"I've got him breathing again and stopped his bleeding but he is still ways away from entering the field unless we can get a better healer on hand. I honestly have no clue if he can even wake up by the following days as he is barely holding on."
"Let's head back to Valokia to rest and prepare against Lunaris..." announced Mattheos, standing up to stretch.
The dragoness remained silent, her palm resting gently on the Viceroy's chest, which rose and fell with steady, shallow breaths. Her eyes, though focused, betrayed a hint of vulnerability.
Her slouched silhouette was prominent in the darkness as the small licks of sun started to rise in the background, hinting at a new day.
Mattheos suddenly realized he had never actually witnessed how Mavislin managed the death or injuries of her comrades.
She typically worked alone, with her missions communicated through verbal orders to her staff, and he had only heard of her methods secondhand.
As he observed her now, it struck him that he had never seen her face the grim reality of her own younglings or comrades falling in battle.
The distance between their lives and her own, a distance he had previously taken for granted, now seemed a chasm of unspoken stories and hidden emotions.
How did she cope with the finality of death or the pain of her comrades' injuries? How did she bear witness to their suffering and offer solace in their last moments?
The weight of these questions lingered as Mattheos watched Mavislin, who, despite her formidable exterior, was clearly affected by the gravity of the situation.
Her usual composure gave way to a deeper, more personal struggle—a reflection of her unseen battles, not with enemies, but with the fragility of those she fought with.
"Boss..." started Mattheos.
"Suck it up... That's what Venom would always say when someone in the team falls during or after a fight. We haven't the time to squander, so we never stopped to mourn for those who fell. That's why I don't show much emotion upon hearing news of deaths."
"You were conditioned to disregard the fallen since everyone around you was either new or junior. But with me, it's different. I am your equal, and that complicates things for you," explained Zenos as he slowly opened his eyes.
The Viceroy quickly grasped Mavislin's palm, which rested on his chest, and placed a gentle kiss upon it. The dragoness couldn't help but smile, feeling a weight lift from her heart.
She blushed slightly at the unexpected gesture, having never received such types of attention from a male before, but her primary relief came from seeing Zenos awake.
Meanwhile, the rabbit's eyes widened in shock, nearly leaping out of his skin. He had never anticipated the blonde's recovery to be so swift.
Given that Zenos had endured something akin to a bomb blast followed by a stabbing, his revival seemed nothing short of miraculous.
"How are you even awake? Are you even a mortal?" questioned Mattheos, backing away from Zenos.
"If I told you I wasn't mortal, would you be pleased?"
"How about the first question?"
"I'd like to know as well... You're not capable of healing so how did you recover that quickly?" chimed Mavislin as the Viceroy slowly sat up.
"While your rabbit struggles to sync with his Guardian and you hesitate to fully utilize Medusa's potential as Gorgon, I've already absorbed all the powers and skills from mine."
"Whatever abilities the Chaos Storm Dragon possessed, I now wield them too. So that means..."
"Recovery... Despite being struck by the bearer of the Sun? It still seems impossible..." added Matt, not fully believing the blonde's explanation.
"The Solaris we faced wasn't the genuine article, but I have to admit, that staff inflicted more damage than your Mad King's spell. I didn't expect it to breach both Virgo's defenses and mine, so it clearly had its own strength."
"However, since it didn't strike my solar plexus, it was still within the realm of being healable," explained the Viceroy as he slowly got up, much to Mavislin's fear.
The bunny felt a pang of fear, realizing that his boss might have found an immortal to join their ranks. Noticing Matt's palpable terror, Zenos let out a soft chuckle, casting a half-lidded glance at his prized trophy.
"Now then, Shadow... Would you do me the honor of transporting us back to Arcadia? I'd love nothing more than to hold you in my arms once more," purred the Viceroy, with a lustful voice.
Matt nearly lost his composure, and Mavislin's eyes widened in surprise before she stepped away to shift into her dragon form. The journey back was quiet, with Matt sitting in the middle of the dragon's spine while the Viceroy rode comfortably on her scruff.