Completely exhausted and lacking the strength to even remain conscious, Mordred collapses to the ground, feeling every part of his body as if it were on the verge of collapse. The echo of his own heartbeats becomes a distant sound as darkness slowly envelops him. His eyelids weigh heavy, and he surrenders to the embrace of fatigue and exhaustion.
The spear, once wielded with fervor, now lies on the ground as a symbol of the extreme effort he expended. Closing his eyes, the images of the battle still dance in his mind. The glow of auras, swift and decisive movements, the intertwining sense of power and desperation. This experience, though painful, is firmly engraved in his memory.
A few meters away, the body of the woman, who recently exuded ferocity, now rests on the ground like a figure sculpted in porcelain. However, the tranquility that settled was abruptly shattered. The woman's body began to dissipate, not violently, but as if composed of ethereal particles that the wind could carry. A subtle mist enveloped the spot where she was, and in a matter of seconds, there was no tangible trace of her presence.
The mist vanished as quickly as it appeared, and the space once occupied by a formidable opponent was now empty. Suddenly, the forest's silence was broken by a faint murmur, followed by the gradual emergence of figures materializing among the tree shadows. These individuals surrounded the battleground, as if protecting it to ensure nothing interfered with it.
The woman, whose body had vanished earlier, now stood tall. Her once fervent and defiant eyes now displayed an expression bordering on contentment. It was as if the outcome of the battle were a spectacle enjoyed by an invisible audience. Two other figures emerged behind her, a roughly bearded man and a woman emanating an air of seriousness.
"Even facing a clone with only 10% of its original strength, he managed to annihilate her. It seems we have a quite promising candidate here, Captain Anest." - Declared the woman, her eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and careful assessment as she discussed Mordred's remarkable performance.
"I agree. I think we'll hardly find another Codex cadet with such potential!" - Replied the man.
"You're right. Let's take him back to the academy, and then we'll decide what to do. Make sure to ask Iselda to take care of him. I'll go get my spear." - Announced Anest, outlining the next steps to deal with the situation.
"Yes, Captain!" - They exclaimed in unison.
Following the events, two figures wearing knee-length white cloaks gently lifted Mordred onto a stretcher. Carefully, they carried him back to the city, along with the rest of the group. As Anest headed toward her spear, she observed the trail of destruction left by the weapon. It was the first time since she found it that the spear reacted so synchronously with someone, leaving her intrigued and, at the same time, curious about the peculiarities involving both Mordred and the weapon.
Except for myself, the one who made a contract with Gungnir, no one has touched it without suffering immediate severe mental damage... This boy is truly surpassing my expectations so far! - Reflected Anest, with a smile full of excitement on her face.
Anest's group stumbled upon Mordred by chance, with no initial intention of finding or rescuing him. However, they were in the vicinity when they heard the monster's roar that he was facing. Initially, as he was a Codex student, Anest sent only a clone to guide him back to the city. However, after Mordred challenged and defeated Anest with her own weapon, she decided to go to him personally.
Unbeknownst to him, the boy was about to enter a web of coincidences and contingencies that would trigger countless moments of despair in his future.
Hours had passed since the group entered the imposing gates of the city. Now, Mordred lay at rest on a bed in what seemed to be a modern infirmary. Curtains around the bed provided some privacy, concealing the unconscious state of the young man. The environment was completely silent, as if only he were there, and a gentle light filtered through the curtains, creating an atmosphere of tranquility.
As he slowly opened his eyes, Mordred gradually regained consciousness. Sitting up in bed, he began to observe the surroundings.
Okay... Did I die in this damn thing or what? Did some other monster show up after I killed that woman and devour me? Or was I rescued by someone passing by?
Lost in thought and trying to guess what might have happened, Mordred is interrupted by the sounds of footsteps echoing through the room. The curtains are abruptly drawn back, revealing someone rather peculiar.
"Student Mordred Antury?"
"Yes? Who are you?"
"Sophia Campbell, physician from Codex Academy. I'm going to ask you some quick questions, and I want you to answer as fast as possible. What's your enrollment number?" - Sophia introduced herself, speaking so rapidly that it seemed like she was on 2x speed.
"Can you repeat? I couldn't understand anything you said."
"What's your enrollment number?"
"I... don't remember."
Sophia's eyes meticulously analyzed every detail in Mordred, seeking any trace of falsehood or involuntary reaction. Her curiosity was amplified by the striking scars on his neck and left wrist, mysteries not contained in the student record.
"What's your class here at Codex?"
"I don't remember."
"What was the reason for your venture outside the walls?"
"I don't remember."
"What do you remember, then?"
"Only my name..."
It's easier to pretend that I suffered a memory loss. It will make things easier for me from here on.
Sophia delved into the task of filling out a medical record with surprising skill, her hands gliding over the paper at an almost mechanical speed. The neutral expression she had maintained since entering the room did not yield, making it impossible for Mordred to decipher any signs or reactions. The silence persisted, filled only by the regular sound of the pen scraping against the paper, creating an atmosphere of intrigue as she meticulously documented the mysteries surrounding this young cadet.
"Initially, it was reported to us that you arrived at Codex in a state of Aether exhaustion, but since you're reporting memory loss, we'll need to conduct tests to analyze more thoroughly the state of your brain."
"So, am I going to have to stay here longer?"
"Not necessarily. You can go to the medical laboratory and hand this paper to the attending physician. However, it's important for me to note in your profile that these tests are pending until I receive them." - Sophia replied, handing Mordred a paper filled with information.
"Alright, I just want to get out of this infirmary as soon as possible!"
Sophia watched the boy closely, but despite her efforts, she detected no signs of lying or changes in his expression. Surprisingly, he seemed incredibly calm, as if the memory loss did not bother him, accepting it as something that didn't disturb him in the least. This calmness intrigued Sophia, who continued to search for any clues that would reveal more about the mystery behind his words.
"Before we finish, there's one thing I'd like to ask. Do you at least remember how you survived that wound on your neck?" - Sophia inquired this time, paying even more attention to Mordred's reactions.
"No, I don't remember. By the way, how did I end up here?"
A loaded silence of strangeness hung in the air once again. The doctor's eyes, sharp as an eagle's, sought to find any sign of weakness or hesitation in the young man before her. However, even with all her skill in analyzing expressions, she couldn't intimidate him with her gaze. There was an awareness that Mordred held secrets, something that eluded her detection, but for now, she decided to step back.
"You were brought here by the Silver team. They found you injured and unconscious near a tree outside the wall. Lady Iselda provided first aid and reported your condition to us. That's all we know so far."
"I see... Will I get into trouble for being outside the wall?"
"That will be between you and the director. In fact, I recommend you go to her office as soon as you leave here."
Well, I know I'm in for a scolding!
"Funny, that was the first time in this conversation that your expression wavered a bit. Wishing you a speedy recovery, student Mordred." - Sophia replied.