Chapter 210 208-Joining the Front Lines
Chapter 210 Chapter208-Joining the Front Lines
"Are you the Holy Light Physician that Mawei mentioned?"
The Lady Knight who had emerged examined Ethan closely, her hands crossed over her chest, her bright eyes filled with a trace of doubt and a hint of distrust.
Lady Knight Eileen was well aware of these foreigners.
They were not the most honorable of people, capable of any act for the slightest benefit.
Thus, setting a high bar for entry into the front lines was indeed necessary.
"Uh... What Mawei mentioned might not be entirely accurate. I am not a physician; I only have some knowledge of Holy Light magic," Ethan replied modestly.
Inevitably, Eileen frowned, while Mawei hurriedly intervened, "Captain Eileen, please trust me! This Black Dragon is definitely a powerful Holy Light Physician. The purity of the Holy Light he released is unprecedented, far surpassing those arrogant Holy Light magi!"
Mawei's endorsement led Eileen to reassess Ethan. She instructed, "Release some Holy Light, let me see."
With that, Eileen lowered her arm and removed her bracer, revealing her forearm underneath.
Her slender arm bore a long scar, virtually spanning the entire wrist.
By the looks of it, it had been narrowly saved from being severed entirely.
"Try it," Eileen urged once more.
Holy Light magic, compared to medical expertise, was far more potent.
It involved harnessing Holy Light elements present in the air, thereby facilitating root-level healing not just biologically, but also spiritually.
Rumor even had it that mastery over Holy Light magic could resurrect Wraiths, attesting to its profound might.
Since mastering the Holy Light–Language of Nature, Ethan had seldom utilized it, especially for healing purposes, as it was difficult to incur injuries under the protection of the Holy Light Shield.
Furthermore, upon regaining consciousness from his earlier faint, Ethan had become aware of alterations in his physique.
The Blood Source that had been voraciously consumed, the intertwining forces of the Holy Light, the Power of the Dragon, and the Thunder within him seemed to have sparked some sort of reaction.
Yet, what exactly it was remained elusive, even to Ethan, its host.
However, he had a premonition that it might bring him a grand surprise.
At the moment, the task was simply to use the Holy Light spell to eradicate the scar, a matter effortlessly within his grasp.
Ethan invoked the Language of Holy Light, and a golden glow emanated from his hand.
As he gently stroked Eileen's arm, those initially alerted by Mawei's shout gathered around, eager to witness the outcome.
The result left them utterly astounded.
Where Ethan's touch graced her flesh, the scars vanished one by one.
Eileen's forearm regained its smoothness, and even the skin, roughened from prolonged exposure to the battlefield, became fair under the Holy Light's ministrations.
Moreover, throughout the healing process, Eileen experienced an immense spiritual relaxation.
"Ah..."
Eileen couldn't help but moan softly. Realizing that they were in the military camp, she quickly suppressed her voice, yet a blush still crept across her ordinarily stern face.
"An impressive Holy Light technique," Eileen sincerely admired, simultaneously issuing the decree for Ethan to join the front lines, "You may join the army and proceed to the front lines with the next batch of soldiers. However, I must warn you, even with your Holy Light magic, do not interfere excessively in the battles. I won't tolerate any chaos on the front lines."
"Otherwise, I will deal with you personally!"
Eileen started with kindness but ended with a threat, delineating both the permission and the peril that lay in Ethan's path.
After learning from Mawei about the actions undertaken by Lana Mokos, Ethan expressed his understanding, sincerely nodding as he said, "Rest assured, Commander, we will not cause any trouble."
"It's good you are aware of that," Eileen nodded in response, before turning to Mawei to instruct, "Mawei, take them to the adjutant to register. Have them join the soldiers heading to the front lines tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Commander!" Mawei replied promptly, loudly echoing her sentiment.
Once the command was given, Eileen retreated back into her own encampment.
War was never a simple affair. It wasn't merely a matter of charging forward with weapons at hand, especially in a protracted battle such as this, with countless details requiring meticulous attention.
Soldier deployment, food supply, the transportation of weapons and armor – every facet had to be properly managed.
A single error in any link of this chain could lead to the collapse of established defenses, potentially culminating in the failure of the entire war effort.
Eileen was a master at handling these administrative tasks, yet she harbored a deeper affection for her previous life — the life of clashing blades on the battlefield, a place where she could feel the hot blood of monsters splashing across her face, a yearning rooted deep within her heart.
She was a knight, meant to lead charges on the front lines.
However, in a battle past, she had sustained a severe injury while saving a fellow soldier, her arm nearly severed by the sharp claws of a monster.
Though the medics had managed to save her arm, the prognosis had been disheartening.
"Commander Eileen," they had told her, the words heavy with regret, "unfortunately, while we were able to save your arm, the monster's claws contained potent toxins which have seeped into the bone. They are impossible to remove. Your arm may never fully recover. Everyday tasks will remain possible, but wielding a heavy sword again is highly unlikely."
The news had almost shattered Eileen.
For a knight, the inability to wield a long sword and shield was a fate more agonizing than death itself.
Fortuitously, through the consolation of close friends and her mentor, Eileen emerged from her sorrow.
Accepting a reassignment within the army, she retreated from the frontline to assume the role of Camp Commander in Maya City.
Here she was responsible for recruiting soldiers, vetting frontline qualifications, and overseeing the logistical supply chain.
"How wonderful it would be if my arm could recover," she mused, tenderly touching her right arm as she entered the encampment.
The smooth sensation evoked memories of her youthful days.
Her gaze fell upon the heavy sword stationed in her tent, her weapon, which now she could only observe from a distance.
With a sigh, Eileen approached the weapon rack and gingerly grasped the sword's hilt, lifting it.
In that moment, a familiar surge of empowerment flooded back into her.
Unable to resist, she swung the sword, effortlessly executing moves that once were second nature to her.
"Thrilling!" she exclaimed breathlessly, after a spirited display of her martial prowess.
She was now drenched in sweat, necessitating the removal of her armor, leaving her in a skin-tight garment.
At that moment, Eileen froze, her eyes darting between the heavy sword in her grasp and her own arm.
The skin, healed by the Holy Light, was noticeably fairer, but that was not the focal point of her astonishment.
"I can wield the heavy sword again!" The realization enveloped Eileen in a wave of immense joy.
Clutching the sword, she dashed out of her tent and barged into the registration room, dragging a waiting Ethan out without a word, pulling him back into her own quarters.
Before Ethan could utter a word, Eileen hastily inquired, her voice trembling with urgency, "What is the secret behind your Holy Light magic?"
Seeing Eileen's earnest demeanor, a seed of perplexity planted itself in Ethan's heart as well.
He asked softly, "Was there something wrong with the Holy Light spell I used on you?"
In the depths of Ethan's mind, doubts had begun to take root, as the three Language of Nature elements he controlled exhibited subtle changes after he regained consciousness from the trance.
Could it be that the Holy Light spell inadvertently carried a toxic element?
Lost in his frenetic speculation, Ethan was interrupted by Eileen.
"Your Holy Light spell wasn't flawed; on the contrary, its efficacy was tremendous! I think we need to revise your assignment. You can't be sent to the frontline."
"What?! Why?" Ethan couldn't contain his dismay, demanding an explanation.
Seeing Ethan's agitated state, Eileen bestowed upon him a rare smile. "Don't be so quick to panic, I haven't finished speaking. I understand that newcomers like you join the frontline to hunt monsters and earn points, but garnering points isn't restricted to that method. Making significant contributions can also earn points."
"There is another way — through rewards bestowed by your superior." She continued, her voice carrying a comforting authority, "Serving as a commander in the army grants me a certain prerogative, allowing me to award you a thousand points. This should adequately compensate for any loss incurred from not being stationed at the frontline."
Ethan was left somewhat baffled, curiosity overtaking him as he inquired, "You haven't yet mentioned what you'd have me do." Offering such a generous proposition clearly indicated she had a task in mind, a fact not lost on Ethan.
Smiling, Eileen nodded in acknowledgment, "My arm was clawed by a Green Claw Beast, a relatively rare entity among monsters. Its claws harbor a toxin that enhances wound healing, effectively decreeing a death sentence to those afflicted by its scrape."
"The preservation of my arm came at a great cost, yet remnants of the Green Claw Beast's toxin lingered, preventing full recovery. Even the Sacred Maiden of Maya City, with her purification through Holy Light, couldn't purge this toxin. Yet moments ago, with a mere brush of your Holy Light spell on my arm, the lingering poison was expelled."
"I can even feel the strength in my arm regaining and even, faintly but surely, intensifying."
Her voice took on a profound tone as she continued, "All this illustrates your extraordinary ability, indicating that a perilous place like the frontline is not where you belong."