...
It took a good while to catch her breath.
Ella Lacey felt the weight on her body lighten as she slowly opened her eyes as if coming back to life and surveyed her surroundings.
In front of her, the ancient-styled man was covered in mud and wrapped in greenery, looking as if he had just returned from the fields.
It was a bit comical.
She understood.
He had shielded her from the bomb's shockwave, protecting her with his own body.
She couldn't help but politely say, "…Thank you."
"..." The ancient-styled man still gave no response.
Silent, not uttering a word,
He just stood there, staring blankly.
Ella Lacey nervously said, "You're not hurt, are you…?"
But he still didn't answer.
Realizing only after the fact, she continued to monologue, "I'm so sorry, I thought you were trying to steal my red lantern, but you actually saved my life… I didn't expect that old man to have tampered with the lantern… And to think I mistook him for a good person…"
