I was winched up over the parapet, my body bruised and aching from the onslaught I had endured at the foot of the wall. The guard who had earlier questioned me grasped my arm, pulling me over the edge to safety. His wide eyes spoke volumes of the fear and concern he felt, not just for me, but also for the spectacle I had just survived.
"Are you insane, Prince Gideon?!" he exclaimed, steadying me as I landed back on the stone walkway. "What in the world provoked you to do something so reckless?!"
I grimaced, both from the pain and the realization that my impulsive decision might not have been the wisest. Still, I had achieved what I set out to do – I had gathered living samples of the reanimated soldiers, a potentially invaluable resource for understanding the nature of their existence.
"Needed... to learn more," I managed through gritted teeth, patting the guard's arm reassuringly. "Can't fight... what you don't understand."
