After a couple hours Sera was finally waking up. Her head pounded like a bell and her throat felt like she swallowed some sandpaper.
'Fuck, what happened? Where am I? We escaped that weird eldritch being in the sewer and then nothing...'
She finally managed to open her eyes and saw Bea holding her hand, asleep. Sera tried to slip her hand out and get up, but instead she just groaned, waking up Bea. On her face concern and sorrow were showing.
"Hey... how are you feeling...?" She asked in a small voice.
"W-water... Please..."
Is all Sera managed with her throat being so dry. Bea's eyes widened with guilt and in a second she was already bringing a glass over.
"T-thanks..." She drank deeply and enjoyed the coolness of the water.
'Water is so good! So much better than blood.'
Suddenly Bea looked at her and in a very timid voice asked.
"A-are you mad at me? For... you know..."
Bea couldn't keep eye contact and had to look away, her face still stricken with guilt.
"What... Do you mean? Why would I... Be mad?"
The speaking still took some effort but Sera managed. Bea was a bit surprised, then she explained what happened after escaping. Sera felt worse and worse as the story went on. As she finished the explanation, Bea asked again.
"So, are you angry at me?"
"I should ask that question shouldn't I? How is Witchdoctor doing?"
Bea's mood improved a bit as she said. "She is fine, just pissed at you that's all."
Sera looked at Bea's face, their was still some remnant sadness there. So she leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a long, but one with more meaning than any word could deliver.
"You don't feel guilty for what you did! I was under the spell of bloodlust and began hurting our friends. If something like that happens, you should do it again. And I don't even remember it so just act like nothing happened."
Then before Bea could object she kissed her again and asked.
"Okay?"
"Huhh... You witch... Fine... I will drop it..."
With that done they got up to look for the others. It was time to fight a Corrupted! Well, of course they have to scout it first and determine a tactic that could kill it.
They gathered everyone in the conference room and began planning. Bea already warned Sera that they knew of their relationship. So she wasn't surprised about Lucy's and Killshot's constant comments.
In the end everyone agreed that until they know more of the Corrupted, there is no chance of winning. So a scouting team will go out, lead by Lucy and Sera. There will be 6 regulars as well, for support.
The others will have jobs as well, since the people have to be prepared for moving out of the station and into the bunker.
With the talking done everyone went their way. On the way to the barracks Lucy spoke with Sera.
"What you did in the tunnel holding onto your sanity just so we can escape, is really commendable. So, thanks I guess."
Sera looked at her with surprise.
'Am I about to die or something? Did Lucy just said thank you?'
"Your welcome... I guess... and also sorry for the attack."
The conversation stopped when they arrived at the barracks. In their whole group there was around 600 people, from which circa 100 can be armed because of the lack of weapons and armor. They all lived in the barracks.
Lucy stepped in with Sera and suddenly all conversation stopped and everyone looked at them. They were a rare sight, especially Sera.
'Lucy sometimes comes down here to play cards or have sex or whatever she does in her free time. I on the other hand am here for the first time.'
A tall man approached them timidly, even Sera knew him, he was Moe. A true veteran, a soldier even before the Fall of Copen and one of the few who sided with Bea. For that alone he got Sera's respect.
Moe was also the regular's commanding officer. He only took orders from the seven of them.
"Lucy and Saint Seraphine what do we owe the pleasure?"
Moe asked nervously, you would think he would've gotten used to speaking with Evolved in the past years as a soldier.
'Or maybe I'm the problem. In Newber, they never given Evolved names like Saint or Lady. It doesn't really matter until he does his job well.'
Lucy spoke for both of them.
"We need 6 volunteers to help scout out a Corrupted of the 1st Tier. And don't worry, this is only a scouting mission."
Moe nodded and repeated louder so everyone could hear it.
'Here we go, there probably won't going to be any volunteers but it's too dangerous to just order people to come with them.'
But to Sera's surprise everyone raised there hand. Even Lucy wasn't prepared for that. They looked at each other with pure bewilderment.
Seeing their confusion Moe smiled.
"What? Did you think that there wouldn't be any volunteers for a mission with Saint Seraphine?"
At this point Sera couldn't hold it back anymore.
"Why do you value me so much?"
It wasn't Moe who answered but a regular who is probably close to Sera's own age.
"Saint Seraphine, we were about to be enslaved or killed. Deathbringer brought enough people to kill all of us."
An older soldier cut in and continued.
"But you woke up after weeks of unconsciousness, close to a day before the battle. And because of you, we didn't even lose a single person."
This time a woman carried on.
"So we believe with Saint Seraphine's and Lady Bea's leadership, we will win this war, rescue our people and reach Castleburg!"
With that a cheer went up within the ranks of soldiers. Sera was fully stunned by this revelation.
'At least the volunteering won't be a problem, probably ever.'