Chapter 114 - The Apothecary

They all had adrenaline pumping through their veins, that was why they did not notice their skins being sore and burnt lightly from the bright explosion after Yin exterminated the Seraphim.

"June?"

Kai called out to the rookie.

There was no response from the kid.

Yin was plopped on the floor, unconscious. His Nix Eyes had already been deactivated. But he was using it far longer than he should have, he was way past his limit already, yet the white haired Slayer forced it.

June Alcindor's lips had turned pale, as well as his skin. If they did not get him to a healer as soon as possible, it would be too late already.

Kai powered through his fatigue and injures and wrapped June Alcindor's hands with some rags to stop the bleeding.

"H-How did I do, sir Kai?"

The rookie managed to mouth out.

"You're a soldier. A damn fine one at that."

Kai Xin shed a tear.

Everyone there knew that it would be too late to bring the kid to Niflheim in under ten minutes in their current situation.

"Hush now. We'll get you home."

Kai slowly walked back towards the direction of Niflheim.

Zachary got up on one knee and helped Cosette Akim up as well.

They both went towards Yin and carried him on both of their shoulders.

"Shit. These burns hurt."

Cosette whispered under her breathe.

"Yeah. Tell me about it."

Zach retorted back.

Kai Xin's squad limped back towards home.

Zach wanted to console his teacher, but even he knew that the Dragon was not prepared to talk about what had just happened.

It was particularly heavy on him because he was the one who gave out the order.

"I'm sorry, June."

He said to himself while watching the almost lifeless body of the Wind Slayer rookie.

The S Rank Fire Slayer was battling in and out of consciousness himself as well.

With what little strength they had left, they managed to get back home without any stray monsters or Angels standing in their way.

After arriving at the Outer Gates, a low ranked Slayer stopped them right in their tracks.

"Halt! You must identify yourself, your affinity, your organization if you ever have one, and lastly, your rank-!"

Kai Xin pushed him out of the way.

"Get the hell out of the way!"

The Slayer did not even protest or fight back, he saw the bloodlust and panic in the Dragon's eyes.

He had finally recognized Kai, he bowed and apologized.

"Sorry for that."

Cosette said sorry in behalf of Kai Xin.

"J-Just what happened to you guys out there?"

The Slayer asked.

"Wait for the papers, buddy."

Zach said while he panted.

Carrying Yin while they were on the brink of passing out themselves definitely did not help.

The Slayer helped them bring the C Rank Lightning Slayer to safety.

Isabelle and Gavin were there, waiting for them.

Both of them ran towards Kai who was carrying June Alcindor's now lifeless body.

Upon seeing Isabelle, Kai Xin ordered her to heal him up.

"Heal him! Quick!"

He shouted.

Isabelle just looked down, avoiding Kai Xin's gaze.

Gavin placed his both of his hands on his friend's shoulders.

"Snap out of it! You know full well it is too late!"

The Serpent Summoner said.

Kai sighed and fell on the floor.

Gavin caught him before he could hit his head against it.

They all brought the Slayers to the Grand Castle for them to be healed and to study the effects of suppressor-removal casting of the body on June's corpse.

The skies were covered up by something large, it was the SSS Rank Basilisk Slayer's emerald dragon, illuminating the skies above into a green tint.

He got off from his ride and asked his dragon to stand by in the Grand Castle's courtyard.

Artorias Khalil made his way up the stairs towards the apothecary, his strides quickly turned into a sprint.

The SSS Rank Slayer burst through the door quickly.

He stared at Kai Xin, Yin Sohaya, Cosette Akim, and Zachary Lancaster's knocked out bodies.

With his back turned towards him was Gavin Khalil, his brother.

"Any casualties?"

Asked the number one ranked Slayer in the leaderboards.

"Yeah. A rookie."

Gavin responded back.

"I see. How unfortunate."

He replied back.

"Our mission is supposed to be for tomorrow, not tonight. Why are you here?"

Gavin asked him.

"I came here to see my little brother; what kind of question is that?" Art chuckled. "That is one part of it, anyway. I heard that they were fighting a Seraphim. Which one here is June?" Artorias took out the distress letter written by the Wind Slayer out from his pockets. "June…Alcindor?"

"In the morgue downstairs."

Gavin clicked his tongue.

Artorias did not say anything back.

"Why did they not just send you on a solo mission to hunt down the Seraphim?"

Gavin asked his brother.

"The High Council probably did not know that they would be sending this squad to fight against a Seraphim. Trust me, if they had known and were trying to keep that kind of information under wraps, I would still know about it."

Art pulled out a chair and sat down next to Gavin.

"Damn. Kai Xin really had his work cut out for him this time, huh?"

"Yeah. I still can't believe they made it out there in one piece."

Artorias stared at the other bed ridden people.

"Which one of these are your rookies?"

Gavin pointed towards Zach and Yin.

Art then placed his fingers below his chin.

"Interesting, you and Luken managed to recruit some interesting faces once again. That's good."

"I suppose it is."

Gavin responded.

"You have not been visiting mother as much lately."

The Serpent Summoner said to his brother.

"I've been busy, Gav. Real busy."

Gavin scoffed.

"Still, you could not have made the time of the day to visit her once in six months?"

An expression of annoyance was painted on the Serpent Summoner's face.

"Trust me. If I wasn't busy, I would laze around at home all day, every singled day. Nothing beats mom's homemade cooking, right?"

The Basilisk Slayer retorted back.

"And do you mind If I ask you what this 'thing' is that is keeping you too occupied?"

He asked.

"I do mind, in fact. It's a secret, Gav."

Artorias said while scratching his little brother's head.

"Stop that."

Gavin cocked his head back.

"I do not see Luken anywhere, I would guess you sent him out of the room for smoking or something…"

"He's not here. Luken is at the hideout training our representative for the Slayer Tournament."

Gavin replied.

Art then physically counted the Six Blades members on his fingers. "Oh. You guys still lack one more member, right?"

"We do. Why are you asking? Do not tell me you wish to join again."

"Nah. I am fine being on my own, honestly."

"Tch. That's what I thought."

Artorias' eyebrows furrowed.

"Why the long face? You and Luken seem to be handling the organization well enough, it would be overkill for me to join."

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of someone else inside the room. A knock was heard on the door.

"Who is it?"

Gavin said.

The door just opened, whoever it was just let himself in freely.

Disappointment was obvious on Gavin and Art's face after seeing that it was none other than the Inferno Garden leader – Ignis Silva.

"What a surprise to see you here, Artorias."

The SS Rank Fire Slayer said.

Accompanying him was none other than Hector Incendium, the boy still had that intense and stiff way of carrying himself.

"I could say the same to you."

The SSS Rank Slayer said as he chuckled.

"I came here to check up on Kai. I heard he was fighting one of the Twelve Seraphims."

Ignis said as he and Hector walked towards Kai Xin's bed.

"Hm. It seems their mission was a success."

He said while surveying Kai's condition.

"One rookie died, sir Ignis."

Hector whispered to him.

"A sacrifice that is very much worth it for the price of a Seraphim's life."

Gavin got up from his chair and held Ignis by the collar.

"Why don't you stop being an insensitive asshole and get yourself out of the room?"

"Oh dear, aren't you worked up. How scary!"

Ignis still made light of the situation.

Gavin slowly let him go.

Ignis Silva looked at the mirror in the room and fixed his clothes, after Gavin crumpled it up.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Tell Kai we will be waiting at home."

With that, Ignis vanished as quickly as he arrived.

Hector bowed to both the Basilisk Slayer and The Serpent Summoner.

"That kid…"

Art said.

"Yeah. He's a monster, power-wise."

Gavin replied back.

Yin's eyes slowly opened up.

Gavin ran towards him afterwards.

"Hey, Yin."

"G-Gavin? Where am I?"

"You are at the Grand Castle's apothecary floor. It's okay."

The Serpent Summoner made Yin calm down.