After the final bone was restructured, Gilbert's torturous convulsions began to ease. Aniela slowly stepped back, releasing the manual controls. The frenzy in the operating room finally receded. Taking a deep breath, Aniela fixed her gaze on the monitors, then, in a calm tone, spoke, "Status report."Her assistant's eyes quickly scanned the data before answering, "Radion level is 115, all vitals are green, Sir." His voice was upbeat with triumph.
"And his circuit?" Aniela pressed further as she slowly closed her eyes, leaning back on her chair.
"They have calmed down," he replied, "There is still a slight overload of data, but given enough time, it will settle into stability."
Hearing the assistant's report, Aniela's eyes drifted towards the observation room, but Captain Cade was nowhere to be seen. With a measured exhale, she returned her attention to Gilbert.
Inside the pod, Gilbert's battered form now bore signs of the surgery. The bone lacing had broadened his structure slightly, indicating that his body was beginning to adapt to the invasive repair. His breaths were now deep and controlled, contrasting sharply with his earlier spasms.
Finally, allowing relief to wash over her, sinking further into her seat
"You did well, Gilbert," she said, words scarcely audible.
*****
Gilbert slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry. In the dim haze, he beheld a vivid, pure wine red, beautiful and pulsating with vibrant life. Instinctively, he slowly reached out his hands to touch it, feeling a smooth, silky texture sending feelings of comfort. Suddenly, the red danced from his grasp, spinning out of reach. As the haze cleared, his eyes fell upon Aniela. Her radiant, flawless skin shone ethereally, as her expressive eyes met his from a dewy and youthful face. It then struck him, the rich, wine red was none other than her hair.
"Good day, Doctor," Gilbert said as he sat upright with a straight face, his attention momentarily drawn to her delicate pointy ears. "You look lovely today, and your earrings are exquisite. What kind of flowers are those?"
"It is good to see that you are awake, Sergeant, but the next time you touch me, I'll be taking your hand as punishment," She said with a straight face as she examined him. "It is a purple passionflower. And how are you feeling?"
"I am feeling fine, better than fine actually," Gilbert replied, staring into her chestnut eyes. He then flexed his arms for a moment before a perplexed look came across his face. "Sergeant? When since I become a Sergeant? How long have I been asleep for? I never asked"
She merely shook her head and, turning away as if to hide a smile, replied, "Check your halo watch, it's by your bedside."
Tearing his eyes away from her figure, he looked at his halo watch, revealing that an entire week had passed since his surgery. He then looked towards the flashing notifications:
'Knight 141, you are promoted to Sergeant'
'Knight 149, as punishment for his actions, has lost his promotion, while his treatment will be that of a Squire'
'Knight 732 has been transferred from your squad.'
'Knight 358 has been transferred to your Squad'
'Knight 141, your Squad 9 is assigned to Special Company White Horns, Commanding officer Major Cade'
"That sure is a lot," Gilbert remarked after reading all the notifications flashing on his halo watch. He lay prone on his bed, eyes staring somewhere on the ceiling as thoughts churned in his mind. 'So, Wolfgang is gone, huh, while Adam is not even a corporal, so unfair….. but one day' he mused silently.
Breaking from his quiet introspection, Gilbert's gaze softened as he turned toward Doctor Aniela. With a sincere attitude, he said
"I want to thank you for your help. Doctor, I hope to repay you one day."
She turned halfway towards him as his eyes wandered her serene landscape, a graceful interplay of gentle slopes that rise and fall, every line and curve an unspoken invitation to admiration.
"There is no need to thank me. It is your resilience that brought you through," she said, her tone calm as she turned back to her work, her focus never wavering.
"Still, I would like to thank you. How about a date?" Gilbert asked, his voice got softer towards the end
Aniela's head tilted as her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Are you hitting on me, Sergeant?" she asked in a soft tone, unclear about what her attitude is.
"Uhmm…I…it's just… yes," Gilbert stuttered, his gaze dropping to the pristine white bedsheets beneath him as he tried to hide his expression.
With her back still turned, a gentle smile tugged at her lips as she shook her head. "Yes, I'll go," she replied, cutting his stuttering short.
"Wait, what, you'll go?" Gilbert blurted out as he was trying to figure out what else to say, her affirmation surprising him. As he stared at her, looking for more words to say, the doors to his room were open
"HEYO, Sarge, you up yet!" Kean's loud voice reverberated off the hospital walls before a shadow of the person could be seen. Before he even stepped inside, a smooth, controlled voice interjected,
"Quiet, Kean, we are in a hospital," came Anastasia's smooth voice trailing after his. A moment later a another voice familiar yet still a stranger followed
"Is he always this loud?" the strange voice questioned.
Stepping into the room were Anastasia, Kean, William, and Vivian. The last person was surprised, then he remembered in the list of notifications that there was a new member assigned to his squad. Seeing Colonel Aniela inside, they instinctively executed a salute. Aniela offered only a simple nod in return before getting up and clearing out, giving them space.
"How are you feeling?" Anastasia asked with a worried tone, placing a fruit basket that she carried in her hands on a night stand before sitting by his bedside.
"I'm doing okay. How are you guys?" Gilbert replied, sitting back up on his bed as he looked at his squad mates, before focusing on Vivian, "And welcome to the squad, I guess, your name was Vivian, right?"
"I guess we haven't formally met. Hello, I am Vivian Warsop from Prague, but I was raised in Rome," She said in a warm tone, giving a neat salute. "Nice to meet you, Sergeant Kruger." Gilbert raised an inquisitive brow as he leaned forward, his tone laced with curiosity.
"What have you done wrong to be punished and placed in our squad?" he asked, his eyes flicking over her upbeat demeanor.
With a nonchalant shrug and a hint of amusement in her smile, she replied,
"I was not punished; I requested to be transferred to your squad."
Gilbert blinked in surprise, the confusion evident in his voice as he pressed on,
"Why would you do something as dumb as that? I thought you noble types didn't like our elk."
She took a seat while crossing her arms with an air of elegance, her tone cool, she responded,
"Don't get me wrong, I don't like you guys, but I don't hate you guys either, to put it simply, I don't really care."
Her gaze brightened as she continued,
"As for why I asked for the transfer, it's because Alexander is transferring our squad to the Magistrate's Office, and I don't want to go. I noticed that Wolfgang from your squad was transferred over, so I did the same." As the name Wolfgang was mentioned, the entire room fell silent, as members took glances at William, who stood quietly at the back. William then took several steps forward before going on one knee at Gilbert's bedside
"I shall speak no ill of Wolfgang, my oldest friend, for we share the same dream glory. Though I do not agree with the cause of his deeds, I avow to you that I had no hand in them," taking a deep breath and in a solemn tone he continued "I, William Munro, on my honor and by my name, do solemnly swear that I shall never betray Gilbert nor our noble squad. Where Gilbert's sword points, there shall I ever follow with steadfast loyalty."
As William's oath of fidelity rang out in the air hung with tension as they all stared at him and Gilbert. Gilbert slowly got off his bed as he went down and knelt beside William. He held his head with both arms and lifted his head so they were now looking at each other eye to eye
"When you lead, remember that you can't relinquish the title of leadership, even when those following you shoot arrows in your back. If you stop, few will walk in front, and even fewer will go the right way." Gilbert said to him, his words surprising everyone in the room. " I do not blame you for his folly. I admit, thoughts of anger did swirl inside my head, but when I remember my family, I know I am the only one who can lead us in the right way."
William stared into his dark brown eyes as tears fell before standing up with help from Gilbert.
"Where's Adam?" Gilbert asked as they stood up
"Adam is on the watch, we will see him again at the calling of our unit," Kean replied as he grabbed an apple from a basket of fruits Anastasia carried for Gilbert, as she gave him a reproachful look. Hearing his words, Gilbert gained a sad look.
"On a happier note, wait until you see the new armor you will be receiving. I even had help in designing it," Anastasia said. They spent the rest of the time speaking and joking around until visiting hours were up and Squad 9 left.
*****
Late at night, as Gilbert was fast asleep, General Beckett appeared in his room, standing by his bedside as he stared at him. He took a seat by his bedside before flicking his forehead, waking him up. As Gilbert groggily woke up, rubbing his forehead, he looked around in confusion to see General Beckett sitting by his bedside.
"General Beckett, goodnight, sir," Gilbert said as he struggled to get out of bed.
"It's fine, Gilbert, this is an informal visit," General Beckett said, waving his hand before taking a purple and yellow fruit from the fruit basket at his bedside and eating it. "You did good, but I must warn you that what you did was very dangerous and shouldn't be done again."
"I had no other choice," Gilbert said, looking out towards the night sky. "I still don't know why my squad mate betrayed me."
"I can't tell the reason for his betrayal, but I can point out the cause," General Beckett said, drawing in Gilbert's attention as Gilbert stared at him with much intensity. "Your squad mate and that Alexander, whom you fought, transferred to the magistrate's office, there is only one person involved with squires who could pull that off. Doctor Wolmer, also known as the Mad Doctor."
"Why would he target me?" Gilbert asked in confusion, "I don't think I've ever had a word with him."
"I don't know what you did to draw his attention, but he somehow gained interest in you," the General said before getting up. "Well, sleep well, Gilbert, your life as a Marine Knight is just getting started." With those words, General Beckett left his soft steps reverberating in the room.