Conquering His Cold Heart

Chapter 490: Chapter 490: Bastion's condition

A dark air and heavy mood covered the town as the soldiers dragged themselves through the gates to safety, their numbers being far less than what they initially set out with.

Every returning solider sported some level of injury, none were left unmarred by the battle. Frost aided Bagua and another member of his squad through the gates, their clothes and armours splintered and covered in blood. Hard to believe any of them came out victorious with their current states.

Only Vaccos who triumphantly arrived from the sky and crushed the second rindar could be seen in a grand light. The mad iron chef who felt the heavy and hopeful stares of the soldiers and adventurers grabbed hold of the rindar's carcass and dragged it behind him as the gates closed shut once more and the small reserve of relief soldiers took over.

Vaccos wished to immediately check on Bastion however with his experience he knew that there was somewhere else he was better needed. With powerful steps he walked towards the food court with the rindar in tow.

"Talas move over, I'll take it from here." Vaccos spoke in an authoritative tone towards a middle aged chef named Talas.

"Understood head chef." Talas replied with a smile and slight bow before willingly handing over his kitchen. Talas was the vice-head chef of the fledgling phoenix restaurant here in Furano, Vaccos' right hand man and the one left in charge in his absence.

"Good to see you here lad, finally someone to share the weight hehehehe." The moment Vaccos started prepping the area to his style and giving out orders to the lower ranked chefs, Burusaa hobbled over with a wide grin.

Vaccos replied with a smile and nod before diving straight into prep, the rindar he killed wouldn't be the only ingredient being served tonight. The men and women would need the greatest meals of their lives if they were to head back out into the chaos with so few numbers. Thus a great responsibility lay on Vaccos and Burusaa the only two spirit chefs in the territory.

While the soldiers and adventurers were feeling rather down the support staff were filled with fiery passion. The chefs joyfully welcomed Vaccos' arrival as well as the abundance of fresh ingredients flowing into the kitchen and vowed to prepare their very best dishes.

While the smiths were all blown away by the revelation of Borris forging a 4 star weapon and thus becoming a 4 star smith. They all eagerly took hold of the soldiers' and adventurers' damaged and broken equipment, promising to return them better than ever.

Their smiles and animated expressions helped to uplift the soldiers mood, easing their pain albeit slightly.

Within the command centre however everyone present was very serious in their demeanour.

"How is he?" Frost spoke up first, desperate to know about Bastion. He was right there on the battlefield yet no matter how hard he fought he couldn't reach his friend. Thankfully Vaccos arrived otherwise he would have lost one of his very first friends, a thought that gripped his heart in an icy grasp.

"Gilianna's seeing to him now. Lady Cassandra and his daughter Jaina are with him but he's yet to regain consciousness but we're hopeful that'll he'll pull through. Vaccos gave him a very high quality potion so only time will tell." Hamon replied after letting out a deep sigh, his gaze then drifted towards Douglas and Ryuu.

The honoured Viscount and powerful court mage both wore dark expressions. Their eyes were red, and their faces pale from extreme worry, and blood leaked from their hands after their nails dug in from clenching to hard.

They desperately wanted to be by their sworn brother's side in his time of need, but this was war and their status demanded that they be here in the command centre rather by his side.

Frost felt a little relieved when he heard Hamon's words but like Douglas and Ryuu he was still very worried.

Doing his best to ignore the issue of Bastion, Hamon began the strategy meeting which did not go down well. It was clear that no matter what they did there was no way they could survive until the arrival of the capital's reinforcements. Their aggregate power was just too small while their enemies' was only growing stronger.

The goal of this war was now simply to hold back the tide for as long as possible as victory was no longer an option.

Vaccos sent a messenger since he was occupied prepping meals shortly after the meeting began. He had set out by himself so he had no idea on the current whereabouts of the reinforcements thus it was still believed that they would arrive on the 4th day. About 30 odd hours from now and at least several more waves. It was difficult for them to make it through just one more wave let alone several.

The meeting proceeded and concluded after a short 15 minutes as nothing really changed, the strategy would remain the same however now not a single person (bar Frost) felt they would survive this war.

The officers stepped out from the command centre with their heads held high, sniffing the air that carried the glorious smell of dishes being produced by the town's greatest chefs.

'Time for our last meals.' With that thought they each made their way to the food court, to feast upon the flesh of the B-rank monsters.

Meanwhile Frost, Douglas and Ryuu all left for the medical centre where Bastion was currently resting under the supervision of Gilianna.

Once they arrived they witnessed Jaina sitting by her father's bed with tears streaming down her cheeks. Cassandra and Luna were sitting either side of her, supporting her in her time of need. Luna in particular was allowing Jaina to cry into her chest and was gently stroking the back of her head in a soothing manner.

Bastion was still asleep, his body completely exhausted from his strenuous battle against the second rindar. The massive hole left by its great sword had been sealed thanks to the high level health potion used by Vaccos however internally things weren't quite right.

Vaccos was correct it was very unlikely that Bastion would be able to ever fully use his strength again. Though his skin was intact the muscles and organs underneath couldn't be fully regenerated to what they once were. Potions had their limits when it came to the more complicated parts of the body, especially when so little or even none of the parts remained.

Gilianna had just finished her examination and reported her findings to Cassandra and the rest resulting in Jaina's crying which was a mix of sorrow and relief. Her father was likely going to live but he would have to hang up his axe, his pride and joy.

"I'll leave you all in peace. If he wakes up call for me." Gilianna left after saying those words, bowing slightly to Douglas as she left the room.

"Bastion you daft old dwarf." Ryuu sighed and sat on the opposing bed side, staring down at his friend's pale face.

"Haaaaaa he always has been the most reckless of us." Douglas said with a depressing smile before sitting next to Ryuu. This however caused everyone in the room to turn and look at him in bewilderment.

Douglas really wasn't one to talk and the irony of his words couldn't be ignored by those present. Who was the one who almost who lost his life a couple days ago, and who was the one always running head first into danger when they were younger, always trying to defy his mortality, Douglas that's who.

"Hahahahahahaha" Ryuu couldn't help but laugh and was quickly followed by Cassandra until even Jaina was laughing. The group sat by Bastion's side telling stories of the old days, of Bastion's life, reminiscing in the joys they had with him.

Time gradually passed yet even after two hours Bastion failed to awaken. Frost, Ryuu and Douglas couldn't remain by his side any longer, with reluctance they left to prepare themselves for the next wave that was set to arrive in the next hour or so.

However even after devouring a highly luxurious meal and taking a nap the wave never came. But instead of relaxing the people and allowing them the rest a little more this instead filled them with great stress. The men and women were constantly on edge, waiting for the battle to come. Only those very versed in warfare were able to properly sleep and ignore the psychological pressure.

It was a long and restless night for the people of Furano.

Within the Northrend forest however Lord Frostine sat within a room made of ice, the many B-rank monsters and his strongest subordinates were with him. This was their command centre.

"Valend should be arriving soon. At dawn we strike and decimate the town of Furano." He slammed his hand down upon an ice table, shattering it into pieces as he declared their intentions. A round of wide and evil looking smiles could be seen throughout the room, the monsters were antsy with anticipation.