(A/N: Apologies for the late chapters. Broke my phone's screen, and I really only publish on it.)
Loos, Belgium
August 11th, 1915.
Areth Vendencia
France had been fully liberated from the Germans in record time, due to the incredible equipment of Areth's soldiers, and their battle-hardened minds.
He had lost some men, and women along the way, four hundred and seventy six to be exact. He knew the exact number, because he could feel every single one of their souls ascend to his own version of heaven.
Their bodies had been preserved, and cleaned of the mud, and blood from the war, their bullet wounds removed, as their bodies were in transit back to Auroa to have some proper memorials.
It didn't feel particularly good losing troops. The war wasn't really necessary to be involved in, however, he would be able to give those who died a new purpose in the afterlife.
He pushed those thoughts to the side. They weren't important in the current moment.
He was awaiting for his T1E1 Heavy Tanks to arrive in Belgium. He and his men had pushed the Germans back so quickly that the heavily armored tanks, and medics did not have time to properly catch up.
So, he decided to just relax as Nightingale shared some of her stories with him.
"You know, when I was younger, I was quite the beauty," she said, earning a nod from. The God. "Trust me, I know that," he replied as he cleaned his sword, his M14, and 1911 taken apart on the table in front of him.
"Oh, have I lost my charm then?" She asked with a neutral tone, warning a laugh from Areth. "You look like a shriveled up white raisin," Areth replied, earning a laugh from the nurse. "Though, you have aged gracefully compared to others."
"Don't tell me you're in love with me," Nightingale joked, seeing Areth's gaze falter for a moment.
"Are you?" She asked genuinely curious, her maiden heart beating slightly harder as she looked at him.
"I did have a strong attraction towards you when you were younger, admittedly," he said.
"So then, why didn't you act on it?" She asked, watching as he finished cleaning his sword.
"It's very hard for someone like me to grow overly attached to anyone," he said, before continuing.
"I've loved plenty of women, some of which I married, some of which I was too foolish to pick up on their hints, yet, it always ends the same. I watch them wither away, while my form simply regenerates into another form."
The burden of eternal life. It was truly a cruel fate for someone that had loved ones.
"I'm quite a bit unhinged, to be completely honest. I tend to view people not as people a lot of the times, since I can see their lives be extinguished as easily as I flick my wrist."
Nightingale's expression held a hint of understanding. She had once had a love interest as well that passed away far too early.
"You're damaged mentally," she said with complete seriousness.
"Is that your way of calling me a retard?" Areth joked, earning a slap on the shoulder from the nurse. "You know that's not what I meant."
He paused briefly, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair deep in thought. "Yeah, I may have some issues mentally," he admitted, knowing his personality wasn't one that came from a mentally sound person.
There was a bit of a silence, before Nightingale spoke up. "If you're a god... Why didn't you use your powers to grant your wives and loved ones eternal life?" She asked, her voice laced with curiosity.
"I tried. The first woman I ever loved, Aaliyah was on her deathbed. She had lived a wonderful life with me, and I was confident in being able to keep her with me using my powers, but the moment I used them..."
There was a brief pause from Areth, an uncharacteristic expression of both sorrow and anger in his face.
"My power cannot be used to resurrect, or preserve the lives of others. If they are destined to die, the universe will make sure they do, whether peacefully or not."
He did not go I to details about what happened to Aaliyah, choosing to move on to cleaning his rifle and its magazines.
"What about you? I know you? Did you ever marry?"
Nightingale chuckled. "Me? No. I decided early on in my life that I would dedicate my life to medicine."
"Surely there were a few people that interested you," Areth replied as he began to brush out the gunpowder and gunk in the threaded barrel.
"There was one. He was a darling to me, but, his heart belonged to another. I wasn't mad, but he passed away far too young, leaving behind a wife and child. I decided to pursue medicine fully afterwards."
"It's a hell of a unique pain, one that never leaves you, no matter how many years pass," Areth said earning a nod from the nurse.
They continued to converse for several hours, the playful banter between the two being a refreshing thing for the two, considering what their normal lives were like.
It was a blooming friendship, though, Areth knew he was a fool for even starting one.
She would pass on like all the others.
It's why the only true friends he had were Zelretch, Ereshkigal, Hades, Izanami no Mikoto, and Odin though he and that old man were always butting heads with each other back then.
The sound of engines revving gradually growing closer marked the arrival of the heavy tanks, and various different trucks behind them carrying medical supplies for the nurses and doctors.
"Right, I suppose you haven't had experience with Penicillin yet. Would you care to learn something new?" Areth asked Nightingale, who simply smile.
"Yes, I'd be happy to." Areth helped her to her feet, before guiding her out of the tent.
And so, the old nurse learned something new and revolutionary.