Turning Chapter 848

Chapter 848

Yuder struggled to turn his head to look at Kishiar.

"Commander... what has... happened outside?"

Kishiar's protective magic had briefly cleared his vision, but it soon blurred red again. Despite the lifting of the curtain, the outside situation remained obscured. A foreboding wind whirled, something clattered to the ground, and a tumultuous noise was evident, but that was all he could discern.

Had it not been for his inherently sensitive senses, surpassing those of others, even this much would have been difficult to grasp.

"Commander...?"

No response came from Kishiar. Yuder called out again, and then a deep sigh sounded from above. After a moment of silence, Yuder finally heard the awaited response from the man.

"...A similar anomaly to the one that appeared over the southern branch of the Cavalry. It seems to have emerged here now."

"What did you say?"

Yuder, momentarily lying limp in Kishiar's embrace, reflexively tried to sit up. Had Kishiar not pressed him down into his arms again, he would have succeeded.

"You mustn't move. You've lost too much blood."

Kishiar spoke in a dispassionately calm voice as he lifted Yuder into his arms. Standing up, the man shouted orders to those around him.

"This man here, Nahan, cannot move anymore. Protecting the surrounding area until he is completely dead is the priority. Take Gakane and Kurga to where the priests are. Are the Cavalry guarding those cracks? Nathan too? ...Understood. I will head there shortly. And the assistant..."

'Cracks', plural.

More than one? Yuder gasped for air, clutching at Kishiar's clothes.

"What... Commander, how many cracks have appeared? Please, tell me the situation."

"..."

"Commander."

"..."

Amidst the chaos of running footsteps, the wind battering his body, and the unsettling downpour of sleet or hail, only the warmth of the one embrace shielding him remained distinct. A faint scream melded with the rest. From above, a low voice finally spoke.

"...You've already done more than enough. The natural choice would be to leave here for immediate treatment and rest. But even if I suggest you leave without worrying about what's behind, you won't comply easily, will you?"

"It's just a bit of blood, not as bad as it looks. I can talk without issue, and my limbs are fine. With a bit of rest, I could stand and walk."

"Nobody would believe that, seeing you bleed like this."

"The blood can just be wiped away."

"Can you even see what's right in front of you?"

His attempt to assert his well-being halted suddenly. It was the deep-set gaze, and the overwhelming pain conveyed through it, that silenced him.

Even through the blurred vision, he felt he could clearly discern the color of that gaze. It was the same look Kishiar had when he told Yuder not to apologize for wanting to do his part, the same one from when he had said he'd endure the pain himself.

"That is..."

Yuder's voice faltered, but still, he did not release his grip on Kishiar's clothes as he spoke again.

“I'm not suggesting I exert more strength right now. But I cannot leave in such a situation. I have the most knowledge about these strange cracks. It would be absurd for me to leave now. So just tell me the situation. That will be enough.”

"..."

A deeper sigh than before cascaded down upon him. Yuder felt arms, painfully tight, embrace him. Yet, the moment Yuder tensed, the grip relaxed.

“It’s been a while since I've felt so powerless.”

“Why would you say that, Commander? Please don't talk like that.”

“Because it's true.”

After saying this, the man laughed. It was a faint and blurry laugh, but it lingered.

As if that was the only way he knew how to express his sorrow.

Shielding Yuder from the hail and wind pouring down on them, the man stopped his long, trembling laughter, then stood up straight, still holding him.

“I'd like to knock you out and send you away, but as you said, it's not feasible for either of us to leave under the current circumstances. So, let's do what we can for now and assess the situation. Will that satisfy you?”

"...Thank you.”

Relief mixed into Yuder's voice, prompting Kishiar to laugh once more.

“That's much better to hear than an apology. So, you really are in a bearable condition.”

“Didn't I tell you? It's just a bit of blood.”

Of course, most of his strength was drained. The power of Nahan still made his head reel. Yet, based on his experience, this was not a serious injury.

'If my power was needed urgently, that would be a problem.’

“Wait here, - hey! Are there any priests here who can use divine power?"

Kishiar asked a passerby. The blurred figures of the members recognized Yuder and gasped before responding with a strict tone.

“We do have some, but the current situation is...”

In summary, most priests with usable divine power had evacuated outside, and a few who remained were tied up with Duke Herne's side.

“They won't come even if we call them. Understood."

Kishiar took off his ceremonial overcoat to cover Yuder and then carried him on his back.

“Stay still. I'll have to use divine power as discreetly as possible.”

“...What? But if there's a problem with your vessel, Commander…”

“To balance it, I need to use it evenly anyway.”

Kishiar curtly replied, adjusting Yuder on his back and swiftly covering his head with the overcoat. Soon, Yuder felt a warm current flowing from the hands supporting him.

The power that spread slowly from his legs was not at all painful, meticulously caressing Yuder's body. It was a sensation akin to when Kishiar's protective magic had been activated.

Various stiff organs in his body gradually gained new warmth. Areas that were throbbing or numb slowly eased, regaining peace. Inside his eyes, an indescribable tickling sensation turned warm and relaxed.

Enveloped in the overcoat, Kishiar's scent was strong, and Yuder, with his face buried in the back he was carried on, exhaled deeply.

"..."

"Are you alright?"

As the flow of power ceased, Kishiar quietly inquired. Yuder slowly poked his head out from under Kishiar's overcoat that had been draped over him.

The hail and wind, completely blocked before, now roughly ruffled his hair. The first thing he saw beyond the back he was lying on was the nape of Kishiar's neck, damp with sweat, and his golden hair.

His vision had almost fully returned. Sounds were clearer, and he could distinctly make out the surroundings.

The sky was almost as dark as night. A storm-like wind blew, and hail poured down fiercely. He could see several people rushing around, but the darkness was so dense that it was hard to recognize anyone.

And just as Kishiar had said, dark cracks were floating in the sky.

There were precisely three cracks, none of which had yet released anything.

"...Yes. I can see everything clearly now. You can put me down."

"I'd rather not."

"What?"

"It's not time yet."

The man briefly responded and continued walking towards a destination.

"It seems there are more people around than before the shadow curtain was deployed. I can't figure out why."

"We'll have to find out now. There might be something else happening outside."

Kishiar quickened his pace in response. Soon, someone approached them.

"Commander…. Oh."

The person who took a deep breath was Kanna.

"Yuder!"

"Kanna. Start with the situation report."