Chapter 286 Hunting For Clues 1 (2/2)
”That's better!” The senior healer beamed. However, at that moment, he remembered the uncomfortable atmosphere that Shin and Fred had shared just moments earlier. Leaning in close, the healer whispered: ”Do you want me to get rid of him?”
Realising what the healer meant, Shin nodded his head in reply. ”Yes, please...”
”Done.” Escred smiled and turned to the stunned Fred. ”Junior, judging from your uniform, you aren't part of the supply line, am I right?”
”T-That! I just want to have a conversation with my fellow schoolmate! There's nothing wrong with that!”
Ignoring Fred's logical response, Escred walked over and tapped the youth's shoulders. ”It's getting late junior… I'm sure you don't want to miss your curfew.”
”Senior!”
”I'm sure you don't want me to call your commanding officer here?” Escred let out a light warning. ”Move along, junior.”
”Tsk!” In a fury, Fred stomped his feet and hatefully glared at the black-haired youth that stood nearby. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect Shin to have an associate in the army. Promptly tromping away, Fred left the area, allowing Shin to breathe a sigh of relief.
”Who was that? Do you guys have an enmity?” Escred asked curiously.
”No, just some misunderstandings… Thank you, Brother Escred.”
”Haha, don't mention it! It's hard to see a familiar face here nowadays! I'm glad to see you again!” Escred laughed and slapped Shin on his back. ”Now that I mentioned it, what brings you here? How come you're wearing the uniform of Imperius Academy? There are so many questions I have for you!”
”It's a long story...” Shin bitterly laughed. Although he wished to return to his bed to enter the Garden of Hypnos, it seemed rude to brush off a long-time friend, especially after Escred had just helped Shin resolve a crisis. ”Could we discuss it at the mess hall? I have yet to eat dinner.”
”Ah, how rude of me! Of course, of course!” Escred laughed and did a roundabout turn.
”By the way, why are you here? Weren't you going to stay at Aldrich's Keep?”
Hearing the youth's words, Escred immediately dropped his head and a dark cloud formed over him. ”I wish it were that simple… After Aldrich's Keep fell, the Imperial Courts pumped a huge amount of resources to defend that place. The walls had been rebuilt, the defences had been enhanced, and worst of all… They changed the commanding units.”
”What do you mean?”
”To bolster the strength of the western regions, the military sent the Fifth and Thirteenth Armies to man the grounds. That was a welcoming change since the West really was weaker compared to the other regions. The problem is their commanding officer… Field Marshal Egarsha!” A hapless sigh escaped Escred mouth as he remembered the fierce new commander.
”Field Marshal Egarsha is a renowned Rank 84 Spirit Venerate that was tough on excellence. She believed that those who survived on Aldrich's Keep were failures and Aldrich's Keep only fell because those working there didn't experience any real hardship before. Honestly, who could blame her? Other than a few purges, the soldiers at the Keep didn't face any serious threat. I mean before the fall, Aldrich's Keep was known for its invincibility after all...”
”So what happened?”
”She did some… Let's say 'restructuring...' Sacking almost everyone who was under Commander Alwig, Field Marshal Egarsha changed all of the key individuals in the Keep to her men. Bit by bit, the faces that I saw on a daily basis changed and eventually, even my position as Chief Healer was gone… I mean, her guy was a Registrar! I couldn't compete with that right?”
”...” Shin went speechless. Based on his seniority, Escred was just one rank below of a Registrar. However, that gap was an insurmountable mountain to climb for many. Only one out of a few thousand Senior Healers would even get a chance to be promoted into a Registrar, which made them the most elite healers one could get on the market. For Field Marshal Egarsha to get one to exclusively serve her was a feat in itself.
”I could have stayed, but what's the point? I don't even know anyone there. So I decided to resign and return to the Capital to join the Second Army. At least, the pay here is better, and I got a promotion as well.” Escred pointed to his sewn-on rank on his white robes which indicated that he was a Major. ”The work here is more tedious, but it's safer. Sometimes I get to join training exercises such as this one, so all is good.”
”Brother Escred...” Shin could see the grief in the Healer's eyes when he recounted about how he was sacked. He loved being on the frontlines to use his powers for the good of his fallen brothers. Yet, he had been sent to the back. Doomed to spend the rest of his days behind a desk.
”Alright, that's enough about me! What about you, why are you in Imperius Academy?”
”Haha, didn't you tell me to diversify my influence? That I shouldn't stay in the Frie Clan and put all my eggs in one basket?”
”Urghh… Come to think of it, I did say that...” The healer lightly coughed as he thought back to the days back at Aldrich's Keep. ”Come to think of it, where's the red-haired lass that followed you around? Is she here with you at the academy, or is she waiting back on Frie Mountain?”
”!!!” Shin froze. Due to the innocent question that Escred had asked, Shin felt his blood go cold as the most unpleasant memories of his life resurfaced once more. A sharp pain, akin to that of a thousand needle pricks, was aimed at his heart and he found himself gasping for air. However, his right hand unconsciously reached out for the amethyst pendant around his neck, and the soothing coolness of the crystal instantly calmed his heartbeat.
”Shin?”
”No… It's nothing… Yeah, she's waiting for me alright… I can't wait to see her again.”
”Tch, you bloody lovebirds...” Not knowing that he had forced Shin to recall a painful memory, Escred laughed the matter off while continuing to tease the youth. ”You better don't make her wait long! A girl like her would get tonnes of suitors once she grows up.”
”I know… I'll go see her soon.” Half-joking, Shin entered the mess hall with the hazel-haired man as they continued to catch up about their lives.
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