I was in a state that was barely alive. Could it be-- the Valhalla of departed souls are real? Am I dead now? I asked myself. But how come everything was still fresh to my mind? Aren't I supposed to forget everything after dying?

I kept on asking myself as I was in a state of confusion. But then, when I looked around me, I noticed the room had no element that could be considered divine. No aspect of the room could be connected to the rumored Valhalla. They said the Valhalla of souls was all white and clean. Everything around it was shiny and elegant.

Yet, this room looked ordinary. A wall of bricks that could only be described as obsolete. There were even some traces of insects around it. And some spider webs were claiming the ceiling. Thankfully I'm not the type of person who is scared of such a thing.

My eyes landed on the windows. The warm sensation I felt was coming from it. The morning rays of the sun passed through it and directly caressed my skin on the face.

Wait, so I'm alive! I exclaimed in my mind. But how? How was I alive? My injuries weren't so light.

While I was in a state of bewilderment, suddenly, someone came into my view. A familiar figure came inside the room without knocking. Out of a sudden, upon seeing him, tears in my eyes flowed on their own as though they were not in my control.

"Eh?" I uttered unintentionally when the warm tears tracing my dearest skin. On the other hand, he stood with a nonchalant face while gazing at me without saying a single word. But perhaps, he was surprised to see my situation.

Embarrassing!

Right.

I hastily tried to control my tears as I felt embarrassed. However, it was pointless. I failed to stop it. As though my tears had thoughts of their own.

I wondered what was the cause of my tears. Am I happy that I was alive? Or sad that everyone died except the two of us? Or maybe because of a different reason. Right after seeing his face, the beating in my chest was kind of unusual. It was faster than how it should be.

Hic! Hic! Hic!

Perhaps the reason was all of the above.

Why? Why couldn't I stop my tears? And why is this guy just there standing in silence? Eh? More tears gushing out of my eyes! I want him to speak.

About three minutes of silence. I finally noticed him opening his mouth. "Let's go?" He said flatly.

"....."

And those are the only words that came out of his mouth. No comforting words? Not even asking if I was fine?

Insensitive!

My face frowned as I wiped my tears in a hurry. I was expecting romantic or emotional words from him. But this guy outright broke it.

"Where are we going?" I asked in a sobbing voice.

"Outside," he replied in his usual tone, short and direct.

This guy!

I yelled in my mind. "At least give me time to lament for the dead," I requested. 

True. I needed time to process and absorb everything.

Although I'm an experienced soldier, I was also a human. So, feeling miserable by losing my comrades was a natural thing. After all, they were the comrades who I fought side by side against our enemies.

He gazed at me for a second. "Hm, it's up to you. But if I were you, I wouldn't waste my time with nonsense."

I almost fell off of the bed from his reply.

How cold! I wanted to yell at him. But my tongue retreated. For some reason, I could not bring myself to get angry at him. Ahh-- this is so weird!

Well, since he is the commander. There's nothing I could do.

Wait, I remembered I was gravely injured. Upon remembering it, I made a quick assessment of myself. No pain? No numbing or any discomfort either! What? Where are my wounds and injuries?!

"Don't worry, you are thoroughly healed," he suddenly spoke. I did not even voice out my surprise for the disappearance of my injuries. But how come his words precisely answered the question in my mind. Perhaps he read it on my face. Am I that easy to read? Dammit, my face was burning.

Gosh!

"....."

"Healed?" I repeated his words.

"Yes!" He nodded with his usual nonchalant face. This guy, although he was so young compared to me, he acted so maturely.

"How did… Wait, was it you who did it?" I changed my question.

"....."

Suspiciously, he suddenly fell silent.

"Uhm, regardless, it's better to come outside. It wasn't truly important to know who healed who. What's more important is that you're safe."

I wanted to disagree with his words that it wasn't important to know who healed me, but his last line made my puny heart skip a bit.

"....."

Am I under a powerful control-type spell?

This is bad. Really, really bad. I could not calm myself.

Hah! I sighed deeply.

"Okay…" I nodded. Then, followed him.

"Wha—!"

After coming outside, I subconsciously gawked, dumbfounded by what I saw.

"Oh, hey, Miss Kanna! How are you?" Shouted the soldier named Bross.

"Wassup!" The woman who led the scouts also greeted her.

Everyone was staring at her with warm smiles. Not only the two of them, but the other soldiers were there too. They were busy doing random things. But most of them were cleaning the area.

"What? How? Everyone is alive?!" I failed to control my surprise.

"As you see."

Said the person beside me as though it was an obvious matter.

No way!

I saw it when most of them were bathing in their blood. Not even twitching. Maybe some of them lost consciousness but are still alive. However, being that all of them were lively doing chores at the moment, it was unthinkable! Perhaps It was all just a dream? I tried pinching my face. Ouch! Dammit, it really hurts.

"How did it happen?" I asked him; the person beside me.

Yet again, he shrugged his shoulders in reply to my question.

Although he was cold and so secretive, he was the most reliable commander I've known.

I didn't even notice when tears flowed on my face once again. Without waiting for his verbal reply, "Thank you…" I told him. I put all my feelings in those words.

"....."

"Woah! The commander made Miss Kanna cry!"

"Wait, what? The commander teased her?!"

"Oh! That's no good!"

"Uh, eh, no, it wasn't what you think!" Kanna said stammeringly.

But soon everyone laughed.

HAHAHA!

No! They just teasing me!

When I glanced beside me, the time had seemed stopped.

That nonchalant guy showed a smile?!