Chapter 55: Exchange Of Gratitude (2/2)

*Knock! Knock!*

”Oh, it seems like someone must have come here to ask about your condition again. I will go and check. You can also come with me since the whole ward can rest easy once they see that you are well and good. You are quite the hero to the whole ward now,” Mei said with a proud smile as she walked towards the door.

”Alright,” Arion awkwardly smiled as he got up and followed her even though he felt like his hunger hadn't been satisfied.

Mei opened the door and saw Cayden and Nena along with Kisho.

”S-Sorry to disturb you again, Big Sis Mei. But did he wake up yet?” Nena asked in a low voice as she held her palms behind her back.

”Haha, Little Mei, these two had been unable to sleep, as you know. They just won't rest till they hear that Little Arion is alright. So, we three just decided to ask on our way to the market. He is at least all good, right?”

Mei was about to reply when Arion came forward and said with a smile, ”I am all good, guys. Thanks for asking.”

Cayden and Nena had an astonished look as they saw a tall youngster standing before them, looking completely fit without any signs of injury or fatigue...or any signs of how he looked previously.

Even though they had seen how he miraculously changed physically when he was unconscious, seeing him standing before them and talking to them felt surreal, especially when they saw the Jawfiends drag him down to their dreadful nest.

Nena felt more shocked than Cayden since she thought he had died for sure because of her. Even after everyone found him lying unconscious and looking perfectly alright, she still felt restless since he was still lying conscious, not knowing when he would wake up.

”Hoho, look at you. My boy is looking so strong and healthy,” Kisho laughed as he went up to Arion and gave him a warm hug, showing his thanks and gratitude for the noble act he did that day.

Arion felt a bit embarrassed after getting a sudden hug and awkwardly hugged Kisho back with a smile.

”Good, good,” Kisho said with a sigh of relief and then turned around to see Cayden and Nena still standing there with a daze and said, ”You two came all the way over here to see him, and now you both have nothing to say after seeing him alive and well?”

Cayden and Nena came back to their senses, and as if in sync, they both pressed their fingers together, forming a triangle shape with their hands and bowed 90 degrees as they said together, ”Please forgive us, Arion. We have sinned since we left you behind when we should have been the ones to protect you. We know we don't deserve forgiveness but—”

”Hey, there's no need of all this,” Arion said in a serious tone making Cayden and Nena worry if Arion was truly angry and resentful towards them.

Even though that day Arion had told them to leave him and run, they still couldn't accept that it wasn't their fault and felt extremely guilty for leaving behind a disabled person to buy them time.

It just seemed wrong and too despicable of them in their perspective.

But that thought only lingered in their minds for a moment when Arion said as he placed his hands on their shoulders, ”Please stand straight, you two. You are embarrassing me here.”

Arion saw the gesture they were making with their hands and knew from his memories that this was how one apologizes to others, and this had something to do with the goddess Alara.

Hearing his lighthearted tone, Cayden and Nena felt a little better as they slowly raised their backs with lowered gazes.

Arion continued, ”You two and the others have been really great and helpful to me even though I was just a disabled guy. The fact that you two even tried to help me during that crisis was enough to make me feel indebted to you guys. In fact, I would have died early if it were not for you two and the others protecting me from those monsters.”

With a sigh, he said, ”So I instead wanted to thank you guys for protecting a burden like me that day. So, thank you,” Arion sincerely said as he made a cross with his palms and bowed 45 degrees as a gesture of thanks.

Cayden and Nena were taken back by how kind Arion was to them since they thought that he might have held some grudge towards them. But now, hearing his words, they felt as if the weight of guilt had been lifted from their hearts and instead was replaced by a river of gratitude towards Arion.

”Hoho, this is all great. We must have a gathering at Yaro's place since she has promised us all a treat the day Arion wakes up and also to spread some good news among all the tragedies we had to suffer recently. We will now go and won't keep you two standing out all here. Ah, yes, Little Arion, can I have a word with you for a moment?” Kisho asked as he gestured to Arion to move towards a corner with him.