Chapter 25: Maybe I judged them all too quickly
After everything he had said—after his final remark echoed and the professor disappeared into the crowd—Adam stood still for a long moment. He could feel the adrenaline finally draining from his body, leaving behind only exhaustion and questions. Had he done the right thing? Had he crossed a line? Maybe he shouldn’t have said anything at all. The thought of leaving this base crossed his mind almost automatically.
"Thank you," came a quiet voice beside him.
Layra stood next to him, not meeting his gaze. Her cheeks were lightly flushed, as if ashamed of her own actions.
"For what you said. No one else would’ve spoken up."
Adam only nodded, not offering any comment. Moments later, the red-haired girl and the boy in the dark sweater—faces he had seen earlier in the crowd—approached Brann.
"We can help," the boy said. "We studied medicine before... well, before everything. We’re not doctors, but we know how to treat wounds."
The girl nodded. "At the very least, we can clean the injuries and check for infection."
They carefully helped Brann lower Kael to the floor, treating him like any sudden movement might make things worse. The girl immediately pulled a folded pack of bandages and scissors from her belt. Her movements were swift, but precise. The boy knelt beside her and cut open Kael’s pant leg where the blood had soaked through. They spoke in low tones, slipping into medical jargon as if they were back in a hospital instead of a ruined dormitory floor.
"We’ll start with cleaning," the girl murmured, reaching for a bottle of hydrogen peroxide.
"I’ll handle the thigh laceration. Might’ve hit muscle, but there’s no sign of necrosis," the boy replied.
Adam watched them with mild astonishment. Their professionalism was unmistakable. The girl’s hands were steady, the boy efficient and focused. After finishing with Kael, they moved on to Sareth, carefully inspecting his left forearm. Then to Nira, who had a torn flank, calming her with steady, reassuring words. Brann insisted he was fine, but they cleaned the gash on his neck anyway. Even Layra, despite her stubbornness, allowed them to treat the wound on her leg.