Chapter 242: Breaking Point
Everyone had a breaking point, but no one expected that Irene would find hers in such a way.
Felix took Irene from the battlefield, passing Sir Gunnar as he did. They exchanged a brief nod with one another as if to silently say ’I am shirking on my responsibilities to help out a friend.’ Based on what he witnessed when he heard Irene’s helpless cries, he knew that was the best place for Felix at that moment.
The oldest apprentice carried Irene into the barracks, where he lay her on her usual cot and began to take off her boots.
He removed her armor and her outer coat so that her bed wouldn’t be covered in the filth from the battlefield. It was also a very intentional decision to remove her belt and put her sword far away from her. The thought of her rushing into danger in the state of mind she was in felt extremely dangerous.
However, she started shivering uncontrollably until her teeth chattered together. He dragged the cot closer to the small hearth at the center of the room, not caring whether or not anyone had an issue with that.
He retrieved her knitted blanket off the floor and placed it over her as he forced her into a lying position. She immediately wrapped her arms around her legs protectively once she was on her side. Her chin ducked, and her face was hidden from Felix.
Her quiet crying wasn’t lost on him for even a moment.
His eyebrows lowered. She had faced much less tragedy in her life than he had so far which was why it was so awful to witness her have to learn of the cold reality in such a way. He knelt next to her and placed a hand on her back.
"We will get through this together," he whispered. "Remember? That is what you told me."