'What happened?'
So thought Evaline as she looked upon an unfamiliar ceiling.
She could not hear anything nor could she feel anything further causing her confusion because the last she remembered,
'I'm supposed to be outside...encased in ice...'
A rather terrifying memory that made her suddenly shudder.
She had every confidence in her skill and strength, but that fight made her feel like she was but an amateur who knew next to nothing of anything.
Her sword skills which she had refined to what she could possibly can without proper advanced training was proven to only be effective against her fellow humans unlike how it was against the monstrosities of the Hidden Side...
Sure she managed to slay a number of them but most of it was from her magic.
And even then, her magic had only been slightly effective against the small ones. Had she faced the large one that had swatted away Kyrie, she highly doubts it would've made a considerable amount of damage.
'Plus that old hag easily overpowered my last spell even though I fused all my remaining mana in it...'
She admitted to herself. Even imagining the chill that slowly encased her briefly.
Just as she was reminiscing such terror, she sensed the presence of someone approaching and soon, her hearing slowly cleared allowing her to hear voices speaking.
"I'm not so sure about this Centurion. Whatever problem the Czar is facing right now isn't our problem."
It was the voice of a young woman complaining about something.
"Yes it isn't. But...do you really think our Saint will simply ignore them?"
This time, the voice was that of an older woman.
'They're talking about Rosseweisse...'
Evaline wondered who these two voices were. For sure they weren't hostiles. Not yet at least, but to refer to Rosseweisse as 'their Saint' would mean only one thing...
"Her...Saint's Guard?"
"Hm? Well what do you know? Looks like the little lady here is finally awake!", one of the voices exclaimed.
Apparently, Evaline had spoken out loud and was heard.
"I guess you still really cannot move that well...let me do something about that. Guard Skill...Reverse!"
At the command, Evaline felt the numbness in her body recede quickly and soon enough, she could finally feel her body and limbs again allowing her to quickly jump up and face the one who had used the Skill.
"Quite the spry little one aren't you? For a young lady, you sure have the mentality and reflexes of a combatant."
Evaline looked to the one who just spoke;
Wearing an unusual ensemble of white plate armor, a woman who sported black short bob hair and looked to be in her late twenties was smiling at her.
"Centurion Caroline...you are scaring the young lady!", the other one, a younger woman who looked to be slightly older than Evaline and had long brown hair and wearing the same kind of plate armor as the older one chastised the latter.
"Nonsense, Lady Anna! She merely reacted just as her instincts dictated! You could learn a thing or two from her!", the older woman, Caroline replied with a laugh.
Despite her jolly demeanor however, Evaline felt like this not a moment where they should be so carefree.
"I don't know who you are, but where am I and where are my companions?"
Evaline demanded to know where everyone else was. Right now, information is what she needed even though she could feel her body still being a little lethargic. But as expected, she could not shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong in this situation.
The woman called Caroline raised her hands, "Hold up there, young lady! Calm down. You are safe. Your companions are also safe.", she assured Evaline.
'This woman looks fishy...', Evaline narrowed her eyes. Her skeptical mind looking for any signs of deceit in the woman called Caroline.
"As for who we are, I guess you already know. But let's start over with that.", but despite Evaline glaring at her, the woman called Caroline was unfazed and proceeded to introduce herself, "I am Caroline. One of the Centurions of the Great Saint Rosseweisse's Guard. I serve as the Commander of the 2nd Squad and as for where you are...", she lowered her hands before gesturing to a part of the wall where a large canvas that had a large old map scribbled on it, "This place is one of the few active medical facilities in Moscow. We rushed you here as you and one of your other companions had grave injuries. The other Guard being sent to a monastery to receive purification due to a curse being placed on her."
Evaline eyed Caroline.
'There is no reason to believe her right here and now...'
That was what Evaline's instincts were telling her and ever since she was young, she has understood that her instincts - whenever it speaks to her, is always never wrong. Ever.
But just doubting everything when even she did not know the whole picture and not knowing what her would be opponents are capable of would be terrible idea so she relents and relaxes herself a bit.
Probably taking that as her cue to continue, Caroline continued speaking;
"Well, it might take a while for you to recover completely but with how you are right now I suppose you wouldn't mind accompanying me to the mess hall?"
"Why?", Evaline asked in confusion.
"Why you ask? Aren't you hungry?"
As soon as Caroline said the word 'hungry', Evaline felt her stomach rumble prompting the former to laugh.
"At least your body is honest! Come on! Let's go eat to celebrate your successful escape from the jaws of death!"
Seeing no harm in humoring the woman, Evaline reluctantly jumps off the bed and follows Caroline and her companion out the door.
"Oh, by the way...welcome to Moscow!"