Chapter 654: Side Story 2. Dance of Flame and Shadow - 13
During a Deathzone’s excursion, one did not simply spend the night camping. There was no luxury of building a tent since they might have to run away any second, so all they did was find a considerably safe place and sleep on the ground over a coat or blanket. Half would sleep, and half would watch the surroundings. Just one or two people wouldn’t be enough; at least four people for each cardinal direction were needed for night watch, unless they found a cave. Even then, at least one person to watch the exist and another one to watch the inside of the cave was needed.
Naturally, the clients would always be the resting ones, and the Borderland personnel would be on the night watch.
Ron, as a rookie, was supposed to take it easy, and Agni had told the kid to just review what he learned that day while trying to get some sleep. But of course, the young esper didn’t like it. He stubbornly stayed a meter away from the Captain, crouching with pursed lips between his knees.
"You know that people would jump at a chance to take some rest, don’t you?" Agni rolled his eyes at the sulking squirrel. But it reminded him of how much he thristed for validation at that age, so he just chuckled and let the kid be without any scolding.
"This is a learning process; how can I do that if I stayed back there?" Ron argued. "And it’s not like I’m really standing watch...I just sit beside you."
Agni arched his brow, and Ron mumbled further. "He’s the one who said I should stay beside him. Is this uncle has an impaired memory or something?"
"This brat."
Agni smiled and got the younger man in a chokehold until Ron tapped his arm in defeat. Watching Ron coughing while cursing at him made Agni lament. If only Nolan had this kind of personality too; perhaps he would still be alive then, and this kid wouldn’t have to be here.
Right--he might allow Ron to come to the Deathzone with him, but it didn’t mean Agni changed his mind about pushing the kid away from the Borderland.
He looked at the grumbling squirrel and sighed. "Come here," Agni patted the space beside him, and Ron flinched, staring at it for a few seconds before scooting closer while pulling the collar of his jacket high.
The berserker took out a small flask from his inside pocket, and offered it to young scout who looked at him with narrowed eyes full of suspicion. "It’s coffee," Agni said, adding in a whisper. "From my room."