Unlike the festive mood outside, the emergency medic tent was quite. It filled with screams and suffering from patients just a minute ago. But the moment when they heard the news about the victory, no more emergency patient came. Minutes later, the patients in the tent were transferred to a wad.
Everyone left except Hans and the deads. In the tent that turned quite, Hans just sat on the corner of the tent while staring blankly with his brown eyes. In the whole two weeks, the war against the orcs, Hans rarely stepped outside the emergency medic tent. His black hair was messy; his body odor could contest the foul stench of the rotten body. And just like that, Hans only sat there for hours.
As he knew the slave about to come picking up the dead bodies, Hans stood up, dragging his body outside of the tent. While Hans inhaled fresh airs outside of the tent, he saw someone familiar. It was Crow with a thug-like smirk. Hans could guess Crow's intentions as he saw two blades on that man's hands.
"Please... not today." In half begging tone, Hans plead.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
As Crow moved, a particular sound came out from his wooden fake left leg. The music alone could make some people in the army scared shitless. Crow was infamous for his ruthlessness, that attitude alone let him into the soldiers rank. And the rumors he was clean up guys who did Division Commander dirty work won't help. His peers would avoid him as he was a wild beast that speaks with his fists.
"Now you scared shitless, motherfucker?" Crow widen his bulging eyes as he taunted Hans.
"Okay, I guess I will let off some steam."
'Beating someone that behead three orcs soldiers and impaled it outside of his tent is what I'm looking for.' As he thought that, Hans took the sword from Crow before he went to the hill. The place where the promised dual will take place.
*********
At the hill just outside of the city, the sky painted red as it was sunset combine with a fresh evening breeze, it was good weather, for a duel. Hans was not the same snot-nosed brat he was. The incident two years ago made him realize sometimes he needs violence to survive. After his slave status revoked, he learned how to fight as diligently as his study and medical training.
After two years, behind a facade of a typical scholar who had messy black hair, bright brown eyes, and noble-looking faces. Toned muscles were hiding behind his unkempt clothes. A sleeping beast no one should mess with.
Facing Hans was Crow, with his usual bulging eyes, long black hair that hides a part of his face, a fake left leg that brought fear instead of pity of a crippled. An infamous frontline soldier that body counts increased every war.
" Aren't you tired of fighting? We just conclude..."
"Hyargh!!" Without waiting for Hans to finish, Crow ambushed him by dashing before he tried to stab Hans's guts.
'You jerk!' Hans barely dodged the attack while he thought that.
They were dancing a different tune as Hans unrefined swordsmanship heavily depends on his physical prowess and raw talents. Sometimes his calculatives tendencies make some of his moves a tad bit late.
On the other hand, Crow's unorthodox swordsmanship was from countless battles he fought. He used his unsteady footing to throw off his opponent rhythm, where its disturbing sound often confused his enemy, and sometimes his fake leg was used as a deadly weapon. It was a skill he created exclusively for him that was called 'tap step.'
'Whish'
As Crow saw an opening, He slashed Hans's from his left shoulder to his right rib cage. A deep cut that gushes out Hans blood. Instead of backing away, Hans gritted his teeth while aiming his sword to stab Crow's guts.
As if he predicted that, Crow makes a backward summersault while kicking face with his fake left leg. Two of Hans's teeth fell out while blood drips from his right cheeks. But again, Hans didn't back away. Instead, he held his sword high in reverse position and threw it to Crow's chest.
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'woosh'
As Crow just about to land from his back somersault, the sword pierced his guts through his back. Without waiting for Crow to regain his footing, Hans dashed to Crow before kicking Crow's sword from his right hand. Then Hans swiftly took Crow's sword before he stabs Crow's chest with it.
"Y-You bastard."
"Goodbye."
*******
"You've gotten creative."As Crow leave his remark, he touched the place where the stabbed wounds were. His lips curved into a wry smiled as he noticed not even a scratch left.' And I won't be surprised if he could resurrect the dead later'.
"It's been years, even your weird fighting style predictable now."
Hans replied while he closed his eyes, reminiscing the countless near-death experience when he fought Crow. If it was not for his healing abilities, he might have died a long time ago. Crow never showed mercy, loves to play dirty, and fought as if his life was on the line. Whenever he had the time, Crow came to Hans looking for a fight, a fight to the death. It was hell at first, over the time Hans could hold his own, and recently Hans starts winning battles.
"Heh, and after everything I did, you still won't show your true abilities." For the first time, Crow sound disappointed.' Now he can beat me normally; there is no way he will use his power to beat me in a fight.'
"S-Sorry, I can't risk anyone seeing me using it."
"Yes, don't fucking show it to anyone, only orc shaman can use enchantment magic." As Crow said that, he abruptly slaps Hans's head before he continued.
"When you leave this hell hole, don't look back. Two years ago, all of us wanted to survive, but only two of us came out alive. I don't think anyone back then wishes for you or me to survive; they only think of themselves. Regardless, our survival, because ten people enter the forest that night. Eight died while trying to survive, but they indirectly distracted the Gnolls enough for us to come out alive. So remember them, your life is the result of eight deaths. Never going down without a fight and never showing mercy as if your enemy's life much more precious then you. And-"
"Why you become chatty suddenly?" As Hans interrupted Crow's speeches, Crow kicked Hans's butt before he leaves his last remark.
"Fuck you. I'm leaving."
As Hans saw Crow leaving, a pigeon came flying to his right shoulder. On its right leg, a tiny paper roll attached. A bit surprised, Hans opens the small paper roll as it was the first time he received an emergency order from the army.
'Sir Rochenveilt expected you in his office.'
******
'Why he want to meet me?' Hans pondered as he walked to Sir Rochenveilt's office. Hans had the impression the head medic didn't like him much, he had his speculation, but he didn't know for sure. Through the courtyard, climbing three stairways, and finally the doors outside Sir Rochenveuilt's office, Hans decide he will just find the answers as he met the head medic.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Sir Rochenveilt, can I come-" As Hans knock on the doors and about to politely asked the permission to enter, Sir Rochenveilt interrupted.
"Just come in, I thought everyone knew we don't knock on my doors."
"Y-Yes, sir, I'm sorry." As Hans entered the spacious office room, he saw Sir Rochenveilt. A man in his late fifty, the mid area of his head was bald; his remaining hair was white, he was often mistaken as a hobbit race due to his small stature. The man himself didn't seem pleased as if he stepped on a dog's shit. As soon Hans entered the room, Sir Rochenveilt threw an envelope in front of Hans.
"Take that recommendation letter, bring it to Silverwell family in Parakol city. That family is renowned in the medical world, and I'm sure they will be happy to adopt you who have vast medical knowledge and adept in healing magic."
Hans picked the envelope with the head medic seal. His heart raced as he was excited with the news. 'I'm wrong about him, like Crow, maybe he cared for me.' As he thought that, Hans bowed his head before he muttered "T-Thank you." while trying his best to hold his tears. But before he decided to express his feeling more. The head medic interrupted him again.
"Just go and disappear."
******
When Hans left the room, a strange sound echoed throughout the whole room.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
Sir Rochenveilt suddenly broke his sweat, his whole body trembled, and he closed his eyes as if that would reduce his fear. As he gathered his courage, Sir Rochenveilt shout while he clenched both of his fists.
"I'm doing what you told me. Now, please, leave me alone!"
*tok* *tok* *tok*
As the head medic said that, the sound slowly fades away, and his office turned quite again.