The wound was much deeper than I thought.

Each time I sucked out the poison, congested blood from deep within the wound flowed into my mouth.

I filled my mouth with his blood and then spat it out along with the poison, continuously, without pause.

I lost track of time. Ever since I found the Duke collapsed, my own time had stood still.

It was only when I heard Bran calling my name that I finally stopped my actions.

Outside the cave, the sun was already leaning beyond the horizon.

“Esdel, is everyone else… not dead?”

Bran asked, his face showing fear of the answer.

“Of course not. They’re all safe. They probably rushed ahead to follow the Duke. They must still be looking for us.”

“That’s a relief.”

Bran, who seemed drained, leaning against the cave wall, suddenly got up energetically.

“Esdel, I’ll go outside and check. Maybe people have arrived.”

“Be careful, Bran. It’s dangerous.”

“I was scared.”

He looked at me with steady eyes.

“You’re the same age as me, but you’ve reached such a high level. I’m ashamed. I want to be of some help too.”

“You’ve already saved the North, Bran. You saved the Duke.”

“…Really?”

He awkwardly smiled, running his hand under his nose.

“Esdel, I didn’t recognize your abilities before. I’m sorry. Teach me your swordsmanship when we get back alive.”

“…Alright.”

“Don’t worry. If I move between the stones, I can avoid the monsters. I’ll try to find something to eat. I’ll be back before nightfall.”

Bran’s face seemed to have matured in the meantime.

“Take care, Bran. If something happens, scream.”

“Okay!”

Bran stuffed his armor with stones.

“Double armor.”

He then smiled and left the cave.

In the cave, it was just the Duke and me.

I placed my hand on his forehead.

Despite all the time I spent drawing out the poison, he still had a fever.

‘Let’s try a little more.’

I continued to suck the wound until no more bitter poison could be felt. Then I looked for a cloth to cover the wound.

Tearing more of my top would leave my chest exposed.

Reluctantly, I tore my uniform pants. They were made of soft cotton and would be suitable as gauze once rinsed clean.

Then I realized, I had torn the part where my mother’s dagger was attached.

‘…It can’t be helped.’

It’s just my mother’s dagger. No one else would notice it, so that was a relief.

I rinsed the torn cloth in the water in a stone bowl and let it dry in the wind outside the cave before gently placing it on the Duke’s shoulder.

‘Please, let the fever go down.’

I kept replacing the cloth on his forehead whenever it got warm, soaking it again in the cool water from the ceiling.

After a while, I rinsed my mouth with cave water. I felt a bit dizzy, maybe I swallowed some of the monster’s poison.

Thinking about the poison I spat out, the Duke, who was directly injured, made my heart ache.

He was still breathing heavily, suffering.

I looked at his face. His color was a bit better, but not yet recovered.

I watched him for a long time and then, without realizing it, I brought my hand to his cheek. His breath was hot, but his cheek was cold.

‘You need to wake up.’

I gently cupped his cheek with my palm.

It was a touch I would have withdrawn immediately if he woke up, but at that moment, I just wanted to hold him.

As the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly.

Fortunately, Bran returned before it got completely dark.

He brought back a bunch of small branches, some unidentifiable grasses, and a few fruits that looked like berries.

His face and arms were covered in wounds.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. It’s nothing. Oh, and I brought all the herbs that looked useful just in case. There’s a small stream nearby. I went there thinking there might be something.”

I examined the plants he brought. Among them, there was one useful herb in a good amount.

I was happy.

“Bran, you did really well!”

“Really?”

“Yes, this herb. It’s used for detoxification. It might work on the Duke’s wound.”
I quickly crushed the herb and applied it to the wound of the Duke, who had not yet regained consciousness.

While I was tending to the treatment, Bran went deep into the cave to start a fire with the branches.

Thanks to him, the dark interior became a bit brighter.

After rinsing my mouth, I took another mouthful of clean water and placed my lips on the Duke’s.

But without needing to pry open his mouth with my tongue, he swallowed the water I offered.

Is his reflexive response returning?

“What a relief.”

I murmured unconsciously.

Encouraged, I carefully crushed the fruit to make juice for the Duke to eat. That’s when it happened.

“Esdel? That sword…”

Bran’s surprised voice.

‘?’

I stopped and looked at Bran standing there. He was looking at my thigh.

Embarrassed, I quickly covered my leg with my top garment.

But Bran roughly rolled up the garment covering my thigh.

I pushed him away.

“What are you doing?”

“Sorry, Esdel. But… this dagger…”

He looked at me with a bewildered and shocked face.

“Sorry, but…”

“?”