Chapter 21: Reports (Interlude)
"What happened!?" The infirmary doctor rushed in.
Mikhail’s panicked eyes saw everyone staring at him worriedly, realizing now that he was back to reality.
’What the hell was that dream?’
Calmness returned to Mikhail as his breathing settled down.
"Are you feeling alright?" The doctor asked, trying to examine Mikhail physically.
"I’m fine. Can you leave us alone for a while?"
The doctor looked at Mikhail strangely, almost about to refuse when Modric stood up.
"He’s our Squadron Commander. I’m sure he knows of himself so please allow him some space to settle down."
The doctor gulped, hesitating before speaking up.
"If so, then I’ll need to ask you people to leave as well. It’s the only way I can leave the patient alone."
Modric was about to interject before Mikhail stepped in.
"That’s fine. Though, I’ll ask you to leave Modric with me as my Vice-Commander."
Modric’s eyes met Mikhail’s, both of them communicating with their thoughts.
’It’s fine, I can convince him to let the whole squadron stay.’
’Don’t. It would just cause more problems. Just you are fine.’
’If you say so.’
The two looked at the doctor who hesitatingly nodded.
"Alright. But do know if something happens to the patient, that will be on you, yourself."
"We understand."
The doctor gave them a gruff nod before leaving out the door.
It was his way of saying ’I don’t really care about you but I have to since it’s my duty. If you die, that’s on you.’
Mikhail gave a single glance to the rest of the group and they nodded, standing up.
"I appreciate it." He gave them a grateful smile.
"Don’t worry about it. Rest well." He tapped his shoulder.
"You’ll have to tell me what you did back there when you come back though." Icarus pouted.
Mikhail laughed lightly.
"Sure."
"I’m glad you are fine." Yvan gave him a relieved smile, tapping his shoulder before joining the group.
But before they could leave, Mikhail called them all out.
"You all."
They turned, confused.
"I’m glad you all are fine and I’m proud of how you handled that situation."
Surprise instantly came on their faces, even the usually calm Modric.
"Man, you are going to make me cry." Icarus wiped his eyes to clear his fake tears.
"Since when was Mika so kind?" Oscar looked around with shock.
The only ones who just seemed to look at him with shock were Modric and Yvan.
The reason for their reactions was his compliment.
All of them knew Mikhail to be a man of few words. They could not remember the last time he had complimented them.
But when he did, despite it being a simple few words, it brought them a whole nother level of satisfaction and happiness.
Mikhail gave them one of his rare appreciative smiles.
Their expressions turned from shock to cheerfulness now, as all of them hit a salute.
"You can count on us."
Mikhail nodded and all of them turned to leave.
As the door closed, the former turned to look at Modric now, his smile disappearing to an expression of dead seriousness.
Modric nodded, already understanding what he wanted to ask.
He knew that Mikhail hadn’t stopped him to discuss what happened to him or his health.
"48 men died. 2 Wardens and 46 Magus."
He got straight to the point.
Silence settled in the room as both of them paid their mutual respects.
Despite not caring about them or even knowing them, Mikhail at least knew to respect the dead.
Especially the ones who died fighting.
Turning to his thoughts, however, Mikhail was satisfied.
74 wasn’t a small number. Rather it was a grave loss.
But it turned out to be much better than his previous life where at least 84 ended up dying.
’My involvement definitely helped.’
As the silence ended, Modric continued automatically.
"93 people were injured. 68 of them, light injuries. 9 or 10, heavy injuries. 5 to 6 with fatal injuries or loss of an organ."
Mikhail nodded.
’Better than last time as well.’
It was well-worth all the pain he had to go through.
"The infrastructure damages are still being calculated so we are unsure about that."
’Hmm..’
He turned to Modric.
"How long was I out for?"
"A day."
Surprise came over Mikhail at how early he had woken up.
’I thought it would take more considering my injur-’
He was interrupted by Modric’s words.
"You were only diagnosed with mana overload and tiredness so it didn’t take long to fix you up."
Mikhail’s eyes widened with shock.
’Huh? What?’
Impossible.
Mana overload was the least of what he had gone through in that battle.
He had broken bones, mana exhaustion, concussions and so much.
’How the hell?’
"Is something wrong?" Modric asked at Mikhail’s expression.
"Nothing. I was just surprised at how early I woke up." The latter shook his head.
Modric’s golden eyes bore into him but he didn’t pry further.
"I see."
It was then that Mikhail realized something.
’Wait..’
"Who brought me here?"
Something didn’t add up.
The person who found him at the battlefield must have seen his injurie-
"From what they told us, you were found at the gate by the academy reinforcements. Unconscious, they brought you here and informed us."
’What?’
Mikhail hid the surprise and confusion inside him.
"I see, alright."
Who found him from there and brought him here?
It was then that he remembered a memory before passing out.
SLASH! SLASH!
The two controllers that were running towards him were killed in a single second.
Even their artifacts couldn’t hold up.
’Was that reinforcement squad?’
Mikhail wasn’t sure.
But he needed to find out who it was that rescued him.
’They were certainly strong.’
He would just look into it later when he would get discharged.
Mikhail turned back to Modric, who still stood attentively for any questions.
"Anything else worth mentioning?"
"Well..." Modric trailed off for the first time, confusing Mikhail.
He had even reported the deaths without any remorse.
So why was he hesitating now?
"Hmm? What happened?"
"Well, about the Dominique."
It was only then did Mikhail remember about her visit.
’Did something happen to her?’
It was unlikely considering how strong she was. She could have single-handedly closed all the 7 gates if she wanted.
Then what else?
"What about her?"
"In the middle of the attack, she decided something."
"What was it?"
Modric sighed, stopped for a second, before speaking again.
"She decided to shut down this camp because of the lack of security and checkups."
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