The leader's amber gaze bore down upon Zoel like a tiger would a lamb. The weight of it was almost physical. She folded at the waist, lowering her head in reverence; despite the intensity, she kept her eyes high.
In an instant, the weight of his gaze lightened. His hands unfolded from the small of his back, and the pressure dissipated. His response was silent; a subtle wave was acknowledgement to proceed.
His hands didn't still but continued, his movements flowing like water. When he clenched, re-clenched and started kneading his fist into the palm of his other hand, zoel couldn't look away. His physique was far from unassuming, but nothing would have indicated a level of strength so great that a Gybtah would flee after a single strike. She watched his ivory skin ripple with the flex of the muscle beneath.
She snapped from her stupor as her knee buckled.
The pain shot from her injured knee like lightning to her mind. The jolt refocused her attention, and she shifted her weight to her good leg, catching herself before crumpling. Heat rose to her face, its warmth causing her to shield it and quickly shy away.
She turned quickly. Fast enough to be met with the grinning face of Hanju, who was still off balance. It hadn't been her knee failing of its own accord; the imbecile had kicked her in her bad leg. She gave him a glare, and with a face still smug, he winked in return. She didn't have time to deal with him; the unit leader was still waiting for her to report.
The unit leader had returned his hand behind his back and stood still. He looked unfazed, but for an instant, she thought she saw the twitch of a smile.
Zeol stumbled at first but managed, eventually, to report. She recited to him the team experiences, their encounters with the Agmagon and the Gybhtar. He had already deduced most of it but still appreciated additional information. Jung, who joined them during the retelling and knew more, expanded upon the details of Namis' condition.
"I thank you for the reports, Corporal Yol'Zioel, Cadet Yol'Jung, and for the performance of you all." Zoel glanced behind to see the rest of the team had gathered around.
"There are others, from groups that were closer to the phenomenon, that are significantly injured. I will continue to escort those who need it to the city. I will return for Yol'Nami, but in the meantime, continue on your route. I expect a report from each of you upon your return to the city.
"Yes, Group Leader!" They gave their affirmation in unison.
"Yol'Zoel, we'll speak again momentarily, but for now, if you and your team would give us the space, I would like to speak to hanju alone."
Hanju departed with the unit leader, but not before turning back with knuckles against his forehead. He mocked her with a swoon, then hurried away.
Jung helped her stapped up her arm before returning to caring for Sul'gretta. Zoel slumped down beside Nami and placed her hand atop hers. Nami stirred slightly, but nothing had changed. With little help to offer, Zoel began recounting the battle and the prowess of Swum'Janhua. It wasn't often anyone saw the Unit Leader fight in earnest. The tale was less detailed than her report, but for what it lacked in detail, she made up for with a healthy dose of embellishment.
Zeol wiped at her face; it had been Nami telling tall tales when they were small.
Their interests may have diverged, but she was creche. They'd been raised like sisters; nothing would ever change that. Hopefully, the unit leader would help her to the city soon.
It was a fortunate coincidence that the unit leader had come into contact with them at all. He'd heard the sound of the fight with the Gybtah and diverted on his path to the city. Zoel hadn't requested assistance after all.
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Her injured arm hung from her grasp, her fingers digging into the numb flesh. She'd launched the retreating flair, but not the one for immediate extraction.
She squeezed until Jung's stitching pulled tight, and blood wept from her crusting wound. She let it fall and wiped her eyes with her sleeve despite the beach dirt it smeared across her face.
"Yol'Zoel, with me."
She left Nami in Jung's care and followed the united leader as he strode a short way from the rest of the group.
"I'm going to continue running the most severely injured back to the city; I'll come back for Yol'Nami once I've done with Sul'Gretta. I want you to lead this group to the first checkpoint, where you'll meet with the others. They are also injured, but little enough that they can still travel. Lead them back to the city. I'll stop by occasionally."
She glanced down and away. A still-wet red line of blood glistened where it trailed down her arm. "Is there no one better left to lead, Group Leader?"
"I understand your reluctance, Yol'Zoel, but it's unwarranted. I've spoken with the others; your team and I believe your decisions and course of action were correct, and you are not responsible for the wounded."
She glanced over his shoulder. Most of the team were milling around, waiting, and watching their discussion. Most looked only mildly concerned, but Hanjum, lacking any subtlety, nodded and gave her a thumbs-up.
"Yol'Hanju means well but is biased, Group Leader. I made many mistakes."
A cough from the group leader had him stop and pull a guilty expression. "I'm aware, and I have decided, nonetheless, that this is how I want you to proceed. I have confidence in you're abilities, Zoel."
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Zoel was tired and hurt; her legs dragged, her muscles ached, and her feet were so sore she darned to take her boots off in case she couldn't put them back on again. Her feet felt damp despite the ground being dry. They squelched and stung with every step; she imaged her blisters also had little blisters of their own.
There was no distinct threshold; the trees simply thinned, and thinned, and gradually transformed into neat rows of wattle fences and cultivated fields. Before long, the mud trail they were following transitioned to a rutted gravel track, and in the distance, the barns, silos and other farm buildings and houses crested the horizon. They were making much better time now.
Their pace had quickened since the group leader had returned for Nami. Zoel had felt a great weight lift as he strode away, Nami in his arms. He had met them before they reached the clearing and hadn't stayed long enough to speak to them.
When they had reached the clearing, she found the other group milling around. Zeol wasn't sure who was supposed to be leading the group, and no one spoke up when she took the lead. The additional people had a vagueness about them, although they seemed no worse for wear than themselves.
She could see the team's spirits rise as their journey neared its close. Zoel saw the light return to the eyes of several of the team, and their pace picked up ever so slightly. They weren't technically back in the city, but being within its domain was enough.
Eventually, the gravel tracks gave out to compacted and stone paths, wattle fences to stone walls, and before they knew it, they were surrounded by people going about their days. They passed through the hamlet in relative silence, still too tired to chat, only speaking to reciprocate the occasional greeting people they passed by offered.
Their newfound energy waned as they climbed a low hill out of the hamlet, but the top came quickly.
Zoel crested the hill. Before her, the rolling hills and rippling lakes stretched out until they met the ocean. Nested between two hills and two lakes lie the great city.
It shimmered in its faint iridescence bubble like a great jewel embedded into the land. Its skyward-reaching ivory towers and wide concentric boulevards framed the city's every facet. The silver and crimson ornamentations of the buildings glistened as they caught the sun's light reflected from the surrounding waters and sweeping canals of the lower levels.
If not for the soreness of her feet, Zoel would have likely barrelled down the hill there and then just to return home a fraction sooner.
Zoel had been born in the city and had spent her entire life here, but only on the occasions she left and saw it from a distance could she appreciate its wonder. She'd looked forward to leaving for a long time, now, she knew she would miss it.
She smiled. It was Gojoseon, it was home.